News

Boundary Crisis: Delta Communities Sign Peace, Security Agreement

Published

3 years ago

September 18, 2022

Leadership of feuding Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Delta State have signed a pact to maintain peace and security.

This is as the military comprising the Commanding Officer 3 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Effurun waded into the lingering boundary crisis.

It was gathered that the intervention of the military into the bloody boundary dispute had caused the leadership of the two communities and other stakeholders to hold a peace parley on Saturday, 17th September 2022, at the Government House Annex at Edjeba, in Warri metropolis.

One person was confirmed shot dead on Friday morning as the inter-communal dispute over boundary demarcation between neighbouring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities of Udu and Warri South-West Local Government Areas took a dangerous twist.

Community sources however claimed that two deaths were recorded in the early morning shooting spree which threw the entire residents of Ogbe-Ijoh into pandemonium.

During the Saturday’s peace meeting, representatives of the two communities were reportedly given the opportunities to express their grievances, at the end of which it was made clear to them that there was the need to discard all animosities and agree to a truce which they obliged.

Consequently, in the pact signed at the end of the meeting, copies of which were sighted by journalists, the leadership of the warring Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities resolved that peace should be maintained henceforth by both communities.

“Henceforth, the two communities will no longer attack each other over disputed land.

“And that should any breach of peace occur, the persons found to be involved be dealt with squarely”, the agreement stated.

The peace pact noted that even though the general security situation in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities remains relatively calm but unpredictable, “consequently, troops of Operation Delta Hawk will continue to dominate the area with patrols and show of force in conjunction with other security agencies to forestall any threats to the fragile peace”.

Three representatives from the respective community who signed the peace pact were Chief C.C.I. Whiliky, Comrade Shell Okakota Godfirst and Chief Ottoogbiru Vetah for Aladja with Chief Anthony Jolomi, Hon. Denbota Oweikpodor and Chief Lucky Oromoni for Ogbeijor. It was also signed by the Divisional Police Officers in charge of the two communities, CSP Aliyy Shaba and SP KKabiru Audu respectively.

The major decisions taken at the end of the meeting were “that the demarcation of the disputed boundary area between the two communities was to be suspended till further notice;

“That the Governor or a delegation from Delta State Government was to visit the disputed boundary area before recommencement of the demarcation exercise;

“That the leaders of the two feuding communities were to desist from threatening each other. Additionally, any leader or community member who was found culpable of breaching the truce was to be severely sanctioned in accordance with the law henceforth;

“That all arms and ammunition still being harboured in any of the communities were to be voluntarily submitted to the security agencies.”

In attendance at the meeting were representatives of the two feuding communities, the Chairman of Warri South West Local Government, representative of the Chairman Udu LGA, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State, Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace and Conflict Resolution, the Police Area Commander Burutu, Divisional Police Officers of Ogbe-Ijoh and Onwie Police Stations as well as representatives of the Commanding Officer, 3 Battalion (Rear) Effurun.

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News

Shock As Adeleke Employs Roadside puff-puff Hawker As Govt House Chef

Published

14 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday shocked a female puff-puff seller during a rally in Osogbo by buying all her snacks with ₦50,000 and offering her employment as a chef at the Government House.

This happened when Osun public servants trooped out in their thousands in what they called an appreciation solidarity rally in support of the governor for his support and care since he took over state governance.

It was observed that the governor, who sat in the bus, had sighted the woman who was among the crowd cheering him.

He immediately beckoned to the woman carrying a plastic container filled with puff-puff on her head and asked how much it would cost to buy all the snacks.

The female hawker, who was visibly surprised and star-struck at the level of her proximity to the governor, found it difficult to even tell the governor how much she sold the snacks.

Surprisingly, Adeleke handed her a bundle of ₦50,000 to the cheers of the crowd.

The lucky woman knelt down in appreciation of the governor’s generosity.

Excited onlookers quickly rushed to share the snacks in the plastic already purchased by the governor.

The governor invited the vendor inside the vehicle where one of his officials questioned her academic background, and she revealed that she holds a Nigerian Certificate in Education.

Adeleke further asked about the dishes she could prepare and instructed his aides to take her contact details for employment as a chef in the Government House.

Confirming the development, the Commissioner II at the Osun State Civil Service Commission, Olaniyan Taofeek, shared the video on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “The moment Gov. Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller into a Government House chef.”

A Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Media, Oni Gbenga Lawrence, also corroborated the incident in a post on X, stating: “Moment Governor Ademola Adeleke turned the life of a puff-puff seller to Government Chef… not only ₦50k but he invited her into his car and employed her as chef in the Government House.”

The Guardian correspondent, who was at the scene of the welcome rally, made efforts to interview the lucky vendor, but they did not yield as she was not allowed to alight from the bus throughout the event.
(The Guardian)

News

Katsina Govt Revokes Licenses Of All Private, Community Schools

Published

14 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The Katsina State Government has withdrawn the operating licenses of all private and community schools in the state, with effect from August 13, 2025.

The announcement came through a circular issued by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and signed by Commissioner Hajiya Zainab Musa-Musawa.

The ministry’s Public Relations Officer, Malam Sani Danjuma, released the document in Katsina on Saturday.

According to the circular, the move is part of the government’s effort to strengthen quality assurance and standardization within the education sector.

“The withdrawal of licenses is aimed at ensuring that schools operate in line with approved standards and provide quality education to students,” Danjuma said.

The circular also outlined a review of fees for license application, registration, and annual renewal.

“Owners of affected schools are required to obtain fresh licenses by submitting proof of payment to the ministry on or before September 30, 2025.”

The statement also added that school operators have been warned not to increase tuition or other charges without government approval.

The ministry further promised to issue additional guidelines soon, including categorization of schools and the revised fee structure.

News

JUST IN: Oldest Missionary To Nigeria, Ruth Elton, Is Dead

Published

16 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

British-born Nigerian missionary, Ruth Elton, reputed to be the oldest missionary has passed on at the age of 91.

Ruth Elton, born 7 September 1933, was a British-born Nigerian missionary whose lifelong dedication to faith, healing, and revival left an indelible mark on communities across western and central Nigeria.

It was learnt that Elton died on Saturday at Sharon compound, Alafia Bamin Quarters in Ilesa, Osun State.

She was the only daughter of Pa Elton and her remains have been deposited at the mortuary.

Ruth Elton, daughter of Sydney Granville Elton (Pa Elton), who is referred to as one of the founding fathers of Pentecostalism in Nigeria, had approached a Kaduna court and nationalised as a Nigerian.

At old age and despite the happenings in Nigeria, she still held in high esteem her father’s prophecies that although Nigeria could be known globally for corruption, it would only for a while as new dawn would beckon when the country would be known worldwide for righteousness and prosperity.

Elton moved to Nigeria in 1937 with her parents and served as a Christian missionary across Egbe, Okene, Koton Karfe, and other parts of Kogi, Ondo, Oyo, and Osun States.

A naturalised Nigerian, having renounced her British citizenship in the 1970s, she embraced the country completely and became fluent in Ebira and Yoruba.

Elton, who remained single, believed that she had made a true mark in the country and apart from her missionary work, she saw her efforts in taming infant mortality, especially in Okene, Kogi State as a generational impact.

Relating her experience on infant mortality in the country, Elton recently noted that many newborn babies had passed on due to lack of proper care and hygiene, adding that the practice of force-feeding babies contributed to the challenges, especially in the face of poor awareness.