The Lagos State Transport Union has withdrawn its membership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.
This development is coming shortly after the national union suspended the chairman of the Lagos state chapter, Musiliu Akinsanya alias MC Oluomo. Rising from an emergency meeting at the state secretariat at Agege, MC Oluomo said;
“Being law-abiding and responsible citizens, we have decided to explore all avenues for peace in the interest of all, we will not support any action that can threaten the peace that we cherish so much in Lagos State.”
“Therefore, I, Comrade Musiliu Ayinde Akinsanya, on behalf of the State Administrative Council (SAC), State Executive Council (SEC) members and the entire union rank and file members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State Council with over 200 Branches and Zones hereby resolve to immediately withdraw our membership and operation from the National body of NURTW for peace to reign in Lagos State and to write the Lagos State Governor, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation (MOT) and other relevant agencies about our decision.”
MC Oluomo urged the state government to take over the running of the affairs of the union pending the determination of the matter in the interest of peace.
He added that his action is in line with Section 40 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying, “Every person shall be entitled to assembly freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the protection of his or her interests.”
“This means that every person shall be entitled to join an association and exit freely without molestation,”
“In view of this and the crisis at hand, Lagos State Government is hereby invited to consider its white paper on Transport Union activities, 2004 section 5C, which states that the government should take over the management of any garage or motor park where there is a crisis until such is resolved by the consultative committee”.
The soldiers who assaulted and injured some players of Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan
have apologised to the players and the management of the Oluyole Warriors over the unfortunate incident.
The Media Officer of the 3SC, Tosin Omojola, said this in a statement on Thursday.
Ebenezer Odeyemi, Sochima Elum, Chimamkpa Onwubuche and Adekunle Adeniyi were on Tuesday night assaulted by some soldiers while eating at a cafeteria near the club’s camp at Idishin, Jericho, Ibadan.
While the trio of Sochima, Chimamkpa and Adeniyi luckily escaped, the military officers went hard on Odeyemi, who was unable to escape, having fell down while trying to run away like his colleagues.
On getting wind of the incident, the management of the Ibadan team took up the matter to officially make a report and also find out what led to the assault.
“When the ugly incident got to our notice, we took the lawful step to find out what really transpired between the soldiers in question and some of our players, in which one of them (Ebenezer Odeyemi) was beaten up.
“In response, they (the soldiers) gave their own side of the story, explaining what happened and then tendered their apologies over the incident, which they said was not deliberate.
“The soldiers involved said they were on patrol, having being drafted to the area as a security measures to put under the check the activities of some notorious gangs who have been terrorising residents of the area for some time,” the statement read in part.
The residents had arranged for the soldiers to beef up security in the area and it was one of their routine checks that led to the incident.
The statement further said that while patrolling, they ( soldiers) saw the four players at the spot and having initially passed, they decided to turn back, to find out who they were and what their mission at that spot was.
He added that on seeing them (soldiers) heading towards their direction, the players, out of fear, took to their heels, thus giving the soldiers impression that they (the players) were up to something.
While three others succeded in running away, Odeyemi was not that lucky as the soldiers caught him and pounced on him, suspecting that he and his fleeing colleagues were part of those wrecking havoc in the area, not knowing that they were footballers.
Odeyemi was said to have had a cut on his face as well as on his toes and a swollen ankle. The injuries will rule him out of the home match of the team this weekend.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has been sacked as the All Progressives Congress (APC) election appeal Chairman.
The South-West state governor was earlier appointed by Governor Mai Mala Buni-led APC caretaker committee to chair the party’s election appeal committee ahead of its national convention slated for March 26, WEE TALK NAIJA understands.
N34b Security Vote: Oyo State Questioned on Increase on Insecurity
As it is in many other States in Nigeria, tales of insecurity have trailed the administration of Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, a corporate Czar, who made laudable marks in the oil and gas sector before venturing into politics.
Pre 2019, governor Makinde had solicited for votes, promising the people of Oyo State through a concise manifesto, “ Oyo State Roadmap for Accelerated Development, 2019-2023” with Economy (through agribusiness), Education, Healthcare and Security as priority areas.
However, just after assuming office, a segment of the numerous crises that upturned the innocence of Igangan to the mayhem at Iwo Road and the assassination of an Ibadan On-Air Personality, showed clearly about the renewed upsurge in crime in the 46 years old State.
But an investigation by the National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE revealed that the governor has taken measures to enhance safety in the State.
Among other things, the governor, within one year in office, was said to have procured and distributed 100 Rio Kia motor vehicles fully equipped with modern security communication gadgets; operationalised 615 Citizens’ Emergency toll-free lines, streetlights under the Light-up Oyo Phase 1, about 49 JAC Pickup Vans for the new Police Mobile Force (PMF) Squadron (No. 72 PMF), refurbished 8 Toyota Hilux Pickup Vans and 1 Utility Lorry for the security outfits, enactment of the Oyo State Security Network Agency (‘AMOTEKUN’) Bill 2019 which was signed into law March 10, 2020.
In May 2021, by which time the governor was two years old in office, he had operationalised the Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed Amotekun in Oyo State in November 2020 and recruited and trained 1,500 Amotekun Corps members.
He also expanded and upgraded the Security Control Room and City, provided CCTV cameras in strategic locations in the state and provided more communication equipment for the security agencies as well as more brand new operational vehicles for the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, ‘Operation Burst’ and Amotekun.
However, further investigations indicate that though governor Makinde may have purchased security equipment, the totality of what he has expended in security operations is a far cry from the sum total of his security votes in the past two and half years, raising the questions about his genuine concerns for the safety of life and property in Oyo State.
Unconfirmed report showed that while his predecessor, late governor Abiola Ajimobi ensured safety of life and property with a monthly security vote of N250 million, Seyi Makinde, upon assumption of office, increased the monthly vote to N1 billion, translating to about N34 billion in his 34-month old in office.
Insiders averred that governor Makinde is not truly concerned about the security of people in Oyo State.
Those who spoke to NAOSRE stressed that the young governor is more interested in his second tenure, a development that may ignited the passion to save for elections and careless about the series of unrest, kidnapping, attacks on citizens and killing in major towns and cities in the state due to poor security network in the State especially in Oke Ogun and Ibarapa zones.
However, there have been arguments about the over blown security situation in Oyo State.
This argument is held mostly by the governor’s loyalists who maintain, at every available opportunity, that governor Makinde is a victim of political cross fire, essentially from the camp of opposition.
Though this might sound valid, Oyo State government’s penchant for withholding valid information from journalists rubbishes such argument with many saying that the governor has so much to hide at the expense of the safety of life and property in the State.
This is much so as the request by NAOSRE, “To access documents of the security votes accrual to the Oyo State government in the past two years,” had not yielded any response as of the time of filling this phase one report in the ongoing investigation.
NAOSRE is a body of publishers
and professional journalists from the digital and conventional news platforms, made up of the finest hands in Nigeria’s security reportage.
The association’s goal is to professionally bridge the information gap between government, security agencies and the general public on security related matters.
The group that its members are known for settling scores with arms and charms directed MC Oluomo whose followers said they are battle ready to quit Lagos office over alleged misconduct
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has suspended its Lagos chapter’s Chairman, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly called Mc Oluomo, indefinitely over alleged misconduct, insubordination, and inciting members of the state chapter against the apex body.
This development may be connected to a protest staged by Mc Oluomo supporters during which they accused the union at national level of unnecessarily interfering in the state affairs.
NURTW has also directed MC Oluomo to immediately hand over the mantle of leadership to his deputy chairman and release all property belonging to the transport body in his possession to State Secretary, in a bid to avoid any leadership vacuum in the state.
It alleged that the decision to place MC Oluomo on indefinite suspension was basically to prevent any breakdown of law and order after it came to its notice that he was already inciting members against the union, an act that is completely against NURTW constitution.
MC Oluomo’s suspension was contained in a letter sent to him on decisions taken by the national body as regards his recent conducts which Union described as a total disregard for the constitution governing members’ activities across the country.
In the letter dated March 9th, 2022, and sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, the national body stressed that it resolved to suspend MC Oluomo after it became obvious that MC Oluomo was not apologetic over his actions even after he was directed to explain reasons for embarking on such.
According to the letter signed by the General Secretary for the national body, Kabiru Yau, the Union promised to often ensure that the NURTW constitution remains sacrosanct and adhered to by members across the country.
The letter reads: “This is to convey to you that in line with Article 42 section 5, subsection I, II, III, IV, V, and VIII of the union’s constitution, you have been placed on indefinite suspension from office as State Chairman of Lagos State Council of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) with effect from March 9th, 2021.
“Your suspension is sequel to sustained acts of insubordination and gross misconduct coupled with your clandestine plans to instigate crisis and unleash mayhem on any branch or branches of the union in Lagos state that refuses to obey your order or instructions not to accept directives from the national headquarters of the Union.
“Your orchestrated plan to attack branches that may disobey your orders aforesaid will ultimately endanger public peace and order in Lagos state. It is also very likely to threaten and/or affect the lives and property of the peace-loving people of Lagos state, particularly those doing their legitimate businesses within motor parks, hence the urgent need to take drastic actions against him.
“It is on record that you were earlier issued with queries on 25th of February 2022 and 3rd of March, 2022 respectively in which you were directed to explain the circumstances surrounding your untoward actions and to also show cause why disciplinary actions should not be taken against you for such acts of insubordination. You bluntly neglected/refuse to respond to the second query, while your response to the first query was unsatisfactory.
“In view of your suspension, you are hereby directed to hand over the mantle of leadership of the Lagos State Council to the State Deputy Chairman and also surrender all Union properties in your possession to the State Secretary of the Union forthwith”.
The Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA has announced the successful capture of a notorious drug Kingpin, Micha Godwin in Taraba State.
Micha plies his evil trade in Nukai market, along Jalingo-Wukari road, Jalingo.
NDLEA operatives stormed the market at about 2.30pm on Tuesday to arrest the drug dealer and evacuate illicit substances in his warehouse. During the bust, Anti-narcotic officers came under serious attack from the kingpin and his boys and at least seven agents were injured and one of their vehicles damaged.
A reinforcement from the state Command of the Agency and other security agencies was quickly deployed to rescue the operatives from the scene of attack.
Despite the attack, the officers managed to arrest their target before recovering some quantities of illicit drugs from the suspect and thereafter retreated to take the wounded to the hospital for treatment.
Reacting to the incident, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) condemned the attack and directed immediate switch to new operational guidelines that will make officers and men well-positioned to defend themselves adequately in the course of carrying out their duties.
He warned that henceforth any obstruction or attack on NDLEA operatives in line of duty by suspects or their supporters would receive commensurate response.
Four policemen have been reported dead after the convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari‘s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari; Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola; and his counterpart in Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, crashed.
It was learnt that the crash occurred on Tuesday evening during the inspection of a bridge in Asaba, Delta State.
An eyewitness, John Okorie, disclosed that the driver lost control of the vehicle conveying security operatives and crashed into a deep pit.
According to the witness, the incident occurred when the vehicle conveying the security operatives was negotiating a bend leading to the construction site of the Second Niger Bridge.
It was gathered that the vehicle veered off the road while it was speeding to meet up with the ministers’ vehicles.
A Delta Line driver told The PUNCH that, “the policeman driver was speeding and while negotiating the bend because of the speed could not control the vehicle. They crashed into a deep pit. I was at the back of the convoy, driving slowly.
“With the help of other people, we rescued four of them but they were badly injured. They were shouting as the vehicle fell on them.”
Gambari, Fashola and Ngige went ahead with the inspection of the Second Niger Bridge.
No fewer than 76 security operatives, comprising 13 soldiers, five policemen, and 58 vigilantes, have been reported dead following a series of attacks by bandits across Kebbi State in the last two days.
At Kanya, a village in the Danko-Wasagu district of Kebbi State, the bandits reportedly killed 19 security personnel and one vigilante.
The bandits in their large numbers invaded the village on Tuesday and engaged security personnel in a gun battle for hours, security personnel told AFP.
According to the news agency, the bandits had overpowered the personnel, leading to the death of 19 officers, comprising 13 soldiers, 5 policemen and one vigilante.
Eight other security personnel, including four soldiers, were hospitalised with wounds while the remains of the deceased have been reportedly taken to Zuru Local Government Area (LGA).
The incident came barely 24 hours after about 57 vigilantes were reportedly killed around Sakaba village on Monday.
“We believe they were the same bandits who killed the vigilantes that attacked our village,” a Local resident Musa Arzika told the medium.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday condemned the attack and killings of the vigilantes. He assured Nigerians he “will do all it takes to tackle this monster decisively”.
He said, “While extending my sympathy to the families of the victims of this savagery, let me use this opportunity to also call on our security forces to be more proactive and redouble their efforts in order to frustrate the operational plans of the terrorists before they even launch attacks”.
More than 13 soldiers have been killed by bandits in Zuru Emirate of Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria.
Society gazette reports that the incident on Tuesday follows Sunday evening’s bloodbath in the same area where the terrorists killed 63 members of the volunteer security group popularly known as Yan-Sa-Kai.
Details of this attack on soldiers is still sketchy, but this newspaper scooped that the bandits were fleeing from military airstrikes in neighbouring Niger State.
At least 63 vigilantes from five communities of Kebbi State were confirmed dead after bandits ambushed them Sunday evening.
Traditional rulers of two of the affected communities told BBC Hausa that the vigilantes were ambushed while chasing the bandits who had attacked the communities.
But additional sources from Sakaba Local Government Area of the state said the number of casualties was higher.
Remains of the victims who were killed in the wee hours of Monday have since been buried amid tears and condemnation.
