Metro

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

Published

2 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:

[videopress DMx6L3eD]

Metro

Mother Of Four Hacked To Death By Neighbour, Son In Edo

Published

40 mins ago

May 1, 2024

Editor

A mother of four, Mrs Nata Igbinovia, was hacked to death by her neighbour and his son while trying to intervene in a fight.

The incident occurred on Saturday at Okpagha-Ewuare, a community on the outskirts of Benin City, Edo State.

Patience, the deceased’s daughter, said the incident occurred when her mother intervened in a dispute between her cousin and the neighbours.

Speaking to newsmen, Patience said the suspects resorted to using a knife and an axe to take her life.

“As he went to bring the small dagger, the son brought an axe that they usually use to split firewood. As he wanted to stab my cousin brother, my mom intervened, and that’s when the knife ended up in her hand.

“As my mom fell to the ground near their gate, the man took the axe and struck her back. While he was doing that, he took the opportunity to stab my mom in her side ribs,” she said.

She added that upon witnessing the lifeless body of her mother on the ground, the culprits escaped the scene.

She stated that a nearby neighbour heard about the occurrence and brought a vehicle to transport her to the hospital.

The spokesperson for the state police command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident, said the investigation is ongoing.

He identified the suspect as Philip Ayo and said he had been arrested.

When asked why the son, who was reportedly involved in the suspected murder, was not arrested, he said the detective would determine that after the investigation

“He will be charged to court shortly after the public holiday,” he added

Metro

Police Foil Cult Initiation In Edo, Arrest 35 Suspects

Published

44 mins ago

May 1, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Edo State Police Command have foiled a cult initiation and arrested 35 suspected cultists in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state.

The spokesperson of the command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, said the arrest followed an intelligence report that some students suspected to be members of the Vikings cult group converged on an undisclosed location for the initiation ceremony.

The PPRO said an anti-cult team carried out the operations on April 27 and 28, 2024.

The statement reads: “In continuation of the Edo State Police Commands’ onslaught against cult activities in Edo State, the operatives of the Anti-Cultism Unit of the Command on Saturday 27th April 2024 stormed the city of Ekpoma after an intelligence report that some students suspected to be members of Vikings secret cult confraternity who converged in an undisclosed place in Ekpoma to carry out initiation process of some new members where in the process 35 cultists were arrested,” the state.

“The operations were carried out simultaneously between the 27th and 28th day of April 2024.

“The Commissioner of Police Edo State, CP Funsho Adegboye, mni reiterates the command’s commitments to ensure the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.

“He assures the good people of Edo State and the general public to always assist the Police with actionable information that will lead to achievements. The CP emphatically said information is key to good development and a crime-free society, as modern and civilized policing entails citizenship and community participation.

“He again advise parents and guidance to warn their children and wards to desist from these deadly cult groups that it has no gain, the end is disaster.”

Metro

JUST IN: Residents Scoop Fuel As Tanker Falls Into A Ditch In Edo

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Editor

A tanker loaded with petroleum products has fallen into ditch at Okhuaihe Hill, in the Edo State axis of the Benin-Agbor Road.

According to reports, some residents were seen scooping products from the tanker that fell.

Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor who confirmed the incident appealed to the residents to stop scooping the petrol, saying there is great danger ahead of such a situation.

He recalled that a lot of persons have died in the past while scooping petroleum products from a fallen tanker.

He, however, called on men of the Edo State fire service to immediately mobilise to the area in order to avoid any form of fire disaster.

Nwabuzor also called on the various police teams in the area to barricade the area and prevent people from scooping the petroleum products.