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Edo APC Primary: Pro-Idahosa Protest Rocks Benin, Edo NUJ Chairman Reminds Them Of Attack On Journalists

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There seems to be no end in sight to the crisis birthed by the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State as pro-Dennis Idahosa, a purported winner of the primary, took to the street of Benin to protest what they termed ‘no primary election conducted.’

The protesters who marched to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council, said the results announced by the Governor Bassey Otu-led committee at the rerun primary were the same results announced by a Returning Officer during the February 17th primary.

Recall that at the governorship primary conducted by the party on February 17th, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Chairman of the governorship primary committee announced Hon. Dennis Idahosa as winner of the primary, while Dr. Stanley Ogbeuaja announced Senator Monday Okpebholo as winner of the primary.

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This created division and protest within the party which led to the National Secretariat of the party calling for a rerun primary in the state.

READ ALSO: [UPDATED]Economic Hardship: EDOCSO Protest Paralysis Commercial Activities In Edo

But taking a protest to the secretariat of the NUJ, leader of the protesters, Hon. Harrison Okpemen, while reading a communique, said the “primaries of 22nd February, 2024 did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.”

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According to him, “aspirants were not given equal opportunities of being voted for by party members at the designated centers at the wards that make up Edo State.”

He added: “The party members present to vote did not have their votes cast recorded by any known office of the party’s National Secretariat. Quite clearly the result sheets used for the announcement of results were completed in the National Secretariat of the party as it did not flow from the reality on ground in Edo State.

“The said primaries of 17th and 22nd February, 2024 were not conducted by open secret ballot by APC as required by relevant provisions of APC constitution and the declaration of Senator Monday Okpebholo is not only unlawful, but a crass violation of the APC constitution.”

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READ ALSO: BREAKING: ‘Tinubu End The Suffering, Hunger In Nigeria’ Protest Rocks Benin

Receiving the protesters, Chairman, NUJ, Edo State council, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, said though their complaints would be reported, the attack on journalists by party members during the 17th February would not be overlooked.

Alenkhe, who said he wouldn’t have ordinarily welcomed them to the NUJ premises as a result of the attack, reminded them to tell their leaders that the ultimatum given to the party has expired.

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He said: “I wouldn’t have welcomed you here but as our job requires, we must do needful.

“You will all recall that during your party primary, some journalists were attacked by your party members. Their equipment were destroyed. We gave ultimatum to your party, and the ultimatum has expired. I want to remind you to tell your party leaders that we will take action.

“I want to say that we demand unresolved apologies from your party once again. Your party should buy all equipment destroyed, and their medical bills.”

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Residents Flee Kogi Community Over Fear Of Bandit Attacks

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Hundreds of residents of Okunran village in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State have deserted their homes following persistent attacks by armed bandits.

A viral video circulating on social media showed the once-bubbling community completely deserted, with houses abandoned and streets empty.

Okunran, once a bubbling town, is now a ghost town,” a resident said.

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The villagers said they fled to escape incessant kidnappings, killings, and ransom demands that have plagued the community.

READ ALSO:Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

The government has failed us, security agencies have failed us. If we remain here, we will be consumed by bandits. We are tired of paying ransom and contributing money for bandits,” said Akin Samuel, a fleeing resident.

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The Guardian learnt that neighbouring communities, including Okoloke and Egbe, are also considering leaving if the attacks persist.

The abduction of the first-class traditional ruler of Okoloke, 90-year-old Pa. Dada James Ogunyanda, in May 2025, deepened the climate of fear in the area. Although he was released after a ransom was paid, the monarch has refused to return to his palace.

A native of Okunran, Auwal Maroof, who now lives in Lokoja, said the decision to flee became inevitable.

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READ ALSO:One Dead, Five Injured In Kogi Road Crash

We have been praying for God’s intervention, but the insecurity persists to the point that fleeing was the only option to stay alive,” he said.

Egbe, the commercial hub of Yagba, is feared to be vulnerable due to its close connection with neighbouring Kwara State, where the bandits are suspected to be coming from.

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Local sources report that at least 10 people, including seven police officers and three civilians, were killed by bandits in Yagba within one week this month.

The Chairman of Yagba East Local Government recently imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in a bid to contain the crisis, while the Kogi State government and the senator representing the district have pledged to rid the area of bandits.

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18 Dead, Dozens Missing In Zamfara Mine Collapse

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Rescuers in Nigeria are searching for dozens of people missing after a boulder crashed onto an illegal mine during heavy rains, killing at least 18 people, local sources told AFP on Saturday.

The rock came crashing down on Thursday on the mine in the northern Zamfara state outside the Kadauri village in the Maru district, they said.

“We have managed to pull out 18 dead bodies from the pit and five other survivors who sustained various degrees of injuries,” Sani Lawwali, a miner who works in unauthorised pits, said from Kadauri.

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A dozen other miners were still trapped inside and their fate remained unknown, said Lawwali, who took part in the rescue effort.

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“The process is slow and laborious as we use our bare hands to chisel the end of the boulder to make holes for limited access into the pit,” he said.

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Rescuers have asked for a bulldozer being used at a nearby road construction site to be brought in to help, but had not yet received a response from the company using it, Lawwali added.

Abubakar Nabube, a local community leader, confirmed the death toll of 18. He said that 15 of those killed came from the nearby Maikwanugga and Damaga villages.

If no help comes from emergency agencies soon, none of those trapped would come out alive,” he said.

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READ ALSO:Bandits Attack Mosque In Zamfara, Kill, Abduct Worshippers

Zayyanu Ibrahim, a resident of Kadauri village said the collapse occurred at one of several newly dug sites in the recently established mining site.

“Dozens of miners were working in the pit while it heavily rained outside. A huge boulder at the mouth of the pit collapsed and buried miners inside,” said Ibrahim, who also confirmed the toll.

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Sani Abdullahi, a councillor in the area, said it was difficult to say how many people there were in the pit at the time of the accident.

READ ALSO:Zamfara Gov Disburses ₦322m To Support 8,225 Schoolgirls

Officials from the Nigerian emergency agency NEMA did not respond to an AFP enquiry about the accident.

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Zamfara, a poor agrarian state, is rich in gold deposits where illegal artisanal mining thrives in the countryside, despite several attempts by authorities to stop the practice.

The authorities have blamed illegal mining for the worsening of bandit violence, with criminal gangs getting money from protection fees they extort from miners.

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Police Confirm Abduction Of 17 Passengers Along Calabar Waterway

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The Police Command in Cross River has confirmed the abduction of 17 passengers by sea pirates along the Calabar Waterways.

The command’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, DSP Igri Ewa, who made the confirmation on Saturday in Calabar, said that the passengers were abducted on Thursday.

Ewa said that the command had already swung into action to ensure the ‘immediate and prompt’ rescue of the abductees.

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According to the police spokesperson, a serving police officer in Akwa Ibom and a popular politician in Cross River who were on board the boat narrowly escaped abduction.

READ ALSO:Six Arrested For Alleged Killing Of Police Constable In Bayelsa

A passenger who preferred anonymity told newsmen that the boat was attacked a few minutes after take-off from Oron en route Calabar.

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They stopped our boat, transferred some passengers to their boat, and when their boat was full, they took off.

“When we arrived at the Inland Waterways Jetty, we were thoroughly quizzed by the police. Our statements were later taken before we were allowed to go home.”

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