Crime
Foreigner Owns Explosives That Killed 2 Ibadan Residents, Injured 77 – Source
…As Governor Makinde Talks Tough
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
A Nigerian, (names witheld) has alleged that a foreigner, from Mali, owns the registered company which procured the explosives that rocked Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Tuesday which killeld two people and injured 77 others.
Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has confirmed that two people were killed while 77 others were injured in the explosion.
The governor made the disclosure in a post on his X account in the early hours of Wednesday
He said the illegal miners operating in the state were responsible for Tuesday night’s explosion.
The source categorically stated in. A post on Wednesday that the illegal miners that procured the explosives is from Mali.
He said, “I can authoritatively inform that the explosion in Ibadan is the handiwork of a Malian immigrant engaged in mining operations in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State. His name is SAWANE YOUSSOUF.
“He has been stockpiling explosives in a house (unknown if he owns it or if he rented it) for years.
“These explosives he stored for the purpose of his extensive mining business.
“How he was able to do that in a residential estate with few eyebrows raised is a failure of intelligence at both government and community levels.
“To think the location is just a stone throw from the Government Secretariat is damning. His own negligent stupidity as well as government taciturn approach to security of lives and properties have caused unnecessary deaths, injuries and property damage.
“I searched the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission to find that SAWANE YOUSSOUF incorporated a company on May 17, 2004 called SDYB International Company Nigeria Limited with RC 511184. This is the list of directors:
1) Sawane Youssouf
2) Darame Ibrahima
3) Yattara Ibrahim
4) Bakare Hakeem Oladimeji
“By their names, three of the four directors hail from Mali.
“People I talked to revealed that Sawane has a lot of Malian boys working under him in the Bodija area.
“It is reported each one of them might have explosives in the various rented accommodation they stay in. Government must immediately determine where his boys live and take proper charge of explosives in their possession.
“I have credible information also that Sawane used police, DSS and other security operatives to move his explosives and other logistics. It shows complicity.
“It is unclear Sawane was in the house when the explosion occurred. If he was, I doubt he would survive the magnitude of the black. Everything within 100 metres radius of the blast site is flattened.
“Lots of documents were found strewn on the grounds of surrounding houses that reveal Sawane to have been involved in several petitions to the police, particularly the mining host communities in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State.
“The petitions main gist is cheating. Sawane is not paying his dues to the communities.
“I saw documents pertaining to a civil suit in court. If I could find the documents on the ground, hold them and read them, what exactly is the job of security operatives at the scene?
“Important evidence are being lost as every Tom, Dick and Harry is finding and taking the documents away.
“Questions will be asked about the Landlords Association in Adeyi, New Bodija.
“Questions will be asked about intelligence gathering by security outfits.
“Questions will be asked about how a Malian has such latitude to possess large caches of explosives and store them in his residence.
“Questions will be asked about our lack of preparedness for emergency situations”.
However Governor Makinde has said that preliminary investigation revealed that the illegal miners had stored explosive devices in one of the houses which caused the explosion.
He said, “We visited the scene of the explosion which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024 in Bodija, Ibadan.
“This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties.
“We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations.
“These operations will continue throughout the night.
“Earth moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident.
“The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan.
“Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured.
“We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.
“In total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and 2 fatalities.
“May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“I have directed that the medical bills of all victims be covered by the government.
“We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives.
“Preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast.
“The investigations are ongoing. All those found culpable for this will be brought to book,” he said.
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
The Igala Cultural and Development Association has called on the security agencies and the judicial institutions in the country to ensure justice for the late Salome Adaidu, who was murdered by a gospel artiste, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi last week.
This is contained in a statement by signed Prince Abdulrahman Obaje, the Director Media, ICDA, FCT and Surrounding Towns, on Sunday.
The statement read, “We the entire members of the social-cultural group, Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) received with rude shock the dastardly alleged murder of Salome Eleojo Adaidu.
“The news got to most of us through a viral video that was circulated on the social media in which oluwatimilehin ajayi was found on Sunday January 12’*, 2025 trying to dispose of her dismembered body and confessing to the crime.
“Salome, 24, was a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving with NICON INSURANCE in Abuja. She was said to have visited Ajayi at his residence in Papalana, New Karshi in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State before her death.
Despite the fact that the Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, earlier assured that the law would take its course, we want to assure the general public that we are closely monitoring the event as it will be unfolding.
“WE WANT TO UNEQUIVOALLY MAKE IT KNOWN HERE THAT WE ARE DEMANDING FOR NOTHING LESS BUT THOROUGH INVESTIGATION AND JUSTICE FOR SALOME ADAIDU!
“We are hereby calling on our members and the entire public to remain calm and allow justice to take it full course.”
…Faults Police Roles On Her Alleged Land Grabbing Claims
Olasunmibo Aboluwade, Abuja
A 79 year-old grandmother Hajia Colleen Mero Yesufu, has pleaded with the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Olanipekun Olukoyede, to prosecute those who allegedly grabbed her properties in choice areas within Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Hajia Yesufu said she became the beneficial owner of the property lying and situate at Plot 4022 Guzape District, Cadastral Zone A09, Abuja, FCT in December 2010, after she bought it from the original allottee and executed the requisite transfer documents.
She however, lamented that sometime in August 2023, some persons allegedly trespassed on the property and were offering plots of land there as investment properties to innocent Nigerians.
Addressing journalists on behalf of the Septuagenarian in Abuja yesterday, her Lawyer, Maxwell Opara, said Mama’s team of legal practitioners, petitioned the Solicitor General at the Legal Services Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration and its numerous agencies over the matter immediately.
He said agencies of the FCTA promptly marked a “STOP WORK” of the development on the 30th August 2023 while her lawyers at the time, also petitioned the FCT Police Commissioner on the 4th of September, 2023.
Opara further explained that the FCTA Director of Investigations and Prosecutions Mr. Joseph Eriki scheduled numerous meetings with all parties and the relevant FCTA departments but that the alleged trespassers blatantly refused to appear before the enquiry panel or send any documentation.
He alleged that a fake Power of Attorney (POA) was registered as FC 160 Page 160 Vol. 69 PA in favour of a different person (names witheld) and uploaded onto the AGIS system by unidentified staff of the agency.
Opara said further investigations revealed that that a forged Right-of-Occupancy was allegedly used to obtain building approvals which led to the withdrawal of the Building Permit, sealing and marking of the building for demolition in October 2023.
The Lawyer equally alleged that the trespassers filed a suit against the FCTA in court using forged documents asking for the status quo to be maintained to prevent the demolition the buildings on the property.
Opara claimed that the Police allegedly declared that those contesting the property with Hajia Yesufu bought the land from the original allottee in 2014, and attached Police Extract dated 21st August 2014 and signed by the DPO Divisional Headquarters, Gwarimpa, FCT Command.
He said, “The FCTA officials who attempted to enforce the withdrawal order were reportedly threatened by a very senior ranking police officer to steer clear of the site or face severe consequences.
“Eventually, on the 25th of October 2023 the FCTA Director of Investigations sent the investigation report with a petition to the FCT Police Commissioner confirming “Conspiracy, Forgery, Fraud and Criminal Trespass” over Mama’s property in Guzape.
“The then FCT Police Commissioner Haruna Garuba ordered an investigation by O/C of the C/P’s Crack Squad on the 9th of November 2023.
“The Yesufu family made necessary statements at the Gwarimpa HQ and submitted relevant documents before the Police raided property and made numerous arrests on the 17th of November 2023.
“Despite the FCTA report/petition and additional evidence by Yesufu, all the arrested suspects were released within two hours.
“Mama and family were forced to engage the services of Falana and Falana Law Chambers who petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on 18th of December, 2023.
“Mama’s prayer was that the IGP would look into the matter swiftly and bring the suspects to book.
“However, to play safe, Yesufu also sent a separate petition to the Chairman of the EFCC on the 19th of December 19, 2023.
“The EFCC conducted a thorough and professional investigation and have concluded their investigations.
“Thankfully the EFCC restored confidence in the system on this particular matter by securing an Interim forfeiture order on the 20th of December from the Federal High Court in Abuja and has began to recover the properties for Mama and her family.
“We therefore, demand that the law be allowed to take its course. We also call on the EFCC Chairman to do the needful by charging the suspects in this matter to court in the interest of justice and to prevent others from becoming victims.”
It will be recalled that the Police Spokesman ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, had issued a press statement on the 30th December 2024 where he dismissed Mama’s allegations of Police interference and protection of a “Criminal Suspect”, which she had initially reported to the police for investigation since 4th of September 2023.
ACP Adejobi in the statement, clarified that the IGP had no business with civil matters.
…As Nation’s Parliament Gets New Serjeant-at-arms Boss
A yet-to-be identified thief entered the National Assembly premises on Wednesday 9th October, 2024 between 8:00am and 8:30 am, and successfully stole the car of a parliamentary staff member, Collins Osenun.
Osenun, who works with the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream) in the House of Representatives, told journalists on Saturday that all efforts to recover his car since then had been futile.
According to Osenun, the wine coloured Toyota Camry Car with Registration Number ABJ 740 AE and chassis No: 4T1BG22KXYU731374 was stolen at the National Assembly premises despite the full security checks put in place by the various security agencies there.
He explained that he drove into the car park at the National Assembly Arcade around 6:50am on the fateful day and went to his office.
Osenun said, “I went to the office early to clear my table in preparation for a 9am event I had outside the complex.
“It was when my colleagues drew my attention to the fact that I was running late for the event that I hurriedly left the office around 8:30am.
“I was traumatised and shocked when I did not see my car. I raised the alarm immediately.
“I reported the matter to the heads of the Nigeria Police Force, Directorate of State Service, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Assembly Serjeant-at-arms.
“The police authorities in the National Assembly told me that signals had been sent out.
“The information I got at the DSS office was that the Close Circuit Television (CCTV) camera mounted in the National Assembly revealed that the thief was captured on camera when he entered around 8am, and pretended to be one of the numerous cleaners employed by private firms.
“I was also told that when the thief got to the car park, he attempted to snatch a Sport Utility Vehicle RAV4 but could not open the door.
“The secret police also told me that the camera captured when the man abandoned the RAV4 and went for my car and opened it, obviously with a master key manufactured by him and left.”
Osenun displayed, a print out of the CCTV camera which revealed the picture identity of the thief.
Further investigation on Saturday revealed that the head of Serjeant-at-arms department, the constitutionally recognised outfit meant to provide security at the National Assembly, had retired along with his deputy.
The outfit, whose personnel had yet to be bearing arms had over the years, been relying on the police and other security agencies to protect lives and property in the nation’s apex legislative institution.
It was learnt that the former head of the Serjeant-at-arms department, a retired airforce general, Air Commodore Abdullahi Sanni Zakari (retd) retired from the service of the National Assembly recently.
He was said to have retired along with his deputy, Mr. Adedeji Alabi, a fellow of security studies (fss).
The management of the federal legislature had subsequently, appointed in acting capacity, Mr. Vincent Idike, a fellow of the Security Institute (fsi) and a Knights of Saint Molumba, to head the Serjeant-at-arms department pending the appointment of a substance head.