Metro
Man Caught with 100 Used Diapers at Lagos Accident Scene, Arrested
A crash involving three vehicles consisting of a Mazda commercial bus, a tricycle, and a white Camry car, has claimed the life of a man around Mosalasi Roundabout, inward the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos State.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the driver of the Camry car with number plate, KJA 351 HG, while driving at top speed, rammed into the tricycle, causing the tricycle operator to lose control and in the process, obstructed an incoming Mazda commercial bus loaded with passengers.
It was learnt that no fewer than three persons sustained varying degrees of injury in the crash as people alongside relatives of the injured victims, in an attempt to rescue the injured victims, rushed them to nearby hospitals for treatments.
The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA, Taofiq Adebayo, in a statement on Monday, said one of the injured victims died before getting to the hospital, adding that General Manager, LASTMA, Bolaji Oreagba, said the accident would have been averted if the driver was not driving at top speed.
The statement said, “Operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority today rescued three severely injured accident victims comprising two males and one female at Mosalasi Roundabout, inward the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos.
“LASTMA Akanji Wasiu (Bravo 16), who led the rescue operations confirmed that the accident involved three vehicles, a Mazda commercial bus, FKJ 88 XH, a tricycle with number plate KJA 369 QM, and a white Camry car, KJA 351 HG, on the main carriageway at the Iyana-Ipaja area of Lagos.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a white Camry car lost control due to excessive speeding and hit a commercial tricycle from the rear while the tricycle went off balance and obstructed another incoming fully loaded Mazda commercial bus going to Iyana-Ipaja.”
Explaining that the three rescued victims were immediately rushed to different hospitals by their relatives but, unfortunately, one of the rescued victims, a male, reportedly died on the way to the hospital.
Adebayo also noted that the vehicles involved in the accident were immediately removed from the road to avoid impeding the free flow of traffic and were handed over to policemen from the Gowon Estate Divisional Police Headquarters for further investigations.
“One of the passengers inside the commercial tricycle involved in the accident was caught with more than 100 pieces of used small children ‘diapers pampers’ with a huge sum of money of different denominations and was immediately handed over to policemen at the scene of the accident,” he added.
Adebayo said Oreagba maintained that the government had been embarking on regular public education on the dangers inherent in excessive speeding by private, commercial and truck drivers in the state.
He said, “Oreagba, however, warned every motoring public to always ensure that their vehicles are in good condition, particularly the break before driving them on Lagos roads.”
The Punch
Metro
#EndBadGovernance Protests: Police Debunk Amnesty International’s Report, Says It ‘Appears’ Falsified
The Nigeria Police Force has expressed serious concern regarding a recent 34-page report released by Amnesty International, which alleges police culpability in the deaths and arrests of protesters, and the use of excessive force during the #EndBadGovernance protests in August 2024.
The Force, according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, categorically refuted the allegations as unfounded, misleading, and inconsistent with incident reports submitted to the office of the Inspector-General of Police by affected Commands.
The statement noted that “The Force wishes to reiterate that throughout the protests, it operated in compliance with established rules of engagement, including providing security for peaceful protesters. The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, had issued clear directives to all Commissioners of Police on managing the protests, emphasizing that officers should not deploy arms to manage protests. Instead, arms were only to be used when protests escalated into riots involving loss of lives and damage to property. Even then, engagement with armed protesters was limited strictly to specialized armed units to restore order.
“The Nigeria Police Force recorded several unpalatable incidents during the protests, which were accurately documented and publicly shared. For example, in Borno State, 4 individuals tragically lost their lives, and 34 others sustained severe injuries following an attack by suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP operatives who infiltrated the protest and detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Similarly, in another isolated incident, an unregistered vehicle rammed into protesters, resulting in 2 fatalities. These events, which accounted for the total of 7 recorded deaths during the protests, were not caused by police actions.
“Furthermore, in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Nasarawa, and Niger States, some protesters displayed foreign flags, destroyed public and private property, and attacked police personnel deployed to ensure their safety. The Police Force had to employ strategic measures, including the lawful use of tear gas, to prevent further escalation and ensure public safety. The use of tear gas is a globally accepted practice for dispersing unruly crowds and was applied judiciously without recourse to live ammunition.
“It is important to state that the police did not fire live ammunition nor cause the death of any protester. Officers demonstrated professionalism, restraint, and adherence to constitutional and international standards, even when subjected to attacks and injuries. Arrests made during the protests targeted individuals engaging in criminal acts such as treason, vandalism, robbery, arson, and looting. These arrests were conducted lawfully, and those detained were treated within the ambit of the law.
“In a gesture of magnanimity, the Federal Government has since granted pardon to the individuals arrested during the protests despite the severity of their offenses, evidencing its commitment to reconciliation and national unity.
“In response to Amnesty International’s allegations, the IGP has directed a comprehensive investigation into the claims. Commissioners of Police in the affected states have been mandated to submit further detailed reports on the incidents within one week. This directive aims to identify any deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and rules of engagement, irrespective of the security agencies involved.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to safeguarding the fundamental rights of all citizens, promoting the rule of law, and improving its operational standards based on constructive and objective feedback.”
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has inaugurated an 11-man Committee to conduct a thorough investigation and review of the decisions on dismissal and suspension of Cadets by the Disciplinary Committee of the Police Academy, Wudil, Kano.
A statement by the Deputy Director (Information & Public Relations), Mr. Bolaji Kazeem, and made available to National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), reveal that the committee which had the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Police Affairs as Chairman comprises representatives of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Nigeria Police Force (NPF); DIG of the Zone; Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement; Director, Police Service Department; Legal Department; Federal Civil Service Commission.
Others are the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation; Registrar POLAC and Director, Human Resources Management – Member/Secretary were inaugurated at the Headquarters of the Ministry in Abuja.
The Minister pointed out that a thorough investigation and review of the decisions must be conducted following passionate appeals received from some students and parents/guardians of the affected students.
Gaidam revealed that the Disciplinary Committee of Police Academy, Wudil, Kano after various investigations and consideration, unanimously recommended the suspension and discharge of some cadets who were found guilty of committing various infractions in the school including smoking Indian hemp, drinking alcohol, damaging property among others.
In his words, “The recent incidents that have brought us to this moment are a cause for concern, but they also present an opportunity for reflection and improvement. We must approach this investigation with diligence, fairness, and an unwavering commitment to the truth”.
He noted that the objective is not only to address the specific cases at hand but also to reinforce the standards of conduct that define our academy and the values we hold dear and commitment to uphold the integrity and excellence of our esteemed institution—the Nigeria Police Academy.
According to him, “The Nigeria Police Academy stands as a beacon of hope and a pillar of our nation’s security framework. It is here that we mold the future leaders of our police force. However, we are acutely aware that the challenges we face are significant. We cannot afford to allow this credible institution to be turned into a breeding ground for criminals, drug addicts, troublemakers, and law-breakers. Our mission is clear: to produce well-disciplined, thoroughly trained, and professional police officers who not only understand the law but embody it in their actions”.
The Minister charged the committee to be mindful of the broader implications of their work as the integrity of our academy reflects on the entire policing system in Nigeria. It is our duty to ensure that every cadet who walks through these halls emerges not only as a law enforcement officer but as a paragon of virtue and professionalism. Gaidam stressed.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary/Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Yusuf Abubakar Argungu stated that the Ministry received an avalanche of appeals and requests for the review of the decisions of the Nigeria Police Academy, and the Minister directed for the constitution of a committee to look into the matter for fairness and justice before the approval of the Ministry
Leading payment services bank, MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank (MMPSB) continues to delight its existing customers with various freebies for every transaction.
The bank recently announced the launch of a new 100MB data offer for new customers. The initiative aims to encourage people with little or no access to banking services to set up their own mobile wallets using the bank’s USSD banking platform. The promotion is available to Glo customers using the bank’s USSD bank code, *995#.
A few weeks ago, MoneyMaster introduced a 10 percent data bonus on top-ups of 1,000 naira and above for existing and new customers on the Glo network. The offer was rated as one of the best offers in the country in terms of the amount of data offered. Data purchases are valid for 30 days, and any unused data can be rolled over to your next plan.
Commenting on the data offer, Julius Arhebun, head of agency banking at MoneyMaster, said: “as a payment service bank, one of our core mandates is to promote financial inclusion. This offer builds on the various financial education we have been providing online and across our various customer touchpoints.
“With this new 100MB offer, we want to encourage Nigerians in the unbanked and underbanked pools to be financially included by having at least a mobile wallet. The account number of this mobile wallet is derived from their mobile number, and can be easily recalled,” he noted.
MoneyMaster PSB is a leading provider of innovative digital financial products and services that transform lives and contribute to sustainable living. With a mission to deepen financial inclusion, MoneyMaster has been instrumental in providing financial technology services to bridge the gap between the banked, unbanked and underbanked.
