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Post Date : September 21, 2020

80% staff of Niger Education Ministry with forged certificates — C’ttee

More startling revelations have come out of the ongoing screening of all categories of civil servants in Niger State as 80 per cent of staff of the state Ministry of Education have been uncovered to be in the service for several years with forged certificates. Already, the principal actor of a syndicate behind printing of the fake certificates of the state College of Education, COE, Minna has been arrested by the state police command. Chairman of the screening committee and state Commissioner for Works, Mr Ibrahim Panti, who made this known while answering questions from journalists in Minna, also said five members of staff of the institution(COE), Minna, have also been arrested by the state Police and had made useful statements as investigations continue. The commissioner said the suspected printer had admitted during interrogation that he had printed and sold out unspecified number of such fake certificates to many students, which they have used and were still using to secure employment within and outside the state . The commissioner revealed that most of those uncovered to be having the fake certificates could not even write their names correctly neither could they communicate in simple English language. He said: “The screening had been so revealing as 80 per cent staff of the state Ministry of Education are not genuinely certificated. During the exercise, many of them could not even write their names and could not also speak correct English. “Most of them are teachers and one would wonder the type of knowledge they would have been imparting on the students.” Panti, however, declared that all those involved had been sacked and would be replaced soonest with those having genuine certificates. He said: “All the vacancies are going to be filled with people with genuine certificates. The essence of the screening is to determine the actual staff strength and block all wastages through over bloated salaries. “Certainly, the final outcome of the screening will be beneficial to our graduates because many of them genuinely certificated will be employed.” Panti disclosed that though he and members of the screening committee had been threatened severally by some faceless people suspected to be part of the culprits, the members would not be deterred in concluding the assignment given to them by the government.

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Post Date : September 21, 2020

More troops, police deployed to Kaduna Airport Road, other strategic locations

At the instance of Governor Nasir El-Rufai, troops of the Nigerian Army and police operatives have been deployed to Kaduna Airport Road on Sunday in Kaduna. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deployment also covers some strategic locations, where aggressive operations by troops and police are in progress. The deployment was aimed at beefing up security around the Kaduna Airport Road, Kaduna-Birnin Gwari Road Roundabout and the Nigerian Defence Academy Road. The Nigerian Air Force will retain the duty of securing the immediate premises of the Kaduna Airport, its staff quarters and other critical aviation assets in the airport. A meeting was held between the state government, the Army, Police, Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and community leaders at Kutungare village, Igabi Local Government Area of the state. At the meeting, Gov. El-Rufai, represented by Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, challenged the community leaders to cooperate with the newly deployed troops and operatives. “We are here to see for ourselves the ongoing aggressive fighting patrols by the newly deployed troops and police operatives in these location. “This will complement the Nigerian Air Force, who are working in the immediate airport environment, while the troops and operatives cover the general area,” the governor said. In his remarks, the Garrison Commander, 1 Division Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Olusegun Abai, said communities have roles to play in enhancing security through information sharing and working harmoniously with security agencies. He added that the army will be open to the communities in line with the principles of civil-military relations. El-Rufia commended the Army for deploying troops to Juji village in Chikun LGA, following security challenges in the village and adjoining communities on the Kaduna Eastern Bypass. The governor also praised the community leaders for their support to security agencies and the government. He charged them to sustain the security information sharing mechanism in place, and also urged recourse to the law by aggrieved individuals and groups.

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Post Date : September 21, 2020

Buhari, N-Govs, others mourn as Emir of Zazzau, Shehu Idris dies at 84

Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Chiefs and 18th Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, has died. The Waziri of Zazzau, Mallam Ibrahim Muhammad, who confirmed the emir’s death, said he died at the 44 Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna in the early hours of yesterday at the age of 84. Shehu Idris was crowned Emir of Zazzau on February 15, 1975, and had ruled Zazzau emirate for 45 years, before his death. His remains had since been laid to rest at his palace in Zaria besides some past emirs of the emirate.. The funeral prayers were led by the Chief Imam of Zazzau Emirate, Alhaji Dalhatu Kasimu at about 5:35pm, attended by thousands of people. Among those in attendance were Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru El-Rufa’i, Secretary to the state government, Balarabe Lawal-Abbas, Speaker of the State Assembly, Yusuf Zailani and other top government functionaries. The Chief of Staff to the President, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari led the federal government delegation, consisting of Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu. Also at the palace was the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, and heads of military and paramilitary formations in Kaduna State. Buhari grieves Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock over the Emir’s death. President Buhari in a condolence message to Governor Nasir el-Rufai, the government and people of Kaduna State, said the state had lost one of its longest serving monarchs. “With the passing of Alhaji Shehu Idris, Nigeria has lost one of its longest reigning traditional monarchs whose contributions to the promotion of unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians cannot be forgotten for years to come. ‘‘’The Emir of Zazzau who ascended the throne in 1975, had used his long reign to serve his people with dedication and identified with their aspirations at all times, he said.” President Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, prayed God to forgive the late Emir and grant his family and subjects the fortitude to bear the loss. Senate President mourns On his part, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media, Ola Awoniyi, Lawan said: “During his long reign, the departed Emir applied his wisdom and prestige to enhance peace and transformational development in Zazzau Emirate. “He will continue to be remembered for his dignity, integrity and boundless love for his people and commitment to their well-being and progress.” Northern govs forum sad In a condolence message, the Northern Governors’ Forum, NGF, through its chairman and governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, described the death of the royal father as a big loss to the people of Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna State and the nation at large. Lalong in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Makut Macham, among others, said: “The late Emir lived a very productive life and represented the virtues of truth, service and honesty in his 45 years on the throne. His leadership and goodwill attracted enormous development to the Emirate and also improved the living standards of his people. ACF mourns On its part, the Arewa Consultative Forum ACF, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe, while informing that he ruled his Emirate through a period of rapid political, economic, social changes, said he never lost his focus on his primary responsibility – the maintenance of peace and progress in his Emirate. The Arewa Consultative Forum Condoles with his immediate family, the Zauzau Emirate and the Kaduna State government over this tragic and untimely loss. The forum will miss his fatherly advice on all issues that were tabled before him.” the ACF stated. Kaduna CAN commiserates Similarly, the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN ,Kaduna State, through its chairman Rev.John Joseph Hayab, commiserated with the family and entire people of the Zazzau Emirate over the death the Emir, saying the late Emir “left us at a very important time of rebuilding and restoration of peace ,love and friendship in our dear state ,a role he has been playing as Emir over many years. CAN is praying to God to comfort his family, the Emirate and Kaduna State as a whole.” Kaduna govt condoles Also, Kaduna State Government through a statement by Governor Nasir El Rufai Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, among others, said: “Throughout his long reign of 45 years, HRH Dr. Shehu Idris worked hard for the people of Zazzau Emirate. He offered wise counsel and was committed to the goals of improving health outcomes for all our people, raising school enrolment and peace and security in the state.” Masari mourns In his condolence message, Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State, in a statement by his Director-General Media and Publicity, Malam Abdu Labaran, said: “Dr Shehu is a man of compassion, but death has robbed the nation of his rich and wise counsel and that created a huge vacuum that would be difficult to fill. This is because he had listening ears to all manner of people and had made good use of his contacts to advance the nation’s interests. His death, end of an era, says Tinubu On his part, National leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, and former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, described his the death as the end of an era in Zazzau Emirate and the North. “A detribalised Nigerian, he was committed to Nigeria’s unity and progress. He was close to many Northern leaders as he was close to Southern leaders. I have lost a friend and a father. He would be deeply missed by all those who came in contact with him, he said.” A pillar of traditional Institution —IBB Reacting, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida(retd), described the late Emir as a pillar of traditional institution and a bridge between people of various ethnic groups in the country. In a condolence message he personally signed, General

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Post Date : September 21, 2020

Gunmen abduct over 40 farmers in Zamfara

…Villager battles gunman, seizes AK-47 rifle Gunmen, weekend, raided Gobirawan Cali community in Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State, kidnapping over 40 peasant farmers. A villager told the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Hausa Service that the gunmen stormed the communities, shooting sporadically, as inhabitants ran into the bush to avoid being hit by bullets. According to the villager, “they came in a large number, entered our community and shot repeatedly, chasing people. We were running for safety. The community is now deserted. We all ran away in hundreds. They took us by surprise. At about 3.30pm, a gunman came and tried to kidnap one of our men. He was able to wrestle the gunman, slammed him on the ground and seized his AK-47 rifle. Immediately he picked the gun and threw it inside a maize farm nearby. The gunman regained consciousness and ran away. ‘’We never knew his colleagues were waiting in the bush. They, thereafter, came into our communities in large number and shot repeatedly. We ran away but they abducted over 40 villagers. Some managed to escape. “We could not call the security agents because there was no network. Our community is now empty, we are not going back unless the government provides us with security.”

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Post Date : September 21, 2020

14-year-old girl raped to death in Ogun

A 14- year- old secondary school pupil, Fathia Ojewoye , has been raped to death at the Agbeloba – Oriyonrin area of Abeokuta, Ogun State . The teenager had on Wednesday been declared missing by her parents , but her corpse was found three days after with some of her personal effects in an uncompleted building in the area . When our correspondent visited the residence of the deceased ’ s mother , who had separated from her husband , sympathisers were seen consoling her. When PUNCH Metro attempted to speak to her, she asked to be left alone . She, however , vowed to ensure that the killer ( s ) of Fathia , whom she gave birth to while in secondary school, was brought to justice . A source in the area told our correspondent that Fathia was sent on an errand by her mother to refill the gas cylinder around the area, but she did not return home . The teenager was reported to have been last seen with a young man , while she was going to the gas station . The young man , who lives around the area , was said to have run away, apparently to avoid arrest. It was gathered that her corpse was found in an uncompleted building near her grandmother’ s residence. She was reportedly defiled in a brutal way and later murdered by yet- to – be identified person( s ) . The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident. Oyeyemi said investigation into the brutal killing of the teenager had commenced . He gave an assurance that the command would ensure that the perpetrators were apprehended soon . The police spokesman said the corpse had been deposited in the morgue of the State Hospital, Sokenu , Abeokuta. Oyeyemi added that arrangement was being made to conduct an autopsy on the corpse. Meanwhile, the Ogun State Child Protection Network, a coalition of non -governmental and civil society organisations , has condemned the incident. The network, in a statement by its Coordinator, Alfred Soleye , expressed shock over the brutal murder of Fathia . It urged the police to carry out detailed investigation and accurate forensics on exhibits recovered from the crime scene to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice .

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Post Date : September 21, 2020

Family accuses FCT SARS of raping, killing daughter, petitions IG

• She was killed four days after introduction – Brother The family of a 28- year -old graduate of the Institute of Management and Technology , Enugu, Ifeoma Abugu, has been thrown into mourning after she was allegedly sexually assaulted and killed by the personnel of the Special Anti -Robbery Squad, Federal Capital Territory Command, Abuja . It was gathered that three policemen on September 10, 2020, around 5pm, stormed the residence of Ifeoma ’ s fiancé , Afam Ugwunwa , at Wumba village in the Lokogoma area of Abuja to arrest him . PUNCH Metro learnt that in absence of Ugwunwa , the policemen arrested Ifeoma and took her away. Our correspondent learnt that all efforts to know the police station she was being taken to proved abortive as she was not found until Ugwunwa got a call the next day that Ifeoma had died and her corpse had been deposited in the morgue . Ifeoma ’ s brother, Alex , who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone , said she had just concluded her National Youth Service Corps and was arrested and killed four days after she had her introduction with Ugwunwa in Enugu State . He said , “ I was in Lagos when one of my junior brothers called me that he learnt that SARS arrested our sister and she died in detention. I just came to Abuja today ( Sunday) and I have asked some of my uncles , who have been to the police station , and they said that the policemen alleged that they met my sister unconscious on the bed and they carried her to hospital , where she died . “ When I asked my sister’ s fiancé what happened , he said he went out and someone called him on the telephone that SARS had arrested my sister and when he came back , he called someone he knew at the SARS office to help in facilitating her release, but the person was unable to do it that night. “ The following morning, he gave the woman money to help facilitate the release, but the woman called back to tell him that Ifeoma was dead. When my uncles saw the picture of her corpse, they saw signs that she was sexually assaulted . We’ re waiting for the result of an autopsy to come out to ascertain what happened to her. “ My sister was arrested four days after her introduction in the village and her wedding was slated for December . We want the killers to be brought to justice . ” When our correspondent contacted Ifeoma ’ s fiancé , he said he was too distraught to talk. The family ’ s lawyer , Ifeanyi Mamah, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone , urged the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to order a proper investigation into the matter . He said , “ She ( Ifeoma ) had just finished cooking that day , while her fiancé and her friend had finished eating and the friend left , while the fiancé went to see a friend in one of the neighbouring estates , when he received a call from a neighbour that the police had come to arrest his fiancée and she had been taken away and he received another call from Ifeoma that she was been taken away by SARS , but she didn ’ t know where they were taking her to . “ Ifeoma ’ s fiancé called a friend of his to help in looking for her and secure her release, but she was not found , only for the fiancé to receive a call the next day that she was dead and her corpse had been deposited in the morgue . “ The family of the deceased have not seen the corpse; the picture we have is the one the IPO snapped and sent to us when she went to the hospital , where her corpse was deposited; from the picture of the deceased , it appeared she was sexually assaulted before her death . The SARS officers alleged that they met Ifeoma in an unconscious state and that when they got there , there was cocaine on the table and that they only helped to take her to hospital, where she was examined and pronounced dead, but they forgot that people witnessed when she was being taken away. “ We want justice to be served ; we want the matter to be thoroughly investigated and assigned to good investigating officers, because the IPO that has been handling this matter is not erudite enough ; that is why we do not have confidence in them . The officers , who perpetrated this act, must be brought to justice . ” Mamah’ s petition to the IG read in part, “ The IPO, Inspector Bullus , and DPO Usman informed us at the police station on September 15, 2020, in explanation that the deceased was met in an unconscious state by the officers. This explanation is contrary to the information from residents and our clients are not confident with the way the matter is being handled at the Apo Police Station . “ The SARS operatives , who did the arrest, are still not yet arrested and are freely walking the streets of Abuja . Our clients are not confident that the division will do justice in the matter , and the deceased body is still lying lifeless at Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital. Sir , we appeal that you use your highly esteemed office to ensure that proper investigation is carried out , that the culprits be brought to book and justice done . ” Our correspondent learnt the matter was first reported at the Apo Police Station and later transferred to the FCT Command. When contacted by our correspondent, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer , Anjuguri Manzah , said he was not aware of the matter and urged the

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Post Date : September 21, 2020

Wild jubilation as Obaseki defeats Ize-Iyamu, APC alleges foul play

……PDP candidate scores 307 , 955 , party says we’ ve retired godfathers , caged lions …..Obaseki was busy rigging while raising false alarm , claims beaten opposition party The Independent National Electoral Commission on Sunday declared the incumbent Governor of Edo State , Godwin Obaseki, as the winner of Saturday’ s governorship election in the state. The Returning Officer for the election , Prof Akpofure Rim -Ruke, who announced the result, said Obaseki polled 307, 955 votes to beat his closest rival , Osagie Ize – Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress, who scored 223, 619 votes. Rim -Ruke , who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources , stated that Obaseki , who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, met all the criteria needed for him to be returned as governor . There was wild jubilation in the state immediately Obaseki became victorious , but the state chapter of the APC dismissed the victory, alleging that the election was marked by falsification of results . Obaseki had, in June defected to the PDP following his failure to clinch the APC governorship ticket , which was won by Ize -Iyamu, who defected to the later a few months before its governorship primary. The governorship electioneering was tension-soaked in the state as a result of the intractable crisis between the governor and his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole. The immediate past APC national chairman supported Obaseki to emerge as the state governor in 2016, but they parted ways after the 2019 elections . During the electioneering , both parties mobilised their leaders to Benin as part of efforts to win the state. While the APC team was led by the Kano State Governor , Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike , headed the PDP team . Also the APC National Leader , Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a video released on the week of the election , urged the Edo electorate to reject Obaseki , but the PDP said Edo State was different from Lagos State , where it said Tinubu called the shots. But at 2. 45pm on Sunday , the electoral race was won and lost when the returning officer , Rim – Ruke, announced Obaseki as the winner . He said , “ I , Akpofure Rim -Ruke, hereby certify , as the returning officer for the Edo State governorship election held on the 19th day of September , 2020, that the election was duly conducted. “ The PDP candidate , having got the 25 per cent in two /thirds of the local government areas in the state and having a margin of lead higher than the cancelled votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected . ” Obaseki, in defeating his main opponent , Ize -Iyamu , won 13 out of the 18 local government areas. But Oshiomhole pulled his weight in his local government , Etsako West , where the APC won 26, 140 while the PDP polled 17, 959 votes. According to the returning officer , 557, 443 voters were accredited for the election , while 537, 407 people voted . He said 12, 835 votes were rejected out of a total of 550, 242 votes that were cast . Leading with a gap of 84, 336 votes, Obaseki emerged victorious in the central and southern parts of the state, while Ize -Iyamu won in five – Etsako West, Akoko Edo , Etsako East, Etsako Central and Owan East – out of the six local government areas in the northern part. However, while the PDP agent and his counterparts from other political parties were present at the state collation centre , no agent from the APC was present to sign and receive a copy of the election result . But the delay in declaring Obaseki the winner had caused tension among PDP big wigs as some of them became apprehensive and began to make frantic calls to party agents and other members at the collation centre . The PDP agent , Omoregie Ogbeide – Ihama, had drawn the attention of the returning officer to the sudden disappearance of the collation officer for Orhionmwon, Segun Samuel after he ( collation officer ) was called to present his LGA result . Rim – Ruke had immediately called for a break in the collation of the remaining two local government results , including that of Ovia South West, pending the time the collation officer would come . It was , however , a relief to journalists , observers and other occupants of the hall when the Orhionmwon collation officer resurfaced an hour later and was called upon to present his results. Before then , an angry Chairman of the PDP Edo 2020 Campaign Council , Chief Dan Orbih, called on leaders of the party to move to the INEC office to express their grievances. He warned that people of the state would not tolerate any manipulation of the election through the delay in declaring the PDP candidate the winner . He said , “ We are aware that the collation officers for these LGAs are in the INEC with the result sheets , copies of which are with our agents . Edo people will not tolerate any manipulation which INEC and its staff appear to be planning. ” The tension inside the collation centre , however , disappeared when the returning officer eventually declared Obaseki the winner of the election. Wild jubilation in Benin City At the collation centre , the PDP members screamed in joy and hugged one another after the declaration by Rim – Ruke. Outside the hall , the party supporters defied the heavy presence of policemen manning the INEC office at Ikpoba Hill , where they gathered to celebrate the victory of the governor . The atmosphere on most of the roads including Airport and Ring roads was like a carnival . Jubilant youths were seen with colourful umbrellas with the PDP logo singing

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Post Date : September 20, 2020

Newborn safely delivered under Lagos bridge

The Lagos State Emergency Managment Agency (LASEMA) has said that its ambulance team at Eti-osa delivered Ms Blessing Emmanuel, a 35 year-old woman of a live male baby. Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, DG/CEO LASEMA, told Newsmen on Saturday that the baby was delivered at about 4:30 p.m under the Ajah Bridge. ”The lady, who has no home nor family in Lagos, is from Cross River State. ”Mother and baby are fine and have been taken to Island Maternity where they will get expert care,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

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Post Date : September 20, 2020

ECOWAS Insists On Okonjo-Iweala For WTO Top Job

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s request, Presidents of West African countries have reiterated their commitment to ensure that a Nigerian former minister for finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala clinches the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization. They also urged Africa to unite behind her candidacy as the continent’s best option in the hotly contested race. The leaders expressed the strong show of support during the 57th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) which took place recently in Niamey, Republic of Niger. The event which was held at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre, Niamey considered reports form the 44th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level and the 84th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which preceded the summit. According to the Presidents who spoke at the event, the focus of the sub-region is to persuade other African countries to support Nigeria’s highly respected pick for the position, one of five candidates who recently scaled the first stage of the WTO leadership hurdle. Apart Okonjo-Iweala others still in the race for the WTO job is Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, Amina Mohamed of Kenya, Liam Fox of the United Kingdom and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee. ECOWAS had in June endorsed Okonjo-Iweala for the job. The sub-regional body anchored its support for the former World Bank Managing Director based on her track record of high performance and leadership in top positions. According to the ECOWAS Presidents, Okonjo-Iweala is eminently qualified to head the WTO based on her “long years of managerial experience at the top echelon of multilateral institutions, her reputation as a fearless reformer, her excellent negotiating and political skills, her experience of over 30 years as a developmental economist with a long-standing interest in trade, her excellent academic qualification, her position as Managing Director World Bank, and currently as Board Chair, Gavi, and AU Special Envoy to mobilize financial resources for the fight against COVID-19.’’

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Post Date : September 20, 2020

8 die in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident

Eight persons were on Saturday night burnt to death in a lone accident involving a Mazda bus on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway. Mr Ahmed Umar, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abeokuta on Sunday. Umar explained that the accident, which occurred at about 8:45 p.m. near Saapade bridge, was caused by tyre burst. This, he said, resulted in the bus summersaulting and bursting into flames. The sector commander added that 11 people were involved in the accident made up of three male adults, one female adult, one child and six unidentified persons. “The suspected cause of the lone accident involving the Mazda bus marked AAA 249 VX was tyre burst which led to loss of control before crash and bursting into flames immediately,” he said. He said that FRSC operatives contacted the Sagamu Fire Service immediately for a joint rescue operation. Umar said that three injured victims were taken to Idera Hospital, Sagamu, for medical attention while the Health Department of Remo North Local Government Area was contacted on the burnt victims. He advised motorists to drive cautiously, obey traffic rules and regulations and ensure that their tyres were in good condition.

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