Lagos records more COVID-19 related deaths

 

The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, said that 3 new COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in the state.

Abayomi made this known via his Twitter account on Monday.

According to him, the newly confirmed deaths increased the number of COVID-19 fatalities in the state to 272.

Abayomi added that the total number of COVID-19 tests conducted in the state since the inception of the pandemic stood at 256,587.

According to him, 3,189 coronavirus patients, who have been successfully treated and recovered, were discharged from the state’s care centres.

“Total number of recovery from the virus in communities – 27,605.

“Cases currently under isolation -223 while active cases under home-based care are 8,408,” he said.

Recall that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), on Sunday reported 1,444new COVID-19 infections in the country.

The health agency also disclosed Lagos recorded the highest toll with 901.

- DAILY POST

Gunmen abduct travellers in Osun

 Gunmen have abducted travellers along Erin-Ijesha road in Osun state.

The incident was said to have happened on Sunday evening when the vehicle conveying the travellers was hijacked by the gunmen.

The gunmen were reported to have taken some of the travellers into the bush, abandoning the vehicle on the road.

According to The Nation, the number of travellers that were kidnapped is not yet certain.

Confirming the incident, Yemisi Opalola, the police public relations officer of Osun command, said officers have been deployed in the area to rescue the travellers.

“We got information of the abduction of some people at Omo-Ijesa late on Sunday and police have been on the trail of the kidnappers,” Opalola said.

“As I am speaking with you the police has also deployed police men and men from his Anti-kidnapping units to rescue the abductees and arrest the kidnappers.”

Operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, have also been reportedly deployed to search for and rescue the travellers.

- THECABLE

Insecurity: Gov. Akeredolu gives herders 7 days ultimatum

 

The Ondo State governor, Rotimi has given herders 7 days ultimatum to vacate the forest reserves in the state.

The governor also banned night grazing with immediate effect.

The governor, in a statement released on Monday, said the decision was based on the state of insecurity in Ondo state.

Akeredolu noted that bad elements have turned the forest reserves into hideouts for keeping victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom, and carrying out other criminal activities.

“All Forest Reserves in the State are to be vacated by herdsmen within the next 7 days with effect from today, Monday 18th January 2021,” Akeredolu said.

“Night-grazing is banned with immediate effect because most farm destruction takes place at night. The movement of cattle within cities and highways is prohibited. Under-aged grazing of cattle is outlawed.

“Our resolution to guarantee the safety of lives and property within the State shall remain utmost as security agencies have been directed to enforce the ban. In its usual magnanimity, our administration will give a grace period of seven days for those who wish to carry on with their cattle-rearing business to register with appropriate authorities.”

These new set of laws may not be unconnected to the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the state, who arbitrarily go into people’s farms to chase and destroy their crops such as maize, cassava, etc

And rather than be remorseful, the herdsmen who are usually heavy-armed on seeing the owners of the affected farmlands, attempt to kill or injure them.

Only recently, the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun in Oyo State, Gen. Kunle Togun, retd, raised the alarm that a large number of fully armed Fulani herders, who are non-Nigerians, have started trooping into states in the South West.

This development has elicited angry reactions from the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE; pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere; the Agbekoya Farmers’ Association, who have called on security agencies to address the alarming situation.

- PM NEWS

Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury heavyweight title bout sealed

 Eddie Hearn, the promoter of World heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, has said that a deal for his client to fight WBC champion, Tyson Fury in an undisputed world heavyweight title bout this year is all but done.

Hearn explained that Joshua and Fury would face each other in two fights, with the first expected to be in the Middle East in 2021, and he hoped to bring the rematch back to the United Kingdom.

Joshua defeated Bulgarian boxer, Kubrat Pulev last December to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA titles, while Fury currently holds the WBC belt.

“The deal is done, really— without being signed,” Hearn told the Times.

“The financial elements of the deal are done. We are talking through the broadcast situation, the only thing really now is to paper it.

“And when you papered a deal like that, it does go back and forwards fifteen times before every single letter is approved on the document.”

Hearn added, “The Middle East will be aggressive and will be front-runners in this. To stage this fight, you need significant government support. You need someone who is staging this fight as a statement for their country.

“I would like it [the rematch] to be [in the United Kingdom]. Where? Millennium Stadium.”

- DAILY POST

Southern Kaduna Union: Those who threatened Kukah must be arrested

 

The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has called on law enforcement agencies to arrest those who “threatened” Mathew Kukah, bishop of Sokoto Catholic diocese.

The Muslim Solidarity Forum had asked Kukah to apologise for his alleged attack on Islam or vacate the caliphate following his Christmas message where he had accused President Muhammadu Buhari of nepotism

But reacting at a conference in Kaduna, on Monday, Jonathan Asake, SOKAPU’s national president, said it is obvious that southerners get harassed when they criticise Buhari’s government, but if the criticism comes from “the core north”, no one raises an eyebrow.

Using the Sultan of Sokoto and some other prominent people as examples, he said the points Kukah raised in his message is in not different from what had been said certain persons from the north, even in “a more critical manner.

He said the criticism from this set of people never attracted condemnation and threats, alleging that the action has shown the discriminatory nature of the Buhari administration.

“It appears to us, therefore, that comments by Nigerians attract different reactions from the government, depending on the region, ethnicity, and religion of the person making such comments,” Asake said.

“It’s sad to note that when persons of core Northern extraction criticize the government; they are taken as kind words, but when the same statements are made by people of Southern or Middle Belt extractions; they are harassed and tormented and their comments branded as treasonable by the government.

“This discriminatory posture of government clearly shows that the Buhari-led administration treats Nigerian citizens differently; some as first-class and others considered as second class.

“When the respected Bishop Kukah criticised the government in his Christmas homily, all hell broke loose from Northern elements who have consistently exhibited intolerance since the assumption of Buhari as the President.

“Sadly so, his glaring nepotism, chauvinism, and bigotry in his governance style seem to lend credence to this perception.

“All that Bishop Kukah is accused of saying against this government had been said by some other people in a more critical manner but never attracted a barrage of condemnation and threats.

“We note that the Sultan of Sokoto, prominent emirs, and the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) had condemned President Buhari over his dismal performance in tackling insecurity in the country, with NEF calling on him to resign.

“The anger and threats that are being issued against the revered Bishop were never served on the Sultan, emirs, and the NEF which clearly shows the discriminatory posture of this government.

“Those who have threatened Bishop Kukah ought to be arrested and be made to face the full wrath of the law.”

Asake added that no one has the monopoly of violence, warning the groups issuing the threats that no harm must befall Kukah.

- THECABLE

One-way drive: Lagos gets court’s order to auction 88 forfeited vehicles

 The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Taskforce) has obtained a court order authorising it for a public auction of 88 vehicles forfeited to government by the Lagos State Mobile Court for plying one way.

Chairman of the Agency, CSP Shola Jejeloye disclosed that the 88 vehicles to be auctioned by the government were impounded by the enforcement team of the Agency for driving against traffic (one-way) at different parts of the State.

According to the Chairman “they were all arraigned and forfeited by court in line with Part (3) item (27) of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reformed Law of 2018.”

CSP Jejeloye confirmed that the public auction would hold in line with ‘Covid-19’ protocols on Wednesday, 20th of January, 2021 at the Agency’s Car Park, (Behind Shoprite), Alausa, Ikeja.

He urged motorists both private and commercial bus drivers to desists from driving against traffic (one-way) as the penalty is outright forfeiture of such vehicle to the government without any option of fine.

While reiterating the state government’s zero-tolerance for the violation of the law under any guise, the Chairman confirmed that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu has directed the operatives of the Agency to continue prosecuting traffic offenders until sanity is restored on roads and law-abiding citizens were allowed to commute without being impeded by unlawful individuals.

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of the Lagos State Mobile Court, Mrs. Arinola Ogbara Banjoko confirmed that owners/drivers of the 88 court forfeited vehicles were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Micheal Olubi, Magistrate Lateef Layeni, Magistrate Oyebimbola Israel Adelakun, Magistrate Ibidun Abina and Magistrate Shakirat Obasa.

She said other traffic offenders caught plying BRT corridors or those causing obstructions to other road users were also arraigned and fined by Lagos State Mobile Court at Bolade, Oshodi.

- PM NEWS

Bandits kills FUTA Deputy Registrar, shoot driver

 

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, over the weekend killed a Deputy Registrar of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ondo State, Dr Amos Arijesuyo.

The Deputy Registrar who was returning to Akure from Ibadan, Oyo State capital to Akure, the Ondo State capital was attacked by bandits operating on the Ilesa-Akure highway.

Arijesuyo, who worked at the Guidance and Counselling unit of the Students Affairs Department of the University, was said to have been attacked alongside his driver and one other unidentified person at Iwaraja Area of Ilesa- Akure highway in Osun State.

Arijesuyo who is also a senior Pastor at CAC, Glory of God , FUTA Akure, was said to have died in the hospital from gunshots wound hours after the attack.

Meanwhile, FUTA, on Monday condemned the killing of the Deputy Registrar.

According to the institution in a statement signed by the University’s Head of Media and Protocols of FUTA, Adegbenro Adebanjo, “Dr Arijesuyo’s death is a big loss to FUTA, the academic community in Nigeria and beyond.

“It is a death that should not have happened in the first place. It is the hope of the management, staff and students of FUTA that security agencies will go after the evil men who carried out the dastardly act and make them face the full weight of the law and just recompense for their heinous crime.”

- DAILY POST