A police officer, simply identified as “Freedom” has reportedly killed one Adeleye Eniola, an SS1 student of Mayigi Community High School, Ilashe, in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The speeding police officer also injured other students who were in the company of the deceased.

An eyewitness noted that the officer who is attached to the Ilaro Area Command allegedly knocked down and killed the student with his vehicle while chasing a motorcyclist.

Reacting to the incident, the youths of the community under the umbrella of Ipokia Local Government Youth Forum (IPYF), condemned the action of the police officer, describing it as “unprofessional and barbaric”.

The youth group, in a statement by its secretary, Adeyemi Olusegun, also chided the police for arresting and tear-gassing other students who were protesting the death of their colleague.

“Over the years, we have been faced with Nigeria Police Force’s unprofessional discharge of their constitutional duties that always infringe human rights of our people, and it has always been proven that men of the police force on our roads in Ipokia Local Government are specially trained to kill, maim, extort our people and take away our rights as citizens of this country.

“The said officer left Ilaro, to perpetuate evil in Ipokia Local Government because the Nigeria policemen have been left unchecked and they have turned themselves to free rascals that can operate even outside their jurisdictions,” he alleged.

The group demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of the officer involved in the act.

When contacted for reaction, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Omolola Odutola, didn’t not answer calls put to her by our correspondent, nor did she respond to messages sent to her.

A Kano State Shari’a court sitting in Rijiyar Lemu has ordered the remand of a woman, Hafsa Ibrahim, for hitting her husband, Jamilu Muhammad, with a local pressing iron.

The suspect also allegedly cut 90 sets of her husband’s clothes into pieces over suspicion that he chatted with other women on his phone.

The prosecutor, Usman Shuaibu Dala, told the court that aside from the suspect injuring her husband and cutting her husband’s clothes with scissors, she also seized his handset worth N80,000.

Although the defendant denied the allegations, the Khadi, Umar Sunusi Dan Baba, adjourned the case to December 11, 2023, while she is to remain in custody.

An armed robbery group raiding homes in Asaba, Delta State, invaded the residence of Deputy Police Superintendent, Sunday Okoebor, and shot him in the head.

A statement released by the spokesperson of the command, Bright Edafe, said Mr Okoebor was killed when the robbers knew he was an officer.

“The late officer was shot dead by suspected armed robbers who broke into his apartment in the guise of being EFCC Operatives and on noticing he was a Police officer, he was shot in the head,” it read.

Subsequent to the tragic demise of the officer, an exhaustive manhunt was launched to apprehend the criminals. This effort has yielded success, with eight suspects currently held in police custody.

Preliminary reports suggest that these individuals have confessed to their active involvement in the crime, shedding light on the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.

“The Commissioner of Police Delta State immediately detailed tactical teams to go all out for the suspects. At about 0630 hours of the same date, the reinforcement comprising of the Command’s Joint Security Outfit A.K.A Operation Delta Hawk arrested eight suspects who had confessed to the act and murder of the late police officer.

“The Commissioner of Police, CP Wale Abass, on behalf of the command, commiserate with the family of the late officer and assures them of justice,” he added.

The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, recently banned night raids by the agency following the invasion of a hostel in Obafemi Awolowo University by its operatives.

The police command in Kaduna says it has arrested eight suspects for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery in the state.

The spokesman of the command, ASP Mansur Hassan, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Kaduna.

He said operatives of the command from the Divisional Headquarters Maigana arrested the suspects on Nov. 17 during a raid of the criminal den at Nuba farm in Farin Kasa, Sakaru and Balgadi villages of Soba Local Government Area of the state.

He said preliminary investigation showed that the suspects, aged between 20 and 27, were responsible for the Aug. 25 abduction of one, Kawu Ibrahim Yakasai.

“Equally, a man from Bagaldi village was their kidnapped victim in recent times.

“Their gang leader in Farin Kasa village is at large though trailed. All the suspects will have their day in court at the completion of investigation,” he said.

According to him, the feat is sequel to the renewed drive to guarantee the safety of lives and property, especially during the festive season in the state.

This, he said coupled with the directives of the Commissioner of Police, Musa Garba, to divisional police officers and tactical commanders to go on the offensive.

The statement quoted the CP as hailing the operatives and tasked them to be more circumspect during the yuletide.

He also enjoined residents of the state to be security conscious, warning that “criminal elements are on the prowl to unduly meet up with the demand of the festive period”.

Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Opeyemi Afolashade, said the ministry evacuated 88 mentally challenged persons and beggars from the streets of Ilorin.

The commissioner told journalists on Thursday in Ilorin that the exercise was after the general evacuation carried out by the ministry within the state capital.

She said the evacuation, held between November 24 and 30, was between Post Office/Taiwo-Isale, Tipper garage, Challenge/Unity road and Challenge/GRA axis.

Mrs Afolashade said the evacuated persons were taken to one of the ministry’s rehabilitation homes for treatment, prosecution and possible repatriation.

She, however, described begging and roaming on the streets by people with mental challenges as condemnable and socially appalling.

“The evacuation is part of the ministry’s responsibilities and a means to further ensure that society was cleansed from any form of menace, thereby promoting environmental hygiene and values for the state.”

The menace of persistent street begging regarded as a viable business venture among some people, despite series of dialogue, media sensitisation, and numerous social interventions of the government to the physically challenged and vulnerable in the state is worrisome,” Mrs Afolashade said.

She explained further that Kwara would not condone street begging as it was against the law of the state; depicted laziness, while the roaming of mentally challenged persons also posed serious danger to society.

She reiterated that the exercise would be continuous, adding that the ministry would no longer take the menace with levity, warning all those involved in the act to desist or be ready to face the wrath of law.

Eight persons were abducted when bandits stormed the Dan-Honu II community in New Millennium City, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

A new couple who got married last Saturday were among those abducted, while the Imam of the community mosque, his wife, and three children, including a 10-month-old baby were also among others that were abducted.

A source told DAILY POST that about 10 bandits stormed the community around 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday night with AK-47 rifles and others with dangerous weapons, they were said to be clad in black, with one of them masked.

He explained, “A resident of the area who is known as Alhaji Mohammed, escaped the abduction by the whiskers, the bandits started by picking the Imam and his family, whom they met outside the community Juma’at Mosque, before proceeding to a four-flat compound where they picked the new couple.”

He explained that the bandits started banging on the door of Alhaji Mohammed and broke the window, bringing the couple out through the broken window.

Meanwhile, the Imam, Malam Suleiman, and his neighbour, Malam Musa, who were picked while they were relaxing with Arabian tea outside the mosque premises, escaped while they were being led out of the community into the bush.

They were yet to establish contact with the family as of the time of filing this report.

Imam Suleiman, while narrating his ordeal in the hands of the bandits, said two of the seven bandits who abducted them were armed with AK-47 rifles with chains of bullets, while others carried axes, machetes, and sticks.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna State Police Command, ASP Mansur Hassan, said the police are still trying to establish the true account of the incident.

Similarly, the new wife, who was said to have gone through surgery recently, was abandoned in the bush by the kidnappers when she could not cope with the pace of their trekking in the bush.

The Imam’s wife was also let go when her baby’s cry almost exposed the bandits to vigilantes around Kakura.

The bandits, however, eventually succeeded in abducting the new husband, identified as Ibrahim, and two of the imam’s children (15-year-old Abba and his younger brother).

They were yet to establish contact with the family as of the time of filing this report.

A Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday orderedthat a 26-year-old man, Yusuf Haruna, be given 12 strokes of the cane for stealing two ceiling fans worth N86,000.

Mr Haruna, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty of the one-count charge of theft but begged for leniency.

The magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, told the convict that he mitigated the sentence because of his plea for mercy.

Mr Emmanuel, however, warned Mr Haruna that he might not get a second chance if he ever appeared before him again.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that Mr Haruna committed the offence on November 27.

He said that the convict was arrested with the stolen items by members of a vigilance group on the same date at about 11:00 p.m. at Jos Road along Ahmadu Bello Way, Kaduna.

Mr Leo added that Mr Haruna could not give a satisfactory explanation of how he got the ceiling fans.

The prosecutor said that the convict later confessed that he stole the fans from one Maryam Abdulfatai’s house, an offence which he said contravened Section 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

A 30-year-old salesman, Thomas Daniel, appeared before a Kaduna Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for allegedly diverting N340,400 from sales of 74 bags of cement to his own personal use.

The defendant, who lives at Maraba Rido Kaduna, is facing a charge of stealing.

The prosecutor, Inspector Chidi Leo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on November 20 at Sabo Tasha Kaduna.

He said the defendant, who was the salesman for the complainant, Godwin Moses, sold 74 bags of cement and refused to remit the proceeds to his employer.

He said that the defendant converted the money to personal use.Mr Leo said the offences contravened Section 217 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Ibrahim Emmanuel, granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Mr Emmanuel said that the sureties must be residents within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the case until December 20 for hearing.

Gunmen, on Monday, attacked and shot two policemen and a young man to death at Ahiara Junction in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo.

The suspected killer squad instantly opened fire on the security personnel, who were reportedly at the junction for routine security checks.

A witness, who pleaded anonymity, also told journalists that a yet-to-be-identified man also died from a stray bullet during the attack that happened around midday.

“On arrival, the gunmen opened fire at the direction of the policemen and killed two on the spot.

“A stray bullet also hit a young man and he died on the spot.

“This is very unfortunate,” the source said.When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident.Mr Okoye said the command had declared a manhunt for the fleeing gunmen.

“The Commissioner of Police, Imo Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, Commander 34 Artillery Brigade and Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives are presently combing the scene of the crime for evidence that will possibly lead to the arrest of the hoodlums responsible for the attack,” he stated in a statement to journalists.

The PPRO also confirmed Saturday’s abduction and killing of Eze Joe Ochulor, the traditional ruler of the Otulu Autonomous Community in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA.

Mr Ochulor, who was abducted in his palace on Saturday morning, was later found dead at a neighbouring community in Aboh Mbaise LGA.

Yet-to-be-arrested gunmen had, on September 19, attacked a joint security task force at Umualumaku in Mbano LGA of the state.

The hoodlums killed and set at least five security operatives ablaze during the attack.

An inspector attached to the Kebbi police command has died in a lone automobile crash following a tyre burst on Koko-Jega road.

“On 25/11/2023 at about 1000HRS, there was a lone fatal motor vehicle accident along Koko/Jega road, involving a police Toyota Land Cruiser with REG. NO. 5465D.

“The vehicle was conveying a team of policemen led by AC CID, Kebbi police command, ACP Suleiman Sade and nine others while on their way to visit a scene of crime at Kendawa village, Dutsinmari district of Koko/Besse local government area,” said police spokesman Nafi’u Abubakar in a statement on Sunday.

On reaching the NNPC area at Koko, one of the vehicle’s rear tires burst, somersaulting three times, said the police.

“The scene of the accident was immediately visited by a team of policemen from Koko Division and evacuated the victims to General Hospital Koko for treatment, where one Inspector Sa’idu Idiya of the SCID died, as confirmed by a medical doctor,” added the statement.

The command added that the corpse, alongside the remaining victims, was later transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, for further treatment.

The deceased cop was later buried according to Islamic injunction.

The police command in Benue says it rescued two kidnap victims and arrested a tax collector and 17 others in the Logo Local Government Area of the state.

This was contained in a statement on Sunday by the state police spokesperson, SP Sewuese Anene, in Makurdi.

According to Mr Anene, some bandits invaded Mchia Market on November 23 in Logo LGA and kidnapped two traders.

He said that after receiving information about the kidnapping incident and subsequent abductions of traders, the police took swift action and raided the compound of Zaki Tule Nyam, a tax collector.

“The victims stated that they were held hostage, and their families were given one week to source for N10 million and pay as ransom for their release before the arrival of the police.

“Consequently, Zaki Nyam and 17 other suspects were arrested for further investigation.

“Items recovered from them include one Dane gun and machetes,” the police spokesperson said.

Mr Anene further stated that the CP urged the people of Logo LGA to cooperate with police teams sent to the area by giving them useful information as the investigation continued.

The Chairman of the newly formed Lagos State Truck and Cargo Operators Committee, Lukman Zangalo, has promised to end the plight of truckers and cargo operators in the state.

Mr Zangalo said this in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

He also pledged to embrace unity and collaboration as a binding force for the unification of truckers in Lagos State.

Mr Zangalo articulated a fervent commitment to addressing the longstanding challenges faced by truckers and cargo operators in Lagos State.

He noted that the newly formed committee marked the beginning of a new chapter for LASTOC and stands as a testament to the collective commitment to enhancing the conditions and efficiency of truckers and cargo operators in Lagos State.

“I thank the Lagos State government for bringing up this committee to solve the problem of truckers in the state. I will try my best to end the suffering of truckers and cargo operators in Lagos State with the support of our elders, truckers, and members of the committee,” he said.

Also, Tiamiyu Oluwatosin, the Assistant Director of the Ministry of Transportation in Lagos State, representing Commissioner Dr Frederick Oladeinde, shed light on the persistent crises within the industry.

He expressed government’s recognition of the need for resolution and emphasised that the newly formed committee was a strategic move to seamlessly manage trucking activities in collaboration with the Lagos State government.

“We have been having a lingering crisis in this industry, and we felt that it was time to resolve all this, and that is why the committee was set up to run the activities of trucks seamlessly with the Lagos State Government,” he said.

Also, patron of the committee, Remi Ogungbemi, expressed gratitude for the unprecedented initiative, labelling it a ‘milestone and spectacular occasion.’

Mr Ogungbemi underscored the significance of their appointment, urging them to view it as a call to service and a responsibility to ensure peace, orderliness, and sanity in the business environment.

He congratulated the committee members and implored them to tighten their belts for the rigorous duties ahead.

In a plea to the Lagos State government, Mr Ogungbemi highlighted the issue of street urchins waylaying trucks along the roads, leading to experienced truckers leaving the job.

He emphasised that resolving the problem was crucial to encouraging the return of seasoned professionals to the industry.

“This has led to so many people leaving the job,” Mr Ogungbemi said.

The patron called for unity among truckers, urging them to support the committee’s efforts by obeying traffic rules and regulations and creating a safer and more pleasant working environment.

Alone accident at Anthony ‘Oke’ inward Gbagada on Saturday morning has claimed the life of a vehicle assistant, also known as ‘motor boy’.

A containerised truck was said to have lost control after it experienced a brake failure which made it fall on its side.

The driver of the truck, who was found unconscious by the operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), was rushed to the Gbagada General Hospital and is being treated at the intensive care unit.

Disclosing this on the agency’s X platform, the LASTMA director, public affairs and enlightenment department, Adebayo Taofiq, stated that while the truck driver was rescued unconscious, his motor boy was unlucky, as he was found dead at the scene of the accident.

The statement read, “Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) today (early morning) rescued an unconscious tanker driver as his motor-boy found dead during a lone accident at Anthony ‘Oke’ inward Gbagada, Lagos.

“The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of (LASTMA) Mr Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed in a press statement that the lone accident happened at Barracks Bus Stop, opposite Total Filling Station, ascending Anthony ‘Oke’ Bridge inward Gbagada.

“Immediate investigation revealed that the driver of the containerised truck with registration number T 20345 LA lost control due to a brake failure and immediately the truck fell on its side a few meters ascending Anthony ‘Oke’ Bridge inward Gbagada area of Lagos.

“Immediately the accident happened, Lastma personnel rushed to the scene and rescued the unconscious driver, while his motor boy was found dead”.

“Police from Ilupeju Police Station provided security backup while the rescued driver was immediately rushed to Gbagada General Hospital by officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU).

“The Acting General Manager of LASTMA Mr Bakare Oki, who visited the accident scene, sympathised and sent his condolences to the families of the motor boy.

“Mr Bakare Oki, however, warned the motoring public, particularly truck drivers, to always ensure their vehicles are in perfect conditions, including the braking system, before embarking on any journey within the State and the Country at large,” he urged.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted sunlight and dust haze across the country from Saturday to Monday.

The weather forecast issued by NiMet on Thursday in Abuja predicted moderate dust haze on Friday with horizontal visibility of 2Km to 5Km over the North and North Central States.

“Yobe, Borno, Jigawa, Kano States are expected to have horizontal visibility ranges localized less than or equal to 1,000m during the forecast period.

“Patches of clouds with sunny skies are predicted over the inland states of the South with cloudy atmosphere expected over the coastal regions during the morning hours.

“Sunny skies with patches of clouds are anticipated over the inland states with chances of localized thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom Delta, Cross River, and Rivers States later in the day,” it said.

Throughout the forecast period on Saturday, it projected significant dust haze across the northern states.

Throughout the forecast period, the agency predicted moderate dust haze with horizontal visibility of 2Km to 5Km across the country’s north-central area.

NiMet forecasted clear skies with patches of cloud across the southern inland states, with a cloudy atmosphere over the coastal regions throughout the early hours of the forecast period.

The weather service predicted bright and hazy conditions across the interior states, with the possibility of localized thunderstorms over parts of Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa states later in the day.

Police in Jigawa State have arrested a 50-year-old man for allegedly manufacturing firearms in Ringim Local Government Area of the state.

DSP Lawan Shiisu, the state police spokesman, confirmed this in Dutse on Thursday, saying that the suspect was arrested on Nov. 16.

“Policemen in Ringim in collaboration with a local vigilance group arrested the 50-year-old resident of Yandutsen Kawari village who specialised in fabricating firearms for miscreants,’’ Shiisu stated.

He added that a search of the suspect’s home yielded the discovery of a locally-made pistol and two rifles.

Shiisu also revealed that the suspect admitted to manufacturing a large number of firearms and selling them to people he could not identify.

The police spokesman assured that the suspect would be arraigned once an investigation was completed.

The tragic death in captivity of five infants recently underscores the resilience of the terrorists, bandits and assorted criminals tormenting Nigerians and the flailing campaign to neutralise them.

News of the death of the five children, who were among 17 villagers abducted by bandits in some villages in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State sparked outrage, and anger against perceived tepid official response. President Bola Tinubu must adopt more effective measures to protect Nigerians.

The case of the five children and the 12 others depicts the agony of Nigerians as the government grapples with widespread insecurity.

The 17 villagers, including the infants and their mothers, were kidnapped by bandits on October 7 and taken into the bush. According to media reports, the bandits initially demanded a ransom of N19 million.

However, after the payment was made, they released only four people and demanded an additional payment.

Residents said the bandits later called to inform the community that the five infants had died because their mothers fell ill and consequently could not breastfeed them.

This is heartbreaking, a reminder of the sorrow, tears and bloodletting inflicted by criminals across the country. Tinubu rubbed salt in the public injury by failing to visit the communities. Instead, he jetted out to Saudi Arabia for another summit.

Like its predecessors, the administration lacks the quality of demonstrable public empathy with bereaved Nigerian communities.

Two things stand out in the episode. One is the tenacity of the terrorists, bandits, Fulani herdsmen/militants in their criminal enterprise. The other is the apparent failure of the government’s law enforcement and military operations to eliminate criminality altogether or degrade them to insignificance.

Yet, the government keeps allocating trillions of naira to fund the security efforts, including a fresh N552 billion in the recent 2023 Supplementary Budget signed this month.

Obviously, defeating banditry and terrorism, and their associated crimes of kidnapping-for-ransom, armed robbery and Fulani herdsmen rapine requires fresh thinking, new strategies, and focus. Tinubu should depart from the uncaring attitude of his predecessors to the afflictions of Nigerians.

When Nigerians suffer tragedies, the responsibility of leaders is to show up in the afflicted communities, both for on-the-spot assessment, and to stand with the people.

If he deemed his Saudi trip so important, Tinubu should have sent a high ranking official to Kaduna to reassure all Nigerians that he has their back.

Determinedly, the government should crush banditry and kidnapping. The International Review of the Red Cross says, “In terms of its disruptive impact and intensity of violence, banditry is the gravest security threat that Nigeria currently faces and is driving a grave humanitarian crisis.”

Its handmaiden, kidnapping, is described by SBM Intelligence as “Nigeria’s fastest-growing industry.”

Its estimate of N653.7 million paid as ransom between July 2021 and June 2022 is believed to be understated. Some 3,420 persons were abducted in that period in over 500 incidents during which 564 persons were murdered. Between June 2022 and July 2023, 3,620 persons were kidnapped in 582 incidents, 430 civilians killed, while over N5 billion was demanded.

Among other measures, the government must ensure effective border controls, overhaul the security agencies, and adopt extensive use of ICT tools.

The security chiefs must perform or be replaced. Policing should be devolved, with state agencies and personnel well-armed, trained and equipped.

Funds allocated for security must be accounted for, and criminal suspects prosecuted.Tinubu must urgently adopt a hands-on leadership style and devise new strategies to defeat banditry and kidnapping.

The Ekiti Police Command says it has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged killing of a farmer by a deaf and dumb person on the deceased’s farm.

The incident occurred at Ipole Farm Settlement, Agbado Ekiti, in Ayekire Local Council Development Area on Tuesday evening.

The trouble started when the deceased, identified simply as Sikiru (aka Badoo), accosted the deaf and dumb, known as Sunday Alabi, accusing him of regularly coming to steal produce from his farm.

The suspect was said to have turned violent and pounced on him, leaving him with deep machete cuts on his head “for having the effrontery to challenge him”.

Sources said Mr Alabi almost chopped off the head of his victim.

Mr Sikiru’s cry for help attracted other farmers around the vicinity, who overpowered and rounded up Mr Alabi and later handed him over to the police.

The command’s spokesman, DSP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the incident, saying the assailant was in their custody.

Mr Abutu said an investigation had begun into the incident.

The police in Ondo State on Tuesday read the riot act to some political elements in the state, saying they were planning to cause unrest by recruiting youths for their selfish interest in the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP. Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, disclosed this in a statement to journalists in Akure.

She said that the attention of the police was drawn to reports that some people were planning to cause mayhem in the state.

She added, “Through intelligence reports, some political elements are bent on disrupting the peace of the state through concerted efforts and mobilisation of unsuspecting youths.

“Specific reports revealed that the sponsors seek to cause mayhem to embarrass the state for certain selfish ends.

“The state police command, therefore, warns such elements within the state to retrace their steps or be made to face the wrath of the law. Meanwhile, we assure law-abiding citizens of their safety as they approach the yuletide season.’’

A man, Jegede Folorunsho, 54, has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling an eight-year-old girl in the Lagos State neighborhood of Mushin.

The defendant was on Monday charged with defilement of the minor before Magistrate O.M. Ajayi presising over a Magistrate Court in the Ebute Metta area of the state.

Folorunsho sexually assaulted the victim, according to the police prosecutor, Paul Ugorji.

According to Ugorji, the crime violated Section 137 of the Lagos State, Nigeria, 2015 Criminal Law.

The charge reads, “That you, Jegede Folorunsho, on October 4, 2023, at No 4 Adegbite Lane, Mushin Lagos State, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did defile one girl (name withheld), a minor of eight years, by having carnal knowledge of her and thereby, committed an offense punishable under Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

The defendant’s plea was not taken.The magistrate granted the police’s application and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

The court further directed that the DPP be consulted for legal guidance on the case file.

The magistrate adjourned the case to December 15, 2023, for a report on the DPP advice.

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control has notified the public, particularly healthcare providers, to one batch of counterfeit Meronem 1g Injection being purchased in the country.

The notification of this product is contained in a public alert No. 036/2023, signed by the Director-General of the agency, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on Tuesday, in Abuja.

Adeyeye said that the agency was equally notified about the injection by the Marketing Authorisation Holder Pfizer, who reported the incident, as received through a patient notification platform.

The NAFDAC boss said Pfizer reported that the vial content did not dissolve when reconstituted for use and that further visual inspection of the pack was observed.

It was also reported that the crimp code did not match the code reported on the production documentation batch of 2A21F11, which is the semi-finished batch used for 4A21I17.

She said that the production process did not meet Pfizer’s specifications.

“The vial label compares favourably to the purported artwork version.

“Meronem (Meropenem trihydrate injection) is an antibiotic used to treat skin and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria and meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) in adults and children 3 months of age and older.

“The administration of the counterfeit product will pose a high risk to patients as the quality and safety are not guaranteed,” Adeyeye said.

The NAFDAC boss, however, said that healthcare providers and patients were advised to obtain all medical products from authorised/licensed suppliers.

She advised that the products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked before purchase and administration.

She also implored importers, wholesalers and retailers to maintain vigilance within the supply chain and desist from illegal importation, distribution, and sale of the counterfeit Meronem 1g injection and other substandard medicinal products.

She warned that anybody in possession of the counterfeit product should stop using it, adding that it should be submitted to the nearest NAFDAC office.

She also called on those with possession of the counterfeit product to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional if they already used the product, or suffered from any adverse reaction after using the product.

Adeyeye also advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of adverse drug reactions, or substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, or NAFDAC phone number at 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.

Adeyeye also encouraged healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of a medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng.

She also urged the public to report any adverse effect of the product via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.