Metro

136 Communities In Five Plateau Councils Overrun By Armed Men

Published

8 months ago

February 7, 2025

Barkin Ladi and Riyom local government areas of Plateau State have been identified to have the most deserted settlements, having little or no evidence of human activities, as well as being the most over-ran and occupied by strange people following a series of coordinated attacks which have affected the areas over the years, a recent finding by the Stefanos Foundation revealed.

Mark Lipdo, the Programme Coordinator of Stefanos Foundation, a Christian faith-based nongovernmental organization disclosed these at the end of a three-day prayer conference held at Miango, Bassa local government area, organized in collaboration with the Flame International, United Kingdom, and warned that the trend is fast spreading to other parts of the country.

His words, “Stefanos Foundation organized the National conference with a specific focus on praying for the land. The conference drew Stefanos representatives from the 36 States of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. A team of six Flame International members led by Janice Ransom facilitated the conference, which featured teachings on Self Re-dedication, Forgiveness, and Emotional trauma and was capped by prayers for the land.

“This Prayer Conference was necessitated by a Stefanos Foundation research which revealed worrying evidence of strangers occupying most violence-affected areas in Nigeria. Between 6th and 20th December 2024, the Stefanos Foundation began research on occupied territories around violence-affected areas in Nigeria. The research, which started with a look at Plateau State, focused on the Northern and Central Senatorial zones of the State.

“Some 171 GPS coordinates were collated, their status situation ascertained and were mapped in terms of: Deserted (no building and no living being present), Partially deserted (presence of building relics and very few people living), Mixed Fulanis and locals (community had been attacked but a mixture of locals and Fulanis were seen occupying the spatial space), Overran/occupied (communities taken over by Fulanis).

“The spatial analysis revealed Barkin Ladi and Riyom as the LGAs with the most deserted settlements having little or no evidence of human activities; these same LGAs also have the most over-ran and Fulani-occupied settlements. The partially deserted communities were mostly in Bokkos, Riyom, and Bassa. Bokkos is the only LGA that has settlements where the Fulanis and Locals are still seen living mixed together, even though they have experienced Fulani attacks before.”

He further stressed “79 communities are deserted, 33 communities are overrun and occupied by Fulani, 21 communities are partially deserted, three are mixed Fulanis and locals, and the total number of communities is 136. The findings came from Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Riyom, Bokkos, and Bassa. Some churches have been turned into mosques. Most of Stefanos Foundation’s delegates at the conference have reported similar situations observed in their States as well. In the future, Stefanos Foundation intends to also carry out such detailed research in those areas, all over the country.”

Also, volunteers of the Foundation in the South West reported some worrisome trends as one of them, who spoke anonymously, stated, “I am a missionary, and I work among diverse people, including the Fulanis. I traverse Oke Ogun, Ibarapa, Iseyin, and other places in Oyo as well as Odeda in Ogun State. Before now, the Fulanis were peaceful, but these days, there is an influx of some other influential powers among them, and they are beginning to be very hostile.

“Kidnappings are a new order now, and recently, we have begun to make some shocking discoveries. For instance, we have HISBAH members who are on the payroll of Kano State in States in the South West. They are in Iseyin, Oke Ogun, Sarki, Ibadan, Akala Way, Elebu axis. They are in Osun along Ilesha exit 2 to the expressway to Ibodi. They are in Lekki, VI, in Lagos. When some people discovered them, they said they were vigilantes, that they were just there to caution their people.”

Earlier, the Team Lead of Flame International, Janice Ransom led the delegates into rededicating their individual lives to God as well as His service and into praying for God to redeem their land. Some team members, including Stephen Stewart, Sharon Borland, and Robert Barlow, encouraged survivors of violence in Plateau State in the communities they visited not to lose hope in God as the team taught about the healing of the spirit, forgiveness, reconciliation, being free from trauma and fear, among others.

Metro

Five Die As Dangote Truck Crashes Into Tricycle In Ogun

Published

6 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

A Dangote Cement truck has crushed five people to death at the Alapoka axis of the Papalanto–Ilaro Road, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State.

It was learnt on Saturday from the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, Babatunde Akinbiyi, that the accident occurred at about 8:30 p.m. on Friday.

The TRACE spokesperson noted that the truck had lost its brakes and rammed into a tricycle conveying the five victims.

He identified the vehicles involved as an unregistered tricycle and a Dangote truck with the number plate GRZ 767 XA.

Akinbiyi said, “A fatal road traffic accident occurred at Alapoka Village, Papalanto–Ilaro Road, Yewa South Local Government Area of Ogun State on Friday at 8:25 p.m.

“The accident involved an unregistered tricycle and a Dangote truck with the number plate GRZ 767 XA. The tricycle was conveying five people. The five people died on the spot.

“According to an eyewitness, the truck lost its brakes and rammed into the tricycle, but unfortunately the driver was not observant that he had collided with the tricycle until its tyre crushed the tricycle and the passengers.”

He noted that upon receipt of the incident, the Acting TRACE Head, Adedayo Omonayajo, and the Ilaro Divisional TRACE Commander, Salako Idowu, led a rescue team to the scene.

He added that residents of the community had attempted to attack the rescue team, but the intervention of sister security agencies brought the situation under control.

“The Acting TRACE Head and the Ilaro Commander led a rescue team to the scene and were almost attacked by angry residents, but the intervention of the Amotekun Corps doused the tension.

“The presumed dead were taken to the morgue by Federal Road Safety Corps officials,” Akinbiyi added.

This is not the first incident involving a Dangote truck in fatal crashes.

Recently, Big Brother Naija reality TV star, Phyna, was at loggerheads with the Dangote group after one of the latter’s trucks crushed Phyna’s sister, an accident which eventually claimed her life.

In a November 2024 multiple-crash incident in Lagos and Ogun, a Dangote truck experienced brake failure, causing loss of control. Four people died and seven were injured.

Similarly, in June 2021, a Dangote truck in Ogun State crushed a commercial motorbike rider and passenger, prompting a mob to set the truck ablaze.

Metro

Four Escape Death As Trucks Collide In Anambra

Published

7 hours ago

October 4, 2025

Editor

No fewer than four persons escaped death on Friday morning following a collision between a tipper truck and a tanker near Igbariam Junction along the Onitsha–Awka–Enugu Expressway in Anambra State.

The tanker, which was loaded with diesel, fell into a roadside drainage, spilling part of its content.

It was gathered from a traffic update on Friday by the Sector Public Education Officer of the Anambra State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Margaret Onabe, that the crash occurred at about 9:50 a.m.

Onabe, who spoke on behalf of the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, confirmed that the incident involved a wine-coloured Mack tipper truck and a red HOWO tanker with registration number KWR 133 YQ.

She attributed the cause of the crash to loss of control by the driver of the Mack tipper.

According to her, four individuals were involved in the crash, with one male adult sustaining bruises and being taken to Chira Hospital in Awkuzu for treatment. Fortunately, no fatalities were recorded.

She said, “A serious road traffic crash occurred on October 3, 2025, at approximately 9:50 a.m. near Igbariam Junction on the Awka–Onitsha road.

“The incident involved two vehicles: a wine-coloured Mack tipper truck and a red HOWO tanker with registration number KWR 133 YQ. Four persons were involved, with one sustaining injuries. He has been taken to hospital, and no deaths were recorded. The crash was caused by loss of control by the tipper driver.”

Metro

Why DSS Questioned Me Over Viral Threat Video — Lagos NURTW Boss

Published

20 hours ago

October 3, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Alhaji Mustapha Olanrewaju, popularly known as Sego, has explained why he was grilled by the Department of State Services following a viral video in which he was accused of making threats ahead of the 2027 elections.

In the clip, Sego was heard speaking in Yoruba, saying: “Anyone who makes any mistake in 2027 will be dealt with. Let it be known: the APC is your party. Those who don’t comply will face us.”

The video sparked outrage online, with critics accusing him of incitement and political intimidation.

Speaking after his session with the DSS, Sego said, “Good afternoon everyone. My name is Alhaji Mustapha Adekunle Olanrewaju. I have been with the DSS since morning. I just left them around after 7. They just released me on bail.”

He insisted the claims against him were false. “I heard they invited me because of a propaganda that I insulted some people or something like that. So that is a fake rumour. What I was talking about was national union (NURTW),” he said.

Sego argued that rival groups within the union were behind the controversy. “We all know that every profession has its rival. As politicians have rivals, mechanics have rivals too. So it is the NURTW rivals that don’t want my work in Lagos to be successful. So they are looking for means to scatter it and cause trouble. They are the ones I was talking to and letting the world and the DSS and the Police know that NURTW is a peaceful union.”

He described the allegations as propaganda. “It is the naysayers that want to be peddling false rumours. So what the DSS have been grilling me about is not what it seems. It is just propaganda. I concentrate on my work. You can be part of any association. We all know the party we want to associate with.”

Sego added that the invitation was aimed at distracting him from his duties. “Since morning, I am supposed to be in my office but I have been with the DSS. This is an attempt to destabilise me and the NURTW in Lagos,” he said.

The NURTW have been accused in past elections of being used to intimidate opponents or sway voters, allegations the union has consistently denied.

During the 2019 and 2023 polls, clashes linked to transport union factions raised concerns about the use of motor park leaders in political disputes.