Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has vowed that his administration will not be intimidated by bandits, following a recent attack on Egbe community in Yagba West Local Government Area.
Describing the attack as a brutal assault on the state’s peace and humanity, Governor Ododo assured residents that his administration would deliver justice to the fallen heroes and their families.
Speaking during his condolence visit to the Egbe community on Saturday 13, September 2025,the Governor represented by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Salifu pledged to intensify collaboration with security agencies, improve community policing, and provide more support and resources to local vigilantes to secure every part of the state.
He said that the state mourns the loss of gallant officers of the Nigeria Police Force and members of the Vigilante Service who paid the supreme price while defending the people.
“Their blood will not be shed in vain. We will not rest until those behind this heinous crime are tracked down, apprehended, and brought to justice,” the Governor said.
The governor went further to extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, pledging that the government would stand by them and ensure the dependents of the fallen heroes are not abandoned.
He urged residents not to succumb to fear but to remain vigilant, cooperate with security agencies, and promptly report suspicious activities. He also warned against harboring criminals or aiding their operations in any form.
“Together, we’ll overcome. Together, we’ll send a clear message that Kogi State cannot be broken,” Governor Ododo affirmed.
He concluded with prayers for the repose of the souls of the fallen heroes, comfort for their families, and lasting peace across the state.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the Chairman of Yagba West Local Government Area, Hon. Tosin Olokun, appreciated the Governor for visiting to assess the extent of the pain inflicted on the community and to commiserate with them, noting that only a caring government would stand with its people at such a time.
The State Security Adviser, Rtd Commander Jerry Omodara, in his remarks, highlighted the strides of the state government in strengthening security in border communities.
He stressed that the government will not allow Egbe to be overrun by criminals, insisting that residents must be able to live in peace and farm without fear.
According to him, most bandits terrorising flashpoints in the state are fleeing from neighboring states, adding that the government has identified their hideouts.
“With the support of the Federal Government and the National Security Adviser, the criminals are being intercepted and neutralised”
Omodara further disclosed plans to establish a Forward Operation Base (FOB) in Egbe to address insecurity in the area, while warning local collaborators and saboteurs that the government will deal with them decisively.
In his remarks, His Royal Highness, Oba Ayodele Irukera, the Elegbe of Egbe, appealed for more security presence, stressing that as a border community, Egbe is highly vulnerable to attacks.
He apologized for the recent road blockade staged by youths, describing it as a reaction to the insecurity in the area.
“It is inhuman for five people to be killed in just one day,” he said, calling for urgent measures to strengthen security in the community.
A youth representative, Engr. Olugbenga David, urged the government to carry young people along in its security strategies, and called for the deployment of more personnel, including trained forest guards, to the area.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) management, led by General Manager Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, paid a courtesy visit to the agency’s pioneer Chief Executive Officer and retired Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Yemi Odubela.
This visit was a gesture of reverence and institutional remembrance, acknowledging Odubela’s visionary leadership in laying the foundation of LASTMA.
Speaking during the visit, Bakare-Oki extolled Odubela’s steadfastness, pioneering courage, and sagacious leadership, which have had a lasting impact on the agency.
He remarked that the principles and doctrines instituted by the pioneer Chief Executive Officer remain permanently inscribed in the Authority’s institutional DNA, guiding its evolution as a citadel of efficiency and public service.
He presented Odubela with a commemorative Trooper-on-Bike Plaque, symbolizing LASTMA’s commitment to vigilance, resilience, and collective safety. Bakare-Oki also invoked prayers for Odubela’s continued vitality and divine blessings, reaffirming the management’s commitment to upholding the agency’s ideals.
Bakare Oki went further to invoke prayers for the elder statesman’s continued vitality, longevity, and divine blessings, reaffirming the management’s resolute commitment to safeguarding and advancing the ideals upon which the Authority was originally founded.
In response, Odubela expressed gratitude and described the visit as a reaffirmation of continuity and institutional memory.
He advised LASTMA officers to deepen their dedication to service, maintain professionalism, and uphold the agency’s image.
Odubela also commended the current leadership under Bakare-Oki for restoring the agency’s glory and primacy in traffic administration and road safety.
Notably, Odubela acknowledged the foresight of former Lagos State Governor and current President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving him the opportunity to contribute to Lagos State’s infrastructural and administrative development.
According to Mr. Odubela, “I am profoundly elated to witness the Agency whose foundation I laid not only endure but ascend into becoming the foremost traffic management institution of reckoning within the Federation.”
The visit concluded with mutual appreciation, reinforcing LASTMA’s commitment to its mission of order, discipline, and service in Lagos State.
The Delta State Police Command has recorded notable successes in its efforts to combat crime and criminality in the state.
Addressing newsmen at the Police headquarters,Asaba,the Public Relation Officer,SP Bright Edafe who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police,CP Olufemi Abaniwonda highlighted some of the achievements, including the arrest of suspected armed robbers, recovery of stolen vehicles, and seizure of contraband drugs.
The CP reiterated the command’s commitment to the fight against crime and criminality, noting that with the deployment of the new area command Ughelli, residents in Ughelli and environs should be assured that crime and corruption in the area will be drastically reduced.
CP Olufemi stated that on the 26th of August,2025,a man (name withheld) of Agbarho/otor was robbed by a five-man armed robbery gang,they were arrested, and stolen items, including a 65-inch television and mobile phones, were recovered.
He also noted that criminal gang that specializes in snatching motor bikes at gun point from helpless Nigerians, according to him two suspects were arrested and a single-barreled gun was recovered.
He said;Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I welcome you to this press briefing in Ughelli, where I will be intimating you on some of the command’s achievements and recovery recorded in the Ughelli Area command.”
“On 26/08/25 at about 0800hrs, a man (name withheld) of Agbarho/otor reported that he was robbed by a five-man armed robbery gang; his phones, laptops, 65-inch television, and other valuables were taken from him.”
“The Area Commander Ughelli detailed operatives to investigate. An intelligence-led investigation led to the arrest of one Faith Perry, and one of the stolen phones was recovered from her.”
“She then led the operatives to her boyfriend, Kelly Otobure, who gifted her the phone. Upon the arrest of the boyfriend, a search warrant was executed in his house, and the other exhibits stolen from the victim, which include: 65 65-inch Television, Play PlayStation 4, and mobile phones, were recovered from him.”
“Interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of the gang leader, Samson Ugbe AKA Big Man, who has been on the command wanted list, alongside his gang members, Emmanuel Edam, Frank Aminu, Sampson Irorowo and Yahaya Bashir.”
“Also recovered are two suspected stolen vehicles. They are allegedly involved in the robbery at Niger Delta University, Oghara, in the year 2024 and the robbery at Oroye warehouse, where over 180 bags of rice were stolen. Suspects are in custody, and the investigation is ongoing.”
“Also,on 25/08/25, the Area commander Ughelli received an information over the criminal activities of a certain criminal gang that specializes in snatching motor bikes at gun point from helpless Nigerians however following an Intelligence report, one Henry Bernard ‘m age 35yrs Justice Ayero ‘m age 39yrs all of Aladja Town of Udu LGA Delta State who robbed a certain rider of his lady bike at gun point.”
“Surveillance Team trailed and arrested the said Henry Bernard ‘m Justice Ayero ‘m Oho Ogbavwomera ‘m Suspects gave useful information, and following their confessions, they led the Police to the house of one Oluwa Felix ‘m of Owawha community. Search was conducted and one (1) single-barreled gun with three (3) one (1) scissors, three (3) touch lights, two (2) hacksaws, one (1) tiny dagger, one 1) masking tape, all wrapped in a black sack, were recovered”he said.
The Police image maker went further to state that men of the Area Command Ughelli embarked on a Raid of suspected criminal hideouts in lieu of the campaign against the use of Illicit drugs and its subsequent effects on youths in our society.A drug baron was arrested, and large quantities of illicit drugs, including codeine and tramadol, were seized.
“On 29/08/25, men of the Area Command Ughelli embarked on a Raid of suspected criminal hideouts in lieu of the Campaign Against the Use of Illicit Drugs and its subsequent effects on youths in our society.
“The Raid was made possible through Credible Intelligence in relation to the activities of some persons known for drug peddling within Afisere/Ughelli Town.
“The operatives trailed and arrested a drug baron named Egbule Isioma ‘f’ age 52yrs that operates a Chemist Store opposite the Afisere Town hall alongside three (3) of her apprentices namely Mercy John ‘f Favour John ‘f Amarachi Ngozi ‘f suspect led the operatives to her house at No. 31 Edile Street Afisere Search Warrant was executed during which the followings were recovered, Three Hundred and Fifty Five (355) bottles of CSC Codeine, Fifty Seven (57) rolls of 50MG Tramadol capsules, three hundred and thirty five (335) rolls of 100mg tramadol capsules, thirty three (33) rolls of 200mg super royal, seven (7) backwoods five hundred and forty (540) sachets of swinol capsules, and sixteen (16) cups of Canadian liquid cannabis. Investigation further revealed that the suspect is a major dealer in illicit drugs in Ughelli and environs.”
“The command acting on a credible intelligence,on the 24/08/2025 at about 0700hrs,received that some hoodlums are about to sell two neat Nigerian Used Vehicles, a Lexus RX350 Jeep and a Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Jeep for Two Million Naira each.”
“The area commander, Ughelli, immediately led combined Surveillance Teams to a hotel along Effurun, Sapele Road and arrested one Igenebo John ‘m ’, 35 years of Estako East LGA of Edo State. Upon discreet interrogation, he confessed and led the Police to two different locations and the vehicles were promptly recovered. The Mercedes-Benz GLK350 Jeep with REG/NO: ABJ420CY, black in colour, was recovered at the Hotel. The Lexus 350 Jeep with REG/NO: RSH319CB, Colored white, was recovered at Edu Street, off Jakpa Road, by ECO Bank, all in Uvwie LGA. The suspect stated further that the vehicles were given to him on 14/08/2025 by One Ameachi ‘M’ surname unknown to sell the said Ameachi claimed the vehicles were owned by his late elder brother.”
“However, upon the recovery, vehicle details were immediately sent to the license office for definite clarification/original owner’s details. Upon receiving the details, one Nathaniel Ugbebe ‘M’ Of No 2 Back Of Stepdown Amukpe, Sapele was contacted and he responded, explained that on 17/08/2025 at about 0225hrs, unknown gun men numbering about five (5) broke into his house and robbed him of the following: One REDMI Note 14, valued #250,000.00; one INFINIX phone valued #350,000.00; one I-PHONE 12 PRO MAX valued #480,000.00, one iPhone 8 Pro Max valued #400,000.00, one Nokia torchlight valued #12,000.00, one TECNO button phone valued #35,000.00, one HP laptop valued #250,000.00, one baby tab valued €50 wedding rings valued #50,000.00, one white colored Lexus RX350 with REG/NO: RSH 319 CB.”
“The victim further stated that they transferred the sum of #1,900,000.00 from his mobile app to his MONIEPOINT POS machine and drove away in his vehicle.”
“Investigation on top gear to arrest the said Ameachi and other syndicate members currently on the run, recover their guns and other robbed items.”he submitted
Investigator news reports that the Delta State Police Command remains committed to ensuring public safety and combating crime in the state as the Command’s successes demonstrate its determination to protect residents and maintain law and order.
The last may not have been heard over last week fatal clash at Owode Onirin area of lagos State as Engineer Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Ventures Ltd, has reached out to the Inspector General of Police,IGP Kayode Egbetokun seeking intervention over the Lagos State Police Command’s declaration of him as wanted.
The Lagos State Police Command declared Ariori wanted in connection with a deadly clash at Owode Onirin, alleging his involvement in land grabbing activities.
Engr Abiodun
Ariori speaking with newsmen denies the allegations of land grabbing,while faulting the Lagos State Police Command’s declaration of him as wanted, describing it as premature, undemocratic, and an abuse of power.
He stated that the Command did not extend any formal invitation to him before making the declaration, which he believes has damaged his reputation and endangered his life.
Engineer Ariori, who posited that his undainted long standing image as a known property Developer is not in doubt, queried why the Lagos State Police Command jettisoned civilized method and international police investigation standard but rather chose to hurriedly declare him Wanted, even without recourse to accord him a formal police invitation through letter, telephone or text message.
According to him, ” In civilized climes, the right path to tow by the police, would have been to invite me to report to the command to state my own side of the matter or for questioning, but rather the Police Public Relations Officer, hurriedly rushed to condemn ,judged and painted me a Land Grabber ,while declaring me wanted, thereby destroying my hard earned reputation over the years, without giving me the right of hearing and Constitutional right of presumption of innocence until found guilty”.
The Engineer ,who said he is traumatized by the Lagos State Police Command actions, denied being on the run from the state Police command,as according to him,the investigation by the State Command appears to be a duplicity,as the land issues was already before the AIG Zone 2, where he said he was with his lawyer and other invited persons, few hours before hoodlums invaded his Company’s property space, attacked and wounded his Company’s officially approved Mobile police guards .
He debunked the State Police Command allegations, querying thus : “How can i be on run from the same State Police command,whose operatives had assisted my Company in executing the valid Court Judgements regarding the possession of the same land at Kilometer 13, Owode Onirin.
“Does it make any sense that I should be on the run when my multi million Naira property was what was destroyed by the hoodlums . Besides, even the legality of our possession of the land is also known to the Governor of the State, The Attorney General of the State and the State Building Control Agency”.he said
Ariori went further to plead with the Inspector General of Police,IGP Egbetokun to urgently intervene and save his life from what he called obvious gang up, just as he alerted the general public,over threats to his life, adding that his life is in grave danger and seriously subjected to threats by persons unknown.
He noted that the State Police Command pre- judgmentally and unilaterally declared him Wanted” over the incident he said he was not found within the vicinity of the crime scene,noting that he became traumatized when his family members,friends,associates and business partners drew his attention to the Commands announcement, hence he resorted to hide and protect himself from looming danger to his life , especially” as the unnecessary police public declaration indicates that he most likely will not get fair hearing from the command that had called him a Land Grabber without any factual evidence”.
While giving his own side of the story regarding the fatal incident at Owode Onirin last week, through a telephone interview, Engineer Ariori,debunked the allegation by the Police that he is a land grabber, stating vividly that he is the sole legitimate representative of the rightful owners of the property known as B.I . Olowu family .
” The truth is that Land Grabbers do not go into the kind of physical structural development that our company is doing at Kilometer 13 Owode Onirin, they do not invest money, build and turn virgin landed property to modern master piece, what they do is to take people’s land and sell them off immediately and run away”, he enlightened .
Expressing disappointment over the Lagos State Command allegation that his police guards were on illegal duty at the scene of the incident, Engineer Ariori, tendered series of approvals letters from 2020 , including the most recent letter of August 8, 2025, issued by the mobile police top hierarchy in Abuja.
“My Company has been assigned with police guards through proper approvals since 2020, which has always been revalidated every year, including this month August,2025, and all these facts are in the database of the Lagos State Police Command, so how could the State Police Image Maker accuse me of using officers on illegal duty?
“Besides, it should concern the Authority to fish out the sponsors of the hoodlums who invaded our legitimate space and attacked and wounded Police officers that were on lawful duty , instead of rushing to make spurious allegations against me without proper verification”, Ariori said.
Highlighting on the Genesis of the case, Engineer Ariori’s Lawyer, Barrister Monye Francis of Monye, Monye & Co Chamber, in an interview with our Correspondent, confirmed that he visited the Police Public Relations Officer , CSP Benjamin Hundenyin and the Commissioner of Police on thursday and Friday last week, shortly after the Police Command declared his Client wanted,to avail the Command of his Clients side of the Story ,as well as to State the true position of the case , armed with valid documentary evidence.
Barrister Monye, also confirmed that the matter was already before the AIG Zone 2, through petitions by the parties involved, before the sudden invasion and destruction of his Clients property valued at N560, 000,000 million , being total value of the various and series of destruction within a short period of time.
Explaining further, he said, ” What happened last week at my Clients property space, was a coordinated unlawful invasion and attack with the aim of assassinating Engineer Abiodun Ariori, because the very vehicle vandalized and damaged was his operational vehicle, hence it is rational to conclude that the attackers thought he was inside the vehicle at the time of invasion, whereas the occupants were the Company’s officially approved police guards”.
On the issue of the land ownership , Barrister Monye stated thus: ” Prosperous Ariori Golden Ventures Ltd, headed by Engineer Abiodun Akeem Ariori, is the sole Representative and Power of Attorney holder of the land in question measuring 4.4 hectares of land, known as Kilometer 13 Owode Onirin, with Survey plan- MAl/121/97,situated along Ikorodu road, belonging to B.I.Olowu family, which they bought about 52 pounds in 1957 , from the indigenous owners.
The lawyer narrated that ” Early in 1990, kosofe/ Shomolu local Government Area and some persons unknown started trespassing on the land, hence the family instituted a legal action in 1994, delineated as Suit No. ID/1757/94, before Justice A. O . Holloway, filed through a veteran lawyer,Barrister Adedeji Adekoya.
“On June 2nd 1998, the family won the case and court awarded damages against the local government Area and other defendants.However, series of litigations cropped up and even there was an Appeal delineated as CA/L/523/2017, where Bode Olowu, Femi Olowu and Benson Ojeifo representated B .I.Olowu family against Shomolu local government, Agbajowa Market Association and others unknown. The Court of Appeal once again upheld the Rights of the B.I. Olowu family and deleted their opponents rights of Appeal, “Barrister Monye stated.
Continued He , “Despite these judgment, some illegal occupants and some Owode Onirin people continued their incursions and erection of illegal shanties, leading to the family between 2012 and 2019 applying for certificate of possession, known otherwise as Form O from the Court”.
In a post judgement application , on June 20,2024,” the family also sought for and got legal approval from Justice M.A.Savage , in line with the Order of the Court permitting the Family to take possession, removing shanties ,illegal structures and occupants with the assistance of the court Bailiffs,Sheriffs , Officers from the Lagos State Police Command and the lagos State Task Force, which Prosperous Ariori Golden Ventures Ltd handled on behalf of the family, thereby dislodging criminal elements who had tuned the place to their den .They were other executions of Court Judgement in 2001,2009,2012,2024″, Money said.
The legal luminary revealed that,”It is on record that the Governor and Attorney General of the state are aware of the property and had intervened , resolved issues and set modalities between the local government , Market Association and the family . Even Surveyors from the Lagos State Office of the Surveyor General, using drones , had also clarified the status quo for the lagos State Building Control Agency before possession was taken by the family”.
Barrister Monye, therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to urgently intervene and hand over the matter to a specialized police team, to ensure justice, equity,fairness and unbiased investigation.
He insisted that his client life has been endangered and under threat following the state police command declaring him wanted,hence his client posited that he has lost confidence in the “biased investigation process by the Lagos State Police Command”, whom his Client accused of having arbitrarily “adjudged him guilty, branded ,tagged him a Land Grabber and declared him Wanted before the media, without even extending invitation to him or hearing from him”.
Further clarifying issues, the Lawyer also insisted that his Client is not a land Grabber and not running away from the Police, noting that” no form of invitation was extended to him before the public embarrassment of declaring him wanted, which has destroyed his reputation , despite that he was not involved or present at the scene of the clash between hoodlums and the police guards”.
Regretting the colossal lost incurred by his Client, the Lawyer estimated that Prosperous Ariori Golden Ventures Ltd has lost over N560,000 000 through the five different invasions within a short time, as well as wilful destruction of the company’s CCTV surveillance cameras, fence, canopy, iron rods ,Blocks making machines , 20,000 moulded blocks, operational vehicle and other building materials from the various attacks and destruction within some months.
Investigator news reports that to ensure a thorough investigation, Barrister Monye has further pleaded with the IGP to avail himself with past and present investigations records from the Police Division that covers the area, the State Command, AIG Zone 2, AIG Alagbon,Homicide department , Lagos State Building Control Agency and the State Taskforce on land grabbing , adding that” the Police Chief will be shocked to find out that same sponsored hoodlums had in the past also harassed and attacked Police officers from the state command, Zone 2, lagos State government Surveyors and even snatched rifle from officers, which were later recovered without culprits prosecuted”.
It would be recalled that last week, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, had announced in a statement on Wednesday that an officer was also severely injured in the conflict, which occurred in the Owode Onirin area.
According to him “In the course of the preliminary investigation and prima facie evidence available, one Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, is connected to the deadly clash between the traders and the land grabbers.
“He is hereby declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command, as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice have so far proved abortive. It is very clear that he has gone into hiding,” Hundeyin stated.
However, the Lawyer faulted the Commands allegations and further maintained that the State Command did not trade with caution before making their declarations against his client, as no effort was made to invite Engineer Ariori at all, which contradicted earlier public pronouncement by the State Police Image Maker.
In the unrelenting symphony of Lagos—the colossal megacity whose ceaseless rhythm reverberates across its gridlocked highways, teeming marketplaces, and frenetic boulevards—mobility stands at once as a lifeline and an omnipresent peril.
With a population surpassing twenty-two million and vehicular density exceeding one million, the city is a daily theatre where the fragile threshold between human life and mechanical force is relentlessly tested.
Within such precarious circumstances, the guardianship of life requires more than the rigidity of enforcement; it calls for foresight, pedagogy, and the moral architecture of civic education.
It is in this crucible that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has revitalised one of its most visionary interventions: the School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme (STS-AP)—a flagship initiative designed to inculcate traffic discipline, civic consciousness, and life-preserving ethos within the youngest generation of Lagosians.
Under the sagacious stewardship of Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, the programme has been elevated from a marginal sensitization exercise into a transformative educational crusade—one shaping the emergent custodians of the city’s road safety culture.
Children as Sentinels of the Future
The genius of the School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme lies in its profound recognition that the destiny of Lagos’ traffic culture is not etched upon its asphalt but inscribed in the consciousness of its children.
Mr. Bakare-Oki’s administration has therefore advanced a bold paradigm—embedding traffic enlightenment into the quotidian lives of school pupils.
Through orchestrated school engagements, interactive workshops, dramatized role-plays, and experiential road-safety simulations, children are not only introduced to traffic codes but to the inviolable sanctity of human life upon the roadways.
Pedestrian discipline, interpretation of signage, the sacred duty of using pedestrian bridges, the universality of seatbelt culture, and safety in cycling and motorcycling are conveyed not as sterile regulations but as habits to be embodied.
In classrooms and assembly halls across the metropolis, LASTMA officials now appear not as stern enforcers but as empathetic tutors—transfiguring road safety from a punitive structure into a formative pedagogy.
The child who halts at a zebra crossing, the student who insists on ascending the pedestrian bridge, becomes the seed of generational transformation.
Embedding Safety Within the Educational Ecosystem
Under the forward-thinking stewardship of Bakare-Oki, the programme has expanded beyond episodic interventions into an institutionalised partnership with the Lagos State Ministry of Education. Safety advocacy is no longer a perfunctory afterthought but is increasingly interwoven into school timetables, extracurricular pursuits, and civic clubs.
Many schools have birthed Traffic Safety Clubs—peer-led fraternities where pupils, guided by LASTMA mentors, emerge as ambassadors of safety within their institutions and homes.
These young vanguards carry their convictions beyond the gates of their schools, admonishing parents about seatbelt compliance, exhorting motorcyclists to don helmets, and dissuading siblings from reckless jaywalking.
Thus, advocacy transcends the classroom, infiltrating households and communities with the wisdom of tender but insistent voices.
Innovation in Advocacy and Communication
This administration has not constrained itself to traditional didactics. Conscious of the fact that contemporary children are digital natives, the programme has incorporated visual technologies, animated traffic-safety clips, and gamified simulations to enthrall young minds.
Pamphlets are disseminated, yet more significantly, interactive media is deployed to engraine learning.
Radio jingles and child-friendly road-safety dramatizations are broadcast in indigenous tongues, ensuring inclusivity across diverse socio-economic landscapes.
Social media, too, has become a vehicle for youthful engagement through quizzes, competitions, and campaigns.
The result is a hybridised model of advocacy—both analogue and digital—that resonates across generational divides.
From Classrooms to Crossroads: The Tangible Impact
Empirical evidence substantiates the programme’s efficacy. Data curated by LASTMA’s Research and Statistics Department reveal a discernible decline in pedestrian fatalities among school-aged children, particularly in corridors where advocacy has been most vigorous.
Schools once infamous for tragic roadside incidents now record fewer casualties, as disciplined crossing patterns and greater use of pedestrian bridges become habitual among pupils.
The anecdotes are as moving as the numbers. Parents narrate children’s stern admonitions to “strap in” before starting a car.
Commercial bus drivers recount pupils who resolutely refuse to disembark at unsafe points. Such testimonies reveal an unassailable truth: that authentic advocacy multiplies its effects far beyond statistical measure.
Recasting the Public Image of LASTMA
Long perceived as an agency defined solely by punitive enforcement, LASTMA under Bakare-Oki has undertaken a deliberate recalibration of its identity.
The School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme epitomises this renaissance, humanising the agency by portraying its officers as nurturers of safety, guardians of discipline, and stewards of innocence.
By investing in the consciousness of children, LASTMA accrues not only compliance but trust. Citizens increasingly behold the agency not as a punitive hammer but as a social partner in the preservation of life.
This shift in perception is itself a profound achievement, for without public cooperation, sustainable traffic management is an impossibility.
A Template for Foresighted Urban Governance
The elevation of the School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme transcends administrative reform; it represents a moral investment in the metropolis’ posterity.
It affirms that a city cannot be permanently coerced into order—it must be educated into discipline. By cultivating traffic consciousness at formative stages, LASTMA is sowing seeds of a civic culture destined to outlive present administrations.
Global observers take note. Road-safety experts affirm that the most enduring cultures of discipline in advanced nations were not forged through draconian penalties alone, but through sustained child-focused advocacy.
By situating Lagos upon this trajectory, Bakare-Oki’s administration has inscribed the megacity into the pantheon of forward-looking metropolises.
Conclusion: A Covenant with the Future
The Lagos School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme under the stewardship of Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki is no mere bureaucratic reform—it is a quiet revolution.
It transmutes classrooms into nurseries of civic virtue, children into apostles of discipline, and families into allies of enforcement.
In a city where disorder often masquerades as destiny, the deliberate shaping of youthful consciousness towards road safety is both a governmental act and a moral covenant.
The triumph of this programme reaffirms that road safety is not the burden of officers alone, but a shared responsibility germinated in childhood.
As Lagos advances towards its aspiration of global-city stature, Bakare-Oki’s legacy may ultimately be measured not only in decongested highways but in preserved lives, reformed habits, and generations awakened to the sanctity of order amidst motions.
As part of its annual human right appraisals, the International Committee on Human Rights and Child Support (ICHRCS) has scored the Benue State Governor, His Excellency Rev Fr. Hyacinth Alia, Ph.D. high on humanitarian support initiatives
Recall that Benue State had in the past, experienced perennial episodes of insecurity, particularly herder-farmer conflicts which led to mass displacement of indigenous people from their ancestral homes and the proliferation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
A statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Tope Fasua and made available to Journalists in Abuja, venue of this year’s ICHRCS Annual Appraisal Summit, indicated that Fr. Alia is the most humanitarian-sensitive Governor in Nigeria, particularly for his proactive and durable solutions to IDP crisis in the state.
“Benue State under the adminstration of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Alia has done tremendously well in the area of welfare and security of IDPs. From coordination with non-governmental organization, religious organizations, civil society groups and international donors, the Governor has earned our respect for advancing durable solutions.
“The Governor’s approach which is anchored on rebuilding the livelihoods of the affected persons through skills acquisition and resettling them back into their communities is not just timely but a sustainable approach that seeks to restore the dignity of displaced persons by building their capacity rather than depending on relief materials in camps.
“Under his administration, and with the untiring efforts of Dr. James Iorapu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), humanitarian interventions have received a huge boost. By keying into the vision and mission of His Excellency for Benue, the agency’s activities have become model for other states.
“In particular, we commend the strong partnership and passion for the IDPs which has garnered support and promoted their plight before the international community. This couldn’t have been possible without a Governor who is committed and determined to completely ameliorate the suffering of his people. Particular mention must be made of the $1 million dollars attracted to Benue for IDP support with the consistent efforts of the Governor”, the statement noted.
The rights group also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and particularly the First Lady, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for her support to the state and IDPs, adding that, “it is a demonstration of the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President for Nigerians to which the Benue State government is positively aligned”
The group finally called on the private sector and individuals to rally support for the IDPs “to ensure that the bold initiatives pioneered by the Governor to provide long lasting, sustainable and practical solutions to their plight will bear fruits and their challenges addressed once and for all”
The National Civil Society Coalition on Transparency and Public Accountability has recognized Comptroller Sarah Wadinda, Customs Area Comptroller of the Lagos Industrial Area Command, with the prestigious Plaque of Honour for Distinguished Service, Trade Facilitation, and Customs Leadership Excellence.
Investigator news reports that Comptroller Wadinda’s leadership has transformed the Lagos Industrial Area Command into a model of efficiency and transparency, setting standards in customs operations.
Her exceptional record of service, professionalism, and people-centred approach to trade facilitation have earned her this esteemed recognition.
The award ceremony was held alongside the commissioning of a Water Treatment Plant and an Electronic Library at Festac Senior Grammar School, Lagos.
These projects were executed under the Customs’ Care Program,the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, aimed at promoting education, public health, and community development.
Speaking during the presentation, Amb. Kingsley Enwelim Nwanze, Director General/CEO of CELCE-Africa and Lead Convener of the National Civil Society Coalition on Transparency and Public Accountability, praised Comptroller Wadinda’s exceptional record of service.
“Comptroller Sarah Wadinda has set a new benchmark for customs leadership in Nigeria. Her professionalism, integrity, and people-centred approach to trade facilitation stand as an enduring example of how public service can drive growth, accountability, and competitiveness.”
“This award is a testament to her trailblazing contributions and a celebration of her unwavering commitment to excellence,” he said.
Investigator news gathered that the Civil Society Plaque of Honour, described as one of the highest distinctions conferred by CELCE-Africa and its coalition partners, seeks to highlight public servants and leaders who have demonstrated exceptional vision, accountability, and impact in driving national development.
The recognition further underscores the coalition’s advocacy for transparent leadership, effective governance, and strengthened institutional trust across Nigeria.
In an age where technology often serves as a double-edged sword, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) finds itself in an increasingly uncomfortable position, especially when it comes to smart glasses or being filmed.
Designed to augment reality and capture experiences seamlessly, these nifty devices are being leveraged by citizens to expose the very activities that have long plagued Nigeria’s roads—corruption, extortion, and misconduct—leaving the police scrambling to adapt to this new reality.
Take, for instance, the viral cases where enterprising citizens, armed with nothing but smart glasses, have successfully documented illegal activities involving police officers on major highways. Instances abound where motorists have recorded conversations with officers demanding bribes, clearly revealing the corrupt practices that often go unchecked on our roads.
One can imagine the weeping of NPF officials as videos of these encounters circulate on social media, exposing their less-than-illustrious dealings to the world, making them unwitting stars of a reality show none of us asked to watch.
This fear of exposure reached a comical peak recently when a team of police officers was filmed struggling to remove smart glasses from a driver during a routine roadblock. The sheer desperation on their faces was almost laughable as they grappled with the glasses, clearly aghast at the thought of being recorded.
What were they afraid of? The possibility of their overly aggressive tactics being caught on camera? The last thing they want is public proof of the “Nigerian police experience,” which can often involve aggressive demands for cash over compassion and service.
On few occasions that I had things to sort out at police stations these days, I’ve come to realise that you have to drop your phone at the gate before being allowed to carry out your transactions. I guess, it is the fear of being recorded. Isn’t this too paranoid of them?
And who can forget the confrontation between the police and activist journalist Omoyele Sowore? His fearless approach to issues of governance often meant that he faced the brunt of police intimidation. With smart glasses in tow, he effectively captured instances of police harassment, thereby turning the tables on those who wield their power like a baton of oppression. At some point, they even allegedly stole the glasses from him at their Abuja headquarters, in a protest meant to address issues that concern the police welfares! Intriguing?
For NPF officers, facing the likes of Sowore while he records the situation in high definition is akin to an episode of a high-stakes game show where the stakes are not just pride but accountability.
As the police grapple with the implications of being recorded right where they stand, they must come to terms with the reality that smart glasses and other recording devices are now part of the public’s arsenal against their questionable practices. Rather than adapting by improving their conduct, the ongoing struggles reaffirm the fear and helplessness the NPF feels in the wake of citizen-led transparency initiatives.
In a nation desperate for change, perhaps the solution is not to fear the technology that puts them in the spotlight but to embrace it.
If the Nigeria Police Force wishes to earn public trust and respect, they should welcome these smart glasses with open arms — if only to ensure they are delivering the quality of service expected from them, rather than becoming unwitting stars in a series of unfortunate viral moments. After all, in a world where every misstep can be caught on camera, it’s much easier to clean up one’s act than to battle the inevitable — because really, what’s scarier than accountability?
So, I ask again, why is Nigeria Police Force afraid of being filmed?
In the restless arteries of Lagos—the commercial fulcrum of Nigeria and the pulsating heartbeat of West Africa—mobility is not a mere convenience but the very essence of survival, commerce, and urban productivity.
Within this sprawling megacity, traffic has long been both a challenge and a determinant of destiny. It was against this backdrop that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was conceived in the year 2000 to serve as custodian of road order and arbiter of discipline.
Yet, it is under the visionary and reformist stewardship of its current General Manager, Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, that the Authority has entered a renewed epoch of institutional modernisation, operational refinement, and civic legitimacy.
Recasting Institutional Ethos
When Mr. Bakare-Oki assumed office, he inherited not a monolithic agency, but a living civic institution tasked with one of the most formidable assignments in Africa—ensuring discipline amidst the daily chaos of Lagos traffic.
Cognisant of this monumental responsibility, he sought to recalibrate the agency’s internal ethos: shifting LASTMA from an enforcement-dominated identity to a service-oriented institution defined by professionalism, empathy, and integrity.
Under his reformist compass, LASTMA officers are no longer viewed as mere enforcers of the law but as guardians of public safety, facilitators of economic life, and stewards of order.
This transformation—where civility complements firmness—has become a defining hallmark of his tenure.
Innovation, Technology, and Institutional Renewal
Mr. Bakare-Oki’s administration has been distinguished by a resolute embrace of innovation, technology, and structural upgrades commensurate with the complexities of a megacity of over twenty million inhabitants.
Recognising that manual enforcement alone is inadequate, he has championed the integration of intelligent traffic systems, digital monitoring mechanisms, and evidence-driven interventions.
Among the most groundbreaking strides is the inauguration of the LASTMA Toll-Free Hotline (0800-005-27862)—a direct lifeline for Lagosians to report infractions, seek assistance, and access real-time traffic information.
This innovation has fortified transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in unprecedented ways.
Equally transformative is the strengthening of the Research and Statistics Department, which has been upgraded into a formidable hub of data intelligence.
By systematically collating and analysing traffic patterns, accident trends, and enforcement outcomes, the department now informs policy decisions with precision—ensuring interventions are not reactive but strategically anticipatory.
Synergy, Advocacy, and Civic Enlightenment
Progress under Mr. Bakare-Oki has also been marked by expanded stakeholder collaboration and enhanced advocacy. Strategic partnerships with the Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Local Government Traffic Units, and the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation have strengthened enforcement synergy across the State.
At the community level, LASTMA has invigorated the Lagos State School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme, transforming it into a formidable channel for nurturing traffic consciousness among the younger generation.
By embedding road safety discipline into the minds of schoolchildren, the agency is laying the behavioural foundation for a more orderly Lagos of tomorrow.
Complementing this is a renewed emphasis on public enlightenment—leveraging radio broadcasts, grassroots forums, and civic dialogues—to foster voluntary compliance through education rather than coercion.
Professionalisation and Officer Welfare
Believing firmly that no institution can transcend the quality of its personnel, Mr. Bakare-Oki has prioritised the capacity building and welfare of LASTMA officers.
Continuous training in ethics, modern traffic management, and interpersonal engagement has become institutionalised.
Simultaneously, the reinforcement of welfare incentives and a culture of meritocracy has restored morale and instilled renewed pride in the uniform.
This revitalisation is now palpable on Lagos roads, where officers conduct their duties with heightened professionalism, courtesy, and effectiveness.
Economic Stewardship through Order
The economic implications of these reforms are immense. By reducing gridlock, minimising travel-time uncertainty, and dismantling the operations of impostors and illegal enforcers, LASTMA under Mr. Bakare-Oki has directly enhanced productivity, safeguarded man-hours, and lowered logistics costs for businesses across the metropolis.
Every avoided accident, every intercepted extortion, and every traffic delay mitigated translates into measurable economic value.
In this regard, LASTMA’s transformation has proven not only an administrative achievement but an engine of Lagos’ economic vitality.
Restoration of Trust and Civic Legitimacy
Perhaps the most enduring accomplishment of Mr. Bakare-Oki’s stewardship is the progressive restoration of public trust.
Once maligned by caricature and scepticism, LASTMA is steadily being reimagined as a partner of the motoring public rather than its adversary.
Through transparency, fairness, and empathy, the Authority is reclaiming its rightful stature as an indispensable ally in the daily quest for safe, predictable, and efficient mobility.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Leadership
The evolution of LASTMA under Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki is far more than a chronicle of administrative reform; it is a testament to the power of leadership in redefining institutional purpose.
Traffic management, under his vision, is no longer merely about roads and vehicles—it is about people, commerce, safety, and the preservation of the lifeblood of Lagos’ economy.
With the toll-free hotline empowering citizens, the fortified Research and Statistics Department guiding evidence-based interventions, and the revitalized School Traffic Safety Advocacy Programme shaping future generations, Mr. Bakare-Oki has secured LASTMA’s trajectory of sustainable progress.
As Lagos marches resolutely toward its destiny as Africa’s model megacity, the Authority’s contributions under his leadership stand as a solemn assurance: discipline shall remain the guardian of prosperity, and order shall continue to be the bedrock of development.
The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has presented cheques totaling N37,663,936 to 35 families of deceased police officers on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun.
The payment is part of the IGP Family Welfare Scheme and Group Life Assurance, aimed at supporting the families of officers who died in active service.
The Commissioner of Police Delta State while presenting the cheques expressed appreciation for the sacrifices made by the deceased officers and emphasized the IGP’s commitment to the welfare of their families.
He stated that the payment would provide a significant boost to the beneficiaries.
Abaniwonda also appreciated the gesture by the IGP, as the cheques will in no small way act as a boost to the families and also a way of letting them know that, though their loved ones are no more, the Force did not forget their sacrifices.
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Chidinma Paul, thanked the IGP for his generosity, promising to utilize the funds judiciously.
