Metro

Boundary Dispute: Ogbe-Ijoh, Aladja Trade Words Over Alleged Demolition Of Houses

Published

3 years ago

September 12, 2022

Angry youths under the auspices of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Interest & Defensive Forum, OIDF have accused a purported Aladja/Ogbe-Ijoh boundary committee led by the counterparts of Udu and Warri South West LGA chairmen, Jite Brown and Taiye Tuoyo of unlawful destruction of houses in Ogbe-Ijoh community in the name of a boundary adjustment.

The youths said the committee did not seek the consent of the Ogbe-Ijoh community before destroying buildings on their land.

The youths in a statement said, “The grand commandant of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom Interest & Defensive Forum (OIDF) Gen. Powode Edonghan Ikoro, Action Chairman, Francis Oromoni, Commander Endurance Amaya Ogbe and National president of OIDF Okosu Smart and others led Ogbe-Ijoh youths to verify purported boundary areas but to our surprise, three of Ogbe-Ijoh buildings were demolished without the consent of the owners and even the Ogbe-Ijoh people.

“We, therefore, call on the Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa, Udu LGA chairman, Jite Brown and Warri South West LGA chairman, Taiye D.Tuoyo to think wisely and bury their evil decisions against the Ogbe-Ijoh people & rebuild the destroyed houses within seven days to avoid a showdown.”

The group also advised Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to call the purported boundary committee led by the counterparts chairmen of the two LGAs to order and possibly focus on LGA boundary adjustment between Udu and WSW LGAs and not communal issues.

The group said the two LGA chairmen should work in line with the government decision regarding the boundary adjustment of the affected communities and not follow their “illegal arrangement which may incite more crisis in the area.

In a swift reaction, Aladja Community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State denied allegations by the Ogbe-Ijoh people that her indigenes destroyed buildings in their community.

In an interview with DAILY POST, the President of Aladja Community Council, Shell Okakotu GodFirst, who was reacting to a report on social media by one Smart Okosun described the report as “false”.

GodFirst said it is not true that indigenes of Aladja community destroyed houses in Ogbe-Ijoh.

He noted that there is a committee set to do the demarcation between Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities.

In his words, “That job was done by the committee. It’s not Aladja indigenes. Aladja community did not go there to do demarcation on their own. So, to me, it’s an irrelevant story. The story is a fictitious story.”

GodFirst pointed out that most of the buildings at the boundary belong to Aladja people, stressing that, “some of the buildings caused the age-long dispute between the communities.

Commenting on the seven-day ultimatum the Ogbe-Ijoh people issued the Delta State Government to rebuild the houses destroyed, GodFirst said if the Delta State government should be ready to withdraw the security operatives from the two communities, Ogbe-Ijoh people will dare to attack them.

He said the Aladja community is fully in support of the boundary demarcation by the Delta State Government and not because Aladja is afraid of anything but for the sake of peace pointing out that there’s so much insecurity in the country that does not need more troubles to be added.

He insisted that for peace to reign, the Ogbe-Ijoh people should allow the committee set up by the Delta State government to do its demarcation job.

An indigene of Aladja community who does not want his name in print corroborated GodFirst’s comments, saying Smart Okosun is misleading the public with the libellous report.

“I believe the people of Aladja will not take it lightly with him this time around because if he alleged we destroyed any building in Ogbe-Ijoh, he should be able to point out the perpetrators, not just generalizing.”

Metro

Human Trafficking: Police Rescue 40 Ghanaians, Arrest Three In Ondo

Published

7 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The Ondo State Police Command says it has successfully rescued one David Angerinya, and 39 other Ghanaian nationals allegedly trafficked into Nigeria under false pretences.

This is contained in a statement signed and made available to newsmen on Saturday in Akure by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Olushola Ayanlade.

Ayanlade said that the victims were rescued through the operatives of Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS), Akure, while three suspects were arrested.

He said the operation followed a formal petition forwarded through the Interpol Liaison Office, Force Headquarters Abuja, requesting urgent police intervention over a case of transnational human trafficking involving a Ghanaian citizen.

The spokesperson explained that the victim, David Angerinya, was allegedly lured to Nigeria in 2024 with the promise of employment by an unidentified associate.

“Acting swiftly on the report, detectives from the TIRS, led by DSP Lekan Alabi, commenced a targeted investigation

“Subsequently, three principal suspects identified as Hayford Nyamekye, Awine Alex and Kojo Felix were apprehended, while the victim was successfully rescued during the operation.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects are part of a larger transnational trafficking syndicate that specialise in deceiving unsuspecting individuals, particularly from neighboring West African countries.

“The victims travelled to Nigeria with false assurances of lucrative job opportunities and visa arrangements to Canada and other Western nations,” he said.

Ayanlade also explained that “39 other Ghanaian nationals were discovered to have fallen victim to the same network.”

According to him, many of them were found without valid travel documents, while those who had, presented expired ones.

“All arrested suspects are currently in police custody and are cooperating with ongoing investigations.

“Furthermore, efforts are ongoing to apprehend the owners and caretakers of the buildings where the victims were harboured.

“The building owners and caretakers may have had knowledge of, or directly facilitated the illegal activities of the syndicate.

“The Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Adebowale Lawal, has reiterated the unwavering commitment of the command to combating human trafficking and all forms of transnational organised crime.

“The CP urges members of the public to remain vigilant and report all suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency contact lines,” Ayanlade said.

(NAN)

Metro

Fuel Station Manager, Three Others Arrested For Robbery

Published

7 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

The Lagos Police Command has arrested four suspects, including the manager of a fuel station, for allegedly being part of a gang of armed robbers terrorising some areas in the state.

A police source told The PUNCH that the suspects, identified as Noble Saint Neokoro (44) Batomie Samson (48) Abubakar Ali (47) and Bitrus Ibrahim (42) were apprehended in the Ejigbo area of the state.

The source added that their arrest followed a tip-off and discreet investigation by the police.

“The manager of the filling station is among the arrested suspects, while the owner of the station is said to be unaware of the alleged criminal activities. The suspects have allegedly confessed to being a gang of armed robbers,” the source disclosed.

When contacted, the command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development.

He said, “The operation was carried out by the Tactical Squad Hawk of the command. Four suspects were arrested including a fuel station manager. The owner of the fuel station denied knowledge of their activities. NUPENG also played a vital role in apprehending the manager.”

Hundeyin, however, added that the operation was a follow-up to the arrest of a notorious gang specialised in hijacking fuel and goods trucks in the state.

The command on June 28 confirmed that seven suspects were nabbed while a fuel tanker loaded with stolen Premium Motor Spirit was recovered.

The driver of the hijacked tanker was said to have reported the incident at the Surulere Police Division.

“Swift police response and discreet investigation led to the recovery of the tanker, which was found empty at Orile, and the arrest of the suspects at a filling station in Ejigbo, where the stolen fuel was being offloaded.

“The suspects, identified as Izuchukwu Nwanoruo, Kayode Falodun, Ojo Ayodele, Ayomide Thompson, Ahmed Saliu, Igbalaye Kareem, and Babatunde Ahmed, are currently assisting the police with ongoing investigations. A fuel tanker used to transport the stolen fuel has also been recovered as an exhibit,” a statement by Hundeyin read.

The police image maker added that the state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, commended the operatives for their diligence and assured Lagosians of the command’s commitment to ensuring safety of lives and property.

“He encouraged citizens to continue providing timely information to aid police efforts in maintaining security across the state. The suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.
(PUNCH)

Metro

Police Arrest Cleric Over Alleged Defilement Of Underage Girl In Osun

Published

7 hours ago

July 5, 2025

Editor

Osun State Police Command on Saturday confirmed the arrest of an Islamic cleric, identified simply as Kadiri, for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a minor in Ede, Osun State.

The incident that occurred at Babasanya-Araka Ede led to a protest by an angry mob, who had attacked the suspect after he was seized.

The command spokesperson, Abiodun Ojelabi, while speaking with The PUNCH, said police operatives were deployed to the scene after the matter was reported.

“The matter was reported, and we deployed operatives to the scene. When our men got to the scene, the Amotekun men who arrested him handed him over to us.

“So, he is in our custody already. But we want the Division to investigate before the matter is transferred to SCID.

“That is all that is available for now,” Ojelabi said.

Amotekun spokesperson, Idowu Yusuf, while giving more information about the incident, said, “The suspect is an Imam of a mosque.

“He also has an Arabic school in the area where he is teaching students Arabic. Further investigation is being done by the police.”

On how the suspect was arrested, a resident of Babasanya-Araka, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, said the victim was discovered bleeding, prompting her mother to inquire from her what had happened as she had gone missing a few hours earlier.

“The victim, about 8 years old, was missing for some hours on Saturday, and her mother was already looking for her.

“When she was found, she was crying and bleeding.

“She was taken to the hospital in Ede, where she was checked,” the resident said.
(PUNCH)