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Tag: Ogun

  • BREAKING: Gunmen assassinate Ogun Chief

    BREAKING: Gunmen assassinate Ogun Chief

    Popular traditional chief in Ogun, Adeyinka Folarin, the Baasegun of the Itunsokun village in the state, has been shot dead by unidentified gunmen.

    He was shot at his Sagamu residence around 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 9, by the gunmen suspected to be cultists.

    The tragic incident was confirmed by two traditional rulers who pleaded anonymity.

    One of the traditional rulers said: “The information is correct but I don’t have much information about the incident. We heard that the chief who is a popular traditional chief and member of the Akarigbo in-council was killed last night. He is popularly called Baasegun, we however can’t say these are the people who did these terrible acts. We leave the police and other security agencies to do their job.”

    According to a Sagamu local government employee who also preferred anonymity, the incident forced the LG employees to quickly end their workday to save their lives.

    The source said: “Already, tension is very high in the town as I speak to you, workers are already moving out of the local government secretariat to avoid being caught in any form of crisis. Many are saying the man was killed by cultists but no one could really confirm this, the information is still scanty now.”

    However, the spokeswoman for the Ogun state Police Command, SP Omolola, is yet to confirm the incident.

    The Nation

     

  • Police intercept couple trafficking one-month old baby from Lagos to Anambra

    Police intercept couple trafficking one-month old baby from Lagos to Anambra

    The Police Command in Anambra has arrested a couple suspected to be trafficking a one-month-old baby from Lagos to Onitsha.

    This is contained in a statement signed by the State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Onitsha.

    Ikenga said that the interception was made at Bridgehead in Onitsha on Sunday.

    According to him, the couple was travelling in a luxury bus belonging to a popular transport company with the baby when a co-passenger observed that the mother could not breastfeed the baby despite its cry for food in the course of the journey.

    “The good samaritan put a call through to Anambra Police on its Control Room hotline in Awka which then relayed the information to the Police at Bridgehead in Onitsha.

    “The Police laid in wait for the luxury bus described and intercepted it in the evening hours. The couple and the baby were identified and brought down for questioning,” he said.

    He noted that she confessed buying the child from its mother in Ajah, Lagos for the sum of N30,000.

    He further said that the Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, thanked the public-spirited citizen for his humane concern in giving the information that led to the rescue of the child.

    He stressed that Adeoye commended the police operatives for their vigilance and dedication to duty.

    He said that the commissioner directed that the couple be handed to National Agency for Prohibition in Trafficking of Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.

    Ikenga said that the baby had been handed over to the state Ministry of Women Affairs for care pending investigation.

  • Ogun women affairs ministry defends over N1bn 2024 budget

    Ogun women affairs ministry defends over N1bn 2024 budget

    The Ogun Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Adijat Adeleye, on Monday, defended the over N1billion appropriated for the ministry in the state’s 2024 fiscal budget.

    Adeleye appeared before the Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Mr Musefiu Lamidi, representing Ado-Odo/Igbesa constituency, at the Ogun House of Assembly complex, Abeokuta.

    She solicited for more support from the legislators in containing incidences of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and gender inequality in the state.

    The commissioner said that out of the total budget to the ministry, the sum of N353 million was earmarked for capital projects while N651million was  for recurrent expenditure.

    According to her, over N12 million was being expected as Internally Generated Revenue during the fiscal year.

    Adeleye stated that part of the ministry’s target in the year was the completion of rehabilitation of Fatty Lammy Rehabilitation Centre at Oke-Ilewo and the Women Development Centre at Kobape among others.

    She commended the assembly for identifying with the ministry through their strategic roles of orientating the grassroots on gender based issues, especially the enactment of relevant legislations to protect the women and other vulnerable groups.

    Other agencies that defended their budget estimates for the 2024 fiscal year included the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives and the Office of the Auditor General for State and its Local Government counterpart.

  • Abiodun approves immediate payment of gratuity to next of kin of slain finance director

    Abiodun approves immediate payment of gratuity to next of kin of slain finance director

    Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has approved the immediate payment of the gratuity of the slain Director of Finance and Administration in his office, Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, to his Next of Kin.

    Suspected armed robbers shot Oyekanmi dead on Nov. 29 as he was returning to his office from a bank in Abeokuta where he had cashed government funds and carted the money away.

    The governor said in Abeokuta on Wednesday at a memorial service in honour of the deceased that the payment of the gratuity would cushion the effects of the death of Oyekanmi on the bereaved family.

    He also announced full scholarships for the children of the deceased.

    He said he had also instructed the Ministry of Housing to provide the widow and children of late Oyekanmi with one of the affordable homes built by his administration.

    “I also promised when I went to see the widow that we would not leave her and the children in the cold. We shall stand by the family and support it.

    “We cannot replace Oyekanmi, but we will do everything to cushion the effect of his departure.

    “I have since signed up on some of that support immediately. So this is not a promise that you have to come to us to request that we fulfill,’’ Abiodun said.

    He enjoined the family of the deceased to support the widow and the children he left behind, adding that all the support to be given to her are exclusively hers.

    “I plead with the family members. I know how our tradition works. Please, bear with this woman.

    “Oyekanmi was your brother, nephew and cousin, but he was the woman’s husband; she has lost her husband; the children have lost their father.

    “All these support that are due to be given to her are for her exclusively,’’ Abiodun stressed.

    The governor reiterated his promise that his administration would do all within its power to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book.

  • Ogun gov, Abiodun warns traditional rulers against selling govt. land

    Ogun gov, Abiodun warns traditional rulers against selling govt. land

    O gun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has cautioned some traditional rulers in the state against the sale of lands belonging to the State Government.

    The caution is contained in a statement issued in Abeokuta by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Lekan Adeniran, and made available to newsmen on Monday.

    The statement further indicated that the warning was issued at a meeting the governor had with the state Council of Traditional Rulers.

    He warned that his administration would take disciplinary action against any person found selling land in its forest reserves and plantation across the state.

    He described as unpatriotic, the actions of the perpetrators, including some Obas.

    According to the statement, the governor said: “We will continue to seek your support in the area of lands.

    “Sadly, cases have been reported to us here in Abeokuta about some of our traditional rulers who have taken upon themselves to allocate government land, government forest reserve, and plantations to others.

    “They have been allocating and selling government lands. I have found this very difficult to believe.

    “Our traditional rulers are colluding with people from outside Ogun and giving our land to them in our plantations and they are coming there, deforesting them.

    “They are destroying the plantation.

    “They are planting cannabis sativa there.

    “I was completely heartbroken when I heard this news and when we actually checked, we found it was true.”

    The governor further said that as a responsible government, “we will not have any choice but to take disciplinary action against any person found culpable of such an act, be it traditional rulers”.

    He told the royal fathers that his administration was making effort to bring more investors to invest in the state.

    He expressed gratitude to the Obas for their support during and after the governorship election.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ganiyu Hamzat, was reported to have acknowledged the cordial relationship between the State Government and traditional institution.

    Hamzat pointed out that the partnership had brought about peace at the grassroots.

    He, therefore, urged the traditional rulers to continue to support government’s efforts in bringing development to every part of the state.

    The Chairman of the council and the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, lauded the government for its developmental strides in all parts of the state.

    Ajayi appreciated the governor for his magnanimity to the traditional institution.

  • Ogun Govt. places N50m bounty on killers of Finance Director

    Ogun Govt. places N50m bounty on killers of Finance Director

    The Ogun Government has announced a reward of N50 million for any information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of Director of Finance and Administration (DFA) attached to Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s office, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi.

    Mr Tokunbo Talabi, the Secretary to the State Government, announced the reward in a statement in Abeokuta on Friday.

    According to the statement, Information provided would be treated with utmost confidentiality.

    ”Such information can be sent to the underlisted telephone numbers:
    08037441955
    08033074371
    08081775020
    08034062773
    08032136765. ”

    Recall that suspected armed robbers on Nov. 29 shot dead Oyekanmi, and carted away government funds.

    Oyekanmi had cashed an undisclosed amount of money from a branch of Fidelity bank in Abeokuta, and was heading back to the office when he was waylaid by the gunmen.

    According to source, the gunmen, about five of them, shot the accountant dead at Kuto bridge in Abeokuta and went away with the government’s money.

    It was gathered that Oyekanmi and other aides who sustained gunshot injuries during the attacks, were rushed to the State General Hospital, Ijaye, where the accountant later died.

  • Missing Soyinka found dead, eyes plucked out, wrists cut in Ogun

    Missing Soyinka found dead, eyes plucked out, wrists cut in Ogun

    The mutilated body of a missing 12-year-old boy, John Soyinka, was on Monday found in a bush at Kotogbo community in Asero Estate, Abeokuta.

    Soyinka was declared missing a week ago and the matter was reported at the Obantoko Police Station in Abeokuta.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the discovery of the dead body to newsmen on Wednesday in Abeokuta.

    Odutola said that the gruesome murder of Soyinka, whose eyes were plucked out and wrists cut off, had changed the case to a homicide.

    She said that the body had been released to the family for burial, adding that investigation was ongoing to unravel perpetrators of the crime

    A resident of the area, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the boy disappeared after he went to see a customer who had done a transaction at a POS shop where the deceased assisted.

    “I know the boy very well. He is about 12 years old and lived with his mother who I guess is no longer with her husband.

    “His mother does menial jobs like helping people to sweep.

    ”What we heard was that, last week Thursday, he said he wanted to check on a customer who did POS transactions, apparently may be there was something to sort out about the transaction, but the boy never came back.

    “The boy and his mother lived at Olasunkanmi community and so the Community Development Association reported the matter to the Divisional Police Officer at Obantoko Station.

    “The DPO informed the police at Adigbe and Lafenwa, but it was the boy’s corpse that was seen at Kotogbo community, just beside Olasunkanmi on Monday.

    “The two communities are inside Asero Estate, Abeokuta. It is suspected to be a case of ritual killing because the boy’s eyes were removed while his wrists were also cut off,” he said.

  • Abiodun seeks joint Ogun/Osun cultural festival, as Adeleke visits

    Abiodun seeks joint Ogun/Osun cultural festival, as Adeleke visits

    Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun has called for a joint cultural festival between Ogun and Osun as part of measures to revive culture and tourism in the two states.

    Abiodun spoke when he received his Osun counterpart, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Friday night.

    The Chief Press Secretary to Abiodun, Lekan Adeniran, made the information known in a statement in Abeokuta on Saturday.

    Abiodun said that both states share many things in common, hence the need to explore their rich cultural affinity for the benefit of their people.

    The governor noted that such a festival, if planned together would help in deepening the relationship between both states.

    “I am happy that you suggested that we should collaborate in the area of culture and tourism.

    ” We may have an adire festival in your state this year and then come back to Ogun the following year and I am sure this will deepen our culture.

    “As a matter of fact, we are planning a Cultural Festival in collaboration with people from the Caribbean and Brazil and I think this is something we can do together.

    ” We can put together a culture and tourism team to work together so that we have an Ogun/Osun Cultural Revival. This can attract foreign tourists to both states,” Abiodun said.

    Abiodun commended Adeleke for his good work in his state and for being a focused and diligent person, even as he recalled the long-existing relationship between them.

    He noted that being in different political parties does not matter, saying politics is just a platform meant to achieve objectives.

    Abiodun said his administration is in talks with the Federal Ministry of Works about some roads that are of importance to both states.

    ” One of which is a road that allows people to travel to Osun State without passing through Ibadan.

    “The decision to add the road to the list of roads that are of importance to this administration is in continuation of our administration’s plan to make connectivity with border states easy.

    “I also want us to look at other areas that we can cooperate and collaborate for the benefit of our people,” Abiodun said.

    Speaking earlier, Adeleke expressed delight with the cordial relations between indigenes of both states, stressing the need to explore and exploit the cultural affinity for the good of the people.

    He emphasised the need to promote unity at all times, saying the people of both states remain one, hence politics of bitterness should not be used as a means of separation.

    The governor stated that his administration is ready to work with the Ogun government in the area of cultural reawakening and promotion.

  • Ogun assembly screens 3 commissioner nominees

    Ogun assembly screens 3 commissioner nominees

    The Ogun House of Assembly on Monday screened three additional commissioner nominees sent to it by Gov. Dapo Abiodun.

    Mr. Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker, presided over the screening of the nominees at the assembly complex in Abeokuta.

    The three commissioner-nominees screened were: Mr. Olatunji Odunlami, former Commissioner in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; Mr Wasiu Isiaka, former Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Ogun Internally Generated Revenue and Mrs Funmi Efuwape, immediate past Commissioner in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    The state legislature had earlier screened and confirmed 17 commissioner nominees, who are yet to be sworn in by the governor.

    The speaker enjoined the screened nominees to remain committed to quality service and avoid anything that could impede the progress and development of the state if confirmed.

    The lawmakers in their various contributions, urged them to look inward and design plans and programmes that would have positive impact on the people of the state.

    They charged the nominees to redouble their efforts to ensure the delivery of dividends of democracy across the state.

    Responding, the nominees promised to consolidate on their achievements during the first term if confirmed

    They assured that they would continue to synergise with the state legislature and other relevant stakeholders to implement policies and programmes for the development of the state.

  • Sagamu cult clash: Ogun Govt lifts curfew

    Sagamu cult clash: Ogun Govt lifts curfew

    The Ogun Government has lifted the curfew imposed on Sagamu town, following deadly clashes between rival cult groups.

    This is contained in a statement by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, in Abeokuta.

    The restriction of human and vehicular movement between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. was imposed on Sept. 18, as an immediate response to the cult clashes in Sagamu town, Ogun.

    Talabi said the improved security situation across the troubled town informed the decision to lift the curfew.

    He said that normalcy had returned to the town while security agents continued investigating the remote and immediate causes of the cult clashes.

    According to him, Gov. Dapo Abiodun is committed to ridding the state of violence.

    The SSG urged the people of Sagamu to go about their daily activities without fear, adding that adequate security would remain on the ground in spite of lifting of the curfew.

    NAN also reports that the police confirmed the arrest of 19 persons suspected to be members of different cult groups in connection with the cult clashes that left eight persons dead in Sagamu area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Omolola Odutola, on Monday.

    According to the statement, 19 persons were arrested at different locations in the Sagamu area of the state through the combined effort of various formations of the Police Force.

    She said that during the operation, a suspected kingpin of the Eiye Confraternity, Ogunnibi Hammed, who was allegedly responsible for attacks against rival cult groups in the state, was also arrested.

    She noted that the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, had ordered the immediate investigation of the individuals arrested while promising that the public would be duly informed of further developments on the case.

    “The Commissioner of Police is informed about the arrests and has ordered an immediate investigation into the individuals apprehended. As the investigation progresses, the police will provide updates to the public regarding any relevant developments in this case”, Odutola said.