Metro

EDOCSO Protests Against RUGA, Declares No Land For Cattle Business

Published

4 years ago

March 21, 2022

The Edo Civil Society Organistions (EDOCSO) on Monday staged a peaceful rally to protest an alleged plan to cede 20% of the state’s land to National Livestock Transformation Programme code named RUGA by the Godwin Obadeki-led administration to the Federal Government.

Members of the civil society organistions who took off at the King Square, Museum ground to the Edo State House of Assembly and later to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) declared that not an inch of Edo land would be ceded to cattle business or whosoever involved in such business.

The protesters who were led by Bishop Osadolor Ochei, Interim Chairman, The Extended Council (TEC), EDOCSO, to the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onubun, warned that if the Assembly passes such law ceding some of the state’s land to RUGA, such law will hurt and hunt every single Edo person both now and in the future.

Ochei who told the Speaker that Edo is only the southern state left to pass into law the anti open-grazing bill as agreed at Asaba by the 17 southern governors in 2021, pleaded to the House not to pass a bill that will leave Edo people into the hands of “killer herdsmen.”

While stating that they came to the House after making their position on open grazing known to the Governor and the House twice, with no response, Ochei said, “our position is, we have no place for cattle rearing in Edo State.

“Those who want to rearer cattle should buy a land for themselves, fenced it and keep their cattle there. Cattles should not be seen roaming the streets.”

He continues, “Those that are into farming as piggery, slain rearing, etc, buy the land they use for such farming; Government does not give them an inch, so cattle rearing should not be different.”

Receiving members of the civil society organistions at the Assembly complex called Anthony Enahoro complex, Speaker of the House, Marcus Onubun, said the lawmakers cannot pass any bill that is against the interest of the people.

While stating that the House is there to protect interest of the over 4 million Edo people, the Speaker said, “We cannot take any position outside the position of the people. Let me assure you on behalf my colleagues that Edo is Edo, and for the fact is Edo is Edo, we will do everything within our power to defend the interest of the over 4 million Edo people, and again to assure you that not in our time, and we do not encourage anyone to cede any inch of Edo land to anybody.”

The Speaker who refuted Social Media reports that the House is about passing into law bill ceding 20% of Edo land to RUGA, clearified, “what the Government seems to do in this regards is to be the regulatory body so that some community will not go and connive with strangers and give land to them, and at the end it becomes disaster to them. The regulatory body is to approve any land that should be used for ranching.”

Metro

Auto-crash Claims 2 Lives On Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

Published

12 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, TRACE, on Friday confirmed that two people died in a lone accident around Oremeji Bus Stop on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The Corps’ spokesperson, Mr Babatunde Akinbiyi, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abeokuta.

Akinbiyi said the accident, involving a Mazda bus with registration number YNF 414 XN, occurred at about 1:30 a.m.

He explained that the two occupants of the vehicle, the driver and conductor, both adult males, died on the spot, adding that no injury was recorded.

According to him, eyewitnesses said the bus lost control due to speeding, hit a road barrier, and somersaulted.

Akinbiyi further said the vehicle, which was conveying live chicks, had been towed by the Ibafo Motor Traffic Division of the Police for further investigation.

He added that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the Divine Touch Hospital morgue in Ibafo by operatives of TRACE, the police, and the Ogun State Emergency Services (OGSAES).

He noted that traffic was briefly affected during the rescue operation but was later restored through the efforts of TRACE and the police.

Metro

Court Sentences Man To Death For Killing Son

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Kano State High Court has sentenced Abubakar Alhaji Sabo to death by hanging after finding him guilty of killing his newborn son.

The Kano State Government prosecuted Sabo before the court on charges of culpable homicide and causing grievous harm.

He was accused of force-feeding the infant with a local insecticide known as ‘fiya-fiya’, resulting in the child’s death.

Sabo killed the baby after the mother, his girlfriend, refused to obey his instruction to kill the child to avoid the shame of fathering a child out of wedlock.

Following the incident, he was also found guilty of striking the girlfriend’s father on the head with a brick after he caught Sabo poisoning the baby.

During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Safiya Yalwati Yahaya, presented three witnesses, while the defendant testified in his own defence.

After reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, Justice Aisha Yau, who presided over the case, found him guilty of infanticide and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The court also imposed an additional three-year prison sentence for causing grievous harm.

Metro

Nine Kwara Victims: Kidnappers Insist On N300m Ransom

Published

1 day ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

No progress has been recorded on the bandits demand for N300m ransom for the release of nine victims abducted in Adanla community of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state on Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.

Coordinator of the Joint Security Watch for Kwara South Senatorial District, Zubair Olaitan, disclosed this on Wednesday.

According to DAILY POST, the bandits have so far made three contacts with the community leaders that “if the N300m is not paid, the victims will not be released.”

The bandits seized the nine victims in an attempt to abduct the King of the community, and his wife on Boxing Day, but failed.

The King, David Olarinoye, was away to Igbaja town for a programme when the armed bandits invaded his community.

The bandits, however, later seized nine other victims in the community and marched them to the bush.

While seven victims were abducted at the palace of the King, two others were captured on their way to the bush.

Following the abduction, the bandits demanded a N300m for the release of the abducted victims, resisting any negotiations for reduction of the ransom.