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Ancestral Land: Edo Police Command Denies Alleged Intimidation, Arrest Of Iviukwe Residents

Published

3 years ago

May 28, 2022

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro

The Edo State Police Command has denied claim by one Okpame Ozekhome that its men were used to intimidate and arrest residents of Iviukwe Community in Etsako East Local Government Area of the state over sale of their ancestral land.

Ozekhome had last week during a press conference in Benin, on behalf of residents of Iviukwe community, raised an alarm that Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Okumagbe of Uvhano, George Oshiapi, were using the police to harass and detain community members over sale of their ancestral land.

He claimed that these high-profile persons used the police to suppress them from asking questions about the sales of the community ancestral land of 5000 hectares to Dangote in 2013 for the construction of a fertilizer company.

But the Command in a statement signed by Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bello Kontongs, which was made available to INFO DAILY, while denying the allegation, said it was an imagination “orchestrated by some mischief makers to cause unnecessary bad blood, panic and hide their nefarious activities.”

The statement, while stating that the police in Agenebode Division rather received a petition on trouble in the area and immediately mobilised to the area, added that its men were rather ambushed and attacked by the trouble makers of which, according to the statement, the gang leader was arrested.

The statement reads in part: “On receipt of the petition, the Police operatives led by the area Commander, Agenebode Area Command, immediately mobilised to the scene for an on- the- spot assessment with the aim of stopping further breakdown of law and order by the rampaging mob. But on arrival in the community, the team of Operatives were ambushed by the principal suspect,Adolphus Ozekhome ( Osimi) and his gang members. They were subsequently subdued and the gang leader arrested on the spot while others fled and escaped.

“It is important to note that the Edo State Police Command is not investigating any alleged sale of land as falsely claimed and widely reported. The Nigeria Police remains a professional institution that operates in line with global best practices through due application of the rule of law and code of conduct. Efforts by anyone or group of persons no matter how highly placed or armed to prevent it from performing its constitutional duty of protecting lives and property will not be tolerated.”

The statement added: “In view of the foregoing, the Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc, hereby states unequivocally that the said publication is totally false and absolutely misleading as it is a figment of the imagination of the writer who granted the press conference.

“They are advised to toe part of peace and desist from instigating further communal crisis.”

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DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

13 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

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‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

13 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.