The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, on Tuesday, banned the use of fireworks, firecrackers, or any other explosive device in Kwara during the yuletide season.

Olaiya, in a statement signed by the command’s spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the ban had become imperative because firecrackers and other explosive devices can lead to extensive damage to properties.

He added that it can also cause severe injuries or pose a threat to the safety and security of citizens, disturbance of public peace.

“Anyone caught in this act will be made to face the wrath of the law,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Olaiya, while felicitating with the people of the state on the excitement and passion that accompanied the Christmas and New Year Celebrations, urged them to maintain law and order in the state during the celebration.

“As we approach the forthcoming festivities in Kwara State, the Commissioner of Police, VICTOR OLAIYA, extends his warm season greetings to the citizens of the state. The Command understands the excitement and passion that accompanies these celebrations.

“However, it is imperative to maintain law and order; respecting the rights and well-being of others in our community and urged citizens of the State to refrain from acts that may disrupt the peace and tranquility within the neighborhood.

“The CP further enjoined citizens to be law-abiding, shunning all forms of criminal acts as he has ordered that all Area Commanders, Divisional Police officers, and Heads of Tactical Units in the command to provide maximum security within their area of responsibility before, during and after the yuletide.”

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria has revealed that about 3,963 teachers failed the November 2023 diet of the Professional Qualifying Examination conducted for teachers across the country.

Disclosing this to newsmen in an interactive session on Monday, TRCN registrar Josiah Ajiboye restated the council’s commitment to improving the teaching profession in the country.

“A total of 15,753 sat the examination in 38 Centres across the country, out of this, we have 10,636 that passed which is about 72.9 per cent and those that failed are 3,963,” Mr Ajiboye revealed.

The registrar also disclosed that while some candidates were absent from the exam, while others engaged in examination malpractices and had their results cancelled.

An Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan, on Monday remanded five men for alleged attempted murder of a farmer at Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

The defendants were identified as Ademola Isiaka, 58; Alabi Rasak, 58; Ademola Aremu, 22; Muritala Habideen, 24; and Abisoye Taiwo, 55.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Ogunkanmi, did not take the pleas of the defendants, but ordered their remand at the Abolongo custodial facility in Oyo Town, pending the advice of the Oyo State Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The defendants mounted a road block while the complainant was returning from farm on a motorcycle.

“On sighting the road block, the complainant made an attempt to turn back and flee, but was shot by the defendants on the leg,” he said.

Opaleye said the offences contravened sections 320 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Three persons were confirmed dead, while seven others sustained injuries in an accident involving two vehicles at the Conoil filling station axis on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Saturday.

Florence Okpe, the public education officer, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday in Abeokuta.

Ms Okpe explained that the incident occurred at 9:23 p.m. and it involved a Toyota Hiace bus with registration numbers RLG 846 XA and a trailer marked JJN 32 YX.

She stated that the accident was caused by speeding which led to loss of control on the part of the driver of the bus.

The FRSC spokesperson added that 18 people, which comprised 16 men and two women, were involved in the accident.

She said that seven persons were injured while three persons died from the crash.

Ms Okpe said that the injured victims were taken to Idera Hospital, Sagamu, for medical attention and the deceased were deposited at the morgue of the same hospital.

According to her, the sector commander, Anthony Uga, has urged motorists to consider this period of high vehicular movement and poor visibility due to weather conditions.

Mr Uga, while condemning speeding among motorists, said: “Common sense speed limit is the best.”

Firefighters from the Kwara State fire brigade, on Saturday, prevented a major disaster at Aasco Petrol station, along Ajase-Ipo highway in Ilorin, Ilorin West Local Government of the state capital.

The incident occurred at about 17:57 hours, according to the spokesman of the fire service, Hassan Adekunle in Ilorin on Saturday.

“Upon arrival at the scene, the fire crew encountered a severe and rapidly spreading fire at the Aasco filling station along Ajase-Ipo Road, Ilorin.

“The firemen immediately commenced firefighting operations to contain the inferno and prevented it from spreading to other parts of the filling station.

“Despite the scale of the disaster, the firemen who demonstrated their expertise and skill, successfully controlled and extinguished the fire with their knowledge and prowess in firefighting techniques,” he added.

He disclosed that investigation into the cause of the inferno revealed that a spark emitted from a Dyna truck with registration number LEM115XB ignited the flammable liquid, leading to the fire outbreak.

“This unfortunate incident resulted in substantial damage to the Dyna truck and a bus.

“However, thanks to the swift and coordinated response of the firemen and the support of relevant authorities; the fire was brought under control, limiting further potential damage to the facility and surrounding areas,” he further stated.

Director, Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John Olumuyiwa, urged the general public to always play safe, especially during this period and not to hesitate to call fire brigade on time whenever there is any fire emergency in their areas.

A middle-aged man in Adamawa State, Yakubu Mamza, has committed suicide by hanging.

Friday morning that the man who lived in Jimeta, Yola, was found dangling from a rope around his house in the early hours of Thursday.

He was a father of three female children.

The suicide comes roughly two days after a young lady in Girei Local Government Area drank a deadly poison and died in a tragic reaction to the death of her boyfriend.

Sources close to the late Yakubu Mamza said the man was separated from his wife about two years ago and had been living a lonely life since then.

He was staying in an uncompleted building at a community in Jimeta named 80 Housing Estate, in Yola North LGA where he hanged himself on the edge of a wall.

Nothing on the incident could be obtained from the Police up to press time but photographs of the incident are quite explicit.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has announced pre-qualification approval for the agency’s Yaba, Lagos laboratory as a Central Drug Control Laboratory.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, stated that the World Health Organisation recently granted the approval of the CDCL.

She said that the approval of the laboratory for the agency was a significant milestone in its dedication to ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.

According to her, the pre-qualification approval was communicated to the agency via a mail received from WHO pre-qualification inspection team on September 15.

She said that the success was finally published on the WHO website, adding that the website address through which the public could cite and reference was equally shared with the agency for dissemination.

“You can access the information on the pre-qualification procedure, as well as the list of pre-qualified quality control laboratories, on the pre-qualification unit medicine website: https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/medicines.

She stated, “NAFDAC is Nigeria’s regulatory body responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of food, drug, cosmetics, medical devices and other related products.

NAFDAC mission is to safeguard public health by ensuring that only safe and wholesome products are made available to the Nigerian public.

“This is a huge landmark achievement for the agency and Nigeria. Only a few laboratories in the world have the apex status of WHO prequalification. Our journey towards this milestone actually started in 2010, but with renewed efforts and more commitment to attempts by our management and the Federal Government in the last four years, we have finally achieved this goal.

“The WHO prequalification of the CDCL is a testament to the unwavering commitment of NAFDAC to meeting international standards of excellence in drug quality control and regulation.’’

The NAFDAC DG further said that the recognition brought numerous benefits to CDCL, NAFDAC, and most importantly the Nigerian people.

Mrs Adeyeye listed the benefits which the WHO prequalification of the CDCL would bring to Nigeria as global recognition, enhanced pharmaceutical quality, international collaboration and advanced public health.

Others are streaming regulatory processes, enhancement of credibility and advancement of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

She said the achievement would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment of the Minister of Health, NAFDAC management, CDCL staff and other partners such as the WHO Nigeria country office, USP PQM + Nigeria country office and the Global Fund.

The DG said that the status underscored the agency’s commitment to safeguarding public health and improving healthcare access for all Nigerians.

She, however, said that the agency would continue to work to uphold the highest standards of pharmaceutical quality control and regulation.

According to her, NAFDAC remains committed to its mission of safeguarding public health by ensuring safe, effective and quality medicines and healthcare products available to Nigerians.

The NAFDAC boss expressed the desire to leverage on the achievements to strengthen partnership and enhance healthcare access, and contribute to the overall improvement of public health in Nigeria and the West African region.

An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday remanded a man, Wasiu Oriyomi in Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Centre for allegedly defiling a 7-year-old girl.

Mr Oriyomi, whose residential address was not given, is being charged for defilement.

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

Justice Rahman Oshodi remanded him in the correctional centre where he was currently held.

Mr Oshodi adjourned the case until February 22, 2024 for commencement of trial.

Earlier, the state counsel, Inumidun Solarin, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence in August 2022 on Oludele Street, Ikola Odunsi in Ikeja.

Ms Solarin alleged that the defendant defiled a survivor whose name was withheld.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The offence attracts life imprisonment if convicted.

The Nigeria Customs Service has commenced investigation into an incident at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, where an officer was observed soliciting N5,000 bribe from a passenger.

The National Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, confirmed this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to Mr Maiwada, this behaviour has rightfully raised public concern, and the service is committed to ensuring full accountability.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the incident transpired at New Terminal, within the departure hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Lagos, and was captured on video by the involved passenger.

“The recording reveals an inappropriate request for N5,000 in exchange for expeditious processing of customs procedures.

“We wish to confirm that the officer implicated is indeed a member of the Nigeria Customs Service, properly assigned to the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Area Command,” he said.

Mr Maiwada noted that the NCS strongly condemns the unprofessional conduct and was dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism.

“A comprehensive investigation is underway to scrutinise the incident thoroughly, and appropriate actions will be taken.

“Such behaviour is entirely inconsistent with the core values of our service, and we are resolute in maintaining a transparent and accountable customs operation,” he said.

Mr Maiwada encouraged passengers and the public to report any instances of misconduct or corruption promptly.

He said that these reports were crucial in upholding the integrity of the service and ensuring that officers adhere to the highest ethical standards.

“The NCS is unwavering in its commitment to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.

“The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to the public at the earliest opportunity,” he said.

Ten persons died in an accident that occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Tuesday.

The Public Education Officer, Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun State, Florence Okape, confirmed the incident to journalists in Abeokuta.

She noted that the accident involved an Iveco truck marked KRA 80 XA and a Hiace bus with registration number FKY 898 YF.

According to her, the accident occurred at 5:00 a.m. at Kara, near the turning towards the interchange on the expressway.

She said that 18 men were involved in the accident, adding that seven people sustained injuries, 10 died and one was unhurt.

The FRSC spokesperson added that the accident was caused by speeding on the part of the bus driver, which led to a loss of control.

“The bus rammed into the truck that was about to negotiate the turn,” she said.

Ms Okpe explained that the injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital, Mowe, for medical attention, while the corpses were deposited at Idera Mortuary, Sagamu.

She said that the Sector Commander, Anthony Uga, was grieved by the incident because it could have been avoided if necessary caution was taken.

The spokesperson quoted the sector commander as advising drivers to endeavour to take a 15-minute rest for every four hours on the wheel.

According to Mr Uga, fatigue is often the major cause of road crashes.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has announced the arrest of five people suspected of involvement in illegal oil bunkering in Imo State.

According to the NSCDC Commandant in the state, Matthew Ovye, four vehicles were impounded from the suspects.

Mr Ovye said on Tuesday in Owerri that the suspects were arrested at Abacheke and Agwa communities in the Ohaji-Egbema and Oguta Local Government Areas of the state respectively.

He said that 30,000 litres of oil were recovered from the suspects during the operation conducted by the corps’ Special Intelligence Squad, following a tip-off.

He added that one more suspect and a vehicle were apprehended by the anti-vandalism team of the NSCDC on Monday.

The commandant said the command succeeded in decimating vandals in the state and would continue to protect national assets and infrastructure.

“In the past, they used to move with trucks, but now they use saloon cars and smaller vehicles, meaning that we have really decimated them and they are now in hiding.

“With the CG’s combined team and holistic synergy with sister agencies, we’ll nip this in the bud,” he said.

Mr Ovye said that the suspects would be prosecuted after investigations and urged residents to report suspected criminals to security agencies for prompt action.

Under the umbrella of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Ijaw youths have commenced activities to mark the silver jubilee of the Kaiama Declaration and the council’s foundation.

The Kaiama Declaration, which led to the foundation of IYC, was issued by Ijaw youths on December 11, 1998, in Kaiama, Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA in Bayelsa.

The youths, representing over 40 Ijaw clans, had converged to articulate their aspirations for the Ijaw people and to demand an end to 40 years of environmental damage and underdevelopment.

Addressing journalists in Yenagoa on Monday, the spokesman for the IYC ninth National Executive Council (NEC), Princewill Binebai, expressed gratitude to the founding fathers and leaders for their vision, aspirations and contributions to the continued growth and survival of the body.

Mr Binebai said, “Today, on behalf of the entire ninth NEC of the IYC, we express our gratitude to be part of those championing the 25 years existence of the council cum Kaiama declaration.

While we are grateful to the Ijaw nation for entrusting us with the council leadership, we want to reassure the Ijaw people that we will not renege on our quest to deliver purposeful leadership to the people.

“We are glad to announce to the Ijaw nation that we will be doing the foundation-laying ceremony of the Council Global Secretariat here in Yenagoa, which has never happened before. For us, we cannot say we are IYC Worldwide because all our activities revolve around Nigeria alone; hence, we have taken the issues of the Ijaw people to the global space.”

The IYC spokesman added, “Wherein the ninth NEC has taken steps to take our people to Ghana, Kenya and Dubai for Global Climate and Plastic Pollution conferences that have affected our environment gravely.”

Mr Binebai said the 25th celebration of the Kaiama declaration and IYC remained very key and important to the Ijaw people, hence the need to review “where we are coming from, where we are and where we ought to be.”

According to him, the assurance from the ninth NEC is that the group will consolidate the achievements recorded by previous council administrations and improve on the gains recorded so far.

“We are very grateful to the founding fathers of the council and our dear leaders, who have contributed a lot to the continued growth and survival of the council,” said Mr Binebai.

Mr Binebai listed the activities to mark the silver jubilee, including the foundation-laying of the IYC global secretariat, public lectures, and the launch of the IYC database. Others are the award night and grand finale at the Oxbow Lake Pavillion and Kaiama Grammer School Field.

The Ogun Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) says one person died, and another sustained an injury when a truck lost control at the Alagbon-Olorunda bridge along Owode-Idiroko Road in Ogun.

Adekunle Ajibade, the South-West area commander of TRACE, told journalists on Saturday in Ota that the accident was due to speeding.

Mr Ajibade explained that the accident, which happened on Friday around 4:15 p.m., involved a Mercedes-Benz truck with no registration number and a Bajaj motorcycle with registration number DGB 504 VK.

He added that four persons were involved in the accident, in which one person died and one other person was injured, while the rest came out unhurt.

Mr Ajibade said the Mercedes-Benz truck lost control due to speeding and rammed into a commercial motorcyclist, thus plunging into the river.

“The injured victim was taken to the hospital before our arrival, while the dead one has been claimed by his relatives for the burial rites,” he said.

Mr Ajibade cautioned motorists and motorcycle riders against reckless driving and excessive speeding to reduce or eliminate accidents during this holiday season.

Ogun State government on Friday announced a N50m reward for anybody who could provide information leading to the arrest of the killers of Taiwo Oyekanmi, the former Director of Finance and Administration attached to Governor Dapo Abiodun’s office, Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

Oyekanmi, aged 51, was last Wednesday killed by gunmen suspected to be armed robbers at the Kuto flyover bridge in Abeokuta.

The deceased and two others were said to have been accosted by the gun-wielding hoodlums while returning to the governor’s office with a cash sum of about N112m said to have been withdrawn from two major commercial banks within the Abeokuta metropolis.

The gunmen were said to have made away with the huge cash after killing the Ifonyintedo-born chartered accountant.

Governor Abiodun, who said that the brutal killing of the senior civil servant left his cabinet devastated and traumatised, promised to leave no stone unturned until the killers were brought to justice.

However, in a statement on Friday, the state governor said that a cash reward of N50m awaited whoever provided information that could help the security agents unravel the mindless killing.

The statement added, “Ogun State Government has announced a reward of N50m for anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of the state’s Director of Finance and Administration, Mr Taiwo Oyekanmi, on November 30, 2023, in Abeokuta.

“Information provided would be treated with utmost confidentiality. Such information can be sent to the under-listed telephone numbers: 08037441955, 08033074371, 08081775020, 08034062773, 08032136765.”

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have arrested five suspects, seizing 5,500 litres of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel.

The operation was carried out by the NSCDC Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad.

Photos from the exercise were shared on the official Facebook page of the NSCDC on Saturday.

The photos were captioned, “The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad  (CG SIS) arrested five suspects, impounded four saloon cars and confiscated  about 5,500 litres of suspected illegally refined AGO being transported to Onitsha from Obah Agwa autonomous community Oguta Ohaji LGA of Imo State.”

The Adamawa State Police Command has apprehended a 17-year-old identified as Lawali Mori, a resident of Viniklang, Girei Local Government Area, for allegedly having unlawful carnal knowledge with a cock.

In a press statement shared on the Command X account on Friday, the command categorised the incident as an “unnatural offense”.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Suleiman Nguroje, released a statement indicating that the complainant discovered the teenage suspect engaged in the described act.

He wrote, “UNNATURAL OFFENCE Another 17year old Suspect identified as Lawali Mori, a resident of Viniklang, Girei Local Government Area has been arrested for having unlawful carnal knowledge of a Cock against the order of Nature.

“The arrest was a result of a complaint made to police by one Esther Dimas a resident of Viniklang, after she caught the suspect in the act. The suspect further reveals he sexually assaulted the Cock but could not give reasons as to why he is doing such.

“However, the Commissioner of Police, CP Afolabi Babatola, while expressing worries, directed for a discreet investigation into the matter.”

Gunmen on Wednesday night abducted a yet-to-be-ascertained number of students of the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia).

The students were abducted in the Gandu community near the university, Abubakar Ibrahim, head of information and public relations of the institution, indicated.

According to him, the incident happened outside the premises of the university and for now, they cannot ascertain the number of students abducted, their names or departments.

Also, DSP Ramhan Nansel, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, said for now, the information about the kidnapping incident is still sketchy.

The PPRO added that the command had unsuccessfully tried to get facts and the identities of the victims.

Mr Nansel, however, explained that DCP Shettima Muhammed, acting commissioner of police in the state, had deployed adequate security patrol around the university to maintain law and order and to protect the area.

Meanwhile, the students of the institution, on Thursday, embarked on a peaceful protest over the persistent spate of kidnappings around the school.

The protesting students obstructed the free flow of traffic on the Lafia/Makurdi road for many hours, and it took the intervention of security agencies to bring the situation under control.