News

Community Seeks Police Intervention Over Alleged Plans by Neighbouring Communities To Cause Communal Crisis

Published

5 years ago

November 11, 2020

Editor

The inhabitants of Oke-Oroma village in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State are seeking Police intervention and protection over alleged impending plans by neighbouring Amagba and Obazagbon villages to promote communal unrest.

Oke-Oroma in a petition by their solicitor to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command and made available to Journalists in Benin, stressed that inhabitants of the community had become weary of alleged imminent plans by the said neighbouring villages whom reportedly are in connection with top government functionaries to invade them in the guise of searching for the fleeing Inmates of the recent jail breaks in the state which they claimed to have taken up refuge at Oke-Oroma village.

The petition reads in part; “That on Saturday November 7, 2020 some youths of our clients neighbouring villages, Amagba and Obazagbon started jubilating, shooting guns into the air, shouting and boasting to the hearing of our clients that they have the backing of top government official who had given them clearances to sieze our clients village.

“While the jubilation and chanting rent the air, the jubilating thugs confirmed that, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen and his other cohorts had met with top government official to help, said villages, apply and secure armed policemen to accompany them into our clients village in the guise of rearresting absconded Inmates of the Benin and Oko Prisons who are not even in their community; thereby, using it as a medium to commit and or accomplish the intended crimes as planned by Amagba with the help of Obazagbon Village whose aim is to wipe out the leadership of our client’s community in other to have full control of same.

“This plan came up again, after our clients revealed the two villages initial plans through it petition dated September 2, 2020 to exploit through the recently conducted Governorship Election of September 19, 2020, as medium to enter into our clients community and cause mayhem afterwards.”

According to the Solicitor, the decision to explore this means is connected to a continuation of several incidents of attack, particularly the one in February 19, 2020, allegedly orchestrated by same neighbouring villages against the people of Oke-Oroma which left many dead, property worth millions destroyed in the process.

The Solicitor affirmed that, peace was gradually returning to the community and inhabitants settling down after the turbulent crisis when a new one is being allegedly hatched by the neighbouring Amagba and Obazagbon communities, adding that this could portray the image of the state in bad light if nothing is done to arrest the looming crisis.

He said everal persons from the neighbouring villages were alleged to have masterminded the past attacks that drew the attention of the authority for interventions following similar petitions from the Oke-Oroma over lingering boundary dispute.

The Solicitor, however, urged the Police authority to intervene and stop the allegation of intending crimes in the locality

Recall that the leadership of Oke-Oroma had raised similar alarm that they received threats of attack from the afformentioned villages which was however, documented and presently being investigated at the AIG Zone five, Benin City after the said attacks were successfully carried out by same villages.

Meanwhile, responding to the allegation, one of the accused, Hon Matthew Iduoriyekemwen, admitted to have informed the state government of the activities around the village.

He noted that, “the level of kidnapping activities have become alarming, and would be unfair to let criminal activities continue without firm attention”.

I can’t denied what I said, I was the one who alarted the authority about criminal events there. I was accused by the authority of letting criminal to operate unhurt. I told them those criminal elements are not from Amagba but from nearby village. By reporting their activities, I don’t think it’s wrong

He disclosed that those who engaged in such act are detractors who wants to smear his name and integrity.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

10 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

10 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.