News

‘Na Die We Dey’ – Gelegele Indigenes Lament Gas Flare, Environmental Pollution

Published

2 years ago

March 8, 2024

…Demand Withdrawal Of Operational Licence Of Oil Company

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

The indigenes of Gelegele in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, on Friday decried the environmental pollution caused by operation of an oil company in their communities and called for the immediate withdrawal of operational licence of the company.

INFO DAILY reports that a gas flare stack of the oil company is sited in the heart of the community thereby causing untold heat and other health hazards to the indigenes in the community.

Speaking at a-day Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, HOMEF, in the community, the indigenes who are mostly farmers and fishermen/fisherwomen, lamented that due to operation of the oil company both their lands and rivers have been polluted.

An indigene and Chairman, Host Communities Network of Nigeria, Prince Preye Pawuru, said operation of the oil company is causing a lot to the indigenes including untimely death, hunger, continuous crude oil spill to their rivers and lands.

He said: “The fact is that, the oil company operating here is actually causing our suffering and untimely death. In fact, it is almost ending the lifespan of this community. We cannot just survive again with the oil company operating in our community. The oil company should leave us and go finally. This is our demand. The flare is located at the heart of the community, and this is causing a lot to our health.”

He added: “If someone falls sick, we don’t have access road to take the person to the city. No social infrastructure. We are predominantly fishermen and farmers but no more fishes in the river because of the pollution. There is a continuous spill of crude oil into the river. The environment is destroyed. We don’t have any means of survival yet the company is smiling home with billions of dollars while leaving the community in penury. The company and government take away the benefits while the community bears the risk. So, we are saying we are tied. The company should go.”

He said engagements with relevant authorities to address the situation have not yielded results.

On her part, Mrs. Justina Kororo, woman leader, Gelegele community, who spoke in Pidgin English said: “This is our community. We have no where to go. This fire alone Na die, na die we dey. E dey affect our eyes. We never old reach anywhere we no fit read Bible again; we no fit read from our phones.”

Also, Mrs. Victoria Peter said: “I am a fisherwoman. Before now, when we go to the river, we used to catch enough fishes even for sale and use the money to buy other food items. But now even crayfish you can’t catch. We are dying of hunger. No light, no portable water. We no fit sleep inside our house because of the heat. Na outside we dey stay. I want make government help us.”

Another indegene from the community who also spoke in Pidgin said: “Other communities wey get this kind of oil company dey enjoy. Dem dey help the women for the town. dem dey help the men for the town. But here in Gelegele, nothing like that. Our road is bad.”

Also lending his voice, Mr. Goday Kororo who said he worked in the oil company for 25 years before retiring said: “This fire for this place dey make us dey quick old. E no dey off. E don dey here since 1979. In The night, you must come out and baff, if not you cannot sleep. Our windows go dey shake because of the oil company operation and noise. Many times, pollution dey happen for our river, no fish. We are suffering. We wey near water Na ice-fish dey buy for N3000, N4000. Because no road, we dey pay high from Benin to here. “

Earlier, HOMEF Programmes Manager and Coordinator, FishNet Alliance, Stephen Oduware, said they were in the community to join their voices for the call for a stop to gas flaring and other oil exploration activities in the community, and also to demand environmental justice and compensation for the people.

“Gelegele is one of the communities that is highly impacted by oil exploration. There is an oil company here that sites its gas flaring stack right in the heart of the community. There are a lot of issues with this. Number one, on the environment, on the people and even on their well-being and livelihoods. The people are living corpses due to the operation. The temperature here is far higher than normal.

“So, we are calling for a stop to this environmental injustice in Gelegele. Justice must take its course. We are calling for a restoration and remediation of the environment in Gelegele. And compensation must be paid to the people. So we are here to show that solidarity,” he said.

News

Edo Journalist Hospitalised After Being Attacked By Political Thug

Published

57 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

Juliet Asein, a female journalist with the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), has been hospitalised after she was allegedly assaulted by the suspended Coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), Kelly Okungbowa, widely known as Ebo Stone.

The incident occurred on Wednesday inside the Edo State Government House, where Juliet who covers the Office of the First Lady was said to have been shoved and slammed against a wall during a confrontation with Ebo Stone.

The violence reportedly stemmed from a disruption at an empowerment programme for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), organised by the First Lady’s Office and held within the Government House.
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Trouble reportedly broke out when some PWDs stormed the venue’s entrance, protesting alleged exclusion from the programme.
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‎In the commotion, an EBS cameraman attempting to film the scene was allegedly harassed by Okungbowa, prompting Juliet to intervene, which reportedly led to her being physically attacked.

READ ALSO:NUJ Reacts As Sacked Edo Taskforce Boss Assaults EBS Staff
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‎Okungbowa, a chieftain of the ruling APC and the former PSRT coordinator, previously faced public backlash after the taskforce he headed was linked to a tragic incident in which a two-year-old girl died in a crash involving team members.
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‎The public outcry that followed led Governor Monday Okpebholo to suspend him from the role.

Confirming Juliet’s state of health, a family member Andrew Enabulele, said she began experiencing severe pains later that night and could not sleep.
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According to him, ‎she was taken to a private clinic on Thursday before being referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for further medical care.

READ ALSO:Iran Has Executed At Least 841 People This Year — UN
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‎He said: “We took her to a private clinic where doctors said she may have suffered muscle spasms.

“She has now been referred to UBTH, where she is receiving treatment. She is a mother of twin toddlers, so we are praying for her quick recovery,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Ebo Stone had visited the NUJ Press Centre, Benin on Thursday, where he reportedly apologized to leadership of the Council after the Union had condemned the act, threatening a press conference to that effect.

After meeting the Chairman and the Secretary of the council for the apology, the NUJ Chairman urged members to sheath the sword.

News

MOWAA Controversy: Edo Assembly Threatens Arrest Warrant On Obaseki, Others

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee constituted to investigate the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel on Thursday threatened to issue an arrest warrant on former Governor Godwin Obaseki for refusing to appear before it.

The Committee was constituted following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo to probe funding and ownership of the projects including the extent of the state government N3.8bn investment in MOWAA and N28bn in Radisson Hotel.

But the Committee said it has powers to ask the Police to bring any individual before it to answer questions.

Other persons, besides Obaseki, that were invited by the Committee were a former Edo Finance Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General of Edo State, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Managing Director, Tilbury House Nigeria Limited, Mr. Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC) Mr. Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital Limited, Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Limited and Managing Director, Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

It said those declining to appear before it could not claim they were refused right to fair hearing.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Addeh Isibor, who spoke at the resumed sitting of the Committee, said Obaseki and others sent letters through their lawyers stating reasons why they declined the Committee’s invitation.

He said Obaseki cited lawsuit filed in various courts against MOWAA as reasons for his absence.

Peeved at the action of Obaseki and others, Hon Isibor said the Committee was on a fact finding and not to witch-hunt anybody.

He insisted that the Committee would submit its report based on fact.

According to him, “These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves that there exist court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration.

“We know the position of the law. We are not dunces but cerebral people. We are constitutionally mandated to carry out investigation or hearing on any matter to which we have the power of appropriation.

“The mere filing of a suit in court cannot amount to stay of proceeding. They ran to court after we commenced the public hearing.

“No judge can stop our sitting. We will reach a decision on the matter. If you choose not to make yourself available, you cannot claim you were refused right to fair hearing.

“It is more offensive that none of the SANs attached court processes to the letters. They know they rushed to court at midnight. These are empty letters.

“They want to stop this Committee from getting to the root of the matter. We reject the letters as lacking in merit. Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit.

“The Committee has powers to ask the Police to bring those concerns here. We have no letter stopping the Committee from completing its assignment.”

News

Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers, Arrest 12 Others In Imo

Published

1 hour ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

Two suspected kidnappers have been killed by the operatives of Agwa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Imo State Police Command.

According to the command’s spokesperson, DSP Henry Okoye, who briefed newsmen at its headquarters in Owerri, the deceased kidnappers were gunned down as the Agwa Division officers engaged their gang while on routine patrol along Obudi–Mgbala Road on Tuesday.

Okoye disclosed that while other gang members fled with injuries, two pump-action rifles, seven live cartridges, and two Android phones were recovered from the suspects. The officers rescued a yet-to-be-identified female victim, who later died in an undisclosed hospital while receiving treatment.

Okoye said, “The Imo State Police Command has recorded notable successes in its ongoing operations against kidnapping and violent crimes across the State.

“On 02/12/2025 at about 2022hrs, operatives of Agwa Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agwa, while on patrol along Obudi–Mgbala Road, engaged a gang of kidnappers using a white Keke bus, Reg. No. EHM 542 XL.

“Two of the suspects were neutralised, while others fled with injuries. Recovered items include two pump-action rifles, seven live cartridges, two Android phones, and the body of an unidentified female victim. The recovered items and bodies have been deposited at the mortuary as investigation continues.

“In another development, on the same date at about 1800hrs, operatives of Nekede Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Nekede Division, acting on credible intelligence, raided Umuezeruokam Forest linking Avu Forest.

“The operation led to the arrest of twelve (12) suspects and the recovery of twelve (12) phones, two daggers, one cutlass, assorted hard drugs, one saw blade, and one bunch of arrows. The case has been transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit for further investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police assures residents of sustained efforts to eliminate criminal elements and maintain public safety,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a move that is mounting security concerns as the Christmas and New Year festivities approach, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, has issued a stern reminder that the long-standing ban on fireworks remains in full force and will be enforced with zero tolerance.

The directive, contained in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, signals a renewed clampdown on the use, sale, storage, and public display of all pyrotechnic devices, including popular but notorious items such as knock-outs and bangers.

According to the command, the decision is part of broader measures to forestall crime during the festive period, arguing that fireworks often provide convenient cover for criminal elements to unleash attacks, cause panic, or evade detection.

“Experience shows that criminally minded persons can take advantage of fireworks to unleash terror on law-abiding residents,” Edafe stated, stressing that the ban is not merely seasonal but an essential security protocol.