₦airaland Forum

Three days after the shocking discovery of an armoury suspected to be owned and operated by a Lebanon-based terrorists organisation, Hezbollah, in Bompai, Kano State, security operatives are going after all business interests mentioned in connection with the armoury.

A top security source confided in our correspondent on Sunday that security operatives had been searching for all business ventures linked to Mustapha Fawaz, co-owner of Amigo Supermarket and the Wonderland Amusement Park, in Abuja, with a view to closing them down.

Already, two businesses, Amigo Supermarket on Adetokunbo Ademola Street and Wonder City Amusement, by the Airport Road, had since been shut down.

The source said the clampdown on businesses operated by Fawaz and any other Hezbollah operatives in Nigeria, was not restricted to Abuja, as efforts were on to trace such businesses in Kano and other cities, especially in the North, to put them under lock.

As of Sunday, security operatives had not lifted the siege on Amigo Supermarket, which is reputed to be among Abuja’s biggest supermarkets.

On Sunday, a combined team of stern-looking soldiers, the police and the SSS were seen asking motorists not to park around the area but to keep moving, without molesting people.

Also, on Saturday evening, our correspondent, who drove through the besieged area, saw some people in plain clothes packing some things in cartons into a white coloured-bus.

Efforts made by our correspondent to find out the content of the items in the cartons were not successful, as security operatives simply refused to comment on it.

A top security source said whatever the outcome of the investigation might be be made known to Nigerians at the appropriate time.


http://www.punchng.com/news/security-operatives-on-trail-of-more-lebanese-interests/

No fewer than 23 Nigerians were forced out of their homes and chased out of Port-Nolloth community by some South Africans members of the community, accusing them of dealing in drugs.

According to Diliora Ndubisi, the spokesman of Nigerians, the leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League in the area instigated some community members to force them out of their homes.

“All the members of the community had a meeting on Friday on the need to curb the selling and usage of drugs in the community. On Saturday a teenager committed suicide in a police custody and by Sunday some members of the community led by the ANC Youth League leader came to our houses asking us to leave the community.


“They said we are the ones selling drugs to their children. They destroyed and looted our property and one Nigerian was seriously beaten and is on admission in a hospital in Johannesburg now,” Ndubisi said.
He said that the attack, which targeted Nigerians only, can be attributed to envy and jealousy about the success of Nigerian businesses in the community amidst poverty and unemployment among South Africans living in the community.

Reacting to the attack, the Nigerian Consulate in Johanneburg, South Africa today criticised what it described as the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in the country.

Mr. Okey Emuchay, the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, said in Springbok, in the Northern Province of South Africa, that labelling all Nigerians in the country as drug dealers was “unacceptable.”
Emuchay said that it was the duty of the South African police to provide safety for South Africans and foreigners living in the country.

“We are not asking for too much from the South African government, it is the duty of the South African police to provide safety and security for every one living in South Africa.

“The Nigerian government will not send the Nigerian police to come and protect our nationals just like the South African government will not send her police to protect South Africans living and working in Nigeria.

“In as much as we will not encourage our nationals to engage in criminal activities, it is not acceptable to us that some people should label all Nigerians as drug dealers.

“If any Nigerian is caught dealing in drugs he/she should be arrested and prosecuted. But a situation where some people will act on rumours, attacking and harassing Nigerians will be totally resisted by us. If anybody has any information about any Nigerian dealing in drugs, such information should be given to the police to investigate and arrest those involved. It is the duty of the police to investigate, arrest and prosecute, and not the duty of any individual or group of persons to do the work of the police.

“In this case no arrest has been made, no prosecution and no sentencing of anybody, only some members of the community taking the laws into their hands and forcing out Nigerians from houses where they pay rent, sending them into the streets in this winter period,” Emuchay said.

The Consul-General said that the safety of the displaced Nigerians was the responsibility of the police.

“This is coming barely three weeks after President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria paid a state visit to South Africa, after a similar one-day official working visit by President Jacob Zuma to Nigeria.

“Nine MoU agreement were signed during the state visit to promote trade and investments between the two countries.

“If governments at the top level is working together to strengthen relations between the two countries, the people of the two countries should be encouraged to take full advantage of the bilateral cooperation in various ways, including business culture and interpersonal relations. Nigeria and South Africa have had a long history of friendship and cordial relationship and everything should be done in sustaining the relationship,” Emuchay said.
Ikechukwu Anyene, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), commended the proactive step taken by the Consulate.

“I must on behalf of all Nigerians living in South Africa thank the Consul-General for the proactive steps he has taken so far in this xenophobia attack on Nigerians living here.
Brig.-Gen. Francis Hender, South Africa Police Service (SAPS), Cluster Commander, assured that no individual or group would be allowed to perform the duty of the police.

“I will go to Port-Nolloth personally to assess the situation there, and a team of crime investigators will be assigned to investigate the cause of the attack on Nigerians and the lady mentioned would be invited for questioning. She is not a police officer and cannot be allowed to get away with her actions,” Hender said.
Lebogang Abrans, ANC Regional Secretary, apologised to the Nigerian envoy on the attack and said there was need to engage with the community on how to allow the displaced Nigerians return to their homes.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/05/30/south-africans-chase-nigerians-out-of-their-homes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PmNewsNigeria+%28PM+News+Nigeria%29

In his remarks at today's Mid-Term report presentation at the International Conference Center Abuja, American civil rights leader, former presidential contestant on the platform of the Democratic Party and founder of the Rainbow PUSH coalition, Rev. Jesse Jackson, had a message to Nigerians-"Co-exist and don't co-annihilate

Jackson stressed that Nigeria should strive to remain one and never break up. He called on all Nigerians to join hands with the present administration to fight terrorism and declared that the Mid-Term report by President Jonathan was an exercise in unprecedented transparency.

Jackson, who talked about the challenges African Americans faced with the segregation and the fight for civil rights praised Nigeria for having one of the largest peacekeeping contingents in the world and for being a big brother in Africa. He prayed for Nigeria and quoted copiously from the Holy Bible. He received a standing ovation after his speech.


http://www.naijapundit.com/news/co-exist-don-t-co-annihilate-jesse-jackson-warns-nigeria

Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, the Majority Leader of Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Igbuya, and other government officials, Tuesday, escaped death as what could have turned out to be an air mishap was avoided by Arik Pilot of Flight W 3788 conveying over 100 passengers from Lagos to Asaba.

The flight, which was supposed to take off at 8:30 am was delayed in Lagos on account of bad weather. Though travellers had boarded the flight, after about two hours inside the plane, they were asked to go back to the departure lounge as the plane could not take off on account of what the pilot described as “terribly bad weather at Asaba.”

After about three hours, the flight was boarded again because weather reports showed improvement within the internationally accepted landing standards. By the time it was boarded again, many people who saw the situation as warning from providence cancelled their trips.

On getting to Asaba, the weather became bad again while attempt at landing was difficult. The pilot, who did not want to take chances promptly returned to Lagos. On reaching Lagos, however, the weather there had already gone very bad by aviation standard.

The plane had to circle around for hours amidst dwindling aviation fuel. It finally landed at 4:45 pm amidst signs of relief from traumatised passengers who clapped in jubilation. The pilot, Captain Sandy Miller, merely told passengers to thank their God for His mercies when they got home.

Speaking to aviation correspondents at the Domestic Wing of Murtala Muhammed Airport, Governor Obi, who travelled to South-Africa on Sunday and came back, yesterday, to Lagos said he was determined to make the flight to Asaba en route Awka because he did not like staying outside Awka more days than necessary.

On whether he was frightened, the governor laughed and said that nothing again should be frightening to a person that governs a state like Anambra. Moreover, he said, he was always at peace with his God and fellow human beings and couldn’t worry over the vicissitudes of life.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/gov-obi-others-escape-death/

The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, yesterday in Kaduna paraded 103 illegal immigrants from Niger Republic and Ghana.

Parading the suspects, the Kaduna State Controller of Immigration Service, Abdullahi Yerima, said they entered Nigeria without documents.

Yerima disclosed that the country’s borders were still porous, stressing that government needed to provide the service with logistics to check the influx of aliens.

The controller, who said the NIS was not against foreigners coming to Nigeria, said they should acquire valid documents to avoid being arrested and repatriated.

He said: “Earlier we arrested three Ghanaians in Zaria International School, who have been in the country for a very long time without documents.

So, what we have now is 103 suspects and all these suspects are going to be repatriated this evening by the grace of God. “Apart from the 3 Ghanaians the rest are Nigeriens.

But they were not arrested with any weapons. “In some cases, it was some Nigerians that prevented us from arresting them so in the process we have to arrest the Nigerians but we later allowed them to go.

“Sincerely, the type of aircraft we have now is not the type that should be used for border patrols because they cannot land at any location that is needed immediately but helicopters can do that.

“If people come into the country without any job, if people lure such a person with N5,000 or N10,000 he can do anything. So, it is a possibility that they can contribute to the insecurity in the country.”



http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/immigration-service-arrests-103-illegal-immigrants/

The leader of the terrorist Islamic sect, the so called Imam, Abubakar Shekau, has opened a facebook page where he communicates and exchanges messages with his friends. In his facebook page, Shekau has denied that Boko Haram collected any ransom to free Alhaji Skettima Munguno, the octogenarian former minister of petroleum that was kidnapped by the sect last month.

Also, as the emergency rule declared in some states but harder, Shekau posted some photos of persons suspected to be his Islamic fighters.

It is rather surprising that Shekau, whose group believe that Western Education is haram, is benefiting from Social Media, by having a facebook profile. Apparently facebook is not haram in Boko Haram's mind.

To visit Shekau's facebook page > https://www.facebook.com/abubakaribn.muhammedshekau1?ref=ts&fref=ts


http://www.naijapundit.com/news/boko-haram-leader-shekau-opens-facebook-profile

JOS—MEMBER representing Plateau South/Plateau East Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr. Bitrus Kaze, has called on the Federal Government to disband the Kabiru Turaki-led committee on amnesty for Boko Haram as the declaration of a state of emergency in three states no longer makes the issue of amnesty tenable.

Reacting to the declaration of a state emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states in a statement in Jos, he said the issue of amnesty was no longer relevant given the lack of remorse from the sect members.

The statement said: “Having declared emergency rule, the prospect for achieving peace by granting amnesty to remorseless and ever rampaging terrorists has been invariably jettisoned. A band of terrorists who have categorically declined amnesty plans directed at them and who instead are beginning to overrun some parts of the country ought not to and must not be entertained in any form of dialogue.

”If the purpose of the emergency rule must be achieved, it’s time for government to call a spade by its name and save millions of taxpayers’ money from being wasted in a fruitless endeavour.”

Kaze commended President Goodluck Jonathan for “eventually mustering the guts to declare emergency rule in certain states where our national territorial integrity is already being compromised by rampaging Islamic terrorists” adding, “the primary purpose of government anywhere in the world is the security and welfare of its citizens.”

He also praised the president for not tampering with the democratic structures in the affected states but noted that “the recurrent and rather frequent declaration of emergency rule in Nigeria by the Federal Government since our return to constitutional democracy in 1999 is however self-indicting.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/05/disband-amnesty-committee-rep-urges-fg/

Agatu indigenes of Benue state have continued to lament over the untold hardship and perpetual fear that now becloud their different communities due to the recent multiple attacks launched on them by some Fulani herdsmen, resulting to the death of many indigenes, mainly men and children.
DailyPost has gathered that the entire local government has remained unsettled and displaced since the incident took them unawares. Reliable investigation has revealed that over 65 Agatu indigenes fell to the unfortunate attacks.
DailyPost embarked on an aftermath investigation to ascertain the extent of damage done to the community as well as the reaction of prominent Agatu indigenes.
“As I speak to you, my house in the village has been burnt to ashes by the attackers, people have been displaced. Innocent women and children have all vacated their communities to neighboring towns. Most of our people have now become refugees in Ugbokpo, Adoka and Otukpo. This is senseless and inhumane, it’s unfortunate” These were expressions of agony, despair, and uneasiness by the coordinator of Agatu youth vanguard, Comrade, Audu George who spoke with our correspondent in Makurdi .
Audu, while expressing that the attack was painfully an unprovoked one regretted that his people were already aware of the attack before the Fulanis struck. He said that they had earlier been informed that his community, Okokolo was going to be attacked before the herdsmen struck . He said, “ we had minimal casualty on the first day because we were already aware that the attackers were coming. Therefore, many people left the community. On the very first attack on Okokolo, 11 people were killed, out of whom were 4 disabled, 3 mad people as well as old people and children.
Speaking on the genesis of the attack, the Comrade disclosed that the problem started in December 2012 in Okokolo. According to him, “ Some Fulani herdsmen had problem with some Tiv villagers, and the head of herdsmen in the area escaped to Okokolo. He was traced to our village market, and bugled away by some people believed to be Tiv fighters. Few days after they had whisked him away, and they could bot trace their leader, they came to our community, demanding to know what happened to their chief. Our chief could only give little or no explanation, as he was not even aware of what transpired. They had left our village angrily that day with the message of an aggressive return in retaliation.
“ Due to the open threat, we informed the DPO in Agatu Local Government Area, and Honourable Audu Sule who happens to be our representative, but they remained mum over the threat, as no tangible reaction came from them. Since then, we have been receiving series of threats from the invaders.
Speaking on the first attack in Okokolo, he said “ they came in thousands, but because most people had left, they maimed whatever they saw and set our houses ablaze. We lost 11 of our people, but mainly deformed and mad people”
However, two people were killed at Oche-Agatu’s residence, and his house was also burnt down.
Speaking on the second attack, the youth leader said that about 23 people were killed in the coordinated attacks that took place at Okpanchenyi and Ikwo. “ Abut 22-23 people were killed in the attack. Majority of them were actually children and the disabled who could not run for dear lives. When they came to where the mourners of the late policemen were gathered, they threw some knockouts, and in the process, captured some of our people and slaughtered them. However, some of them also fell to our men. We also discovered that most of the attackers killed were not Fulani herdsmen, they were mercenaries hired to carry out the attack.
Debunking the allegation that about 50 cows belonging to the herdsmen were seized, before the attack, Audu said, there was no element of truth in such an assertion. He said “ There was nothing of that nature. If 50 cows were seized, we should know who seized them, where and how. There is no information of such. 50 cows are not 5 chickens. That statement was mischievous and full of deceit. Please do not be biased in your release, let the whole world know what we are going through at the moment. Our people are suffering, and these people have threatened to return again, but this time around, we are all ready for them, let them come, we are waiting “
Meanwhile, elder-statesman and a onetime Deputy Governor aspirant in Benue state, Andrew Idakwo has expressed great sadness over the unfortunate incident. Speaking with Dailypost, Idakwo had affirmed that the attack was not in any way provoked by the Agatu people. He said that the invaders stormed the community in hundreds to kill and destroy property of the local government.
As I speak to you, our people have been displaced. I was at Ugbokpo and Onyagede yesterday with the Senate President, David Mark and other government delegates. I have told my people to go home. When I went back to the place today, I discovered that most of them have gone home. That shows that peace is gradually returning to my community.
Both the state and the Federal government have been so supportive. Aside the visit of the Senate President, the Minister of interior, Comrade Abba Moro also came to see the situation by himself. Security men have been deployed to the area. However, I see those security men as peace keepers, as my people have already made up their minds to protect themselves. People are now refugees in their own community. What we want in Agatu now is to gradually rebuild the confidence of the people. As a responsible government, the government should try to ask how these people crossed the river to our own side of the world. Something must be done about this.”
Another Agatu indigene who had pleaded anonymity said that some people in the community give the attackers information, because at every attack, information gets to the community before the attack. According to him, “ You see, these people have informants in Agatu here. This is simply because, before every attack, we get reliable information that they will be attacking. Whoever is responsible for this information, we do not know. We are suspecting some people, but since nothing has clearly shown that they are the ones, we will continue to monitor the situation. “ He said.

http://news.naij.com/34333.html

That is why it is good to have a good memory...these chaps at arewa forum have forgotten what they said then and trust Nigerians, it might take time but someone gat to make you eat those words...

Swaziland has launched a crackdown on 'high-flying witches' after banning them from 'hovering above 150 metres'.
Swaziland Witches Banned From Flying Above 150 Metres
It has been a long time since witches were burnt at the stake in Europe but the accusation remains a serious one in the landlocked African country.
Anyone caught flying their broomstick above the height limit faces arrest and a hefty R500,000 (N8,513,115) fine, the country's Civil Aviation Authorities said this week.
According to the Corporate Affairs Sabelo Dlamini, "A witch on a broomstick should not fly above the 150-metre limit."
The new aviation law was highlighted after a private investigator was caught flying a helicopter equipped with a video camera to gather surveillance information.
Witchcraft is taken seriously in Swaziland where many people believe in the power of black magic.
Last year a leading Swazi MP called for a hike in tax paid by witch doctors to help ease the cash-strapped country’s financial woes.


http://news.naij.com/34275.html

Different strokes for different folks. While other people are resisting a State of Emergency or finding ways to avoid it, the long suffering people of Southern Kaduna, who have been at the receiving end of violent Islamic groups and Fulani herdsmen have cried out to the president to impose a state of emergency in their area. It would be recalled that terrorists had written a letter to the people of Zonkwa warning them that they would unleash death and blood on them because of the way they voted in the 2011 elections. NaijaPundit had exclusively published that letter over a year ago.



The statement by the Southern Kaduna group appears below;

Center for Development and Rights Advocacy

Press
Statement

Southern Kaduna Deserves State of Emergency

President Goodluck Jonathan’s declaration of State of Emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa
States surprised Nigerians; particularly those dwelling in Southern Kaduna area
of Kaduna State where series of terrorist attacks have been occurring
unabated.

Since 2011 to date, the latest being last Sunday 12th May 2013
in Zangan, Kaura Local Government where about 12 persons were killed and houses
burnt to ashes by highly sophisticated gunmen. This is one example of more than
60 reported and unreported coordinated killings that kept ravaging the area,
with not less than 500 innocent people mostly children and women killed
altogether. Yet President Goodluck Jonathan and the nation’s security chiefs did
not find it worthy to declare State of Emergency in troubled Southern Kaduna
region under terrorist siege.

The Presidential action left us with
surprise and conviction that President Jonathan and Nigeria’s security chiefs,
are really not abreast with insecurity ravaging Southern Kaduna, or at best
playing politics with security of lives and properties of innocent and law
abiding peoples of Southern Kaduna whose lives are presently at the instance of
high powered terrorists carrying out gradual genocide in the area.

The
action further left us with reality that there is more than meet the eye, as far
as the Southern Kaduna killings are concerned.It is clear that there is a
conspiracy backed by several unseen forces bound on ensuring that the area is
grounded, considering the fact that socio-economic activities in the area are
now in its shadows and malfunctioning.

Finally, we want to make it clear,
that Southern Kaduna deserve to have been included in the State of Emergency
action of President Jonathan. This is because it is the only viable option left
to make sure that security situation get cogent attention and
action.

http://www.naijapundit.com/news/southern-kaduna-people-beg-jonathan-to-impose-emergency-on-them

..My Hands Are Clean, Says Embattled Governor
Security operatives in Lafia and families of the 20 policemen who met their untimely death in the hands of Ombatse group, a secret cult in Nasarawa State have accused Governor Ibrahim Tanko Al-Mukura of complicity, alleging that his poor handling of the crises should be blamed for the escalation of violence.
Governor Al-Makura who was away in Owerri, for Governor Rochas Okorocha 2nd year Anniversary, had allegedly ordered the police commissioner to arrest “Baba Lakio” the witch doctor and spiritual head of the Ombatse cult, at a time when there was no crises.
But rather than invite the cult leader, the police allegedly loaded several trucks with armed men and took-off for the village, unknowingly to the police that information has gotten to the group about the planned invasion of the village, which led to the ambush where the 20 policemen were killed.
A security report that is being turned-in from Nasarawa state is blaming the escalation of violence on the one-sided handling of the crises by the Governor, as he refused to ordered the arrest of the mercenaries who have continuously hide under the auspices of grazers to attack local farmers in
17 villages.
The report alleged that it was the poor handling of the crises earlier that led to the non arrest of the mercenaries, even as relief materials were sent to only side of the conflict.
A Top security source in Lafia however claimed that the bloodbath was the outcome of a struggle for supremacy between Ombatse cult group which assisted the governor during the last election and mercenary militia group from Chad, Mali and Niger who were allegedly brought in by the government to dislodge the cult group.
The source alleged that Governor Al-Makura was initiated into the cult group which started as a thuggery enterprise but later metamorphosed into a cult before the last election which led to the governor’s emergence, after his visit to the shrine
It was revealed that the invasion of Lakio village sparked-off so much violence because the Governor who is accused of supporting the mercenaries plotted to use security forces to attack his former cult members for purely political reasons.
The report also pointed that the governor’s anger against the cult group followed recent clashes between the mercenaries and cult members in his home town of Kwandere where the mercenaries were reportedly camped.
According to the security sources, Governor Al-Makura through his elder brother who is a traditional ruler provided a fertile ground for these mercenaries who often spark off communal wars which have remained largely unreported in the last six months.
It was learnt that the mercenaries who are allegedly supporting the Governor Al-Makura’s 2015 re-election bid have so far attacked and destroyed many farming settlements in both Nasarawa South and North Senatorial zones.
This low intensity war in Nasarawa State had led to clashes between grazers and farmers in the affected areas. The grazers are mainly fulanis while the farmers include Eggon, Alogo, Ato, Agalu, Mada, Migili and Tiv communities.
Some of the areas reportedly destroyed include, Bassa, Anita, Angiri, Agbashu, Alago, Duduguru, Burumoupum and Yelwa among others.
Meanwhile, some family members of the deceased policemen are bitter that the Governor used their spouses to fight his selfish political battles.
Al-Makura Reacts
The Governor who has since denied any complicity in crises briefed Vice President Namadi Sambo, stating that “we have a very bitter security problem that has caused the death of some security officers in the state”.
According to him, “Two weeks ago, we discovered a certain militia group holding arms and carrying out cultist activities in the state. Since January, this thing has not abated and in the past two weeks, it took a total different dimension.
“They have been going for one place to another including churches and taking people for that particular ethnic group to come and take portions that are meant to empower them to do what they want to do.
“This escalated and is causing serious concern for the state. We decided to hold security meeting to find a way of solving the problem. The solution was to go to the shrine and pick on the cult leader so that the problem will be solved once and for all.
“As security operatives were approaching the shrine, unknown to them that ambush has been laid for them, these people attacked them and resulted in the death of more than 20 policemen.
“This is a situation that is so grave and I feel it is very important that I come to brief the Vice President about the security situation and to seek assistance so that we can handle the matter once and for all.
“Already, the group that is from Eggon extraction and called Ombatse has been proscribed since the beginning of this year because of the activities of the members. They go from one place to another, harbouring arms, attacking any area that has any conflict with any of their members. The group is banned and its members are those causing this problem in the state and we feel it is necessary to bring this to the notice of the Federal Government.
“Before now, there were one or two arrests. But as a result of yesterday’s event, I am yet to be briefed on the number of arrests that have been made. Already, I learnt that security operatives are making arrangements to see how they can contain the situation. It is on that point that I will know how many arrests have been made.
“The incident happened in a village called Alakyo about 10km from Lafia, the state capital.
“The position of this militia is unacceptable to the government, already we are taking appropriate steps to see that the perpetrators of this act are brought to book.
“That is why I have given the necessary informational the federal level so that by the time we begin to take on these perpetrators, nobody should cast aspersions on the justification.



http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/police-killing-in-nasarawa-gov-al-makura-my-be-indicted-by-security-report/

If you cant beat them, join them!

An angry mob in Abaranje, Ikotun area Lagos State, southwest Nigeria, went on the rampage and attacked the staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and destroyed their property.
The attack which took place at the weekend followed what electricity consumers in the area described as the crazy electricity bills slammed on them by the PHCN workers.
P.M.NEWS learnt that the mob, mainly residents of the area, vent their anger when they stormed the administrative branch office of PHCN at Customs bus stop, Abaranje, Ikotun and attacked the PHCN staff and destroyed their property.
Items damaged include chairs, tables, electrical appliances, fridge, television, glass doors and windows and other administrative materials such as files and book records kept in the office.
The police at Ikotun division intervened and brought the situation under control before they could set the office ablaze.
A policeman identified as Mathew was severly macheted during the fracas and he is critically lying at Igando General Hospital where doctors are battling to save his life.
P.M.NEWS gathered that police made some arrests in connection with the fracas. Among those arrested include the Ikotun Igando Local government Supervisory Councillor for Works, Mr A. O. Arizona who the PHCN officials alleged to be the cause of the problem.
Also arrested was the PHCN manager, Mr William Ekpeki, Samuel Ilori a staff of PHCN and others.
They were later released on administrative bail while the investigation continued on the matter.
P.M.NEWS gathered that the residents were angry because, in spite of incessant high bills residents have been getting from PHCN, they don’t have regular supply of electricity in the area.
According to the residents, they have been complaining and nothing has been done to address the issue.
According to some residents, PHCN brings bills of between N8,000 to N25,000 every month for each household which they call estimated bills, and the bills continue to accumulate because residents could not pay.
“Most of the residents have accumulated bills to the tune of N100,000 and above. The PHCN response has been either you give them bribe or they disconnect you,” a resident revealed.
The cause of the current crisis was the recent N22,000 estimation bill given to Mr Arizona and when he didn’t pay, the PHCN workers went to his house and disconected his light.
Narrating what happened, the manager of PHCN in the area, Mr. William Ekpeki, told P.M.NEWS that his men went to his house at 32, Ogunfumi street, Okerube and disconected his light because he was owing the amount.
He alleged that Arizona came to their office with more than 20 thugs and started destroying PHCN property and attacked some of the staff who ran away to save their lives, an allegation Arizona denied.
The manager said Arizona had threatened to deal with the staff and nothing will happen and his men came and attacked PHCN staff and started destroying properties in the office before the police were contacted.
He said in the process, one of the policemen was macheted.
He regreted that an individual will bring thugs and destroy government property and behave as if he is above the law.
When P.M.NEWS contacted Arizona, he denied that he brought thugs to attack them.
He said he has been paying his bills but lately PHCN started bringing outrageous bills to him and demanding bribe as well.
He said the amount he paid in his subsequent bills did not reflect in the bills they brought to him and they went to his house when he had gone to work and disconnected his light and also demanded N2,000 from his wife before they would connect him back.
Arizona said when he went to their office to ask them why they were demanding the money and the money he paid did not reflect in his bills, they ignored him and most of the residents that had similar problem and were also in their office to complain.
He said instead of PHCN staff attending to them, they ignored them and threatened not to reconnect them until they paid the outarageous bills.
He noted that there was a sponteneous reaction from the residents that caused the commotion there. He said he was even trapped there and was rescued by the police.
Some of the residents who spoke to P.M.NEWS complained bitterly that PHCN was exploiting them through outrageous bills.
Those who spoke said the PHCN staff are heartless and they deliberately bring estimated bills in order to collect bribes from them.
“They are working for their pockets and not for government,” a resident remarked.
When P.M.NEWS visited Ikotun Police Division, the DPO, CSP Akika, was not around to comment on the matter.
Sources at the station comfirmed the incident and told our reporter that some arrests have been made and the suspects will soon be charged to court.
The issue of estimated bills which many electricity consumers said is another name for official fraud, is also causing problem in Ejigbo, Isolo, Agege, Idimu, Egeda, Oko-Oba and others. And the PHCN has not come out to explain why it slams such bills on residents in Lagos State.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/04/29/mob-demolish-phcn-office-over-crazy-bill/

yipppee!

Ok....barbed wire fencing or Block fencing or wooden fencing or like the wall of jericho...stones.

The police chief said the present management team was working hard to improve the image of the police.
The Nigeria Police Force plans to establish a professional driving school to train its drivers, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG, has said.
Philemon Leha, the DIG Operations, disclosed this to newsmen on Thursday after declaring open a one-day capacity building workshop for police’ workshop and transport officers across the commands.
“We want to establish that driving school where our men can learn how to drive. You will agree with me that driving is a profession and that there are different types of driving. There is a way you drive a police vehicle, the way you drive a VIP, the way you drive a convoy. There is a way you do protective driving; there is a way you drive when you are under attack. So, we need to teach them these things; if we do not, they will not be able to drive well,” he said.
Mr. Leha charged the officers to maintain police vehicles and warned that anyone, especially drivers who willfully damaged vehicles in their care, would be sanctioned and made to bear the cost of repairs.
“That is the rule- if you willfully damage police vehicle, you will be sanctioned, you will be forced to bear the cost of the repair of that vehicle.’’
The DIG gave the assurance that with the limited resources available to it, the present management team was working hard to improve the image of the police.
“We have to do something so that Nigerians will know that we really mean to turn the police around and not to leave things lying low as they were,” he said.
He urged the participants to come out with ideas that would assist in achieving the objectives of the reforms in the force.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, could not declare the workshop open as planned following his summon to the Aso Rock Villa.
Two hundred and fifty officers were drawn from the 36 police commands, 12 zonal commands and the Abuja Command to attend the workshop.


http://premiumtimesng.com/metro/130181-nigeria-police-to-establish-driving-school-dig.html?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nigeria-police-to-establish-driving-school-dig

Dino Melaye narrates the full story of a disputed assassination attempt targeting him and subsequent police discredit of his claims.
A former Nigerian lawmaker, Dino Melaye, whose claim of an assassination attempt in Abuja was discredited by the police, has accused the force of unprofessionalism.
Mr. Melaye said he expected the reaction countering his claims from the police following his earlier assessment of their reaction to his complaints.
“I am not surprised at what the commissioner of police said,” he declared.
Mr. Melaye questioned how the police, who got to the scene of the incident 12 hours after the attack – expected to find evidence.
He accused the police of negligence saying they prepared a full report on the incident without admitting his statement and assessing damages on his car.
He agreed that his car windows are not bullet proof, as already stated by the police, but argued that they are double-placed-treated glasses only penetrable by close range shots.
He said the police have consistently ignored calls for protection following previous threats to his life.
“I wrote to them in January and September 2012 complaining of threats to my life and up till now, nothing happened,” he said.


http://premiumtimesng.com/news/130146-dino-accuses-police-of-unprofessionalism-in-assassination-attempt.html

Well you have heard the story "I had no shoes". Apparently Atiku has heard it too and has decided to do something about it. He is set to launch his 2015 campaign by providing shoes for shoeless people so they don't fall for the 'I had no shoes' story again. But how far can he go?


http://www.naijapundit.com/news/photostory-atiku-prepares-for-2015-by-giving-the-shoeless-one-enough-shoes

Mary Stalin

Hope the textile industry there in functioning in full capacity kwo?