Connect with us

News

Edo Govt Sets Up Committee To Look Into Okomu Oil Palm, Host Communities Impasse

Published

on

Edo State government has set up a committee to look into the age-long impasse between Okomu Oil Palm and its host Okomu and communities under it.

The setting up of the committee followed a petition written by the host communities to the Presidency wherein they accused the company of marginalisation, land encroachment, etc.

In a meeting summoned by the committee headed by Mr. Luck Wasa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment to hear the grievances of the people, Coordinator of the communities, Chief Sunday Ajele, said they have lost hope in the state government particularly previous ones hence sending a ‘save our soul’ to the Federal Government.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Rescue Us From Okomu Palm Oil, Ijaw Communities Cry Out To Obaseki, Others

He said several petitions written to Edo State government in the past where they narrated the agony, pains and suffering Okomu Oil Palm subjected them to did not yield any result, rather the government asked them to go and settle with the company, just as he expressed optimism that the Obaseki-led government will do justice to the matter and compel Okomu oil to do the needful.

Narrating their ordeals in the hands of management Okomu Oil Palm to the committee, Chief Ajele accused the company of forcefully evicting his people from their ancestral land without compensation, rather using the security agencies to threat and terrorise his people.

Advertisement

“It is strange to evict people from their ancestral land and then claim that it is because you have certificate of occupancy. It is strange for a multinational to disallow the people from using the stream for their fishing.

READ ALSO: Okomu Oil Boss Destroying Our Land, Maltreating Our People’, Ukomu Natives Cry For Help

“Between 1990 and year 2000, four communities were evicted, their houses demolished; their property demolished; their farmland demolished without compensation. The company claimed that because they have Certificate of Occupancy they can evict any community of their choice in the area.

Advertisement

“Tell me, how do you evict the people-farmers from their farmland and you said you will not compensate them? Imagine anything cash crop like cooa, no compensation. If you have cassava and others, you are only compensated N12,000 for an acre of land.

“In year 2010, a petition letter titled ‘enough is enough’ was written to Edo State government, and later the government said we should go and settle with the company,” he said.

In his remarks, chairman of the committee and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Lucky Wasa assured the delegates from the communities justice and a fair playing ground.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Lawmaker Expresses Worry Over Possible Extinction Of 188 Species

He urged the delegates not to lose hope in the committee, stressing that profering a lasting solution made the governor to set up the committee.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments

News

NAF Neutralizes Bandits At Turba Hill, Kachalla Dogo Sule Camps

Published

on

The Nigerian Air Force, (NAF, under the auspices of the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Sector 2, has neutralized armed banditry through the execution of two high-impact precision Air Interdiction (AI) missions.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information, Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force, said in a statement that the armed bandits met their Waterloo following credible, multi-source intelligence at Turba Hill and Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, both in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

The statement said the first strike targeted Turba Hill, a confirmed bandit hideout, adding that persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance revealed significant human activity and an operational zinc-roofed structure assessed to be central to the enclave’s activities.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:

Post-strike battle damage assessment confirmed the complete destruction of the structure and the neutralization of several bandits.

“The second AI mission was conducted at Kachalla Dogo Sule’s Camp, a notorious bandit stronghold identified as a key IED manufacturing and operational hub. Intelligence had linked the camp to the planning and execution of recent IED attacks along the Dan Sadau–Magami axis,” the statement said.

Advertisement

It added that the precision strike successfully engaged multiple active structures within the enclave, triggering intense fires that destroyed the facilities and neutralized several bandits, effectively crippling the group’s IED production and deployment capability.

READ ALSO:

The operations, according to the statement, reaffirm the Nigerian Air Force’s unwavering commitment, working in close coordination with other components of Operation FANSAN YAMMA, to deny criminal elements safe havens, degrade their combat effectiveness, and support ongoing joint efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-West and the nation at large.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Doris Ogala: How Pastor Chris Knelt Before Church, Begged For Forgiveness [Video]

Published

on

Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of Grace Nation Bible Ministry, has reportedly apologized and asked for forgiveness following allegations made against him by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala.

In a video shared on Facebook by Ogala on Sunday, the cleric was seen kneeling before members of his church as he expressed remorse over what he described as mistakes made in the past.

Recall that the Nollywood actress had called Chris Okafor out after he dumped her for another woman despite promising her marriage.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:Court Frees Armed Robbery Suspect Over Absence Of Prosecution Witness

While maintaining that many of the allegations against him were untrue, Pastor Chris said he was apologizing to anyone who felt offended by his actions.

“I am not joining issues,” he said, referring specifically to Doris Ogala. “Mistakes have been made in the past, and I tender my apology to everybody. But everything that was said is not true. There are so many lies in most of the things that were said.”

Advertisement

Despite disputing the claims, Pastor Chris reiterated his willingness to make amends, stating that he was ready to offer restitution to any woman he may have offended.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Reportedly Drops Nominees Displaying ‘Sense Of Entitlement’

To Doris Ogala, I will apologize, and I also apologize to everyone. I am ready to make a restitution to anyone and anybody, any lady, anywhere I’ve offended,” he said.

Advertisement

The pastor acknowledged his imperfections and appealed to the congregation and the public for forgiveness and prayers, noting that he had experienced a “new beginning” following the influence of senior Christian leaders he described as “fathers of faith.”

I’m kneeling down before everyone and before the church. Forgive me. You can judge me. Pray for me,” he added.

Watch the video here

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Actress Doris Ogala Rejects Alleged $10,000 Settlement From Pastor Chris Okafor [VIDEO]

Published

on

Popular Nollywood actress, Doris Ogala, has rejected the $10,000 settlement from the founder of Grace Nation Bible Ministry, pastor Chris Okafor.

The actress made this known in a video made on Tuesday December 23 2025, and shared on her Instagram page Saturday morning.

Speaking in the video, Ogala stated that the clergy man brought the money as settlement and also begged her to publicly debunk everything she had said about him.

Advertisement

While revealing the outcome of their table talks, she alleged that pastor Chris urged her to lie that she was sent by some pastors to lie against him.

READ ALSO:Tinubu Reportedly Drops Nominees Displaying ‘Sense Of Entitlement’

Chris, you’ve seen me finish ooo, honestly, you have seen me finish. This is $10,000, he gave me this $5,000 last night after we talked and he was pleading and all that. Then he gave me this $5,000 this afternoon.

Advertisement

“This man is just mad. You can imagine this man wanted me to come and say that all the pastors or a few pastors
were the ones who sent me to come and fight him. I should put it on the pastors’ head, then I will come out and debunk everything that I have said. Come on, you want me to take a fool? After all that I have said?

“Chris, you see this money that you gave me, it will never be a transaction of anything in my life or transaction of any part of my body. I cancelled every evil altar that you are coming from. He that is in me and protecting me is greater. I deliberately collected this money to tell you that everything i have said is the truth. I’m not lying and I will never lie. Chris, I’m not as cheap as you are, ten thousand dollars is nothing to me, and I’m not blackmailing you but I wanted the world to see that you actually gave me money. Chris, I will not lie on any pastor or put it on any pastor’s head. So, this is the money he gave to me with the Zenith bank envelope just now. Today is 23 December 2025, and I’m making this video by 5;39 pm”, she stated.

READ ALSO:FG Declares Public Holidays For Christmas, New Year Celebrations

Advertisement

According DAILY POST, the development came a few days after Doris Ogala disclosed that table talks and resolution is ongoing between them.

Recall that Doris called Chris Okafor out after he dumped her for another woman despite promising her marriage.

Watch the video

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Trending