
News
Shocking discovery of Illegal fuel bunker
• Navy arrests five operating the ‘family business’ under an unregistered company
Last Tuesday was bad for another syndicate that operates an illegal bunker where they store diesel. Operatives of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Beecroft reportedly went to the apartment where the illegal business was taking place upon credible intelligence and discovered the illegality going on there.
Commodore Rafiu Oladejo, Commander of (NNS) Beecroft said five suspects were subsequently arrested at the building at 3, Silverbird Road, Ilasan, Lekki, Lagos. The suspects were said to be operating the depot under an unregistered company, Ahmed Ariyo and Sons Nigeria Limited. Oladejo said Ariyo, two sisters and other suspects were running the illegal family business in a residential area without caring for the safety of others.
Hear him: “It’s worrisome that an apartment of this nature is serving as an illegal fuel depot undermining the economic and security implications on lives and properties.
“Eight tanks of 50,000 storage capacity each were kept in the compound with cumulatively 57,000 litres of AGO in them’’, he said, adding that a truck there had 7,000 litres while a white TM bus had 30 jerry cans of 50 litres, totalling 1,500 litres of AGO with an estimated market value of N89,000,000.
That is not all. “There were 400 jerry cans and 13 drums carefully stocked inside another TM bus as well as in the compound’’. In all, it was learnt that the estimated worth of all the storage facilities should they contain AGO to full capacity was N500 million.

Commodore Oladejo said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects got the products through pipeline vandalism and illegal vendors along the coastline. The suspects and products were handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
This is not the first time that such illegal businesses were being detected, and there is nothing to suggest that it would be the last, given the determination of those involved to take any risk, including endangering the lives and properties of others, in their quest for illicit wealth.
There are procedures for genuine investors who want to invest in the oil sector. But people like Ahmed Ariyo, who is said to be the leader of the syndicate, are not ready to take that route apparently because they lack the capacity to run the business. So, they want to take the shorter route by bypassing all the processes and tampering with oil pipelines, thereby getting free fuel that they sell to make money with little or no investment.
We have had similar discoveries in Abuja in 2017 and Lagos, in 2020.
One thread that runs through these cases is credible intelligence.
Hear Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the Abuja discovery: “We got an intelligence report of these mini depots and as you can see, these golf cars that are supposed to have 40 litres have tanks that can take 200 liters of petrol.” What this tells Nigerians is that they should be alert wherever they are. When they see something, they should say something. Security agents are not spirits; they cannot be omnipresent. It is when people are alive to their civic responsibilities by reporting unusual things that they notice that security agents can then follow up.
So many people had paid for keeping mum when they should have said something. The illegal fuel businesses had caused several fire incidents in different parts of the country, with many victims maimed and disfigured permanently; some did not even live to tell the story. Properties that several people spent their entire lives to acquire have gone with some of the infernos that had occurred from these illegal fuel depots and businesses.
Not only that, the illegal activities of these unscrupulous persons have caused and continue to cause the country a lot of money, either directly through fuel theft or indirectly through repair of fuel pipes that they rupture before having access to the fuel. We can do without such hemorrhage.
We commend the whistleblowers that blew the lid off the cans of these illegal businesses. Other Nigerians should emulate them in the interest of all.
We also urge the appropriate agencies of government to ensure the perpetrators of these illegal activities are duly prosecuted so they could get their due punishment and thereby serve as lesson to others who might want to go into the same illegal business.
(The NATION Editorial)
News
US publishes fresh names, photos of 10 Nigerians to be deported
The United States Department of Homeland Security has added 10 Nigerians to its “Worst of the Worst” register, a database highlighting immigrants arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement over alleged criminal offences.
The latest names were published on the official DHS website and include individuals linked to cases involving fraud, identity theft, drug offences, assault, conspiracy and offences involving children.
The 10 Nigerians listed in the latest update are:
Temitope Bashua — Wire fraud, identity theft and fraud — Allenwood, Pennsylvania
Ojehoro Lewis — Cruelty towards a child — Conroe, Texas
Osemudiamen Kingsley Oziegbe — Wire fraud — Louisville, Kentucky
Daniel Oworen — Dangerous drugs — Conroe, Texas
Raymond H. Ekevwo — Wire fraud — Oxford, Wisconsin
Franklin Dikeocha — Sex offence against a child – fondling — Dallas, Texas
Johnson Ogunlana — Fraud and identity theft — White Deer, Pennsylvania
Chukwuemeka Okorocha — Wire fraud, dangerous drugs, possession of a weapon and aggravated assault involving a non-family gun — Allenwood, Pennsylvania
Tunde Korede — Conspiracy — Allenwood, Pennsylvania
Chukwuemeka Chinye — Larceny from a banking-type institution, fraud, larceny, identity theft and conspiracy — Pollock, Louisiana
DHS said the register was established to draw attention to immigrants it describes as the “worst of worst criminal aliens” arrested by ICE.

“Every day, the patriots of ICE are working to target the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country. Just yesterday, ICE arrested murderers, pedophiles, kidnappers, and other violent criminals to make America safe again,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, there will be no safe haven for illegal aliens, including in sanctuary cities which put illegal aliens over their own citizens. We will never apologize for arresting and deporting illegal aliens, because that’s how we protect American lives.”
The department said the latest immigration enforcement actions were part of the Trump administration’s deportation policy.
“Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations – starting with the worst of the worst – including the illegal aliens you see here,” the department said.
The latest publication comes after DHS released another list in July containing 124 Nigerians arrested by ICE and identified on the same register.
The July list featured Nigerians associated with a range of criminal offences, although the department did not provide specific deportation dates for those individuals
News
FG orders closure of first River Niger bridge for one week
…Orders CCTV installation to stop vandalism
The federal government on Friday announced the closure of the River Niger bridge for one week.
The closure is to carry out repairs on the vandalised sections of the River Niger bridge road and install security architecture in the area.
Minister for Works, Engr Dave Umahi, disclosed this at Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra during an inspection tour of the bridge and other roads under construction in the South East and South South geopolitical zones of the country.

The first River Niger Bridge linking Asaba and Onitsha
He said motorists would, at the closure of the bridge, be directed to the Second Niger Bridge in order to give the contractors an adequate time frame to carry out the necessary repairs.

Recall that suspected vandals had looted vital bolts and irons used in the construction of the bridge, thereby exposing the bridge to obvious collapse and, in the process, threatening the lives of millions of road users and passersby.
He explained that security measures are being taken to avert a repeat occurrence of vandalism on the bridge.
“Bridges are designed for light load and dynamic loads so we have directed that work should start immediately and the entire asphalt be removed and put another one and there will be solar lights on that bridge in the next one week and we shall fix CCTV and connect it to the one in the 2nd Niger Bridge so that security will observe and whoever that tries to touch the bridge again is going to be arrested.
“Now on the first Niger bridge, we have seen the wickedness of the underworld. We have seen the man’s inhumanity to man; those things that they are removing is very dangerous to the beauty of that bridge and we have commenced action on that bridge,” he said.
He added; “There Is so much accumulated workload on that bridge, like it was with the 3rd Mainland Bridge, and every government that comes will put asphalt, and it is causing a lot of gridlock on that bridge.
“So these are the actions that we have taken and then getting down we came to the Enugu – Onitsha express and they are working in three sections and there the Enugu -Onitsha and another one is 17.5 km and the last one is about 20km by two and so I have directed them not to start any asphalt work or concrete work so what they are to do is to take measurements of all the failed sections and it should be milled out and then use 16mm binder to cover them very well all the way from head bridge to 21.5 km and they will finish one carriage way before they go to the other one.
“We have to attempt to work at night so that we don’t interfere with traffic and we have to get the road safety involved and our own local traffic managers they should commence the desilting of the drainage before commencing.
“To that effect we may have to close down the first Niger bridge in seven days time and we direct traffic to the second Niger bridge for us to fix the first Niger bridge in good time,” he stated.
At the ongoing construction of the second Niger Bridge access road, Engr Timothy Emenike, Controller, and Engr Nnamdi explained that there would be no more slow pace of work on the project, adding that the project is being executed from both fronts in order to beat the deadline.
“The project starts from Obosi down to Mkpor and Ogidi and now we are in Ogbunike and along this alignment between the last time you came we are working on several stops along this alignment and you have just seen the second bridge that is ongoing and we are almost about to start the third one”.
“Work pace will not be a hindrance until we exhaust what was given to us by the Anambra state government and I am happy to inform you that since the new Commissioner took over we have been going to the new Commissioner’s office and have been pressuring him to give us more work space.”
According to him, in the next week we shall have another work space of 5km between Obosi axis, working from both ends.
“We are cutting through the hill at Ogbunike to continue the work in that area,” they stated.
Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Arc Okey Ezeobi, announced that the right of way being demanded by the contractors would be granted to them, adding that an additional 5km has been added to the contractors.
Ezeobi thanked President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and Engr Dave Umahi for providing democracy dividends for the people of Anambra and the South East.
He reiterated the support of the people of the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“There is no better way to describe this as a renewed hope and not fit saying it and the Hon Minister with what you are doing with our wonderful President for the first time Easterners can come in and move out with ease and the bottleneck they had been a great harassment and that is sending people out of the South East, has been taken care of.
“One can now bypass Onitsha, bypass Asaba and you are on your way.
“You don’t know how glad the people of Anambra and the South East is and thank Mr President for us.
“There is no way to ask for democracy dividend than this and that is when you have a visionary leadership tailored towards alleviating the sufferings of the masses.
“Mr President is developing every part of Nigeria and regarding the right of way for this project, we are finalizing it and we are adding another 5km to what we have now and there will be more than enough for the contractor to work with,” he added.
News
Family announces funeral arrangements for former GOCOP President Dotun Oladipo
The family of The Eagle Online publisher, Dotun Oladipo, has announced September 10 and 11, 2026 as the dates for the funeral programmes of the journalist and media entrepreneur.
Oladipo died on Tuesday, August 25, at the age of 56.
According to the family, a service of songs will hold at DayStar Church, Oregun, Ikeja, on Thursday, September 10.
The burial service will take place at the same venue on Friday, September 11, followed by his interment.
Oladipo was president of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) from 2017 to 2021 and was among the foundational members who helped shape the association during its formative years.

GOCOP President, Danlami Nmodu, described his death as a painful loss to the Guild and recalled his contribution to the development of online publishing in Nigeria.Exploring African Diaspora Media
“Dotun played an important role in the development of GOCOP. He led the Guild for four years at a time when there was still a lot of work to be done to establish online publishers as an important part of the media. His contribution will always be remembered,” Nmodu said.
Nmodu said Oladipo brought his experience as a journalist and publisher to the leadership of the Guild.
“Dotun understood journalism and he understood the business of publishing. He was passionate about the place of online media in Nigeria and he gave his time to the growth of the Guild. We are saddened by his passing,” Nmodu said.
Oladipo was also a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria), and was active in the development of Nigeria’s online publishing industry.
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