Metro

Edo: 23 Communities Protest Alleged Leasing Of Forest Reserve To Oil Palm Investor

Published

5 years ago

September 20, 2021

Editor

Twenty three communities in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, on Monday, protested against the planned leasing of their land – Urhonigbe Forest Reserve – to a private investor, SARO Oil Palm.

The protesting persons noted that the Urhonigbe forest reserve was donated by their forefathers while other communities/refused to make any land donation as forest reserve.

Addressing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Benin, spokesman of the protesting communities, Chief Gabriel Osadolor, said: “The Urhonigbe forest reserved as our only means of livelihood, where we farm to sustain our family and children. Our children, mostly who are graduates and have no job, engage in farming in the forest reserve.

“Many youths from Orhionmwon Local Government, who are not interested in criminal activities, engaged in farming in the forest reserve as there is no employment after graduating from school.”

Chief Osadolor, also noted that not all communities in the state have forest reserve, adding that their forefathers were magnanimous to have donated their land as forest reserve which is their only means of livelihood.

He also lamented that while the widows and widowers are farming in the Urhonigbe forest reserve for survival, Fulani herdsmen kill and pursue indigenes from one side of the land to the other.

He added that people from Delta State also encroached into the forest reserve, stressing that the only area left for the communities is the present forest reserve which government is planning to give to an oil palm investor.

He said already, a part of the Urghonigbe forest had been handed over to Presco Oil Palm Plc, while the little one left for them to farm is the little one government planning to give to another investor.

They, therefore, appealled to the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki to halt the planned leasing of Urhonigbe Forest Reserve to a private investor, SARO Oil Palm.

The communities asked the governor to relocate the said investor elsewhere as the forest reserve given to the investor, serves as their only source of livelihood through subsistence farming.

“We are begging Governor Godwin Obaseki to relocate SARO or any other oil palm investor to another local government that have virgin land. Orhionmwon do not have such land. The governor should not keep us in hunger and starvation.

“Mr. Governor should note that we voted him into power because of the trust we have in him, and we anticipate he will always stand in our interest instead of of planning to keep us in jeopardy”, he declared

Osadolor, also drew government’s attention to the deplorable state of roads in Orhionmwon, the lack of electricity at the council headquarters in Abudu, the moving of the NYSC Orientation camp from Abudu to Okada, and the recent attempt to move the School of Forestry Management, Sokponba village in Orhionmwon to Fugar, Etsako Central local government area of the state.

Metro

Ex-convict Arrested In Edo For Armed Robbery, Possession Of Firearm

Published

19 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict, Owen Osas, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and suspected involvement in a robbery incident.

Osas was reportedly arrested with a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during a covert operation along Fishpond Road in Eyean, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

The arrest reportedly comes barely a year after he was released from prison, where he had served time for illegal possession of firearms and other criminal offences.

Osas, who confessed to the latest crime, also admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo
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Consequently, a victim of an alleged robbery incident, Reginia Izy, identified Osas as the person who robbed her a day before his arrest.
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The victim narrated that the suspect had approached her residence around 8 p.m., pretending to be familiar before carrying out the attack.
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‎The Deputy Commander Operations of ESSC, Richard Balogun, said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

READ ALSO:Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama
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‎Balogun explained that operatives conduct both overt patrols and covert operations to track and apprehend suspects.
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He said, ‎“Our men are always on patrol. Some operate in plain clothes as part of covert strategies, while others are stationed at strategic locations.

“Osas, who is a former convict, was arrested with firearms and he also confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.”
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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.