[dropcap]T[/dropcap]HE Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off a total of 339 premises made up of pharmacies, illegal medicine shops and patent medicine stores across 20 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The development followed enforcement exercise carried out by its enforcement team, which visited the states to checkmate the activities of illegal outlets which tend to encourage abuse and misuse of controlled medicines with its attendant negative social and security implications.

Addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the Registrar of PCN, Elijah Mohammed, said the illegal outlets do not have trained personnel to handle the medicines in their premises.

This, according to him, has contributed immensely to irrational dispensing of medicines resulting in treatment failures and untoward effects on patients and other unsuspecting members of the public who patronize them.

He pointed out that the aim of the enforcement exercise was to ensure that all premises where medicines are sold fulfil conditions for registration with respect to storage facilities, environment and personnel.

The PCN registrar explained that a total of 496 premises comprising pharmacies, patent medicine shops and illegal medicine shops were visited.

Out of these, “a total of 339 premises made up of 20 pharmacies, 290 illegal medicine shops and 29 patent medicine stores were sealed for various offenses; some of which include operating without registration with Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, failure to renew premises license, dispensing ethical products without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage and sanitary conditions among other;” he said.

Mohammed advised members of the public to purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and simple household remedies from licensed patent and propriety medicines shops.

He commended the exercise, adding that since the enforcement activities started, the owners of some of the sealed premises have indicated their willingness to fulfil conditions for registration by upgrading their storage facilities and employing pharmacists to supervise the dispensing of ethical products.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Chairman of Lagos State Task Force ,SP. Olayinka Egbeyemi  led the enforcement operations along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway at the weekend , arrested 19 motorists for driving against traffic along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Confirming the arrests, the taskforce chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, , said driving against up coming vehicles (one-way) is contrary to ‘Scheduled (1) item 27’ of the Lagos State Road Traffic Laws of 2012.

Olayinka Egbeyemi said: “It was shocking that motorists including private car owners could be driving against traffic on a long express-way without fear of imminent collusion with up coming vehicles.“Out of those arrested during the enforcement operations, 12 were private car owners and seven commercial bus drivers.

“Motorists should understand that the on-going construction of ‘BRT Corridor’ along Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway by the present government is meant to decongest traffic gridlock around that area.“Thus, motorists particularly commercial bus drivers should desist from driving against traffic and obey different traffic signs conspicuously displayed by traffic officers along that axis.”

Olayinka Egbeyemi went on to warn that any motorist arrested for driving against the traffic in any parts of the state would be charged to court.He said given the directive by the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, all 19 arrested motorists were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Amos Olajuwon of the Lagos State Mobile Court at Oshodi.

Olayinka Egbeyemi said the chief magistrate ordered the forfeiture of one of the impounded 19 vehicles, a Honda Car belonging to one Mr. Felix John, with registration No (BDG 465 XL), to the government after he pleaded ‘Guilty’ to have driven against up-coming vehicles.

He said: “The chief magistrate however adjourned the case to December 7, 2017 for commencement of trial on other arrested 18 motorists after they all pleaded ‘Not Guilty’ before the court.“Prosecutor counsel, Olumide Ajibola said the arraignment of 19 arrested motorists driving against up coming vehicles would serve as deterrent to other road users across the state.”

[dropcap]I[/dropcap]korodu town is hot again as dreaded Badoo ritualist gang struck again, barely six hours after the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi read the riot act to the dreaded Badoo ritualist gang operating in Ikorodu and its environs, the gang struck again on Sunday morning. The attack came after the late night meeting, which was held at the palace of the Ikorodu monarch, Oba Abdulrasheed Shotobi, which Grassroots Publishers witnessed. The meeting which started by 10pm and round off at 1am, was necessitated by the recently resumed ritual killings by suspected members of the Badoo gang in Ikorodu. 

Imohimi had during the meeting, which had leaders of different faith, security operatives, local vigilantes and community leaders in attendance, blown hot against the perpetrators. Calling bluff to the CP’s threat to curb the menace of ritual killing, the gang struck that same morning at Offin area of Igbogbo, one of the many suburbs that dot Ikorodu town.

The ritual gang killed a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor, one Victor Kanayo and also brutalised his wife and kid, rendering them unconscious. His wife and 10-month-old baby were said to have been rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital by policemen from Igbogbo Division. It was gathered that the assailants smashed the head of the pastor identified as Victor Kanayo with two big stones, which were said to have been found beside him.The gang had cut the iron bars on the window of the bungalow the family lived in to gain access into the house.

Grassroots Publishers gathered that the pastor and his family were the only ones living in the building because the landlord moved out some months ago as a result of increased insecurity.Confirming the incident, the state police spokesman, SP Chike Oti, said the deceased was the Fingers of God Parish, RCCG, Igbogbo.

He said, “However, the command has made a couple of arrests and suspects are being questioned with a view to discover the author of the heinous crime.

“The Commissioner of Police Lagos State has also dispatched a team of crack detectives to unravel those behind the murder; dig into the past of the victim and see if there is a correlation between his past and his fate.“The issue of his past before he became a born again christian is of interest to the police because of a human skull tattoo drawn on his left arm which gives the victim away as one who may have belonged to any of the dreaded cult groups.“Meanwhile investigation into case is ongoing, findings will be made public as usual by the CP.

Meanwhile, during the dialogue at the traditional ruler’s palace, the CP sought the collaboration of stakeholders in the community to sustain the peace being enjoyed in Ikorodu and environs.He disclosed that majority of the ritual killings recorded took place within church premises, adding that in most cases, the pastors would have concluded their prayers, left before they attack vulnerable women and children.

Decrying the bail granted five out of seven suspected key members of the ritual gang by the court last week, Edgal expressed worries that they could wreak havoc if checks were not put in place.To achieve that, Edgal announced curfew between 1am and 4am across the district, urging the traditional ruler to prevail on his chiefs and youths to commence patrols and ignite bonfires to wade off the killers.

He said: “Vigilante groups should be strengthened and given mandate to question people moving around by that time. Anyone without a good reason should be arrested and handed over to security agents. I will not tolerate jungle justice.“The bad news is that out of the seven principal suspects charged to court in connection with the ritual killings, five of them have been released from prison. They were granted bail by the court and they have gone underground.

“Recently a case of murder at Agbowa that resembles their style of ritual murder was recorded. Investigation had gone to advance stage and details would be given.

“We are tracking the five major suspects and I can assure you that we would get them soon. With their release, there is need for vigilance. We must immediately restore all security measures put in place that chased all hoodlums and criminals away from Ikorodu.”

In response, the traditional ruler had pledged the support of his people to the police in ensuring that the peace already achieved in Ikorodu by the CP is sustained.

[dropcap]P[/dropcap]roactive Lagos Rapid Response Squad has recovered the valuables of one Miss Liberty Whitney, from Warri, Delta State ,who was robbed by  “one chance” robbers along Oshodi to Mile 2 road. The International Relations graduate from Lead City University, Ibadan,was on her way from school at about 9.30pm on Sunday, boarded an unpainted transport Vanagon public bus from Oshodi to Mile 2. She was the only passenger in the vehicle as at the time she boarded,minutes after moving, more passengers came on board and the bus was left with two empty seats. On getting to Rainbow bus top, two men boarded the bus and that was when pandemonium struck.

The men unleashed mayhem on the passengers. According to Whitney, she said, “the bus was slowing down to pick passengers at Cele bus top when two guys in white native attires, having two guns each and pointing at us while asking that we remained calm and do as we were told.”

She continued that, while other passengers were screaming and jumping down from the bus, she was held by a man who had joined the bus earlier and unknown to others, was a member of the gang, he pulled her back so she could get robbed.

She noted that when she made another attempt to jump down, one of the robbers, now three brandished a gun in her face with threat of getting shot if she did not comply, as he asked her to part with her valuables.

She said “One of them asked me for my phone, bag and money and when I was reluctant, he hit me on my neck-line close to my chest with the butt of the gun with him. I couldn’t breathe well for some minutes. I handed over all I had with me instantly, my travelling bag, polythene bag, laptop, phone, chargers and school certificates.

“I was allowed to jump down from the vehicle. Barely some minutes later, I heard a gun shot then a guy was thrown off the bus. He had been shot by the side. He hung on the back of the bus. I don’t know why he did that though but it was at this point that RRS men chased the vehicle with bikes. The robbers shot several times in the air but the policemen went after them. The robbers on getting to mile 2, got down and abandoned the bus.

Whitney said she followed the bus and the police at a reasonable distance on a bike until the robbers stopped and ran. She was able to get her valuables and documents back except for her phone that the robbers took with them.

It was after she was calm she realized that the man who had been shot and clung to the back of the bus was the driver. He was fighting for his bus which was his only source of livelihood.

The driver passed away on Thursday, 23rd November after all efforts to revive him at the Critical Care Unit of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja failed. He died of the gun-shot wound he sustained at the hands of the robbers.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Chike Oti, while confirming this incident explained that investigations were on going to clamp down on the robbers.

He, however. advised that people should not drag valuables with robbers, especially when they were armed. The case has been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti for further investigations.

Photo speak during the Grand finale and price giving ceremony of the UBA Foundation National Essay Competition, held on Monday at UBA House, Lagos