Headline

Attack On Soldiers: Do Not Back Down On Ban On Okagheles, Edo South Residents Urges Obaseki

Published

1 year ago

June 12, 2024

…say ‘they are threats to devt in communities’

Edo residents have asked the State Government not to rescind the ban on the activities of Okaigheles in communities across Edo South Senatorial District.

A cross section of the residents who spoke to journalists on Tuesday, said the decision to ban activities of the community youth leaders was long overdue, noting that it will put a check on the criminal activities that have posed serious threats to the security of lives and property across the seven local government areas in Edo South Senatorial District.

Recall that in a statement, at the weekend, the state government reaffirmed its decision to ban the activities of Okaigheles and Cultists in Edo South communities. Government noted that the State Security Council data showed that two groups – Okaigheles and cultists – posed the most severe threat to the security and stability of the State, resulting in the decision of the Council to place a total ban on the criminal groups.

A resident in Abudu, Orhionmwon Local Government of the State, George Osadolor said: “The government should never allow Okiagheles to return to our communities again. They have not been peaceful in the way they operate. They were set up to protect the communities but their actions have rather shown that they do not have our interest at heart.”

A resident in Isihor, Ovia North East, Douglas Egberanmwen, said: “I love the state government’s decision. These youth leaders go about harassing and threatening people instead of protecting community assets.”

Omo Isibor, who lives in Uteh community, appealed to the Edo State Government not to rescind its decision on the ban, noting, “Please I want to appeal to the Edo State Government not to go back on its decision to ban the activities of the Okaigheles in Benin. The ban should be enforced for our collective good.”

On his part, Godgift Idahosa narrated how community youth leaders threaten the peace in communities across the Benin City, stating: ‘These same people (Okaigheles) came to collect working tools from workers (tilers) last month at a construction site, claiming they are the new leaders in the community. We were made to pay N200,000 before we were allowed to continue work.”

Headline

12 Die, 30 Missing In Peru Landslide

Published

23 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

At least 12 people, including three children, died in a landslide at a river port in central Peru on Monday, and 30 were reported missing, officials said.

The landslide submerged a boat with about 50 passengers on board, and another with none, as they were docked at the port of Iparia in the Amazon jungle region of Ucayali, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

Six people were injured, it added, and a search and rescue operation was underway at the start of the Peruvian rainy season.

Without giving a toll, Peru’s COEN national emergency operations centre said on X that tragedy struck at dawn due to “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali river.

It said the navy has been called in to help.

AFP

Headline

Nigeria Grants Asylum To Guinea-Bissau Opposition Candidate

Published

23 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian embassy in Guinea-Bissau has granted asylum to Fernando Dias da Costa, the country’s opposition presidential candidate, following alleged threats to his life after last week’s military coup, The Cable Reports.

The coup was announced by military officers on Wednesday, just days after Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election in which both incumbent President Umaro Embaló and his main challenger, da Costa, claimed victory before official results were released.

Nigeria condemned the takeover and urged an immediate return to constitutional order.

In a letter to the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Omar Touray, dated November 30, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said President Bola Tinubu had approved asylum and protection for da Costa inside the Nigerian embassy in Bissau.

Tuggar wrote that the decision was made “in response to threats made against da Costa’s life.”

“In this regard, it would be appreciated if you would kindly mandate the ECOWAS Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea-Bissau to provide him protection and security while in the premises of the Nigerian embassy,” the letter stated.

The foreign affairs minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, confirmed the letter’s authenticity to The Cable on Monday.

He said, “The decision of the Federal Government of Nigeria to grant asylum and provide protection to Fernando Dia Da Costa falls squarely within Nigeria’s sovereign responsibility and longstanding commitment to regional peace, stability, and democratic governance.”

He added that Nigeria acted “in the broader interest of de-escalation,” saying the government had exercised its discretion “to prevent further deterioration of tensions and to promote social cohesion in Guinea-Bissau and the wider West African sub-region.”

According to Abdulkadir, the intervention aligns with ECOWAS principles and reflects Nigeria’s role as a stabilising force in West Africa.

Following the coup, ECOWAS held an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and subsequently suspended Guinea-Bissau from the regional bloc until constitutional order is restored.

Headline

Trump To Attend FIFA World Cup Finals Draw On Friday

Published

23 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

The White House on Monday confirmed US President Donald Trump would attend the draw for the FIFA World Cup finals in Washington later this week.

The United States will co-host the 2026 tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.

“On Friday, President Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup final draw at the Kennedy Centre,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.

But the giant sporting extravaganza has not escaped the political turmoil caused by Trump’s hardline stance on a host of issues.

Trump, a Republican, has raised the possibility of moving games from some US host cities amid a crackdown on what he says is crime and illegal migration in some Democratic-run areas.

AFP