The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has warned operators of pepper and grinding machines against using rusty or poorly fabricated equipment.

The agency said such equipment could expose consumers to metal contamination and other food-safety risks.

Afolabi Solebo, LASCOPA General Manager/Chief Executive Officer, gave the warning in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

Solebo said the warning followed concerns raised at the 2026 Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition.

The conference had the theme, ‘From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.

He urged operators across Lagos to replace traditional cast-iron and unsuitable locally fabricated machines with stainless-steel and food-grade equipment.

Solebo said the widespread use of grinding machines by households, food vendors and restaurants made compliance with food-safety standards imperative.

He listed hospitals, boarding schools, caterers, traders and small-scale food businesses among other users of the machines.

According to him, worn, rusty or corroded grinding equipment could increase the risk of metal contamination during food processing.

The LASCOPA boss also warned that accumulated food residues, dirt and grease from previous grinding activities could compromise food safety and quality.

He said: “Operators must understand that food safety is not optional.

“The use of unsafe or poorly maintained grinding machines exposes consumers to avoidable health risks.”

Solebo said the use of hygienic and food-grade equipment was critical to safeguarding public health.

He disclosed that LASCOPA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Officers would intensify compliance checks at food-processing and grinding points across the state.

The agency, he said, would take appropriate regulatory action against establishments found using unsafe or unsuitable equipment.

The general manager advised operators to clean grinding machines thoroughly after every use and remove accumulated food residues.

He also urged operators to maintain hygienic surroundings and regularly inspect and maintain grinding components.

Solebo said proper maintenance would help prevent food contamination and cross-contamination during processing.

He advised consumers to remain vigilant when patronising grinding points, particularly where equipment appeared deteriorated or unhygienic.

The LASCOPA chief also appealed to politicians and public-spirited individuals providing grinding machines through empowerment programmes to prioritise stainless-steel and food-grade equipment.

He described consumer protection as a shared responsibility between regulators, operators and consumers.

Solebo assured Lagos residents that LASCOPA would sustain consumer enlightenment, market surveillance and enforcement activities across the state.

He urged residents to report unsafe or unhygienic food-processing practices to the agency for investigation and appropriate action.

“Consumers should not remain silent when practices capable of compromising their safety are observed,” he said. (NAN)

The Police Command in Ondo State says it has arrested a suspected welder in connection with the unlawful possession and handling of a firearm in Uso, Owo Local Government Area of the State.

DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the command’s Spokesperson, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Akure, saying the locally fabricated pistol had been recovered.

Jimoh explained that the arrest followed credible intelligence received by the police on Sept.

He said the information received indicated that one Andy Giwa, a welder and resident of Imogun Street, Uso, was allegedly working on a pistol at his workshop.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police operatives attached to Uso Police Division proceeded to the location, where one locally fabricated pistol was recovered.

 “The suspect was immediately arrested and taken to the station for preliminary questioning.

“During interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed that the recovered firearm belonged to an individual whose identity is yet to be established and who is currently at large.

“Efforts have been intensified to identify and apprehend the said individual, while also establishing the circumstances surrounding the possession, manufacture and intended use of the firearm,” he said.

Jimoh also said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Felix Ohagwu, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for discreet and comprehensive investigation.

According to him, the investigation will, among other things, establish the source and purpose of the firearm and determine whether other individuals are connected to the matter.

“The CP commends the concerned citizen whose timely and credible information enabled the police to act swiftly and prevent the firearm from potentially being used to perpetrate crime.

“He urged members of the public to continue supporting the command with credible intelligence, assuring them that the identity of informants will be treated with utmost confidentiality and protected in accordance with established security protocols.

“Ohagwu reiterates the command’s commitment to preventing the proliferation and unlawful possession of firearms in Ondo State.

“The police will continue to deploy intelligence-led policing and proactive operations to identify and disrupt activities capable of threatening public safety.

“Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons, movements, activities or possession of firearms to the nearest police formation or through the command’s official communication channels.

“Timely and credible information remains a critical component of effective policing and the collective effort to safeguard lives and property across Ondo State,” the spokesperson said. (NAN)

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested a man, Manaseh Bitrus Jatau, in connection with the death of his 35-year-old girlfriend, Rebecca Ojonike Jeremiah, in the Romi area of Kaduna.

The command, in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, said the deceased’s lifeless body was found along Mai Angwa Street, Romi, on September 5, 2026.

According to the statement, the body was discovered at about 7am with cotton wool stuffed in the deceased’s nostrils.

It said police detectives from the Romi Outstation visited the scene and rushed the woman to St.

The command said her corpse had been deposited at the hospital mortuary for autopsy.

Preliminary investigation, according to the police, showed that Jatau was the last person to call the deceased and had asked her to meet him at Ebano Joint, Romi.

The suspect was subsequently traced and arrested at his workplace, Tomato Jos Company, in the Maraban Jos area of Kaduna.

“During interrogation, the suspect confessed to having had a fight with the deceased in his room over a phone call from another lady, which resulted in her death,” the statement said.

The police further alleged that Jatau confessed to dumping the deceased’s body in an open field close to his house in an attempt to conceal the incident.

The command said the suspect remained in police custody while investigation continued, adding that he would be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Rabiu Muhammad, condemned acts of violence and urged members of the public to embrace peaceful resolution of disputes.

He also assured residents of the command’s commitment to securing justice for victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.