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

Published

4 years ago

May 28, 2022

Editor

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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Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

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Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.