I want my burnt tanker replaced, not national honour, says man who saved community from fire disaster – Newstrends
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I want my burnt tanker replaced, not national honour, says man who saved community from fire disaster

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Ejiro Otarigho, a driver who drove a burning fuel tanker away from a community in Delta State, says he needs a new vehicle.

He was reacting to the recommendation by the Senate that President Muhammadu Buhari should confer him with a “befitting national honour as he may deem fit for his extraordinary act of bravery, courage and skill that prevented the loss of human lives and property on a massive scale”.

Otarigho last week drove his tanker which caught fire at a residential area to a river bank.

His action and bravery earned him commendations from Nigerians, including the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The Senate resolved to honour him and asked Buhari to offer him a national award.

But speaking in an interview with The Punch, Otarigho said the thought of hundreds of lives and property engulfing in fire gave him the courage to drive the truck to a location where there would be no disaster.

The 46-year-old man said he started the job of tanker driving about 12 years ago.

He said although he had received a commendation from the Delta State Government, he would prefer to have his tanker replaced rather than get a national honour.

He said, “I have received calls from them (Delta State Government) but I am not interested in any national honour of any sort right now.

“I know God has brought me to a good place where my story is now being told. All I want is a replacement for my burnt tanker so I can go back to my job.

“I have just been at home and truck driving was the only way I fed. It has not been easy for me since I lost my tanker.”

Asked if he would like to get a new job and abandon the dangerous business of tanker driving, he said, “of course, I will. It is a risky job. Imagine if I had died that day, nothing would have been said of me. If the government has something better for me, I will do it without looking back. All I want is to be able to take care of myself and my family legitimately.”

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Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

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Ambrose Alli University

Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

Fear gripped residents as two students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, a government-owned institution in Edo state, fell victim to a tragic incident of cult violence.

Among them was a member of the university’s Students’ Union Government (SUG). The SUG official, a 400-level student in the Faculty of Agriculture, met his demise on Poultry Road Extension in Ekpoma.

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This unfortunate event came shortly after another incident where an individual named Eddy was fatally assaulted for allegedly using fake bank alerts during a transaction. Regrettably, this incident was mistakenly interpreted as an attack by rival cult factions. Consequently, a cycle of violence ensued, resulting in the deaths of the two undergraduates.

Confirming the grim reality of the cult-related killings, Edo’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Superintendent of Police Chidi Nwabuzor, disclosed that arrests have been made in connection to the incident, with investigations underway.

Rampaging cultists gun down SUG official, one other in Edo

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Lagos cleric, 45, docked for raping 22-year-old lady

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A 45-year-old cleric, Mr Sunday Adewoye, was docked for allegedly raping a 22-year-old lady before a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State on Tuesday.

Adewoye, whose address was not provided, is charged with unlawful sexual penetration and rape.

The prosecutor, Insp Ayodele Adeosun, told the court that Adewoye committed the offenses on April 17 at 5.00 p.m. on Joseph Dosu Way, Badagry.

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Adeosun said that Adewoye had sexual intercourse with the 22-year-old lady without her consent, in contravention of Sections 260 and 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Patrick Adekomaiya, did not take the plea of Adewoye.

He said that he needed advice from the state director of public prosecutions.

The chief magistrate ordered that the defendant should be kept in a custodial facility pending the advice.

He adjourned the case until June 3 for mention.

Lagos cleric, 45, docked for raping 22-year-old lady

(NAN)

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Pregnant woman among nine people injured in Lagos gas explosion

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Pregnant woman among nine people injured in Lagos gas explosion

A pregnant woman and eight other people sustained varying degrees of injuries after a gas explosion rocked the Alaba Lane area of Alayabiagba Community in Lagos, Nigeria.

New Telegraph reports that the incident occurred on Tuesday at around 12:39 pm.

According to Amodu Shakiru, the Head of Public Education at the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, preliminary investigations suggest that a leaking gas cylinder among several being traded in the neighborhood triggered the explosion.

The leak caused a high-tension cable to snap, starting a fire that destroyed four commercial tricycles, six lock-up shops, and a portion of a bungalow building.

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“The Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and fire stations in Ajegunle and Sari-Iganmu quickly responded to the incident and were able to contain the fire.

“The Lagos State Ambulance Service also provided initial care to the injured, including the pregnant woman and children.”

“The pregnant woman and eight other victims, both male and female, are currently receiving treatment at the Gbagada Burn & Trauma Center and Ajeromi General Hospital for their burn injuries.”

In a separate incident, reports indicate that no fewer than 14 buildings were gutted by fire in Dosumu Market, located in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

Pregnant woman among nine people injured in Lagos gas explosion

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