Metro

Hundreds Rendered Homeless As Rainstorm Destroys Houses In Edo Communities

Published

4 months ago

March 17, 2025

Hundreds of persons have been reportedly rendered homeless in a rainstorm that destroyed over 100 houses in communities in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area Of Edo State.

According to reports, some of the victims sustained various degrees of injuries.

Yekini Idaiye, lawmaker, representing Akoko-Edo I in the State House of Assembly disclosed this on Monday during plenary in his motion of urgent public importance.

Idaiye said the devastating rainstorms happened on Monday, March 10, 2025.

He listed the affected communities to include Ojirami, Dagbala and Ojah, all in ward 5 in the local government.

According to him, Ojirami, Dagbala and Ojah people are mainly farmers and contribute to the economic development of Edo State and Nigeria at large, as they produce cocoa, cashew, garri, maize and palm oil.

“The rainstorms left in its wake the destruction of over 100 houses.
Many of them had their roofs blown off in Ojirami,Oja, Dagbala, all in Akoko Edo Local Government area of the state.

“The people are traumatized by the destruction of their homes with many roofs blown off, making the children, aged and the women vulnerable to varying pandemic.

“Hundreds of persons were affected and various degrees of injuries, depression and anxieties recorded,as they have been exposed to harsh conditions.

“The children who ought to be in school have lost their books to the rainstorm disaster and are looking for shelter to lay their heads,” he said

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, lawmaker called on the federal, state and local governments to urgently undertake an on the spot assessment to ascertain the level of damages caused by the rainstorm.

Idaiye, who is the Chief Whip in the House, also called on federal and state relief agencies to provide immediate palliatives to those affected.

He urged the lawmakers at the National Assembly from the state to help by raising similar motions on the floor of the Senate and House of Representatives.

In their various contributions, the majority leader and member representing Ovia North East I, Charity Aiguobarueghian and member representing Owan East constituency, Eric Okaka, who is also the Minority Leader of the House, said that the rainstorm also wrecked havoc in some communities in their constituencies.

They equally called on relevant authorities to expedite action by way of cushioning the effects of the rainstorm disaster on the victims.

Speaking, Blessing Agbebaku, Speaker of the House, who sympathised with the victims, advocated the need for residents to always plant trees, noting that it would help mitigate the effects of rainstorm disaster.

The House, in its resolution called on the National Emergency Agency, NEMA and State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, to provide palliatives to the victims.

The House also called on other relevant authorities to assist the victims of rainstorm disaster in the state.

Metro

Four Dead As 3-storey Building Collapses In Kano

Published

22 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

Four persons have been confirmed dead following the collapse of a three-storey building on Abedi Street, Sabon Gari area of Kano State.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening after a downpour that lasted several hours, leading to the building’s collapse and trapping its occupants under the rubble.

Spokesperson for the Kano State Fire Service, Saminu Yusif, who confirmed the development, said two other persons sustained injuries while nine others sustained minor injuries.

He said: “As of now, we have rescued 15 people. Four were confirmed dead, two sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at Murtala Specialist Hospital, while nine others had minor injuries.

“The rescue operation is still ongoing. We are carefully searching every part of the collapsed structure and evacuating the rubble, as it’s believed that more people may still be trapped inside.”

The rescue operation is carried out by men of the fire fighters, SEMA, NEMA and police among others.

Metro

Gunmen kill community leader in Bayelsa

Published

22 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

Suspected gunmen have reportedly killed the Community Development Committee, CDC, chairman of Igbomotoru 1 Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

It was gathered that the CDC Chairman, identified as Mr Goodnews Manash, was ambushed at the back of the community’s school compound about 10:30p.m., Sunday, while on his way to a relative’s house.

Confirming the incident, the paramount ruler of the community, HRH Ayibaikie Ofongo, said: “Between 12 midnight and 2a.m., Sunday, somebody from the community called to inform me that gunmen have abducted the CDC chairman of our community.

“It was not until this morning that I got concrete information that the CDC chairman was actually assassinated in the community. I can confirm that he is dead, but we intend to have meetings at the community level before we issue an official statement to the public”

Also reacting , the Press Secretary to the Chairman of Southern Ijaw LGA, Mr Ayibaetare Easterday, condemned the incident, describing it as unfortunate.

He said: “The story is true but he was not killed in his house. He was killed close to another person’s compound, whom he was going to visit. It is an unfortunate incident and we pray that this kind of thing does not happen again.”

“We are all brothers and sisters, so if we offend one another in the community, we should exercise tolerance and make peace. The incident is not befitting of who we are and its condemnable.”

Metro

Panic As Armed Robbers Kill 2 In Ebonyi

Published

22 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Editor

There was fear and anxiety in Agba community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, as a suspected armed robber shot and killed two persons in the community.

The town union president of the community, Mr Sunday Nwadibia, who confirmed the incident said the community has been under siege for some time due to the activities of armed robbers.

He gave the names of the deceased as Sunday Oyibe, a school proprietor, and Chukwu Ebuka.

Nwadibia said the community has been witnessing attacks and robberies since last year, which has led to loss of lives, cash running into millions, and property worth millions of naira.

He revealed that before the killing of Sunday Oyibe and Chukwu Ebuka, the hoodlums attacked a POS operator in the community and dispossessed him of N2.7million.

The town union president, who said the hoodlums usually wear military camouflage with bulletproof vests, also snatched a Toyota Corolla car and five motorcycles from some members of the community when they started operating in the area.

He expressed dismay that their activities have crippled economic activities in the community and urged security agencies to come to the aid of the community.

He said: “I was in my place when people started running because armed robbers were robbing at our junction.

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“So, everybody started looking for safety not knowing that the hoodlums are coming very close to our side in the community.

“Before we could notice it, we heard gunshots me and my workers also started running for safety. The hoodlums advanced to another junction near my house and that junction is called Orie Agba and started operating there and people started running.

“I climbed one upstairs and started watching the hoodlums. They started shooting heavily and approached my office which I had locked already when I noticed their presence in the community.

“They shot one Sunday Oyibe, the founder of Unique International School, who is also the chairman of the timber association in Ishielu. We rushed him to the hospital but he couldn’t make it.

“They shot another person, Chukwu Ebuka who people said was dragging his iPhone with them,” Vanguard quoted him.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the killing of the two persons in the community.

He promised to get the details of the incident from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ishielu Local Government.

“Yes, I know there was an incident somewhere in Ishielu but I will call the DPO of the area to get more information about it,” he said.