A fire broke out at the Ebute Ero market in Lagos State early on Saturday, causing damage to several shops.

The incident was confirmed by Margaret Adeseye, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

The fire started near the Police Station close to Carter Bridge on Lagos Island.

However, thanks to the swift response of firefighters from the Ebute Elefun, Dolphin, Sari-Iganmu, and Alausa stations, the fire was quickly contained, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the market.

Adeseye reported that while the fire was extinguished, it resulted in the destruction of several lock-up shops in the market, which primarily trade in tools and kitchenware.

A mop-up operation is currently underway, and authorities are conducting an enumeration to assess the extent of the damage and estimate the value of losses.

An investigation is also in progress to determine the cause of the fire. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties from the incident.

Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has been released by the Nigerian Army after spending three days in detention.

Soyombo was arrested by the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, under the claim that he was involved in “illegal oil bunkering” at a site the military described as such.

The FIJ confirmed Soyombo’s release on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating, “We can confirm that our founder, @fisayosoyombo, has now been released by @HQNigerianArmy, following the intense media campaign you all mounted.”

The FIJ rejected the Army’s allegations, calling them a distortion of Soyombo’s investigative work. “FIJ acknowledges the Nigerian Army’s deliberate mischaracterisation to suggest an involvement in ‘illegal oil bunkering.’ FIJ will also address this statement appropriately,” the organization said.

The media group also expressed concern about Soyombo’s safety, given the sensitive information he reportedly shared with the Army during his detention.

“Our immediate concern is regarding the safety of Fisayo Soyombo in light of extensive information sharing with the Army on his fieldwork during the period of his detention. We are assessing the situation and hoping that his safety will not be jeopardised after release,” FIJ added.

Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has expressed strong opposition to the bill proposing the removal of the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Speaking to police officers in Abuja, Egbetokun warned that exiting the scheme would not benefit the police force.

He pointed out that if the police were to leave the CPS, they would regress to a system where their pensions would be dependent on political decisions and annual budget allocations, rather than a structured pension scheme.

He explained, “If we exit the current CPS, we are going back to square one, where pensions will be in the hands of politicians and subject to yearly budget constraints. When the government lacks funds, pensions will not be paid, and you will have to wait months, just like the retirees of the past.”

Egbetokun emphasized the importance of understanding the full details of the bill before calling for a change, urging police officers to consider where they would be going if they exited the scheme.

He said, “You must know where you’re going before shouting ‘I want to go’.”

As an alternative, Egbetokun revealed that he is working on a new pension system that would allow police officers to retire with their full salary as their monthly pension, ensuring better financial security for retirees.

“Let us be careful not to move from the frying pan to the fire. I care about your welfare, and I will continue fighting for the best pension for our police officers in retirement.”

The Nigeria Police Force in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has said a native doctor, Ismail Usman, in Kuchibuyi Village, Kubwa, shot himself and landed in hospital while testing a ‘bulletproof’ charm.

The police said on Saturday that the incident occurred on Friday, adding that the herbalist was quickly transported to the Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.

SP Josephine Adeh, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, noted that Usman would face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.

The police said, “On November 23, 2024, an alarming incident unfolded in Kuchibuyi Village that drew the attention of the FCT Police Command. A distress call from Shandam Michael reported a shocking event involving Ismail Usman, a local herbalist known for his unconventional methods. In a misguided attempt to test the effectiveness of a self-made ‘bulletproof’ charm, Usman shot himself in the stomach with a shotgun.

“Unfortunately, the charm failed to protect him, resulting in life-threatening injuries. Officers from the Byazhin Division responded swiftly, arriving at the scene to find Usman in critical condition. He was quickly transported to Kubwa General Hospital for emergency treatment and later transferred to Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital for further care.

“In the aftermath, police conducted a thorough search of Usman’s home, recovering the homemade gun and an array of charms used in his reckless experiment. Investigations are ongoing, and Usman is expected to face charges for unlawful possession of firearms and attempted suicide under Section 231 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.”

A Federal High Court in Abuja has remanded 109 foreign nationals accused of cybercrime, including high-level hacking and threats to national security, in the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

Justice Ekerete Akpan, who granted bail to the defendants on Friday, ruled that they would remain in custody until their bail conditions are fulfilled.

The defendants were instructed to provide five sureties, each required to submit a N200 million bail bond and a landed property within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Additionally, the sureties must deposit the title documents of the property and their passports with the court’s deputy chief registrar until the case is resolved.

The foreign nationals, facing six counts related to cybercrime, include 113 individuals—87 men and 26 women—from countries such as China, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, and Malaysia. There are also 17 Nigerian nationals involved.

The case has been adjourned until February 27, 2025, for further proceedings.