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‘It’s An Act Of God’ – N’Delta Rights Activist, Ozobo, Narrates Ordeal In Kidnappers’ Hands; Decries Worsen Security In Delta

Published

7 months ago

March 9, 2025

Niger Delta human rights activist, Comrade Austin Ozobo, has narrated how he and others were attacked by herdsmen along the Ohoror/Bomadi Road in Delta State.

Ozobo, while narrating his ordeal in the hands of the daredevils, said the kidnappers called him and other persons with him internet fraudsters, otherwise known as “Yahoo Boys.”

Ozobo, who is the National President of the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative (IPDI), said it was an “Act of God” that his life and those of others were spared during the attack.

He described the security situation in Delta State as very “alarming,” stressing that “one could no longer travel for fear of herdsmen.”

Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the herdsmen on Saturday, February 22, Comrade Ozobo said, “We were coming from a burial ceremony at Torugbene when our vehicle broke down around 6 p.m., about a kilometer before Agadama on Ohoror road.

“We were trying to find a solution, looking for a tire and a mechanic to fix the car. The process took us several hours. Eventually, we were able to get a mechanic and a new tire to fix our vehicle. Exactly at 10:30 p.m., the new tire and mechanic arrived.

“While we were fixing the car, all our attention was on the tire. Everyone pointed their phone torches at the mechanic who was fixing the tire. Suddenly, we saw some persons pointing torches at us, surrounding us in a circle. At very close range, they pointed their torches along with AK-47 and AK-49 rifles at us and ordered us to go down, warning that if anyone attempted to run, they would shoot.”

According to Ozobo, “Immediately, all of us went down. They took advantage of us. At first, the leader of the gang asked where we were coming from. They even called us Yahoo Boys, saying we should bring all our belongings because we were Yahoo Boys. We told them we were not Yahoo Boys, that we were just coming from a burial.

“One of them whispered to the leader that they should take us to the forest, but the leader downplayed that decision. Instead, they took all our phones and money. After that, they asked us to unlock our phones and transfer money. We were all crying that we didn’t have money to transfer. We were praying to our God to intervene.

“At that time, there was no security patrol along the Ohoror road. The military stationed at the extreme end of the bridge under construction in that area did not intervene. No one came to our rescue. The operation lasted for about an hour. We were all lying on the ground while people started unlocking their phones.

“One of the attackers approached me and asked me to delete my phone data instead of unlocking it. That was my sad experience.

“I was trying to delete information on my phone, and in the process, I managed to delete my banking apps from both of my phones.

“Suddenly, he came back and accused me of disobeying him. I asked how I was disobeying him, but he used a cutlass to hit me on my back about three times. The leader then intervened, saying it was not ‘delete’ but ‘unlock’ that his boy was trying to say.

“I was trying to unlock my phone, but out of annoyance and frustration, I couldn’t settle down and do it properly. The leader then pointed out that everyone else had finished unlocking their phones and, since I was being defiant, they should take me to the forest.

“But the ancestors of Ijaw land and God Almighty would not allow that. I was praying within me.

“Suddenly, the leader ordered me to give them my password. I called out my password, they entered it, and my phone opened. Thereafter, the leader told the boys they had overstayed at the scene and should move to the forest. Before they left, they asked us to stand up and move.

“I wasn’t pleased with this because, in several instances, robbers or bandits have asked victims to move before shooting them from behind. I wasn’t comfortable with the idea. When others stood up, I didn’t.

“After some time, we moved to our vehicle and managed to escape from the scene that night.”

Comrade Ozobo described Ohoror/Bomadi road as a death trap, saying, “Before our incident, Manager’s brother, one Febogha, was killed about two or three days earlier, on February 22, Saturday. After our incident, the same herdsmen operating in the area killed two residents at Uwheru Community.

“When I spoke with people from Agadama Community, they told me the situation was out of control, and they could no longer stay in their homes comfortably or sleep with both eyes closed. They even evacuated students from the extreme end of the community. Many residents have left that part of the community. Last Saturday, I was told that herdsmen raided Agadama again, forcing all residents to flee to Ohoror Community.”

Comrade Ozobo said, “The situation is precarious and tense,” pointing out that Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is not doing anything about it. “That has been my anger. How can you be ruling a state, your people are being attacked, and you say you are not aware of it? You cannot say you are not aware of it!”

Comrade Ozobo lambasted Governor Oborevwori, saying, “When you talk about development, it is a wide term. When people say a governor is developing a state, it’s a broad term. It’s not just about constructing roads. How many poor families have cars to drive on the roads?” he asked.

He said, “Development encompasses empowerment and proper security.

“Constructing roads alone cannot qualify you (Oborevwori) as a development master.”

Comrade Ozobo urged Governor Oborevwori to directly address the insecurity threatening the lives and properties of citizens and residents of the state by tackling the security challenges at Ohoror/Bomadi.

(DAILY POST)

Related Topics:#Kidnappers Austin Ozobo Delta

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‘We Cure Madness With Madness’: Five Things To know About Taye Currency

Published

3 hours ago

September 28, 2025

Editor

The name ‘Taye Currency’ has continued to trend on social media following the Fuji music artiste’s performance at the coronation of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, on Friday.

Taye Currency, during his performance at the coronation event which took place at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, rendered a line in Yoruba, “Were la fi n wo were,” which translates to “we cure madness with madness.”

The line, which seems not to have sat well with many Nigerians, particularly those of Yoruba heritage, has continued to generate a lot of criticism, with many opining that such lyrics were not befitting for the occasion, which had in attendance dignitaries including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, ministers, traditional rulers, and other crème de la crème of society.

Reacting to the development, the Olu of Kemta Orile in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Adetokunbo Tejuosho, criticised Taye Currency for what he described as “classless and unbefitting lyrics.”

According to him, the musician failed to accord the coronation its due respect, describing his lyrics as unbefitting of the sacred ceremony.

He said, “The throne of our ancestors is not a stage for mockery, nor the coronation of a great monarch a subject for careless entertainment.

“Kingship is sacred, adorned with honor and guarded by tradition. It demands reverence, dignity, honor, class and the utmost respect from all who stand in its presence.

“Listening to the musician (Taye Currency), who was invited to render music before the Crown, as a matter of fact before the entire world, to serenade the audience and sing in a way to express admiration, singing songs like (were lafi n wo were) We use madness to cure madness.

“Such lyrics were classless and unbefitting of such occasions, it is insulting to the sacredness of the gathering.”

While Taye Currency is well known among Fuji music lovers, especially those from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, his performance at the Olubadan coronation has made people want to know more about him.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at five things to know about the trending Fuji musician.

1. Full Name and Age

His full name is Taye Akande Adebisi. Apart from his popular stage name, Taye Currency, he is also known as ‘Apesin.’ He celebrated his 50th birthday on December 17, 2024.

2. Appointment as Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, appointed him as Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism in 2019 during the governor’s first tenure.

3. Father of a Lawmaker

In 2019, Taye Currency’s son, Yusuf Oladeni Adebisi, was elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly to represent Ibadan South-West Constituency 1, which earned Taye Currency another nickname, ’Baba Honorable’ (Honourable’s father). He was re-elected in 2023 as a lawmaker on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

4. Financial Setback

In April 2025, Taye Currency publicly lamented that he lost N10 million to CBEX, a crypto/investment scheme many now regard as a collapsed Ponzi platform. He explained that he was convinced to invest by close associates, only to see the scheme crumble shortly after.

5. Affiliation with Pasuma

Taye Currency has often maintained that although he never learnt Fuji music from his senior colleague, Wasiu Alabi Odetona, popularly known as Pasuma, whom he first met in 1993, he still considers him a boss.

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JUST IN: PENGASSAN Strike May Trigger Nationwide Blackout, Thermal Plants Shut Down

Published

5 hours ago

September 28, 2025

Editor

Nigerians may face a nationwide blackout from Monday as power generation companies have raised the alarm over an imminent shutdown of thermal plants following directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Joy Ogaji, raised the alarm over the imminent blackout in a WhatsApp message on Sunday.

She revealed that gas suppliers had issued notices to halt supply to thermal power stations in line with PENGASSAN’s strike resolution.

“Good day, all. Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji said in the post.

She warned that the development could plunge the country into darkness, as hydroelectric dams alone cannot sustain the national grid.

“Please all be notified of the imminent darkness, as hydros alone cannot sustain the system,” she added.

The warning comes hours after PENGASSAN announced that it would commence a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The oil workers’ union, after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, directed its members in all oil and gas installations to down tools until the sackings were reversed.

The action could cripple crude production, fuel supply, gas distribution and now electricity generation, worsening the hardship faced by Nigerians.

With thermal stations accounting for more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity supply, industry experts say the shutdown will trigger widespread outages, stretch hydro plants beyond capacity and heighten the risk of a nationwide system collapse.

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Customs Launches One-stop-shop To Cut Cargo Clearance To 48 Hours

Published

7 hours ago

September 28, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has officially introduced its ‘One-Stop-Shop (OSS)’ initiative aimed at reducing cargo clearance time to 48 hours.

NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Maiwada said the initiative was unveiled recently during a meeting between NCS management and Customs Area Controllers, chaired by the Comptroller-General (C-G), Adewale Adeniyi, in Abuja.

He said the meeting deliberated on the service’s modernisation agenda and the role of leadership in driving reforms across commands.

Maiwada quoted the C-G as describing the OSS as a “transformative shift” which aligned with global best practices and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.

Adeniyi said the reform was designed to sanitise operations, reduce duplication of efforts and ensure predictability in customs procedures.

“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency and make our operations more business-friendly,” Adeniyi said.

The C-G acknowledged the role of technology in customs operations but also emphasised the importance of physical engagement with officers.

“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence, coming together under one roof, adds weight and value to our deliberations,” he said.

The NCS boss said the reform would be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne Ports before being rolled out nationwide.

He added that the initiative was constitutionally supported by the NCS Act 2023 and aligned with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).

“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent and trader-friendly Customs Service,” he said.

The spokesperson said that under the OSS framework, all customs units would work jointly on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks and reducing delays.

According to him, consignments cleared under the OSS will not be subject to re-interception, thereby reducing costs and enhancing trade facilitation.

He said the meeting also provided a platform to review the NCS accountability framework, including a new central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions and stakeholder satisfaction.