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THE NATION TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

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Ambode orders recruitment of more medical workers •Governor hands over 10 Hilux vans, 15 motorcycles to police

O ensure 24-hour service in general hospitals and health centres, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the recruitment of more parademic staff and special medical coordinators. Ambode made this known at the Lagos House in Ikeja yesterday when he commissioned 20 Mobile Intensive Care unit (MICU) ambulances and 26 transport ambulances in fulfilment of his promise to bring quality healthcare service closer to the people particularly during emergencies. He also handed over 10 new Hilux Vans and 15 motorcycles to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni in furtherance of his commitment to ensure a crime free state. The governor said: “In my inaugural address, I pledged my total commitment to run a government that will leave no one behind; a government that will implement programmes that make life simpler, easier and happier for our people, Today we are launching the free ambulance service as a demonstration to that pledge”. He said the acquisition of

•The vehicles commissioned by Ambode ... yesterday. PHOTOS: OMOSEHIN MOSES

By Miriam Ekene-Okoro

the ambulances was also in consonance with his administration’s mantra to run a government of continuity with improvement. “I recall with much satisfaction, the great strides we have witnessed in the health sector in the last 16 years; commencing from the foundational leaps of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the significant landmarks of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)”, the governor said. The transport ambulances, he said, would be in the 26 general hospitals for easy access, adding that his administration has restructured the State Emergency Ambulance Services and increased the fleet of MICU by 20, bringing the number to 33 units. Ambode promised to upgrade the general hospitals

•Ambode (second right) assisted by his deputy Dr Oluranti Adebule (right); Senator Ganiyu Solomon (left), Alara of Ilara, Oba Hakeem Abiodun Adesanya (third left), Opemoluwa of Lagos, Chief Lateef Ajose (second left) to cut the tape ... yesterday.

and also build a Medical Park. Handing over the vehicles and motorcycles to Owoseni, the governor urged the Police to utilise them judiciously for

Vandals ‘kill’ three policemen •They are missing, say police

HERE was confusion yesterday over the fate of three policemen after an encounter with vandals in Ikorodu, Lagos. Unconfirmed report said they were killed in gun battle with the vandals. But the police denied the claim, saying the policemen were missing. The policemen – an inspector, a sergeant and a corporal – from Owutu Police Station were allegedly killed at Olainukan, Agric in Ikorodu around 6am. They were said to have demanded bribe from the vandals. Another policeman identified as Yerima was said to have been injured and was rushed to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). It was gathered that the officers, who were on patrol, were shot by the vandals, who were in a vehicle containing several jerry cans of petrol. It was learnt that the 50-litre kegs were hidden under the vehicle’s seats. The fuel was scooped from ruptured

By Precious Igbonwelundu

pipelines around Ikorodu. According to a source, an altercation ensued after the vandals refused the policemen’s demands. “The armed vandals opened fire on the patrol van, killing the three policemen on the spot, while two others escaped with bullet wounds,” he said. A trader around the police station said he saw sternlooking policemen when he returned from the mosque early on Monday. A food vendor said she ran away on hearing sporadic gunshot around 5am. “When the gunshot was becoming unbearable I had to run away, abandoning what I was preparing. When everything became clear, I heard that two policemen were killed and the vandals also sustained injuries. We are sitting on gunpowder here in Olainukan, because this is the transit point where black market business thrives. Government should come to our aid,” she said. She told The Nation that riot policemen have been parad-

ing the area in search of the suspects. A police source said some suspects had been arrested, adding that they were being profiled. But police spokesperson Patricia Amadin, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), denied that any policeman was killed in the incident. She said three officers have been missing since the incident, adding that the command headquarters was aware of the development. About seven policemen, she said, were deployed in from the division following information that armed militants had infiltrated the area. “At about 3am, we got information that some armed militants were heading towards the direction and the division was put on alert. “On sighting the policemen, the vandals opened fire but no policeman was killed. At the moment, three of the seven policemen who went on the mission have reported at the command while three others are still missing,” she said.

the enhancement of security. Owoseni thanked the governor for the gesture, promising that the vehicles would

be deployed for crime prevention. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr

Bricklayer drowns in stream

HE body of a bricklayer was yesterday recovered from a stream in Magodo Phase II by officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). He was said to have gone to the stream for a bath after close of work at a construction site at Magodo waterside on Sunday evening. It was gathered that the deceased simply identified as Abdullahi got drowned on the stream. His fellow workers reportedly became worried after waiting for him for long and contacted emergency workers. The Nation gathered that the

By Precious Igbonwelundu

emergency workers’efforts to rescue him on Sunday night failed. They returned to the scene yesterday and fished out his body. It took a combined team of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) officials, police and local divers to recover the body about 4:30pm. LASEMA General Manager, Michael Akindele said the body has been deposited in a morgue. The police, he said, would investigate to ascertain the cause of death, appealing to developers to monitor their

TINUBU Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced Olatunji Abejoye, 28, to one year imprisonment with hard labour for beating up a woman who refused him sex. Magistrate L.A. Owolabi found Abejoye guilty of the four-count charge of assault preferred against him by the police. The convict, who was arraigned on August 14, was alleged to have assaulted one

•200 pupils get free GCE forms By Oziegbe Okoeki

on Sunday. He said: “This resource centre will have all the necessary modern information and communication technology (ICT) equipment and vocational training machines of different types and it will be responsible for

training and empowering youths and women not only in Agege but also in the entire state.” The aim of establishing the resource centre, Obasa said, is to make youths and women self dependent adding: “Our aim is to teach you how to fish rather than giv-

workers closely to forestall such incidence. “LASEMA received distress call at about 6:45pm on Sunday of a young artisan working at a construction site by Magodo waterside who drowned in a stream. “Our response team searched through the night and continued Monday till his body was recovered at about 4pm. “The body was handed over to State Embalmment and Mortuary Unit (SEMU) by LASEMA officials with police officers from Magodo police station. The police will carry out further investigation on the incident,” he said.

Man jailed for sexual assault By Precious Igbonwelundu

Jumoke Adepoju, who allegedly owed him N300. Prosecuting Sergeant Aondohemba Koti told the court that the convict and complainant had known each other for two years and were neighbours in Ibeju-Lekki. Led in evidence by the prosecutor, Adepoju said on August 13, at 2pm at Kajola Town, Ibeju-Lekki, Abejoye hit her with plank and injured her after she refused

Lagos Speaker to build resource centre in Agege AGOS State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has promised to build a resource centre in Agege for the training and empowerment of youths and women. The project, he said, would begin soon. He spoke during the distribution of free General Certificate of Education (GCE) form to some pupils

Modele Osunkiyesi, said the acquisition of the MICUs was a fall-out of a stakeholders’ meeting with the governor.

ing you fish to eat. By training and empowering youths and women, we are not only making them independent but also making them employers of labour,” he said. Obasa described the free GCE forms distribution as one of his educational development programmes aimed

at assisting indigent pupils in realising their dreams. “We have been doing this since 2003 and this is the 12th edition. Annually the number of beneficiaries keeps increasing. Last year, we gave out 100 forms, this year, we are giving out 200 forms and I want to assure you that the number will increase next year by the special grace of God,” he said.

him sex. She alleged that Abejoye also beat her up when he saw her with her boyfriend. The complainant said Abejoye was arrested after she reported the matter at the Elemoro Police Station. But, the convict denied assaulting her over sex, saying the reason for his action was the N300 change she owed him. He told the court that he had given her N500 when she requested for N200 loan, adding that he later told her to keep the change, which she refused to give him. Abejoye alleged that the victim fell on the plank while he was chasing her. Delivering judgement, Magistrate Owolabi said some residents of Ibeju-Lekki, who were brought in as prosecution witnesses, testified that the convict is violent. He described the convict as “a violent person”, going by the injuries he inflicted on the victim over money.