Metro

Bayelsa Poly Workers Protest Withheld June Salaries

Published

2 months ago

July 12, 2025

Editor

Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has embarked on a protest over their withheld June 2025 salaries and check-off dues.

The protesting workers on Friday shut down the institution’s liaison office and the lodge of the Rector, Dr Lukman Adegoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

NASU accused the rector of executive rascality and abuse of office for disregarding the window given to them to settle out of court when the union went on strike between April 28 and June 30 this year to demand their months of withheld check-off dues.

Bayelsa State Chairman of NASU, Comrade Nelson Ebimie, told newsmen that only two months of the check off dues have been released and described the rector’s actions as overbearing, maintaining that the liaison office would remain under lock and key until the right thing is done for the welfare of his members.

He stated: “There is no way one man will oppress the entire union. First, he stopped our dues without any complaints; when we discussed it, he took us to court. When we were in court he requested for out of court settlement.

“We tried to suspend the strike. Now, what we heard is no work no pay. We thought he was joking, but now he has stopped all NASU members’ salaries.

“On this day, with the national and state council backing, this office remains locked. That means there is no work in here. I want to urge us that everybody should stay alert.

“We are ready to go to all lengths: let us be focused, let us avoid everything that belongs to the school. Our focus is the rector and the council, because the council also refused to advise him.”

NASU Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe Branch, Etebu Ebifiye, accused the board of complacency, which paved the way for Dr. Adegoke to carry out his schemes against them unhindered.

Ebifiye emphasised that apart from withholding their salaries and check-off dues, the rector is not worker-friendly, alleging he had deprived many NASU of their appraisals while sacking others.

He said: “The rector is not worker-friendly. He has sacked our brothers and sisters without due process. He directed all the HODs and the deans that NASU members should not be apprised, while the matter was still in court.

“As if that was not enough, he started threatening that he is not going to pay us at the end of June. Not until yesterday did he started paying NASU members and SSANIP members’ salaries.

“He also paid 19 members of NASU; he did not deduct the check-off dues from those 19 members. And for the council chairman, he has been complacent. We are urging the Federal Government to dismiss Dr Agbabiaka and the council chairman.”

On their part, the NASU Chairman, International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Comrade Ozato Ozato; Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, Angbari Samson; and College of Education, Sagbama, Ebi Alex, condemned the withholding of workers’ salaries, especially given the present economic realities and assured their colleagues of their continued solidarity.

“How can you suspend the salaries of workers in this economy? It is very very bad and that is why we are here. Whatever the Federal Government needs to do to put an end to all these things without delay, they should go ahead and do it.

“For my fellow comrades, I want to assure you people that this trouble is for all of us because today it is Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, we don’t know who will be the next. Whatever it will cost us to see justice is done, we are going to do it.”

When contacted, the media officer, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Mr Nimizuo Pereseigha, said the Rector, Dr Lukman Adegoke, is out of town and declined to comment on the workers’ action.

Metro

Truck Crushes Man Rushing For Jumu’ah Prayers In Rivers

Published

8 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

A trailer loaded with goods has crushed a Muslim faithful rushing for Friday prayers to death in Port Harcourt.

According to Vanguard, the tragic incident happened on the ever-busy Nkpolu junction axis of the East-West road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, around 2:05 pm.

It was gathered that the victim was crossing the busy road when a black SUV on speed knocked him down and that the truck, which was on high speed, crushed him to death.

A source, who witnessed the incident, narrated that the young man was behind some of his Muslim brothers, who were also going for the Friday prayers, when the incident happened.

The source, who gave his name simply as Tunde, said the other worshipers had crossed, but that the victim, who did not observe the traffic very well before entering the road, was knocked down by the vehicle.

The source said that when the SUV brought him down, a trailer that was on the speed lane ran over him, dismembering the body beyond recognition.

However, the Muslim faithful who were with him took over the highway in protest until police operatives arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, the police restored normalcy while the protesting Muslims took the remains for burial.

Metro

Three Killed As Suspected Bandits Ambush Motorists In Kwara

Published

17 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have allegedly launched a deadly attack on motorists along the Rore and Aranorin communities in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least three people dead.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, threw residents and travellers into a state of panic as news of the killings spread across the area.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the victims were seen lying lifeless on the roadside, their bodies partially covered with clothing and leaves by sympathisers who arrived at the scene after the attackers had fled.

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the armed men, believed to be operating from hideouts in nearby forests, opened fire on the unsuspecting motorists in what appeared to be a coordinated ambush.

It remains unclear whether the attackers also abducted any victims during the assault, as details were still emerging as of Friday morning.

The attack is the latest in a growing wave of violence that has gripped Kwara State’s Ifelodun and Irepodun local government areas in recent months.

Communities such as Babanla, Shegbe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Oreke in Ifelodun Local Government have faced repeated attacks, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their ancestral homes.

Many victims have been kidnapped for ransom, while others have been killed in similar raids.

Residents expressed fears that the violence could escalate further unless urgent security measures are taken.

Some community leaders have called on both the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel to the affected areas, noting that many villages have been left vulnerable as attacks continue unabated.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had yet to release an official statement on the incident.

However, sources indicate that security operatives have been mobilised to the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents.

On August 24, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that hours after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area to reassure residents of improved security, suspected bandits abducted two people in the area.

The governor visited the area to reassure residents and restore a sense of security amid ongoing fears of banditry and kidnappings.

However, the criminals struck soon after his departure, highlighting the persistent threat and heightening tension in the community.

The incident reportedly threw residents into fresh panic despite earlier promises of tighter security measures.

Metro

Suspected Amasiri Warriors Invade Ebonyi Community, Behead Farmer Amid Land Dispute

Published

17 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck on Tuesday, August 26, at Okporojo Idima, Oso Edda in the Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as armed warriors from neighbouring Amasiri community reportedly invaded the farmland of one Mr. Dike Nnachi, beheaded him, and took his head away as a trophy.

The attack marks a continuation of violent hostilities in the area, coming barely four months after the April invasion in which at least four people, including a pregnant woman and her 12-year-old son, were brutally killed.

That incident also left property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Residents told reporters that the latest killing has deepened fears across Oso Edda, as locals now question the effectiveness of the state government’s ongoing peace efforts.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, had, through the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, initiated dialogue between warring communities to stem the tide of violence.

However, Tuesday’s bloodshed is seen as a direct challenge to those peace moves.

Community leaders have called for urgent intervention, warning that unless decisive action is taken, the violence could escalate further, leaving more lives and property in jeopardy.

In April, renewed violence broke out over a longstanding land dispute between Ndukwe community in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, and Okporojo in Edda Local Government Area of the state.

The hostilities left houses and properties worth millions of naira destroyed, as attackers, reportedly from Amasiri, launched assaults on Okporojo.

The worsening security situation forced many residents of Edda to abandon the Amasiri road, opting instead to travel through Afikpo town due to fear of further attacks.

Although previous administrations attempted to resolve the crisis, including the release of a white paper based on a government committee’s recommendations, implementation has reportedly stalled, allowing the conflict to fester and violence to recur.