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Some residents of Plateau State broke into government COVID-19 warehouse at the weekend and carted away various palliative items worth millions of naira.
The warehouse is located at Bukuru, Jos, the Plateau State capital.
In a 19 seconds video emerged online, the people were seen on the compound where the palliatives were kept.
They carted away foodstuffs including rice and amongst others.
Hoodlums, masquerading as EndSARS protesters, attacked the Kwara Command warehouse of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Ilorin on Saturday with the intention to loot.
In a resistance put up by Customs officers on duty, 24 of the motorcycles and a tricycle that conveyed the looters to the facility were seized.
The hoodlums, however, succeeded in setting part of the place on fire.
Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Ahmed Bello posted on the agency’s communication platform that the hoodlums attacked with guns, machetes, axes, charms and other dangerous weapons.
The Customs men had to call for reinforcement from the Nigerian Army, he said.
“All efforts to address the hoodlums to douse the tensed atmosphere at the Command’s gate proved abortive and officers of the Command were left with no option than to respond appropriately to the spontaneous attack unleashed by the hoodlums.
“Unfortunately, forty minutes of exchange of gunfire led to the serious injury of two of our officers who are now responding to treatment,’’ he stated.
Bello called on parents, guardians, community and religious leaders and opinion moulders to caution their wards on the dangers of toeing the path of illegality and anarchy.
“The Command will do everything humanly possible within the ambit of the law to protect government properties and ensure that peace prevail against all odds.
“It is important to reiterate that officers of the NCS are only implementers of Federal Government’s policies in the overall interest of national growth and development.
“The hostility by hoodlums and their accomplices will never be a distraction in discharging our statutory responsibilities,’’ he stressed.
Governor Godwin Obaseki has extended the ultimatum he gave to prisoners who escaped in the recent jail breaks recorded in two prison facilities in Edo state he governs.
Obaseki who had initially given the fleeing inmates until Friday October 23 to return, extended the ultimatum by one week.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy Crusoe Osagie, it was was gathered that the decision was taken after a security meeting held with heads of security agencies in the state yesterday October 23.
It read;
“The extension of the ultimatum is as a result of the positive response from the prisoners, as a good number of them have since returned to the two correctional facilities. The new window is to allow more prisoners to return to the centres willingly.
“The governor has reviewed the curfew time in the state to commence from 6pm to 6am daily, as against 4pm to 6am. The adjustment will take effect from Saturday, October 24, 2020. The security situation in the state is seen to be improving and we appreciate Edo people for adhering to government’s directives.”
By Muhammad Goronyo, Sokoto
As Nigeria celebrates 60 years of Independence, governor Tambuwal has presently indulge in massive Infrastructure development, as a key driver for progress. Thus, the Tambuwal’s administration’s craving to institutionalize development in every facet of human endeavour can be said to be tailored towards such a course. It’s an envisaged dream.
‘There would be a quantum leap in the quality of lives of the citizenry at the end’.
Construction work of a modern sports arena and an indoor sports hall ongoing, in Madorawa of Bodinga LGA. Contracts awarded to Qualitrends Global Solution Construction Firm.
Construction of an ultra modern Government Girls Science Academy, Kasarawa, forms part of the education infrastructure development of the Tambuwal led government. It’s expected, when completed, the Academy, will serve as a crucial learning hub in areas of science and technology.
15 secondary schools are billed as feeder to the Academy. This is in addition to functioning as a special science and technology nerve centre for girls. With the conceptualization of the institution, Sokoto state’s quest for advancement particularly in this era of digital technology and ICT, is further underpinned.
The Science Academy, is a ‘supplement’ to the state of emergency on education declared in 2015 by the administration. The construction work of the Academy which is progressing steadily, is being done by the Calder Construction Company at N2. 4 billion scheduled to be completed in 20 months time.
Society’s development is largely hinged on its able -bodied men and women. This is the more reason why societies, advanced in civilization and even culture, expend hugely in their health sectors to propel their productive capacities.
This pushes the Tambuwal led administration to, in a ‘health is wealth’ drive, ideated a far reaching ‘step’ that would impact positively on all aspects of developments in Sokoto state.
This is where the place of the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, SOSUTH comes into focus. The administration’s tilt towards this mega project, is predicated on the need for medical education to medical students. This, it’s hoped, when completed, will also provide the required manpower to address the thorny problem of dearth of health personnel in various hospitals across the state.
‘Health and wellbeing’ form part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations. And so, governor Tambuwal goes!
The contract for the Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, whose work moves at an appreciable pace, was awarded to Calder Construction Company.
Consequently, the history in the making, getting the Waziri Abbas Road (aka Tashar ‘Kura road) approved for dualization by the Sokoto State Executive Council led by governor Tambuwal on the 13th /07/2020. It’s historical in the sense, preceding administrations’ several attempts in the state to make the road a dual carriageway, had not seen the light of the day.
Good road network opens up a window of opportunities as movement, especially of goods and services is scaled up; thereby guaranteeing commercial inflow, inter communal interactions enhanced while the rate of accidents mitigated.
Waziri Abbas Road, which starts from Unguwar Rogo roundabout in the capital to College of Nursing Sciences/Gagi roundabout is so strategic; as it links the city with some communities within Sokoto South, Kware and Rabah local government areas. Thus, it remains one of the busiest routes in the capital as it struggles with hold up/gridlock especially during the morning hours when people flock out and the evening times when they are falling back to their respective homes after close of the day’s routine activities.
For communities of Unguwar Rogo, Minanata, Nakasari, Mabera, Mana, Tamaje, Gagi and Gidan Dilo, in Sokoto South LG as well as Marud’a, Tsaki, Lambo, Gajara, Toranka and Durbawa in Kware LG including Maikujera and Gandi amongst others in Ra’bah LG, it can be inferred with an air of confidence, dividends of democratic governance bang on their doorsteps as some of the direct beneficiaries of the project. The ease off of traffic is a certain case, when the work is completed.
Compensation for the demolished properties that fall within the dualization zone, as gathered authoritatively had been effected satisfactorily. Machines of the contracting firm are already on the site busy on various aspects of the work.Tambuwal’s transformation agenda, at crescendo!!
Contract for the project was awarded to Solid Stone Construction Company at N709 million.
‘From rustic environment to modernity’. These seem to be the words of the Tambuwal led administration when it conceived the dualization project of Maituta road in the Sokoto metropolis.
How significant is this project? While on one hand, it serves the purpose of restructuring and reshaping of an almost a ‘blighted area’ it on the other, engenders good link to the Sokoto Central Market by oncoming traffic from Ahmadu Bello way as well as the Ubandoma road. The administration is broadening narrow paths to entrenching a safety culture among the motoring public/other road users.
When Sokoto state is referenced in history, we check the ‘architect’ of mega projects;2015—2023 by the special grace of the Almighty God.
*Contract for the dualization work of Maituta road, was awarded to K&E Contracting Firm at N277 million, on 13th/07/2020.
‘Tashar Illela road’s dualization’ is one of the series of projects presently being undertaken by the Tambuwal’s administration in Sokoto state. Its strategic importance to the socio economic development of the state cannot be simply quantified.
Although, there exists as an alternative route in the northern part of the state but the ‘Tashar Illela road’, is the most utilized/patronized into the capital city by local governments in the eastern and central parts, that include Illela, Gwadaawa, Gada, Sabon Birni, Isa, Binji, Tangaza, Kware, Rabah and Goronyo including nationals of Niger Republic, for it appears more secure and convenient to ply.
Again, it serves as a route for general haulage to and fro the aforesaid LGAs and the Niger republic, as articulated vehicles are daily seen commuting on it.
All hailed the foresight to dualize the road as it facilitates economic prosperity of the state.
One feature that distinguishes the dualization work from other road contracts is; it crosses on a river (Sokoto Rima river) with a standard bridge to be put in place.
Contract for the project, was awarded to AFDIN Nigeria Construction Company at N2.856 billion, on 13th/07/2020.
President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered security agencies for immediate deployment of their officials to Zamfara State following the gory episode that claimed 22 lives, injuring dozens in the State recently.
This was soon after the state governor, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle begged the President to bail the State out of the security challenges ravaging it.
This was contained in a press statement signed and made available to newsmen in Gusau, the State capital by the Governor’s Special Adviser on media and public enlightenment, Hon. Zailani Bappa.
The statement noted that governor Matawalle was seriously touched by the dastard act that claimed 22 villagers and injured so many people who escaped to the forests with gunshots wounds.
“I came to Abuja to formally inform the President of the escalating situation of terrorism in the state. After the disbandment of SARS the gory episodes have continued unabated,” the governor lamented.
“Therefore I am appealing to Mr president to as a matter of urgency help the people of Zamfara state to overcome this teething problem.
“I also made the President to understand about the position of illegal mining in the State,” the Governor was quoted as saying.
According to him, his administration has constituted a powerful committee on illegal mining activities in the State, pointing out that the committee members would be moving round to fish out those behind the illegal mining activities.
Matawalle explained that most of the illegal miners operating in the State were not even Nigerians but from other countries.
The Rivers state government has outlawed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which has been blamed for attacks in some Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Rivers state, especially in Oyigbo LGA.
Governor Nyesom Wike who made the pronouncement in a state-wide address on Friday October 23, also declared one Stanley Mgbere from Onne in Eleme LGA wanted and placed a bounty of N50 million on him. Wike said the money will be paid to anyone who can provide credible information that would lead to his arrest and prosecution.
The Rivers state Governor also promised to sign an executive order to effect the proscription of IPOB in the state, adding that he would meet with communities and stakeholders to ensure prompt implementation in collaboration with security agencies.
Traders at the UTC market, Area 10, Garki, Abuja and residents of the area are currently cowering in fear as security operatives battled hoodlums attempting to loot a warehouse in the vicinity.
Policemen and other security personnel are firing gunshots and tear gas to deter hoodlums who stormed a warehouse with COVID-19 palliatives early this morning.
The warehouse is located in the precinct of the Cyprian Ekwensi building and the UTC market.
A graphics designer, Segun Stickers, said the UTC market and the big shopping plaza in the area had been shut down.
“We are presently locked inside the UTC market. The police are firing gunshots and tear gas to stave off the attack by the hoodlums who were trying to loot the COVID-19 palliatives kept in a warehouse here.
“Many people were injured while trying to escape attack by the hoodlums and the whole area is in turmoil, ” he said on the phone.
Our correspondent could hear gunshots just as a voice was heard ordering the traders to shut down their shops and go home.
The Federal Capital Territory police spokesperson, ASP Mariam Yusuf, confirmed that the police were deployed at the UTC market and other public infrastructure to prevent suspected hoodlums from looting.
It was learnt that a similar situation is presently happening in Bukuru, Jos South, Plateau State, where residents are carting away COVID-19 palliatives.
An eyewitness explained that hundreds of Bukuru residents are currently at the warehouse located at Old NITEL beside Total filling station taking away foodstuffs, including bags of rice and millet stored by the state government.
A similar incident had occurred in Lagos, Osun, Cross River and other states.
By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command had paraded t0 suspected thieves who broke and looted government and private properties during the EndSARS protests last Thursday in Uyo.
Properties vandalized included: De Choice Shopping Mall, LG Showroom , Access Bank and Akwa Ibom Broadcasting Corporation Office.
State Commissioner of Police, CP Amiengheme Andrew, fdc while parading the suspects yesterday said arrests were effected less than 24 hours after the looting while items recovered included 14 deep freezers, six refrigerators, eight flat screen television sets, four water dispensers, 16 bags of rice, four air conditions, A printer, chairs, and other items.
Amiengheme who explained that he has visited all the affected places with his team promised to ensure that more looted items are recovered and urged members of the public to avail police with useful information that could achieve this.
The commissioner commended the state government and the sister agencies for their collaborative efforts in restoring normalcy to Uyo as well as Akwa Ibom people for their peaceful disposition.
Those arrested according to him including Victor Effiong ‘m’, Emediong Michael James ‘f’, Imedimfon Ime James ‘m’, Isaac John Udoh ‘m’, Sunday Michael James ‘m’, Wisdom Godswill Reuben ‘m’, Ntiefon Ime Robbert, Akaninyene Abraham Livinus ‘m’, Imoh Enobong Sunday and Isaac Sunday Udo ‘m’.
The CP called on the perpetrators to desist from the dastardly act and toe the line of peace or face the full weight of the law.
President Buhari has reportedly revealed that 69 persons were killed in the #EndSARS protest across the country.
BBC reported that the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this during a virtual meeting with former leaders and security chiefs on Friday October 23. He said that 51 civilians, 11 police officers, and seven soldiers were killed in the unrest.
Buhari was quoted saying in a statement released by Femi Adesina that the killing came off an “initial genuine and well-intended protest of youths which was hijacked and misdirected”.
It was further gathered that the Nigerian President who stated that his administration will not allow miscreants and criminals to continue to perpetrate acts of hooliganism in the country, accused the protesters of refusing to call off the protest in spite of meeting their demands.
The statement read;
”Unfortunately, the protesters refused to call off the protest and engage the government to address their grievances. Instead, they became emboldened and gradually turned violent.
”We shall also continue to ensure that liberty and freedom, as well as the fundamental rights of all citizens are protected. Here, I want to also reaffirm our commitment to preserving the unity of this country.
“The President thanked the former Heads of State for attending the meeting and their invaluable comments, observations and advice, adding that ‘Nigerians expect nothing less from responsible statesmen’.
“Each of the former leaders commended President Buhari for steps taken so far to restore calm and order to the country and also applauded the presidential broadcast of Thursday as detailed and soothing to the country.
“The former heads of state were unanimous in their view that generation of employment and growing the economy including through direct foreign investments were critical to checking youth restiveness.
“The former heads of state also condemned the divisive and inciting pronouncements of separatists and were of the opinion that such acts should be stopped.
“Equally, the former leaders commended the actions taken by governors to address the demands of the ENDSARS protesters and their efforts to check the excesses of those who perpetrated violent acts and conduct.
“Finally, they called on youths to pursue peaceful means, in seeking redress through engagement with government and encouraged further conversation with the youths and other stakeholders in the country.”
The presidency has explained why President Buhari didn’t speak on the Lekki toll gate shooting during his speech yesterday October 22.
Presidential aide, Femi Adesina in an interview on Channels TV’s ‘Politics Today’ said it will be “premature and presumptuous” for Buhari to talk about the shooting as it was still being investigated.
Adesina said;
“The Defence Headquarters issued a statement to say that it was investigating the matter. Lagos State Governor has also set up a probe panel to investigate what really happened.
“So, the President couldn’t have said anything because it would be premature and presumptuous while investigation is ongoing. It is after investigation has been concluded that he can speak on the matter.”