TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos

  • Gunmen invade Lagos Catholic church, shoot reverend father

    Three gunmen poised as worshipers on Friday invaded St. Thomas’ Catholic Church, Onilekere, Ikeja, shooting the parish priest, Rev. Daniel Nwankwo at close range.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the incident occurred around 8:30am, shortly after the priest concluded the day’s morning mass.

    The gunmen were said to have approached the priest and demanded audience with him, a request he granted without suspicion.

    But as soon as Nwankwo followed them outside the church auditorium, one of the hoodlums, who allegedly spoke fluent Igbo language, opened fire on him.

    It was gathered that his alleged attackers, who were armed with locally-made pistols, scaled the fence into a nearby canal as soon as the priest raised the alarm.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the acting Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal led some policemen to the scene and assured worshipers that the culprits would be fished out.

    According to the Command’s spokesman, Olarinde Famous-Cole, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) five suspects have already been arrested in connection with the crime and were being interrogated.

    Famous-Cole dispelled rumours that the priest was killed, adding that he was recuperating at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    He said: “The priest was immediately taken to LASUTH for medical attention where he is currently being treated and is under stable. The CP has visited the priest to ensure he was being given adequate treatment. He also spoke with him

    “Yes the CP was at the scene and he spoke with some witnesses, who said the assailants were three and all Igbos.

    “The witnesses said the assailants were not known to be members of the church. They said they were having a conversation with the priest before he was shot.

    “CP Edgal has deployed a crack team of detectives and operational officers to the scene and all areas leading to the canal, where the suspects were said to have ran towards.

    “Already, five suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime and they are being interrogated.

    “The CP is advising residents to be vigilant and security conscious at this time. He appealed that strange and suspicious faces, movements be promptly reported to the police.

    “He has also ordered the deployment of static police guards in all churches and mosques across the state. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) have been directed to provide 24 hours daily static police guard at churches and mosques.”

  • Lagos, Abuja, other cities Igbos dominate, invest in are part of Biafra land – MASSOB

    Lagos, Abuja, other cities Igbos dominate, invest in are part of Biafra land – MASSOB

    The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, on Thursday declared that Lagos; Nigeria’s commercial hub and Abuja; the nation’s capital territory and some other cities where Igbos live, work and have investments in are all part of Biafra.

    Speaking at Awgu, in Enugu, during a rally organised to welcome the leader of another pro-Biafra group, the Biafra National Guard, ‘General’ Innocent Oji, the leader of MASSOB, Comrade Kingsley Madu said Igbos had contributed immensely in the development of the various cities where they live.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Oji was recently released from detention.

    “Pro-Biafra groups have adopted a new ideology which stated that any part of the country where a large population of Igbos is found, and where Igbos contributed towards human and material development, is part of Biafra,” Madu said.

    According to him, ‘Biafrans’ do not want to ‘confine’ themselves to a particular place.

    The Biafra National Guard is said to be the ‘military wing’ of the pro-Biafra groups.

    Addressing the rally, Madu raised the alarm over the alleged sacking of Igbo traders from a portion of land at Trade Fair and FESTAC in Lagos.

    He said the affected traders were evicted by Lagos State Government after they had invested billions of naira in developing the area.

    Igbo would not be forced out in any part of Nigeria, where they invested lots of resources to develop, Madu vowed.

    Stressing that Lagos and Abuja are part of Biafra, he said, “Some years back a portion of land at Trade Fair and FESTAC were conceded to our people for development in Lagos.

    “After spending billions of naira in developing this part of Lagos for the economic growth of Nigerian government, today information reaching us is that the Federal Government, conniving with the Lagos State Government, yesterday retrieved the land, the platform, all the investment and everything from the people of Biafra.

    “This is part of the reason for Biafra agitation.

    “And we are warning because we now believe that everywhere an Igbo man is is part of Biafra.

    “That is the latest ideology we have.

    “We don’t want to confine ourselves to a particular place; we now believe that wherever our foot touches is our land that is Biafra.

    “Lagos is also Biafra, Abuja is also Biafra.

    “Anywhere our people are that place is Biafra.

    “So what we are saying now is that that part of Lagos that our people developed with their money is also part of Biafra and we cannot leave.”

    The MASSOB leader, however, advised Igbos to locate their investments in the ‘Biafra mainland’, South-East and South-South, where they are guaranteed safety and protection.

    He welcomed Oji back home after several years in detention.

    Earlier, Oji, leader of Biafra National Guard, commended Madu for carrying on with the struggle while he was incarcerated.

    Oji declared that Biafra will be achieved in less than one year.

    The Biafra military wing leader warned that any attempt by the Federal Government to arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, who he described as ‘Supreme Leader’, would be met with stiff resistance.

    “By the grace of God, this struggle will not last beyond one year from now because we have our strategy.

    “But if the Federal Government feels we cannot do anything let them go and arrest our supreme leader, Nnamdi Kanu, for them to see what we can do,” he said.

    Oji also warned the British Government, which he said was responsible for the perceived oppression of Igbos.

    He said, “Have it in your mind today that Britain is aware of what is happening in Nigeria, all these things they are doing to us is caused by Britain.

    “I am using this opportunity to warn Britain and their government, if they say they are not behind what Fulani herdsmen are doing to our people, killing our people and raping our women and other things, they should come out openly and deny it and ask Nigeria to let us go, otherwise when it will happen nobody should be talking about genocide, Britain should be held responsible.”

  • Ambode reiterates commitment to quality, affordable healthcare service

    The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to increase access to quality and affordable healthcare service through the implementation of its much awaited Health Insurance Scheme (LSHS).

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, made the assertion in Lagos at the end of the 2017 State Council on Health Meeting.

    A statement signed by Mrs Adeola Salako, the Director, Public Affairs, said theme is: “Universal Health Coverage – Working Toward a Sustainable Health Care Agenda’’ and sub-theme: “Instituting the Lagos State Health Scheme”.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the State Council on Health is the highest policy advisory body on health in Lagos State.

    It provides a veritable forum for dialogue between a broad spectrum of decision makers, policy implementers and key stakeholders from all spheres of the Lagos Health Sector.

    Idris said: “Two major issues, which include informal sector participation and enrollment in the LSHS as well as domestic resource mobilisation to fund the scheme were arrived at the council meeting.

    “It was resolved that to effectively gain traction within the informal sector in terms of coverage of the LSHS, premium payment should be broken down based on earnings.

    “Premium collection should be brought to their places of business and several agents should be engaged to effect same.”

    He said the council also resolved that there should be massive enlightenment and sensitisation of the informal sector to aid participation in the scheme.

    The commissioner added that capacity building and orientation should be invested in to enhance health-seeking behaviour.

    Idris said that the resolutions include leveraging on the use of information technology such as social media; use of IEC materials such as fliers, handbill, posters and banners and need for inter-sectorial collaboration.

    Idris said that implementation of the scheme lends credence to the state government’s position that all people and communities should have access to needed promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services.

    According to him, such services must be of sufficient quality, be effective and residents should not suffer financial hardship when paying for the services.

    “This year’s session is especially significant at this time as the state is on the verge of commencing the Lagos State Health Scheme (LSHS),” the commissioner said.

    Idris explained that the journey to having a State Health Insurance Scheme has been a long, but purposeful one.

    He said that the seed was planted at the beginning of democratic dispensation in 1999 as a necessary strategic intervention toward the State’s Health Sector Reform.

    The commissioner said that the programme was put on hold until the national policy milieu provided an enabling environment for states willing to implement a State Health Insurance Scheme.

    “The Lagos State Government’s resolve to have its own scheme is further evidenced by the fact that the state’s health financing direction was a major subject matter at the last two State Councils on Health meeting held in 2013 and 2015.

    “At the 2015 State Council on Health in particular, it was agreed that the LSHS should be made compulsory to promote universal coverage.

    “The payment structure for the scheme should be flexible and the benefit package should be made robust and easy to understand.

    “It must be attractive to prospective clients and ensures ease of access,” he said.

    Idris said that Lagos was proud to be the first in achieving legislative backing for a mandatory Social Health Insurance Programme which was signed into Law in 2015.

    He said that since the signing of the law, a lot of works and due diligence have been done by a committed Core Implementation Team comprising of technical partners and recognised individuals.

    The commissioner said, “It might seem like a lot of time has passed since the enactment of the law for the implementation of the scheme to be just commencing.

    “However, a lot of technical studies and pilot schemes have been done to ensure that we get it right as the scheme is expected to be a catalyst for the Lagos State Health Reform.”

     

     

     

  • Lagos CP sacks OC anti-kidnapping for alleged robbery

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered the removal of the Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism Squad, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, CSP Akinade Adejobi.

    Adejobi and his officers were alleged to have taken N50,000 for the bail of one Blessing Taiwo, over an alleged theft.

    Also alleged to have seized the victim’s phone pending when a balance of N20,000 would be paid on Tuesday.

    Blessing’s sister, Florence, had claimed she (Florence) was sexually harassed by the policemen who put hands into her private parts and breasts anytime she took food to her sister in the cell where Blessing was locked up with a mad woman.

    She had said one of the policemen had been pestering her with telephone calls, asking to see her.

  • Photos: New Lagos Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal assumes office

    The newly appointed Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Mr. Imohimi Edgal has officially assumed duties in Lagos state.

    The new commissioner, Imohimi took over from Fatai Owoseni, see some of the photos at the handing over ceremony.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Police to cover 344 praying grounds in Lagos – CP

    Eid-el-Kabir: Police to cover 344 praying grounds in Lagos – CP

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni, on Wednesday, said the Command had put adequate security measures in place to cover some 344 Muslim praying grounds identified in the state during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    Owoseni, assuring Lagos residents of plans to ensure a hitch-free festival, however, urged members of the public to celebrate modestly and not provoke any form of violence in the state.

    “The Eid-il-Kabir is two days away. The command, while wishing Muslim faithful happy celebration, states that every operational plan is in place, including identification of Muslim praying grounds in Lagos, which are about 344.

    “Adequate security measures have been made to cover the praying grounds and to ensure that all routes are covered by police presence.

    “This is to effectively manage the traffic and assure fun-seekers and Muslim faithful of security to and from praying grounds.

    ” The command will not give room to any criminal element to molest or attack anyone in the state.

    “The police and other security agencies are fully on ground and well positioned. Their eagle eyes will catch anyone who tries to commit a crime,” he said.

    Owoseni advised members of the public to report any suspicious activity to the police and other security agencies.

    He said that measures had also been put in place in collaboration with Ogun State Police Command to cover exit routes by increasing visibility on the routes.

     

     

    NAN

  • Photos: Meet the new Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Imohimi Edgal

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris on Tuesday appointed Imohimi Edgal, as the new Commissioner of Police in-charge-of the Lagos State Command, following his recent promotion to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, by the Police Service Commission.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Edgal, until his promotion worked closely with the former Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni to tackle crime in Lagos.

    ‎Edgal, a seasoned police officer, was instrumental in ending activities of the dreaded Badoo cult and militants carrying out kidnappings within Ikorodu and its adjoining communities.

    Journey into Nigeria Police Force

    ‎Edgal was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force, as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, on February 2, 1986, serving in various commands and formations of the NPF within the country in several capacities, spending most of his days at the Lagos State Police Command.

    A 1984 graduate of Art at the University of Jos, who went on to bag a masters degree in Public and International Affairs at the University of Lagos in 2004, Edgal is highly trained on Community and Intelligence Gathering Policing, enabling him in organising the first Community Policing summits in Ikeja GRA, Lagos State.

    Promotions, trainings and certifications

    It’s on record that Edgal, who served as the Divisional Police Officer of Shomolu Police Division, Seme Police Division, Ikeja and Surelere Police Divisions, between the year 2003 and 2011, as a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, before he was promoted and appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in-charge-of the Area A, Command, Lagos, ‎obtained a diploma degree in Police Science. ‎ He also obtained a certificate of National Security for Nigeria Defense Intelligence, at the Centre of Strategic Studies, Galilee International Management Institute Israel and the Defense Intelligence College Abuja in 2015, which necessitated his appointment as the ACP in-charge-of the Intelligence at the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    An expert in Community Policing, Edgal attended several courses organised by the Department For International Development, DFID, United Kingdom, in Lagos, Awka, Anambra States and Staff College Jos, Plateau State, making him Community Policing in Nigeria. In 2010, Edgal, as DPO Ikeja Division, launched the first Community Policing in Ikeja Lagos State. He hosted security stakeholders in Ikeja, at Savoy Suite, GRA and lectured participants on how to assist the police on Community Policing.

    Working alliance with local vigilante groups to curb crime

    Following his promotion to the rank of a DCP and his appointment as DC ops Lagos State, Edgal through his community policing experience, mobilised a joint security operation, involving members of the Oodua Progress Congress, OPC, Ikorodu Local Vigilante, Oyebo, the Departments of State Security, DSS, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, ‎traditionalists and some local chiefs in Ikorodu, in tackling the menace of the Badoo cult group, which has killed several persons in Ikorodu and Ogijo areas of Lagos and Ogun State, his effort aided the discovery of a suspected notorious shrine which is used for ritual purposes .

    Gallant policing efforts

    The New Lagos Police Commissioner played a huge role in the successful rescue of the six kidnapped students, of Lagos Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were abducted on May 25, 2017, by gunmen who invaded the school. Edgal was said to have mobilised policemen from the Anti-Robbery and Kidnapping units of the Lagos Command Police, and their counterparts at the Marine Police in attacking and killing members of the kidnap gang when they attempted to snatching some police gunboats, from the Marine Police Post in Ajah.

    The leader of the kidnap gang, known as America was killed in that operation, his death and the subsequent arrest of relatives of his gang members compelled members of gang in releasing the kidnapped students in Ondo State.‎

     

  • Breaking: Lagos police command gets new commissioner

    The Lagos State Police Command has been assigned a new Commissioner, following recent promotions and posting effected by Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    The Commissioner, Edgal Imohimi, replaces his predecessor, Fatai Owoseni.

    TheNewsGuru.com gathered that the new police boss was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force, as a cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police, on February 2, 1986, serving in various commands and formations of the NPF within the country in several capacities, spending most of his days at the Lagos State Police Command.
    A 1984 graduate of Art at the University of Jos, who went on to bag a master degree in Public and International Affairs at the University of Lagos in 2004, Edgal is highly trained on Community and Intelligence Gathering Policing, enabling him in organising the first Community Policing summits in Ikeja GRA, Lagos State.
    It’s on record that Edgal, who served as the Divisional Police Officer of Shomolu Police Division, Seme Police Division, Ikeja and Surelere Police Divisions, between the year 2003 and 2011, as a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, before he was promoted and appointed the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, in-charge-of the Area A, Command, Lagos, ‎obtained a diploma degree in Police Science. ‎
    He also obtained a certificate of National Security for Nigeria Defense Intelligence, at the Centre of Strategic Studies, Galilee International Management Institute Israel and the Defense Intelligence College Abuja in 2015, which necessitated his appointment as the ACP in-charge-of the Intelligence at the Police Force Headquarters Abuja.
    Imohimi was only promoted to the position of Deputy Commissioner of Police in June this year, while Chief Superintendents of Police Hope Okafor, Muyideen Obe, Bunmi Ogedengbe and Lawal Adebowale were promoted to Assistant Commissioners Police.

    Earlier this month, he led the operation which saw the Baale of Ipakodo in Ikorodu, Lagos arrested following the gruesome murder of four family members at Ibeshe, Ikorodu.

    The Command also uncovered a shrine and graves in the area, believed to be the domain of the dreaded Badoo cult group.

    Imohimi will now take charge of the Lagos State Police Headquarters.

  • Court rejects deposed Baale’s bail application, orders him to remain in prison with wife

    An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday dismissed an application filed by the deposed Baale of Shangisha, Mutiu Ogundare, seeking to vary his bail conditions.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Ogundare had filed the application alongside his wife, Abolanle and Mohammed Babatunde.

    During the proceedings on Tuesday, Ogundare’s counsel, Chief H. N. Ogirien, requested that the court should reduce some of the bail conditions, especially the requirement of a surety, who is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Lagos State Civil Service.

    “My Lord, we are unable to secure a Grade Level 17 officer in the Lagos State Civil Service, no one is willing to come forward and stand as surety.

    “We also have difficulty getting a traditional ruler to stand as surety, we are simply asking the court to review the bail conditions to enable the defendant to easily perfect the bail conditions,” Ogirien said.

    Shedding more light on Ogundare’s predicament, Ogirien said “This situation is peculiar because a man and his wife are both incarcerated.

    “They have young children who are dependent on them the children are of nursery, primary and secondary school ages, who are solely dependent on them and they have no one taking care of them.”

    Responding to Ogirien’s request, the vacation judge, Justice Oshodi asked why the application was not presented before the magistrate court which is a lower court where the bail of the Baale was initially granted.

    “He is a traditional ruler, so I am wondering why none of his fellow traditional rulers can stand as a surety for him.

    “Are you saying that there are no traditional rulers within the jurisdiction that cannot stand for him?” the judge qerried.

    The judge thereafter dismissed the application of the embattled former traditional ruler.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode had on July 16 deposed Ogundare for faking his own kidnap in a bid to allegedly blackmail the Lagos State Government.

    Ogundare’s “abduction” reportedly took place on July 5 along the Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area of the state.

    His wife, Abolanle and Babatunde were alleged to be accomplices in the kidnap plot.

    On July 20, Magistrate T. Akanni of an Ogba Magistrates’ Court had granted the trio N2 million bail with two sureties each in like sum.

    One of the sureties must be a traditional ruler, an individual with registered property in Lagos, a tax payer and a grade level 17 officer in the state public service.

  • Again, customs intercept, confiscate 27 exotic vehicles, contrabands in Lagos

    …Arrest 15 suspects

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit (FOU), Zone ‘ A’ Ikeja, Lagos has intercepted another 27 exotic vehicles, fake drugs and other items valued at N783.6million

    Fifteen smugglers, the Unit said, were arrested in connection with the seized items.

    The seized 27 exotic vehicles comprises of Toyota Prado, Toyata Hilux, Toyota Highlander, Mercedes Benz and other classic vehicles with Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N228,215,429.1

    The vehicles, findings revealed, are 2007 and 2013 models.

    Addressing reporters in Lagos Monday, its Controller Mohammed Garba said, his officers also seized 145 sacks of 10kg each and 120 parcels of 1kg each of Indian hemp.

    The monetary value of the Indian hemp, the Controller said, is N72,960,000.

    Others contrabands intercepted by the officers and men of the unit were expired rice, frozen poultry, used tyres, used clothes and general merchandise.

    The Controller said the seizures were made between August 9 and 25, 2017.

    He listed other contraband intercepted within the period as including: 1, 237 of 50 kg bags of rice valued at N15.2million; 137 bales of second hand clothing and lace material with DPV of N27million; 523 pieces of used tyres valued at N2.8 million.

    Others are 1,393 cartons of frozen poultry, one container marked FCIU 8437297 laden with used cars and other contraband, one container number, TCLU 178477/5 laden with 308 used truck tyres and tubes and. 858 cartons of rechargeable inverter battery packed in container marked PCIU 1884380.

    Garba added that the anti-smuggling unit recovered N252,1million from duty payments and demand notices on general goods intercepted outside the seaports, airports and borders.

    Garba said that the amount was realised from wrong classification, transfer of value and shortchange in duty payment.

    The Indian hemp and the fake drugs were handed over at the event, to the official of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Food, Drugs, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) respectively.