The Lagos State Government on Friday shut 12 houses in Abeokuta and Ibadan Streets in Ilasamaja area of the State over discovery of shallow oil wells built by landlords to illegally scoop diesel from pipeline belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The oil wells were said to have been built for the purpose of illegally scooping diesel and selling same to members of the public, while some of the affected landlords built pumping machine and bore hole to perpetrate the crime on a large scale.
The State's Commissioning for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde who confirmed this while briefing newsmen at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the step to shut the wells and condone off the area was taken by government to forestall loss of lives and property as a result of the looming danger.Ayorinde, who addressed journalists alongside top government functionaries and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, said a combined team from the police command, the Ministry of Environment, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, Lagos State Fire Service and Sole Administrator of Isolo Local Council Development Area carried out a thorough inspection of the entire area and discovered nothing less than 12 of the illegal oil wells. He said that initial investigation revealed that a few of the landlords where the wells are located were taking advantage of the situation by commercializing the dangerous act.
He said that samples of the substance have been taken for immediate investigation in order to determine the true nature of the substance as well as the root cause of this usually occurrence. He said the State Government was working with the NNPC for further investigation. Ayorinde said that for the safety of residents, especially on Abeokuta and Ibadan Streets, the affected well have been sealed off, adding that the government would also work with those who are likely to be displaced as a result of the development.
“The Lagos State Government wishes to use this opportunity to remind Lagosians and the residents of these areas in particular, to assist the police with useful information and to urge them to always volunteer information before any potentially dangerous situation degenerates to public hazard,” he said.Also speaking the Commissioner of Police confirmed the arrest of three suspects in the operation, adding that a fire tanker has been stationed in the event of any fire incident. The men of the Lagos State Police Command in the area who were on routine patrol said they saw a woman around 12 midnight with keg of diesel and when an attempt was made for her to be accosted, she fled, a development which alerted the police of something fishy.
The police immediately pursued the woman and accosted her, after which she eventually took them to number 12, Abeokuta Street, off Ilasamaja, one of the houses housing the illegal oil wells. Upon getting to the said house, those inside shut the door and prevented the police from gaining entrance.
The officers thereafter left the scene with the arrested woman, and they later came back disguising as potential buyers of diesel, while those inside opened the door. It was at that point that the illegal oil well was discovered at the house, after which about ten more wells were discovered in other houses in Abeokuta and Ibadan streets.
A bus driver who had the nerve to bite a police officer in a public is being made to pay for his act.
Monday Asien, a commercial bus driver, has been arraigned in court.
The man who is said to have allegedly bitten a police officer on official duty, appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday.
The fight was said to have began when a passenger gave the bus conductor a torn 100 naira note as his transport fare which resulted to quarrel before getting physical. This is incident happend in Ajido bus top in badagry.
Students of St Luke in Molete clashed with Ibadan Grammar school students today shortly after both schools closed for the week.
The students were seen with cutlass and stones as the two school students clashed.
See more photos below:-
A 9-year-old Nigerian author, Bisola Lucas who recently completed her elementary education at the Temitope Elementary School, was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Lucas in the ancient town of Ilesa South West Nigeria.
The only child of her parents, Lucas, has just released a book, titled “Farmers Agony”. The book which captured the pain a farmer undergoes, when his farm is been invaded by robbers and left with nothing to harvest.
In a phone conversation with Lukmon Fasasi, for Wazobia Global Times USA, Lucas, said her elementary school teacher inspired her to write the book.
“One of my teachers once told us in class that some of our mates are doing great things in life and they are successful, while we are acting like we are not interested in success. Those words actually made me cry and think of writing a book because I love to write. But I have lived with my grandparents for over 6 years. My grandpa is a farmer and I have felt his agony and struggles.”
“When I decided to write, the first problem I had is what to write about, so I decided to write about farmers because I would like to become an Agriculturists when I grow up. I have seen my grandpa suffer and cry when his farm produce was carted away by thieves” she said.
When asked about her vision for the book, Lucas said, “I want people to read my stories and find answers to different questions bordering their minds and solutions to their problems.”
“I was able to write the book myself but someone helped me in editing it. I thank God for making me write the book and I thank Mr. Olatunde Busayo and the Association of Nigerian authors of the Obafemi Awolowo University for their support throughout the production of this book.”
Lucas, who is set to celebrate her 10th birthday in October, also gave credit to her family.
“I thank my grandma for her support. She likes what I am doing and she encourages me. My Daddy is out of the country for business and my Mummy is a Geology student at the Polytechnics of Ibadan. I thank them for their support too.”
In an ending note, Lucas, encourages her peers to stay focused and follow their dreams.
Nigerian Air Force personnel in Kaduna have recovered 665 cows and 141 sheep/rams from rustlers during one of their official duties in the Birnin Gwari area of the State.
As Nigerian singer Asa sang “no one knows tomorrow”, if you haven’t been paying attention, then you should now
Mohammad Basheer Abdul Khadar only just recently survived a tragic plane crash. In the next few days, he became a millionaire.
Abdul was one of the 300 passengers on-board a Dubai bound flight that survived a crash after the aircraft caught fire as it was about to land on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.