Metro

Edo Election Tribunal: Political Thugs Clash, Sporadic Gunshots Near INEC Office Hinder Materials Inspection

Published

2 years ago

October 10, 2024

Clash between suspected supporters of the two major contenders in the outcome of the Edo State governorship election – the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP ) – around Ikpoba River, about 700 metres from the state INEC head office today, Thursday, October 10, 2024, hindered the scheduled inspection of electoral materials used at the poll.

The clash, characterised by sporadic gunshots from suspected political thugs near the INEC head office, Benin City, tensed up the atmosphere in the area, which led to the adjournment of inspection of electoral materials sine a die.

Recall that the inspection exercise which was billed to commence on Wednesday could not hold as planned following an objection raised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the inspection process, which was scheduled to kick start with BIVAS Machines.

The APC, while insisting that the exercise should commence with Voters Register rather than BIVAS, later argued that since they were served with the schedule few minutes to the inspection, they did not come for the inspection with their copy of the register, hence, the exercise was adjourned to Thursday, October 10, 2024(today).

However, at Thursday’s inspection outing, trouble started when the exercise was about to commence. State Chairman of the APC, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, drew attention of the INEC Director of Operations to a petition, alleging that BIVAS machines and Voters Registers were on Wednesday brought into the INEC complex with vehicles from the state government house.

The party argued, amongst others that, its petition should be addressed before commencing inspection of materials, an argument which was sternly rejected by representatives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who insisted on the commencement of materials inspection.

The PDP posited that the petition was frivolous, baseless and lacking the truth, cannot supercede a valid court order and called for the commencement of the inspection.

Owing to the inability of the political parties particularly the APC and its counterpart PDP to agree on the way forward, the electoral commission then adjourned the materials inspection sine die.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the adjournment, Counsel to the APC, Barr. Victor Ohionsumua, said that the APC would only return for the inspection of the materials only when their petition is addressed.

He said: “The state APC Chairman this morning, (Thursday) submitted a petition to the state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Onuoha Anugbum, the Commissioner of Police and Department of State Services (DSS) in Edo that he noticed and saw BIVAS machines and Voters’ Register entering INEC complex a few days ago with Edo State Government vehicles.

“And on the basis of that, we raised the objection that the petition has to be determined first before we can go ahead of the materials inspection. The INEC legal officer wanted to go ahead with inspection without any directives from the state Dr. Anugbum.

“We insisted that we must hear from the REC and our petition must be determined before we move forward. In the process, the place (INEC office) became rowdy and we started hearing gunshots outside the complex.

“The INEC Director of Operations then said that because of security reasons as our lives are in danger, decided to adjourn the inspection sine die and he has not told us to come back tomorrow (Friday),” he added.

As at the time of filing this story, efforts to get PDP position on the inspection argument proved abortive as neither the party state chairman nor council to the party and the governorship candidate refused to comment.

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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day 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

2 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.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.