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Insecurity: Commuters Stranded As Protesters Blocks Benin-Auchi-Lokoja Way Over Incessant Kidnapping ‎

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Protesters protesting insecurity on the Benin-Auchi-Lokoja road, yesterday, blocked the road, forcing long vehicular queues on both sides of the road.

The action, the second in less than a month‎, left commuters stranded for several hours.

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It was learnt that the protest by members of Urokuosa community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, was triggered after suspected Fulani herdsmen attack‎ed a Sienna bus, injuring many passengers on Wednesday.

READ ALSO: Contempt Of Court: IGP, DIG, One Other Risk Jail

The protesters while re‎eling out the daily abductions of travellers on the road, said a driver of one of the popular transport companies was shot dead last week.

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They threatened not to vacate the road until Governor Godwin ‎Obaseki or his Deputy, Philip Shaibu show up.

Meanwhile, Governor Obaseki, has reassured that the government will sustain collaboration with the military, the Nigeria Police Force, members of the Edo State Community Vigilante Security Network and other security outfits in the state to tackle insecurity on the road.

READ ALSO: Just In: Again, Gunmen Abduct Passengers Along Benin-Auchi Road

He gave the assurance when  the leadership of the Student Union Government (SUG) of  Ambrose Alli University paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City.

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‎Represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, Obaseki reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the security of lives and property of Edo citizens, saying that measures had been put in place to enhance security in the axis and other parts of the state.

“The issue of insecurity on the highway is not peculiar to Edo State alone. We all know about the insecurity going on in the country but the Edo State Government has been proactive by doing a lot of work in collaborating with the local vigilante and other security agencies to boost security along that Uhunmwode and Obagie axis. In the not too distant future, it will be a thing of the past”, he said.

READ ALSO: Benin-Auchi Road Multiple Kidnap: Five Victims Freed After Paying Ransom

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Radio Station Suspends GM For Criticising Ebonyi Gov

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A privately-owned radio station in Ebonyi State, Legacy FM (The Sound of Now), has suspended its acting General Manager, Mr Godfrey Chikwere.

His suspension, it was gathered, followed his alleged persistent “negative” projection of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, and his policies during radio broadcasts and on social media.

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Announcing his suspension on Saturday, the management of Legacy FM claimed the ousted official acted in a manner contrary to the station’s code of conduct.

It said, “The management of Legacy FM 95.1, The Sound of Now, hereby suspends the acting General Manager, Godfrey Chikwere, with immediate effect, till further notice.

READ ALSO:Drama As Ebonyi Politician Declares Self ADC National VC South-East

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This is due to unruly behaviour and disobedience to the code of conduct guiding the Legacy FM.

“With such effect, he is hereby directed to hand over all the company property in his position to the next senior officer.”

The PUNCH gathered that the radio personality, in a post on his Facebook page on Friday, called on the governor to be stringent in his handling of state matters.

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He alleged that public perception of the governor’s administration was being cajoled, while also claiming Nwifuru’s administration was marred by poor communication, underperformance by his appointees, and lack of clear-cut policy direction.

Chikwere also advised the governor to “step on toes” to achieve results, adding that the current state of affairs weakened his support base.

READ ALSO:Panic As Armed Robbers Kill 2 In Ebonyi

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Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor, criticised the suspended radio staff member over what he described as undue criticisms of his boss’ administration.

In a statement on Friday, Uzor described the criticisms as baseless and unfounded, accusing the former of ingratitude for attacking the governor despite what the state government had done for them.

He said, “It is regrettable that despite the radio station thriving only on government support, the supposed helmsman dedicates a greater percentage of the station’s airtime to attack and run down the government whose support has kept his medium afloat.

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“For the avoidance of doubt, the governor gifted the medium a brand new Changan SUV, donated a brand new transformer that powers the station, constructed the road leading to the broadcasting house.

READ ALSO:NBA Slams Niger Gov Over Shutting Down Of Radio Station

But rather than give at least balanced coverage of government activities, it has been turned into a slaughter house of the governor’s genuine development efforts and goodwill, what a way to be ungrateful to good deeds.”

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On his part, the state Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi State, Ikeuwa Omebeh, also condemned Chikwere’s criticisms of Nwifuru, describing them as “derogatory and inciting.”

In a statement on Saturday, the commissioner accused him of “overstepping his bounds.”

He said his remarks against the governor were unacceptable and an affront to the collective identity of all the people of the state.

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Lagos Orders Mandatory Inspection Of All E-hailing Vehicles

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The Lagos State Government has ordered a comprehensive inspection of all vehicles operated by licensed e-hailing platforms in the state, citing safety risks and poor service delivery.

In a statement on Sunday titled “LASG to Roll Out Inspection Schedule for E-Hailing Operators”, the state Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the move is aimed at improving safety, service quality, and regulatory compliance across the sector.

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He added that the ministry had observed “the deplorable condition of some vehicles operated by drivers under licensed e-hailing platforms within the state, necessitating a comprehensive audit of all vehicles in use,” warning that “any vehicle found unsuitable will not be allowed to operate on Lagos roads.”

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Osiyemi also raised concerns over inadequate databases among some operators, saying this hindered the tracking of crimes committed through their services.

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Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olawale Musa, said the use of vehicles not registered with the state “will no longer be tolerated,” stressing that such practices “pose significant security risks.”

He added that all drivers must be certified by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute and urged residents to avoid offline bookings to maintain safety and accountability.

The meeting at the Ministry of Transportation, Alausa, Ikeja, was attended by representatives from Uber, Bolt, Lagride, Laurie, Vas Acquico, InDrive, Folti Tech, and EDryv, who presented updates on safety upgrades, including panic buttons and enhanced driver verification systems.

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Why We Withheld‘Raye’s’ Certificate — NYSC

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The National Youth Service Corps has dismissed claims that Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye (State Code: LA/24B/8325), popularly known as “Raye”, was denied her Certificate of National Service because she criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the NYSC spokesperson, Caroline Embu described the allegations circulating online as false and without basis, as she said Raye was disciplined for absence during April clearance.

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Contrary to these claims, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose CNS was withheld not as punishment for dissent, but for valid disciplinary reasons.

READ ALSO:Release Corps Member’s Discharge Certificate, Falana Tells NYSC

“Specifically, her service year was extended by two months because she failed to attend the April biometric clearance, as required by the NYSC Bye-Laws,” the statement read.

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The scheme stressed that such extensions were a standard procedure applied uniformly, with no political motive involved, adding that similar sanctions had long been imposed on corps members who failed to meet clearance obligations.

It is important to note that this extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her case, and the principle of equal treatment was only applied in this case,” the statement concluded.

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Raye, who served in Lagos State, gained public attention months ago after a viral video in which she lamented rising living costs and economic difficulties in the country.

On Saturday, she took to Instagram to allege that she was denied her certificate when she went to collect it alongside her colleagues.

She said NYSC officials claimed she failed to complete her April clearance, a claim she strongly disputed.

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According to her, she had presented herself for clearance but was repeatedly told by her Local Government Inspector to wait.

She further alleged that the LGI later refused to clear her, seized her file, and asked her to leave the office.

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