Airwaves Watch

Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Owoseni Gabriel, who posed as a woman to evade arrest, and 32 others for their alleged involvement in computer-related fraud. Gabriel was arrested alongside Salaudeen Hammed, Akinsanya Olamilekan, Olamofe Joshua, Akindele Saheed, Damilare Micheal, Patoki Ayomiku, Olakunle Ismail, Babalola Ayomide, Afolabi Olaibola, Abiodun Olayinka, Samuel Ogunyemi, Adebayo Olarewaju, Abdul-Fatai Olawale and Hassan Ayofe. Others are: Samson Jeremiah, Kolawole Afeez, Owoseni Gabriel, Makinde Oluwasegun, Daniel Seun, Adefolahan Isreal, Olusegun Emmanuel, Olawore Micheal, Hammed Raheem, Micheal Tunde, Francis Chibundu, Jesse Oluwatobiloba, Adenekan Ayotunde, Qudus Adeyi, Sulaimon Oladimeji, Kayode Sunday, Daniel Owosine, and Boluwatife Gbolahan. They were arrested on May 2, 2023, at the Iyana Ipaja axis of Lagos State, following credible intelligence received by the Commission on the activities of some young boys involved in computer-related fraud. During the sting operation, Gabriel, particularly, wore a female dress and a wig to evade arrest. Items recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Camry 2005 model, a Toyota Camry 2009 model, mobile phones and laptop computers. The suspects will be charged to court after investigations have been concluded. 1,344 Views

Contrary to the news being bandied about on social media that the popular Alaba International Market in Ojo area of Lagos State was razed by fire on Friday, destroying properties worth millions, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police PRO, has refuted the claim on his Twitter handle. The Police PRO wrote, “This is a false narrative! Acting on credible information, police officers from Ojo Division raided shanties around the market, arrested suspected criminals and recovered some weapons. The shanties were thereafter set on fire. Alaba Int’l Market is NOT on fire!” 1,159 Views

While enforcing the existing ban on the use of motorcycles in parts of Lagos State, PRO police command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin revealed that, Police Officers of Isolo Division were under attack by motorcycle riders at Cele bus-stop, resulting in the death of one Police Inspector and serious injury to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO). Two suspects were gathered to have been arrested while forty-one motorcycles were impounded. In a Twitter post, Hundeyin said, \”The Lagos State Police Command will not be deterred from carrying out its mandate of enforcing duly established laws. Citizens are urged to remain law-abiding, as riders and passengers alike arrested on prohibited routes will face the law. Above all, any form of attack on Police Officers will no longer be tolerated\”. 1,567 Views

The 60-year-old Kano business man, Aminu Danmaliki has refuted the claim that he got married to an underage girl. The wedding video that went viral a couple of days ago, set the tongues wagging that he married an 11-year-old girl. However in a statement posted on his Facebook page, Danmiliki said, \” My recent marriage with Sakina has generated a lot of tension and unfounded allegations that I married an underage girl some suggesting she is 11 years old and that she was forced to marry me. That is untrue. The Wedding Video went viral. We decided to keep mute but was advised to state the true facts, here it is: My beloved wife is 21 years old and she made her own choice of me as her husband and I loved her too. I hope the blackmailers and doubting Thomas will see the reality in this picture and leave us alone to enjoy our honeymoon.\” 284 Views

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the duo of Sharu Abubakar Tabula and Isma\’il Iliyasu Mangu for deliberately inciting violence in parts of Kano State.  It was gathered that the suspects had separately recorded messages, which they shared through various social media channels. In those potentially harmful messages, they specifically championed certain political interests and directly called on their supporters to violently attack those opposed to them, including security personnel during the 18th March, 2023 Governorship and House of Assembly election in the State. As a result of this development, a particular political party in Kano has threatened to organise protest march in the metropolis as well as storm offices of some of the security agencies on 16th March, 2023 in solidarity for the suspects. However, DSS has called on the concerned party to shelve it forthwith or be ready to face the consequences. The DSS assures that it will not idly watch misguided persons or groups undermine the peace and security of the state. Meanwhile, the Service is collaborating with sister security agencies to ensure that adequate security is provided for a successful electoral exercise. Aside Kano, the Service recently arrested similar subversive elements that threatened violence in other States of the Federation 294 Views

Last Saturday, 11th March, two members of the Bureau De Change (BDC) operating at Ikota shopping complex, Ajah, in Lagos State were reportedly murdered by some people suspected to be ritualists. It was reliably gathered that the two BDC members were lured by a customer to one of the houses located inside an Estate opposite the plaza for a business transaction, only for them to be killed and their bodies found decapitated with organs missing. While police are gathered to have made some arrests, the culprits were learnt to be at large. 286 Views

A notorious criminal in Ilesa, Tunde Oginni ( aka Tunde Bongo, has been arrested in Ilesa by gallant security agents who had been on his trail for weeks. Bongo who is described as a member of the Eiye Confraternity has been linked to multiple murders of the APC members in Ilesa and its environs, including the gruesome murder of Ebenezer Alaro who was traced from campaign rally and shot infront of his father\’s house at Araromi Street, Ilesa, a couple of weeks ago. While Tunde Bongo has since been taken to the Force Headquarters in Osogbo, for further interrogation, the police are still on the manhunt for other members of his gang, especially Junior, who escaped by the whiskers when Bongo was apprehended. Meanwhile, the Ilesa residents, who expressed happiness over the arrest, appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to ensure Bongo is duly and timely prosecuted so it can serve as a deterrence to other hoodlums who have made Ijesaland a haven of criminals. (Source Olatunji Arije) 451 Views

“I don’t know anything about that chief of staff thing. All I heard was that I didn’t come here last week to pick up my certificate and for that reason, somebody conjectured that must be about something about Chief of Staff I was in Lagos and I could not leave Lagos because I was campaigning for my party. That’s number one. Again, it’ll interest you to know that I was not here four years ago to pick up my certificate because I couldn’t make it. I don’t think it is anything significant. I’ll pick up my certificate today or tomorrow.” 350 Views

On Sunday morning, Monday Market, the largest in Maiduguri, Borno state capital is gutted by fire and properties worth hundreds of millions of Naira ruined. However in his State wide broadcast, Babagana Umara Zulum , the State governor has announced N1 billion for emergency relief, console victims and set up an assessment committee. \”My fellow people of Borno State, We woke up today with a very sad and unfortunate fire disaster at the Maiduguri Monday market. This is very unfortunate but we believe that this is decreed by Allah. Inna lillahi Wa inna ilayhi raajiun.I feel deeply pained by this incident and I know how painful it is for anyone to work hard over years to build his or her business but end up losing that investment in seconds. I really feel the pains of everyone affected by this incident. I commiserate with all of youI have approved the release of one billion naira as emergency relief for us to quickly support victims of the disaster because we know that some of them may even have difficulty surviving the next few days. Many rely on daily businesses in order to cater for themselves.We are setting up an assessment committee that will comprise respectable individuals from our society including representatives of the victims, for us to speedily assess damages, and take comprehensive list of those affected and their loses. I willa lso be holding meeting with leadership of the market and representatives of victims. I am going to see Mr President and seek for presidential intervention on how to get support for victims. We will also reach out to other humanitarian establishments to seek help\”.   581 Views

The massive operation by the Economic And Financial Crime Commission (EFCC ) to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow\’s presidential and national assembly elections may have begun paying dividends with the interception of the sum of N32,400,000 (Thirty-two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos. The Anti Financial Crime agency disclosed that the recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission. The suspect involved has been taken into custody for further questioning. 319 Views