A pedestrian with hearing impairment was killed on Sunday in an accident involving two commercial minibuses along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, inward Maryland, Lagos State.

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, stating that one of the minibuses, while speeding, lost control and rammed into a stationary vehicle before hitting the pedestrian, who was waiting at a designated bus stop near Temac Filling Station.

The spokesperson for LASEMA, Taofiq Adebayo, said that officers from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Area F Police Division responded to the accident.

The statement read, “In a harrowing and unfortunate incident, a deaf pedestrian met a tragic and untimely demise while innocently awaiting a commercial bus at a designated stop along Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, inward Maryland, adjacent to Temac Filling Station. The fatal collision involved two Suzuki mini commercial buses (Korope) bearing registration numbers EPE 279 YJ and BDG 558 YG.

“Preliminary inquiries indicate that one of the vehicles, owing to reckless overspeeding, veered out of control and violently rammed into a stationary minibus before mercilessly mowing down the unsuspecting pedestrian.

“Demonstrating swift crisis intervention in alignment with the United Nations Response Time (UNRT), operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) promptly arrived at the scene, cordoning off the affected area and summoning law enforcement personnel from the Area F Police Division, who assumed custody of both vehicles for an exhaustive investigation.”

The remains of the victim were later evacuated by officials of the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, warned commercial drivers against reckless driving and urged them to maintain their vehicles properly, especially their braking systems.

Giwa also highlighted the role of Lagos’ Intelligence Transport System, which monitors speed violations at key locations such as Alapere, Ogudu Road, and Nitel, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Way, while urging drivers to adhere strictly to speed limits to safeguard lives and property.

“Ensuring road safety is a collective responsibility. Indiscriminate speeding and flagrant disregard for traffic laws constitute an existential threat to public safety. I implore all motorists to strictly operate within legal parameters to avert needless loss of human lives,” he stated.

The Anambra State Police Command has secured the release of Reverend Father Stephen Echezona, who was abducted by yet-to-be-identified assailants.

It was gathered that Echezona was abducted by the hoodlums in Ichida, in the  Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State, while refuelling his car at a petrol station in the area.

The hoodlums were said to have abandoned their operational vehicle and taken the victim away in his vehicle into an unknown location during an exchange of gunfire with police operatives who stormed the scene of the kidnap.

In a statement on Sunday, the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victim was rescued by a joint security team comprising the police, military, civil defence, AVG Ichida, and Ihiala respectively in the early hours of Sunday.

Ikenga said police operatives had taken over the scene where the priest was rescued in Ihiala for possible arrest of the armed criminals and recovery of his Toyota Highlander.

He said, “In the early hours of today, March 23, 2025, a Joint Security team comprising the police, military, civil defence, AVG Ichida, and Ihiala respectively secured the release of Rev. Father Stephen Echezona at Ihiala. The priest was returned unharmed.

“The victim was abducted at a fuel station in Ichida where a joint security force in an ensuing gun duel with the armed criminals operating in a white Lexus SUV without plate number.

“The assailants abandoned the white Lexus and in a bid to flee the scene due to the superior firepower of the Joint Security Team fled the scene and held the Rev. Father hostage. The operatives also recovered the white Lexus vehicle.

“In a coordinated hot chase by the operatives, different security checkpoints and security operatives in the state were alerted which resulted in the criminals abandoning the priest at Ihiala and escaping through a nearby bush.

“The joint security team have taken over the scene in Ihiala for possible arrest of the armed criminals and recovery of the Toyota Highlander belonging to the Rev. Father.

“Further developments would be communicated, please.”

In another development, the police command has intercepted two suspects for cultism and armed robbery and also recovered arms and other incriminating items.

Ikenga said the suspects were arrested by police operatives in separate operations across the state.

He noted that the command is more motivated to combat crime and ensure public safety in the state.

He said, “On 22nd March 2025, police operatives attached to the Obosi Division on intelligent-led patrol along the Obosi/Nkpor Road arrested one Kosiso Okonwko ‘M’ and recovered one Berreta pistol.

“The suspect confessed to being a member of Aye Confertanity.

“In another operation, police operatives attached to B Division with some Mobile Police Men of  29 Squadron on stop and search by 9.20 pm along Enugu/Onitsha Expressway, Amansea intercepted a tricycle with Reg No. BBG 767 QH, driven by one Augustine Okafor ‘M’ wearing Army Camouflage trousers.

“During interrogation, the suspect could not provide a satisfactory answer, which caused the operatives to search him and recover one Berreta pistol, seven live ammunition, cash N15,600, substances suspected to be hard drugs and charms.”

He added that given the above, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, directed the immediate transfer of the case to the command’s tactical unit for a discreet investigation.

“The CP further notes that the Anambra police operatvies are more motivated and have been actively working to combat crime and ensure public safety in the state,” he added.

A suspected car thief, Alhassan Isa, also known as Tata, has been arrested by the Jigawa State Police Command.

The suspect, a resident of Shuwarin town in Kiyawa Local Government Area, was found with a stolen Mazda 323 Model F, with registration number MNA 139HK, Niger State.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Adam, in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Dutse, stated that the owner of the vehicle, Abdurrahman Sadiq, who is a staff member of the Nigeria Institute of Oil Palm Research, reported the theft at the Dutse Division on February 21, 2025.

“Sadiq had parked his vehicle at Aujara village in Jahun Local Government Area and forgot the key inside. When he woke up the next morning, he discovered that the vehicle was missing.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that an unknown person or group had stolen the vehicle from where it was parked. Detectives from the Dutse Division and the State Criminal Investigation Department, Dutse launched an investigation, which led to the arrest of the suspect,” the statement partly read.

According to the PPRO, the suspect confessed to the crime during investigation and further investigation revealed that he was an ex-convict facing several charges for motorcycle and tricycle theft.

However, Adamu stated that the suspect would be arraigned in court, where he would face the full force of the law. “We will ensure that justice is served in this case,” he added.

The Jigawa Police Command cautioned vehicle owners in the state to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent theft.

The command also advised vehicle owners to always lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight.

The police therefore urged the public to report any suspicious activities or stolen vehicles to the authorities.

Also, the Jigawa police command reassured the public of their commitment to reducing crime and ensuring public safety.

The Jigawa State Police Command has arrested a suspected car thief, Alhassan Isa, also known as Tata.

The suspect, a resident of Shuwarin town in Kiyawa Local Government Area, was found with a stolen Mazda 323 Model F, bearing registration number MNA 139HK, Niger State.

In a statement released on Sunday in Dutse, the Jigawa State Command Public Relations Officer, SP Shi’isu Lawan Adam, stated that the vehicle’s owner, Abdurrahman Sadiq, a staff member of the Nigerian Institute of Oil Palm Research, reported the theft at the Dutse Division on February 21, 2025.

“Sadiq had parked his vehicle at Aujara village in Jahun Local Government Area and forgot the key inside. When he woke up the next morning, he discovered that the vehicle was missing,” the statement read.

Preliminary investigations revealed that an unknown person or group had stolen the vehicle from where it was parked.

Detectives from the Dutse Division and the State Criminal Investigation Department launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

According to the PPRO, the suspect confessed to the crime during the investigation. Further findings revealed that Alhassan Isa is an ex-convict with multiple charges related to motorcycle and tricycle theft.

However, SP Adam stated that the suspect would be arraigned in court to face legal proceedings.

“We will ensure that justice is served in this case,” Adam said.
The Jigawa State Police Command cautioned vehicle owners in the state to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent theft.

Accordingly, the command advised vehicle owners to always lock their vehicles and keep valuables out of sight.

The police also urged the public to report any suspicious activities or stolen vehicles to the authorities.

Additionally, the Jigawa Police reassured the public of their commitment to reducing crime and ensuring public safety.

The Executive Director, Projects Implementation, Federal Housing Authority Nigeria, Remi Omowaiye has accused the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke of engineering the political crisis rocking the state.

He alleged that the governor is plotting to burn down the state, citing the recent unfortunate events in the state.

According to report the crisis over the control of the government secretariats in Osun State, worsened on Monday, with at least eight persons reportedly killed during a clash between supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The crisis began when elected local government officials on the platform of APC, resumed work at the various council secretariats.

Omowaiye, who addressed the matter while featuring on Arise TV on Wednesday said he escaped death by the whiskers, during the clash.

He revealed that one of his security advisers and his driver were shot, alleging that his vehicle was riddled with bullets.

He said, “It is unfortunate that Governor Ademola Adeleke wants to burn down Osun State. We got a court judgement which was very clear and our people were supposed to resume at the council, so I went to Ilesha that day to join some of our political associates.

“When I was coming to town, I saw a lot of hoodlums, PDP hoodlums. When I got to town, I went straight to the Area Commander of Ilesha, I told him what I observed.

“He said he was going to look into it, so I went back to our party Secretariat in Ilesha and I addressed all the party faithful that with the situation of things, everybody should go home, we come back tomorrow.

“So I decided to return to Oshogbo and right in front of the Secretariat, my vehicle was riddled with bullets. One of my security advisers was shot and my driver was also shot. I narrowly escaped.”

An unidentified motorcyclist popularly known as okada rider has reportedly died when an overspeeding black Mercedes saloon car rammed into a pharmaceutical store in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

The accident occurred around 2 pm on Saturday at Osuntokun Junction, opposite Zenith Bank at Bodija area of Ibadan.

The pharmacy which the car rammed into was destroyed while two other customers’ vehicles parked in front of it were also damaged.

An eyewitness said, “An overspeeding black Mercedes saloon car coming from Osuntokun Avenue crossed the main Bodija-UI Road and went headlong into the pharmacy near Grandex stores, instantly killing an okada rider who was dropping off his passenger at the pharmacy.

“The driver of the Mercedes was severely injured and has been rushed to University College Hospital (UCH).”

The eyewitness added that the body of the motorcyclist was retrieved from inside the shop and also taken to the UCH morgue.

A collision between a car and a crane occurred the early hours of Saturday at the Ojodu Berger area of Lagos state.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority made this known in a statement and video released on X.com on Saturday.

The statement read, “An accident between a Crane and a car Opposite BRT inward Berger.

“Effort is ongoing for evacuation while our officers are on scene managing the situation effectively.”

In the video, LASTMA reported that there were no casualties and urged motorists to exercise caution while driving.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheNigerian.

Contact: [email protected]

Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the Managing Director of Edo State Traffic Control Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede, to stop indiscriminate parking of vehicles and traffic gridlock, especially in market areas across the State.

Governor Okpebholo gave the charge while decorating Ijeghede with his new rank as the head of EDSTMA.

Addressing the new Managing Director and his personnel at the Exco Chambers in the Government House in Benin City, the governor said the agency should do its job well by ensuring free flow of traffic across the State.

He called on Ijeghede and men of the agency to ensure they check indiscriminate parking of vehicles and buses, especially in market areas.

“Edo State belongs to all of us and whatever we are doing, we should do it with care not to harm anybody. I appeal to EDSTMA to ensure that the city is well kept because whenever I drive round town, I see vehicles everywhere as the city is not well kept.

“This is your primary assignment. You should ensure the city is well kept as vehicles park indiscriminately and they are causing obstruction. Traffic is not flowing as it should and it is causing serious gridlock. Is it that you are not doing your job well?

“Is it that you are not doing your job well or because you have a new leader that is why traffic is not flowing, or because you don’t know your job?

“You people should wake up and keep the State clean. Make sure that vehicles are parked well especially in the market areas. Monitor markets very well as these areas are looking really unkempt with vehicles and buses parked indiscriminately, causing traffic gridlock. Edo people are worst hit. They suffer from this. Ensure free flow of traffic so that the people will be happy,” Governor Okpebholo emphasised.

Responding, the EDSTMA boss, Engr. Stainless Ijeghede, thanked Governor Okpebholo for the opportunity to serve the people of Edo State and assured him of the loyalty of the agency.

He added that his men will do their job professionally and ensure that there is free flow of traffic across the State.

A couple on Wednesday escaped death after a container fell on their Lexus Jeep at the Toyota bus stop on the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway.

The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, in a statement on Thursday, stated that the incident occurred in the evening.

According to her, the agency received a distress call at about 6:35 pm and promptly responded to the scene, leading to the rescue of the couple from the wreckage of their vehicle.

She, however, explained that the incident occurred after the container accidentally fell on the rear side of the Four-Wheel Drive vehicle while in motion.

The statement read, “A male adult of about 45 years old and a female adult of about 37 years old (both names withheld) were rescued from the jaw of death by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service from a vehicle accident involving their Lexus Jeep 350 with registration number EKY 251 HW and a Mack Trailer with registration number BDG 513 XW conveying two containers of 20 feet each.”

The accident, which was a visible call on the Isolo Fire Station of the Agency at about 18:35 hours Wednesday, at the busy Toyota bus stop on the Apapa—Oshodi Expressway inward Isolo, Lagos, had one of the containers accidentally fall on the rear side of the vehicle while on motion, prompting sympathisers to come to their aid before firefighters teamed up to bring them out of the accident unhurt.

Adeseye added that both victims were joined by the trailer driver who also escaped unscathed and was taken through trauma therapy to ascertain their well-being.

“The remains of the vehicles had been cleared off the path of the highway by LASEMA after men of LASTMA cleared the ensuing traffic backlog with the support of the Nigeria Police from the Ilasamaja Division who had since brought the operations into conclusion,” the statement added.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheNigerian.

Contact: [email protected]

The Anambra State Police Command said it has arrested three suspected car thieves and recovered one stolen vehicle from the carjackers.

A statement issued by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the operatives of the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugwu Ukwu intercepted the suspects while on patrol on Wednesday.

Ikenga said the operatives intercepted the three occupants of the stolen vehicle, a black-coloured Lexus 330 SUV without a plate number, at Kwata Junction in Awka.

He said, “During interrogation by the operatives, the suspects Ifesinachi Okonwko ‘M’, aged 22 years, Chisom Okafor ‘M’, aged 20 years and Oderah Ebenezer ‘M’, aged 20 years, respectively, confessed to having stolen the car at Isuaniocha Village, Awka North LGA and are members of the same criminal gang terrorising innocent citizens in Awka.

“Given the above, the Command invites anyone looking for the vehicle as highlighted above, especially residents of Isuanioch, to come to the office of the Police Public Relations Officer Awka with valid Proof/Evidence of Ownership for verification and possible collection.”

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheNigerian.

Contact: [email protected]