Power

TCN Warns Against Electricity Equipment Vandalism

By Web News 170

By Oluwatoyin Adegoke

Rising against the vandalism of power installations, with a view to safeguard the stability of the national grid and improving electricity supply across the country has been stressed.

This is the submission of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, during a public sensitization programme on the dangers of vandalism of TCN installations, held at Itele Community in Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Organizers of the programme, led by the General Manager, Benin Region of TCN, Mr Charles Iwuamadi, said the sensitisation was necessary among the people, who were often the first to detect acts of vandalism or tampering on transmission lines passing through their communities.

Mr Iwuamadi, who spoke through the Assistant General Manager, Technical Services, Engineer Mathew Ariyibi, appealed to residents to protect transmission facilities within their communities and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies and TCN officials.

He also warned the people against erecting structures under high tension lines, noting that, such activities were capable of obstructing access to transmission corridors and exposing residents to serious health and safety risks.

Also, the Principal Manager, Transmission, Omotosho Sub-Region, Mr Pius Aworinwo explained that the Benin transmission line remained critical to national grid stability, warning that damage to a single tower could trigger the collapse of adjoining towers and affect electricity supply nationwide.

In the same vein, the Principal Manager, Health, Safety and Environment, Mr Abamiyo Otaru, warned that destruction of power facilities often resulted in throwing communities into darkness, weakening economic activities and creating opportunities for criminal activities.

Responding, the Moyegesho of Itele Kingdom, Oba Mufutau Kasali, represented by Chief Stephen Ewubajo, pledged the readiness of the community to ensuring sustainable collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria in protecting transmission infrastructure within the area.

Oba Kasali said the traditional institution and residents would continue to support efforts aimed at safeguarding the installations, affirming that damage to the facilities would adversely affect electricity supply and the well-being of the people.

Edited by Taiwo Akinola

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Crime

So-Safe Corps Nabs Ex-Convict for Theft

By Web News 393

By Olusegun Folarin 

A 24-year-old man had been apprehended by operatives of Ogun State Community, Social Orientation, and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps, for allegedly vandalizing and stealing a Royal Air Conditioner at Oju-Ore, in the Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area.

The State Commander of the Corps, Dr Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the arrest of the suspect in a statement through the Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Mr Moruf Yusuf.

Dr Ganzallo said the suspect, Ezekiel Victor Thankgod, who had been previously arrested for similar offences, said the suspect was arrested by the patrol team of the Corps while vandalizing and stealing an air conditioner at a private store in the Oju Ore Area of the state.

The So Safe corps commander, who noted that the suspect was released from a correctional centre in January this year for allegedly stealing money and phones, listed items recovered from the suspect to include charms, a local instrument used for drug paraphernalia, a lighter, a local ring, and cowries.

He said the suspect along with the recovered exhibit and items, had been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force, Onipanu Divisional Police Headquarters, for further investigation and possible prosecution.

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Telecommunication

Report cases of vandalism to law enforcement agencies – NCC

By Web News 511

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, says poor telecom services in the country are connected to the destruction of telecommunication infrastructure and facilities.

The Vice Chairman, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta, said this at the 2022 edition of the Youth, Civil Society and Stakeholders Summit, held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

Professor Danbatta said over 50,000 cases of destruction in telecom infrastructure and facilities had been reported across the country in the past five years, adding that the implications of these incidents could be felt in the quality of telecommunications services in Nigeria.

He said the increased incidents had continued to affect the quality of experience of consumers and called for concerted efforts by members of the public and security agencies to stem the tide.

Professor Danbatta, who was represented by the Head, Corporate Communication Unit, Nnena Ukoha, said, “The negative impacts of incessant vandalism of telecom equipment, evidenced in fibre cuts, theft of telecom facilities like generators at sites, vandalism of base stations, among other vices, have become a major burden on the service providers, while telecom consumers have continued to suffer unwarranted disruptions of their hard-earned services.”

Professor Danbatta further said it was necessary to consider that the ability to connect and communicate was fundamental to human existence, improvement in business processes, government services, education, as well as social and family networking.

He added that to enjoy seamless connections, every member of the community should get involved in protecting the critical infrastructure that made these services possible.

“As a community, you are expected to report cases of vandalism of telecoms infrastructure to the nearest law enforcement agencies such as the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and also share adequate information received from the NCC with your family, friends, and neighbour,” he said.

The Punch/Maxwell Oyekunle

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Sport

Fans vandalise Moshood Abiola Stadium over Nigeria’s loss to Ghana

By Web News 1081

Some angry fans on Tuesday night, vandalised some facilities at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Nigeria had played 1-1 with the Black Stars of Ghana in the second leg world cup qualifier.

Ghana qualified for the World Cup with an away goal.

The Angry fans stormed the football pitch after the players have left the pitch and vandalised the facilities of the stadium.

A viral video of the angry fans has gone round the social media, in which security forces employed the use of tear gas to restore normalcy .

Ahead of the decisive encounter, Nigerians had remained in high hope and optimism that the Nigerian side would secure a victory which would earn them the World Cup ticket.

However, the Eagles failed to put up the brilliance expected from them.

Adedayo Adelowo and Olaolu Fawole

Crime

Rail Workers Allegedly Caught Vandalizing Cables in Ogun

By Web News 691

Operatives of Nigeria Police, Ogun State Command, have apprehended three workers of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, for vandalizing the railway cables in Kajola area of Ifo Local Government. 

The suspects Frank Obi, Eze Ogbonna and James Ejor were arrested after a supervisor working on the railway construction in Kajola reported that

that five persons had been caught while cutting cables at the railway line by the company’s security guard. 

The supervisor told policemen that the suspects overpowered the security guard and ran away. 

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Abimbola Oyeyemi said three of the suspects were arrested in their hideouts while the remaining two escaped.

Mr Oyeyemi listed items recovered from the suspects to include a saw blade and a bunch of cable cut from the rail. 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr  Edward  Ajogun has ordered a manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang while the arrested suspects would be diligently prosecuted

Olusegun Folarin

Security

Oyo CP Cautions Commercial Cyclists, Artisan, Traders against Vandalism

By Web News 586

The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Nwachukwu Enwonwu has cautioned commercial motorcyclists, traders and artisans at the gate market against vandalism of government properties including police stations.

In a release signed by the Police Public Relation Officer, Gbenga Fadeyi, notes that the recent burnt Idi Ogungun Police Station, which is the first and the oldest colonial Police station in Western Region of Nigeria, built in 1926, is a great loss.

The statement also says the station could have been a monumental site  in the country.

It also says Agodi Police Post was also vandalized on the 24/11/2020 as a result of the rift between men of the Correctional Service and bike men stationed at bus-stop Gate Area. 

The commissioner notes the act was carried out by okada riders and traders at the Gate Spare Part Market. 

The statement warns that anyone found or linked with the dastardly act of brigandine and carnage to police men, facilities and properties of police men will maximally face the full wrath of the law.

The CP who assures the people of Oyo State of the efforts of the command to bring normalcy to the security of the state, urging people to give credible information that can lead to apprehension of criminal elements before crime is committed.

He also maintains that maximum security measures has been emplaced in all nooks and crannies within and outside Ibadan metropolis to ensure hitch free celebration during this Yuletide period and beyond.

Irantiayan EbunOluwa