Metro
Unrest in Lagos As Truck Crushes Ojudu Students, Number of Casualties Unconfirmed
There was pandemonium on Tuesday when a truck driver reportedly crushed no fewer than 10 students on Ogunnusi Road, Grammar School Bus-Stop, Lagos State.
It was learnt that the students were going home after closing from school around 2pm when the truck ran over them.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the driver of the white DAF truck was being chased by officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps when he lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the pupils, who were by the roadside.
The driver, who took to his heels after the incident, was reportedly caught at Aguda – about two kilometres from the scene of the incident – by some students and youths who accosted him and later handed him over to the police.
The truck, which was loaded with soap, was set ablaze.
A student of Ojodu Grammar School, where the victims were coming from, claimed that 17 students died, while several others were injured.
He said, “I was also at the bus stop trying to buy doughnut while the other students were trying to cross the road. Some boys had crossed earlier, so they were at the other side of the road abusing the female students for not being smart enough to cross like them.
“The students gave the truck driver a sign to wait for them to cross, but it didn’t stop and the truck crushed 17 of them to death, while some were injured.
“The driver did not wait, so other students and adults chased the driver to Ogba, where he was arrested and his truck was burnt.”
A commercial motorcyclist, who witnessed the incident, said he saw 15 dead bodies.
He said, “I have never witnessed such a terrible thing in my life. I saw 15 pupils lying lifeless on the floor. The incident occurred around 2 pm.”
A riot broke out when policemen deployed in the scene fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
Angry youths subsequently broke the windscreens of about 10 trucks plying the road and beat up one of the drivers.
Bonfires were also made on Aina Street, close to the Ojodu Police Station.
PUNCH Metro observed as several parents, amid tears, paced around the scene of the incident, looking for their children.
“I have not seen my two children. One is in JSS1, while the other is in JSS2. They are Nafisat and Abdulqowiyu Amusan. We live in Lambe (Ogun State),” one of the distraught mothers lamented.
She later called one of our correspondents back on the telephone that the children were found at the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre, Ojota.
Pupils were seen in groups discussing the incident, as some mentioned the names of the victims.
“I saw Sodiq lying down covered in blood. Two pupils, who were siblings, were also crushed,” a pupil, Olamide Joseph, said.
Our correspondents learnt that some of the students were rushed to the Royan Hospital, St. Timothy Catholic Hospital, and the Lagos State Accident and Emergency Centre, Ojota, among other medical facilities.
During a visit to one of the hospitals, our correspondents saw some of the injured students on the bed receiving treatment.
The FRSC, in a statement by the Public Education Officer of the Lagos State Command, Olabisi Sonusi, on Tuesday, denied involvement in the accident, adding that seven pupils were rescued by its officials, while another seven were rescued by first responders.
The statement read in part, “An articulated truck was said to have lost control at the Grammar School Bus Stop along Ogunnusi Road, Lagos, which caused the death of unverified number of students and leaving many injured.
“The men of the FRSC were called upon by passersby to help intervene after the crash happened.
“The general public should disregard the disgruntled information being circulated by some unscrupulous elements that FRSC men caused the crash. We want to place on record that our men were not in any way involved in the cause of the crash as patrol activities was not ongoing along that axis as of the time of the crash.”
The Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said he could not also ascertain the number of casualties.
He said, “This unfortunate incident provoked some bystanders into taking the law into their hands by attempting to lynch policemen, LASTMA officials and other first responders at the scene, destroying vehicles and other properties.
“The attack by the miscreants led the emergency team to head back to base as the scene was insecure and unsafe for rescue and recovery operations.”
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, in a statement on Tuesday, said two people died in the accident while 12 people were injured.
Ajisebutu noted that the driver, Bolaji Kabiru, had also been arrested.
He said, “Traffic personnel from the Motor Traffic Department of the Ojodu Police Division immediately visited the scene. Corpses of the dead students (identity not yet known) were removed with the support of officers of the FRSC and were deposited at the morgue of the Mainland Hospital, Yaba, for autopsy. The erring driver has been apprehended and kept in police custody.
“However, the angry students, who were later joined by hoodlums, set the accidented vehicle ablaze. They also attacked the Ojodu Police Station in their large number, demanding the release of the driver for jungle justice.
“However, when their demand was not met, they became violent. In the process, they destroyed four vehicles parked on the premises of the police station and another mobile truck on the highway.
“To avoid total breakdown of law and order, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, immediately ordered deployment of policemen comprising tactical teams, Rapid Response Squad and others to the scene to maintain law and order.
“The protesters were professionally dispersed with minimum force without resulting to any further injury.
“While commiserating with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in the fatal motor accident, the Commissioner of Police appeals to sympathisers and other members of the public to allow the police carry out a thorough investigation and avoid seeking self help.”
The Punch
The Minister of Police Affairs, Senator Ibrahim Gaidam, has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Divisional Police Headquarters and six Rank and File Quarters by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) to directly enhance the security of the Mpape environment in the Bwari area council of the Federal Capital City.
The Minister, according a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations Unit, Mr. Bolaji O. Kazeem, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), performed the groundbreaking ceremony at Mpape, Kamtape under Bwari Area Council in Abuja, in the presence of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), Mohammed Sheidu, and the Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police CP Olatunji Disu.
The Minister, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Yusuf Abubakar Argungu commended the effort of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF) in addressing the challenges of security in Bwari Area Council thereby providing a conducive environment for both citizens and their businesses
In his words, “The presence of this divisional headquarters of the police in this location will protect citizens commuting daily for their daily activities from the danger of kidnapping, one chance, and robbery as well as other related crimes affecting people in the city.
He urged the Nigeria Police Force, a leading internal security agency in the country, to continue to promote synergy with citizens in the location and other security agencies in the city to uphold the responsibility of enforcing laws and prosecuting offenders in the federal capital city.
Gaidam reiterated that the Federal Government is poised for the emergence of a world-class police force that is inclusive, intelligence-led, technology-driven, and community-based and that is alive to its constitutional responsibilities and commitment to implementing the ongoing comprehensive police reform to revolutionize the policing landscape by fostering inclusivity, community engagement, intelligence-driven operations, and technological integration.
The Minister stressed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ to prioritize initiatives aimed at promoting community policing, enhancing transparency and accountability, and fostering a culture of respect and understanding as well as strengthening the bond between the police and the community.
The District Head of Mpape, Alhaji Adamu Diga thanked the Ministry, Nigeria Police Trust Fund, and Nigeria Police Force for accepting their request to upgrade the existing Mpape Police Post to the Divisional Headquarters to enhance the efficiency and service delivery to the people of the district.
In his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), Mohammed Sheidu appreciated the Honourable Minister and the Inspector General of Police for their commitment, guidance, and collaboration have been instrumental in guiding the police modern infrastructure and the improvement of the welfare of the police officers.
According to him “This is a historic day for the Nigeria Police force and the nation as a whole in the groundbreaking ceremony to take a major step toward construction of modern smart divisional police headquarters and rank and file quarters here in Mpape in Abuja which would be replicated in the six geo-political zones. This facility is more than just bricks and mortar, it represents our collective resolve to provide our police force offices with modern instruction that enhances their operational capacity and improves well-being.”
A rancorous scene occurred at the premises of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ona Iye Parish in the Iloye area of Sango-Ota, Ogun State penultimate week as a commercial driver swathed by his family members and associates clashed with the pastor and founder of the church, Prophet Abiodun John, in a scandalous paternity row.
The driver, Badiru Folarin, who is the husband of a female church member brought to the church for spiritual healing, screamed that the pastor claimed ownership of his four-year-old child after he caught him having an illicit affair with his wife, Morufat.
Folarin claimed the pastor’s sexual escapades with his wife was revealed by his 14-year-old son, Saheed, who told him that his mother was always visiting and cooking for the clergyman while he was away and that the cleric in turn visited their home at odd hours.
He said: ”The pastor claimed that my in-law had given my wife to him as his wife. However, the question is, can a woman be given to two men as wife?
”The pastor confronted me to my face that he is the biological father of our last child, a four-year-old. Yet my wife rained curses on me, saying that Ogun (Yoruba god of iron) should strike me dead so she can enjoy her benefactor.
”I am a driver. I never enjoyed my wife at home. She was always away to church for several days in the guise of vigils and special spiritual protection. My mother-in-law was disturbed about my wife’s continuous absence from home under the pretext of participation in church activities.”
Amid the yelling, screaming and cacophony of noise at the scene, Morufat told her husband’s family members and bystanders that she was not in the least prepared to leave her husband, although she conceded the paternity of the child in question to the embattled pastor when asked to choose between the latter and Folarin.
She said: ”No one should blame me for what has happened…and If you all must know, I cannot be married to two men in my life…but my husband is not ready to take care of me, he is a shameless man…I will deal with him when we return home.”
Folarin, however, retorted: ”You cannot come back to my house…anything can happen to you if you come back to my house.”
Recalling how the messy affair between the pastor and her wife began, the father of six said he did not believe that the clergyman was having an affair with his wife when neighbours alerted him until his son tipped him off that his wife was having a tryst with the cleric at his house within the church premises.
Folarin said: ”I did not realise that the pastor was sleeping with my wife.
“I am a Muslim while my wife is a Christian. She was having some spiritual attacks and went to the church for deliverance.
“Suddenly, she started frequenting the church, and when I heard that she was having an affair with the pastor, I confronted her but she denied it.
”She would send my children to me for upkeep while at the church and I usually sent money to her, not knowing that she was using my money to prepare meal for her pastor-lover.”
”The pastor knows me very well. He had even given me some spiritual items for use that would attract fortune, but my transport business witnessed a reversal of fortune instead.
”I have been married to Morufat for more than 30 years and our first child is 30 years old. I was giving her about N6,000 every day for upkeep.
“When I got home a few days ago, she rained curses on me. Her action got my 14-year-old son, Saheed, angry, and he opened up that his mother had been flirting with the pastor to the extent that she was cooking for the cleric with the money I have been giving her as daily upkeep.
“My son said his mother had just returned from the church where she took food to the pastor shortly before I returned home on that day.
”The pastor told me to my face that he is the biological father of my last child, a daughter (Alimot).
“I gave my wife the sum of N68,000 when she was pregnant with our last child, but she gave the money to the pastor and relocated to the church for several months under the pretext of seeking spiritual protection.
“Along the line, we had accommodation problem, and that was when I gave her money for a new accommodation. Instead, she spent the money on her lover and later claimed she was sick and that she used the money for treatment.
“I warned her against having any close affair with pastor and asked her to stay in the new apartment.
“Surprisingly, she complained she did not like the fact the apartment is in a one-storey building.
“Last week, my son told me that his mother had been with the pastor’s house for four days. I stormed the place and I was shocked to find them together in a room half naked.
“The pastor tied a towel around his waist while my wife also tied a piece of cloth around her waist while she pushed two of my little children to play outside the room.
“We tried to take my children away from her but she bit off my hand while the pastor claimed that he is the father of my last daughter, who is my sixth child.
“The pastor told all of us at the scene that he is the biological father of my daughter and that I cannot take the girl away from him.
“I later discovered that she had aborted a pregnancy for the same pastor some years ago.
“I cannot take my wife back and because the pastor has vowed to deal with me.
“I don’t want the pastor to kill me. Nigerians should save me from the ruthless pastor.”
Speaking with our reporter, Saheed, Folarin’s son, who allegedly exposed his mother’s illicit affair with the pastor, said his mother threatened to poison him for exposing her affair with the pastor.
”My mother threatened to poison me for exposing her escapades with the pastor of our church to my father.
“She called me an unfortunate child for telling my father that she even cooked for the pastor.
The Nation
The Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed has assured Nigerians of freer road environments during this Yuletide, saying FRSC personnel have been motivated by the special presidential attention given to the Corps by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his logistics support for the Corps, according to a statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP)
Speaking during the end of year get-together held at the FRSC National Headquarters Abuja on Thursday, to appreciate staff and strategic stakeholders for their sacrifices and commitment to the success of the campaign for safer road environment during the outgoing year, Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed stressed the need for sustained sacrifice and devotion to duties.
According to him, he does not have enough words to adequately express his appreciation to the staff for the sacrifices they have made to keep the nation’s highways safer during the year despite the various challenges that could have hampered the efforts. “I cannot thank the staff enough for their sacrifices during the year, but let me assure everyone that in our commitment to taking FRSC to greater heights, I will personally continue to lead from the front in sacrifice as the servant,” he stated.
The Corps Marshal who assured staff that payment for the second batch of the transfer allowances for those affected would commence next week enjoined staff not to rest on their oars but to remain focused and committed in all their assignments. He promised to continue to evolve programs that could address the health and welfare needs of the staff towards ensuring conducive working and living environments.
Speaking directly to the stakeholders, the Corps Marshal thanked them for always standing by the FRSC, stressing that their actions were clear manifestation of road safety being a shared responsibility. He appealed for sustained collaboration from them, especially as the nation comes to the critical periods of year when Christmas and new year celebrations always lead to increased human and vehicular traffic.
In his message at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services in his office commended the staff of the FRSC for their resourcefulness which he said has been demonstrated in managing road traffic across the country. While congratulating the Corps Marshal for successfully hosting the staff and presenting awards as a mark of appreciation for excellence, he pledged to support the Corps for its logistics and welfare needs in order to enhance the organization’s capacity to deliver on its mandates. The SGF urged the staff to work harder to make movements during the end of the year smoother and safer to avoid the yearly agony associated with the season.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of merit awards to some deserving staff and stakeholders of the Corps for their exceptional contributions to the ideals of the FRSC in making the roads safer. Among the recipients were the National President of Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA), Dr Nafisa Shehu Mohammed; some Media organizations and transport unions as well as a Marshal from Lekki Unit Command of the FRSC in Lagos State, Sayid Habib who was commended for his endurance in the face of provocation in a recent encounter with a lady passenger n the command.
On hand to entertain the staff and the guests was the newly refurbished and rebranded FRSC band whose members appeared publicly in their new uniform for the first time. And in appreciation of the investment made by the Corps Marshal within the short period of his leadership of the FRSC, the Band rendered a special tune devoted to him as directed by the representative of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation which left everyone satisfied and in joyful mood, hoping for greater achievement in the coming year.
