News

LASEMA records 18 major incidents in seven days…no fatalities

Published

6 days ago

June 21, 2026

The Exclusives

Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu

LASEMA records 18 major incidents in seven days…no fatalities

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has successfully managed 18 high-risk incidents across the state between Friday, 14 June and Saturday, 21 June 2026.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Head, Public Affairs, LASEMA, Afolabi Olawale, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to Olawale, in line with global best practice under ISO 22320:2019 – Societal Security & Emergency Management, and the Incident Command System( ICS ), adopted from FEMA’s National Incident Management System, LASEMA’s Cobra, Eagle, Sharks, and LRT teams activated unified command protocols within minutes of each alert, adding that “this ensured seamless integration with LASTMA, Nigeria Police Force, FRSC, Lagos State Fire & Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, NEMA, and community stakeholders at every scene.”

Olawale further disclosed that within the reporting period, LASEMA responded to a diverse spectrum of emergencies,ies including container truck rollovers, vehicle breakdowns, fire outbreaks, tanker incidents, fallen electric poles, and road traffic accidents across critical corridors: Obanikoro, Maryland, Okota, Mushin/Challenge, Marina, Otedola, Ikeja Underbridge, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

In all the incidents, according to Olawale, no loss of life was recorded in 17 of 18 incidents, except “one victim trapped in a 40-ft container accident at Maryland Roundabout on 18 June and was extricated alive and stabilised by LRU Paramedics, and transferred to Gbobi Orthopaedic Hospital for advanced care – in full compliance with WHO Emergency Medical Services standards.

“Swift intervention by LASEMA Fire Unit, Eagle Response Team, and Lagos State Fire Service at COPACI Nigeria Limited, Okota, on 15 June contained an electrical fire to the factory unit, preventing escalation to adjoining warehouses. Similarly, a GLE Benz fire at Polaris Bank, Mar, ina was extinguished within minutes through multi-agency coordination involving UBA Fire, Federal Fire Service, and LRU Paramedics.

“Through tactical deployment of Super Metro heavy-duty equipment, Lowbeds, forklifts, and private crane support, all obstructed corridors were cleared and reopened to traffic within operational timeframes consistent with NFPA 1710 urban response benchmarks. Critical arteries such as Challenge-Mushin, Obanikoro-Maryland, Otedola Bridge, and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were restored with minimal economic disruption.”

Olawale said every incident was managed under a Unified Command structure. LASTMA provided traffic control; Police and FRSC secured the perimeters; LASAMBUS delivered pre-hospital care; and LNSC supported crowd management.

“This whole-of-government approach reflects the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 principle of strengthening governance to manage disaster risk.

“The consistency of zero-fatality outcomes across high-risk incidents in one week is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate investment in standards, training, and equipment under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda.

“Our teams operated strictly to ISO, NFPA, and Sphere standards. From rapid scene assessment to cordon establishment to patient triage and equipment recovery, every action was documented through After-Action Review protocols. This culture of learning ensures Lagos remains ahead of evolving urban risks, ” Olawale said.

LASEMA, therefore, reiterated its commitment to 24/7 emergency readiness and urged residents and motorists to: Report emergencies immediately via the 767/112 toll-free lines.

It also advised residents to avoid overloading trucks and ensure regular vehicle maintenance to reduce mechanical failures on Lagos roads.

Adhere to traffic directives at incident scenes to protect responders and road users.

The Agency also promised to continue working with NiMet, PHCN, and road maintenance agencies to address root causes, such as failed road sections and ageing infrastructure, identified in several incident reports.

“Lagos remains safe, resilient, and open for business because emergency management is treated as core megacity infrastructure,” Olawale said.

News

Edo cracks down on cultists, kidnappers

Published

6 hours ago

June 27, 2026

The Exclusives

Monday Okpebholo

Edo State Government has established a Special Criminal Court to expedite the prosecution of cultists, kidnappers and other criminal offenders as part of efforts to tackle rising insecurity in the state.

The Chief Registrar of the Edo State Judiciary, Benson Osawaru, disclosed on Friday that the court was established at the request of Governor Monday Okpebholo.

According to Osawaru, the Special Criminal Court will handle cases relating to cultism, kidnapping and other matters that may be assigned by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Daniel Okungbowa.

He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring speedy dispensation of justice and curbing the growing wave of cult-related violence and abductions across the state.

“The move is expected to address the rising cases of cult-related violence and kidnappings by ensuring quick prosecution of offenders and serving as a deterrent to criminal elements,” Osawaru stated.

Edo State has in recent months witnessed a surge in violent crimes, particularly incidents of kidnapping and cult clashes in several communities.
Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo has reiterated his administration’s commitment to eliminating kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality from the state.

Speaking at the flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) local government election campaign for the Edo Central Senatorial District at the Uromi Town Hall in the Esan North-East Local Government Area, the governor assured residents that decisive measures were being taken to restore security and public confidence.

He said efforts were underway to create a safe environment that would enable farmers displaced by insecurity to return to their farmlands without fear.

The governor stressed that criminal elements terrorising communities would be made to face the full weight of the law.
“Governors are ready to fight insecurity across the nation. The perpetrators will be exposed, and they will run away from the country. In Edo State, there will be security, and our farmers will be able to return to their farms,” he said.
Okpebholo added that his administration would not allow kidnappers and bandits to find refuge in the state.

“I am determined to ensure that kidnappers and bandits do not find a haven in Edo State. Our decisive action against criminals will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said.

The governor further declared that tough measures against convicted criminals would discourage others from engaging in crime.

“I am serious about the fight against insecurity. By the time we execute one, two, three and more of these criminals, others will run away from Edo State,” he stated.

News

Why insecurity persists in the north, by Nasarawa governor

Published

18 hours ago

June 26, 2026

The Exclusives

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has identified some of the reasons for the incidences of insecurity and out-of-school crisis in the northern part of Nigeria.

Speaking at a Summit on enhancing human capital development in Northern Nigeria in Abuja, Sule said the Almajiri system is “the single largest structural contributor” to Nigeria’s education emergency.

The Almajiri is a traditional system of Islamic education prevalent in northern Nigeria, where young boys leave their families to study the Quran under the guidance of religious teachers (Mallams). Originally a respected scholarship tradition, it has devolved into a socio-economic crisis, leaving millions of out-of-school children vulnerable to destitution and exploitation.

The country has an estimated 18.3 million out-of-school children, and recent data shows Almajiri children make up roughly 72% to 81% of that total, concentrated in the North.

He, therefore, urged the National Assembly to permanently outlaw the Almajiri system.
“Many minors recruited into banditry graduated from the Almajiri system,” Sule said.

Nasarawa accounts for about 430,000 out-of-school children.

At the event, the governor recalled the 2020 mass repatriation of Almajiri children by Nasarawa and Kaduna states but said enforcement alone isn’t enough without alternatives.

He is proposing a total ban on the Almajiri system, replaced with mandatory formal education and skills acquisition.
Sule is seeking total collaboration of the Northern intelligentsia, the political class, and the traditional system.

He urged Northern leaders to turn summit discussions into actionable draft bills, arguing that “policy changes are the only way to defeat regional poverty.”