Metro

Drivers, Commuters Decry Deplorable State Of Roads In Edo [PHOTOS]

Published

2 years ago

August 9, 2023

Drivers and commuters plying the ever busy Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi road have decried the deplorable state of the road.

The situation prompted the Edo State government to penultimate week mounted billboards pleading with residents and road users to bear with the state government.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr Anthony Isesele, a driver with one of the popular transport companies in Edo State, said the situation has become unbearable, as kidnappers and other criminal minded people have taken advantage of the state of the road to kidnap unsuspecting commuters.

He also said the cost of maintaining their vehicles has become a burden.

He said: “Edo State is a transit state that connects the south west to the south east and as well the south to the north.

“The government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole expended about 16 billion naira to rehabilitate Federal Government roads in Edo State.

“Oshiomhole knows that the ultimate beneficiaries of the so called federal roads are Edo people, who also bear the blunt of state of the roads in Edo, both federal and state.

“Obaseki was reimbursed the N16 billion some months ago and he is telling us that we should bear with the Edo State Government, that the road belongs to the Federal Government.

“Has Obaseki fixed the state roads? Just go to the communities in Edo State and see the kind of roads that are there. I am coming from Auchi now, take your time and go to the villages in the three senatorial zones and see for yourself. Are you not a journalist? And in any case, why is the Edo State Government collecting taxes from vehicles plying these federal roads?”

“The situation is unbearable, as kidnappers and other criminal minded people take advantage of the state of the road to kidnap unsuspecting commuters. Again, the cost of maintaining our vehicles has become a burden.”

Also, Agnes Moses, a trader in Ekpoma, Edo State, said they were surprised to see the screaming billboards that tells you to “bear with the Edo State Government” over the deplorable state of the roads.

“I was surprised to wake-up last week to see this billboard in Ekpoma. The road has become impassable, how long are we supposed to bear with the state government?

“So the government cannot even apply palliatives measures to see that this place becomes motorable at all? This is part of the reason why food items are expensive, because aside the fuel subsidy removal, the bad state of the road also contributes to the high cost of food stuff in Edo and neighbouring states,” she said.

Metro

Four Dead As 3-storey Building Collapses In Kano

Published

1 day ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

Four persons have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building on Abedi Street, Sabon Gari area of Kano State.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening after a downpour that lasted several hours, leading to the building’s collapse and trapping its occupants under the rubble.

Spokesperson for the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif, who confirmed the development, said two other persons sustained injuries while nine others sustained minor injuries.

He said: “As of now, we have rescued 15 people. Four were confirmed dead, two sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Murtala Specialist Hospital, while nine others had minor injuries.

“The rescue operation is still ongoing. We are carefully searching every part of the collapsed structure and evacuating the rubble, as it’s believed that more people may still be trapped inside.”

The rescue operation is carried out by men of the fire fighters, SEMA, NEMA and police among others.

Metro

Gunmen kill community leader in Bayelsa

Published

1 day ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed the Community Development Committee, CDC, chairman of Igbomotoru 1 Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the CDC Chairman, identified as Mr Goodnews Manash, was ambushed at the back of the community’s school compound about 10:30p.m., Sunday, while on his way to a relative’s house.

Confirming the incident, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH Ayibaikie Ofongo, said: “Between 12 midnight and 2a.m., Sunday, somebody from the community called to inform me that gunmen have abducted the CDC chairman of our community.

“It was not until this morning that I got concrete information that the CDC chairman was actually assassinated in the community. I can confirm that he is dead, but we intend to have meetings at the community level before we issue an official statement to the public”

Also reacting , the Press Secretary to the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Mr Ayibaetare Easterday, condemned the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

He said: “The story is true but he was not killed in his house. He was killed close to another person’s compound, whom he was going to visit. It is an unfortunate incident and we pray that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

“We are all brothers and sisters, so if we offend one another in the community, we should exercise tolerance and make peace. The incident is not befitting of who we are and its condemnable.”

Metro

Panic As Armed Robbers Kill 2 In Ebonyi

Published

1 day ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

There was fear and anxiety in Agba community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as a suspected armed robber shot and killed two persons in the community.

The town union president of the community, Mr Sunday Nwadibia, who confirmed the incident said the community has been under siege for some time due to the activities of armed robbers.

He gave the names of the deceased as Sunday Oyibe, a school proprietor, and Chukwu Ebuka.

Nwadibia said the community has been witnessing attacks and robberies since last year, which has led to loss of lives, cash running into millions, and property worth millions of naira.

He revealed that before the killing of Sunday Oyibe and Chukwu Ebuka, the hoodlums attacked a POS operator in the community and dispossessed him of N2.7million.

The town union president, who said the hoodlums usually wear military camouflage with bulletproof vests, also snatched a Toyota Corolla car and five motorcycles from some members of the community when they started operating in the area.

He expressed dismay that their activities have crippled economic activities in the community and urged security agencies to come to the aid of the community.

He said: “I was in my place when people started running because armed robbers were robbing at our junction.

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“So, everybody started looking for safety not knowing that the hoodlums are coming very close to our side in the community.

“Before we could notice it, we heard gunshots me and my workers also started running for safety. The hoodlums advanced to another junction near my house and that junction is called Orie Agba and started operating there and people started running.

“I climbed one upstairs and started watching the hoodlums. They started shooting heavily and approached my office which I had locked already when I noticed their presence in the community.

“They shot one Sunday Oyibe, the founder of Unique International School, who is also the chairman of the timber association in Ishielu. We rushed him to the hospital but he couldn’t make it.

“They shot another person, Chukwu Ebuka who people said was dragging his iPhone with them,” Vanguard quoted him.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the killing of the two persons in the community.

He promised to get the details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ishielu Local Government.

“Yes, I know there was an incident somewhere in Ishielu but I will call the DPO of the area to get more information about it,” he said.