News

Edo Monarch, CSO Decry Abduction At Train Station

Published

3 years ago

January 8, 2023

Editor

The Onogie of Igueben, Edo State, Ehizojie Eluojierior, has said the kidnap of the train passengers on Saturday has thrown the community into an unwanted silence as people have yet to recover from the sad incident.

He claimed that kidnappings had previously happened around the area without getting reported most times.

He said, “The mood in the town is quiet as well as activated because the police, vigilantes, and hunters are working together on the issue. They combed the bush till midnight on Saturday and resumed Sunday morning. I hear there had been a similar attempt in Delta State by bandits from another part of the country, which was repelled. The attack took everyone by surprise and it happened at about 4pm when the train was being expected.

“The security agencies are working to rescue those people, and information has it that they also shot people who sustained injuries.

“We are still trying to find out if our people were kidnapped or shot. Some people might probably be in hospitals but we are still trying to get details of what happened. No community member has come forward to report about the kidnap of their family members.

“The other thing is that when these people are travelling, you don’t know if they are travelling by road or rail. Though concerned citizens have been coming to me to give information about the abduction. The council representatives have been with me to see how they can mobilise more vigilantes and hunters.

“A pursuit is going on and it is when they settle down that the gunmen can contact the family of those abducted,” the royal father added.

The Executive Director, Esan Youth for Good Governance and Social Justice, Benson Odia, told The PUNCH that a woman who was abducted escaped while revealing that the manager and booking clerk at the train station were among those still missing.

He said the attack had thrown the community into panic and sadness with residents wondering what had become the fate of the victims.

Odia stated that the attack took place at about 4pm on Saturday when the intending passengers were waiting to board the train to Warri, Delta State.

He said, “The official time for the train to arrive was 4pm so the attack must have happened that time. On that Saturday evening, all intending passengers were waiting to board the train when the kidnappers struck with sophisticated weapons. The abducted victims included the manager, the booking clerk and passengers, while many persons are still missing

“As of 8.15 pm, a woman escaped and found herself in Okpoji in Esan Central and she has reunited with her family. The woman is not from Igueben, she came for a ceremony and was at the station to take the train back to her destination in Warri.

“These attacks have become incessant in Edo Central and it is becoming difficult to use the roads,” he added.

Odia lamented as he alleged that those attacks were being carried out with the connivance of the locals who are from Igueben and its environs.

“I cannot really say the tribes of the attackers, whether they are Nigerians or foreigners. The forest is at the back of the railway. What I am trying to say is that there is connivance between our people and others. You can’t accuse the Fulani herdsmen of being the only ones involved. A Fulani from Sokoto or other parts of the country cannot operate freely here without the collaboration of the locals.

“I will call on the state government to work with the Federal Government to site a military base in Esanland. We are aware that kidnappers have their camps in Igueben.”

The police and the state government officials when contacted said further statements would be released as the rescue mission went on.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

20 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

42 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.