By Segun Ayinde, Abeokuta
Gunmen on Saturday abducted a Swiss national, Andred Beita and his driver and killed one other person along Ibese-Itori road of Ogun State when they were returning from farm.
Orient Daily learnt that the gunmen laid ambush for the expatriate who was being escorted by security personnel attached to Olabel Farms.
According to a source that refused to give his details said that on sighting the police escorting Beita, the gunmen who ambushed the Swiss National at about 5:00p.m opened fire on them, overpowered them and Beita and his driver.
The source said that the expatriate was attached to the farm owned by one Ola Bello.
“On sighting the policemen attached to the man, the gunmen opened fire on them, and in the ensuing shootout, a Swiss expatriate attached to the farm, Andred Beita, and his driver, who was simply identified as Ifeanyi, were abducted by the kidnappers.
“Two staff of the company, Ishaya Ibrahim and Michael Kujore, sustained gunshot injuries and were rushed to hospitals,” the source said.
The source said that Kujore was rushed to Ogun State Hospital, Sagamu, where he was pronounced dead due to the gunshot injuries he sustained but Ibrahim who was taken to Hosanna Hospital, Ilaro, where he is said to be responding to treatment.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital said that one of the workers in the car with the expatriate was shot dead adding that two of the abductors were killed, while one AK47 was recovered
He said, “I am aware. The victims went to their farm around Ibese and on their way coming, the gunmen attacked them. But the policemen with them displayed a rare courageous bravery.
“They killed two of the kidnappers and recovered one AK47 loaded with nine ammunition from the kidnappers. In the process, two of the people were injured and were taken to hospitals. One died while one was receiving treatment.”
“The hoodlums went away with a Swiss national and one other person. The policemen did not want to increase the collateral damage because if they continue to engage them, they had already kidnapped two of them and the police don’t want to lose the victims so we are still on their trail making efforts to ensure that those people are rescued unhurt,” DSP Oyeyemi added.
Osun threatens to shut private hospitals flouting COVID-19 guidelines, warns citizens (NN)
By Ikemefune Francis, Osogbo
The Osun State Government has threatened to shut down and withdraw the licenses of private hospitals that violate Covid-19 pandemic guidelines, as it expressed worry over the rising cases of Covid-19 in the state, due to unprofessional activities by some medical practitioners who run private medical facilities.
The Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode, who doubles as the leader of the Risk Communication Team for COVID-19 Management in the state who made the government’s concern known in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo, the state capital also condemned the lackadaisical attitude of citizens towards the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.
The statement stated that the government, having examined the rising effects of COVID-19 in the state in recent times, was worried that in spite of the various measures taken to ensure safety of its citizens, some individuals and institutions have continued to aid the spread of the virus through their flagrant disregard for government’s guidelines.
Egbemode therefore warned private hospitals to stop attempting to manage COVID-19 cases in their facilities, adding that rapid COVID-19 tests should be incorporated into preliminary medical examinations for patients and quick referrals should be made to designated government facilities set up to manage COVID-19 cases when tests return positive.
“Private hospitals who go against this directive shall have their establishments shut and the owners’ operating licenses withdrawn,” the commissioner warned.
Egbemode who urged residents of the state not to relax in the fight against the virus, advised them to continue to observe the non-pharmaceutical protocols against COVID-19.
“Let us wear our masks and wash our hands regularly with soap or use alcohol based sanitisers regularly. Let us avoid crowded environments and also be deliberate about boosting our immunities,” Egbemode said.