According to NiDCOM, the rescue operation was orchestrated by combined and coordinated efforts of the Ghanaian Anti-Human Trafficking Police, The Rescue Live Foundation International, and Nigeria in Diaspora Organization, NIDO, Ghana working in collaboration with NiDCOM
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Lagos orders beggars, hawkers to leave state over security concern
Lagos State Government has ordered beggars and street hawkers to vacate the state or face heavy sanctions.
The directive was sequel to what the state government termed disturbing intelligence reports that some of the beggars and hawkers were carrying dangerous weapons and being used for criminal activities.
The order was given at a press conference on Wednesday at Alausa, addressed by Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Olusegun Dawodu, his Information and Strategy counterpart, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, and Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu.
They also announced the creation of a task force to ensure the eradication of street begging and hawking in the state.
Dawodu said setting up the task force became necessary to sanitise the society and restore the dignity of those who have been sent into the streets for alms begging and hawking.
According to the commissioner, the team will commence operations “in the next few days”, adding that the plan to stop street begging was based on intelligence reports that some of the “so-called” beggars go about with dangerous weapons, assault and rob innocent Lagosians.
“The state government will deploy a lot of human and material resources towards enlightenment and sensitisation via different media platforms. As they say, enlightenment becomes entertainment without enforcement. That is why the way to go now is to enforce compliance with the laws of our state for sanity to reign in our society.” he said.
Imploring Lagosians to take alms to recognised registered homes, orphanages, rehabilitation, and faith-based organizations, Dawodu said donations made to such places would be judiciously utilized in ameliorating the conditions of the vulnerable.
The commissioner sought the support of religious, traditional and political leaders at various levels as well as the media for advocacy against hawking and begging, adding that all Lagosians should join forces to discourage the inhuman culture, which has the capacity to adversely affect the wellbeing of residents.
He said, “Street begging is a social vice that we cannot afford to watch until it attains an uncontrollable level before we act. Otherwise, all the good plans and programmes to transform our State would be adversely affected. The same goes for street hawking.
“This has become big business to some groups of people. Our investigation revealed that beggars and hawkers (children and adults) are transported regularly from other parts of the country to Lagos with the sole aim of doing this odious ‘business’ that demeans humanity and abuses innocence in the case of children, who are being pushed into this degrading trade.”
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NAF air strikes kill scores of bandits in Kaduna, free kidnap victims
NAF air strikes kill scores of bandits in Kaduna, free kidnap victims
The Nigerian Air Force said on Saturday that its fighter aircraft conducted strategic airstrikes targeting major bandit enclaves located within Dunya Hill and Batauna Forest in Giwa, Kaduna State, resulting in the neutralisation of many combatants as well as the obliteration of significant stockpiles of weapons and resources critical to the bandits’ operations.
As a result of these intensified strikes, credible sources from local communities have confirmed that bandits are on the run, their once-secure enclaves in disarray.
Director of NAF Public Relations, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, while disclosing this, said, “In a sign of the operation’s success, multiple reports have emerged detailing the escape and liberation of several kidnapping victims, who have managed to regain freedom amidst the chaos inflicted upon their captors.”.
He said, “In furtherance of the intense air interdiction campaign in Northwest Nigeria nicknamed Operation Farautar Mujiya, the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma on November 12, 2024, conducted strategic airstrikes targeting major bandit enclaves located within Dunya Hill and Batauna Forest in Giwa, Kaduna State.
“These areas have long served as safe havens for bandit groups due to their dense vegetation and the natural protection provided by an array of caves.
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“The objective of the strikes was to dismantle the entrenched criminal networks and degrade their capacity to operate effectively.
“The airstrikes were preceded by intensive intelligence gathering that meticulously identified high-value targets, including key logistics hubs and hidden armouries used by the bandits.
“The aerial assault resulted in the neutralisation of many combatants as well as the obliteration of significant stockpiles of weapons and resources critical to the bandits’ operations.
“Since the commencement of this intensified campaign, credible sources from local communities have confirmed that bandits are on the run, their once-secure enclaves in disarray.
“In a sign of the operation’s success, multiple reports have emerged detailing the escape and liberation of several kidnapping victims, who have managed to regain freedom amidst the chaos inflicted upon their captors.
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Appeal court affirms Baruwa as NURTW president, renders MC Oluomo election invalid
Appeal court affirms Baruwa as NURTW president, renders MC Oluomo election invalid
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the re-election of Tajudeen Baruwa as the National President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), rendering the recent election of Musiliu Akinsanya, widely known as MC Oluomo, invalid.
According to court documents, the appellate court affirmed the March 11, 2024, judgment of the National Industrial Court, Abuja, which recognized Baruwa’s leadership. This judgment effectively nullifies the November 9, 2024, election that saw MC Oluomo emerge as the union’s president during a conference held in Osogbo, Osun State.
The ruling was delivered by a panel of three justices—Hamma Akawu Barka, Nnamdi Okwy Dimgba, and Asmau Ojuolape Akanbi—who dismissed the appeal and imposed a cost of N100,000 on the appellants.
“This Appeal is devoid of merit and the same is hereby dismissed,” the court stated in its judgment, which was read by Justice Barka.
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The court further affirmed the National Industrial Court’s validation of the delegates’ conference held on May 24, 2023, across six zonal councils, where Baruwa secured a second term as president. It also upheld the August 23, 2023, National Delegates Conference in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where Baruwa and other national officers were inaugurated.
Justice O. O. Oyewumi of the National Industrial Court had earlier ruled that the October 25, 2023, national delegates’ conference, which produced Isa Ore as acting president, and the subsequent November 9, 2024, election overseen by Ore, were invalid.
The judgment declared that there was no evidence of a leadership crisis in the union to justify the invocation of a ‘doctrine of necessity,’ which led to the formation of a caretaker committee by the former president, Najeem Yasin.
Oyewumi also restrained Yasin, the union’s former president and chairman of its Board of Trustees, from interfering in the day-to-day operations of the union, limiting his role to board matters.
“This National Delegates Conference held on October 25, 2023, cannot stand and is hereby declared null and void,” the judge ruled.
The Appeal Court’s decision has now cemented Baruwa’s position as the legitimate leader of the NURTW, invalidating all actions taken by the Isa Ore-led caretaker committee and the election that brought MC Oluomo to power.
Appeal court affirms Baruwa as NURTW president, renders MC Oluomo election invalid
(SAHARAREPORTERS)
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13 Nigerian girls rescued from traffickers in Ghana
13 Nigerian girls rescued from traffickers in Ghana
Thirteen girls trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana have been rescued, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, has said.
The agency made the disclosure in a statement by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
According to Balogun, with the Ghana rescue operation, 163 people have now been repatriated back into the country within five months.
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“Among the 163 included the 13 girls that were rescued and brought back to Nigeria over the weekend,” the statement said.
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