THE NATION TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2014
CITYBEATS
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Suspected highway robber held E
IGHT days ago, as a free man, he led his gang on a mission. His dreaded five-man armed robbery gang attacked passengers in a Lagos-bound luxury bus belonging to GC Okoli Transport Company on its way from Sagamu in Ogun State. Today, he is in the net of the Lagos State Special AntiRobbery Squad (SARS), which caught him while others fled. The suspect, Mmaduabuchi Ibe (37), a sculptor, was paraded yesterday by the Lagos State Police Command's spokesperson, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP), who said he was
By Jude Isiguzo and Ebele Boniface
arrested in one of the vehicles snatched by his gang at Sagamu. Braide said the suspect was wearing a fake bullet proof vest when he was caught. She said the operatives were still on the trail of the fleeing suspects, noting that Ibe would be charged to court after investigations. Ibe said poverty and frustration led him into robbery, explaining: "I met members of my gang, Monday, IK, Sunday and Miracle, at Oyingbo where we slept under the bridge in a nearby smoking joint. After narrating to them my problems
and frustrations and how I left Ghana for Senegal to look for job, how things became worse and how I returned to Nigeria. They told me they had a job and asked me to drive them. It was Sunday and IK that wore the bullet-proof vest made of polythene." Ibe revealed that the gang attacked two commercial buses at Sagamu on the New Year Eve, but said they did not get anything from the first bus because the whole passengers ran into the bush. In the second bus, he said they "captured" seven passengers and dispossessed them of money and phone sets. However, he said not get a kobo because the loot
was yet to be shared when he was arrested. He urged Commissioner of Police Umar Manko to forgive him because they only operated with wooden guns that were mere toys. He said he would help the police to arrest his accomplices and other criminals in Oyingbo if released and allowed to join the police. Officer-in-Charge of SARS, Abba Kyari, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the suspect was correct that their bullet-proof vests and guns were made in Nigeria, but said it is incredible that they could intimidate passengers with polythenemade bullet-proof vests and toy guns.
NDLEA finds 9.2kg drug in palm oil
By Kelvin Osa Okunbor
• Giade
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HE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has aborted a plot to export 9.2 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed inside palm oil to South Africa. The discovery was made during the screening of cargoes on a South African Airline flight at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
A taxi driver, who brought the consignment, was arrested by the anti-narcotic officials. NDLEA commander at the Lagos Airport, Mr Hamza Umar, said: "A taxi driver, Okwuokei Peter, has been arrested for attempting to export 9.2kilogrammes of methamphetamine to South Africa. The drug was packed in 41 parcels and hidden inside a gallon containing palm oil," Umar stated. The suspect, in his statement, said: "I thought I was doing one of my passengers a favour; little did I know that it would land me in a big trouble. He called me and asked me to collect a gallon of palm oil from somebody. When I got to an estate junction as directed by him, a young man walked up to me and asked if I was Peter; I said 'yes.' Then, he gave me the gallon of sealed palm oil. At the airport, it was found to
contain drugs during search. In fact, I am speechless, confused and frustrated." Peter, who hails from Delta State, lives in Lagos with his wife and four children. Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade urged the public to shun drug trafficking. "Ignorance is not an excuse under the Act. If you are not sure that consignment is drug-
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Yes, I deal in narcotics, man tells court
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25-year-old man, Kunle Adetoso, yesterday pleaded guilty to dealing in banned narcotic during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) charged him with a one-count offence of deal-
By Joseph Jibueze
ing in 320 grammes of cannabis sativa, a banned substance with similar effects as heroine and cocaine. The prosecutor, Orji Kalu, said Adetoso committed the offence on September 23 last year in the Agbado Oja, Ifako Area of Lagos.
free, then do not take it for export; otherwise you are liable. People must be cautious," Giade stated. He added: "Section 11, subsection 'B' of the NDLEA Act states that anybody who, without lawful authority export, transports or otherwise traffic the drug popularly known as cocaine, LSD heroine or any other similar drugs, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Advice for expectant mothers
HE Chairman of Mushin Local Government in Lagos State, Hon Olatunde Adepitan has urged expectant mothers to patronise the Primary Health care Centre (PHC) closest to them for antenatal care. He spoke when he visited the Omodigbo PHC in the area to present gifts to the 1st
The offence, he said, contravenes Section 11 (C) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation 2004. Justice Okon Abang ordered that Adetoso be remanded in prison custody after he pleaded guilty. He adjourned till March 13 "for a summary review of the facts of the case."
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baby delivered at the centre in the New Year. Adepitan said the medical personnel at the centre were qualified, experienced and gentle with the patients, pointing out the fact that they all attended universities as those in General Hospitals and private hospitals. He assured expectant mothers of safe delivery at the centres. Adepitan said advised parents of babies delivered in his domain early in the year to start some businessed with which they could cater for the welfare of their babies. He praised the mothers for considering the PHC suitable for the delivery of their babies and urged the medical personnel to be more friendly with pregnant women.
• L-R: Hon Adefunmilayo Tejuosho; District Chairman, Inner Wheel Club, Mrs Olanrewaju Olomofe-Kufeji; District Secretary, Mrs Sunbo Osunbayo; President, Inner Wheel Club of Isolo, Lagos, Mrs Ronke Solomon; Mrs Yinka Ayanwale and Alhaja Nike Ajadi, during the club’s empowerment programme and distribution of food items to the less-privileged ... at the weekend.
• Ibe... yesterday
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'Benefits of Lagos Countdown'
AGOS State Government has said its recent annual year-end crossover festival tagged, Lagos Countdown 2013, offered bounteous economic benefits to the people and the event’s corporate sponsors. Managing Director, Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), Mr. George Noah, said it was not just about promoting entertainment, but exploring its benefits, which include the promotion of commerce. He added that countdown was also a creative platform by the state government to empower the people through the development of small and medium enterprises and job creation, stressing that over 1,000 youths were engaged last year through various activities at the Countdown Vil-
By Tonia 'Diyan
lage. Noah said: "When looked at dispassionately, the Lagos Countdown offers enormous value-chain benefits, from the employment of sales personnel at the beer village to the engagement of activation and communication agencies by sponsors and providers of other services. Every part of the event is an avenue to engage the youth more productively. This is why we encourage small business owners to be part of the Countdown." Among the corporate sponsors of the festival were: Nigerian Breweries Plc, Dangote Group, Zenith Bank, Airtel, Samsung, Hyundai Motors, 7-Up Bottling Company Plc, Mikano and Forte Oil.
Cleric seeks jobs for youths
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ASSIVE unemployment has made youths in the country to become elements of destabilisation and threat to socio-economic peace as more of them are now used by unscrupulous politicians to cause mayhem in the country. Archbishop Magnus Atilade, who said this at the 13thBiennial Graduation Ceremony at the Nigeria Opportunities Industrialisation Centres (NOIC), Lagos, lamented the factors encouraging youth unemployment, saying it is dangerous to the society. "This massive unemployment among the youth and the unpalatable economic situation in the country have reached a devastating peak, leading to Boko Haram, kidnapping, assassination, ritual killing, armed robbery, advanced fee fraud and internet crimes with the youths actively involved in the social and moral vices," Atilade said He bemoaned the wastage of the nation's wealth through high-level corruption among politicians, saying if government at the federal, state and local levels would reinvest in the youth, peace and tranquility would abound in the nation with
By Paul Oluwakoya
improved economy. About 1,000 youths graduated from the institute with training in marketable vocations in line with their educational backgrounds. The institute's Executive Director, Mr Kehinde Abiola, urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to partner with NOIC to tackle the lingering unemployment problem in the country. He said NOIC is "about impacting marketable skills that will enable young people acquire self employed jobs skills and be self-reliant, live meaningful lives and also employ others. “We are appealing for assistance from governments at all levels, corporate organisations and concerned stakeholders to join us to put an end to the issue of unemployment in Nigeria within the shortest possible time." To ensure that the trainees do not lose sight of their goals, a national revolution scheme, he said, was set up to give loans to its graduate trainees to enable them set up their businesses while the NOIC officials follow up the business with regular visits and organising seminars and workshops.