In an effort to bring back the old national anthem, the senate has approved a bill for third reading.

Following the consideration of Tahir Monguno’s report—the chair of the judiciary committee—the upper house of parliament passed the bill.

The old national anthem is themed: ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’.

While presenting his report, Monguno said his committee disagreed with the position of Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), that the process to change the anthem should be subjected to a wider process.

“The proposed bill is important,” the Borno senator said.

Thereafter, the senate considered clauses of the bill and passed it.

Last week, the house of representatives passed the bill speedily, but it only scaled second reading at the senate.

Majority of the lawmakers in both chambers of the national assembly spoke in favour of the bill when they debated on its general principles.

While debating the bill last week, Victor Umeh, senator representing Anambra central, said an anthem is supposed to be motivational, adding that the current one is anything but emotive.

“The old one we are seeking to bring back is one that evokes emotions,” Umeh said.

“A national anthem is supposed to be motivational. There is motivation in the old anthem.

“I think from what my colleagues have said, there is nothing in the current anthem that motivates our people. If we bring it back, our children will be more committed to the ideals of nationhood.”

There have been mixed reactions since the national assembly began taking steps to reintroduce the old national anthem.

The Gombe State Government said it has filed charges against a man who amputated the two hands of his 12-year-old nephew, Adamu, over alleged phone theft.

The incident happened in Sambi Daji village, Tumu District in the Akko Local Government Area of the state. 

The Director of Public Prosecutions in the Gombe State Ministry of Justice, Abubakar Jungudo, disclosed this in an interview with the punch on Monday, May 27, 2024. 

"We are going to prosecute the defendant. We are awaiting the assignment of the case by the Chief Judge of Gombe State. One of the magistrates in Kashere drew my attention to the case, having seen the seriousness of the injury and it was referred to the Gombe State Command of the  Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,” the DPP said.

In a statement commemorating Children's Day, the Vice Chairperson of the Nigerian Bar Association, Gombe branch, Mwalin Abdu, condemned the act. 

Abdu, who doubles as Chairperson, Human Rights Committee of the NBA, condemned the spate of child abuse in a press statement she titled, ‘Protecting our future: Urgent action needed on child protection in Gombe State.’

She called on the authorities to implement the Child Protection Law to tackle cases of abuse, stressing the need for concerted efforts towards combating dastardly acts against minors

“In 2018, we woke up to the story of young Zubair Abubakar (13 years old), whose arms were amputated because of the abuse by his teacher; just four days ago was another devastating story of a 12-year-old Adamu from Tumu District in the Akko LGA of the same Gombe State, who also lost his arms due to a similar incident with Zubair Abubakar, over alleged theft of phone,” she said. 

"Even though the office of the Attorney General has taken over the prosecution of the cases, we believe that is not enough, because these two stories are just a tip of the iceberg of the numerous daily-reported and unreported complaints or cases of child abuse in the state, ranging from sexual abuse, child labour, child molestation,  child trafficking and so on.”

"The heartbreaking tales of young victims like Zubair Abubakar and Adamu from Gombe State underscore a troubling reality: child abuse remains a pervasive issue in our communities, transcending mere headlines to expose the harsh realities faced by our most vulnerable members.

“While the ratification of the Child Protection Law in 2022 was a pivotal step, the gap between legislation and its effective enforcement looms large, leaving the children at risk and their futures uncertain.”

She called on stakeholders to rise to the occasion to put a stop to the overwhelming incidences of child abuse in Gombe State typified by the cases of Abubakar and Adamu.

“The time for passive observance has passed, the safeguarding of every child’s well-being demands immediate and resolute action. Gombe State must move swiftly to implement and enforce the Child Protection Law, ensuring that those who exploit and harm our children face the full force of justice. Robust reporting mechanisms, specialised victim support services, and widespread awareness campaigns are imperative to redress the rampant abuse, exploitation, and trafficking that plague our dear state,” she added. 

Lake Chad Basin counterterrorism and insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, who narrated the tragic event explained that the suspect caught Adamu and tied his hands with a rope, intending to keep him captive until he revealed where he hid the phone.

By the time the rope was loosened, his hands had become severely damaged, and doctors were forced to amputate them to save his life. 

“His elder brother did this to him after accusing him of stealing his mobile phone. The brother caught him and tied his hands with a rope, intending to keep him captive until he reveals where he hid the phone. Tragically, the rope was too tight, cutting off circulation to his hands. By the time the rope was loosened, his hands had become severely damaged, and doctors were forced to amputate them to save his life,” he added.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has criticized the federal government for dragging the state to court alongside 35 other states over Local Government (LG) autonomy. Sanwo-Olu emphasized that Lagos State already fully complies with LG autonomy and should not be part of the legal action.

The federal government filed a suit at the Supreme Court against all 36 state governors, seeking to prevent the arbitrary dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders. However, Sanwo-Olu argued that including Lagos in the lawsuit was a legal error since the state’s local governments have been enjoying autonomy for decades.

Speaking at the ongoing Justice Reform Summit organized by the Lagos State Judiciary, Sanwo-Olu supported the suit but highlighted that the Attorney General of the Federation should have identified non-compliant states before initiating legal proceedings. He suggested that only states violating autonomy should be sued rather than all 36 states collectively.

He said: “It is interesting to read that the Honorable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation has sued all the 36 states because Governors did not give autonomy to the third tier of government. The only mistake I am going to tell our Attorney General is that some of us are in compliance.

“The Attorney General should have done his due diligence to identify which states are not compliant, so we don’t sue all the 36 states together. You can determine which states are not violating the Constitution. If it is three, four or five states that comply, then you can sue the 31 states for violating the autonomy of the local governments. That is part of the back work that we need to do.”

Drawing a parallel with Singapore, a fishing village with environmental similarities with Lagos, Sanwo-Olu said Singapore’s faith in the rule of law and fairness transformed the efficiency of the country’s justice system, leading to its rapid economic growth and prosperity.

He said: “Just like Lagos, Singapore has no resources. Singapore is what it is today because of the Ease of Doing Business. Registering a business in Singapore takes less than 30 minutes, surpassing many countries in ease of doing business. Singapore has one of the best judiciary systems in the world; they have quick turnaround time in mediation and dispute resolution.”

Representatives of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the Attorney General of the Federation acknowledged the strides made by the Lagos judiciary in promoting justice development. They pledged continued support for reforms to enhance public trust in the judiciary and foster economic growth.

The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) is set to commence a comprehensive verification exercise of all its lands and houses across Nigeria. This move aims to authenticate the records of all allottees.

This verification exercise follows the recent launch of FHA’s digitalization initiative, designed to capture the agency’s legitimate allottees’ data accurately. According to an advertorial published on Monday, May 27, 2024, in major newspapers, the exercise will begin on June 3, 2024, at all Zonal offices of the agency nationwide and will continue for 90 days.

The Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kenneth Chigelu, urged all genuine allottees to take advantage of this opportunity to update their relevant information in the FHA database. He also encouraged all allottees with outstanding statutory payments to clear their liabilities during this period.

Chigelu noted that the FHA would enforce the relevant clauses in the allocation letters against any erring allottees to ensure compliance.

Nigerian actress, Eniola Badmus has confirmed her appointment as the special assistant on social events and public hearing to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas.

In her Instagram post on Monday, Eniola thanked Abbas for entrusting her with the role, describing it as a “significant milestone” in her career.

Among the pictures the Omo Ghetto: The Saga actress posted is one of herself bending to greet Abbas.

She wrote:

“A sincere heartfelt gratitude for entrusting me with the recent political appointment. It is an honor to be given this opportunity, I am truly honored and excited to serve under your leadership @speakerabbas and I am deeply appreciative of the confidence you have placed in me.

“This appointment is not only a significant milestone in my career but also a chance to contribute meaningfully to our shared goals and vision.”

Eniola’s appointment went viral on May 10 and was greeted with mixed reactions.

The 41-year-old added in her appreciation post:

“Your support and belief in my abilities mean a great deal to me. I am committed to working diligently and upholding the principles and values that our team stands for. Thank you for your belief in my potential, and for giving me the chance to make a positive impact.

“I look forward to collaborating closely with you and our colleagues to achieve success in our collective goals and to bring about the positive changes we all aspire to see.”

Eniola supported President Bola Tinubu’s campaign for the presidency last year. Many of her critics said they would boycott her movies due to her political affiliation.

A group of crossdressers from Ikorodu has stirred up reactions online as they took to the streets to demand the release of controversial figure, Bobrisky, from prison.

The protest comes in the wake of Bobrisky’s arrest and subsequent sentencing to six months in prison over issues relating to the abuse of the Nigerian currency, after the self-styled social media sensation pleaded guilty.

The arrest of Bobrisky, known for his flamboyant and often polarizing persona, caused a serious buzz online, with supporters and critics voicing their opinions on the matter.

However, the emergence of this protest by fellow crossdressers adds a new dimension to the ongoing discourse surrounding the case.

Video footage shared on social media captured the striking image of the crossdressers, all adorned in feminine outfits, passionately advocating for Bobrisky’s release.

Holding placards with messages pleading for the freedom of the self-proclaimed ‘Mummy of Lagos.’

“Free Bobrisky” the message on one of the placards read.

Yesterday, May 27, one of Nigeria’s iconic figures in the entertainment sector turned 80: Ken Calebs Olumese, an Esan man from the university town of Ekpoma as he likes to describe his home town of which he is proud, as if every other town these days does not have a university but in those days when a university was established in Ekpoma (1981), it was such a thing of pride and achievement that Olumese took upon himself as a personal badge. But the real story about him and his life is his immense contributions to the cultural space in Nigeria, the impact that he has made in turning music, art, song, food, drinks, space and dance into entrepreneurial tools for the promotion of social cohesion, inclusion, solidarity, creativity and pure fun. He was the Don Cornelius, without the controversy, of the night club scene and entertainment arena in Lagos in the 80s and 90s.  He was colourful, charismatic, decent, debonair, affable, and quite astute in making friends, and building bridges and relationships. In the Opebi, Ikeja area where he ran a nightclub that was famously known as Niteshift Coliseum, he was a lord of the territory, father of the kids on the streets and friend of the gentrified class with an understanding of the register of social and communal survival beyond the pale of regular entrepreneurship. He moved with a swag. He strutted with poise.  He was the Guv’nor: who never went on transfer, or had to seek seasonal elections, or go on break, he was his own constituted authority running an entertainment empire. The phrase Guv’nor was first used in the 1840s, a variant of the more popular noun - Governor, but over time, it would gain resonance as the title of a film in 1935, and as the nickname of a number of sports figures – Diego Costa, Bobby Abel, Paul Ince, Lenny McLean. When Ken Calebs Olumese established the Niteshift club in Opebi, Lagos in 1988, he took the title as label, brand and cognomen, and thus began a fresh chapter in the entertainment story of the city of Lagos.  

Ken Calebs Olumese did not invent nightlife in Lagos, but he helped for about two decades to shape and enrich it. The people of Lagos, being Yorubas are naturally fun-loving, and having fun at night time has been part of their culture even before the Victorian times in the 19^th century, aspects of which have been examined at great length by Professor Michael J.C. Echeruo in a book titled “Victorian Lagos.” The city that became known as “The Liverpool of West Africa” in the 19^th Century, an emerging commercial, port city was also a community of persons and cultural developments, including the media, culture and nationalism. Lagosians love the good life. They enjoy the thrill of evening fun be it at the beach, or at the clubs, or on the streets of Ebute Metta where there used to be a party every evening, or anywhere else where the people could dance to highlife. By his own account, Ken Calebs Olumese arrived in Lagos in the late 60s or early 70s just like many of these persons from the hinterland who continue to troop into Lagos on a daily basis. Thousands arrive daily from all parts of Nigeria, very few go back to where they came from, indeed over time, they become part of the Lagos ecosystem, get lucky and excel. In Olumese’s case, when he left Ekpoma, he lived in Benin. He got involved in the Socialist Movement, which was quite a rave in Nigeria’s 70s, the season of the cold war. He would eventually gain a scholarship to study Medicine in the Soviet Union. Many young Nigerians went to the Soviet Union at the time. The then young Ken Calebs Olumese returned with a degree in Microbiology. By 1977, he, with the help of his kinsman, Chief Anthony Enahoro, played some role in the arrangements for FESTAC 77, his first major direct involvement in cultural diplomacy. He was also closely associated with the likes of Dr Tunji Otegbeye, trade unionist, medical doctor and leader of the Socialist Workers and Farmers Party of Nigeria (SWAFP). The most notable part of that phase of his return is not necessarily FESTAC 77, however but the fact that he eventually ended up as a Sales Representative with the French Pharmaceutical Company, Roussel, where he rose through the ranks to become the Director of Administration and Finance. Olumese was like the rest of us: waking up in the morning, pursuing the nine to five hustle, struggling like everyone else to raise a family. He had a good career. 

It is one of those ironies of life that he would eventually become famous through his hobby, rather than his vocation. In 1988, he decided to set up a Night Club at 21 Opebi Street with a corporate office was at 5, Ogundana Street, off Opebi Road, marking Olumese’s transition into the arena of entrepreneurship, from selling pharmaceutical products, to the retail of songs, food, drinks, and whatever brings joy. He had been a prolific nightlife denizen himself. He turned his interest into a passion and his passion into business. When Olumese arrived on the nightclub scene in Ikeja and Lagos in the 80s, there was already a thriving, habitual ecosystem in place. From Idi-oro in Mushin, to Jibowu, Ayilara and Ojuelegba,, there was a buzzing axis of nightlife entertainment. In Ikeja, Ipodo, Awolowo Road, Allen and Opebi streets came alive similarly at sun down. There was a gentleman called Omieba Dan Princewill, he ran two clubs – City Tavern and Daniel’s. There was the colourful, stand-up comedian, John Chukwu who owned a club called Klass, with Eddie Jay Omodiagbe as Dee Jay. There was Ozone owned by Jibola Shitta-Bey on Allen Avenue. There was also at some point, De Roof, Singer’s Cruise, Bread and Butter and another club called Princes. On Allen Avenue, Jerry Jones Anazia ran a night club called Ace. On Toyin Street, there was Climax, with a DJ called Stagger Lee. In those days of course, there was Shrine, the main watering hole for night crawlers, and beyond Ikeja, all the way towards Ojuelegba, there was a long list of fun spots including pepper soup joints such as Igbinedion, or Fafolu: point and kill joint, No. 67 Bode Thomas in Surulere, Empire Hotel, Tarmac. Many would also remember Kakadu Nite Club in Alagomeji, Yaba, where Fela used to perform in the 60s, and Bobby Benson’s Caban Bamboo, which in many ways was the old version of what the Niteshift Coliseum later became. There was at some point Paradiso in Yaba, Faze 2, Lord’s Club around Maryland, and Hotspot Club at Abibu Oki, off Broad Street. Basically, for a while, the Lagos social scene was a mix of band life, joints and discotheques. The latter would later prevail.  

Ken Calebs Olumese changed the face of night life in Lagos, particularly with the rise of the discotheque, which he capitalized upon turning Niteshift Coliseum into a space where the hottest and latest music could be heard. He invested heavily in music and equipment.  He raised the bar to such a level that others began to learn from him, and even copy him. He changed the game. Even when there was a seeming rivalry between Lagos Island and the Mainland, the arrival of Niteshift Coliseum gave nightlife on the Mainland, an edge. What Olumese did was simply to be different. He carved a niche and constantly reinvented it. Whereas you could go to Ozone, DeRoof, Klass and Climax and run into celebrities and prominent persons, mingling with others, dressed in both formal and bohemian attires, Olumese made it clear from the very beginning that his club was meant for the middle class and the upper middle-class members of society. It was an exclusive club and there were rules. There was a man at the door, “The First Man” who would not even allow you to buy a ticket if you looked out of place. Jeans, slippers, any form of scruffy dressing were not allowed. You didn’t have to wear a tie, but you were required to appear decent. 

The club also had different segments. There was an exclusive section reserved for Senior Fellows of the Gold Card Sector.This was a section reserved for prominent persons, diplomats, captains of industry on a discreet night out. The lighting for that section was also deliberately dim. And there was the Section for the Glamour Boys (later and Girls) of Nigeria: the reserved section for the upwardly mobile in society, but even then you had to be admitted as a member to sit there. In the general hall was the popular section. The status of a guest or member was indicated in the colour of the glass with which you were served. The staff were trained to know the differences. Everyone wanted to be part of the Niteshift crowd. Usually, when people left other clubs, they ended up at the Coliseum. The food was good. The air-conditioning was the coldest in the business. To add to the snobbery, Niteshift did not use the same terms as other clubs. Its bathrooms were called “The Vanity” for example.   The hostesses wore something called “Oriental Ornamental.” The Dee Jay was “The Flight Captain” sitting in “The Cockpit.”  And the entire night was a cruise. Olumese was the master of razzmatazz. 

He had a personal touch that could not be found among other club owners. He knew most of the regular clientele personally, and took an interest in their personal lives. He served drinks, and could be found correcting any error by any of his staff.  His dressing was impeccable. From his hair cut to his shoes, he paid attention to every detail. He drank Remy Martin, and he could hold his drink. He was very generous to his guests. For young persons and others close to him, the first drink was always on the house, and in the morning, the club served tea or coffee on the house depending on individual choices. There were days patrons stayed in the club till 7 am, not knowing it was daybreak. The Guv’nor of Niteshift Coliseum actively cultivated the friendship of the media. He knew every entertainment, arts and culture reporter and editor on the beat. He was similarly friendly with publishers and editors. He had one or two friends in every newsroom. Journalists were understandably some of the more prominent members of the club, and through this connection Niteshift became a place of choice for many media events. There were times however when he had issues with journalists. He protected the privacy of celebrities who came to the club jealously and he would not hesitate to quarrel with any journalist who published gossip about any of his patrons. He used to quip that the club does not ask for marriage certificates. It is place of fun, not a church. Funny enough, Olumese is the son of an Anglican priest. 

Niteshift was not just about disco. The Guv’nor was constantly re-inventing the concept. There was in due course a full Niteshift band, which mixed the idea of disco with live performance. There was also the Niteshift Musical Talent Show, on the platform of which the club provided space for the flowering of many talents including Felix and Moses, Tuface, Tony Tetuila, Tony Montana, Eedris Abdulkareem, Platanshun Boys, Sunny Neji, Daddy Showkey, Nel Oliver. There was also Miss Niteshift beauty pageant. Niteshift was also the watering hole for many Nollywood artists – actors, actresses and producers. But the high point arrived in the early 90s when the club was moved from 21 Opebi Street to a bigger, more permanent space, the purpose-built Coliseum at 21 Salvation Road, off Opebi.  At this new location, the club had more space, more meeting rooms, a bigger dance floor, more of everything: an impressive edifice that was a testament to the success of the club, and the dogged vision of the founder. There was even a place called The Dacha: a block of 12 rooms reserved exclusively for the use of members. The major highlight at the Coliseum was the increased focus on a special programme which Olumese had introduced at the 21 Opebi address - the Grand House Reception (GHR). This further differentiated the Niteshift Coliseum from its peers. The GHR was an evening of interaction with major public figures. It was a huge hit which attracted exactly the clientele that the Guv’nor wanted. Some of the prominent persons who featured on the platform included, to cite just a few: Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Alhaji Tafa Balogun, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Governor Gbenga Daniel, Governor Segun Osoba, Governor Orji Kalu, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu… H. E. Flt Lt. Jerry Rawlings, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar… and others.  

Ken Olumese kept raising the bar, and he was good at research, and monitoring the competition. I was one of the Glamour Boys of the Club, having joined that section sometime around 1989. I would later end up as one of the club’s major resource persons. I can conveniently report that I was actively involved. On many occasions we visited other clubs, before the start of business at the Coliseum. There were occasions when the Guv’nor would arrange for us to go on a West Africa tour. We were in Ghana again and again to attend different night clubs and observe their operations. We used to travel on Wednesday and return on Monday. Niteshift Coliseum would also eventually introduce a Wednesday programme, a Ladies night, free entry for ladies and other programmes to boost the clientele. 

In 2011, I left for Abuja on national assignment. By the time I returned in 2015, circumstances had changed on the Lagos night scene. The pulse had shifted from the Mainland to the Island, with new clubs patronized by the nouveaux riche and the Gen Z springing up on the other side of the city. Ken Calebs Olumese was also advancing in age. He has since retired and rented out the premises of the Niteshift Coliseum to another entertainment group called Floating World.  Indeed, we live in a world that floats. But the Niteshift dream would be remembered for its impact and longevity. Many ventures of its type have short mortality rates, but Ken Calebs Olumese kept it going for more than two decades, even after the club was razed down in a mysterious midnight fire on December 18, 2003. It was a brilliant run, still and long is the echo of the Niteshift Bugaloo, the opening sequence of the club at 12 midnight, taken from the song by the Commodores of the same title: Nightshift. Happy Birthday, Guv’nor.  Lord Have Mercy!   

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dr Ralphs Okey Nwosu, has said it will take six years for Nigerians to get over the impact of subsidy removal.

Speaking at the leadership retreat Organised by the ADC in Abuja on Monday, Nwosu said one of the reasons the first year anniversary of the present administration has been so dramatic and full of flip – flops is because the president failed to listen to the people and “started the wrong way”.

The ADC Chairman who stated that leadership is not about the elite, but about what the people want, said “the President is not doing too well. And you know why? you can’t see hungry people. And the first policy you would bring even before you step into the office was to tell them your fuel price has gone up by 400 percent.

“It will take them more than six years or more than four years to address the problem that the singular decision they took brings. You are leading people, before you step into your vision, you tell them, you know, your prices to pay for your rent, to pay for your houses and so on has gone up by 400 percent. You more or less kill the morale of the people that will help you to reflect the economy.”

Meanwhile, in a communique issued after the retreat, the party encouraged political parties not to wait until election year before planning on how to win elections.

“That’s why the party is organizing leadership retreats to develop the capacities of her party leaders. The party believes in continuous learning.”

“ADC wants change in the electoral process to start with the voters. We will intensify our voter education programmes. The voters are critical to democracy and nation building. ADC asserted that it’s liaison with the electorates must continue in good spirit.

The retreat also resolves, that “ADC honed its transformation leadership ideology. And says that the entire Nigerian system is rotten and needs overhaul. Political parties must take systematic actions towards transforming the rottenness in the polity.

“Members agreed to emulate Senegal youths and to use its young members to shore up mobilisation and bring about change in all election including LGA, state and national.”

Hundreds of people have fled their villages in a rural community in Niger State after weekend attacks by armed groups left 10 dead and at least 160 missing, a local government chairman and two residents said on Monday.

A year after President Bola Tinubu came to power promising to end widespread insecurity, kidnappings in the northwest by armed gangs demanding ransoms have become almost routine, with authorities seemingly powerless to stop them.

Gunmen on motorbikes first attacked Kuchi community in Niger state's Munya local government area on Friday evening, killing five residents and five hunters who tried to fight back, before kidnapping dozens of people, said local chairman Aminu Ajume.

The gunmen returned on Sunday night and seized livestock and food and burned shops, forcing at least 700 villagers to flee to nearby communities, Ajume added.

"As I am speaking to you, Munya is (a) no go area. They moved from house to house abducting people ... they abducted 160 villagers, including women," he told Reuters by phone.

Kidnapping gangs, known locally as bandits, and members from a faction of insurgent group Boko Haram joined forces to launch the attacks, Ajume said without providing evidence.

Boko Haram has been fighting an insurgency in the northeast since 2009 but Niger authorities have previously said its smaller faction had cells in the state and carried out some attacks.

The police and army spokespersons in Niger state did not respond to several requests for comment.

Maryam Abubakar, a resident, said she hid in the toilet when she heard sporadic gunfire around 1900 GMT on Friday and gunmen burst into her home shortly after.

"It was raining at that time. The bandits entered the house, searched the rooms and kitchen and they took my aunt and her two children," Abubakar said, adding the three were still missing.

Musa Auwal was in his shop when gunmen attacked on Friday but he hid in a nearby bush, he said. When he returned the next day, his shop had been looted, so he fled to stay with relatives 60 km away.

Two motorcyclists, on Monday, lost their lives during an exchange of gunfire with policemen who prevented an attack on the Ipaja Division of the Lagos State Police Command.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the policemen embarked on the enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycle operations in the state when the motorcyclists revolted against the action.

During the protest to express their grievances against the enforcement, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a statement he posted on his verified handle on X.com that the motorcyclists attempted to overrun the police station.

He explained that during the exchange of gunfire between the policemen and the protesting motorcyclists, two motorcycle operators were killed.

Meet Samuel Odugbesan who lost his arms working with an electricity company0.00 / 0.00

Hundeyin wrote, “Officers of the Ipaja Police Division have successfully repelled an early morning attack on their division by motorcycle operators.

“The attack came after police officers commenced the day’s enforcement of the existing ban on motorcycles in Lagos State. The attackers, who came in their hundreds, stormed the station with dangerous weapons, shooting at the officers and attempting to overrun the station.

“While officers and men of the division held their ground, reinforcement came from the Area Command and the Rapid Response Squad. Two of the attackers were fatally injured during the attack.”

He added that no fewer than 200 motorcyclists were impounded and some suspects arrested during the incident.

Hundeyin said, “This did not deter the officers from accomplishing their mandate as over 200 motorcycles were impounded and some of the attackers arrested, with one locally made firearm retrieved.

“The Lagos State Police Command will not be cowed into abdicating its responsibilities of enforcement of all duly passed laws and maintenance of law and order within the society.”

Our correspondent, during a follow-up conversation with Hundeyin to ascertain the number of the arrested motorcyclists linked to the attempt to overrun the police station, affirmed that the arrested suspects were 22.

“Twenty-two suspects were arrested during the incident,” the PPRO told our correspondent.

PUNCH Metro gathered that during the exchange of gunfire in the area, there was panic and residents and business owners scampered to safety to escape being hurt during the incident.

In December 2023, PUNCH Metro reported that a middle-aged woman, Mrs Bisi Raji, was crushed to death when police officers clashed with commercial motorcyclists in the Abule Egba area of the state.

Mrs Raji was returning from the hospital after an appointment with her doctor around the area.

A resident who spoke to PUNCH Metro said, “The tipper ran over the woman on the head. People who were around the area could not do anything because she died instantly.

They had to get a cloth to cover her body. Her corpse was also on the roadside for hours and there was no one to recover it until the police arrived much later to retrieve the body from the spot. We learnt her family had collected her body from the police and taken her home for burial.