Focus On The Real MVPs!

The journey into Africa's economic development can not be complete without mentioning the impact of the 'sometimes overlooked' small and medium scale enterprises. This edition on 'The Real MVPs', is focused on the Oluwo Fish Market, Epe, North of Lekki Lagoon, Lagos State, south-west Nigeria. 

 

                          

                                                   

From shrimps, lopsters, snails, crayfish, all kinds of sea food. This publication showcase a small/medium scale, but robust business which through the years have been a bedrock support to the nation's growing economy.

      

Dominated by women of the Epe community and environs, thanks to the Lagoon. Interestingly, women called the shots in fish farming and trading in most river-rine communities across Nigeria, and overtime have built a formidable business empire.

Baskets of Seafood on stand

                               

Some of these women do the fishing, storage, as well as smoking for preservation, and sell in both whole-sale and retail; while some buy the sea food off local fisher-men, and re-sell. 

                           

This age-long enterprise, has over time leveraged local women. One of the traders who spoke with our reporter, said she has been in the fish business for over 25-years and like other traders in the market, supports her family from the proceeds.

More pictures of some of the Sea Food sold at the Oluwo Market:

 

Entrance to Oluwo Market, Epe

These women, with little or no formal education, exposure or credit facilities, successfully called the shots in the fish-market, and immensely contributed to growing the nation's economy. 

They are the real MVPs.

Kidnap Kingpin Evans Pleads Guilty In Court!

Notorious kidnapper Chikwudumeme Onwuamadike, popularly known as  Evans pleaded guilty to a two count charges of conspiracy and kidnapping brought against him by the Lagos State government.

Kidnap Kingpin: Evans (extreme left) and some members of his gang before Ikeja High Court  on Wednesday, August 30th, 2017

The suspect Evans,  who was arraigned alongside five other suspected members of his gang, and was represented by his counsel, Olukoya Ogungbeje, pleaded guilty to the charges before a Judge, at Ikeja High Court, in Lagos State, Nigeria, on Wednesday, 30th August, 2017.

The kidnap kingpin was best known for his kidnap exploits and huge ransom amounting to millions of Dollars, collected from his victim's family especially around the Festac/ Amuwo Odofin axis of Lagos state.

Evans and the four males arraigned were afterwards remanded at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, while the female suspect was remanded at the Kirikiri Female Prisons. 

Further hearing on the case was adjourned to October 19, 2017.

Rivers State Ritual-Story Update: Arrested Divisional Police Officer Escapes!

A Rivers State, Nigeria, Police officer arrested in connection to the escape of a 23-year-old suspected ritualist, identified as Ifeanyi Maxwell Dike, recently paraded for raping and ritual killing of an eight-year-old girl, has escaped from Police custody.

The suspected ritualist, Ifeanyi Maxwell Dike, during parade  

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) whose arrest was ordered on Monday, August 28, 2017, by the Rivers State Police Command, was suspected to be involved in telephone calls with John-bosco Okoroeze, a Police Sargent dismissed for allowing the escape of the suspected ritualist, Ifeanyi Maxwell Dike. 

The suspected ritualist, Ifeanyi Dike, reportedly confessed to the crime during Police interrogation, and stated that he was not the only one involved in the ritual killing. 

What is the Rivers State Police Commissioner doing about these "series of escapes" development?

The public is counting on the Police Authority for Justice on this case.

Find link to a previous publication on this story below:

https://rovinginformant.blogspot.com/2017/08/man-hunt-for-ritualist-ifeanyi-maxwell.html 

Houston's Catastrophic Flooding Expected To Continue For Days!

The devastating effect of Hurricane Harvey that swept through the gulf coast of Texas continues Sunday, August 27, 1017, as the entire Metropolitan Houston, the fourth largest populated city in the United States is flooded. About five people have been so far reported dead, and a dozen others injured.

The National Weather Service earlier issued a direct warning that "catastrophic flooding in the Houston metropolitan area is expected to worsen and could become historic".

The National Hurricane Center reported that the torrential rain, which started on Sunday, is expected to continue for days. 

President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Texas on Tuesday, August 29th, 2017.

Rescue operators are working round the clock to save lives, emergency lines have been opened for distress calls.

Photo-Speaks!

Photo-Speaks: 

Man-Hunt For Ritualist, Ifeanyi Maxwell Dike!

Confusion engulfs the Rivers State Police Command Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, after a 23-year-old man identified as Ifeanyi Maxwell Dike, paraded over the weekend for raping and ritual killing of an eight-year-old girl, escaped from Police custody.

The suspect, Ifeanyi Maxwell Dike

The 200 level student of the Faculty of Science, University of Port-Harcourt, abducted the girl on Friday, August 18, 2017, raped and killed her, thereafter plugged out her eyes, cut off her tongue, one of her breasts, and vagina, before stuffing her remain in a polythene bag and waited till around early hours of Saturday (1:am), August 19, 2017, to dispose of it at a nearby refuge. He was apprehended by men of the vigilante group, who suspected his movement and stopped him for questioning. 

The suspect reportedly dropped the polythene bag and took to his heels. He was caught after a hot pursuit and taken to Okporo Police Station, Port-Harcourt. The suspect confessed to the dastardly act and took the Police to where the vital organs were concealed. The body and the organs have been recovered, paraded and deposited in the mortuary. 

Victim's Father's account of how the suspect escaped:

Father of the victim, Dr. Ernest Nmezuwuba, who was neighbours with the accused at Messiah street, Eliozu area of Port-Harcourt, Obio-Akpo Local government area, Rivers state narrated.

 “After taking the corpse to the State CID with the suspect handcuffed, the Inspector that led me there; the commissioner (CP) said I should come and that they should officially hand this case to the state CID, which I followed up.

“Reaching there, I saw the DSP in charge of the place, we explained to him what happened and the man shouted.

“He (DSP) called one John-bosco to record everything and take statement. We were there with the suspect in handcuff. When we got to the state CID, there was no light in the entire State CID. I wrote my statement with candle; imagine a whole state CID. The John-bosco removed the handcuff from the suspect’s hand for him (suspect) to write his statement.

“At a point, the boy (Dike) said he was thirsty and John-bosco said I should buy pure water for him and I asked him; are you crazy? Is something wrong with you? Why would you ask me to buy water for a person that killed my daughter? Why would I buy water for a ritualist? And I told John-bosco that it was none of my business.

“Some policemen were at the gate with guns while we were at the charge room writing statement. After we finished writing our statement, John-bosco called the IPO to go and put the suspect in the cell. The suspect was not handcuffed at that time.“They did not walk up to a pole when I heard hold am, hold am. He has escaped. Whether he jumped the fence or not, I cannot say because the entire place was dark; it was around 7.30 to 8p.m."

During interrogation, the suspect who was supposed to help the Police with investigations confessed that he was not the only one involved in the ritual killing. 

Photo-Speaks: Lagos Island Link Bridges Needs To Be Fixed!

Arrows in the picture below, of the Onikan - Obalende link bridge in Lagos Island, shows the point where water pressure is gradually cutting through the concrete of the bridge foundation pillars.

Onikan - Obalende link bridge, Lagos 

The current condition of bridges connecting Lagos Island to the Mainland axis, and Victoria Island to Ikoyi, all in Lagos-State calls for urgent attention and fixing.