Metro

Ekiti: Farmers Threaten To Invoke Ancestral Powers Over Government Failure To Pay Compensation On Lands Acquired For Airport

Published

5 years ago

October 18, 2021

No fewer than 1,000 farmers across five communities in Ekiti State on Monday protested and demanded for compensation for their farms acquired by the State Government for the ongoing construction of the agro-allied cargo port.

The farmers, mostly the aged and widows who came from Ijan igbogun, Aso, Igbemo, and Orun Bolorunduro communities to the airport ground located along Ado-Ijan road, pleaded with the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to consider their plights and investment on their farm lands and pay them compensation as promised.

The protesting farmers who carried placards with different inscriptions threatened to stop work at the airport site by invoking ancestral powers if government fails to pay their compensation within the next seven days.

Some of the inscriptions read, ‘Ekiti Assembly please come to our aide,’ ‘Governor Fayemi should pay our money without delay; ‘The farmers cry for help’ ; We need commission for our land acquired by govt’ among others.

Speaking on behalf of the aggrieved farmers, Mr Osho Olorunfemi lamented that the over 1,000 farmers from the five affected communities whose land were acquired for the airport have lost huge amount of money in investment on the crops, calling on the governor to urgently address their grievances and pay them the compensation.

Olorunfemi revealed that failure of the government to effect the payment within the next seven days would leave the farmers with no other option than to storm the site and invoke spiritual power on the land.

According to him, ” it is government that said people should embrace farming but here we are now, after so much investment on cocoa, plantain, cassava, palm tree and other crops, government came to destroy them.

” Since March this year, we have been on this issue but nothing is forthcoming, all we hear is promise and assurance since then. We are tired of promise, we need our money to start life again because we are completely down at the moment. We are aware some persons have been paid but not all of us.

”We are giving the government a seven-day ultimatum for them to pay us and if they default, we will be here on the airport site to do the needful and whatever happens after, we should not be blamed.”

Addressing the protesters, the coordinator of the airport project, Mr Bunmi Awotikun advised the affected farmers to embrace peace, assuring them that government was attending to their demands and that they would soon be paid.

”I am not against your protest but let me assure you on behalf of the governor that nobody with a farm there ,that we won’t pay. Your money will be paid , I can assure you. I will present your case to the governor for appropriate action. You should remain calm and embrace peace in demanding for your rights,” he said.

(DAILY POST)

Metro

Police Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged N18m Romance Scam

Published

3 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, have arrested a woman and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.

The police disclosed that the arrests followed investigations into allegations bordering on computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering after receiving intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.

In a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, the suspects were identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large, allegedly collaborated with Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru to open and operate multiple bank accounts used in carrying out fraudulent transactions.

“One of the victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld,” the statement said.

The police further disclosed that proceeds from the alleged romance scam were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts belonging to Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

Investigators also alleged that the funds were later moved into an Ecobank account owned by Urowhe Diana, where the money was allegedly spent.

According to the statement, forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital activities allegedly linked both mother and daughter to the cybercrime operation, leading to their eventual arrest.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Emmanuel Amanfo, who was described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace and tackling cybercrime across the country.

The NPF-NCCC also urged members of the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official online reporting portal and designated communication channels.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

21 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.