Metro
Gunmen Kill One, Abduct Seven Travellers On Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode Expressway
Gunmen numbering up to seven have reportedly killed one person and abducted seven other travellers along the Sagamu-Ijebu-Ode expressway.
The gunmen armed with A.K 47 rifles were said to have waylaid and attacked the travellers in between the Ilisan, Ceplast industry and Iperu junction axis of the expressway on Friday.
A viral audio from one of the victims of the tragic incident, who was apparently a driver heading to Lagos, detailed how the gunmen stopped their vehicles with sporadic shooting and later marched them into the bush.
He said, “This incident happened at past five in the evening, they were armed to the teeth with A.K 47 rifles shooting heavily. They even killed one person who was inside a Lexus car. So, they marched about seven of us inside the bush and when I saw that they were speaking Hausa, I started speaking Hausa to them begging them not to kill me, so they asked if I was a northerner but I said no, that I have once lived in Kebbi and Sokoto.
“They kept taking us further inside the bush, later they asked if I had any money, so I gave them the N103,000 and my phone. There was another driver from the east who said that the kidnappers had collected N120,000 from him just as we were abducted. They later set the two of us free while the other five people abducted were still with them”.
Speaking with our Correspondent on Monday, the Spokesperson of Ogun State police command, SP Omolola Odutola confirmed the incident.
Odutola said that the police could not confirm the number of people that were abducted but noted that the gun-wielding hoodlums killed one of the travellers yet to be identified.
She said the incident which happened on May 3, around 6:55 pm was incidented as a case of armed robbery, murder and kidnapping.
Odutola said: “We have information that about seven people whom we don’t know with A.K 47 suddenly blocked the Benin-Sagamu expressway.
“The DPO of Ilisan when he got to the scene of the incident saw two vehicles pierced with bullets; a Lexus Jeep 300 with registration number LND 640 DY, the driver’s name is Chilaka Lugard and another Lexus Jeep 350 with registration number LSR 996 JF belonging to Kingsley Chineme. Inside this Lexus 350 car was found a cross bag with N113,000, two iPhones; an iPhone Six and an iPhone Eleven Promax.
“There was also a corpse of an unidentified man who was shot in the head.
“The third vehicle was loaded with plantains and the driver who was among those abducted, regained freedom and was later allowed to go with the vehicle. The other Lexus vehicles have been taken to Ilishan Police Station.”
Odutola said the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu was not happy with this security breach and had in an emergency meeting summoned on Monday, directed the tactical commanders and the mobile squadron to go after these undesirable elements.
She said ‘the CP had been to the scene of this incident, and a lot of work is ongoing to fish these people out and let them answer for their criminality, I can assure you that, these criminals will be apprehended just very soon.”
About three weeks ago, some rampaging eight gunmen had stormed Ajadeh Event Centre along the Iperu-Sagamu road and snuffed the life out of Professor Yinka Olomojobi, a lecturer with Babcock University, Ilisan Remo.
Olomojobi, a Professor of Human Rights and Gender Law was reportedly shot dead on the fateful day around 9 pm by these daredevil gunmen for allegedly resisting his abduction.
The lecturer and others were at this relaxation centre when these hoodlums began disturbing the serenity of the environment with their heavy shooting.
By the time the dust settled, Olomojobi had been killed while two others, one Dare and another unidentified person had been whisked away.
The police however said that one Awada Ishaya from Plateau State had been picked up as prime suspect of the sordid act.
Ishaya was said to have just been employed two weeks ago as a security guard when the event centre was opened.
Metro
See Alternative Routes As Lagos State Government Announces Closure Of 11 Major Roads
Lagos State Government has announced the closure of 11 roads on Lagos Island and Victoria Island for the Lagos Women Run, to be held on Saturday.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, stated that, given the annual Lagos Women Run slated for Saturday, 9th November 2024, the Lagos State Government had implemented a traffic diversion plan to facilitate smoother movement for motorists during the event.
“During the event, the race route, starting from Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) inwards Water Board, Old NITEL, Outer Marina, Bonny Camp Bridge, Ahmadu Bello Way, Akin Adesola Street, Falomo Bridge, Falomo Roundabout, Awolowo Road, and Onikan Roundabout to Mobolaji Johnson, would be partially closed,” he said.
Consequently, Osiyemi explained that alternative routes had been designated to ease commuting.
He advised motorists heading to the Third Mainland Bridge from Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue to go via Bonny Camp, connecting Onikan Underpass towards Marina Exit to access Force Road, linking Outer Marina and the Third Mainland Bridge to reach their destinations.
“Motorists heading to Ikoyi Road from Apongbon are to use Odunlami Street to connect Igbosere Road and continue to Moloney Street to access Ikoyi Road for their journeys. There was minimal impact on traffic flow within these routes,” he added.
The Commissioner reiterated that all junctions and intersections from Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) to the destination, Mobolaji Johnson Arena, would be blocked with barriers and staff by LASTMA, NPF, FRSC, and LSNC officials to prevent other road users from accessing the main race corridor and to minimise inconvenience for motorists and athletes.
“Motorists are implored to be patient, as the partial road closure is part of the traffic management plans for the race event highlighted,” he said.
Metro
Police arrest man who faked own abduction and demanded N10m ransom from sibling
The police have arrested a man who allegedly faked his own kidnapping and demanded a N10 million ransom from his brother. The suspect, whose identity has not been revealed, staged the entire ordeal and contacted his sibling, claiming to be in the hands of kidnappers.
The brother, distressed and believing the threat was real, was reportedly instructed to pay the ransom for his sibling’s release. However, suspicions arose when inconsistencies in the story were noticed, prompting the family to alert the authorities.
After a thorough investigation, law enforcement was able to track the man down, uncovering his involvement in the staged kidnapping plot. He was arrested and is now facing charges related to extortion and fabricating the abduction.
Authorities have commended the swift response of the family and the police in resolving the case, which has highlighted the increasing incidents of fake kidnappings aimed at extorting money from unsuspecting victims. The police have assured the public that they will continue to clamp down on such fraudulent activities.
Metro
Father demands justice over son’s death in Benue
By Francesca Hangeior
Joseph Onminyi, the father of 19-year-old Peter Onminyi, who was allegedly killed by men from the Operation Zenda unit of the Benue State Police Command, has called for justice.
According to Onminyi, his son was killed in the presence of family members on May 19, 2024, around 8 pm while they were having dinner at their residence located at Welfare Quarters, Makurdi.
Speaking to journalists in Makurdi on Wednesday, the father of the deceased alleged that some policemen invaded their residence, shot his son dead, and took away his corpse.
While crying out for justice, Onminyi demanded the immediate release of his son’s body for a decent burial according to Idoma’s traditional rites and customs.
He also demanded the immediate return of items taken from their house and access to their home, as they have been traumatised and are tired of sleeping outside.
The father, a retired civil servant, described his son as a complete gentleman and said that, to his knowledge, his son had not committed any offence that would have warranted his killing by the police in front of the family.
He said, “I am Mr. Joseph Onminyi, the father of the deceased, late Peter Onminyi, who was shot to death by the police on May 19, 2024, in my own house, not even outside.
“No reason was given by the police for their actions. They didn’t ask or tell anyone about the offence he committed; rather, they just killed him while he was eating in the dining room.
“The police didn’t approach me, the father, or ask any of my children who were with me in the room what offence my son had committed. They just jumped over the fence, entered the house, and began shooting sporadically. They even shot at one of my sons, who was eating at the dining table.
“Not only that, after killing him, they took his body away and removed all the home properties, including a radio, refrigerator, washing machine, gas cooker and gas cylinder, as well as two motorcycles and everything else in the house.
“I think this action could be seen as armed robbery because they came unannounced, and nobody was informed of what they were there for. Whether they came to search for something or to investigate someone, they didn’t say anything; they just shot and killed my innocent child.
“After killing him, the police took his body away to an unknown destination. Up to this moment, I don’t know where my son’s lifeless body is. Not only that, the police locked my house.”
He added, “They locked the entrance gate to my house. My house has been locked and the key withheld since the incident in May.
“My family and I have been sleeping outside our home in an uncompleted building. I therefore appeal to Nigeria and the entire world to come to my aid and address the police brutality against innocent citizens,” Onminyi stated.
While mentioning that he had filed a case for breach of human rights against the police, the deceased’s father accused the police of delaying the case in court.
“They have refused to appear in court, which means the police believe they are above the law and can disregard the judicial process,” he said.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Command, SP Catherine Anene, said that the case involved someone suspected of kidnapping and armed robbery.
She said, “I am aware of the case, which involved a boy who was suspected of kidnapping. I think the police went there to arrest him, and during the process, one of the boys exchanged gunfire with the police, and in the process, he was killed.
“However, I am not sure of the name, but I will get back to you. This happened around the Welfare Quarters in the Makurdi area.”
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