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Protesting Lagos Driver Set Ablaze By Government Agents, Family And Colleague Insist

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A family member and a colleague of a bus driver, identified as Ayobami, aka Ero, have denied that he set himself ablaze after his vehicle was impounded around 7 and 8 Bus Stop, Airport Road, Lagos State.

The aggrieved family and colleague, who spoke to our correspondent during a visit to the area on Wednesday, alleged that some government agents set Ayobami ablaze.

A colleague, who identified himself as Adeola, said he was conveying passengers to a destination when the incident happened, adding that he saw the state officials impounding vehicles at the bus stop.

During the enforcement, Adeola explained that one of the area boys working with the task force dragged the steering with Ayobami, who refused to release his vehicle.

In a desperate attempt to impound the vehicle, the eyewitness said the area boy reached for petrol, poured it on Ayobami, and used a lighter to set the father of two ablaze.

He said, “He did not set himself ablaze; how can somebody who is normal set himself ablaze? It was the area boys working with the task force that poured petrol on him and used a lighter to set him on fire.

“It was done to make him get down from the bus. At first, they threatened him with the petrol, but he refused to get down, so they poured it on him and threatened to burn him, but he refused again.

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“It was when the area boys were switching on and off the lighter that the fuel attracted the fire and his body started burning. Even the area boy who was dragging with him at the front seat quickly jumped down and fled alongside the task force officers.”

It was gathered that the victim, who sustained serious burns in the face, chest, stomach, back, and arms, was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.

A relative, who identified himself as Baba Roqeeb, confirmed Adeola’s account of the incident, adding that doctors were battling to save Ayobami’s life.

He said, “Immediately he got burnt, his conductor, Rotimi, called me. But when I rushed to the scene of the incident, I was told that they already rushed him to Makinde Police Station.

“I quickly rushed down there but was told they already left for the task force office at Bolade, Oshodi. When I got there, the policemen detained me in a cell when they knew I was there because of Ayobami.

“I asked why they detained me, but they said they heard we were trying to burn the office like it happened during #EndSARS. They released me when they needed a family member to accompany him to a hospital.”

Our correspondent saw Ayobami’s vehicle parked close to his house around Aji Camp, Ajao Estate.

Black patches were seen on the roof of the driver’s side, indicating that the front seat was burnt.

The Chairman of the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (task force), CSP Shola Jejeloye, in a statement on Wednesday, distanced officials of the agency from the incident.

Jejeloye said at the time of the incident, his men were still at their base, adding that some imposters were using the name of the agency to perpetrate crimes.

He said, “Investigations and accounts of persons who were present at the scene of the incident have categorically revealed that the driver, one Mr. Ayo aka Eru, poured petrol on himself to scare security operatives from enforcing the traffic law which he violated. After the operatives left, luck ran out on him and some of the hoodlums present mistook him for one of the security operatives and set him ablaze.

 “Let me emphasize here that for us as an agency of government, we believe that it is better for us to allow an offender to go unharmed than to cause an injury.”

The state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, said the state Commissioner of Police had ordered an investigation into the incident.

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Buhari’s Integrity Gave Hope To Millions Of Nigerians — Tunde Bakare

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Tunde Bakare, the serving overseer of Citadel Global Community Church, has honoured the memory of former President Muhammadu Buhari with a heartfelt tribute.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at a clinic in London at the age of 82.

In a statement released on Monday, Bakare described Buhari’s life as “extremely impactful”, referring to him as a respected elder statesman and fellow patriot.

He shared memories of their first meeting in 1985 and said Buhari’s policies at the time created the foundation for his journey as a young legal practitioner.

This was a man whose integrity and discipline gave hope to millions of Nigerians across the length and breadth of our nation, he wrote.

This was a man with a dream of a New Nigeria — a dream he lived for; a dream he worked tirelessly towards from his youth; a dream he pursued persistently despite the challenges he encountered; a dream I had the privilege of teaming up with him in his tireless quest to fulfill; a dream that brought tears to his eyes; a dream, the heart of which he shared with me in intimate conversations — a dream that revealed the soul of a man whose lifelong desire was to make life better for the ordinary Nigerian.

He referred to Buhari as a colossus whose kind is hard to replace.

Bakare offered a prayer, hoping that Buhari will be remembered kindly by history and that the Nigeria he envisioned will still come to life even after you have departed.

I express my deep condolences to his beloved wife, former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, and to his children and grandchildren. May God, the husband of the widow and the father of the fatherless, fill the void, the statement reads.

And to our dear nation, Nigeria, may God be our strength and comfort in this solemn season.

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Osun 2026: Aregbesola Vows To Unseat Adeleke, Says ADC Will Win Guber Election

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Rauf Aregbesola, the interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has said that his party will unseat Governor Ademola Adeleke in the upcoming 2026 Osun governorship election.

Aregbesola, who previously held the positions of Minister of Interior and Osun State Governor, made this statement on Sunday during a homecoming event held in Osogbo.

He emphasized that his main political objective at the moment is not the 2027 general election but securing victory for ADC in the 2026 Osun governorship election.

He suggested that the 2026 election might not feature the usual three-party race, as there are speculations that Governor Adeleke could defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

We are concerned about 2026 in Osun State. We have started the work for next year’s election now, Aregbesola said, encouraging party members to strengthen mobilisation at the grassroots level.

Leave them to their agitation. Our aim should be to take over Osun State before the vote on August 8, 2026. They already know they are on their way out.

Looking back on his break with the APC, a party he helped build, Aregbesola expressed regret that he was sidelined despite his efforts.

He stated, Those who know my value and worth gave me this new position, and now they are making noise. Their noise doesn’t concern me — they haven’t seen anything yet.

Aregbesola also spoke on the ongoing rumours surrounding Adeleke’s possible political defection: Before we started this journey, they said there would be three political parties in Osun State. It is obvious he is decamping now. We will meet in Abere — ADC will win the Osun governorship race in 2026.

Turning to national matters, Aregbesola criticised the current federal government, blaming it for worsening the economic situation in the country.

The government that makes Nigerians go hungry should not be in power again. Anyone who says Nigeria is better now is part of the problem. It’s clear that yesterday was better than today for us as a nation, he said. Since they assumed office, even the rain no longer falls as it used to. Things are not going well. We must be angry with any government that refuses to address our needs.

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National Assembly Suspends Plenary Till July 22 To Honour Buhari

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Legislative proceedings in the national assembly have been put on hold to pay respect to Muhammadu Buhari, the former president of Nigeria.

Buhari passed away on Sunday at a London clinic after battling a long-term illness.

The clerk of the national assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, shared this update through a statement released on Monday.

“I am directed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives to inform all members of the national assembly and the general public that all legislative activities are hereby suspended immediately until Tuesday, 22 July, 2025,” the statement reads.

“All members of the national assembly are urged to reschedule their engagements to enable full participation in the burial activities of the late president.”

Leaders of both legislative chambers offered their sympathies to the government and citizens of Nigeria, the administration and residents of Katsina state, as well as the late president’s wives, children, and extended relatives.

“President Muhammadu Buhari will be remembered for his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his integrity,” the statement notes.

“May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.”

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