Oyo State government disclosed yesterday that it was ready to present students in the state for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)

Oyo State government disclosed yesterday that it was ready to present students in the state for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) as well as other external examinations as the world had prepared for post-COVID-19 realities.

This was disclosed in Ibadan by the Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Nureni Adeniran, while leading members of the board and management of SUBEB to Islamic Mission Schools 1& II, Bode and UMC Demonstration Basic Schools I, II &III, Molete, Ibadan to warn owners of shanties and illegal structures around the schools’ environments.

According to him, judging from the readiness of the State through the preparation of students in  all terminal classes, students in the State would face any external examinations, including WAEC and the Joint Admission Matriculation Examination (JAMB).

Adeniran said: “Earlier, the federal government said they cancelled WAEC but we  thank God that they have reversed themselves.

WAEC is conducted by a regional body comprising many countries, Nigeria inclusive and the Covid-19 pandemic is global, so whatever the body says should be the final, not what Nigeria thinks should happen.

COVID-19: Ekiti govt enforces face mask, arrests 100 offenders

Operatives of the Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency (EKSTMA) yesterday arrested no fewer than 100 motorists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, allegedly for violating the use of the face mask on COVID-19 protocols.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Wale Fapohunda, had on Friday warned the general public in the state that violators of the face mask usage from Monday July 20 would be arrested and prosecuted.

The General Manager, EKSTMA, Chief Femi Olanrewaju, who led the agency’s operatives during the operation, yesterday, said over 100 offenders were arrested in the first day of the enforcement.

Olanrewaju said though the offenders were supposed to be prosecuted in line with laid-down rules, they were pardoned owing to the respect Governor Kayode Fayemi had for the people of the state.

“We are only trying to checkmate a lot of people against living reckless lives and to secure their health. What we did on Monday was a warning operation, and that was why we pardoned the violators. It was like a warning or amnesty, which we granted them after delaying the offenders for about six hours.

“But from Tuesday (today), every offender arrested will be tried properly at the Special Offences Court and proper punitive actions will be meted to the flouters. The government is not ready to compromise the well-being of the people regarding COVID-19.

“We have told commercial drivers, cyclists and other road users to always put on their face mask. They should also refrain from carrying those without face masks, because such an act also constitutes an offence under the COVID-19 guidelines law,” he said.

Olanrewaju disclosed that government’s operatives had also visited some major markets like Oja Oba, Bisi, Mojere and Irona in Ado Ekiti on the need to comply with all COVID-19 protocols, warning that traders defying the order would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.

Police arrest suspected robbery gang leader Terror in Lagos

Policemen attached to the Satellite Town police station, Lagos, have arrested a suspected leader of an armed robbery gang, Udenwa Ifeanyi, alias ‘Terror’, over sundry crimes in the area.

The police said the suspect and his gang had been on police wanted list for allegedly terrorising residents of Satellite Town, Amuwo-Odofin and Ijegun areas of Lagos State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, who confirmed Ifeanyi’s arrest yesterday to our correspondent over the phone, said the arrest followed information to the police two weeks ago that robbers had been seen on Akinlomide Street, Ijegun, robbing shop owners of their valuables.

“Upon receipt of the information, operatives from the Satellite Town police station and the Special Anti-Robbery Squad raced to the scene, where they arrested the ring leader, Udenwa Ifeanyi.

“During interrogation, he confessed that his gang had been terrorising residents of Satellite Town and its environs.

“Items recovered from him included a cut-to-size gun and four live cartridges.

“Operatives are on the trail of his gang members,” he said.

12 injured as bus crashes in Yangoji

Twelve passengers sustained various degrees of injury after a bus crashed near Government Secondary School (GSS), Yangoji, on the Abuja-Lokoja Highway.

A witness said the accident happened around 04:00pm last yesterday and that it involved an 18-seater bus with registration number DKP 100 LG.

He said the driver was conveying 16 passengers from Zuba, heading to the East when he lost control while on high speed during a heavy downpour and crashed into a ditch.

He said men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) arrived the scene and evacuated the victims to the hospital in Kwali.

In a related development, two persons on a motorcycle were seriously injured near RCC Junction on Sunday evening after they were knocked down by a bus.

The cyclist and his passenger were rescued to the hospital by the police after the driver of the bus sped off.

When contacted, the Yangoji Unit Commander of FRSC, ACC Aminu Shuaibu, confirmed the accidents, which he attributed to poor visibility and loss of control by the drivers

Look out for new moon, Sultan directs all Muslims

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar

His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto.

President General Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Monday directed Muslims to look out for the new moon of Dhul Hijjah 1441 AH from tomorrow Tuesday, July 21.

Muslims across the globe celebrate Eid Adha 10th Dhul Hijjah.

“Tuesday, July 21, 2020, which is equivalent to 29th day of Dhul Qadah 1441 shall be the day to look out for the new moon of Dhul Hijjah 1441 AH,” he stated in a statement signed by the Chairman Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs Sultanate Council, Sokoto Professor Sambo Junaidu

He requested Muslims to report the sighting of the moon to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to the Council.

He beseeched Almighty Allah to aid the Muslim community in the discharge of the religious duties.

Procedures for the recruitment of Police Constables

The Nigerian Police Force have started the process of recruiting qualified Nigerians for the constable cadre. 

The Police announced that the online application would be opened for a period of 6 weeks, from the 14th of July to the 23rd of August, 2020. 

Police begin recruitment of constables  Here are the steps you need to take to enter a valid application:

 1. You must have a functional email address and National Identification Number (NIN) before you begin your application.

 2. Visit www.policerecruitment.gov.ng 3. Fill and submit the online form. (Review the information before final submission). 

 4. Ensure that you print the information that is sent automatically to your email, and do not forget to copy and save your registration number for future correspondences. The number is case sensitive. 

5. You would be required to present a hardcopy of email message sent to you if you are shortlisted and contacted for the next stage of recruitment process. 

6. Note that no email and/or NIN can be used more than once in this application. 

7. Applicants with multiple applications would be disqualified. 

8. For complaints/technical difficulties, call 08100004507 or send a mail to e-training@recruitment.gov.ng or support@ policerecruitment.gov.ng 

Abia jailbreak: Police begin manhunt for 9 escapees

The Police in Abia have begun manhunt for the remaining nine of the 29 criminal suspects that escaped from police cell in Umuahia on Saturday.

SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Police Public Relations Officer for Abia Command, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that 29 detainees escaped from the Umuahia Central Police Station’s cell after overpowering the guard on duty.

Narrating the incident, Ogbonna said that one of the detainees had appealed to the guard (name withheld) to assist him with water to flush the toilet.

He said that unknown to the guard, the detainees had conspired to attack him in order to escape from detention.

“This happened around 9.00 p.m. on Saturday,’’ he said.

He added that as soon as the guard brought the water and opened the iron bar, the suspects rushed out, overpowered him and took to their heels.

The command’s spokesman said that 20 of the suspects were rearrested that night and in the early hours of Sunday.

He expressed the confidence that the remaining nine escapees would be rearrested and appealed for assistance from Umuahia residents.

“I appeal to members of the public to be vigilant and report any strange face or faces in dirty attires in their neighbourhood to the police.

“The suspects had dirty attires they wore in the cell and may be looking for where to steal people’s clothes in order to look decent to be able to escape from the town,’’ Ogbonna said.

Oyo begins recruitment for Amotekun

Security operatives under the newly established Western Nigeria Security Network (AMOTEKUN), during the official launch by some state governors of the South-West at the Oyo State Governor’s Office in Ibadan.

The Oyo State Government has commenced recruitment into the southwest security network codenamed, Amotekun.

The security outfit, which was officially launched by Governors of the South-West geo-political zone in January 9, this year, was designed to network all the security agencies in the region.

The registration is opened online but the Civil Service Commission in the state has not given details on the deadline for the application and the number of persons that will be recruited into the special security outfit.

Information obtained from the official website of the security outfit indicates that the programme is being chaired in the state by a former Director of Military Intelligence and former Deputy Director-General of the State Security Service, Gen Ajibola Toogun(retd).

It also has as commandant, a former Assistant Director, British Military Advisory Training Team, Defence Headquarters, Abuja, Col Olayanju Olayinka (retd).

Police rescue 15 children from torture centre in Niger

The Niger state Police command have uncovered an  torture centre where 15 children were rescued from captivity.

The centre, according to information made available to Daily Trust, is located at new Angwa Kwamba in Suleja and it houses a number of Almajiris from two years and above.

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Findings revealed that the children had undergone series of torture from their master.

The Almajiris were seen with wounds on their backs, some of which have dried up while different irons used in carrying out various types of torture on the children were discovered by the police who visited the house following some complaints by some residents of the area.

The police public relations officer in the state, ASP Wasiu Abiodun said the command acted on reliable information received on Saturday.

He said the Police Operatives attached to ‘A’ Division Suleja arrested one Umar Ahmed aged 46yrs ‘m’ of Anguwan Gwari Suleja, for keeping about fifteen (15) children in a dehumanizing condition in the guise of Almajiri School.

“The children who are of ages ranging between 2yrs-10yrs were rescued from the suspects house, and three chains used to tie their legs were also recovered. The victims were handed over to Niger State Child Right Agency.

“The case is under investigation and suspect will soon be arraigned in court for prosecution as soon as investigation is concluded, please,” Abiodun said.

Collapse of NDDC MD underlines weight of corruption in APC – PDP

National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the “dramatic collapse” of acting Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, while being grilled by the House of Representatives, further underscored the weight of corruption that has allegedly bedevilled the present administration.

Pondei “fainted” on Monday during his presentation at the ongoing probe of the agency by the House of Representatives.

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and the Pondei-led NDDC’s Interim Management Committee (IMC) appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta over alleged corruption.

The PDP in a statement on Monday, by its National Publicity Secretary Kola Ologbondiyan said Pondei “collapsed” under the weight and shame of overwhelming collective guilt brought on him by the exposure of massive corruption allegedly being perpetrated by NDDC officials and APC leaders.

The party also reiterated its call on President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend the Minister of Niger Delta Affair, Godswill Akpabio and to also disband the NDDC Interim Management Committee (IMC), if he desired the coordinated probe he ordered to yield any credible results.

“Mr. President must note that the malevolent odour of corruption oozing out of his administration are too odious to be swept under the carpets.

“It is revealing that Pondei could go no further in the face of scathing revelations of direct pillaging of resources meant for the development and welfare of the Niger Delta people, in an unbridled corruption racket, in which the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, also stands accused.

“It is rather curious that Prof. Pondei slumped after lawmakers demanded that he offers explanations on the contentious payment of billions of naira, alleged unbudgeted sums, to certain companies by the NDDC.

“This is particularly as Nigerians recall that the embattled NDDC boss had, last week, stalled proceedings by challenging the legislators and walking out on the House of Representatives investigative panel,” the party said.