Metro

Edo: CSOs, NANS Protest Against Obaseki’s Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination

Published

4 years ago

September 27, 2021

Editor

…Threaten To Shut Down State If..

Residents of Benin City mostly members of civil society organistions and leaders of students union on Monday took to major streets to protest against the compulsory COVID-19 vaccination policy put in place by Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State.

The protesters, who grounded vehicular movement in the metropolis carried placards bearing inscriptions such as: ‘We need security in Edo, not vaccine’; ‘We will resist any form of executive rascality’; ‘Hunger is killing us, not COVID-19’; ‘Obaseki obey court order’; ‘My body is my right’; ‘Share COVID-19 palliative’, threatened to completely shut down government house, government agencies/parastatals, corporate organistions enforcing ‘no vaccine, no entry policies, stressed that the protest of Monday was just a warning.

Speaking at the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council, Comrade Curtis Ogbebor, coordinator, Freedom Ambassador Organisation, said they were out to express their displeasure over the compulsory vaccination in the state, just as he stressed that there are other pressing issues such as security that the Governor should pay priority to and not COVID-19 vaccination.

He said they are giving the Governor 48 hours to withdraw the compulsory vaccination, just as they threatened to shut down the economy of the state should the governor continue with his compulsory vaccination enforcement.

“We have come out today to send a warning and an advice for him to urgently withdraw that enforcement order. 48 hours after, if he refuses to withdraw that order, we will mobilise to shut down the economy of the state. We cannot fold our arms and watch the act of illegality.” he said.

He continues, “There are issues of urgent concern like security which is enshrined in the Constitution that the Governor is under law to secure the lives and properties of its citizenry. But as we speak, the Governor is not concerned about the security and welfare of the people.

“As we speak, no street light is working in Edo State; Benin – Auchi Road is not safe to travel on because of bandits, herdsmen.

“The governor recieves N9bn annually as security vote, but as we speak, the police stations that were razed during the EndSARS protest, no one has been rebuilt.

“The local security apparatus that was put in place, many Edo youths are ready to sacrifice their lives to secure Edo people but the Governor has refused to fund them.”

He urged the state governor to focus more on infrastructural development rather than enforcing COVID-19 vaccination on the people.

Also speaking on behalf of students in Edo State, Comrade Osamudiamen Ogbidi, National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Student and Youth Association, said students in the state reject the forceful COVID-19 vaccination.

While noting that the protest was just a warning and that students would be mobilised to shut down the state, he said all other youths in the state too reject the compulsory vaccination.

Speaking on banks enforcing the policy, he said, “We are aware that banks too are making it compulsory for their staff to be vaccinated, and that they are about to enforce ‘no vaccine, no entry policy. And we are sending a warning to them that if they try it, we are going to shut down the banks.”

Metro

Truck Crushes Man Rushing For Jumu’ah Prayers In Rivers

Published

9 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

A trailer loaded with goods has crushed a Muslim faithful rushing for Friday prayers to death in Port Harcourt.

According to Vanguard, the tragic incident happened on the ever-busy Nkpolu junction axis of the East-West road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State, around 2:05 pm.

It was gathered that the victim was crossing the busy road when a black SUV on speed knocked him down and that the truck, which was on high speed, crushed him to death.

A source, who witnessed the incident, narrated that the young man was behind some of his Muslim brothers, who were also going for the Friday prayers, when the incident happened.

The source, who gave his name simply as Tunde, said the other worshipers had crossed, but that the victim, who did not observe the traffic very well before entering the road, was knocked down by the vehicle.

The source said that when the SUV brought him down, a trailer that was on the speed lane ran over him, dismembering the body beyond recognition.

However, the Muslim faithful who were with him took over the highway in protest until police operatives arrived at the scene.

Meanwhile, the police restored normalcy while the protesting Muslims took the remains for burial.

Metro

Three Killed As Suspected Bandits Ambush Motorists In Kwara

Published

18 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be Fulani bandits have allegedly launched a deadly attack on motorists along the Rore and Aranorin communities in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, leaving at least three people dead.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday, threw residents and travellers into a state of panic as news of the killings spread across the area.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the victims were seen lying lifeless on the roadside, their bodies partially covered with clothing and leaves by sympathisers who arrived at the scene after the attackers had fled.

Eyewitnesses told SaharaReporters that the armed men, believed to be operating from hideouts in nearby forests, opened fire on the unsuspecting motorists in what appeared to be a coordinated ambush.

It remains unclear whether the attackers also abducted any victims during the assault, as details were still emerging as of Friday morning.

The attack is the latest in a growing wave of violence that has gripped Kwara State’s Ifelodun and Irepodun local government areas in recent months.

Communities such as Babanla, Shegbe, Ologomo, Alabe, and Oreke in Ifelodun Local Government have faced repeated attacks, forcing hundreds of residents to flee their ancestral homes.

Many victims have been kidnapped for ransom, while others have been killed in similar raids.

Residents expressed fears that the violence could escalate further unless urgent security measures are taken.

Some community leaders have called on both the state and federal governments to deploy more security personnel to the affected areas, noting that many villages have been left vulnerable as attacks continue unabated.

As of the time of filing this report, the Kwara State Police Command had yet to release an official statement on the incident.

However, sources indicate that security operatives have been mobilised to the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents.

On August 24, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that hours after Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area to reassure residents of improved security, suspected bandits abducted two people in the area.

The governor visited the area to reassure residents and restore a sense of security amid ongoing fears of banditry and kidnappings.

However, the criminals struck soon after his departure, highlighting the persistent threat and heightening tension in the community.

The incident reportedly threw residents into fresh panic despite earlier promises of tighter security measures.

Metro

Suspected Amasiri Warriors Invade Ebonyi Community, Behead Farmer Amid Land Dispute

Published

19 hours ago

August 29, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck on Tuesday, August 26, at Okporojo Idima, Oso Edda in the Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as armed warriors from neighbouring Amasiri community reportedly invaded the farmland of one Mr. Dike Nnachi, beheaded him, and took his head away as a trophy.

The attack marks a continuation of violent hostilities in the area, coming barely four months after the April invasion in which at least four people, including a pregnant woman and her 12-year-old son, were brutally killed.

That incident also left property worth millions of naira destroyed.

Residents told reporters that the latest killing has deepened fears across Oso Edda, as locals now question the effectiveness of the state government’s ongoing peace efforts.

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, had, through the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, initiated dialogue between warring communities to stem the tide of violence.

However, Tuesday’s bloodshed is seen as a direct challenge to those peace moves.

Community leaders have called for urgent intervention, warning that unless decisive action is taken, the violence could escalate further, leaving more lives and property in jeopardy.

In April, renewed violence broke out over a longstanding land dispute between Ndukwe community in Amasiri, Afikpo Local Government Area, and Okporojo in Edda Local Government Area of the state.

The hostilities left houses and properties worth millions of naira destroyed, as attackers, reportedly from Amasiri, launched assaults on Okporojo.

The worsening security situation forced many residents of Edda to abandon the Amasiri road, opting instead to travel through Afikpo town due to fear of further attacks.

Although previous administrations attempted to resolve the crisis, including the release of a white paper based on a government committee’s recommendations, implementation has reportedly stalled, allowing the conflict to fester and violence to recur.