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

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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.

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READ ALSO: CSOs, Media Meet, Review Edo Election, Yiaga Insists Poll Failed Integrity Test

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.

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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.

READ ALSO: Edo Election: APC Raises Alarm Over Alleged Plot To Burn Down INEC Office

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.

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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.

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“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.

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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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Man Dies After Attempting To Flee EFCC Raid In Lekki

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A man identified as Endurance Udeke has died after jumping from a four-storey building durin
g a raid conducted by operatives of Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in the Lekki area of Lagos.

The EFCC confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Saturday, saying the operation, which took place on 4 November, targeted suspected internet fraudsters residing at Periwinkle Estate, Lekki Phase 1.

According to the agency, four suspects were arrested during the sting operation, while Udeke and another resident attempted to escape after learning of the EFCC’s presence.

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Udeke and one other resident of apartment W6a got wind of the operation and tried to escape arrest by jumping down from the four-storey building,” the statement read.Udeke did not survive the suicidal effort, in spite of medical interventions made to rescue him.”

READ ALSO:‘EFCC Collected N10m Before They Released Me’ – Oladips Alleges [VIDEO]

The second individual survived after receiving treatment and has since been stabilised, according to EFCC officials.

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The anti-graft agency stressed that its operatives had no physical contact with Udeke before the incident, describing his action as tragic and unnecessary.

The Commission is shocked at the suicidal action of the deceased. There was no contact between officers of the Commission and the deceased before the unfortunate incident,” the EFCC said.

The agency added that the case has been handed over to the police for further investigation into the circumstances surrounding Udeke’s death.

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READ ALSO:EFCC Arraigns Three Over 25m Petroleum Theft In Lagos

The EFCC urged the public to remain calm and cooperate during its lawful operations, insisting that its raids are conducted in accordance with due process.

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of EFCC operations following several controversial raids in recent months.

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In September, the agency faced backlash after an early morning operation at a hotel in Lagos led to the arrest of 11 people, including guests not linked to fraud.

Earlier this year, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Ogun State also accused the EFCC of an unlawful raid on its facilities, demanding ₦3.5 billion in damages and a public apology.

READ ALSO:Court Admits More Evidence In EFCC’s $4.5bn Case Against Emefiele

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Despite public criticism, the EFCC maintains that its anti-corruption drive remains a key pillar in Nigeria’s efforts to curb cybercrime and illicit financial activities.

While expressing sympathy to the family of the deceased, the Commission reiterated that its operations are conducted lawfully and urged members of the public not to panic or resist EFCC operatives when they act within their mandate.

While we await the outcome of the investigation, it is important to remind the public that no one with nothing to hide has reason to be afraid of EFCC sting operations,” EFCC noted.

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Ex-convict Stabs Police Officer In Ogun Over Alleged Affair With Wife

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There was pandemonium in the Panseke area of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when an ex-convict stabbed a police officer in the forehead.
The incident occurred in the early hours of last Friday.

According to The Guardian, the ex-convict came to Panseke and attempted to retrieve an AK-47 rifle from one of the Ogun State police officers attached to an armoured vehicle in Panseke.

Eyewitnesses said that the aim of the ex-convict, who came on a motorcycle, was to use the rifle to shoot the other police officer, whom he accused of sleeping with his wife and sending him to jail.

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He said that the ex-convict, seeing that he had lost his grip on the rifle, engaged the officers in a scuffle and, realising he could not overpower them, removed a knife from his trousers and stabbed the one he accused.

READ ALSO:Court Admits More Evidence In EFCC’s $4.5bn Case Against Emefiele

The witness said that the incident drew the attention of other police officers attached to the armoured vehicle at Panseke, who overpowered the ex-convict and tied both his hands and legs before taking him away.

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The source said: “What really happened is that he came with his Okada and went to meet those police officers close to the armoured vehicle and started dragging a gun with one of them, hoping to collect the gun and kill the other person.”

He accused one of the policemen of sleeping with his wife and sending him to jail, and because he could not get the gun, he removed a knife from his trousers and stabbed the police officer he claimed was having an affair with his wife.”

“Later, other policemen came to join those he was fighting, and they tied both his hands and legs before carrying him away.”

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READ ALSO:Ogun Suspends School Principal Over Student’s Death

Recall that in January 2025, the Social Orientation and Safety Corps of Ogun State, popularly known as ‘So Safe,’ arrested a 54-year-old ex-convict, Adelani Oriyomi, in the Kere area of Obada-Oko, Abeokuta, for allegedly attempting to exhume a human skull.

Commander of the Corps, Soji Ganzallo, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued through the Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf. “The suspect, Oriyomi, was spotted trying to hide before he was caught by the men of the corps. Once the coast seemed clear, he resumed digging the tomb to allegedly retrieve a human skull. However, the officers returned to the scene, apprehending him before he could escape,” Ganzallo said.

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Oriyomi, a resident of Kere in the Obada-Oko area of Ewekoro Local Government Area, reportedly confessed to the offence. He also admitted that he had previously exhumed a skull behind his residence on 18 January 2025. The suspect revealed that he had served over six years at the Oba Correctional Centre for a similar crime.

Ganzallo stated that Oriyomi has been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation. The case underscores ongoing vigilance efforts by the Corps to prevent grave desecration and other criminal activities in Ogun State.

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Police Evacuate Expertriates As Thugs Invade MOWAA In Benin

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Pandemonium erupted on Sunday when thugs invaded a private exhibition hosted by the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City.

The event, organized as an exclusive viewing for select investors, artists, and international dignitaries, was violently disrupted when the thugs forcefully stormed the premises, saying “say no to MOWAA.”

The exhibition was ahead of the scheduled commissioning of the museum on November 11, 2025.

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In a video that has gone viral, a fair in complexion middle-aged man is seen with others saying
We are illustrious sons and daughters of Benin Kingdom, standing right here to say no to MOWAA.

“Politicians cannot stand against the kingdom of Benin.

READ ALSO:Police Rescue Seven Kidnap Victims In Edo

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“We are joining all the socio-cultural groups to ensure MOWAA does not stand in the Benin Kingdom.

“We come in peace; harmless, we are standing for justice to stop MOWAA.”

The thugs in the video are heard chanting songs in their local language seems to be solidarity songs.

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Also, in another video that surfaced online on Sunday, policemen are seen seeing expertriates out of the MOWAA building; a scene seems to be a forceful eviction.

But reacting to the incident, Edo Police Command’s Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, said operatives of the command went to the scene to restore normalcy and to safely evacuate the expertriates to their respective hotels, and not forceful eviction.

READ ALSO:Okpebholo’s One Year Performance Outshines Some governors’ 8 Yrs, Says Idahosa

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“Intelligence was received regarding a planned protest aimed at disrupting the official launch of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) in Benin City. In response, the Command made adequate security deployment to the venue to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

“The protesters were addressed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, thereby de-escalating the tension.

“Normalcy was immediately restored, while expatriates and other guests at the venue were safely evacuated to their respective hotels without any hitch,” she said.

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Efforts to get reaction from representative of MOWAA proved abortive as he number was busy. Message sent to him was I replied as at press time.

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