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NUPENG threatens strike over bad Benin-Warri road, after fatal accident
Fresh industrial action by oil workers may be in the offing over the deplorable state of Benin-Warri highway that caused the October 1 petrol tanker fire accident which claimed five lives among other losses.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) sent out this warning note in a statement, asking the government to fix the road urgently or face an industrial action “in the next couple of weeks”.
This is coming a few hours after the organised labour suspended a planned nationwide meant to start today, October 3 to protest the hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal.
Apart from the lives lost, many other people sustained various degrees of injuries, with several trucks and cars razed in the fire accident that occurred along the Ologbo axis of the Warri-Benin highway.
NUPENG threatened to direct members to withdraw their services nationwide to protest the deplorable condition of roads across the country.
This is contained in a statement by the President and General Secretary of NUPENG, Williams Akporeha and Afolabi Olawale, respectively.
The statement read in part,
“The leadership and members of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers wish to express our deepest condolences with the families of our petroleum tanker drivers, the deceased, victims and members of the public on the unfortunate fatal accident that claimed the lives of tanker drivers and many other innocent Nigerians on October 1, 2023, along the Ologbo axis of Warri /Benin highway.
“This accident occurred as a result of the failed and deplorable condition of the Benin/Warri highway. Scores of persons were burnt to death, with many others sustaining serious injuries and lots of vehicles destroyed . The union is saddened by this unfortunate regular occurrence.
“We deeply commiserate with the families of our tanker drivers, other deceased and all those who lost one thing or the other as a result of the unfortunate accident.
“This was an avoidable and unfortunate tragedy that wouldn’t have happened if our political leaders aren’t so callous, irresponsible and insensitive to the plight of the ordinary masses they claim to be leading and representing.
“Without any doubt, this was an accident that waited so long to happen, and the leadership of our great union did so much to avert it. We spent workers’ hard earned money to put hardcore stones and sands several times on many portions of this highway every year to make it passable for our members and other road users .
“We made several advocacy calls and campaigns for repairs of these roads and even issued threats of industrial actions to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the tragic accident-in-waiting, yet no response until this happened.
“We even took the campaign for repairs of these roads into different federal and state Government Houses, even as recent as our visit to the governor of Delta State just two weeks ago, precisely on September 19, 2023.
”We make bold to say though these roads are federal roads, the accidents and tragedies like these are definitely local and state calamities.
“No governor or government officials should shed any crocodile tears in this matter.
“The blood of our tanker drivers, members and other people that died in this tragic accident is on their hands, especially the former minister of works and housing who spent eight years on the job without any meaningful improvement to the deplorable condition of the highways.
“This tragic accident that happened on our national independence day speaks volumes about our nation’s appreciation and commitment to the sanctity of human lives. Nigerians are being wasted every day through the callousness, insensitivity and negligence of those we entrusted our lives.
“The leadership of the union finds it so disturbing, that in spite of the daily carnages recorded on Nigerian highways, the federal and state governments have remained insensitive to the plights and suffering of the poor masses that commute on these deplorable and failed highways on daily bases to convey goods and services.
“With this tragic incident, the union further demands that the federal and state governments should immediately commence the rehabilitation of all the failed roads in the country to save the poor masses from these avoidable experiences and deaths.
“We earnestly plead with the general public to bear with us, should we in the next couple of weeks decide to take some decisive steps towards making both the federal and state governments do the needful on our roads to avoid further similar tragedies and save lives and properties of other people.
“While we mourn those that died, we pray that God should grant members of their families and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
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Customs officers, smugglers clash in Ogun, onlooker killed
Customs officers, smugglers clash in Ogun, onlooker killed
A bystander was fat@lly struck by a stray bullet when some Nigerian Customs Service officers and smugglers clashed in the Obada Idi-Emi area of Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State on Monday, Nov. 25.
The violent confrontation began earlier in the day, with gunshots ringing out, throwing the community into panic.
As both sides exchanged gunfire, a resident identified as Kazeem was k!lled by a stray bullet.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Services, Hammed Oloyede, confirmed the incident to Punch. Oloyede said officers of the command had received intelligence about a smuggling activity of some foreign rice and they trailed the vehicle.
He added that when the driver of the vehicle observed that he had been trailed, he abandoned the smuggled item and the vehicle in a bid to evade arrest and fled the scene.
He said: “On Monday, November 25, 2024, at about 1109hrs, the operatives of Nigeria Customs Service, Ogun Area 1 Command received credible information on a Mazda 323 laden with bags of Imported rice. A surveillance team was deployed in a private vehicle to trail and give real-time updates on the Information.
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“Upon confirmation, The team with the official patrol vehicle swung into action along the bush paths of Owode-Obada and intercepted one MAZDA 323 loaded with foreign rice of 50kg each at the said Owode Obada axis. The driver abandoned the vehicle upon sighting the official patrol vehicle and managed to evade arrest.
“While conveying the intercepted vehicle with foreign rice to the Government Warehouse for documentation, the intercepted vehicle broke down at Obada town. Given the volatile nature of the area, the team leader directed that the intercepted rice be evacuated into the official patrol Hilux.”
He added that some suspected hoodlums attacked the officers while they were transloading the seized contraband which led to a free-for-all between the officers and the hoodlums.
The Ogun Customs PRO added that during the ensuing melee, the customs officers fled the scene to ensure their safety. One officer (pictured above) was injured.
Oloyede said that an investigation has commenced into the matter.
Customs officers, smugglers clash in Ogun, onlooker killed
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Gunmen abduct three people from Anambra community
Gunmen abduct three people from Anambra community
Gunmen terrorising Nigeria’s South-East region have abducted three persons in Anambra State.
The victims were abducted near the Innoson Motorcycle Showroom along Onitsha-Owerri Road end in the Nnewi North Local Government Area of the State.
A local privy to the incident said it occurred late on Tuesday, as the victims were driving along the road.
One of the sources said, “The three persons were in a vehicle when armed men suddenly blocked them with their vehicle. They ordered the victims to alight and as they alight, they forced them into their vehicle and immediately zoomed off.
“One of the assailants entered into their victims’ vehicle and also drove off and driving behind the other vehicle the victims were in. The incident, which happened within a split of seconds created panic on the road and around the vicinity. Because it was already dark, we couldn’t get the exact picture of what the vehicles look like.”
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The Anambra State Police Spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident on Wednesday.
He said the police were already working with information obtained from the scene for the ongoing rescue operations.
Ikenga said, “Anambra Joint Security Forces are on the offensive for possible rescue unhurt of three abducted victims and arrest of the abductors today, 26/11/2024 by 6:45 pm at Innoson Motorcycle Showroom along Owerri Road, Nnewi.
“The police command is determined and is already working with information obtained from the scene for the ongoing rescue operations.
“The command also urged residents or anyone with useful information that will aid the investigation to come forward to the Command headquarters, Awka, or the nearest police station
Gunmen abduct three people from Anambra community
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Drama as Yahaya Bello calms supporters after judge storms out of court over rowdiness
Drama as Yahaya Bello calms supporters after judge storms out of court over rowdiness
Judge Maryann Anenih of the federal capital territory (FCT) high court abruptly exited the courtroom due to the unruly behavior of Yahaya Bello’s numerous supporters.
The former Kogi governor faced a 19-count charge related to alleged money laundering on November 27.
Bello pleaded not guilty to the majority of the charges.
Prior to the proceedings, Bello’s supporters overwhelmed the courtroom, causing security operatives to struggle with crowd control.
Many journalists were denied entry to the courtroom as tensions escalated.
Judge Anenih entered to take the pleas of Bello and his co-defendants but departed abruptly, stating she wouldn’t return until order was restored.
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Shortly after the judge’s exit, Bello approached the agitated crowd and directed them to leave the courtroom.
With outstretched arms, Bello successfully instructed his supporters to vacate their seats and exit. His followers obeyed, leaving the courtroom one by one.
To maintain order, a smiling Bello sat at the entrance, ensuring none of his supporters re-entered.
The EFCC apprehended Bello on November 26, following an April declaration of his wanted status.
Drama as Yahaya Bello calms supporters after judge storms out of court over rowdiness
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