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Traffic robbers attack Lagos motorists in police presence

Published

4 years ago

November 21, 2021

Motorists have cried out over resurgent cases of traffic robberies in Lagos State as hoodlums reportedly attack commuters at night and in broad daylight.

It was gathered that on some busy highways such as Ojota-Ketu-Mile 12 axis manned by police, miscreants loitering around pounce on motorists held in traffic and break their windscreens in an attempt to rob them.

Investigation by Sunday PUNCH revealed that in some cases, the thugs forcefully demand money from drivers with a threat to attack them if they fail to accede to their demand.

Our correspondent, who passed through Ojota at 9am on Monday, witnessed moments a dark-complexioned young man in shorts and T-shirt waltzed into the side of a black Prado Jeep stuck in traffic gridlock around Freedom Park.

The fellow knocked on the front windscreen and vehemently asked the driver to give him money but the latter resisted. As the thug attempted to bring out a weapon, the driver, a middle-aged man, quickly handed a naira note to him. He fled into the lawn afterwards.

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Our correspondent observed that there was a cluster of policemen and their vans stationed some metres away from the spot where the incident happened.

A co-presenter of a TVC programme, Your View, Tope Mark-Odigie, also shared her encounter with two traffic robbers on Alapere Bridge, inward Ojota around 7pm last Friday.

Recounting her experience during the Monday edition of the programme, Mark-Odigie said one of the assailants shattered her windscreen as she struggled to evade the attack.

She stated that two days before the incident, a friend had told her of how he was robbed in traffic between Oworonshoki and Ogudu and his windscreen broken.

She recalled, “On Friday (November 12), I had an event on the Island. On my way back around 7.30pm, the attack took place on Alapere Bridge inward 7up. Because I am conscious of the fact they usually rob (in that area), I had been looking around and saw policemen stationed around the bridge. They always park (their patrol vans) there. They clustered around a young man on the floor; maybe they caught one of the robbers.

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“Barely two minutes afterwards, I was flanked by two men and they were hitting the windows. I swerved to one side and one of them ran away. I got to another lane and the other guy on my side kept hitting until he broke the glass. I kept on struggling in traffic because there wasn’t much space to manoeuvre.

“There was a trailer by my side; I kept manoeuvring until I was able to escape. I think other drivers were aware of what was going on and the little they could do was to make room for me to move. There were glass shards on my body.”

She and her co-presenters urged the state government to light up the road and other highways, especially those notorious for traffic robbery.

Another presenter, Mariam Longe, also lamented that she and her husband had been robbed along Apogbon Bridge on different occasions.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the command was addressing the menace by intensifying security across the state and raiding criminal hideouts.

He said, “Security has been beefed up in the area (Ojota) and other parts of the state. The Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has directed all the Area Commanders, DPOs, tactical teams and other field commanders to provide watertight security in every part of the state before, during and after the Christmas and beyond.”

“In compliance with the directive, the officers have increased the presence of policemen through proactive and visibility policing as well as raids of criminal hideouts.”

Punch

Related Topics:Lagos motorists police Traffic robbers

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Cars Torched as South Africans Protest Alleged Nigerian ‘Igbo King’ Coronation

Published

15 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Cars Torched as South Africans Protest Alleged Nigerian ‘Igbo King’ Coronation

Violence erupted on Monday in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape, South Africa, following the reported coronation of a Nigerian national as a traditional king, prompting the Nigerian High Commission to issue a 10-point safety advisory urging Nigerians in the country to prioritise safety and maintain a low profile.

According to the advisory titled “Advisory to All Nigerians Living in the Republic of South Africa,” citizens were urged to exercise caution, limit movement, avoid interactions with unfamiliar persons, and suspend socio-cultural activities to reduce the risk of becoming targets amid rising tensions. The circular also advised Nigerians to respect local laws and customs and refrain from posting inflammatory content on social media that could escalate the situation.

What began as a peaceful protest over the alleged installation of Solomon Eziko as Igwe Ndigbo quickly escalated. Videos and images of the coronation circulated widely, sparking anger among residents and civic groups. Protesters torched vehicles, vandalised properties, and clashed with law enforcement. Police reportedly deployed teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowds, while fire services worked to contain the blazes.

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A man was stabbed during the unrest and taken to hospital. Authorities clarified that the victim was not linked to the demonstration, though some civic groups claimed one of their members was injured and also struck by a vehicle.

Several groups, including ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance, and the civic movement March and March, joined traditional leaders in condemning the alleged coronation as illegal and unconstitutional.

Athol Trollip, ActionSA Eastern Cape leader, said: “There is no constitutional provision for any foreigner, legal or illegal, to coronate themselves in the Eastern Cape. We support existing local kings, not Nigerian kings.”
Steve Motale, Patriotic Alliance spokesperson, said: “We condemn this fake coronation. Even the Nigerian High Commissioner has denounced it.”

The Royal House of AbaThembu also denied involvement, calling social media claims linking King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo to the coronation false and misleading.

The unrest follows recent anti-migrant protests in South Africa, where residents demanded stricter immigration policies targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals. Analysts say the protests reflect broader xenophobic tensions and concern over foreign influence on local traditional structures.

The Federal Government of Nigeria continues to monitor the situation closely, urging citizens in South Africa to remain law-abiding, cautious, and vigilant until stability returns.

Cars Torched as South Africans Protest Alleged Nigerian ‘Igbo King’ Coronation

metro

El-Rufai Alleges Plot to Arrest Brother to Force Negotiation

Published

49 minutes ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai Alleges Plot to Arrest Brother to Force Negotiation

Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that security operatives planned to arrest his elder brother, Bashir El-Rufai, if he returned to Nigeria for their mother’s burial — reportedly as a tactic to pressure him into negotiations.

In a video statement, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain said Bashir avoided attending the funeral to prevent detention. “My elder brother Bashir El-Rufai couldn’t make it because we learned there was a plan to arrest him… they believe if they get him, I will negotiate,” he revealed.

El-Rufai’s mother, Hajiya Umma El-Rufai, passed away in Cairo, Egypt, on Friday. Her remains were flown to Abuja and buried on Sunday. The burial coincided with El-Rufai’s ongoing legal troubles, including his arrest and detention by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegations of corruption and money laundering.

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The former governor was arraigned before a Federal High Court in Kaduna on March 24 on a 10-count charge. His case was adjourned until March 31, 2026, for hearings on pending applications, including his bail request. He was granted temporary release from ICPC custody to attend his mother’s funeral.

Observers say El-Rufai’s claims highlight concerns over the alleged use of family members as leverage in political and legal disputes, sparking debate over the conduct of anti-graft agencies in Nigeria. Analysts also note the potential political implications as El-Rufai continues to assert his innocence and challenge the legal proceedings against him.

El-Rufai Alleges Plot to Arrest Brother to Force Negotiation

metro

Tinubu Appoints Senator Ibrahim Ida as CAC Chairman, Names Seven NPC Commissioners

Published

1 hour ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Tinubu Appoints Senator Ibrahim Ida as CAC Chairman, Names Seven NPC Commissioners

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major leadership reshuffle in key federal institutions, appointing Senator Ibrahim Ida as Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and nominating seven individuals to fill vacant Federal Commissioner positions at the National Population Commission (NPC). The move is aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, promoting good governance, and improving data-driven planning and corporate regulation across Nigeria.

Senator Dr. Ibrahim Ida holds a Master’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Ibadan and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Abuja. Prior to his tenure in the Senate representing Katsina Central, he served as Commissioner of Finance in Katsina State and later as a Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service. At CAC, he is expected to streamline company registration, enhance corporate governance, and boost investor confidence.

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The seven nominees for the NPC are:

Kolawole Oladipupo Alabi (Ekiti State)
Nasiru Mu’azu (Zamfara State)
Usman Abubakar Tuggar (Bauchi State)
Dr. Isiaka Alada Yahaya (Kwara State)
Professor Sadiq Isah Radda (Katsina State)
Suleiman Umar (Jigawa State)
Honourable Chiso Abdullahi Dattijo (Sokoto State)

These nominees will support the NPC in population data collection, census planning, and demographic research, crucial for effective national policy formulation. Their appointments are subject to confirmation by the National Assembly.

In a related development, President Tinubu also appointed Bala Mohammed Bello as Special Adviser on Political Economy. Bello, a graduate of Accounting with an MBA from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, previously served as Deputy Governor (Corporate Services) at the Central Bank of Nigeria and as Executive Director at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank. Additionally, Dr. Yusuf Mohammed from Kano State was appointed Chairman of the Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo, a key institution for technical and vocational education in Gombe State.

President Tinubu expressed confidence in the appointees, emphasizing that their leadership will advance institutional reforms, enhance corporate regulation, and support data-driven governance, contributing to improved economic growth and service delivery across Nigeria.