Metro

Commuters Stranded As 15 Edo Communities, CSOs, Barricade Benin-Lagos Road Over Herdsmen Attacks

Published

4 years ago

April 20, 2022

Fifteen communities in Edo State in collaboration with the Civil Society Organizations, on Wednesday, barricaded the Lagos-Benin express road in protest over herdsmen activities which have resulted to killings, destructions of farm produce and forceful evictions from their ancestral homes.

The communities, namely, Odiguetue, Ofintebe, Igolo, Okokuo, Abumwenre I and II, Obarenren, Uhiere, Uyimo I and II.

The protest which lasted for several hours, led to severe gridlock on that axis.

Speaking on behalf of the communities and for the civil rights groups, Barr. Osagie Obayuwana, said, they are worried about the looming crisis brewing in the various communities in the state, orchastrated by armed herdsmen noting that urgent steps need to be put in place to checkmating them before snowballing into full blown crises in the state.

“We want the whole world to know the experience of our people have been for quite some time now.

“We are zeroing it on Ovia North East communities. About 15 communities have been under siege for some years. Farmers have been prevented from going to their farms, another planting season is going away, they have been sentenced to hunger, farmers and their families and this has an implication for the larger society.

“It is one of the reasons the price of food is rising beyond the reach of even those in the middle class.

“So far, we have not seen a serious efforts to address this issue. Our people have gone to various offices both the legislative arms and the legislative arms even traditional quarters and nothing seems to be coming out.

“Right now, the matter is degenerating to such an extent that people are being driven out of their villages.

“We are concerned that what had been happening in Benue and Plateau States will be coming to the shore of Edo State now where armed herdsmen drive people from communities, change the names of the communities and start to occupy the houses, we don’t want that”, he said.

For the former Public Relations Officer of Edo State Civil Society Organizations (EDOCSO), Osazee Edigin, he said the level of insecurity in Edo communities have gone from bad to worse and thus decided to join their voice with them to call on the governments to come to their rescue.

“We are here to support these communities that have been ravaged and sacked by herdsmen. We have seen it as a high level of insecurity in the state, and we want the state government and law enforcement agencies to rescue them.

“We are here to amplify the voices of these locals so that the state government should intervene in this. If we don’t do it, we are going to have scarcity of food and more victims.

“We urged the government to rise to the occasion and protect lives and property.

“The primary purpose of government is to protect lives and property, and if they fail in that area, then they are giving room for anarchy, and we don’t pray it results in a state of lawlessness.

“The government should step in. When there is no peace in the land, life will not flourish, and the economy will go down”, Edigin said.

Lamenting the atrocities of the herdsmen, Prince Aik-Ikhuokhuo Uwaifo from Uhiere community, said in the past, herdsmen and the people in his community were living harmoniously together so much so that they were even asking them (herdsmen) to give them their cows urine to grow their fingers while they will in turn give them foods.

He said the story has changed adding that nowadays, the herders move into their farms kill, rape, maim, destroy their crops and forcefully evicting them from their community.

Another protester, Mrs. Rhoda Ogba from Odigi community, said cows don’t eat grass anymore, but yam, cassava and Coco yam maintaining that they are now hungry as they can no longer go to their farms because of fear of being killed.

She said the federal and the state governments should come to their rescue.

The Edo State Commissioner of Police CP Abutu Yaro, represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, ACP, James Chu, while appealing to the protesters to be calmed, said the command share in their pains stressing that machineries have been put in place to curtail the excesses of armed herdsmen in the various communities in the state.

“The Commissioner of Police, we all know he is new, and he shares with you in this pain. We are all on the same page and all on the same reason to be here to talk to you.

“He has asked me to let you know that you know that he is a new person in Edo State. He has taken notes of all the incidence we have had in these various communities and other communities in Edo North.

“There are very critical strategies that are in place to ensure that the excesses of these men who are disturbing our villages are monitered and equally checked and stopped.

“I want to assure you that the police is not resting in this issue. I want to assure you that we are going to work in hands and gloves with the communities to ensure the essence of this gathering”, CP Yaro said.

Metro

Lagos Govt Begins Clearance Of Illegal Structures Along Lagos-Badagry Expressway

Published

8 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Government has begun a coordinated enforcement exercise along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway aimed at dismantling illegal structures and easing traffic congestion on the busy corridor.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the development on Monday via a statement shared on his official X account.

According to Wahab, the clearance operation took off at Alakija in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area before moving through Iyana Iba.

He said enforcement activities are currently ongoing opposite Lagos State University, LASU, with additional operations being carried out around Alaba Market in Ojo Local Government Area.

He explained that operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Agency, LAGESA, working alongside other enforcement units under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, are leading the exercise.

“The clearance operation commenced at Alakija and has progressed through Iyana Iba. It is presently ongoing opposite LASU, with active enforcement also taking place at Alaba Market along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway,” Wahab stated.

The commissioner noted that the exercise is part of the state government’s commitment to improving environmental hygiene, restoring order to public spaces and ensuring the smooth movement of vehicles along the expressway, in line with established environmental and urban planning regulations.

Metro

Nigerian Army Confirms Arrest Of Suspected Suicide Bombing Facilitators

Published

9 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army said its troops of Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), following intelligent gathering, have arrested eight suspects including two principal suspects believed to be key facilitators within the suicide bombing network.

Media Information Officer
Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI who stated this, in a statement on Monday, said, a search of the arrested suspects’ residence led to the recovery of cash, mobile phones, identification documents, ATM cards, jewellery, and other personal effects, which are currently undergoing forensic analysis to support ongoing investigations.

It said during identification procedures, a suspect already in custody positively identified the two principal suspects as individuals who supplied materials used in preparing the Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The statement confirmed that additional occupants of the residence were also linked to the network, adding that all suspects remain in military custody, undergoing detailed interrogation to facilitate further intelligence recovery before being transferred for continued investigation.

In a related development, OPHK troops intercepted a large consignment of suspected terrorists’ logistics in Mayo Nguli, Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State on 4 January 2026.

The troops seized 45 jerrycans of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with a total volume of approximately 1,125 litres, suspected to have been smuggled for terrorist use.

The suppliers reportedly fled upon sighting the troops, abandoning the petroleum products, which are now in military custody pending further action.

Metro

Delta Police Command Punishes DPO Over Extortion, Intimidation Involving Good Samaritan

Published

9 hours ago

January 5, 2026

Editor

The Delta State Police Command has removed and sanctioned the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the GRA Division, Asaba, over allegations of extortion and intimidation involving a good Samaritan.

The action may not be unconnected to the unlawfully detention of Tomi Wojuola, help a stranger who collapsed on the road.

The incident gained attention after Wojuola shared his experience online, accusing officers at the GRA Police station, prompting swift reactions on social media.

According to Wojuola, he rushed the unconscious man to the hospital in a bid to save his life. However, the victim reportedly died shortly after they arrived at the medical facility.

Wojuola explained that after the man’s death, he followed due process by requesting police involvement. “Instead of receiving assistance, l was detained at the GRA Police station in Asaba and treated as a suspect”

In his account, Wojuola alleged that he was accused of murder and had his statement taken under caution.

He further claimed that the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO), identified as CSP Joseph Udoh, threatened him for intervening in the situation.

“To tell you how wicked some officers of the Nigerian Police Force could be, I was instead accused of murder,” Wojuola wrote. “The DPO told me he must deal with me for acting like ‘Jesus’. Those were his exact words.”

He added that the officer allegedly warned him that after the experience, he would never attempt to help a dying person again, even though the deceased man’s family had reportedly confirmed that their son had an underlying medical condition.

Wojuola further alleged that he was only released after the intervention of a high-ranking government official, claiming that the police extorted money from him as bail, leaving just N2,000 in his bank account.

Reacting to the viral allegations, the Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO), SP Edafe Bright, confirmed on Saturday that disciplinary action had been taken against the DPO involved.

“The guy has since been contacted, the DPO removed and sanctioned, and the money refunded,” Edafe wrote in an official update.

Wojuola later confirmed the development on his Facebook page, thanking members of the public for their support.

“DPO removed and sanctioned. Money refunded. Thanks all. Naija go better one day!” he said.