Metro

EndSARS Memorial: Edo Youths Join Protest As Amputee Demand For Compensation

Published

4 years ago

October 20, 2021

…Pharmacist Demands Release Of Colleague

Youths mostly drawn from the civil society organistions in Edo State on Wednesday joined their counterparts across the country to mark one year memorial of EndSARS protest of which some youths lost their lives.

The protest which lasted for over two weeks last year, however, turned bloody on 20th of October when security operatives reportedly opened fire on them in their large numbers at Lekki Tollgate, Lagos, where they had gathered to protest against police brutality, bad governance etc.

Scores were reportedly killed in the process while others were taken to detention by the security agents, as quite a number of police stations and other buildings and properties belonging to security agents were burnt and destroyed.

Speaking at the protest ground which held at Benin Museum Park, Oba Ovoramwem Square (Ring Road), one of the protesters, Comrade Kelly Okunbo said one year after the protest nothing has been done.

Okunbo who demanded for the release of those who are still in police detention as a result of the protest, lamented that almost a year after a panel was set up to look into what led to the protest and people that fell victims, not a single implementation has been made to recommendations made by the Edo State Judicial Panel of Enquiry.

“This is almost a year now that the Panel set up submitted its report to governor Godwin Obaseki. It was recommended that the two victims of the protest who are alive and were at the panel be given automatic employment, but till now, nothing has been done. It was recommended that Mr. Stephen who was amputated as a result of gunshot by a soldier at Auchi be given employment, but up till now he is still jobles and walking with crutches. It was recommended that the police officer and soldier who shot miracle and Stephen be dismissed, but till now they are still working freely,” he said.

Also speaking, Asekhame Stephen Ohimai, said he was at the panel with his lawyer to make his submissions and demands but unfortunately nothing has been done.

The graduate of Auchi Polytechnic who is about going for the compulsory one National Youth Service Corps, said himself and other students of the institution were out protesting when men of the Nigerian Army rammed into them and started shooting sporadically of which he received a stray bullet at where he ran to hide, adding that this led to amputation of his leg.

He narrated: “I came out to join others who were protesting against police brutality and bad governance on the 19th of October when Nigerian Army rammed into our midst and started shooting sporadically, and I ran to hide in place for safety but stray bullet hits my leg and I was rushed to the hospital where I was recommended for amputation. The Doctor Said without amputation, I will not survive, so my leg was amputated. Many persons were killed in that scene.

“I’m going for youth service now. I want government to provide me job because all the things I was running up and down to do before, I can’t do them. So, the government should help me. My lawyer and I were at the panel and made our presentation, but I have not seen anything.”

Another victim, Miracles Ailenokhoriah, who is still in wheelchair as a result of injuries he sustained from police bullet said he was shot last by a police man during the protest at Ekpoma, Edo State, adding that the policemen who brutalised him threatened to beat him to death and that they further threatened to bury him in a shallow grave should he die as a result of the brutality.

A pharmacist who joined the protest with his medical apron, Pharmacist Clinton Ojo-Edokpayi demanded for the release of his pharmacist colleague, Pharm. Solomon Akume, whom according to him was arrested last year after twitting against Buhari.

“Pharmacist Solomon Akume was arrest last year by DSS during the protest after he twitted that the life of President Muhammadu Buhari is no worth than the live of any Nigeria. He was traced and arrested for that twit, and since then he has not been released. I am here to say Akume and other Nigerians in detention should be released,” he demanded.

Metro

JUST IN: Military Jet Crashes In Niger Community

Published

19 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

A jet belonging to the Nigerian Air Force has reportedly crashed near Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State.

This was disclosed by a Niger State-based online digital television network, Lapai TV, in a post on its official Facebook page on Saturday evening.

“Two Nigerian Air Force Pilots Reportedly Survive Alpha Jet Crash Close to Karabonde, Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State,” the post stated

The incident was said to have occurred Saturday evening.

At the time of filing this report, the military has yet to make any official communication about the incident.

Details shortly…

Metro

Court Remands Four Foreigners Over Alleged Kidnapping, Hostage Taking In Ogun

Published

22 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

An Ogun State Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta, has ordered the remand of four foreign nationals arrested for alleged kidnapping, hostage taking and unlawful detention of several foreign victims.

This is even as the Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a medical doctor for allegedly transporting medical supplies from Sokoto State to suspected kidnapping gangs in Kwara.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the suspect was intercepted at Jebba in Moro Local Council, following an intelligence tip-off which linked him to a drug-delivery network servicing the criminal groups.
The arrest is said to be part of ongoing efforts to disrupt the supply chains aiding armed gangs across the region.

According to the statement, the kidnappers have recently become more desperate in seeking medical attention, particularly for treating gunshot wounds sustained during gunfights with security operatives.

Chief Magistrate A. K. Araba ordered the remand of Augustine Nketia Boateng, 41; Johnson Apan Julus, 43; Dramane Lenganir, 26; and 37-year-old Simms Raphael, all citizens of Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso.

The suspects were arrested at their operational base in Harmony Estate, Pakudi Obada Area, Ogun State, by officers of the International Police (Interpol), Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, led by Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni.

The court ordered their remand at the Oba Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) following a motion ex parte marked MA/83PJ/2025, filed and moved by Morufu Ajani Animashaun, a legal officer in the Force Legal/Prosecution Department.

Animashaun told the court that the application was brought pursuant to Section 367 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Laws of Ogun State, 2017, and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

He prayed the court for an order remanding the defendants for alleged kidnapping, abduction, hostage taking and unlawful detention, pending the issuance of legal advice by the Ogun State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), for a period of 60 days in the first instance.

He also sought an order directing their remand at the Ibara Correctional Centre, Abeokuta.

The motion was supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Inspector Oyebisi Oni of the Interpol Section, alongside a written address and documentary exhibits.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Araba ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Oba Centre of the NCoS pending the DPP’s legal advice. The case was adjourned to February 27, 2026.

According to the affidavit, Interpol received a request on November 7, 2025, from the National Central Bureau (NCB), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, concerning a case of conspiracy, kidnapping, abduction, human trafficking and obtaining money by false pretence.

The complaint was lodged by one Mr. Lengane Toyazoula against the defendants and others at large.

The request sought Interpol’s assistance in rescuing a 23-year-old Burkinabe woman, Lengane Audrey, allegedly held captive by the suspects. Based on intelligence from the NCB, a team of detectives from Interpol FCID Annex, Ikoyi, was deployed to Abeokuta, where the suspects were traced to Harmony Estate. Sixteen victims comprising Burkinabe nationals, 12 Ghanaians, one Togolese and one Ivorian were rescued.

During interrogation, the defendants allegedly admitted collecting 1,869,000 CFA (equivalent to N4,790,036.77) as ransom. Further investigation reportedly revealed that they lured victims from other countries into Nigeria under the guise of securing Canadian visas, collected money from them and detained them against their will.

The affidavit stated that the suspects, operating from Harmony Estate, unlawfully imprisoned the victims and extorted money from their families. A proposed charge sheet was attached as an exhibit.

The police officer further noted that the duplicate case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on December 2, 2025, and that a remand order was needed to detain the suspects for 60 days pending legal advice.

The affidavit also stated that 12 rescued victims had been handed over to the Consular General of the Ghana High Commission on December 3, 2025.It added that granting the remand application would serve the interest of justice.
(GUARDIAN)

Metro

Construction Worker arrested For Stabbing Supervisor Over N10,000

Published

22 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

A 35-year-old workman known as Joshua has been arrested and detained at the Boundary Police Division in Aluu, Ikwerre Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State, for allegedly stabbing his site supervisor, Sopiriala Sokari, into a coma over a N10,000 debt.

According to eyewitnesses and the victim, Joshua had been hired by Sokari to transfer blocks to a construction site for N20,000.

However, when Sokari offered to pay him N10,000 upfront, Joshua refused and demanded full payment.

The incident occurred along Obiri Ikwerre Road, where Joshua allegedly broke a bottle and stabbed Sokari after a heated argument.

In a telephone conversation with journalists shortly after regaining consciousness at th:e hospital, Sokari narrated: “There is a boy called Joshua. He did a job for me, to transfer blocks to where they are working.

“The total job he did was 20,000 naira. So when he did the job, as I saw him, I asked him to take N10,000 first, let me confirm the job, then I will give him the balance.

“He refused, insisting that I must give him the whole money. He later met me where I was eating along Obiri Ikwerre Road, saying that I should give him the money now. I still insisted that I would give him only N10,000 till I confirmed the work.

“The next thing, he went and broke a bottle. The woman who was selling even had to bring out 20,000 naira after seeing his mood and gave it to him. After taking the money from the woman, he still used the bottle and stabbed me.

“Now I am lying down at Cottage Solution Hospital, Mbodo Aluu, where I was admitted. I am calling on Nigerians to help me. I have spent a lot of money. I need justice.”

The victim is currently receiving treatment at Cottage Solution Hospital, Mbodo Aluu, and has sustained severe injuries.

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Joshua and is conducting an in-depth investigation into the matter.