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

Delta Police Arrest Suspected Serial Killer

Published

13 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

The Delta State police command has announced the arrest of a suspected serial killer and a prison escapee linked to multiple violent crimes in the past.

The suspect, known as Michael Ezenwai, was apprehended by the Agbor police division of the state on October 24, 2025, while he was attempting to sell a stolen phone.

Meanwhile, further checks revealed the phone belonged to a woman who was later found dead in her apartment.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to murdering her during a robbery at her residence on 23rd October 2025.

Ezenwai has been linked to multiple violent crimes, including a 2020 rape and murder case involving a university student.

Commenting on the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, said the command swiftly took action after receiving a distress call.

“On the 24th of October 2025, the DPO Agbor received a complaint that one Michael Ezenwai was trying to sell a suspected stolen phone.

“The DPO swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene and immediately arrested the suspect. Upon interrogation, the suspect claimed that he brought the phone from Libya.

The DPO swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene and immediately arrested the suspect. Upon interrogation, the loop suspect claimed that he brought the phone from Libya,” she said.

Edafe said the suspect thereafter stated that he went on a robbery operation at her house on October 23, 2025, and murdered her when she refused to let go of her motorcycle keys, and also made away with her mobile phones.

He said preliminary investigation later revealed that the suspect is a serial murderer and was part of the syndicate that raped and murdered Uwaila Omorzua, a 200-level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who was murdered in the church when she went to study in 2020.

“The suspect further stated that he escaped from the Oko correctional centre during the EndSARS 2020 jailbreak. The suspect is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing,” the spokesman stated.

The suspect is currently in custody as the police continue their investigation.

In other news, Edafe has listed some of the achievements recorded from October to date by the Delta State Police Command under the leadership of CP Olufemi Abaniwonda.

He listed the number of firearms recovered as 13, number of ammunition and cartridges recovered – 591, number of kidnapped victims rescued – five, and total number of suspects arrested – 77.

Metro

Many Killed In Ibadan Gas Explosion

Published

14 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

File photo

Several people were killed on Friday night after a gas explosion rocked the Bioku-Alaadun area in Ibadan, Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The explosion occurred while a tanker was discharging gas into a retail outlet. Casualties reportedly included the owner of the gas shop and others who were nearby at the time of the incident.

The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident, saying operatives were already on the ground working to contain the situation. He noted that while there were casualties, full details were still being compiled.

Akinyinka said: “The emergency call was reported at exactly 19:40 on Friday, November 21, 2025, through a telephone call from Pastor Oyebamiji regarding a gas tanker explosion at the above address.

“Immediately the call was received, the Agency’s personnel, led by CFS Adedeji (Mrs.), promptly responded and were deployed to the scene.

“Upon arrival, a gas tanker, Reg. No. LSR268YC, loaded with 15 tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), was transferring its contents into a gas skid tank when it exploded.

“The blast damaged two commercial buildings and a residential building. Three persons were rescued and handed over to a team of policemen from Akanran Division.

“The operation was carried out jointly with a crew of firemen from the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command. While the explosion sparked panic among residents, the prompt response of our officers helped contain the situation.”

The fire service chairman urged the public to always observe safety precautions when handling petroleum products, emphasizing the importance of obtaining approvals from the Fire Service, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and other relevant stakeholders before installing gas tanks or cylinders to avoid unnecessary explosions.

He assured the community that all necessary fire safety measures had been taken and that an investigation team would be dispatched to determine the root cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.

He added: “Let our people continue with their daily activities without fear. The presence of the Executive Chairman of Ona Ara Local Government, Dr. Temitope Kolapo, was highly appreciated.”

Metro

Zamfara Police Repel Bandits’ Attack, Rescue 25 Kidnapped Victims

Published

14 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

The Zamfara State Police Command has revealed that its operatives repelled an attack by bandits and rescued 25 kidnapped victims on Friday night.

According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar, the rescued victims included 10 women and 15 of their children.

Abubakar said that the victims were kidnapped in Kuraje village of Damba area unit in Gusau Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, immediately the police received the information on the abduction, a joint team swiftly mobilised to the scene on a rescue mission.

He explained that the police and the State’s Community Protection Guards pursued the fleeing bandits and engaged them in a coordinated and fire-for-fire operation, saying that the kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt and were reunited with their families.

“On 21st November 2025 at about 21:45 hours, a group of armed bandits in large numbers, wielding dangerous weapons and firing sporadically, attacked Kuraje village in the Damba area of Gusau LGA.

“During the attack, the assailants abducted 10 women along with 15 of their children, all residents of the community.

“Upon receiving the distress call, joint police patrol teams from Damba Division and the Department of Operations, Gusau, working in collaboration with the Community Protection Guards (CPG), swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“The team confirmed the incident, pursued the fleeing bandits, and engaged them in a coordinated and strategic operation.

“Thanks to the professionalism, gallantry, and swift response of the operatives, all twenty-five (25) abducted victims were successfully rescued unhurt.

“They were immediately relocated to Sabongari Damba for safety and proper profiling. The rescued women and children have since been reunited with their families.

“The State’s Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba commended the bravery and dedication of the officers involved in the operation.”

He reassured the public of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

In other news, the police in Kebbi State have cautioned residents against embarking on any form of protest over the recent abduction of students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar Kotarkoshi, the command said it had received intelligence indicating that some groups and non-governmental organisations were planning to stage demonstrations in reaction to the incident.

Kotarkoshi noted that the current security situation in the state remains fragile and unsuitable for protests or public gatherings, warning that such actions could trigger violence and disrupt ongoing rescue operations.

“While the police acknowledge the public concern over the abduction, the command views any planned protest as misguided and counterproductive,” he said.

(Guardian)