News

Edo: Our Community Under Siege, Lands Destroyed, Okomu Leaders Cry Out

Published

3 years ago

September 1, 2022

Ijaw leaders (Izons) of Okomu kingdom in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, under the aegis of Okomu and Ijaw Emancipation Movement, have called for urgent intervention by relevant security agencies over the invasion and attack of their community by armed persons and some alleged security personnel.

The leader of the movement, who is the Soweibiwei of Okomu, Chief Lawrence Yanboh, alleged that some suspected armed security personnel, “besieged the quiet and peaceful Okomu community in four gunboats.”

Yanboh alleged that the houses, buildings and vehicles belonging to leaders of the community were destroyed, their outboard engines carted away and stores were looted during the invasion.

He, however, accused some traitors in Okomu of aiding the invasion.

He noted that himself, Chief Ologuma Sanky, Chief Godspower Yanbor and Engr. Jomini Jafa l’s houses were invaded and huge sums of cash were taken away by the invaders, while two vehicles and a Yamaha 9.9 outboard engine belonging to Mr Segun Ogori were taken away.

According to him, also affected were Alfred Yanbor and Tobei Realm, whose store was looted and cash was stolen.

He added that tores belonging to Ebiaye Yanbor and Samuel Yanbor were looted, while the buildings of Dimiyen Makilolo, Ugula Abula and Godfrey Sankey were vandalised.

Yanboh said a store belonging to Mama Yema was looted aside destroying her building while the treasurer, of Coop society, Mercy Lawrence Yanbor had her cash stolen.

He said: “They selectively, invaded the houses of persons identified as members of the movement or supportive of the agitation, where properties, including vehicles as well as shops, worth several millions of naira, were destroyed.

“Several persons have been rendered homeless and subjected to living in the nearby bushes with the attendant exposure to hunger and starvation, and health hazards or even death. Individuals and their properties that were ascertained to have been destroyed and or lost.

“About three weeks before the invasion, a section of the leadership of the movement comprising himself, Chief Godspower Yanbor, Ogori and Jomini Jafa had left for the Gbaramatu Kingdom, where they sojourned and were, to appeal for solidarity, before the incident occurred.

“The Okomu and Ijaw Emancipation Movement had, sometime around April/May 2021, cried out against the oppression of the Ijaws and the Okumu Kingdom in Edo State, and gave the Edo State Government a 21-day ultimatum to address their demands which are: The return to Okomu of the crocodile (Igere) of the Okomu people by the Iyase of Ude community which was taken from the Okomu people in 1980; the creation of Okomu Local Government Council Area which had been recommended by the boundary adjustment commission years ago.

“The immediate recognition of the Okomu traditional institution and in particular, the Pere of Okomu. The immediate establishment of at least Five Primary Schools and 4 Secondary Schools in the Okomu Kingdom.

“It is unfortunate that none of these demands has been met until this sudden invasion to suppress the agitation or struggle.

“The Movement remains undeterred and shall continue its struggle until Jesus comes, therefore, the Federal Government is called to urgently look into this matter before it degenerates into something else.”

News

Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

Published

9 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.

The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.

According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.

“Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.

Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.

“In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”

Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.

“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.

In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.

News

Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead

Published

9 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.

Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.

Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.

“A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.

“Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”

Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.

Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.

Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.

This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.

Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.

News

Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management

Published

12 hours ago

September 13, 2025

Editor

The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.

Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.

Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.

According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

“The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.

“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”