News & Announcements

An alleged chronic imposter of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority has been detained.

Omotutu Bamidele, a 55-year-old suspect, was taken into custody near the state’s Ikoyi district.

The suspect, who is from “Atijere Town” in Ondo State, admitted to LASTMA in a statement on Sunday that he and his accomplices who are still at large were earning an average of N35,000 per day through extortion acts.

He admitted to posing as the organization while wearing a reflective jacket and extorting money from cars, especially private automobile owners/drivers, in several parts of the state.

According to LASTMA, the suspect words were, “Any motorist particularly private car owners I caught dropping someone at any undesignated bus stop paid between N15,000 to N20,000, while those caught for driving against traffic (One-way) paid a minimum of N35,000.”

The suspect was apprehended on the Olu Holloway Road by Alfred Rewane area of Ikoyi by members of the agency’s Monitoring/Surveillance team, led by Mr. Ashafa Moyosore, according to Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, the director of LASTMA’s public affairs department (Zonal Head).

Oreagba claimed that in response to complaints made by members of the driving public (Obinna Kingsley and Adewusi Adebola) via LASTMA hotlines and social media handles, the agency conducted specialized monitoring and surveillance operations on the suspect and had him arrested.

He said, “Investigation conducted revealed that the arrested suspect has been extorting huge sum of money from motorists for various traffic offences ranging from seat-belt, obstructions, illegal over-taking and One-way at different locations around the Lagos Island.

“It is disheartening getting complaints from road users particularly motorists on activities of these unscrupulous elements impersonating and extorting money from them.”

As a result, the head of LASTMA warned the public to be aware of such phony traffic officers, claiming that the organization has a cashless policy and that anyone captured for violating the law will have a “Referral Notice” given to them and will be tried in court.

“Let me warn the motoring public to desist from inducing traffic officers in any form as both the giver and taker are liable before the law,” Oregaba said.

The White House announced on Sunday that US President Joe Biden had directed government assistance to the state of Mississippi to aid in local recovery efforts in regions devastated by a deadly tornado.

Grants for interim housing, loans for house improvements, and low-interest loans to pay for uninsured property damages are also part of the federal aid.

A violent tornado that tore off roofs, smashed automobiles, and leveled entire neighborhoods in the southern US state of Mississippi killed at least 23 people.

At least four people are missing, dozens of others have been hurt, and tens of thousands of residents in Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee are without power, according to the state’s emergency management office on Saturday.

A number of cities were hit along the road as the strong storm system that produced the tornado, coupled with thunderstorms and heavy rain, ripped a long route across the state late Friday.

A complete row of homes and buildings in the town of Rolling Fork, which has fewer than 2,000 residents, were destroyed, leaving just dispersed wreckage behind. Television footage revealed that cars were flipped over, fences were destroyed, and trees were uprooted.

Eldridge Walker, the mayor of Rolling Fork, told CNN, “My city is gone.” Devastation is all I can see as I look from left to right.

The town’s hardware shop employee Patricia Perkins told AFP that “almost everything is swept away.”

According to resident Shanta Howard, who works for ABC affiliate WAPT, residents had to assist in removing the corpses from the rubble of their homes.

“There was no notice at all. We had no idea what was going on, Tracy Harden, proprietor of Chuck’s Dairy Bar in Rolling Fork, told CNN through tears.

In counties Sharkey and Humphreys, located approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) north of the state capital Jackson, search and rescue efforts were also in progress.

The emergency management organization reported 23 as the most recent death toll but warned that number could increase.

“The loss will be felt in these towns forever,” state Governor Tate Reeves said on Twitter. “Please pray for God’s hand to be over all who lost family and friends.”

Nigerians have been urged by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to make themselves available for counting during the 2023 National Population and Housing Census.

On Sunday in Abuja, Dr. Garba Abari, the Director-General of NOA, made the announcement.

According to NAN, preparations are being made for the May population and housing census.

Abari, a participant in the census’ National Publicity and Advocacy Committee, stated that the activity is scheduled to start on May 3.

Thus, he made an appeal to the media to aid in spreading awareness among Nigerians of the significance of showing up when the headcount starts.

He said ‘’I urge Nigerians to participate fully in the exercise so as to avail the country of the benefits that can be derived from the population and housing census.

‘’Nigerians, please remember you count, so come out and be counted. Census is for all of us and census is for development and development is all we need.’’

He emphasized the need of the census for planning and development at the national level, but he also stressed the necessity for reliable data that would be believable and accepted, adding that “in this day and age, we cannot be planning on the basis on conjectures.”

The NOA boss said that the exercise’s use of technology will increase its legitimacy and acceptability.

“The technology to be deployed will make it difficult for anyone to manipulate the process.

“No doubt, the exercise will be different from previous ones because we are advancing through the use of modern technologies,’’ he said.

He continued, assuring Nigerians not to anticipate manipulations in the upcoming census, as every building in the nation had thus far been coded for the purpose.

He reaffirmed NOA’s commitment to mobilizing Nigerians for the exercise through effective sensitization.

Despite the difficulties the nation is facing, he said, the Federal Government’s selection of the 2023 census as a priority program highlights the need for Nigerians to take part in the exercise.

“We will make sure that all Nigerians are adequately educated to be properly tallied,” he continued.

‘’We need to sensitise the population to know the importance of the national population census.

‘’This is for the purpose of planning, legislative representation and insecurity that will reflect the peculiarity of our national demography— men, women, youths and children per local government, state and geo political zone.

‘’Be assured of the commitment to conduct a credible digital census in the country,’’ Abari said.

In collaboration with the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), special operation forces from “Operation Hadin Kai” in the North East stormed the ISWAP terrorists’ hideout in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State, killing 41 terrorists, including a commander named Abu Zahra. Other terrorists fled for their lives.

This occurs less than 24 hours after the 222 Battalion’s Operation Hadin Kai, which resulted in the killing of several members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno state’s Konduga local government area, sparked wild celebrations among the locals.

A counter-insurgency specialist in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, confirmed what an intelligence source claimed on Sunday morning.

According to sources, the troops killed the terrorists in Mukdolo and Bone village, which is halfway between Dikwa and Ngala, during a silent intelligence-driven midnight offensive that was coordinated by Maj. Gen. Shaibu Waidi, the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1.

The raid came after recent attacks that are thought to have been carried out by the Islamic sect, which on March 10, 2023, in Mukdolo, a local government area in Ngala that borders the village of Dikwa, killed 36 fishermen.

Sources claim that during a covert intelligence-driven nocturnal operation planned by Maj. Gen. Shaibu Waidi, the General Officer Commanding the 7 Division and Commander of Sector 1, the troops killed the terrorists in Mukdolo and Bone village, midway between Dikwa and Ngala.

The raid followed recent attacks that are believed to have been committed by the Islamic sect, which resulted in the deaths of 36 fishermen on March 10, 2023, in Mukdolo, a local government area in Ngala that borders the village of Dikwa.

A few hours after the election, the armed terrorists led by Abu Darda and Abu Muhammed also assaulted Mafa town in the early morning hours of March 19. But, the military foiled the attack, killing dozens of the terrorists and recovering two of their weapons trucks.

“Consequently upon the major offensive, military equipment including One gun truck, three Dushka, motorcycles, and several other weapons were recovered from the busted terrorist base.

“The terrorists’ Commander, (Amir Jaysh) Abu Mohammed, in the company of few fighters reportedly fled in disarray due to the superior firepower from the soldiers, thus abandoning their properties worth millions of Naira in the terrorists’ house which were destroyed by the troops.” The Sources said.

Similarly, in the North East of Konduga in Borno state, troops from the 222 Battalion’s Operation Hadin Kai killed a number of militants of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

At around 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, when Muslims were breaking their Ramadan fast, it was reported that the terrorists opened fire on the military formation guarding the nearby trenches.

Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region, revealed that the military quickly engaged the terrorists in a heavy gun battle that ultimately forced them to retreat.

Yet, in an act of valor, the troops under the command of their Commander pursued and killed seven fleeing terrorists who were heading in the direction of the Sambisa jungle.

The sources said “We recovered their truck, Anti Aircraft Gun, and all their weapons. No casualty was recorded on the side of the troops during the attack, “he said.

Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, revealed on Saturday that between July 2021 and May 2022, 51,828 Boko haram militants and their family members turned themselves in to the Federal Government.

He made this statement while delivering a lecture at the 7th Founders’ Day of the Edo State University, Uzairue in the Etsako West local government area with the subject “National Defence Policy and Transitional Justice Approach in the Battle Against Insurgency in Nigeria.”

In addition, the military chief said that between 2016 and 2022, 1,543 repentant terrorists graduated from the Mallam Sidi camp in Gombe State, while 1,935 were discharged from the Bulumkutu camp in Maiduguri.

According to him, Operation Safe Corridor was developed as a transitional justice strategy and is comparable to the Niger Delta Amnesty program, which the Federal Government launched in 2009 and involved the establishment of special facilities where remorseful terrorists who gave up their weapons could be rehabilitated.

Irabor said that “between July 2021 to May 2022 alone, no fewer than 51,828 Boko haram and their family members have surrendered, out of which 13,360 are fighters.

 “The programme (Operation Safe Corridor) offers numerous opportunities and participants are scheduled for vocational training to ease their reintegration into society”, he stressed.

However, despite the program’s modest gains in the fight against crime, according to Gen. Irabor, it still has a lot of obstacles to overcome.

He listed a few obstacles, such as a lack of experts with specialized training and inadequate physical infrastructure, poor collaboration and coordination, a lack of appropriate reintegration legislation, low agency and international participation, and a monitoring system that is ineffective.

A “train-the-trainers program and establishment of special fund for Deradicalization, Reintegration, and Reorientation (DRR), the establishment of a national commission for DRR, enactment of a DRR Act, building of strategic partnerships, and adoption of a whole-of-society approach to monitoring” were suggested by the CDS as a course of action.

Earlier, the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his deputy, RT. Hon. Com. Philip Shaibu, were praised by the university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, for their ongoing support of the institution and for fostering an environment that allowed it to succeed.

Aluyor claimed that over time, the lectures had gradually changed the tone of the Founder’s Day program, which addressed crucial questions about how to make Nigeria the nation of our shared aspirations.

According to him, several of the instructors and researchers are ranked among the top 500 researchers in Nigeria, and the students who studied for the tests given by the Council for nursing and medical laboratories had 100% success rates.

Lt. General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (retd), a former chief of general staff under General Sani Abacha’s military junta, has passed away.

Prince Oyesinmilola Diya confirmed that he had passed away. He claimed that early on March 26, 2023, the former military governor of Ogun State entered eternal life.

He said in the statement, “On behalf of the entire Diya family home and abroad; We announce the passing on to Glory of our dear Husband,Father, Grandfather,brother, Lt- General Donaldson Oladipo Oyeyinka Diya (Rtd) GCON, LLB, BL, PSC, FSS, mni.

“Our dear Daddy passed onto glory in the early hours of 26th March 2023. Please keep us in your prayers as we mourn his demise in this period. Further announcements will be made public in due course.

 “Barrister Prince Oyesinmilola Diya, on behalf of the family.”

Diya, who was born on April 3rd, 1944, served as Ogun State’s military governor following the Buhari-Idiagbon coup on December 31st, 1983.

In the Nigerian Civil War, Diya enlisted at the Nigerian Defense Academy in Kaduna.

Thereafter, he attended the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (Kuru), the Command and Staff College (Jaji), and the US Army School of Infantry.

Diya studied law when he was in the military at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he earned an LLB, and later at the Nigerian Law School, where he was admitted to the bar and appointed a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He also held several important military positions, including GOC and 82 Division, before serving as Gen. Sani Abacha’s Chief of General Staff (military Vice President).

Four people are still missing after an explosion at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania, the US, according to local authorities, and the death toll has risen to three. Rescuers are frantically searching for survivors as the death toll continues to rise.

After the explosion at the RM Palmer Company plant in Pennsylvania’s West Reading borough on Friday afternoon, workers were still clearing wreckage and rubble.

However according to West Reading Fire Chief Chad Mayor, “the possibility of finding survivors is reducing significantly owing to the magnitude of the explosion and the amount of time that has gone.”

Television video showed firefighters attempting to put out a fire that had started in the explosion’s aftermath.

“The factory is pretty levelled, unfortunately. There’s not much they can salvage from the building,” West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag said in a televised press conference shortly after the blast.

“In the front, with the church and the apartments, the explosion was so big it moved that building four feet forward,” she stressed.

At the news conference on Saturday, West Reading Chief of Police Wayne Holben informed the media that “a third body was recovered at the RM Palmer site and has been confirmed deceased.”

“Crews are continuing their diligent efforts in sifting through the debris in order to locate any additional individuals,” Holben said.

Fire Chief Mayor added that “currently we have four individuals that are unaccounted for.”

Authorities stated that they were still looking into what caused the explosion.

On their website, RM Palmer claims to have been making holiday chocolate confections since 1948, including Easter bunnies and Valentine’s Day candies in the shape of hearts.

Adewale Oyerinde, the Director-General of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, has urged caution and social engagement in light of the potential negative effects of the Nigerian Labour Congress’s scheduled strike action.

In a statement, he said that although while the cash constraint has already had an impact on households, businesses, and individuals, the scheduled NLC strike would further damage the economy by hastening business closures, job losses, and other socioeconomic issues.

He claims that economic experts and analysts have estimated that the loss in economic terms could be over N20tn as a result of lost working hours in bank halls and gas stations, business closures due to low customer traffic, employees’ inability to commute to work, difficulties faced by households in meeting basic needs, and general supply chain distortion.

He said, “While we expressed our deep concern as regards the mismanaged and dreadful implementation of the Naira redesign policy, and in fact, some other policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“While we affirm emphatically our displeasure with the government’s loud silence and seeming inactivity in resolving the self-inflicted quagmire, the planned strike, at this time, could be counter-productive.”

In order to resolve all problems related to industrial and social-economic disputes, he encouraged the fullest use of social dialogue as a tool.

He said that the government and social partners should refrain from taking any moves that would jeopardize the nation’s precarious economic situation.

He stressed, “We urge the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Federal Government to immediately address the genuine concern of Nigerians in view of the ongoing socio-economic difficulties.”

Lt. Col. Agbu Kefas (retired), the newly elected governor of Taraba State, declared on Saturday that he will follow all of the commitments he made during the campaign and that “the era of promise and fail is over.”

He said that his electoral success was a result of the agreement he reached with the populace, but he added that the people had placed their future and hopes in his hands and that he would not take it lightly.

In a statement obtained by media in Abuja from his spokesperson, Emmanuel Bello, Kefas made the pledge.

The statement read, “Giving me this mandate is a serious matter and the social contract I have with the people is one I take seriously. I won’t play with their mandate. I promise to fulfill all I said and we shall accomplish them in our first 100 days in office.

“The campaign helped me to listen to the yearnings of the people in more ways than before. All that they told me I hold very sacred. Their dreams, hopes and aspirations I won’t let down. As a leader, my words are my bonds. Let me also state that my conviction and faith make me a man of my words.”

Kefas stated that exercising leadership is a common responsibility and that he anticipates the public contributing by assisting the initiatives of his upcoming administration.

He made it clear that his main goal in coming was to give the youths a lot of security, particularly in terms of jobs, infrastructure, and reliable improvements.

“In keeping with the mantra of my leadership which is moving forward, I intend to hit the ground running. We shall not leave anyone behind. We would carry everyone along the journey.”

The United Kingdom Home Office International Operations recently trained no fewer than 35 members of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Command and Seaports Operations.

The UK’s Central Maritime Training Unit, located near Southampton, is now putting five of the 35 students through a two-week course in maritime patrol and tactical coxswain training.

The news was revealed on Saturday in a statement from the NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi.

According to the HOIO, the training is intended to improve the NDLEA’s border control capabilities by offering specialized training, mentoring, and cutting-edge drug detection tools.

Babafemi said, “Key areas covered so far include boat handling, weapons handling, riverine operations, boarding and vessel search, among many others.

“Some of the training exercise was facilitated by the British military, the Nigerian Navy and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime under the Global Maritime Crime Programme.”

He also said that the five NDLEA marine officers, including their first female coxswain, are currently through a two-week training program that would equip them with the skills necessary to plan maritime operations and pursue, stop, and board ships at sea.

The Home Office International Operations Regional Manager for West Africa, Kris Hawksfield, said that HOIO was incredibly happy and honored to work with and support the work of NDLEA during a visit to the team receiving training in Southampton.

In order to interdict, seize, and destroy illegal narcotics and substances that would otherwise harm Nigeria and the UK, he continued, the UK remains committed to enhancing the Agency’s mission.

While thanking the UK government for its ongoing support and dedication to helping the NDLEA improve its capacity and capabilities to combat drug trafficking, Babafemi also noted that Brigadier General Buba Marwa, the chairman of the NDLEA, had urged the officers to remain steadfast in their professional calling and make sure they applied the training’s core principles to their formations and colleagues.

Marwa also pledged to continue placing a high priority on the training and retraining of all agency officials, both male and female.