The Lagos State Government has shut down five orphanages in the last one year for offences ranging from baby trafficking to violations of the State Child Rights Law of 2015.

The Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mr Mobolaji Ogunlende, disclosed this in Ikeja on Tuesday during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate Gov.

He said that the closures were part of the ministry’s efforts to clamp down on illegal practices and safeguard the rights of children across the state.

“We have a duty to protect the most vulnerable members of our society, which is why our officers work round the clock.

“Any facility found to be engaging in unwholesome activities such as baby trafficking will be decisively dealt with; we have the records with us,” he said.

According to him, the ministry operates a dedicated monitoring unit tasked with ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and protecting the welfare of children in orphanages and similar care facilities.

“Our monitoring team is constantly in the field, ensuring that these homes are operating within the ambit of the law,” he added.

Ogunlende also highlighted the ministry’s broader social intervention efforts, noting that over 4,000 youths had been trained in various vocational skills in the past year.

“We are committed to empowering our young people. Through targeted skills acquisition programmes, more than 4,000 youths have been trained to become self-reliant.

“Training in vocations such as tailoring, fish farming, ICT; they are at liberty to choose any vocation of their choices,” he said.

He further revealed that more than 200 children had been rescued and rehabilitated during the same period, as part of the ministry’s child welfare programmes.

“Each rescued child represents a life saved from exploitation or neglect. That is what drives our commitment,” he concluded.

The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s zero tolerance for any form of child rights abuse and promised that enforcement efforts would be intensified going forward. (NAN)

A commercial motorcyclist, identified as Nazifi Ibrahim, was shot dead on Monday by gunmen at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

An eye witness, who spoke on Tuesday in Ore, said the incident occurred around 10:40 p.m at Alafia Street, along the Ore-Benin Expressway.

According to the witness, who preffered anonimity, the commercial motorcyclist had taken a passenger to Alafia Street from Ore.

“We don’t know what transpired between the deceased and the suspected motorcycle snatchers, as they shot and killed the motorcyclist, and took away his motorcycle.

“The gunshot caused panic among residents, as everyone had to scamper for safety.

Meanwhile, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, Ondo State Police Command’s Spokesman, confirmed the incident on Tuesday while speaking to NAN on telephone.

According to him, investigations have already begun to unravel the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the motorcyclist.

“We will arrest the culprits of the heinous crime, and they will face the wrath of the law,” he said. (NAN)

The Police Command in Enugu has rescued 28 kidnap victims and detained 10 suspects in Enugu State.

The command also recovered firearms, ammunition, cash, vehicles, motorcycles and other exhibits in separate coordinated operations within the past 10 days.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe on Tuesday in Enugu.

Ndukwe said that the feat was part of the Command’s sustained efforts to rid Enugu State of unrepentant violent criminals.

“On May 18, at about 6:30 p.m., operatives attached to Umumba Police Division, working with the Neighbourhood Watch, Forest Guards and community members, rescued two male and two female victims kidnapped along Umumba-Ndiuno-Aguoba Road in Ezeagu Local Government Area.

“This followed a tactical bush-combing operation.

“Four male suspects linked to the crime were immediately detained and are currently assisting with ongoing investigations,” he said.

The spokesman said that on the same day, at about 6:34 p.m., operatives from 9th Mile Division responded to a distress call and arrested a suspect.

According to him, the suspect and three others have attempted to kidnap a woman, who raised an alarm.

He said that the suspect, who was severely beaten by the mob, was taken to hospital for treatment and is being investigated further.

“Similarly, operatives from Okpuje Police Division of the Command, in collaboration with Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards, on May 17, 2025, carried out a strategic bush-combing operation in a forest bordering Okpuje in Enugu State and Odolu in Kogi State.

“During the operation, they intercepted two men found with ₦150,000 and ₦70,000 respectively, intended for ransom payments, as well as loaves of bread and drinks requested by the kidnappers.

“Upon further incursion, the team encountered armed resistance from the kidnappers but responded with superior firepower, forcing them to flee with gunshot wounds and abandon the victims, a pump-action gun, and two live cartridges.

“The victims were rescued unhurt and the exhibits recovered. Efforts to track down the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” he said.

Ndukwe said that earlier, on May 14, 2025, at about 5:30a.m., operatives from Igbo-Eze North Division, with the Military and Neighbourhood Watch, rescued 21 kidnapped victims in Amaka-Okpodu community in Kogi State.

He said that the victims, some of whom were returning from a traditional marriage ceremony, had been allegedly abducted on May 10, 2025, along Iyionu-Aguibeje Road in Igbo-Eze North LGA by hooded armed men.

“Five male suspects were subsequently detained following credible intelligence, and three firearms were also recovered. Additionally, a minibus and four motorcycles used by the travelling victims were earlier recovered from the scene of the crime.

“In another operation, on May 13, 2025, at about 9:45 p.m., operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, acting on credible information, rescued a kidnapped victim along the Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway and recovered his Toyota Camry.

“A white Toyota Corolla with registration number ENU 703 LP used by the suspects and a Lexus 330 Jeep abandoned at the kidnapping scene in Premier Layout, Independence Layout, Enugu, were also recovered.

“Operations to hunt down the fleeing suspects are ongoing,” he said.

Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had commended the police operatives, the collaborating security agents and law-abiding community members for their efforts in making the operations successful.

The spokesman said that the commissioner reaffirmed the command’s avowed commitment to make Enugu State safer and more secure by rooting out violent criminals and their activities.

He said that the state police boss urged residents to remain law-abiding, vigilant and cooperative with police and other law enforcement authorities. (NAN)