Teenager Drowns as Ocean Surge Ravages Lagos Beaches

Lagos Lagoon

Barely a day after environmentalists and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) warned about the ongoing ocean surge in the coastal area of Lagos State, a teenager was swept away in the surge during the weekend.

NEMA had last Thursday warned members of the public to desist from going to beaches such as Kuramo, Oniru and Bar Beach due to the turbulence of the ocean.

The teenager, whose identity has not been ascertained, was said to have been swept away by the tumultuous waves when he went to the Bar Beach for a swim.

Commercial Drivers Lament Extortion by Army

Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika

Commercial drivers plying the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway Sunday alleged that the increasing spate of extortion and harassment in the hands of soldiers operating along the areas had started taking its toll on their business.

They have therefore urged the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Azubuike Ihejirika, to save them from the situation before it degenerates to a more dangerous dimension, even as they threatened showdown with the soldiers if nothing was done immediately.

Over 1,000 Boko Haram Members Captured in Three Months

Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade

The Defence Headquarters has disclosed that about 1,000 members of the outlawed Boko Haram sect have been captured, since the declaration of emergency rule by President Goodluck Jonathan in the three north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, three months ago.

This was revealed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, Thursday when some journalists demanded an assessment of the Joint Task Force (JTF) towards achieving the mandate of emergency rule, having reached the mid-way mark of three out of the six months approved by the National Assembly.

Rivers Crisis: IG Says Mbu is a Professional and Won't be Removed

 IGP, Muhammad Abubakar

There may not be an end in sight to the political development in Rivers State as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Muhammad Abubakar, yesterday indicated that the controversial state Commissioner of  Police, Joseph Mbu will not move an inch from his duty post.

Abubakar, who spoke to State House correspondents after the traditional Sallah homage some Muslim dignitaries in the administration paid on the president, insisted, without saying so directly, that Mbu is a professional officer, who is politically aloof and thus may not have breached any police rule that would warrant his recall.

EXCLUSIVE: Ocean Surge Sweeps through Lagos Beaches

Eko Atlantic City Project 

 Environmentalists yesterday warned members of the public and fun-seekers to be on their guard against the ongoing ocean surge in Kuramo, Oniru and Bar beaches,  which is currently experiencing surges, exacerbated by the turbulence of the ocean and probably influenced by the Eko Atlantic City Project.

While debunking claims that the ocean surge snowballed into flooding of the Lekki axis of the state, the Public Relations Spokesperson, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-west zone, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said only turbulence was experienced.

Police Arrest Immigrant for Attempting to Set Petrol Station Ablaze

Lagos POLICE PRO, Braide 

Police in Lagos State, have arrested a man identified as Dada Ajibo from Niger Republic for attempting to burn a petrol station in Akowonjo. He was found under a car parked in the filling station with a razor blade and lighter, attempting to set the car ablaze before someone alerted people around.

IBB Denies Turning Down Jonathan’s Request to Break Fast with Him

General Ibrahim Babangida

Former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida has denied turning down any request from President Goodluck Jonathan to break fast with him describing the report as utterly false

A news report Tuesday said Babangida had turned down a request from Jonathan to break fast with him, but a statement from the Office of General Ibrahim Babangida, said: “Former President Ibrahim Babangida in his usual humility respects the person and Office of the President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR.

Rivers Crisis: At Last, Lloyd Released from Prison Custody

Chidi Lloyd

The embattled Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chidi Lloyd, was Wednesday released from prison custody following the bail granted him by the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

This came as the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Worgu Boms, who has taken over the prosecution of Lloyd, vowed to ensure that other lawmakers involved in the July 9 fracas in the assembly were equally prosecuted.

EXCLUSIVE: NDLEA Arrests Bricklayer For Ingesting 2.065Kg Of Cocaine

Operatives of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos have arrested a 46 year-old bricklayer who attempted to smuggled cocaine into the country.

The suspect allegedly ingested 83 wraps of substances that tested positive for cocaine weighing 2.065kg while returning from Brazil. It is one of the highest quantities of drugs ingested at a time by a suspect this year.

EXCLUSIVE: Court Orders Navy to Release Seized Oil Vessel to Owner

The vessel, MT Takoradi 

The oil vessel, MT Takoradi which was arrested about 18months ago by personnel of the Nigerian Navy(NN), was yesterday handed over to its owners following the directive from the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The ship, which has been in the custody of the NN since January 26, 2012, was arrested for allegedly carrying about one million litres of AGO without the appropriate and license from the naval authorities.