He stated that their operational successes and those of their compatriots across the country especially their balanced approach to drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts are well appreciated.
Land grabbers invade Ogun community, beat up village head
Ogun State Government has reassured that it would not tolerate the activities of land grabbers in the state, vowing to deal with anyone found culpable with the full wrath of law.
The State Commissioner For Information and Strategy, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, disclosed this in Abeokuta on Thursday, saying that the government will not take it lightly with anyone claiming the ownership of another person’s land illegally.
He said: “The activities of land grabbers are not welcomed in Ogun State. The government will not take it lightly with anybody found to be involved in maiming or grabbing of land, they would be dealt with according to the law.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun has said it clearly, and I’m reiterating it, that the law would be used to deal with anyone threatening the peace of the state. So, if it is land grabbers that are threatening the peace of the state, they will be dealt with through the instrumentality of the law”, Odusile said.
Odusile’s comment was coming on the heels of recent activities of some alleged land grabbers, who were said to have invaded Adumbu community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the State with about 50 thugs, injuring two people and beating up the village head.
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It was alleged that a notorious land grabber, invaded the town with thugs armed with dangerous weapons including cutlass, broken bottles, axes, chasing people away from their homes and ancestral lands in the community.
The residents of the community in a “Save Our Soul” letter to the police titled, “Case of Conspiracy, Threat To Life and Invasion of Adumbu Village By Land Grabbers”, and jointly signed by an Elder in the village Dr. Dele Onatade and the Secretary, Chief Ranti Falola, asked the police to come to their rescue.
They alleged that the land grabber and his cohorts had been terrorising and threatening the peace of the community for over 10 years, since 2013 when they invaded the village and sacked the entire community including the late Village Head, Chief Olalekan Ogunjobi over 4000 hectares of land.
The residents said the land grabber , who was earlier declared wanted by the police, ran away, only to resurface this year to continue his land grabbing activities, by first trying to take over the possession of seven acres of land meant to build primary school for the community and later claiming the possession of other people’s lands.
According to the residents, all efforts by the new Village Head of the Community, Chief Kayode Falola to restore peace was thwarted by him when he allegedly led thugs to a block-making factory owned by the village head, beat him to stupor and arrested him with the aide of some police men allegedly from Zone 2, Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
Speaking on the matter, Falola alleged that the land grabber also went with his thugs to attack the secretary of the village, Chief Ranti Falola, at his house, manhandled him and tore his cloth before they dragged him into the same police vehicle they put him in and drove both of them off to zone 2, Onikan, Lagos.
The village head also alleged that two other persons were beaten and inflicted with machete and plant cuts on their body.
The Village Head also alleged that the thugs equally visited the office of Sobogun and descended on him heavily, inflicting machete cuts on his body and left him fainted only for some good Samaritans in the village to rescue him.
Saula Sobogun, one of the victims
Agbede urges Baruwa to congratulate MC Oluomo, in spirit of sportsmanship
Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede has advised Alhaji Tajudeen Ibikunle Baruwa to demonstrate sportsmanship by congratulating Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya (MC Oluomo) on his election as president of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Agbede spoke from his personal experience, recalling how he graciously congratulated Baruwa when he won the union’s presidency in 2019, despite initially being unhappy with the outcome.
“In 2019, I congratulated you despite my disappointment, and even promised to work with you for the union’s sake and in all honesty I was working perfectly with you for the good of the union. But when you started exhibiting some anti-people tendencies, which I considered dangerous and harmful to our union, I had to re-evaluate my support and we parted ways.
“Now that the table has turned against you, I expect you to swallow your pride and congratulate MC Oluomo for the sake of peace in our union,” he said
Agbede lamented that Baruwa’s actions and activities in recent times are already creating tension in the polity, hence the need to mellow down.
“You see, I would want you look back and see how much you have benefitted from the union. The NURTW had been very good to you. You have achieved so much from the union.
“You are one of the previlledged few that have gained tremendously from the union. You have occupied nearly all the posts anybody can aspire for in the union.
“At various times, you have been unit, branch, state and zonal chairman. At the national level, you have been vice president, national treasurer and president. So what else are you looking for? It is not proper don’t bite the finger that is feeding you,” he advised
Agbede emphasized that leadership should not be a do-or-die affair, but rather a genuine desire to serve the people.
“If you truly want to serve our people, it shouldn’t be about winning at all costs,” he added.
This call for sportsmanship is coming amidst a complex leadership dispute within the NURTW with Baruwa fighting vigourously against the choice of the people of South-West.
NDLEA foils drug smuggling attempts at Lagos, Abuja airports
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have in a series of intelligence-led operations foiled attempts by drug syndicates to export large consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine and opioids through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA, Abuja to the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey and Qatar.
The NDLEA apart from thwarting the syndicates, recovered the illicit drugs and arrested the masterminds.
Spokesman of the agency, Femi Babafemi said, “A total of 13 parcels of cocaine weighing 4.40kg cocaine going to the United Kingdom via Frankfurt on a Lufthansa Airlines flight were intercepted by NDLEA officers at the export shed of the Lagos airport on 5th November 2024 while a businessman linked to the consignment, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was tracked and arrested on 8th November.
“The bid by another businessman, Adegbite Solomon (aka Obama) to export 7,800 pills of tramadol, 180 tablets of Rohypnol, and 60 bottles of codeine to Italy was also foiled at the departure hall of the Lagos airport on Monday 11th November.
“NDLEA operatives arrested him after recovering the opioids concealed in food and other items while attempting to board an Ethiopian Airlines flight to Italy.
“He claimed to have travelled to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea and earned a living as a street beggar before delving into logistics business.
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“Also related is the arrest of another businessman, Anoke Kingsley Roomy with 1,100 pills of tramadol 225mg hidden in his luggage while attempting to board his Ethiopian Airlines flight going to Istanbul, Turkey at the terminal 1 of the Lagos airport on Friday 15th November.
“Following credible intelligence, NDLEA officers of the Directorate of Operations and General Investigation, DOGI, and their counterparts from the FCT Command of the Agency on Friday 15th November raided a hotel room at the Federal Housing Authority estate, Lugbe, Abuja, where they arrested two suspects: Omeh Uchenna Jude, 36, and Anene Valentine Chigozie, 34.
“Recovered from them was 1.8kg methamphetamine, which they were preparing to travel with to Qatar.
Another suspect, Akande Moruf Olasunkanmi, was arrested with 1.8kg methamphetamine by operatives of a Special Operations Unit in NDLEA at his 9 Durojaiye Street, Lawanson area of Surulere, Lagos home after weeks of intelligence and surveillance.
Tinubu confers GCON on Indian PM, Modi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, conferred the national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), on the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
President Tinubu bestowed the honour on the PM during the Nigeria/India Bilateral meeting held at the presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the award was bestowed on the Indian leader to signify Nigeria’s appreciation and commitment to the Nigerian Indian partnership.
The Nigerian Leader added that the invitation to the Indian PM was to rekindle and reclassify existing relationship between Nigeria and India.
He also stated that the high level engagement was intended to improve
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According to him, “Nigeria values its excellent relationship with India, and we work to deepen and broaden the same to the mutual benefit of our two friendly countries.
“You represent a very strong commitment in democratic values and norms, you have been doing a good job historically, winning three consecutive elections in a complex society is a feat that we respect so much.
“I will confer on you today, the Prime Minister of India, Nigeria’s National Honor, the Grand Commander of the Order of Niger. This to signify Nigerian appreciation and commitment to India as a partner.”
Commiserating with Nigeria over the recent floods that ravaged several cities across the country, including the Maiduguri major flood incident, the Indian Prime Minister promised to support Nigeria with 20 tons of relief materials.
Modi said this is to support the administration of President Tinubu on its ongoing humanitarian efforts.
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