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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

2 years 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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Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

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CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

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NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.