News

Edo Community, Estate Developer, D Prince Builders At Loggerhead Over Expanse Of Land

Published

2 years ago

May 29, 2024

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The natives of Obagie Nokenporo community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have denied selling any portion of the community’s land to an estate developer, D Prince Builders.

This followed a misunderstanding between the estate developer and the community which has resulted in the estate developer allegedly using police to arrest many of the community people.

Speaking, the Odionwere (eldest man) of the community, Napoleon Igue, said there was no time the community sold any portion of land to D Prince Builders which they have made clear to him, but he is bent on intimidating them with police while he claims he purchased land from them.

The Odionwere who claimed the estate developer has no documents to back his claim up, appealed to the Oba of Benin and the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, to intervene in spite of Oba’s earlier intervention.

“He claims that we sold land to him. I am the Odionwere of Obagie Nokenporo Community, and I am aware that at no time were there any land transactions by our community, and the said Cyril Omoregie. There is no document whatsoever to that purported land transactions .

“He summoned us at the Oba palace, and the royal majesty advised him to meet us for dialogue, but he refused to do so. He has taken us to virtually every police station in Benin City and Abuja, and all they told him was the same thing, that he should come to dialogue with us but he refused to do that,” the Odionwere claimed.

Also speaking, the second in command to the Odionwere, Joseph Aiseulin decried the “incessant disturbances and life threatening harassment by Cyril Omoregie aka D Prince Builders”, whom he alleged has made the community to have no peace.”

He added: “The government and the relevant authorities should ask him to present documents of the lands he said he purchased from us”.

On his part, Secretary of the community, Mr Fredrick Iserenren, also accused the estate developer of using both the police and vigilant group to intimidate them in the community.

He said: “When we got to the police station, they handed me to the police men who came from Abuja who promptly transferred me and other two community people they had earlier arrested to Police Force headquarters in Abuja the following morning.

“On hearing that the matter was already in court, the commissioner of police at the Force headquarters said he wouldn’t get involved with a matter that was already in Court.

“I have not met D Prince Builders before and as the secretary of the community, I do not know anything concerning the land matters for which I was arrested and transferred to Abuja.”

The Okaighele (youth leader) of the community, Destiny Osakuwoma, said, “Soon after my installation as the Okaighele of the community, Cyril Omoregie aka D Prince Builders started troubling the entire community, claiming he has one thousand two hundred and sixty ( 1,260) plots of land in Obagie Nokenporo Community, but there isn’t any documents indicating that the elders of the community sold any land to D Prince Builders.

“When we asked him to present the documents for the purchase of the said land, he resorted to harassing and arresting us with the police.

“First, he took us to the Esama palace, then to the Garrison Commander, he summoned us at the Secretary to the state government’s office (SSG) and at the end, they all advised him to go to the community to settle the matter with the elders of the community.”

Reacting via a phone call, the Chief Executive Officer, D Prince Builders, Cyril Omoregie, told INFO DAILY that he actually purchased the land with over N370m five years ago with documents, stressing that if the people have issues within themselves they should settle it.

He said: “Five years ago, I went to that community through some agents, and when we got to the community, we met the elders and youths and we paid a total of N370m acquiring the lands in the community.

” We paid both in cash and transfer. There are documents signed by the community. Then they were having Okao in the community so they signed for the community.

“I just told you there are documents signed by them, so if they are having issues among themselves they should sort it out, and should not affect the developer. They are having power tussle. The new Okaghele came and said he will not recognise anything done by the previous.”

News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

15 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

15 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.