Has it become a crime to be a young person in this country? – Tuface calls for Ice Prince’s release

Nigerian musician, Tuface Idibia has called for the release of his colleague, Panshak Zamani, popularly known as Ice Prince.

The Oleku singer was arrested in the early hours of Friday September 2, for allegedly abducting and assaulting a police officer in Lagos.

A magistrate court sitting in the Ajah area of Lagos State remanded the musician at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre for alleged assault on a police officer.

He was arraigned before the court by the Lagos State Police Command on three counts bordering on assault, obstruction and abduction of a policeman. When the counts were read to him, he pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate ordered that he be remanded in the correctional center until he fulfills his bail condition. He then adjourned further proceedings in the case till September 7.

Taking to his Instagram story on Saturday, September 3, Tuface demanded the release of Ice Prince.

“Has it become a crime to be a young person in this country?” he wrote.

Fake Lagos driver robs passengers of N1.2m valuables

A 39-year-old man, Charles Inibu, has been arraigned before a Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Yaba, Lagos State, for allegedly disguising as a commercial driver to rob unsuspecting passengers of their valuables in the Victoria Island area of the state.

The defendant was charged before Chief Magistrate P.E Nwaka, on two counts bordering on conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery.

The prosecution, led by Sgt. Juliana, said Inibu pretended to be a commercial bus driver at the time of the incident within Victoria Island in Lagos, to lure passengers into his bus.However, Inibu and others still at large, dispossessed the victims of their belongings.

The charges read in part,

“That you, Charles Inibu, and others now at large, within July 31, 2022, to August 8, 2022, within Victoria Island, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit, robbery.

“That you, Charles Inibu, and others still at large, within the same date and place in the aforementioned magisterial district, did pretend to be genuine commercial bus drivers, as a result, you robbed innocent passengers of their belongings.

”The prosecution alleged that Inibu and his fleeing accomplices robbed nine passengers of their phones, adding that the total value of property stolen was N1,231,000.

The offences were said to be punishable under Sections 299 and 297(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

The court did not take the defendant’s plea.Chief Magistrate Nwaka adjourned the matter till September 22 for mention.

5-year-old girl and woman die in Lagos church stampede

Two persons died in a stampede at the Comfort Life Mission International Church located on Ewenla streets, off Ikotun-Idimu Road in Lagos.

The incident happened on Thursday, August 18, during a prayer service hosted by Pastor Odekunle Epaphras Prayer Ministries, also known as Olorun Ojiji.

The service which holds on the third Thursday of every month usually attracts a massive crowd of worshippers.

According to a witness, trouble started after the crowd waiting for the second service scrambled to enter the venue immediately after the first service ended without allowing the first set of worshippers to exit the venue, leading to a stampede.

Spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, August 19. He said that incident occurred at about 11.00 a.m. on Thursday, at the church, located on 13/15, Ewenla Street, Pab Bus stop, Ikotun, Lagos.

“The police received a report that there was stamped during their congregational service at the church on Thursday. As a result of the stampede, five persons slumped and were rushed to Isolo General Hospital, for treatment,” the PPRO stated.

“A woman of about 45-years-old and a 5-year-old girl, whose identities and address are unknown, died

“The scene has been visited, corpses deposited at Mainland General Hospital mortuary, Yaba, for preservation, investigation in progress,” he added.

Lagos Police rescue ‘crossdresser’ who was about to be lynched over claims he is a terrorist

The police in Lagos state have rescued a man from being lynched over claims he is a terrorist.

SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the state police command, said the man was almost lynched in the Ijora Badia area of the state today August 15, by a mob who accused him of being a terrorist.

Hundeyin said police intervention led to his rescue. He said the man who wore a hijab, claimed he is an electrician.

Report robbery in stations, not Twitter – Lagos police

Following an alleged incessant robbery at Aguda, Surulere area of Lagos State, the state’s Police Command has called on residents to ensure incidents are adequately reported at designated police stations in their area.

A resident, Kelechi Bernard, on Thursday took to his Twitter handle to lament the repeated armed robbery along Adetola street, in Aguda.

“Robbers are having a field day in Aguda Surulere Lagos. These dangerous individuals raid homes from 2am, traumatizing Innocent citizens.

“Streets affected are the ones branching off Adetola Street, heading towards Cele Bus Stop. Reports about the raids have been consistent over the past few days,” he wrote.

He, however, called on the Lagos police to tackle the issues.

Another Twitter user, Don sazzy, said he was robbed in the area two months ago.

He said, “Ah I was a victim 2 months ago. In broad daylight oh.

“Went to the police station, gave my statement, they visited my flat self. Till now, nothing. I am moving on abeg,” He added.

A firm, Salyek Steel Limited said, “When incidents are reported police don’t take it seriously until after the incident. What then is the purpose of security when one cannot live comfortably in the hood. What they focus on mostly is how to extort. Am sorry for saying this but the truth must be told.”

Reacting to the report in a post on his Twitter handle, the Lagos state police spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, debunked the report.

He stressed that robbery incidents should be reported at the real police station and not twitter stations.

He said, “I just confirmed from the DPO Aguda that not one person has reported these alleged incidents.

“People need to learn to channel their complaints appropriately to real police stations, not twitter stations. Complaints will be followed by actions. Do the needful!

“If these alleged incidents had been reported, the DPO would have mapped out strategies to forestall its perpetuation, including improved patrols. No DPO would want to risk sanctions by ignoring such weighty complaints.”

Lagos Police justifies tear-gassing #EndSARS protesters in Lekki

The Lagos State Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu, has justified the use of tear-gas on #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Wednesday.

Odumosu, who spoke during a chat with journalists at the Lekki tollgate, said the police fired tear gas at the protesters to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

According to the CP, the Force initially sent a memo regarding the prohibition on protests within a stipulated time frame.

Odumosu added that any demonstration beyond the agreed time constituted a nuisance and will not be tolerated.

The Commissioner said: “The protest was between 8 am and 10 am, anything, after 10 am, is a nuisance.

“I discussed with them and they said they will end the protest by 10 o’clock. Other people doing it now just causing a nuisance. some with machete, hammer, are they protesters or miscreants?

The protesters are free; they have done their thing and left. Any other persons remaining are the miscreants, hoodlums that want to capitalise on that to attack innocent people and start robbing people. We will not allow that.”

Ripples Nigeria had reported that police officers fired tear gas at protesters as they tried to disperse hundreds of people demonstrating against police brutality.

One year ago, thousands marched in Nigeria for the #EndSARS movement to protest the activities of the now-disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a unit accused of police brutality.

In the days leading up to Wednesday´s demonstration, police warned protesters against any public gatherings, threatening to arrest anyone who disobeyed the directive.

Four protesters were arrested in Lagos just as demonstrators started to arrive at the Lekki tollgate to mark the anniversary. More were arrested and put into police vans as police shot teargas into the air.

Lagos police arraigns worker for stealing beer

A magistrates’ court in Ikeja has arraigned a 23-year-old sales representative, Qudir Afolabi, for stealing.

Mr Afolabi who pleaded not guilty was accused of stealing cartons of beer worth N4.6 million from his employer, Fafem Haulage Nigeria Ltd.

The prosecution counsel, ASP Bisis Ogunleye charged Mr Afolabi with conspiracy and theft. He noted that the offence contravened sections 287 (7) and 411 of Lagos’ Criminal Law, 2015.

Mr Ogunleye added that the defendant also stole six truck tyres worth N750,000.

The magistrate, Ejiro Kubeinje, who adjourned the case until April 14, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.

One year after, Lagos Police nabs man for alleged kidnap, murder of Chinese national

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 26-year-old Adelaja Samson, over his alleged involvement in the kidnap and murder of a Chinese national.

It was gathered that the suspect and his gang kidnapped the Chinese national at Okunowa, Ijebu, in Ogun State in February 2020 and kept him in their hideout at Agbowa Ikosi, Lagos State, where they eventually killed him and dumped his corpse in the river.

The spokesperson of the Command, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the development on Friday, March 12, said the suspect was arrested in Emuren, Ogun State, where he had taken cover after he allegedly murdered the Chinese.

During interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to being a member of the Aiye confraternity and revealed that other members of his gang that took part in the kidnap and murder of the Chinese had been arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT.

Explaining how the suspect was arrested, CSP Adejobi, said, “He was arrested around 2 am, on Saturday, March 6, 2021, in Emuren, Ogun State, during a sting operation, over his involvement in the kidnap and killing of one Chinese national in February 2020.”

The suspect, a strong member of Aiye Confraternity and his cohort kidnapped the Chinese national at Okunowa, Ijebu, in Ogun State but kept him in their hideout at -Agbowa Ikosi, Lagos State. They eventually killed the captive and dumped his corpse in the Agbowa-Ikosi River. The corpse has not been recovered to date

“The suspect has confessed that other members of the gang have been arrested by the Intelligence Responses Team, Force Intelligence Bureau, Abuja.”

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered the command’s Strike Team that arrested Adelaja Segun Moses to work with the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the investigation into the case.

He further assured that Lagos State will be hot for criminals and “bad boys” who venture into criminal activities in the state.