On Wednesday, Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, asserted that numerous structures hindering the free flow of rainwater would be removed.

He stated that they would remove those structures, “irrespective of who or highly placed the owners are.”

Following the devastating flood that submerged numerous homes, communities, and properties in Lagos, Wahab addressed the public.

Affected regions encompass Epe, Eredo, Bogije, Labora, Abijon, Sangotedo, Awoyaya, and Ibeju-Lekki.

The commissioner, however, unleashed his anger on a post on X (formerly Twitter) asking him to explain if “the Igbo-owned property and business demolition we witnessed in Lagos 2023, was all politically engineered?”

@PureStanley1 posted “Can we all now agree that the Igbo owned property and business demolition we witnessed in Lagos 2023, was all politically engineered? and we were told that some of the buildings were built on canals, thereby blocking the flow of water and causing flooding in Lagos. @tokunbo_wahab can u explain to us why there was a flood in Lagos again yesterday and the early hours of today, after going on demolition spree on IGBOS owned properties?

“Take the Microphone sir, we await ur response!.”

But Wahab fired back and accused the X user of pushing ethnic narrative.

Don’t miss this: Tragic Lagos Flood: Pupil Swept Away While Returning Home from School

“Many more structures obstructing the free flow of rain water in Lagos will still be removed irrespective of who or highly placed the owners are. Prepare your mind to make your usual aimless and empty noise. If turning it to ethnic narrative makes you happy, go ahead! TW,” he posted.

On Wednesday, soldiers from the 35 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Alamala, actively conducted an environmental sanitation exercise at Lafenwa market in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State. This initiative was a crucial part of commemorating the 2024 Nigerian Army Day celebration.

Throughout the market, soldiers diligently swept and cleared drainages, aiming to curb the spread of cholera. Brigadier General Mohammed Aminu, Commander of the 35 Artillery Brigade, emphasized to journalists that the exercise played a pivotal role in preventing the escalation of the cholera outbreak.

Aminu, represented by Garrison Commander Colonel Legborsi Nule, emphasized that the gesture aimed to support the local community and contribute to society.

He highlighted that military personnel are integral community members actively contributing to the country’s development.

He explained that the outbreak of cholera was also considered before deciding to clean the market areas.

“Because of the outbreak of cholera, we decided to clean the environment, this is a market, and all of us shop from here so there is no better place that should be kept clean than a place where you are buying your foodstuffs.

“It is a yearly event that takes place across the country and we use this period as a day to carry out activities like this in support of our host environment.

“We decided to come to the market, we have been passing here and we found out that the market was dirty by the day so we decided to clean it to help the civil authority and our host community.

“And to let them know basically that we in the military are part of the society, we are part of the community.

“Whatever that has to do with the development of the country, it is also our responsibility as citizens of this country.”

Suspected bandits killed 11 people on Wednesday morning in Ayati community of Ukum Local Government Area in Benue State, sparking a wild protest in the vicinity.

Ukum, one of the three LGAs in the Sankera ancestral bloc, has endured the terror of armed outlaws for many years, despite numerous joint security operations targeting gangsterism in the area.

Early Wednesday morning, residents reported that bandits attacked Ayati, the headquarters of Borikyo ward. The assailants, in large numbers, killed 11 people and injured many others.

In response to this tragic event, enraged Borikyo youths took to the Sankera-Ayati-Sai road and the Ukum local government secretariat, voicing their anguish over the ongoing violence in their community.

The angry protesters vandalized the council secretariat, shattering windows and destroying everything in sight with stones and sticks.

A resident informed our correspondent over the phone, “The gunmen opened gunfire and killed seven people on the spot at night. More bodies were recovered hours later bringing the causalities to 11. Now, the youths are protesting seriously.

“They have barricaded the roads with the dead bodies, asking Governor Hyacinth Alia to act because the killings have continued so long without any clear steps to end the madness.

“They are protesting at Sankera, the headquarters of Ukum LGA. Angry youths are currently demonstrating to register their grievances about the continuous killing of innocent and defenceless people of Borikyo in Ukum LGA on a daily basis without any action from government to arrest the ugly situation.”

Chief Joseph Har, the Internal Security Adviser to the Benue State Governor, informed journalists in Makurdi that the protesters were threatening to burn down the LG secretariat due to the ongoing killings in the area.

Har added, “We don’t have the details yet but bandits are responsible. They (youths) are protesting and threatening to burn down the LG secretariat but they are aware that the state government has dislodged these bandits.

“So what the bandits just did is what we call in security parlance, ‘the last kick of a dying horse.’

“Just a few days ago, there was massive destruction of their camps in Katsina Ala. So this is their last kick. They have been dislodged and they are trying everything they can to vent their anger on the armless people and possibly cause confusion in the towns.

“I have spoken to the leader of the youths and I told them to be patient. Government is going to sustain the momentum. We will not be deterred by the killings but we will sustain the heat and pressure on them so they can be degraded completely.”

The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Catherine Anene, confirmed the incident in a text message to our correspondent, stating, “I’m aware of the protest but I’m yet to receive details.”

The tragic incident occurred on Taiwo Street in Ikosi, Ketu, Lagos, while the pupil was returning home from school with his colleagues.

Joshua’s mother, a fruit seller, reacted to the tragedy by weeping, pulling her hair, and lamenting the loss of her only child.

“Joshua died hungry and cold. He was in primary six; he was supposed to write his common entrance exam,” she lamented.

The mother, who was clearly distraught, revealed that she had lost her home in a fire and was living in a temporary shelter.

She implored the public to assist in finding her son, vowing to do whatever it takes to bring him home.

Meanwhile, Oloyede, a witness and youth leader in the area, mentioned seeing children in the rain and cautioning them about the dangers of the area.

“But unfortunately, the plank that was used to bridge the canal was completely covered by water, and they fell into the drainage.

“I managed to swim and rescue one of them, but unfortunately, Joshua was swept away by the heavy currents and died,” he stated.

A community leader, speaking anonymously, accused the government of neglecting the drainage channel project, which left the area vulnerable to flooding.

“In January, the government started a project to channel the drainage, but they abandoned it, leaving us with this unfinished project. Every time it rains, the area is filled with water,” he mentioned.

The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, stated that he had not received any report on the incident when contacted.

Meanwhile, attempts to reach the Lagos police spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as he did not answer calls.

Ghanaian chef Ebenezer Smith, also known as Chef Smith, has been exposed for fraudulently claiming to have set a new Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

Smith had announced on social media that he had set a new record of 802 hours and 25 minutes. This surpasses the previous mark by a great amount of time. However, Alina Polianskaya, a PR executive for Guinness World Records, has firmly refuted these claims.

“It is not true that Ebenezer Smith has been awarded a Guinness World Record certificate,” Polianskaya told BBC. “The current and true record holder for the longest cooking marathon by an individual is Alan Fisher from Ireland. He achieved 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds in Matsue, Japan, from September 28 to October 3, 2023.”

Unfortunately, this revelation comes as a blow to Smith. He has proudly displayed a fake Guinness World Record certificate on his social media channels. Deceiving his followers into believing he had achieved the prestigious accomplishment.

The previous record holders
Also, the record holder before Alan Fisher was Hilda Baci, a Nigerian chef who set the world record in 2022 with a marathon of 100 hours. Hilda Baci’s achievement inspired millions of Nigerians. Several of them have come out to attempt to break different types of Guinness World Records. This wave is popularly tagged as the “Hilda Baci effect.”

Guinness World Records has made it clear that it does not recognize Smith’s claimed record. The organisation has taken steps to address the unauthorized use of its brand and the dissemination of false information.

Furthermore, this isn’t Ebenezer Smith’s first attempt at breaking the longest cooking marathon record. He sent his first application in June and November 2023 to which he was denied. Chef Smith claimed to have received approval from the Guinness World Records in January 2024 after which he and his team began preparing for the cook-a-thon.

Chef Smith’s arrest
Following the press conference held by Chef Smith, the police arrested him and his manager. Their arrest is due to a breach of contract between the chef and main sponsor of the cookathon, Amadia Shopping Center.

One of the company’s representatives stormed the venue of the press conference to understand why the chef did not inform them of the email that he went to another venue to make the public announcement.

Chef Smith’s lawyer, Kofi Awoonor, spoke on this situation at a local TV station (TV3). He said the arrest is “in connection with some disagreement with Chef Smith’s lead sponsor for the cookathon.”

“I got a call that my client has been arrested, so I came here. But the officers said the commander is not around where the investigators are also not in the office at the time – but they will brief me on Wednesday about the full details.”

Chef Smith’s former team member, Naa Adjeley, said; “The company has pumped over GH¢ 300k for the cookathon – for equipment, foodstuff and things used for the attempt, so they are upset that the chef did not tell them anything before he went to do the press conference.”

She also added that the chef has a new manager and team who have been running things. Apparently, they sidelined all the people who were part of the team during the cookathon attempt.

“Before I left the police station Tuesday night, it was the chef and his manager who were there answering questions.”

Finally, as Chef Ebenezer Smith is facing charges with Amadia Shopping Center, people are calling upon Guinness World Records to make a public statement to confirm if Chef Smith is indeed the official record holder.

The Guardian