Metro

June 12: Ijaw Tasks Tinubu On Economic Crisis, Restructuring

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2024

The Ijaw National Congress has challenged President Bola Tinubu to solve Nigeria’s current economic crisis.

The apex body of the Ijaw nation has also implored him to address the imbalance in the number of local government areas in Nigeria as part of efforts to restructure the country.

INC President, Prof Benjamin Okaba, in a message to celebrate 2024 Democracy’s Day, declared that June 12 is worth celebrating, considering the relative human rights and freedom Nigerians have been enjoying under civilian administrations and the need to consciously immortalize the Iconic democrat, Chief M.K.O Abiola, who gave up his life on July 7th, 1998, in active democratic struggle.

He noted that the return to democratic rule has at least allowed the citizens to choose political leaders and advance their rights.

On the current economic crisis, Okaba demanded that the current Federal Government take urgent steps to overcome the hardship facing Nigerians, insisting that the masses who are battling with various livelihood and life-threatening challenges such as insecurity, inflation, unemployment, and criminality are becoming increasingly hopeless and helpless with each passing day

For the Niger Delta region, the INC helmsman said the expectation of the people is for the Tinubu administration to provide solutions to their challenges.

He said, ‘’The oil and gas-rich Niger Delta region, which is a critical component of Nigeria’s economy, expects the current administration to, without any further delay, address the multifaceted challenges facing the region in terms of Infrastructure development, environmental remediation, economic empowerment, good governance and inclusive representation in decision-making processes.”

According to him, the Ijaw people, who are one of the four largest ethnic nationalities and major producers of oil and gas resources in the country, expect greater commitment from President Tinubu’s administration to deal with ‘’her peculiar and persistent problems and concerns of resource injustice, lack of political inclusion, and representation in key political positions and decision-making processes, and environmental degradation.’’

Okada stressed that the Ijaw quest for true federalism was rooted in their desire for greater autonomy, resource control, and self-determination that would enable them to manage their affairs more effectively and promote their overall well-being.

“We wish to express our satisfaction with President Tinubu’s stance on restructuring. While we appreciate the need for more efficient management of our local government councils, which are the third tier of government that is also closer to the people at the grassroots, we want to caution those seeking local government council autonomy to first and foremost tackle a more fundamental injustice created by the wide disparity in the number of local government areas per state (where Kano, for instance, has 44 and Bayelsa at the other extreme has only eight).

“Granting local government council autonomy without addressing this politico-demographic imbalance amounts to the perpetration of criminal injustice, in-equity, and disregard for the sensitivity of the people of the Niger Delta region who have fewer Local government areas despite producing the wealth of the nation,” he said.

Related Topics:#June 12 Democracy Day Ijaw INC

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Metro

Police Arrest Two Notorious Bandit Leaders In Kwara, Seize Gun, Cash

Published

1 hour ago

December 27, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Police have arrested two suspected bandit and kidnapping kingpins believed to be behind violent crimes across Katsina, Zamfara, Niger and Kwara states.

According to a statement shared on Nigeria Police Force Facebook page, the suspects were picked up on Friday, December 19, 2025, during a discreet operation carried out by officers of the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team (FID–IRT), working with the Kwara State Police Command.

Police said the arrests happened along the Komen–Masallaci area of Kaiama Local Government Area in Kwara State.

Those arrested were identified as Abubakar Usman, also known as Siddi, aged 26, and Shehu Mohammadu, also called Gide, aged 30. Both men were taken into custody in Komen–Masallaci village.

During the operation, police recovered several items from the suspects.

These included a brand new red Honda Ace 125 motorcycle valued at about N1.85m, which investigators said was bought with ransom money.

“Both suspects are currently cooperating with investigators to enable the arrest of other members of the syndicate and recovery of additional weapons. The Nigeria Police Force further recalls that one of the suspects, Abubakar Usman (alias Siddi), was recently identified as the individual seen in a viral video flaunting firearms and and large sums of money on social media.”

Officers also recovered N500,000 in cash believed to be part of unpaid ransom, as well as one AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of live ammunition.

Preliminary investigations showed that the suspects are members of a dangerous gang that has been terrorising communities in four states through banditry and kidnapping.

Police also revealed that the gang is involved in supplying weapons and ammunition to other criminal groups.

The two suspects are currently cooperating with investigators, providing information that could help security agencies arrest other gang members and recover more weapons.

Police further disclosed that one of the suspects, Abubakar Usman, was recently spotted in a viral social media video where he was seen displaying firearms and large sums of money.

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, praised the officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and commitment.

He reassured Nigerians that the police remain determined to break up criminal networks and improve public safety.

The police also urged members of the public to continue supporting security agencies by sharing timely and reliable information to help ongoing operations.

Metro

Explosion Rocks Kwara, Five Wounded, Four Buildings Damaged

Published

13 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

A suspected bomb on Christmas night hit Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, wounding about five people, including a couple and their young daughter.

The sad incident, which residents suspected to be a bomb explosion, occurred at Yidi (Muslim’s prayer ground) along the Offa-Ijagbo road.

The woman, identified as Iya Ayo, and her daughter, Aisha, were seriously affected and hospitalised at the nearby First Care Hospital.

Fellow neighbours told The Weekend Guardian that the woman was seriously injured, while another boy’s ear was chopped.

They said: “They were already asleep when the explosion happened. Iya Ayo’s breast, stomach and arms were pierced by nails.”

Eyewitnesses said an artisan was also affected, with four adjoining buildings seriously damaged.

A petty trader, Madam Joy, said, “We saw it coming with lights beaming, then rammed into this (pointing) upstairs before going through the other three buildings it pulled down.”

The Commissioner of Police (CP), Adekimi Ojo, however, corrected the rumour that a bomb was brought into the city by the American military.

According to the police chief, “There was no bomb scare in Offa, there was no plane crash.

“What happened was just an ordinance, and our IED experts have evacuated the debris. There is no more cause for alarm, everything is now under control as our IED experts have immediately started discreet investigation,” he told newsmen at the site of the incident.

Meanwhile, an official preliminary statement by the Offa LGt, copied by The Guardian, described the cause of the explosion as suspected ordnance-related.

It stated that security agencies have cordoned off the affected area to allow for further investigations.

The Executive Chairman, Hon. Suleiman Olatunji Omituntun, briefed the media, saying: “It was at 9:38pm yesterday (Thursday) that I received a distress call about this incident. Thank God, no life was lost.”

“This is not a bomb explosion, this is not a plane crash incident, it is just an ordinary happening that rocked this area. Thank God everything is now calm with residents going about their normal activities.

“The police have come with their experts,” he said, adding, “I suspect it could be that a drone was being tested and it backfired or it malfunctioned,” he suspected.

Meanwhile, Olatunji and the Special Adviser on Political Matters to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Hon. Femi Agbaje Whyte, and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Offa Division visited the scene immediately after the incident to assess the situation firsthand.

The council Chairman urged residents of Offa to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding and always to verify information through credible and official sources to avoid the spread of fear and misinformation.

Metro

Eight Yoruba Republic Agitators Arrested In Ogun

Published

14 hours ago

December 26, 2025

Editor

Police in Ogun State have arrested eight persons for alleged breach of public peace, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and serious assault on police officers on Christmas Day.

The suspects, under the aegis of the Democratic Republic of Yoruba, were arrested for causing disturbance at Temidire Junction and Under-Bridge in the Sango-Ota area of Ogun State.

The suspects are Adewale Sosanya, ‘M’, aged 48; Opeyemi Oladotun, ‘M’, aged 31; Zara Gabriel, ‘F’, aged 22; Ajoke Gabriel, ‘F’, aged 19; Adewale Adebomojo, ‘F’, aged 48; Yusuf Tanimowo, ‘M’, aged 40; Olurotimi Ademola, ‘M’, aged 52; and Toyin Gabriel, ‘F’, aged 40.

Police Public Relations Officer (PRO) DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta on Friday.

Babaseyi said that upon receiving the information, the police immediately mobilised, moved to the scene and dispersed the group of agitators.

He said, “The Ogun State Police Command has arrested eight (8) suspects for breach of public peace, unlawful assembly, obstruction of traffic, and serious assault on police officers following a disturbance caused by the group in parts of Sango-Ota, Ogun State.Eight Yoruba Republic agitators arrested in Ogun

“On 25th December 2025, Christmas Day, at Temidire Junction and Under-Bridge, Sango-Ota, a group agitating under the aegis of ‘Democratic Republic of the Yoruba’ unlawfully barricaded roads, set bonfires, disrupted the free flow of traffic, and attacked police officers deployed to maintain law and order,” he added.

Exhibits recovered from the suspects include a Toyota Dyna vehicle used to convey the suspects, two broadcast speakers, a carton containing flags, shirts bearing inscriptions of their agitation, and banners displaying their messages and manifesto.

The Police PRO added that the suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigation.
However, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, reassured residents of the Command’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property.

The CP warned that the command will not tolerate any act capable of breaching public peace, emphasising that any assault on police officers will be met with decisive action.

He urged members of the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities promptly through the Ogun State Police Command emergency lines: Gateway Shield (General Complaints Line – Toll Free): 0800 000 9111; Emergency Numbers: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, and 0708 497 2994.