Month: October 2024

The Lagos State Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat has disclosed that at least 3,000 cows are slaughtered daily to cater to the needs of residents.

He revealed this while appearing on Channels Television’s programme on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

Hamzat, who spoke on the programme themed ‘Nigeria’s Challenging Economy: Strategies For Recovery, to commemorate Nigeria’s 64th independence anniversary’, said: “We are building a logistic hub in Imota, the biggest in this part of the world. What that does for us is that it allows us to track what comes to Lagos.

“So, interestingly, Lagos slaughters about 3,000 cows every day. So, where are they coming from? How can we track it? Today, if anything happens, our veterinary doctors slaughter them and burn them up. But we need to do better.”

Hamzat also revealed the state government’s plans to stock grains for Lagos citizens for at least nine months.

Notorious bandit leader, Bello Turji, has accused the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle, of politicizing the state’s insecurity issues.

Turji, who is believed to have fled Zamfara following intensified military actions against terrorist groups, shared these accusations in a newly released video.

In the video, Turji, seated on a brand-new motorcycle and armed, sets conditions for restoring peace in Zamfara. He demanded that security forces and vigilante groups cease their attacks and killings of Fulanis in the state and other areas.

He asserts that the actions of these local security entities exacerbate the ongoing conflict and violence.

Turji also criticized the ongoing blame game between Governor Lawal and Matawalle, labelling it as political maneuvering that overlooks the welfare of the local people.

According to Turji, both leaders are not acting in the best interests of their constituents, using the state’s security crisis to advance their political agendas.

Turji said, “Governor Dauda Lawal and Bello Matawalle labelling each other as terrorists (sponsors) will not help. I want the people of Zamfara to understand that they are just politicians without the interest of the people of Zamfara in their hearts.

He said the armed conflict in Zamfara predated both Messrs Dauda and Matawalle and was happening since the time of former governor Ahmed Yerima.

“It was during the administration of Yerima that the government sold out the grazing reserve and legalised the killing of the Fulanis. When Muhmud Shinkafi came on board, he tried unsuccessfully to address the problem. Abdulaziz Yari came and empowered the vigilante, but we are still struggling,” Turji said.

He said Mr Matawalle administered the state for four years, and Governor Dauda has been in office for just two years, but only God, not the governors, can stop the conflict.

“This is why we are calling on all of you to come and collaborate with us for peace to reign and stop the bloodbath in Zamfara. Gun and airstrike will not stop us because we are not afraid of death,” Mr Turji said.

Turji, who also confirmed the killing of Halilu Sububu, whom he described in the video as his master, said the killing only emboldened the younger generation among them to carry on with the deadly attacks on the people.

He added, “Kachallah Halilu Sububu is not the first person to be killed; several others were killed. The killing of Halilu Sububu will not deter us from doing what we are doing unless you stop killing our brothers in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina, and Niger states.

Princess Beatrice, 36, the late Queen’s granddaughter, and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, have announced they are expecting their second child.

The royal baby will be a little sibling for the couple’s three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Mr Mapelli Mozzi’s son and Beatrice’s stepson, eight-year-old Wolfie.

Two new pictures from the family were shared to mark the announcement, with one showing blonde-haired Sienna from behind as she walks along a country lane, holding hands in the middle of her father and big brother Wolfie.

The King has been informed and both families are “delighted”, the Palace said on Tuesday.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three.

Beatrice is the eldest daughter of the Duke of York and his ex-wife Sarah, and the new baby will be the Yorks’ fourth grandchild.

The baby will be born 11th in line to the throne, with Beatrice’s younger sister Princess Eugenie moving down to 12th place.

He or she will also be the 14th great-grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and the second to be born since her death in 2022, following the arrival of Eugenie’s second child Ernest last year.
 

Five persons have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command over the alleged killing of a fisherman named Segun Sikiru in the Iwopin town of the Ijebu-Ode Local Government area of the state.

It was gathered that the suspects allegedly killed the victim with a bamboo stick and discarded his body in a lagoon in the community.

The five suspects, all members of the community —Saheed Mureni, Afeez Mureni, Saheed Taidi, Thompson Samuel, and Ogoji Olorunwa, were arrested by operatives of the Abigi Police Division on Sunday, September 29, 2024.

The spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, who confirmed the incident to  Punch, said that the suspects were arrested after the deceased’s family members reported the incident.

The deceased and his two sons left their home in the community to go fishing when they noticed suspicious activities at their fish trap, also known as Iki.

While trying to get a closer look at the fish trap, the suspects were spotted stealing from Sikiru’s fish trap.

Upon seeing the deceased and his son, the suspects allegedly attacked the deceased with a bamboo stick, striking him in the chest while the two sons managed to escape the assault.

“When the deceased spotted them at his fish trap, he tried to raise the alarm and draw the attention of people in the area to what was happening. However, the suspects allegedly attacked him, striking him in the chest with a bamboo stick. Once they realised he had lost consciousness, they reportedly threw him into the lagoon.

After a two-year hiatus, Emirates, the flagship carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has officially resumed operations in Lagos.

This is coming two years after the suspension of operation by the airline over several issues including unresolved trapped funds belonging to the airline.

The flight EK 783 landed at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Tuesday at 3:32 pm, arriving at the old terminal with several empty seats on its Boeing 777-300ER.

Despite the capacity to hold 392 passengers, the exact number of passengers aboard could not immediately be confirmed; however, eyewitnesses noted the visible presence of many unoccupied seats.

This sparse passenger load highlights the challenges airlines are facing as they resume operations post-pandemic and other operational suspensions.

According to reports by Daily Trust, the operational processes also saw departing passengers being processed at the new terminal, while those arriving were received at the old terminal.

One of the passengers said, “The flight was not full at all but as usual the services were very good. And I think this is understandable being the first flight after many years.”

This is coming hours after President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babagana Zulum delivered Independence Day messages promising enhanced security measures for farmers.

The attack, which occurred recently, has underscored the persistent threat posed by the terrorist group despite ongoing efforts to secure vulnerable communities.

Sources close to the situation told Vanguard that the victims were among several individuals abducted by the terrorists during the raid.

Additionally, a member of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF), Jubril Zarana, who was known for his active participation with security forces in countering such attacks, was also killed in the confrontation.

A reliable source said, “We sorrowfully announce the abduction of about 15 farmers, including children, women, young and elderly, by Boko Haram terrorists in Ngoshe, Gwoza LGA.

Bala, head of the prosecution team that handled the trial of Okuneye pointed out to the House of Representatives Investigative committee that the charges were dropped based on the disclosure of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML) that Okunenye’s firm, Bob Express, was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession (DNFIBP) and could not be prosecuted for flouting provisions of the Money Laundering Prevention & Prohibition Act, 2022.

“We initially raised six count charges bordering on Naira Abuse and Money Laundering against Okuneye based on his confessional statement that his firm, Bob Express, was not registered with SCUML and was not rendering returns to it.

Counts 1-4 were on Naira Abuse while counts five and six were on money laundering. Okuneye’s confession that he didn’t register his firm, Bob Express with SCUML and not rendering returns to it informed the money laundering charges initially included in the six count charges.

However, when we wrote to SCUML on the status of the firm, the Unit responded that it was not a Designated Non-Financial Institution, Business and Profession, DNFIBP.  We cannot lawfully sustain the charges in all sincerity. We, therefore dropped them and relied on the four counts on Naira mutilation to which Okuneye had pleaded guilty,

” she said.

The prosecutor dismissed claims of financial inducement in dropping charges, maintaining that no such thing happened.

“There is simply no basis for that. The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, allows amendment of charges. It is a professional practice. It is laughable for anyone to attribute our decision to monetary issues. Why did we write to SCUML if we didn’t want to include the charges? We wrote to be lawfully guided and when the Unit responded that the firm had not breached any law, on what basis should we have retained the money laundering charges?” she said.

Bala, who appeared before the Committee with top management staff of the EFCC, charged the Committee to critically look into all the issues raised against the EFCC and make public its findings in the interest of justice.

Chief of Staff to the EFCC’s Chairman, Commander of the EFCC, CE Michael Nzekwe who stood for the Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, restated the seriousness the Commission attached to integrity of its staff.

“We viewed the allegation of bribery against our officers seriously. Integrity is one of our core values. This is why we are here to place all the facts involved in the trial of Okuneye in the public domain”, he said.

Okuneye, who was convicted for naira abuse, had alleged in a viral video that he offered N15 million as a bribe to some unnamed EFCC officers to drop money laundering charges against him.