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Along the Fidiwo section of the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway on Monday, 11th December 2023, some Gunmen allegedly wearing military uniforms abducted seven people while one person was shot and killed trying to flee the scene. According to an anonymous source, the car carrying the victims was ambushed by armed men brandishing guns. The assailants snatched seven people from the vehicle and fled with the kidnapped victims into the nearby bush on the motorway. The armed men shot and killed an unidentified woman while shooting a female passenger in another car who witnessed the crime and tried to escape. The victim is currently in serious condition. Late on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer SP Omolola Odutola confirmed the attack and emphasised that the police had started a manhunt for the suspects kidnappers. She said, “One person reported a kidnapping incident on Monday. She said she and her family were travelling from Akure to Lagos in their family vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus, when they were intercepted by a group of armed individuals who were firing sporadically after passing the Fidiwo Bridge. “Seven people, including the parents of the person, were abducted and taken into the bush while she and her four siblings were left behind. The children were brought to the police station along with the vehicle. “Also, one female who was travelling in another vehicle, was shot by the kidnappers while attempting to escape. She is currently receiving treatment at the Victory Hospital Ogere. “Information from the victim suggests that there were approximately 15 kidnappers wearing army uniforms. She was shot while fleeing while an unidentified female corpse, shot during the incident, was found and deposited at the Fos Mortuary in Ipara.” Odutola emphasised once more how Senior Officers were dispatched by Commissioner of Police (CP), Abiodun Alamutu, to conduct a bush-combing activity as soon as he received information about the kidnapping, which resulted in the rescue of one of the victims on Tuesday, 12 December 2023. She continues, “Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, CP Alamutu Abiodun, ordered a bush-combing exercise into the Bamboo Forest to rescue the kidnapped victims from the incident. The operation was coordinated by the Deputy Commissioner of Operations, and assisted by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sagamu.” “At about 1230hrs today, the police team successfully liberated one of the victims who has been united with his family.” Odutola concluded by stating that the CP is fully on top of this incident to ensure the rescue of other victims. He also reassures residents of Ogun not to panic or exercise any restraint in their travel plans.

In the Sango Ota neighbourhood of Ogun State, an unidentified woman has been accused of kidnapping two minors who are the children of her landlord and her neighbour. Three days after moving into the apartment, the woman and the two children were reported to have gone missing. This was made known to News Agencies on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, by Omolola Odutola, after the occurrence of the incident the same day. According to Odutola, the Landlord, Johnson Oshinowo, said that on December 7, 2023, a woman he rented his flat apartment kidnapped both his four-year-old son and the youngster of a neighbour. The Landlord claims that the house agent failed to perform a background check on the woman who had just moved into the flat. Odutola said, “On December 12, 2023, at about 0835hrs, a landlord informed the police that he rented a room apartment to a woman on December, 7 and on December 11, the woman abducted his son and his neighbour’s son without any trace of their destination. “Immediately the report was received, detectives swung into action and visited the scene to conduct preliminary inquiries.” “From the preliminary investigation, it was gathered by the detectives that the woman had only spent three days in the rented house without any known background information. It was also gathered that the landlord and house agent have no profile of the suspect.” She further revealed that in order to make sure the culprit was found, CP Abiodun Alamutu, the Commissioner of Police, had ordered a separate inquiry into the kidnapping. “The CP has directed a discrete investigation and urged operatives to intensify their efforts to track down the suspect and rescue the children,” Odutola concluded.

Lagos State has a newly appointed Commissioner of Police (CP). Reports says that Idowu Owohunwa’s former position as Commissioner of Police will be replaced by Fayoade Adegoke. Idowu, himself, was recently elevated to the position of Assistant Inspector-General of Police. This development was made known on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, through a police wireless message that included Fayoade’s posting, made available by the Nigerian Police Force Secretary. The police wireless message which was dated December 11, 2023, bore the marking TH.5361/FS/FHQ/ABJ/T.5/103, and was signed by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. The record stated further that the posting went into effect right away. Fayoade’s assignment was verified to the command by Benjamin Hundeyin, the public relations officer for the Lagos State Police. According to Hundeyin, the new CP “is likely to resume any moment from Wednesday.”

The Ogun State Government announced the launch of its “Renew and Reuse” trash management campaign, which aims to encourage responsible waste management among State citizens through charitable giving and acts of kindness. At the initiative’s debut in the capital of Ogun State, Abeokuta, Ola Oresanya, the State’s Commissioner for Environment, revealed this. Under the project, anyone living in the State will be able to donate their unwanted goods by using collecting boxes strategically positioned throughout the State. Other residents who might require the donated things will have access to them. He said, “Ogun State government has commenced a Renew and Reuse Waste Agenda with a call on residents of the state to be their brother’s keepers, especially during this season of love and giving which is in line with Prince Dapo Abiodun administration’s social inclusion. “The agenda seeks to bond every strata of the population together through the renewal of some items considered as waste to useful materials for reuse by those who need them thereby promoting human kindness. This would be done through several collection boxes placed at Government Offices, prominent eateries, stores, outlets and Non Governmental Organizations offices spread across the state.” Additionally, he wants people to realise that trash is not waste unless it is thrown away on its own, just as one person’s trash can make another happy. He said; “What you want to throw away is what some people are looking for, so don’t throw them away as this is an avenue for you to show human kindness, especially at this time when the federal and state governments are giving out palliatives to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy and global economic downturn.”

The injured survivors of the Tudun Biri error assaults in Kaduna State have received N5 million in donations from Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) Presidential Candidate for 2023. Obi paid a visit to the injured patients undergoing care at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital in Kaduna. He said, “I visited Kaduna state to commiserate with the grieving good people of the state on the unfortunate accidental bombing by the Nigeria Army at Tudun Biri village in Igabi Local Government of the State.” “While in Kaduna, I took time also to visit the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, where those wounded in the ugly incident are receiving treatment.” “May Almighty God forgive the sins of those that died grant them eternal rest, and grant their families the fortitude to bear their irreplaceable losses. And for those receiving treatment in the hospital, I pray to God Almighty to grant them quick recovery.” “I thank the government of Kaduna State for their kind and caring intervention for the affected victims.” He commended Soldiers and other Security Agencies for their outstanding efforts in securing Nigeria, particularly during this trying time. He also urged them to exercise extra caution in their operations given the concerning 16 incidents that have resulted in about 485 fatalities since the war against insurgency began in 2009. Furthermore, Peter Obi adviced that necessary precaution be taken to avoid future occurrences while remaining focused on securing Nigeria. He also emphasized the need to maintain right priorities and direct our resources into more important and fruitful endeavours as that will promote national development and benefit Nigerians.

On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, Chisom Nwankwo, a final-year student of Agric/Economics Department at Obafemi Awolowo University , Ile-Ife, Osun State, passed away in an accident that happened on the school’s campus. When the accident occurred, Chisom was reportedly travelling on a commercial motorbike along Road 1 of the University grounds. Campus sources said that Chisom and the biker who had transported her were taken to the university’s health clinic as soon as the accident happened. From there, they were referred to the OAU Teaching Hospital, where the student was pronounced deceased. Prior to the collision that took Chisom’s life, Deborah Okunola, a fellow university student, and a motorcyclist had suffered injuries in another accident. As they were receiving medical attention, a motorbike carrying Chisom lost control after it was struck by a bus that was approaching from behind. Speaking about the development in an interview with News Agency, OAU spokeswoman Abiodun Olanrewaju stated, “Around 11 am, along Road 1, an accident involving two okada and two vehicles occurred.” “One particular Okada rider was trying to overtake a red-colour Toyota Corolla car. Unfortunately, the side mirror of the car hit the motorcycle and the rider fell with the passenger.” “The passenger is a Part 2 student of Psychology in our school by the name, Deborah Okunola. As those ones were trying to attend to themselves, one Chika Nwakore was carrying a Part Five female student of the Department of Agric Economics by the name, Chisom Nwankwo, who arrived at the scene.” “The motorcyclist carrying Chisom was distracted by the first accident and he lost concentration. A bus that was coming behind hit the bike. The rider and the passenger fell.” “What we were told was that Chisom and the okada man were injured and taken to our health centre where they were referred to the OAU Teaching Hospital Complex but unfortunately, Chisom was later declared dead.” “The body is in the anatomy section on the campus. The university authorities have informed the police and are taking necessary action. The vice-chancellor is not happy with the situation and the management frowned on this carelessness on our roads. We sympathised with the parents of the deceased and we pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the terrible loss. We are not happy to lose any of our students.”