Crime

OYHA Orders Investigation into Drug Gangs Clash

By Web News 563

By Mosope Kehinde

The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the State Commissioner of Police to carry out a detailed investigation into the violent clash between two rival drug gangs at Odo-Osun area of Ibadan North Local Government area on the 25th July 2023 which left many innocent residents seriously injured.

The House gave the directive at its plenary on Thursday following a motion moved by Honourable  O.A. Babalola representing Ibadan North East State constituency 1 on the urgent need to investigate violent gun clashes at Odo-Osun area of Ibadan on the 25th July, 2023 between two drug gangs.

Honorable Babalola explained that at least five persons were shot during the clash and one of them a 53-year-old man, Mr Mudashiru Osungbemi sustained a gunshot injury in the eye and this made him go totally blind.

He added that one of the leaders of the said gang nicknamed “Packaging” was the mastermind of an attack on the police team that arrested two notorious drug miscreants on January 21, 2021.

According to him, the unfortunate incident was reported in the Punch newspaper.

‘Packaging’ and about 30 members of his gang reportedly engaged in a gun duel with the police team and at the end they succeeded in forcefully setting two of their gang members who were in police custody free.

This incident it was reported also led to the death of another two persons.

The House in its resolve urged the Commissioner of Police through the Divisional Police Officer, Oremeji-Agugu, Ibadan to thoroughly investigate the matter, apprehend the masterminds of the attack and furnish the House with an updated report within two weeks.

The House equally urged the police to increase Police presence and surveillance around Odo-Osun area to further prevent such ugly incidents in the future.

An appeal also went to the Oyo State Government to provide free medical treatment to the victims of the said violence.

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Politics

LG Tussle Update: Many Caretaker Chairmen Back in Office

By Web News 1162

Many local government headquarters in Ibadan remain calm as some caretaker chairmen have resumed duty.

Radio Nigeria correspondent, who has been monitoring the situation reports that security operatives are still manning the councils.

A visit to the headquarters of Ibadan North East, Iwo Road, South East, Mapo and North West, Onireke headquarters shows that party loyalists were around to execute menial jobs in assisting the chairmen.

At Ibadan North-East, Iwo Road the caretaker chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Akintayo called on workers to resume duties.

Similarly, at the Ibadan South East Local Government Headquarters, many people were in the queue for one business or the other.

The Caretaker Chairman of the local government, Pastor Emmanuel Alawode said normalcy had returned following the drama where hoodlums carted away properties in his office.

Radio Nigeria, however, observed that at the Ibadan North Local Government was under lock while security operatives were on the ground.

Lilian Ibomor

Housing

Oyo Government Warns against Illegal Constructions at Samonda GRA

By Web News 849

Oyo State government has expressed displeasure on the undeveloped 11 hectares of land at the highbrow Samonda GRA in Ibadan with a call on investors to partner the state to develop the land to boost the economy.

The state Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Abiodun Abdu-Raheem stated this during a tour to some state’s reserved areas and Samonda Ultra-Modern shopping Complex in Ibadan North Local Government in Ibadan.

Mr. Abiodun who noted with disdain over the unused eleven hectares of land within which the ultra-modern shopping complex was situated said the complex would be turned to an annex for the popular Gbagi market.

“The governor is not happy that these vast hectares of land is being put to waste when investors can be called in to use it for things that will help grow the State’s economy, we have gone around and see that the Samonda Shopping Complex needs some touch of revamping after which we will work towards making the complex an annex to the Gbagi market.

“The Ministry will discuss with other concerned Ministries, especially those in charge of the Gbagi market to come up with a plan for proper usage of the place as the present administration will not allow any resources of the state to go to waste, we are calling on well-meaning Nigerians who are interested in partnering the State on this project to come forward with ideas on how to develop the eleven hectares of land for the benefit of the State.”

He called on the landlord association of the Samonda (Aerodome) GRA to desist from distorting the plan of the estate by building on waterways and areas mapped out for recreational purposes.

Iyabo Adebisi

Officers of OYRTMA towing a vehicle
Transportation

Traffic Jam: OYRTMA Impounds 50 Obstructing Vehicles

By Web News 1019

In a move to sanitise Oyo state highways and ensure free flow of traffic, the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) has impounded fifty vehicles at the popular Iwo-Road, along Lagos-Ibadan Highway in Ibadan North Local Government in Ibadan.

Several heavy-duty vehicles were indiscriminately parked along the road, causing huge obstruction to free vehicular movement along the corridor and paralyzing economic activities around the area.

The trailers were taken to the agency’s headquarters in the State secretariat at Agodi to allow free flow of traffic.

Dr. Akin Fagbemi and men of Oyo State Road Transport Maintenance
 Agency, OYRTMA, while impounding the trailers at Ibadan

Addressing the drivers of the impounded vehicles, the Chairman of OYRTMA, Dr. Akin Fagbemi, who led the team said the present administration in the state was not out to make life unbearable for the people but to do all within the ambit of the law to woo foreign direct investors through creation of enabling environment devoid of avoidable and perpetual traffic jams.

“You may recall that we recently announced the approval by the governor for immediate use of a 250-trucks capacity parking space at our Sanyo operational center. While frantic efforts are on to secure other parking spaces across the State, we implore all heavy duty vehicle operators to utilize the available park and desist from indiscriminate parking on the highways as this is highly inimical to other road users as well as the fact that it cripples economic activities within the State.

“This operation is not to witch-hunt anybody. We are aware of the technical implications of the continuous parking of this heavy-duty vehicles whose imposing weights far supersedes that of the designed load-carrying capacity of the highways thus destroying the roads by creating portholes at different sections of the highways. 

“We therefore enjoin all trailer operators within the State to cooperate with the State Government to achieve free flow of traffic across the 33 local government areas of the State.” Dr. Fagbemi explained.

The state government had about a week ago announced the approval of 250 trucks capacity parking space to de-congest highways within the Ibadan metropolis as a response to prayers from business concerns in the city for government to find a lasting solution to the traffic menace. 

Iyabo Adebisi

Environment

Oyo Government Relocates Destitutes, Beggars and the Mentally-Sick

By Web News 1035

Oyo state government has commenced the evacuation of street children, beggars and mentally-sick persons off the streets in Ibadan, the state capital, in commemoration of the World Mental Health Day.

The evacuation exercise which was led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Sanni, took the team to Iwo road and Mokola Roundabout in Ibadan North Local Government.

Forty eight people, comprising children, beggars and mentally deranged persons were picked and taken to rehabilitation centers for proper care.

Speaking with the newsmen after the exercise, Alhaja Saani said the evacuation was necessary to make a better living for the affected individuals pointing out that the destitute and those with mental health issues would be taken to rehabilitation centers while children beggars would be taken back to school.

She said, “The raid was meant to clear the streets of street children, beggars, mentally deranged persons who have become an eyesore to the State and to give them necessary attention at the rehabilitation centers while the children will be registered in schools.

“Government noticed recently that there has been an increase in number of destitute in the state and it is quiet alarming. We can give attention to them at the appropriate places instead for them to constitute something unpleasant to the major roads and public places.

“You can see that there are children of school age that were used to beg for alms by their own parent. We have said earlier that the present administration would not close its eyes to such and today, the exercise to clean our public places of such has started. These students are supposed to be in school, but they preferred to use them to beg, even when government has provided free education and free books.

“For those apprehended, we will take their proper documents and move them to rehabilitation homes where government would be responsible for their up keep because we are particular about their welfare and also take them to hospitals for medical care.”

The Commissioner for Women Affairs assured that, the raid would be a continuous exercise across communities in Oyo state.

Iyabo Adebisi