metro
Stop harassment of Lagos traders, Bode George tells Sanwo-Olu
Stop harassment of Lagos traders, Bode George tells Sanwo-Olu
Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has called on Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to end the harassment of traders by government officials and security agents.
In an open letter, George, also known as the Atona Oodua of Yorubaland, emphasized that Lagos traders are not criminals and urged authorities to treat them with respect. He criticized the current approach, stating that while Lagos is known as the “Centre of Excellence,” security agents and government officials do not treat traders with dignity.
George noted that enforcing the state’s environmental law, which prohibits street trading, has led to frequent arrests and confiscation of traders’ goods by the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) officials, especially targeting roadside vendors and those selling in traffic. He also highlighted the financial burden traders face from multiple levies, extortion by thugs, and even physical harassment.
However, Bode George said, “Apart from lamenting the multiple levies they pay to councils and at the same time subjected to extortion most horrendously by some thugs and rough-necks, they are also harassed and flogged like criminals.”
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The PDP leader stated that street trading has been part of the culture and tradition of Lagos for decades, where he was born.
He pointed out that many professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, engineers, accountants, and others, were “financed educationally by what their parents made through street trading,” adding that street trading exists in London, New York, and other advanced cities.
“What authorities in those climes do is to regulate street trading, not to subject traders to despicable treatment,” he said.
In the letter, George noted that some traders and hawkers stay on the roadside where they pay government officials daily due to the harsh and hostile economy in the land as they cannot secure a shop for as high as N1m.
He said, “In the 21st Century, it is an act of wickedness for government officials to be treating street traders like bandits and terrorists in Lagos State.
“Where is our dignity? Why should officials subject them to harrowing experiences daily?
“They are not armed robbers and they should not be treated as such. It is despicable to treat street traders like terrorists. They are just trying to survive and Lagos is not the only place where we have street traders.”
Stop harassment of Lagos traders, Bode George tells Sanwo-Olu
metro
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has disclosed that about 200,000 repentant terrorists have so far dropped their arms and surrendered to troops in the North East, noting that the twin strategy of kinetic and non-kinetic operations was responsible for this achievement.
The CDS made this known at the Security and Justice Symposium organised by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the British High Commission, which began at the National Counterterrorism Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
He disclosed that the theme of the symposium, ”Securing Peace, Ensuring Justice, Protection, Conduct, and Accountability,” speaks volumes about the deluge of security challenges the armed forces and security agencies are facing.
His words, “All the challenges we are facing today have to do with fairness, equity, justice, and accountability.
“There will not be peace without justice, equity, fairness, and accountability. In our operations, we are conducting both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies, which have to a large extent yielded significant successes, and we want to particularly thank the National Security Adviser for his great support in this regard.
“Nigeria is going through so many challenges, and we feel we’re able to address this, and everybody has a sense of belonging. A lot of the security challenges we are having, we are sure, will go down. I want to thank the National Security Advisor for all the support he’s given us, both the kinetic and the non-kinetic.
“We have said it; the kinetic aspect is just less than 30%. The non-kinetic has a lot to play. The non-kinetic, because when you have democracy, people must have the evidence of democracy. As long as it tells people to sleep well and be peaceful, and they are hungry, their children cannot eat, and all this creates more problems.
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“The issue of informants. We have to look at how we tackle this issue of informants. Because these are the people who have created the issue.
200,000 repentant terrorists surrender, drop arms in North East – CDS
metro
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
The spokesperson for the police in Delta State, SP Bright Edafe, has confirmed the death of two robbery suspects in the state.
Mr Edafe, who disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Warri, said that the deceased were killed from the bullets shot by their gang members.
According to him, the incident occurred on Wednesday at Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Edafe explained that the deceased were leading the police surveillance team attached to the Ekpan Division to their hideout when they were caught during a shoot-out.
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“The suspects were arrested at Effurun roundabout with a bag containing 57 live cartridges and other items. They were leading the surveillance team to their hideout at Warri/Sapele road when their gang members, on sighting the vehicle of the police team, engaged them in a shootout.During the gun duel, the arrested suspects that were leading the police team were fatally wounded by the gun shot of their colleagues. The two injured suspects were taken to the hospital and later died while receiving treatment,” he said.
Mr Edafe said that items recovered from the hoodlums hideout included: one English pump action gun, one locally made cut-to-size gun and eight live cartridges.
Others were: six iPhones, Smart phones and a Rolex wrist watch.
He said that the command had intensified manhunt on the fleeing members of the gang.
Robbers kill two members in shoot-out with Delta police
(NAN)
metro
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