UPDATED: EX-ONDO DEPUTY GOVERNOR'S DAUGHTER FOUND DEAD IN BOYFRIEND'S HOUSE

 
The daughter of the immediate past deputy governor of Ondo state, Lasisi Oluboyo, was on Sunday found dead at her boyfriend’s house. 
Until her death, she was a final year student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.

The Adenike Oluboyo, daughter of the immediate past deputy governor of Ondo state, Lasisi Oluboyo, was on Sunday found dead at her boyfriend’s house in Akure.

Ms Oluboyo, who was a final year student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, was found dead in her boyfriend’s house, Adeyemi Alao, popularly known as Q.S.  Until her death, Adenike was a final year student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko.

Femi Joseph, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ondo command, who confirmed the story to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), described the incident as  saddening and very unfortunate. “It is not a rumour but it is a fact that the young lady was found dead this morning and it is saddening and very unfortunate. “We are on it and trying to get some facts but the commissioner of police will brief the press about the details in another 48 hours,” Mr Joseph said. 

Adeyemi denied involvement in Oluboyo’s death when he faced journalists at the headquarters of the Ondo State Police Command on Wednesday in Akure.

According to him, it was the slain girl that brought two boys into his room, who eventually killed her.

Adeyemi explained that he had dated Oluboyo for four years before they parted ways in 2015, and that they only reconciled after the last Ramadan celebration.

Adeyemi, who completed his National Youth Service in 2017, said he had no reason to kill her because he hoped to use her father’s connection to secure job.

He said that Oluboyo came to his house on Thursday because of her project which he was helping her to do.

According to him, they had finished chapter one and her supervisor had already approved it and she came for final correction so that she could move to chapter two.

He explained further that the girl later travelled to Lagos on Friday to buy some wrist watches but she forgot to drop her project with him.

“Meanwhile, on Saturday she snapped both the soft and hard copy of her project to me on my whatsApp for correction.

“On Monday, I believed she was already in school when she sent me a text message to send her N2,000. But I was able to send only N1,000.

“So, I was surprised when I heard a knock on my door later in the day and she entered my room.

“She later told me that she wanted to receive some visitors in my place, and few minutes later she brought two boys in. I was not surprised because that was not her first time to bring someone to my house.

“Later when they came in, we exchanged greetings and I left them in the room. But after 30 minutes, one of the boys called me in and I discovered he held a small gun in his hand while the other boy was on her, naked.

“And I heard Khadijat saying ‘I will not tell anybody’. The boy strangled her to death and threatened me not to shout or else they would kill me.

“They later forced me to find a digger with which they dug the ground in my room and buried her

“They are the ones that killed and buried her. I could not shout after they left because of the implication of what has happened, for I was sure nobody would believe me.

“On the fifth day, I was not comfortable anymore, so I exhumed her body and confided in my younger brother who advised that we should inform our father about the development.

“It was my father who informed the police before I was arrested,” Adeyemi said.

Mr Femi Joseph, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the command who paraded Adeyemi with other suspects, said he would soon be charged to court after completion of investigation.

BREAKING: NUC MAY LIFT BAN ON DISTANCE LEARNING IN NIGERIAN UNIVARSITIES SOON

THE National Universities Commission has disclosed that it is developing quality assurance protocol for Open and Distance Education in Nigeria, signalling the readiness of the Commission to lift the ban on distance learning in Nigerian universities.

Executive Secretary of NUC, Professor Abubakar Rasheed made this known in Abuja on Monday while speaking at a two-day retreat, organized for all Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities as a way of sustaining the periodic review of the challenges confronting tertiary education.

He said the protocol being developed by a team of experts, when completed, would enable the Commission to properly regulate the Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in Nigerian universities when the ban is lifted.

Rasheed, therefore, charged the conventional universities in the country to accelerate efforts at introducing open and distance learning wings in order to expand access to tertiary education in the country.

He said: “We want to encourage our conventional universities to introduce Open And Distance Learning wings. We are working on developing the protocol for Open and Distance Learning so that we can have a quality distance learning education,” he said.

He noted that the high number of applicants for university education annually coupled with the population explosion, open and distance learning holds the future for tertiary education in Nigeria.

He, however, said the Commission would not allow 100 per cent online distance learning programme so as to give room for fraudulent individuals to make a caricature of university education in the country.

He insisted that the Open and Distance Learning would be complemented by face-to-face interaction in order to ensure the quality of products of the system.

NUC boss added that the Commission is re-engineering the universities curriculum in response to the needs of the nation.

Rasheed noted that for a successful tertiary education delivery in the country both private and public universities will have to come together as one and reinvent themselves in order to progress.

While stressing the need for a continuous review of tertiary education, Rasheed said: “Our system is growing. With over 164 universities with about 2 million students’ enrolment and over 60,000 academics in the system, we have a very expanding system that we need to become more regular with our review.”

~ NUC DENIES ANY VARSITIES RANKING YET

On the consistent rumours of Nigerian universities being ranked, Rasheed said the commission has not offered any ranking of universities, adding that the official ranking of all Nigerian universities would be released next year when all the accreditation might have been done.

He further challenged universities to come up with new programmes saying that the commission is ready to partner with them in order to move forward.

SPLINTER GROUP EMERGES IN APC

A splinter group has emerged in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The splinter group named Reformed APC (rAPC) announced its emergence at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Chairman of the splinter group, Buba Galadima, announced the emergence of the faction at the press conference held at Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel in Abuja.

Galadima was national secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the plaform on which President Muhammadu Buhari contested presidential election in 2011. CPC is one of the parties that formed APC.

Also, Mr Kassim Afegbua was named the national publicity secretary of the rAPC.

The chairman of the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) group in APC, Abubakar Baraje, and some members of the APC were at the press conference.

The nPDP, a group that has made a major contribution to the emergence of the APC administration has made strenuous efforts to invite attention to inequities, injustice and poor management  in our party without any success.The nPDP had shown good faith and commitment to the party, but it has been rewarded with indifference and even contempt.It is obvious that the leadership of the APC has decided to shut out members of the APC, as well as other members who have raised genuine grievances and a desire to improve the responsiveness of the APC to the desire of members for a party founded on democratic principles.

With scenario painted above, Galadima said the original founders of the party resolved to “take control and give legitimacy to APC to be now known as and called REFORMED-APC (R-APC).”

He noted that: “The R-APC as constituted have officers in all the wards, 774 Local Governments, and all the 36 States of the Federation including the FCT. The R-APC also have National Executive Committee, the National Working Committee and other organs of the Party are properly constituted and functional. Some of the National Officers of the R-APC  include:

1. Yobe State – Buba Galadima (National Chairman)

2. Kano State – Bala Muhd Gwagwarwa (National Deputy Chairman, North)

3. Abia State – Chief Theo Nkire (National Deputy Chairman, South East)

4. Ondo State – Hon. Eko Olakunle (National Vice Chairman South West)

5. Kaduna State – Hon. Hussaini Dambo (National Vice Chairman North West)

6. Kogi State – Mahmud Mohammed Abubakar – (National Vice Chairman, North Central)

7. Benue State – Hon. Godwin Akaan (Deputy National Secretary)

8. Oyo State -Dr Fatai Atanda (National Secretary)

9. Edo State – Kazeem Afegbua (National Publicity Secretary)

10. Adamawa State – Daniel Bwala (Financial Secretary)

11. Jigawa State – Abba Malami Taura (Deputy National Auditor)

12. Kwara  State – Hon. Kayode Omotosho (National Treasurer)

13. Anambra State -Barr. Nicholas Asuzu (National Youth Leader)

14. Rivers State – Barr. Baride A. Gwezia (Legal Adviser)

15. Katsina State – Haj Aisha Kaita (National Woman Leader)

16. Bauchi State – Mrs. Fatima Adamu (National Welfare Secretary)

17. Ogun State -Alh. Isiak Akinwumi (Deputy Financial Secretary)

18. Zamfara State – Alh. Bashir Mai Mashi (Deputy National Treasurer)

19. Abuja – Hauwa Adam Mamuda (Deputy Welfare Secretary)

20. Sokoto State – Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir (Deputy National Publicity Secretary)

21. Katsina State – M. T. Liman (National Organising Secretary)

22. Niger State – Dr Theo Sheshi ( Deputy National Organising Secretary.

11. Some of the State Chairmen include:

1. Adamawa  – Dimas Ezra

2. Anambra – Sir Toby Chukwudi Okwuaya

3. Bauchi – Sani Shehu

4. Benue – Noah Mark Dickson

5. Jigawa – Hon. Nasiru Garba Dantiye

6. Kaduna – Col. Gora (Rtd)

7. Kano – Umar Haruna Doguwa

8. Katsina – Sada Ilu

9. Kogi – Alh. Hadi Ametuo

10. Ogun – Alhaji Adeleke Adewale Taofeek

11. Ondo –  Hon. Otetubi Idowu

12. Oyo – Alh. Ali Alimi Isiaka Adisa

13. Yobe – Mohammed Burgo Dalah

14. Zamfara – Alh. Nasiru Yakubu

15. Niger – Hon. Samaila Yusuf Kontagora

16. FCT – Adaji Usman

“The R-APC includes all the progressive forces in APC, including most of the leading members of the defunct nPDP, CPC, ANPP, ACN and others. The R-APC, will work with like-minded political parties and groups to offer Nigeria qualitative good governance in 2019. Nigeria faces an existential threat arising from three years of near destruction of this country and the exacerbation of our ethnic, religious and divisive cleavages. 

We will in concert with others offer real change to Nigeria. Not fake change. It is clear that our party needs a leadership that will live by its founding ideals.We have therefore decided to legitimately lead those members to work  to rebuild our nation more firmly on genuine democratic principles, to enshrine good governance and restore the faith of Nigerians in the possibility of the existence of a prosperous, secure and peaceful nation”

He called on “all Nigerians, not to despair as a rescue plan is in the works and will be unfolded soon”

COURT ORDERS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO BEGIN IMPEACHMENT PROCESS AGAINST BUHARI

President M. Buhari

A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has granted an order of mandamus to compel the National Assembly to begin impeachment process against President Muhammadu Buhari, based on some alleged constitutional breaches.

Justice Maureen Onyetenu gave the ex parteorder on Wednesday, following a motion filed before her by the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, Ilesa branch, Mr. Kanmi Ajibola; and a human rights activist, Mr. Suleiman Adeniyi.

The activists had, about three months ago, written to the Senate and the House of Representatives to begin impeachment process against the President, based on the continuous killings and spending without lawmakers’ approval.

However, the duo approached the court seeking an order to compel the National Assembly to begin the process following their refusal to impeach Buhari based on the activists’ letters.

They alleged that the President did not possess a certificate to be qualified as a President and should be impeached based on this and other alleged impeachable offences.

The judge, in her ruling, granted the leave to compel the National Assembly to commence impeachment process against the President.

2019: PDP REPORTEDLY REACHES AGREEMENT WITH OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES AGAINST PRESIDENT BUHARI

As the political scene begins to gear up for 2019, desperation have already kicked in, among top politicians in Nigeria, to unseat president Muhammadu Buhari and his ruling ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC) at all cost.

Members of the opposition party have reportedly reached a consensus in their plot to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019. Reliable news reports have it that the various parties have almost concluded terms of their alliance.

It was reported that the “Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), New PDP (nPDP) and about 34 other parties and groups are close to signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the alliance.” 

The committee saddled with the responsibility of perfecting their terms of condition will soon present the final outcome of its work. A source said: “We are hoping to conclude all plans in the next three weeks. I can assure you that Nigerians would begin to see serious activities in the next few days.” One of the main concerns of the group, however, is the political platform to use to present its candidate.

It was also reported the middle belt is also working on checkmating the north by presenting a unity candidate. A source involved in the plot said: “The move is a massive one and there is the determination to checkmate the North this time.

The core North has always taken the slot each time the presidency is zoned to the North. This time, we are presenting quality candidates, who are seasoned technocrats and we will market them to the whole country. 

“If you look at the electoral map of elections of 1983 and 1999, you would discover that the Middle Belt delivered the presidency to Alhaji Shehu Shagari and ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in the two rounds of elections.

The Middle Belt has always played a key role in resolving the electoral direction of Nigeria.” The leaders have thus reportedly come up with four names to be presented as likely candidates to challenge President Buhari.

Meanwhile, Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, accused former president Olusegun Obasanjo of being the most hypocritical former leader of the country, following his attempt to hijack the movement for political change.

Soyinka stated this in Abuja on Friday, June 22, at a dinner organised by the International Press Institute. “Obasanjo has crossed the red line and I will launch a publication to expose him on July 3 at Freedom Park in Lagos. He is trying to hijack a recovery process he is least worthy to lead," he said.

GOVS USING FAAC STAND-OFF AS EXCUSE NOT TO PAY SALARIES— NNPC

NNPC Towers, Abuja

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, accused state governors of using the stand-off emanating from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting as an excuse not to pay salaries to workers.

NNPC also described the governors’ declaration as an attempt to incite Nigerians against it.

The corporation in a statement by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, also debunked allegations that it was diverting proceeds of crude oil sales to another account instead of the Federation Account in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

NNPC Headquarters, Abuja.

Ughamadu described the actions of the governors as unfortunate, especially as it was the same governors that approved some of its measures to entrench transparency in its operations.

The statement read:  “The governors’ (under the umbrella of the Governors’ Forum) antics of  rushing  to the press at the earliest opportunity of FAAC meeting is most unfortunate, using this as an unfortunate excuse not to pay salaries.

“It is a ploy to set the public against the NNPC. Yet, it is  the same Governors’ Forum that approved the cash call exit to restore investors’ confidence and boost crude oil production, thereby generating more revenue for them to share.  Again, all crude oil sales proceeds go straight into the CBN and not to the NNPC accounts.”

NNPC had on Saturday night, disclosed that it would be meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to address the issue of remittances to the Federation Account that caused the suspension of the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting.

In a text message in Abuja, Ughamadu had stated that the decision to address the issue with the Vice President was due to the stance of the state commissioners of finance.

He said: “The issue will be resolved with the Vice President who chairs the National Economic Council, NEC.”

The NNPC had on Thursday, accused state governors of making unnecessary demands, stating that the governors were asking the corporation to remit additional N40 billion to FAAC.

Ughamadu had disclosed that the fresh demand was in breach of the agreement it had with the governors.

According to him, the NNPC had agreed with the governors to make a monthly remittance of N112 billion to the FAAC, but the NNPC was able to exceed the amount by N35 billion, bringing its remittance in June 2018 to N147 billion.

Ughamadu further described the demands of the governors as unfortunate, especially as the NNPC had to secure the extra funds from amount meant for meeting its Joint Venture cash call obligations.

He said:  “The NNPC N147 billion June remittance to the Federation Accounts and Allocation Committee, FAAC, is in line with the terms of agreement it had with governors on the matter.”

“The agreement NNPC had with the governors was that the corporation would make a monthly remittance of N112 billion to FAAC subject to sufficient funds from sales of domestic crude oil allocation for the corresponding month after meeting cash call obligations on JVs, deductions of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)-cost under recovery and pipeline maintenance.”

“NNPC was able to surpass the terms of agreement with the governors on the monthly remittance for the month of June by N35 billion, having taken a cue from their postures by taking from the sum meant for settling cash call obligations.

“The corporation regretted the Governors’ additional request of N40 billion. It is unfortunate, given the fact that NNPC is set to exit the cash call phenomenon.”

HOW US SINGER, AKON AND HIS CREW TALKED THEIR WAY INTO ENTERING NIGERIA WITHOUT VISA

Akon and his crew leaving Murtala Muhammad International AirportSahara Reporters Media

United States (US) singer Aliaume Damala Badara Akon Thiam, popularly known as ‘Akon’, on Tuesday talked his way through the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and entered Nigeria without a visa, SaharaReporters found out.

The songwriter, who was transiting to the US from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, missed a connecting flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigeria. Rather than stay at the Nigeria immigration lounge of the airport, Akon and his crew refused and insisted they would go into the city to lodge in a hotel, an action that is against the immigration laws of the country. 

Akon and his crew were claimed to be backed by the US Consulate, and they insisted the rapper would never stay at the immigration lounge where travellers who found themselves in the musician’s situation usually stayed. 

In a video, which captured how the whole scenario played out, Akon and the US Consulate prevailed on the officials of Nigeria Immigration Service and they were illegally allowed to step outside of the airport, and lodge at Sheraton Hotel. 

In a hot discussion, which lasted for about two hours, Akon and his crew were bent on leaving the airport to a hotel but the immigration officers at the airport maintained it couldn't be allowed. 

However, when the US consulate interfered in the matter, the immigration officers allowed Akon and his crew leave the airport and stay in a hotel but their passports were withheld. An undertaking was also written to ensure that the artiste and his crew were brought back to the airport. 

Speaking over the phone, a Delta Line official who was simply identified as Henry was heard telling the US consulate that the artiste could not stay at the airport lounge. 

“If they have to leave the airport, we have to hold their passport. I have some of the passes here, some US performers who were transiting from Malabo through my flight but unfortunately, the flight left tonight and we are asking that we take them to a hotel from the US consulate so that we bring them back to the airport tomorrow then your men can have their passports until tomorrow when they can get out of the country," he said. 

“The US Consulate confirms that they cannot stay at the airport, they want them to go to a hotel so that tomorrow they can bring them down to the airport.” 

In another call, Henry also said that the consulate spoke with the artiste and they were bent on having their passport with them. 

“The consulate spoke with the artiste and the team and they are bent on having their passport with them and I’m trying to get them out of here," he said. "The Immigration authority tries to keep their passport because they don’t have Nigerian visa. However, if they want to go to town, I can guarantee them (NIS) that they will bring them back tomorrow.” 

Another official at the airport who was involved in the case, Ibrahim Yahaya said that Akon, together with his team, initially agreed to wait at the airport lounge but later decided otherwise, stating that they needed to feel safe with their passport in their custody. 

Akon and his crew leaving Murtala Muhammad International AirportSahara Reporters Media

After about two hours, the immigration officer accepted, and Akon and his team were seen leaving the airport to lodge in a hotel while their passports were withheld. 

SaharaReporters called the United States Embassy in Nigeria thrice to confirm if the US consulate insisted that the artiste should not stay in the lounge. However, the calls came to nought, as our correspondent was first put on hold for about 150 seconds while on another occasion, our correspondent was put on call machine that responded: “you have been forwarded to a voicemail system however the person at 4064 does not subscribe to this service, a valid attended member has not been specified... your session cannot be continued at this time, please try again later.” 

Similarly, when contacted, an official of the Nigeria Immigration Service insisted that she would not verify or comment on the matter if our correspondent would not reveal how the information about Akon was gotten.

BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK

BREAKING: DR. BUKOLA SARAKI CALLS FOR REMOVAL OF INCOMPETENT SECURITY CHIEFS

Dr. Saraki

Senate President Bukola Saraki says drastic action has to be taken to end the killings in the country and protect Nigerians

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has called for the removal of “incapable” security chiefs in the country over the continued killings and security challenges bedeviling the nation.

Dr Saraki made the call on Saturday when he paid a visit to communities affected by a rainstorm in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

Hundreds of Nigerians have been killed several parts of the country in 2018 alone and Saraki believes no society should witness such as situation and carry on as usual.

“This is not something to be politicised. If somebody is not capable and cannot do what he has to do, let others have the opportunity to do it,” a visibly angry Saraki said before accusing the security chiefs and agencies of failing to work together.

“We have had situations where security officials have told us there is poor coordination. One, A is not talking to B, Be is not talking to A. They don’t attend meetings jointly and things need to be done.

“Let us forget the issue of party, these are lives of people – and let’s remove politics. It is not about who is the Speaker of the House, who is the President of the Senate. It is about Nigeria.”

But for the “politicisation of issues”, the Senate President said the warnings of the National Assembly about the dangerous trend in the country would have been since heeded and changes made.

“As you know, the National Assembly under my leadership, many months back, had seen this danger, called for a security summit, we had addressed the issue of security architecture. We had said that there is definitely a failure of the security architecture of the country,” the Senate President said.

To address the alleged failure, the National Assembly had invited security chiefs, especially the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, but were unhappy with the response they got.

He said, “You are all very aware that some service chiefs decided in their own wisdom that there is no need for them to work with the National Assembly to address these issues.

“There is no society that continues to see the kind of killings here and think that it should be business as usual. It requires drastic action, it requires a collaboration of all agencies and all arms of government for us to be serious.”

HERDSMEN DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY, WE'RE THE ONES BEING KILLED, SAYS MIYETTI ALLAH

Nura Mohammed,
Plateau State chairman of MACBAN
Photo Credit: TheCable.ng

THE Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) says its members have no hands in the recent killings in Plateau State, but rather it was their members that were being killed.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that 100 people were killed in the attack that took place last week while over 50 houses were razed down. Residents of the area, however, said the dead were over 200.

But Muhammed Nura, Chairman of MACBAN Plateau State chapter told journalists that his members were the ones killed in the attack, contrary to the reports that they were the attackers.

“As at now, we have been able to bury 19 persons of our own in different places. We have declared 73 persons missing,” 

“We have not seen them nor their corpses. So people are taking our corpses, going around the world and telling people that it is their corpses that the Fulani killed.

“These corpses they are saying, they are propagating (doing propaganda) against us. They are our corpses. We are calling on the government to go and exhume the corpses, let us see their faces. The corpses are our corpses, I believe that.

“I tell you with authority that we have not taken part in the killings. No herdsman killed anybody. If they say they are Fulanis, let them produce those Fulanis, we want to see them.

“In most of the villages, Fulanis were chased out. It was when fragile peace was returning that people started coming back.”

However, Nura refused to accuse any group or tribe of carrying out the attacks, but said the police should be in a better position to say who the attackers are, especially since the attacks have been recurring in the state.

“The police are in a good position to tell you who carried out these killings. Because there is tension in Plateau, their eyes must be everywhere. So their personnel must be everywhere,” Nura said.

This is coming a day after popular online newspaper, Premium Times, apologised to Danladi Ciroma, a chieftain of MACBAN, for publishing a report where Ciroma was quoted as saying that the recent Plateau killings were in retaliation for some 300 cows that were stolen from a fulani settlement.

Ciroma had denied ever making such comments to any reporter either over the phone or through a press statement, and Premium Times confirmed that its reporter could not produce any evidence to support his story. The newspaper said appropriate sanctions have been taken against the reporter.

The Cable

BREAKING: PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI EXPRESSES DEEP SHOCK OVER THE TANKER EXPLOSION FIRE IN LAGOS

File photo: President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the tanker explosion in Lagos on Thursday, which affected many cars with many roasted alive.

Many have already been confirmed dead in the incident so far and the President in reaction to the “early reports” reaching him, said he is very sad to learn of the tragic loss of lives, tens of vehicles, property and other valuables in the petrol tanker fire.

“Sadly, this seems to be one of the greatest tragedies we have seen in recent times,” President Buhari said.

The President sent his deepest condolences to the government and people of Lagos on the tragedy.

He also urged the emergency services and law enforcement officials to do their best to limit the losses and damage from the incident.

According to him, the priority now is to save those people who could still be in danger.

Fuel-Laden Tanker Explodes In Lagos, Blaze Engulfs Over 30 Vehicles

A fuel-laden tanker has exploded along the Otedola Bridge axis of Berger in Lagos with the blaze engulfing over 30 other vehicles.

The tanker was heading out of Lagos towards the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when the crash occurred, causing panic and fear.

Many people were feared trapped in their cars and killed in the blaze, while many others sustained burns.

The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, confirmed to Channels Television that rescue officials have been able to retrieve nine bodies from the scene of the fire so far.

Eyewitnesses, however, said the death toll might be higher as many people were trapped in their cars with rescue officials still working at the scene.
The fuel-laden tanker lost control, fell over and exploded.

“I saw the tanker reversing and before we could know it, the tanker fell down and started burning,” a witness said a tricycle rider who was close to the tanker.

He added that it took the grace of God for him to escape the fire with his tricycle.

As the fire spread, many drivers had to abandon their vehicles and flee as firefighters tried to battle the raging blaze.

Traffic was stopped on both sides of the road as emergency officials battled to put out the fire and attend to those affected.

Although the fire has been put out by the officials, the road remains closed with rescue officials still working on the scene.

 

Scene of the explosion. PHOTO credit/Rapid Response Squad Lagos

Scene of the explosion. PHOTO credit/Rapid Response Squad Lagos