News
Ogun will go tough on rapists, says Abiodun
Olawale Jokotoye
Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun on Monday said that his administration would stop at nothing to punish cases of sexual violence and allied offences.
Abiodun said this when he received in his office an anti- sexual and gender-based rally led by his wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun.
The governor assured the team that all cases that affect the safety of women would not just be expeditiously tried, but culprits would be dealt with.
He added that the state government had charged its public prosecution team to ensure that all cases relating to violence against women were fast-tracked and offenders brought to book.
Abiodun said that the state government had also directed its Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee to ensure sensitisation and education of the public on issues surrounding the illegal acts.
He also said that the state executive council including the state Attorney-General had met to consider all issues pertaining to the girl child, women deprivation and all other forms of abuses against women.
“On May 13, we set up a committee: the Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee.
“There is a law that was passed in 2017, but nothing happened.
“What we did was to sit down with our Attorney-General and the rest of our team and this committee was charged to look into all the issues that have to do with the girl child and all forms of abuses against women.
“This, we did, even before the incident of the girl in Edo,” he said.
Abiodun described the walk staged by the high-profile women in the state as “profound and a move in the right direction”.
He assured them that violence against women in any form, either domestic violence or rape, would not be condoned in the state.
“It is very profound that this walk has further demonstrated our intolerance for violence against women in any form, and please note that we have already taken up the case of a lady who was recently raped in the state.
“The lady in question has suffered spinal cord injuries as a result of multiple rape incidences.
“The case of the girl in Edo state is just one case of rape too many because we have a similar case in Ogun,” he said.
Earlier in her remarks, the First Lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, who convened the rally, called for collective condemnation against cases of violence against women.
“There is an urgent need to speak up against such heinous crime in the society,” she added.
She added that her office was working with the Violence against Persons Prohibition Committee to ensure an effective, comprehensive and coordinated response to cases of sexual and gender based violence in the state.
Mrs Abiodun also called for more involvement of men in national conversation on violence against women.
A notable Nollywood actress, Iyabo Ojo, who was part of the rally commended Mrs Abiodun for the initiative against rape and violence against women.
News
TCN Acknowledges 7th Grid Collapse in 2024
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has reported its seventh partial grid collapse in 2024. Despite the recurring issue, TCN’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, reassured the public that efforts to restore power are well underway, with about 90% of substations receiving bulk power.
Mbah noted that the Azura Power Station initiated the grid recovery, although a minor setback occurred. However, power supply has been restored to the Abuja region and other key distribution centers. The Ibom Gas Generating Station remained unaffected, continuing to supply power to the South-South region.
An investigation into the cause of the collapse will commence once full grid restoration is achieved.
News
Jigawa Tanker Tragedy: Shettima, First Lady Mourn Victims, Pledge Federal Support
Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic tanker explosion in Jigawa State, which claimed over 100 lives. In a statement issued by his media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, extended condolences to the affected families, praying for strength and comfort in their time of grief.
Shettima assured the public that the federal government is mobilizing resources to support the injured and assist those affected. He has directed the immediate deployment of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide aid. The Vice President also stressed the need for a review of fuel transportation safety protocols to prevent future incidents.
In a separate statement, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu offered her condolences to Jigawa Governor Umar Namadi and the people of Jigawa, praying for peace and comfort for the families affected. She called the incident “unfortunate” and extended prayers for the recovery of the injured and the repose of the souls lost in the tragedy.
News
Nigeria Customs Intercepts Arms, Ammunition Worth N9.5bn Over Six Years
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has revealed that it intercepted a total of 10,598 pieces of arms and 114,929 rounds of ammunition valued at N9.58 billion over the past six years. Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made this disclosure during a press conference on enforcement activities in Zone A.
Adeniyi highlighted that 60% of these seizures occurred in 2023, reflecting the Customs’ increased efforts to curb arms smuggling. He also mentioned that recent operations such as Operation Whirlwind and Operation Swift Sting are part of a strategic response to tackle evolving smuggling tactics.
In addition to arms seizures, the Customs CG announced the largest pangolin scale seizure since 2020, with 9,493 kg of scales confiscated in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission. The joint operation led to four arrests across Kano, Kaduna, and Lagos. The NCS continues to intensify efforts against wildlife trafficking, targeting supply routes in northern Nigeria and border areas.
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