Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
The Ogun State Area Command, Nigeria Customs Service, has intercepted a petrol tanker and about 25 other vehicles loaded with smuggled bags of rice.
The new Area Controller, Hassan Gangua, disclosed that the interceptions were recorded in different parts of the state in the last two weeks.
Ganga, who spoke at the command’s Idiroko border office, explained that the diesel petrol tanker was specially built for smuggling.
He said the tanker, which was filled to capacity with the smuggled rice, was intercepted by customs operatives on Monday November 15, 2016, along the Idiroko border area, on its way to Lagos.
“This interception was made 24 hours after my arrival by our gallant officers,” he added.
Gangua added that 25 cars with built-in compartments, loaded with bags of smuggled rice, were also intercepted in the Idiroko area.
The area controller said a trailer was also intercepted at the Lagos-Sagamu interchange with about 500 bags of rice on Monday November 21, 2016.
He said, “The goods, which were neatly packed, were being taken to the Eastern part of the country to be sold in the open market.”
Three suspects - Anthony Nwapa, Osunkwo Chukwu and Hyginus Igbokwe - were arrested.
As Yuletide approached, smuggling had been on the increase.
Comments
Post a Comment