Metro

52 Edo Communities Shutdown NPDC Office with Confin, Cook, Dine At Entrance [PHOTOS]

Published

3 years ago

July 4, 2022

Editor

Over 50 communities in Edo State on the platform of Concerned Edo Youths yesterday, barricaded the operational office of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) along Airport Road, Benin over alleged marginalization of host communities.

The protesting communities who besieged the gate of the office as early as 7am, were clad in red and were armed with placards of various inscriptions that read thus: “NPDC, enough is enough, PIB law must be adhered to strictly, NPDC, our protest is our right”

The protesters, in demonstration of their seriousness, came with a live cow which they slaughtered at the entrance gate, two big pots and two bags of rice which they cooked and shared among themselves.

Speaking with newsmen at the gate, Ovbokhan Igbinovia, one of the heads of the communities in Okhoromi, Oredo local government area of the state, said they were very happy that the company was sited at the community, lamenting that it is quite unfortunate that the various host communities have not felt the impact of the company.

He said the communities have written several letters to the company but have not gotten any response from them.

“We are 52 communities. The reason why we are here is because of NPDC. We are happy that a company like this is situated here in Iyekogba village but we are not also happy because we are not working there.

‘Our youths, our children are not being employed. Series of letters have been written to them ever since last year. They have not responded. So the youths and elders of the communities have deemed it fit to possess our rights with peaceful demonstration for them to recognise us that we are the indigenes of the community where they are residing presently.

“If you check across the roads, you will see that those roads have not been tared, in where this project is, if you check the schools, none of them is being renovated”, Ovbokhan said.

He listed their demands as thus: NPDC must empower and engage the youths of great Benin kingdom, awarding the maintenance contract of NPDC headquarters, Benin to a company in Kaduna is fraudulent and a total disregard of our local content rights under the PIB law.

Another community leader, Sylvester Eweka said the company is taking the people of the state for a right, adding that such can no longer be tolerated.

He added that they could approach the Oba who gave the company the land to revoke it because they are not benefiting from it.

“They know what they call the local contents. It is as if they are looking at the Benins as a second class citizens which are not.

“The only clearing of grass which should have been given to the host communities, was given to a company in Kaduna. It doesn’t speak well at all.

“We are asking the management to withdraw that contract immediately and give it back to the host communities.

“They said this land was given freely to the company by the Oba of Benin and do you know why he did that? So that his people can get jobs.

“We can go back to our father and said the land you gave out, is not yielding any benefits to us and we want him to take it back from them”, he said.

Responding for the oil firm, Mr. Nowe Dumbra, from the Community Relations Department, said the management will invite them as soon as possible to address their grievances

“We came in this morning and we met this peaceful protesters already at the gate.

“At this instance, even if the top management are to come in, how would he has come in? It is not possible but however, I have reached out to my manager because truly the protesters are community based and actually it should be handled by the Community Relations Department.

“And my manager, I have spoken with him and he has told me to appeal to them, get the list of their grievances, present it to the top management of NPDC and they will be invited for a meeting immediately with their leaders so that they can discuss”, he said.

Metro

My Wife Sleeps In Leggings, Denies Me Sex —Husband

Published

4 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

…He starves me, our children, beat me, left me almost naked in public —Wife

A minibus driver complained before a local court in Lusaka, Zambia, that his wife sleeps in leggings to prevent him from making love to her.

Richard Makura, 48, of Kanyama compound was testifying in a case in which his wife, Patricia Mulenga, 40, a business woman sued him for divorce on allegation that he was violent.

According to the Zambian Observer, the two got married in 1996 and have three children.

Patricia told the senior court magistrate, Lewis Mum, sitting with two other magistrates, Abbyshine Michelo and Esther Mulomba at Kanyama Local Court that Richard has been beating her over petty issues since her father in 2004.

She explained that in 2006, he threatened to burn her clothes and was forced to seek refuge at her parents’ home.

She told the court that he once beat her until she fainted.

Patricia stated that in 2015, Richard started working for APG Milling in Mansa but still failed to provide for the family because he only sent home K50 or K100 per month.

She further said that Richard joined her in June 2016 when his contract was terminated but she never saw the benefits he was given.

“When I asked for our children’s school fees, he beat me in public and removed the chitenge material I was wearing.

“I was left in the short skirt I was wearing and in the confusion, he beat a man who wanted to rescue from his hand,” Patricia stated.

In defense, Richard denied being violet but admitted that problem started in 2006 when he had a girlfriend.

He explained that when he came from Mansa, his wife started sleeping in leggings to prevent him from making love to her.

The magistrate, Mumba stated that there was violence in their marriage and since Patricia wanted divorce, the court had no power to continue to live with Richard.

He granted the couple divorce, ordering Richard to compensate Patricia with K6,000 with initial payment of K1,000 followed by monthly installment of K400.

Property acquired together was ordered to be shared equally.

Metro

I Spent 13 Days In Hospital After My Husband Beat Me —Wife

Published

5 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

…I now love her the more —Husband

A housewife, LadidiI Abass, has dragged her husband, Shehu Abass, to a Sharia Court sitting in Magajin Garki, Kaduna, Kaduna State, seeking divorce over alleged battery.

Abass who reside at Rigasa, Kaduna, said her husband usually beat her any time they had a misunderstanding.

Accordng to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the last time he did, he was hospitalised for 13 days.

“He usually beats me in front of our children.

“The last time he beat me, I was hospitalized for 13 days,” Ladidi said.

She prayed the court to dissolve their union and grant her custody of their children.

The defendant, Shehu, denied all the allegations.

“I have just started loving my wife. I love her more and more every hour, “

Shehu thus prayed the court to grant him time to resolve their differences.

The judge, Murtal Nasir, after he had heard both parties, ordered the complainant to testify on her allegation on battery.

He then adjourned the case.

Metro

My Husband Abandoned Me, No Longer Comes To My Room —Wife

Published

5 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

…I still love her —Husband

A housewife, Hassana Adamu, has urged a Upper Area Court, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to dissolve her 10-year-old marriage to her husband, Danjuma Ali, on the grounds of lack of love and interest.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Hassan told the court that her marriage with Danjuma is blessed with three kids.

“I have lost interest in our marriage and no longer love my husband.

“My husband has abandoned me. He does not enter my room again, and he is no longer interested in me.

“I want the court to dissolve our marriage because of lack of love and interest.”

Danjuma in his response , however, said that he still loved his wife.

The judge, Malam Abdulkarim, advised the couple to explore some means of settlement.

Abdulkarim asked the complainant if she was willing to accept back her husband if he did all she wanted, but she answered in the negative.

He then adjourned the case.