Metro

BREAKING: Protest Rocks Okomu Oil Over Alleged Marginalisation, Oppression [Video]

Published

3 years ago

May 4, 2022

Information reaching Info Daily says there is an ongoing protest at Oil Palm Company PLC by host communities over an alleged blockade, digging of trench on the road leading to the communities by the company.

The protest which started yesterday, May 3rd, 2022, saw men, women and youths of the communities particularly AT/P, Marioba communities coming out as early as 6:00am today, May 4th 2022, to continues the protest on what they tagged as “treating us slaves in our father land.”

Speaking to our correspondent on phone, the Edionwere of Marioba community, Chief Gabriel Eigbe Okwolegbe, accused the company of treating the host communities like slaves without them benefiting much from the company.

He added that though the palm trees of the company are at the door steps of the communities, nothing to show for being host communities, rather the company dug a big trench on the road leading to their home.

He lamented: “I don’t know why this company keep treating us like slaves. You can see that the Palm Trees are at our door steps, yet there is nothing we are benefiting from the company. The only road we manage to get to our houses, the management has dug a big trench to cover so that we will no longer have access to our houses.”

Another native from one of the communities who identified himself as Rex Akpokiniobo said: “We have been enduring the arm-twisting devices of the MD of the company for too long, but this one was too much. How can you dig your trenches to block our road? How do we get to our houses or come out from our houses.”

The big trench dug

A youths leader from one of communities, Lucky Okeodion, while berating action of the company said: “Action of the MD was very barbaric and we shall continue the protest until the MD cover the big gutter with which he has destroyed our road.Sad that communities around multinational plantation companies are often treated with disdain.” (sic)

Reacting, a human rights activist and environmentalist, Chief Ajele Sunday, blamed the Edo State government for the maltreatment the communities have been subjected to.

He said: “Edo State shares in the responsibility because it signed a contract that cannot be implemented without violating the rights of the community people. How can a state government bring investors without some caution, without check? You allow the investors to operate and act with impunity.

”Just recently on the 20th of May 2020, Ijaw-gbini Community was burnt down by security operatives of the company. The Governor pretended to set up a committee headed by Hon Lucky WASA but it died a natural death. But the day unknown gunmen attacked the company, the Governor went there himself. So who is given so much power to these investors?,” he added.

But in his reaction, spokesperson, Okomu Oil Company PLC, Fidelis Olise denied the allegations, saying: “There is nothing of such. These are just blackmail against our company. You can come over and I will take you to the said place if you see such a trench as claimed. Though as a company, we have right to dig any trench within our company, but I want to tell you categorically that such does not exist”

Watch video bellow:

Metro

Foreigner Escapes Death In Abuja Building Collapse

Published

10 minutes ago

August 4, 2025

Editor

Photo: File copy

A 27-year-old Nigerien, Aliyu Salisu, was rescued from a three-storey building that collapsed on Saturday in the Lifecamp area of Abuja.

While several other persons escaped, Salisu was trapped under the rubble for 10 hours before he was rescued.

Confirming the rescue in a statement on Sunday, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, said Salisu was successfully pulled out of the debris at about 4:00 a.m. on Sunday.

She said he was taken to Cedar Crest Hospital in Gudu, where he is currently receiving medical attention and is reportedly responding to treatment.

Adeh said, “On August 2, 2025, at approximately 6:15 PM, the FCT Police Command received a distress call reporting the collapse of a three-storey building in the Lifecamp area of Abuja. Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Lifecamp Division, promptly mobilised a rescue team to the scene, cordoned off the area, and commenced a coordinated rescue operation in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Development Control Department, Zeberced Construction Company.

“At about 4:00 AM on August 3, 2025, rescue teams successfully extricated Aliyu Salisu, a 27-year-old male and citizen of the Niger Republic, the lone victim who had remained trapped in the rubble for close to 10 hours of a lifesaving operation. He was immediately rushed to the Cedar Crest Hospital, Gudu, for medical evaluation and comprehensive medical care. He’s currently responding to treatment.”

She said the FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, who was present at the scene, commended the swift and professional response of all agencies involved in the operation.

Adeh also urged residents to remain vigilant and to promptly report emergencies or suspicious activities to the police control room.

Metro

Beninese Arrested Over Human Trafficking In Ondo

Published

21 minutes ago

August 4, 2025

Editor

The Ondo State Police Command on Sunday, in Akure, the state capital, said it had arrested no fewer than 10 nationals of the Republic of Benin over an illegal human trafficking business in the state.

According to the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Lawal Adebowale, who spoke with journalists on the development, the suspects were Atouh Joel, Mohamed Amidou, Saibou Akateliwe, Abdul Jahao, and Ndah Severin.

Others include Kumpori Ruth, Kumpori Martin, Tatiana Dianne, Martias Sossa and Ndapola Oba Giov.

The CP said, “On July 31, 2025, at about 20.30 pm, operatives of the command apprehended 10 foreign nationals at their respective residences along Oda Road, Akure. These individuals were discovered to have illegally smuggled themselves into Nigeria from the Republic of Benin. Some of them had expired passports, while others had no valid travel documents whatsoever.

“Investigations revealed that these suspects criminally conspired to bring one Nzaou Yelica Christ-Olse (male, 29 years, Congolese) into Nigeria without his consent. The victim was deceived under the pretence of receiving assistance to start an online business.”

“He was later abandoned by the group upon arrival.”

The police boss noted that the offence allegedly committed by the suspects constituted a clear violation of Nigeria’s immigration and anti-trafficking laws.

“The case has since been transferred to the relevant departments, including the Nigeria Immigration Service and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation and prosecution.

“The victim is safe, in the custody of the authorities, and receiving appropriate support,” Adebowale stressed.

The CP urged the people of the state to field the command with useful information that could assist it in the fight against crimes and criminality across the state.

“The command will continue to count on the support, vigilance, and credible information from the good people of Ondo State. We reaffirm our resolve to provide a safe and secure environment for all residents through lawful, ethical, and responsive policing.”

Metro

Customs Intercept Cargo Of 1,620 Extinct Birds In Lagos

Published

35 minutes ago

August 4, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, Lagos, has intercepted a cargo of over 1,620 Ringneck Parakeets (Parrots) and Canaries bound for illegal export to Kuwait.

The Area Controller, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, Comptroller Michael Awe, confirmed the development in a statement issued in Lagos on Monday.

He said that the interception of the cargo was by vigilant officers at its control post at the airport on July 31.

Awe said that the command and its personnel had resolved that no illegal shipment would slip through the cracks at the airport.

“Furthermore, these live birds, over 1,620 in number: Ringneck, Parakeets (Parrots), and Canaries (Green and Yellow Fronted) are protected species.

“These birds ought to have been accompanied by a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit.

“As Nigeria is a signatory to the CITES of Wild Fauna and Flora, we are therefore charged with the responsibility to ensure that the international trade in specimens of this kind follows due process.

“This is a cargo that should have been accompanied by required permits and other required documentation to prove that the birds were legally obtained.

“This is to ensure that the trade will not be detrimental to their survival; likewise, all other endangered species,” the controller said.

Awe said that the command would intensify the investigation to apprehend the perpetrators.

He said that the NCS would hand over the fragile creatures to a sister agency, the National Parks Service.

He said this was in the spirit of collaboration, inter-agency cooperation, and in line with the policy trust of Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale, the current Chairman, World Customs Organisation Council.

(NAN)