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Inside Ogun: So-Safe Corps Arrests 16-Yr Old Robbery Suspect

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Boluwatife Arowolo, a 16 years old boy has been arrested by the officers of Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps), Iroko Arije Divisional Headquarters, for allegedly robbing commercial motorcyclists.

Arowolo, popularly called ‘Small Wire’ by his gang, together with two others, now at large, had accosted a commercial motorcyclist (Okada driver), Kayode Ayodele, and cut him with a cutlass before collecting his bike.

The incident happened in the Abuke Iroko area of Ogun State, at the boundary between Lagos State and Ogun State.

The suspect was arrested while trying to catch up with his accomplices who later escaped with the motorcycle and left him behind.

Narrating the incident, the Okada driver, who was severely battered in the head, said he picked a passenger from Ajegunle to Moyard Filling Station at Abule Iroko around 5 am.

“After dropping the passenger, just a few distances, I saw the three of them and asked me to carry them. I told them I could not carry the three of that we should get another bike to carry one while I carry two not knowing they were planning to snatch my Okada. In the process of discussing getting another Okada, one of them snatched my key and started dragging the Okada with me. Before I looked up, another one had brought out a cutlass and started cutting me in the head.

“I became weak bug o was still struggling with them. The more I struggled the more he cut me. They tried to start the Okada but did not succeed. But they eventually started it. Two of them were already on the bike while the third one was trying to catch up with them but they eventually left him.

“They could not wait for him because two men were coming out from the community at that moment so, they had to quickly run away with the Okada and that was why they could not pick the third person.

“While the third one was also running away trying to escape, the guys chased him and eventually caught him. He was then brought to the office of the security agent, the So-Safe Corps,” he narrated.

The suspect, who confirmed the incident said it was his first time operating with his accomplices.

Arowolo, who said he came from Kwara State after dropping out of secondary school when his mother divorced his father, was first living with his half brother at Abule Iroko where he came to rob.

According to him, he came to his elder brother in 2015 but left for Mushin to join the miscreants after two months of living with his brother.

He explained that he had to leave as his brother refused to send him to school nor enroll him in handiwork.

“When I got to Mushin, I first joined those who engage in “Wire Wire”. By that, we steal SIM cards to withdraw money from people’s accounts. But I was not getting enough money, my master would only give me tokens. I later came across some other big brothers, Sola, Sunday (Ijaya), and Parker, who introduced me to the robbery but I didn’t go out with them until today.

“I was the one who brought them to this area being where I first lived. We intended to come and steak my brother’s Plasma TV but unfortunately, he was not around and I told them not to break the door. We had to sleep in an uncompleted building. When it was daybreak, we needed an Okada that we would take back to Mushin and that was how we waylaid the man. Unfortunately, I was caught while others escaped but I can take the security men to where they could be arrested.”

Arowolo said his brother does omo onile job – land grabber, disclosing that he lives alone after his wife has divorced him.

Meanwhile, The Security Superintendent of Corps, Iroko Arije Divisional Headquarters, SC Akinrele Adetayo, said the suspect has been transferred to Sango Police Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and prosecution.

“He was caught while trying to escape, he was brought here. We had to inform our colleagues in case they found those who escaped with the bike. After interrogating the suspect, he confesses to the crime but we cannot do anything than hand him over to the police and which we have done.

“We took him to Sango Police Divisional Headquarters and handed him over to the DCO 1 and the IPO, Inspector Ola.”

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Lagos State Flags Off – NCAOOSCE Advocacy Campaign To Tackle Out-Of-School Children Crisis

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The Lagos State Advocacy Team of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education (NCAOOSCE) today officially flagged on its state-wide advocacy campaign aimed at revitalizing efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The flag-on ceremony, themed “Revitalization of the Out-of-School Children’s Initiative,” was held at the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi, Kusenla III, the Elegushi of Ikate Kingdom, who served as Royal Host and Special Guest of Honour. In his address, the Chairman of the Lagos State Advocacy Team emphasized that the campaign is not just a government programme, but a national movement to restore dignity, opportunity, and inclusion for every Nigerian child currently excluded from formal education. The Commission commended His Royal Majesty for his continued contributions to education in Lagos State, including scholarship schemes, infrastructure support, menstrual hygiene initiatives, and the establishment of the Centre for Lagos Studies at Lagos State University. The campaign aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and supports the six strategic education priorities of the Federal Ministry of Education under Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON. Lagos is one of eight pioneering states championing this renewed national effort. The Lagos State campaign will cover all 245 wards across the state’s three senatorial districts, engaging traditional leaders, religious institutions, market groups, youth associations, and civil society organizations. A total of 1,225 local volunteers will be selected to champion the Commission’s flagship National Adopt an Out-of-School Child (N-OOSC) program at the grassroots level.

Key focus areas of the advocacy include: Ending street begging and child exploitation; Ensuring child identity through birth registration; Promoting safe, inclusive, and dignified learning spaces; Eradicating abuse disguised as discipline; Empowering communities to own the educational future of their children. “This campaign is not against religion or tradition,” the Advocacy Team reiterated. “It is about integration, dignity, and giving every child a fair chance.” The event concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders—government, traditional institutions, faith leaders, educators, and the public—to unite in ensuring that no child is left behind.

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BREAKING: Federal Government Declares Tuesday Public Holiday To Honour Buhari

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The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as a public holiday in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the public holiday on Monday on behalf of the Federal Government, after receiving approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

 

More to come…

 

 

 

 

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FirstBank, NLNG, Shell Back QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit

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Nigeria’s leading commercial bank, First Bank of Nigeria, has joined forces with Mighty Media Plus Network Limited for the maiden edition of the QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit.

Also supporting the event are Nigeria LNG (NLNG) and Shell Nigeria, two major players in the country’s energy and development sectors.

Chief Executive Officer of Mighty Media Plus Network Limited, Olumide Iyanda, announced the partnerships in a statement on Monday.

Mr Iyanda described FirstBank’s involvement as a strong statement of the bank’s belief in the power of Nigeria’s creative sector.

“FirstBank’s support is a reaffirmation of its long-standing commitment to promoting the creative economy,” he said. “Through First@arts, the bank has become a reliable partner to talents, institutions, and organisations working to grow Nigeria’s cultural assets.”

First@arts is FirstBank’s platform for supporting the arts. It provides financing, advisory services, and exposure for creatives across the value chain. The bank has backed major cultural events and partnered with institutions such as British Council, Duke of Shomolu Productions, Live Theatre Lagos, Freedom Park and Terra Kulture.

Among the projects FirstBank has supported are The Headies Awards, Lagos International Theatre Festival, The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq, Kurunmi, Eni Ogun, and Oke Langbodo.

Iyanda also praised NLNG for its role in promoting excellence in literature and science through The Nigeria Prize for Literature, The Nigeria Prize for Science, and The Nigeria Prize for Literary Criticism.

“NLNG has shown leadership by rewarding creativity and innovation in ways that impact both the literary and scientific communities,” he said.

The prizes, worth up to USD100,000, are among the most prestigious on the continent. They celebrate Nigerian authors, critics, and scientists whose work makes a real difference.

Shell’s support for the summit reflects its ongoing commitment to education and social development. The company focuses on sustainable, community-driven educational projects, ranging from scholarships to infrastructure development and ICT donations.

“Shell’s belief in education as a foundation for long-term progress aligns with our vision for the summit,” Iyanda added.

He further noted that more sponsors will be unveiled in the coming weeks.

The QEDNG Creative Powerhouse Summit, themed “Financing as Catalyst for a Thriving Creative Economy,” will take place on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The venue is the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The summit will bring together creatives, investors, policymakers, and business leaders to explore solutions to the funding challenges facing Nigeria’s creative industries.

Gbenga Bada
For QEDng creative powerhouse summit committee
08028599392

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