Martin Odiete

The management of Sentinel Forensic Limited, a forensic firm engaged by the Lagos State Government to conduct a crime scene investigation of the alleged shooting of protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza on October 20, 2020, has denied indicting the Nigerian Army at the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for Victims of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Related Abuses and other matters.

It would be recalled that the head of the team from Sentinel Forensics Limited, Joseph Kayode Funsho, presented their report before the panel on Friday and stated their observations.

According to the management of Sentinel Forensic Limited, they have noticed inaccurate reporting and sensationalism of the proceedings, adding that the facts had been twisted.

The management in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday said, ‘’News making rounds on the internet and social media platforms suggests that Sentinel Forensic Limited findings implicate and indict the Nigerian Army in the shooting of peaceful protesters at the Lekki toll plaza on October 20th, 2020, is biased and unbalanced reporting, this is false and fake news.

“Our forensic specialist commented that following an extensive scene investigation at the Lekki Toll Plaza ,TP, by our team of specialist about 87 days after the incidence there was an absence of any physical evidence supporting the allegations of discharge of live ammunition by Nigerian Army personnel, This scene investigation was conducted days after Sentinel Forensics Ltd was engaged by the Judicial Panel of inquiry.

“With respect to the ballistic evidence presented to Sentinel Forensics Ltd for forensic examination by the Judicial Panel our specialist indicated that two cartridge casings, from expended and fired, of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition was tendered by the Judicial Panel as evidence recovered at the scene, while one unit of live, unexpended, not fired, ammunition and one unit of cartridge case, expended, fired round,7.62 x 33mm ammunition was tendered by the Nigerian Army.

“The Nigerian Army also tendered one unit of blank, unexpended,not fired, 7.62 ×51mm ammunition and one unit of blank expended,fired round,7.62 x 51mm ammunition.”

Sentinel Forensic Limited noted that their specialist mentioned amongst other things that the live ammunition tendered as exhibit by the Nigerian Army was of the same type of cartridge and calibre as the ammunition casings tendered by the Judicial Panel which is 7.62 x 39mm While the blank ammunition tendered was of a different cartridge type 7.62mm x 54mm.

The company noted that their specialist testified in accordance with standard operating protocol in forensics and crime scene Investigation which relies on analysis of physical evidence backed by empirical scientific procedures to draw objective conclusions and inferences and not here say or sensationalism.

The company categorically stated that section six above does not in any way, manner or form indict or absolve any of the parties currently before the Judicial Panel as it sits to determine what occurred at Lekki Toll Plaza on October 20th 2020 in line with best practice and principles of fairness.

“In adjudication parties are considered innocent until proven guilty and the role of an expert witness is never to ascribe innocence or guilt but to support the courts in its finding.” Sentinel Forensic Limited said

The company strongly advised all news outlets to desist from sensational reporting and reach out to Sentinel Forensic Limited, via their widely circulated contact address on any matter where they require their direct comments.

... Drugged cookies, others seized in raids across Abuja, Edo, Kaduna, Taraba, Kwara, Gombe

Barely a week after the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA intercepted N6 billion worth of Amphetamine, popularly known as jihadists’ drug at the Apapa port in Lagos, operatives of the Agency have again seized over 24, 311 kilograms of heroin, codeine as well as Arizona and Colorado variants of cannabis in fresh drug busts at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja and the Tincan seaport, Apapa, Lagos state.

The first seizure came on Friday 3rd September, 2021 at the SAHCO export shed of the MMIA where two consignments containing 10.350kg heroin and 25.2kg cannabis from South Africa were intercepted. In series of sting operations between Saturday 4th Sept and Monday 6th Sept, in different parts of Lagos, four suspects were arrested including Mrs. Bello Kafayat Ayo who was picked from Shino Street, Palmgroove area of the state.

At the Tincan seaport, Apapa, narcotic officers intercepted a 40ft container loaded with 22,590 kilograms of Barcadin Codeine syrup on Monday 6th Sept following intelligence received from international partners on the container since May 2021. The container was also found to include 4,020.03kg of analgesic tablets and 47 cartons of insulated hot pots used to conceal the illicit drugs, all imported from India. Equally, on Friday 10th Sept, a consignment of Colorado weighing 17.5kg and hidden inside a Grand Caravan Dodge vehicle shipped in a 40ft container from Montreal, Canada, was also intercepted and seized at the Tincan port.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old graduate, Miss Bee Okoro has been arrested in Abuja for producing and selling drugged candies and cookies. A 27-year-old dispatch rider, Idewo Raimi who handles door-to-door delivery for her was also arrested.

The suspects who were arrested at Garki Area 11 on Friday 10th Sept, with a number of their drugged products and 400grams of Loud and Arizona, confessed they have been in the drug business for over a year.

In Edo state, a total of 1,425.2 kilograms of compressed blocks of cannabis sativa were seized in a raid on Aviosi outskirt, close to Uzebba, Owan west LGA, on Monday 6th Sept, while on the same day one Yahaya Mamman was nabbed along Zaria-Danja road, Kaduna with 10.3kg Tramadol and 60.5kg Exol-6. The previous day, Thursday 5th Sept, one ThankGod Danladi was arrested at Tudun Wada area of Jalingo, the Taraba state capital with 44.2kg of cannabis.

In the same vein, NDLEA operatives in Kwara state on Tuesday 7th Sept, arrested a 36-year-old lady, Yusuf Sherifat who recently completed a jail sentence following her conviction by a Federal High Court in Ilorin for dealing in 22 grams of crack cocaine. Her latest arrest along Specialist Hospital Road, Alagbado, Ilorin, followed intelligence that she has resumed sale of crack cocaine in Ilorin metropolis. This time around, she devised another means of delivering drugs along the road to known customers who contact her via telephone calls.

In Gombe state, raids across the state between Wednesday 1st Sept and Friday 10th Sept led to the arrest of at least nine drug dealers from who assorted illicit drugs weighing over 150kg were recovered. One of such was the interception of a DAF truck loaded with 128kg of psychotropic substances coming from Onitsha, Anambra state along Gombe-Yola road.

In his reaction to the latest drug busts at the Lagos airport, Tincan seaport and across the FCT, Edo, Kaduna, Taraba, Kwara and Gombe states, Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the commanders, officers and men of the commands for their resilience and bravery. He said the series of arrests and seizures across the country further affirm NDLEA’s zero tolerance for production, trafficking and abuse of any illicit substance, warning that drug dealers who are yet to have a change of heart must be ready to contend with the new NDLEA.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has praised the Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) for securing the long-awaited promotion to the elite Nigerian Premier Football League.

3SC, popularly known as Oluyole Warriors, was relegated to the lower division of the league (NNL) in 2017 and had since struggled to return to the NPFL.

Taiwo Adisa, Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, in statement, praised the doggedness and resilience of the 3SC players and coaching crew who presented a golden gift to the people of Oyo State.

“We are sincerely happy to see our darling team, 3SC back where it belongs; the Nigerian Premier Football League.

“It gladdens my heart that the feat is achieved just a few days after we unveiled the remodelled, world-class Lekan Salami Sport Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan, the befitting home of the Shooting Stars.

“I rejoice with the good people of Oyo State on this wonderful achievement by our darling team and especially the return of good football to Ibadan.

“Surely, the government of Oyo State will ensure that the players and technical crew are rewarded for bringing us this joyful moment,” Makinde stated.

The governor further said that the promotion was in line with his campaign promise to get the club promoted to the elite league within two years of assumption of office.

Makinde, who commended the commitment and patriotism of the players and management of 3SC, pledged to reward them for the amazing feat and wonderful achievement.

He added: “As a government, we have made the commitment to transform the sport sector so as to create employment for the teeming youths of the state,”

3SC, on Saturday evening, defeated Ekiti United FC 6-0 in the final game of the Super Eight, to wrap up the league as winners of the Group B conference.

The team had earlier defeated Bendel Insurance 2-1 and played 1-1 with Remo Stars FC to scoop a total of seven points to top Group B.

3SC will play Niger Tornadoes FC of Niger, which topped Group A of the Super Eight on Sunday to determine the overall winner of the 2020/21 Nigeria National League.

Other prominent Nigerians and supporters on Sunday also lauded the promotion 

Sen. Teslim Folarin (APC-Oyo Central) hailed the 3SC players and management on the promotion to NPFL, saying they deserved to be part of the natio n`s elite league.

Jigawa is poised to expand its existing cattle grazing reserves, Gov. Muhammad Badaru has said.

The assurance is contained in a statement issued by in Dutse on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Relations, Alhaji Habibu Kila.

Kila said Badaru gave the assurance when he received the state’s Chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a sociocultural and economic organisation, Alhaji Umar Kabir, in Dutse on Friday.

“As a result of our recent working tour to The Netherlands, plans are underway to expand the existing cattle routes and gracing reserves which will provide enough all-year grass for nomads,’’ the governor said.

The governor also called on the group to support its fight against vices among the Fulani, especially the youths, who engaged in criminal activities.

The aide added that the governor also promised to continue to provide qualitative education to all citizens of the state, including nomads.

“In addition to about 400 nomadic schools across state, this administration will establish 200 more of such schools.

“It will also employ 10 Fulfulde-speaking teachers from each of the 27 local government areas of the state to ensure effective teaching and learning,’’ the governor said.

In his remarks, Alhaji Kabir lauded the state government for ensuring peace in the state.

He promised that the group would do everything possible to maintain the peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state.

The chairman assured that the group, with the support of government, would assist in fishing out bad eggs among Fulani in the state.

Jigawa’s Farmers and Herdsmen Board announced in April that it would demarcate 95km of land as grazing reserves as part of measures to tackle farmers/herders clashes in the state.

Its spokesman, Malam Zubairu Sulaiman, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) then that the reserves would be carved out in Babura, Birninkudu, Gagarawa, Gumel, Gwaram, Buji, Maigatari, Suletankarkar, Kafinhausa and Kirikasamma Local Government Areas.

He said the state government had released more than N7 million for the exercise.

On Jan. 1, 2008, former Gov. Sule Lamido established 400 grazing reserves, 50 of which have already been gazetted.

The decision to establish and demarcate grazing reserves in Jigawa was part of a multi-dimensional approach adopted by Lamido to address incessant clashes between pastoralists and farmers.

As part of efforts to encourage and enhance the vocation of pastoralists, Jigawa vaccinated 3,438,590 cattle against diseases between 2007 and 2014. 

The Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), which is maintaining peace in Plateau and its environs, has constituted a Broad of Enquiry to investigate the alleged murder of one Abdullahi Karafa, a taxi driver in Jos, by its personnel.