By Emman Ovuakporie
Popular Nyanya market in the outskirts of Federal Capital Territory FCT, Abujaon Tuesday caught from an unidentified source.
Reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) indicate that the fire started at about 7.05pm from a source yet to be identified.
According to witnesses account, immediately the fire started hoodlums started looting goods mostly poultry feeds.
The fire brigade is just arriving the market barely 5mins ago
Details shortly…
The Military has condemned the reported attacks on protesters demanding abolition of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and sweeping reforms in the Nigerian Police Force by “thugs and miscreants”.
It warned further attacks against “peace loving Nigerians” will not be condoned.
It threatened: “Thugs and miscreants are hereby warned to desist from engaging in violent activities against peaceful Nigerians henceforth, or face appropriate measures”.
According to the Coordinator Defence Media Operations, Major General John Enenche: “The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies have observed with dismay some violence-related protests across the country; particularly the increasing number of attacks on peaceful protesters by thugs and miscreants”.
He added: “This unfolding event against peace loving Nigerians will not be condoned. Hence, thugs and miscreants are hereby warned to desist from engaging in violent activities against peaceful Nigerians henceforth, or face appropriate measures.
“Thus, the Military High Command duly encourages peaceful citizens to go about their normal activities without fear of intimidation or harassment as the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies are on ground for their safety.
“In clear terms, any attempt to undermine the democracy of our beloved nation under any cover will not be allowed. For emphasis, the Armed Forces of Nigeria remains subordinated to the civil authorities of the country with unflinching loyalty to the President Commander in Chief.
“Additionally, the Military High Command wishes to reassure law abiding citizens that it is highly committed to the sustenance of peace, security, and the defence of democracy in Nigeria.The Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies hereby commends all citizens particularly those who genuinely express their concerns in an organized, patriotic and civil manner”.
The High Command of the Armed Forces had denied referring to #EndSARS protesters as subversive elements.
It explained that rather the subversive elements referred to in a statement issued by the Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sagir Musa, were people who will want to derail the cause of the protest.
Enenche, who made the denial while fielding questions from Defence Correspondents at the weekly update on military operations across the Federation, explained: “I will say that the subversive elements are people who will want to derail the cause of the protest. And who are those people?
“You will agree with me that they are those who are out for destruction. Some people are even hauling stones even at the protesters, these are subversive elements.
“People are protesting peacefully, they are carrying placards and they are being answered and you are hauling stones at them. So i will want to state that these are the subversive elements that the army is referring to not the protesters”.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, said miscreants using the lockdown to unleash havoc on the residents are not ‘hungry people’ but opportunistic criminals.
Sanwo-Olu, who said this at the COVID-19 and security briefing in Marina, assured that his administration would ensure the safety and security of lives and property of all citizens.
He, however, announced the deployment of security agencies to different parts of the state to stop attacks by robbers and hoodlums on residents.
Sanwo-Olu revealed that an emergency Security Council meeting discussed the increasing reports of crime caused by cultists, miscreants and other criminals that were using the lockdown to unleash havoc on the people.
”Over 100 suspects have been arrested in the last 72 hours on account of disturbances. All the suspects have accordingly been charged to court.
”Those miscreants that you may have seen in the videos going viral are not hungry people. They are opportunistic criminals and will be treated as such by the law enforcement agencies,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor assured that the state was in constant communication with the Federal Government on the issue.
He also confirmed the deployment of DIG Peter Ogunyanwo as the Intervention Squad Coordinator to curtail and stem the perceived and actual threats of violence in Lagos.
”With this revised strategy, you will see an increase in mobile police deployment in all trouble spots in the metropolis as well as the police intensifying patrols around residential areas, boundary communities during this lockdown period.
”This will also be carried out in conjunction with other security agencies – Army, Navy, Airforce and Directorate of State Security Services (DSS),” Sanwo-Olu disclosed.
He urged all Lagosians to obey the lockdown extension directive, adding that there will be zero tolerance for disobedience of directives.
There was pandemonium on Monday at the Abule-Ado area of Lagos State as some miscreants ganged raped a 14-year-old girl, Obiamaka Ngozichukwu Orakwe to death for refusing their love advances.
The miscreants, according to residents usually hanged out in a smoking joint in the area.
On the day of the incident, Orakwe, a Junior Secondary School 3 student was alone at home. The miscreants were said to have gained entry into their (Orakwe’s) apartment from the back of the house, scaling the fence.
They were said to have gagged her, took turns to rape her and, thereafter, abandoned her in a pool of her blood. Obiamaka Ngozichukwu Orakwe Her distraught mother said she was contacted on phone by residents, who saw the miscreants leaving the building through the fence.
Curious residents were said to have knocked several times on the gate to ascertain the miscreants’ mission, without any response from within.
On arrival, Mrs Orakwe reportedly opened the gate with a spare key, only to find her daughter in a pool of her blood in one of the rooms, gasping for breath.
Recounting the deadly ordeal, Mrs. Orakwe said: “When I asked her what happened, she said it was those boys she had told me about. We rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.” A relative, who preferred anonymity said the deceased refused to join her siblings to spend the holiday at her uncle’s place in Lekki, saying “ she would like to stay at home to assist in the house chores.
“Before the incident happened, she complained that some boys, who smoke Indian hemp in the area, were making advances at her, which she turned down. “They must have targeted when her parents usually leave for work before storming the place. She has been buried at Berger Cemetery.”
The incident, as gathered, has been reported to the Police. Police sources at the Command Headquarters hinted that investigation into the incident had commenced. According to the sources, “efforts are on to arrest the perpetrators of the dastardly act. We will notify the public when this is done.”