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Army Visit Ignites Okuama War With Okoloba

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Okuama community has allegedly launched fresh attacks on Okoloba people, hours after Nigerian Army visited Okuama, September 9, 2024, and explained it went to Okuama in search of killers of its 17 personnel in March 2024.

Chairman of Okoloba community, Mr. Clement Koki, who tasked Delta State Government to identify root cause and provide lasting solution to the Okuama/Okoloba rift, said Okuama people “unfortunately launched attacks believing the falsehoods spread by 5th columnists and a section of the media” that Okoloba people mastermimded the military visit. Koki , said Okoloba people were equally traumatized victims of the March 2024 killing of military personnel, were also jolted from sleep on September 9, 2024 by convoy of military boats and arsenal along the Forcados river from the Warri axis. Okoloba people, he said, ran for cover until the soldiers returned from Okuama and went back to the Warri end.

The Nigerian Army had in March 2024 allegedly burnt down Okuama, Ughelli South LGA of Delta State, over killing of 17 military personnel allegedly perpetrated by persons of Okuama community, an Urhobo enclave along the Forcados River.

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Koki, who said Okoloba community was committed to the Okoloba-Okuama peace building process, tasked all security agencies to be alert and stop escalation of the renewed hostilities.

READ ALSO: Tragedy In Edo, Many Feared Dead As Commercial Bus Plunged Into Ovia River

He said on same September 9, 2024 when the military revisited Okuama and left, Okuama people chased a passenger speed boat heading to Bomadi town in hope of finding Okoloba people to kill, on the falsehood that Okoloba orchestrated the military comeback.

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He further stated that on September 10, 2024, Okuama people blocked River Forcados with speed boats and accosted a boat conveying Okoloba people on return from a burial function, took them to Okuama and beat them mercilessly with guns, machetes, clubs and threatened to kill all nine of them but for the passionate appeal of the driver known to them, and who said his passengers were not Okoloba indigenes.

On the military mission said to be preceded by drones-assisted espionage, Koki referred the Okuama people and 5th columnists to the statement by the Chief of Defence Staff in Vanguard Newspapers of September 11, 2024, p.12, which stated: “The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa speaking through Gen. Onumajuru said: “People have been asking questions about what is happening in Okuama. I want to let you know that the killing of the 17 personnel of the armed forces of Nigeria will never go unpunishable….Do you remember how long it took to get Osama Bin Laden. So we are working on getting the killers of the 17 military personnel. No matter how long it takes, we will hunt them down”.

READ ALSO: Tragedy In Edo, Many Feared Dead As Commercial Bus Plunged Into Ovia River

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Stressing that Okoloba, an agrarian community, does not hold capacity to determine and control Nigerian military movements, Koki, advised Okuama people to desist from what will jeopardize the peace-building process.

He noted: “Okoloba Federated Community takes serious exception to our being linked to the movement and operations of the Nigerian Army on 9th September, 2024 in Okuama.

“We will not hesitate to take very necessary drastic legal action against any person, group of persons, mischief makers, fifth columnists alike, including media houses and personalities, who persist in the deliberate game of blackmailing our good reputation as a community by portraying us as the masterminds of the military operation or any wrong impressions now, in the past or in the future”.

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The Okoloba community chairman insisted that despite misunderstanding with Okuama, the Okoloba people were kind, hospitable and peace-loving and would not orchestrate killings via state actors.

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

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“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

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According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

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He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

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Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

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Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

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He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

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Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

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Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.

‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”

‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection

It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

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Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”

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