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Business

Cultists kill 11 people, injure many to mark anniversary in Ogun

Published

8 years ago

July 8, 2016

Sahara Weekly

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No fewer than 11 persons have been killed by suspected cult members in Igode and Fakale communities in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Four persons were also injured while houses and cars were vandalised in the attack that lasted for about 10 hours.

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It was learnt that the hoodlums, said to be Aye Confraternity members, had gone on the rampage at about 11am on Wednesday to commemorate their anniversary tagged 7/7.

The grand finale of the anniversary was reportedly held on Thursday, July 7, 2016 at Emuren, a neighbouring community.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 25 on motorcycles, came from Emuren, wielding guns and cutlasses.

Their targets were said to be members of the Eiye Confraternity, a rival cult.The bandits, who reportedly wore masks, shot dead three welders at a junction bordering Emuren and Igode.

The welders were said to be returning from a work site on a motorcycle.

The rampaging miscreants reportedly proceeded to the Fakale community, where they opened fire on a crowd watching a football match in a viewing centre, killing seven persons.

It was learnt that one of the deceased, identified simply as Dare, was a member of the Oodua People’s Congress.

Others were identified as Ibukun, Ismaila, Sunday, and a steel rod seller, Dare Olakanmi.

Three of them were said to have been buried.

However, the police had yet to remove the remains of the three welders as of 12pm on Thursday.

Four others, who were injured, were said to have been taken to a hospital in Sagamu.

Our correspondent, who visited the communities on Thursday, observed that palpable fear had enveloped them.

Many residents were said to have fled while commercial activities had been paralysed as shops were shut.

Our correspondent saw 10 policemen at a junction in Fakale.

The Coordinator of the OPC in the community, Wole Oladunjo, said, “The fight was between Eiye and Aye confraternities. The Aye members are based in Emuren. The OPC had nothing to do with the fight. But surprisingly, they (Aye members) came here on Wednesday and started shooting sporadically. They killed seven persons in a viewing centre.

“One of the deceased was our member. The others killed were not Eiye members. They were hard working youths. Four persons are still in the hospital receiving treatment. The police picked four corpses and three of them have been buried.

“The policemen, who came that evening, were blaring their sirens from afar and this gave those boys the chance to escape.”

An OPC member, who identified himself as Ajibola Defence, told PUNCH Metro that the hoodlums inscribed 7/7 on those killed and on a refrigerator they destroyed inside a shop.

He said, “We learnt the Aye members are celebrating their anniversary this month. They started on July 1 and today (Thursday) is the last day. Whenever they celebrate the anniversary, they kill. They wrote 7/7 on the heads of the persons they killed.”

The Secretary of the OPC in the community, Idris Lawal, vowed that his members would avenge the killings, adding that the victims were innocent residents.

The Baale of Fakale, Chief Ganiyu Bisiriyu, lamented the security situation in Ogun State and urged the government to ensure the protection of lives and property.

“Those cultists were chased away from Lagos State and they came to settle in communities around here. The persons they killed were not their rival cultists. One of the deceased helped me to work on my farm a few days ago,” he added.

While returning from Fakale, the cult members reportedly chased a man identified only as Otamali to his apartment in Igode and shot him dead.

The Igode community head, Chief Rafiu Disu, said the bandits also vandalised two houses and a car.

He called on the government to intervene and restore peace to the two affected communities.

He said, “I was in the palace on Wednesday morning when I saw about 25 men on motorcycles armed with guns and cutlasses passing through our community to Fakale. While they were coming back in the evening, they started shooting and chasing people. They chased Otamali to his apartment. He shut the door, but they broke in. They shot and stabbed him to death.

“They also destroyed a car and shattered glass windows. For over 25 years that I have been living in this community, I have never witnessed such. We could not sleep throughout the night. A lot of people have packed out in fear.”

Two rams belonging to one Olalekan Oyenuga were reportedly killed by the hoodlums.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the killings, saying that the cultists had gone to attack Eiye cult members at Fakale.

He added that the police had restored calm to the area.

Adejobi said, “I am aware of the killings in Fakale community. We got information that some suspected Aye cult members were planning to have a party and they bought a goat. A rival group went to kill the goat and they became annoyed. They killed four persons, who were their targets.

“The Divisional Police Officer, Ogijo division, and the chairman, Sagamu Local Government Area, with some government officials, have visited the community. The police are on the trail of the suspects.”

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Business

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

ASR AFRICA COMMENCES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 500-CAPACITY LECTURE THEATRE AND FACILITIES WORTH 250 MILLION NAIRA FOR THE ADAMAWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUBI, NIGERIA

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Mubi, May 3rd, 2024

Sahara Weekly Reports That The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) commences the construction of a 500-capacity lecture theatre and wash facilities for the Adamawa State University, Mubi. This project is coming after the nomination of the institution as a recipient of the ASR Africa Tertiary Education Grant Scheme (TEGS), by the Board of Directors of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative.

Speaking at the event, the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr. Stephen A. Lagu, expressed his appreciation to the Chairman of BUA group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for the rare philanthropy gesture towards the university. He stated that the intervention of the Chairman would reduce the physical infrastructure deficit at their new campus and promote sanitation and hygiene in the university. He added that the choice of the 500-seat lecture theatre with the four boreholes at different locations within the campus was identified and agreed to by the relevant organs of the institution with the ASR Africa team.

Dr Ubon Udoh (MD / CEO, ASR Africa), in his remarks, congratulated the institution for qualifying for the nomination by the Board of Directors of ASR Africa. He stated that the rigorous selection process which includes stringent criteria such as the quality of service delivered by the university and the pedigree of graduands from the institution at the national and international levels, proves that the university is keeping up with its vision as a leading institution of learning in the region. He encouraged the management and students to ensure proper use and maintenance of the facilities as a show of appreciation for the grant given to them.

The Tertiary Education Grant Scheme of the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative is part of the efforts of the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu to give back to the African continent and make a lasting impact in education as a means of uplifting and restoring the dignity and lives of Africans.

About ASR Africa

ASR Africa is the brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development within Africa.

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Business

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

Rano: Inspiring Story Of An Ice block seller who became billionaire

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Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as A.A Rano transformed from a humble boy from Kano Village into a billionaire magnate, overseeing a conglomerate that includes 120 filling stations across Nigeria.

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Born into an average family in Lausu, Kano State, Rano started small, with an ice block and groundnut oil business, including other local items.

Rano has gone into building a multi-billion naira enterprise spanning various sectors of Nigeria’s economy.

Today, Rano owns AA Rano oil & Gas industry in Nigeria with 56 ML Tank farm in Lagos, with 120 retail outlet/ fillng stations across Nigeria and over 600 trucks & LPG terminals as well as acquired vessel (M.T LAUSAU).

His ventures include RanoGaz, a state-of-the-art Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) terminal, a rice milling company, Rano Lubricant, Rano Air, Lausu Marine and Logistics, AA Rano Terminal, and AA Rano Road Haulage.

@PUNCHNG

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Bank

Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

Published

1 day ago

May 3, 2024

Sahara Weekly

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Fidelity Bank records a 120.1% growth in PBT to N39.5bn in Q1 2024

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In line with its upward growth trajectory, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has posted an impressive 120.1% growth in Profit Before Tax from N17.9bn at the end of Q1 2023 to N39.5bn for Q1 2024. This was made known in the Bank’s unaudited financial statements released on the issuer portal of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Tuesday, 30 April 2024.

According to the statement, Gross Earnings increased by 89.9% yoy to N192.1bn from N101.1bn in Q1 2023. The increase was led by a combination of interest income (90.7% yoy) and non-interest income (84.0% yoy). Growth in interest income was primarily spurred by a higher yield environment and strong earning assets base, while the increase in non-interest income was led by double-digit growth in account maintenance charges, FX-related income, trade, banking services, and remittances, supported by increased customer transactions.

Commenting on the results, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc stated, “We are pleased to report another quarter of strong financial performance driven by our strategic focus on customer-centricity, digital innovation and operational excellence. Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, we remained resilient and agile, delivering double-digit growth on key income lines while advancing our business sustainability agenda.”

In the period under review, the bank grew Net interest income grew by 89.5% yoy to N99.6bn from N52.6bn in Q1 2023, driven by interest and similar income as the yield on financial instruments improved to 14.7% from 10.1% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 11.6%). In line with the steady rise in interest rates through the year, average funding cost increased by 80bps ytd to 5.2%. However, NIM came in at 8.8%

compared to 8.1% in 2023FY, as increafeatsed yield on earning assets surpassed funding cost to 15.1% from 13.3% in Q1 2023 (2023FY: 13.5%).

Similarly, Total Deposits increased by 17.2% ytd to N4.7tn from N4.0tn in 2023FY, driven by double-digit growth across all deposit types (demand, savings and term). Net Loans and Advances increased by 21.2% to N3.7tn from N3.1tn in 2023FY.

“Beginning the year on this inspiring note reaffirms our strategy of helping individuals to grow, inspiring businesses to thrive and empowering economies to prosper. We are committed to our guidance as we build a more resilient business franchise with a well-diversified earnings base in 2024,” explained Onyeali-Ikpe.

Ranked as one of the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank with over 8.5 million customers serviced across its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as on digital banking channels.

The bank has won multiple local and international awards including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards; Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023; and Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.

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