The Police in Kogi have detained three suspects for allegedly using the name and office of the Kogi First Lady, Sefinat Usman-Ododo, to defraud unsuspecting victims.

The Spokesman of the Command, SP Williams Ovye-Aya, who confirmed the arrest on Tuesday in Lokoja, said the suspects  (names withheld) were in the custody of the Police Quick Response Unit.

He said the trio allegedly printed forms and sold them to unsuspecting members of the public for enrolment into a fake empowerment programme.

The suspects, he said, printed the forms with the name: Kogi State Cooperative Federation of Nigeria.

He said the trio reportedly deceived their victims that the said cooperative was the empowerment platform of the First Lady.

“The suspects were nabbed in Lokoja on Tuesday when an undercover agent approached them and bought the form

“The matter is under investigation and once concluded we shall prosecute them accordingly,” he said. 

 Kwara Government has confirmed the death of four persons in Eruda community in Olorun West Local Government Area after eating Amala, a popular local delicacy.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina El-Imam, who disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Ilorin, said that another person also also died of
gastroenteritis.

Consequent upon the incident, El-Imam said that the state government had placed health care in the state on Outbreak Response Mode.

She said that the entire health team of the ministry had visited the community after report of the family that lost some members after consuming of the yam flour.

“On getting there, the claim was that there was an instance of food poisoning where a 70-year-old woman fell ill and died after consuming amala.

“Unfortunately, her son and grandchildren also consumed the same food, fell ill and died.

“They were taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital where they passed away,” she said.

El-Imam stated that the amala with ‘Lafun’ could have been responsible for the deaths.

She further stated that those who consumed yam flour without lafun were fine.

“However, those who consumed the mixture of both lafun and amala mixture fell ill and some of them eventually died,” she said.

The commissioner said that the survivors were receiving treatment in the hospitals where they were admitted.

“Some are doing well and hopefully, following intensive medical treatment, they should be able to recover fully.

“It was observed that they are residing in a place where personal and environmental hygiene is not really optimal,” she said.

El-Imam attributed the incident to food poisoning, occasioned by under-processed cassava used in the production of the meal.

She said that an initial rapid diagnostic test was conducted on the suspected case of cholera, which later turned out to be gastroenteritis.

She said that one death was recorded at Osin Gada in Ilorin West Local Government Area from gastroenteritis.

“The community had a few cases of stooling and vomiting, particularly among children.

“The vomiting and stooling drew the attention of the state’s disease reporting structure.

“On getting there, treatment was immediately commenced and all the affected patients have received standard treatments to stop the symptoms and restore their health,” she said.

The commissioner said that the state government would provide the community with potable water to prevent future re-occurrence. 

Governor Seyi Makinde has approved a substantial increase in the monthly gratuity payments for retirees in Oyo State.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) announced this on its X account on Tuesday, adding that the increment affects both Oyo State and Local Government retirees.
According to the statement, the new monthly gratuity payment will be N1 billion which is up from the previous N456 million.

“This significant increase demonstrates Governor Makinde’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of retirees who have served the state diligently,” the PDP wrote.

The party added that the increased gratuity payment will take effect immediately and will benefit thousands of retirees across the state.

“Our retirees deserve the best and we are committed to ensuring they receive the compensation they deserve for their years of service,” Governor Makinde stated.

“This increase is a testament to our administration’s dedication to their welfare.”

Makinde added that the Oyo State Government remains dedicated to prioritizing the needs of its citizens including retirees.

The governor stated that his administration will continue to work towards improving their quality of life.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said its operatives miraculously rescued two victims from a serious multi-vehicle accident at Ojota early Tuesday morning.

The Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, Adebayo Taofiq announced the rescue of the victims in a statement on the Authority’s X account.

Taofiq said the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, led his team and other emergency responders in a swift response to the accident at the New Garage by Odo Iya-Alaro area of Ojota, Lagos.

“Mr. Bakare-Oki confirmed that the accident, which occurred around 3am, involved a Volkswagen commercial bus loaded with vegetables and a containerized vehicle that had crashed into a Jersey barrier,” Taofiq said.

He said Bakare-Oki confirmed further that two victims trapped in the accident (Male & female) were successfully rescued alive by LASTMA personnel and other emergency responders.

“The accident was particularly alarming due to ongoing rehabilitation work on the Odo Iya-Alaro bridge,” Bakare-Oki said.

The rescued victims were immediately transported to the hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service.

In a related incident, another loaded tanker also collided with a barrier at the same location very close to the initial accident scene, but fortunately, no casualties were recorded.

All vehicles involved in the accidents were promptly cleared with the assistance of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit (LRU).

Emergency responders at the scene included personnel from LASTMA, LASEMA, the Police, and passersby.

Bakare-Oki extended his sympathies to the rescued victims and emphasized the importance of safety.

The LASTMA GM also urged all motorists, including commercial bus drivers, to avoid speeding during their journeys within or outside Lagos.

Human remains believed to be of a missing man was found inside a crocodile in north-eastern Australia, police said on Tuesday.

The 40-year-old man had gone missing in a suspected crocodile attack near the Annan River Bridge in Far North Queensland on Saturday afternoon.

“A formal identification process is underway however it is believed that the remains were that of a missing 40-year-old New South Wales man,” Queensland police said in a statement.

“Further testing will be conducted to determine a positive identity.”

Police added that the search and rescue operation for the missing man was suspended.

Earlier, on Monday, local media quoted a spokesman for the Queensland Department of Environment, Science, and Innovation as saying that a large crocodile “believed to be responsible for the fatal attack on the man was “humanely euthanised.”

The reptile, measuring almost five metres in length, was spotted around 4 kilometres from where the man went missing and recognised due to distinctive markings on its snout.

The crocodile was said to be decades old.

Australian media reported that the man was at the popular fishing spot with his wife and children.

Authorities were also investigating reports on social media that people were seen feeding crocodiles near the scene of the accident.

Feeding crocodiles is considered a criminal offence and can be punished with a fine of around $6,452 Australian ($4,188 US).

On the average, two fatal crocodile attacks are reported every year in Australia.

The latest incident in July saw a 12-year-old girl killed in the Northern Territory.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has transferred the electricity market in Oyo State to the Oyo State Electricity Regulatory Commission (OSERC).

NERC issued the order to transfer regulatory oversight of the electricity market in Oyo from the commission to OSERC in a statement on its website.

According to the statement, the transfer is in compliance with the amended Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) and the Electricity Act 2023 (Amended).

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“Recall that with the EA 2023, the commission retains the role as a central regulator with regulatory oversight on the inter-state/international generation, transmission, supply, trading and system operations,” the statement read.

“The EA also mandates any state that intends to establish and regulate intrastate electricity markets to deliver a formal notification of its processes.

“Such states should also request NERC to transfer regulatory authority over electricity operations to the state regulator.

“Based on this, the Oyo State Government complied with the conditions precedent in the laws, duly notified NERC and requested for the transfer of regulatory oversight of the intrastate electricity market.

According to the statement, the transfer order by NERC has the following provisions: Direct Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to incorporate a subsidiary (IBEDC SubCo) to assume responsibilities for intrastate supply and distribution of electricity in Oyo State from IBEDC.

IBEDC shall complete the incorporation of IBEDC SubCo within 60 days from August 6, 2024.

The subcompany shall apply for and obtain licence for the intrastate supply and distribution of electricity from OSERC, among other directives.

“All transfers envisaged by this order shall be completed by 5th February 2025,” the statement read.

It also directed the residents of Oyo to kindly access the details in the order on the NERC website via nerc.gov.ng/media/order-on…