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Okomu Community Commends 4 Brigade For Sustenance Of Peace, Wants FOB Established In The Area

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…urges him not to bow to pressure to pull out personnel from the area

…wants government to investigate those behind such pressure

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo 

The natives of Okomu in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have commended the 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army led by Brigadier General Ebenezer Olusesan Oduyebo, for the sustenance of peace in the community and its environs.

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Speaking to INFO DAILY on behalf of the community, the Ibe Uyadonwei of Okomu Kingdom, Chief Edwin Denmene, said if not for the efforts of the Brigadier General and his men, Okomu would be a conquerred territory in the hand of one Lawrence Yanbor and his gang.

INFO DAILY recalled that Lawrence Yanbor and his gang on 13 May, 2024 invaded Okomu community in the night and razed down over 30 modern structures in the community. Lawrence Yanbor, alongside his cohorts also held the community to ransom and on one of the occasions precisely 7 June, 2024, shot the paramount ruler of the kingdom.

Chief Denmene who noted that the “Brigadier General has been so professional and has not been biased or taken side in the matter,” urged him to continue the good work.

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READ ALSO:Okomu Crisis: INC Clan Chairman, Cousin Resigns

Also commending the 4 Brigade personnel for a work well done, the Ibe Egberigbawei (spokesman) of Okomu Kingdom, Chief Freeman Cousin, noted that if not for the military personnel stationed in the area, Okomu would have been amongst the committee of communities under the watchlist of the state government for cultism and kidnapping, alleging that Lawrence Yanbor and his gang are culprits.

Chief Cousin, who alleged that there have been plans by some influential persons to pressure the Commander of the 4 Brigade to pull out his men from the area, urged Brigadier General Oduyebo not to bow to such pressure no matter how highly placed such pressure may be coming from.

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We have been hearing that some influential persons, specifically sponsors of Lawrence Yanbor and his gang are pressuring the 4 Brigade and Abuja to pull out the military personnel from the area. We want to passionately appeal to the 4 Brigade General and the people in Abuja not to bow to such pressure. He has been doing fantastically well, and we appreciate it, so he shouldn’t bow to such pressure,” he pleaded.

Corroborating Chief Cousin’s allegation, Hon. Amokachi Peretei, who also commended the Brigadier General Oduyebo and his men for the maintenance of peace in the community and its environs, expressed the fear that if the Commander bowed to such pressure and pulled out his men from the area, Okomu would become history.

READ ALSO: Okomu Attack: INC Talks Tough, Warns Those Twisting The Incident To Desist Or…

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They want the military personnel to leave the area so they can perpetrate their evil works by attacking the community particularly those they perceive as their enemies. If the military personnel leave Okomu and its environs, no one is safe,” he added.

On his part, Chief Rickson Nanaghan called on the government “both federal and state to investigate those lobbing for the pulling out of the military personnel in the area, and not only investigation, the government should bring them to justice.”

Also lending his voice, Comrade Samson Yanbor, an indigene of the community who made reference to how Lawrence Yanbor and his gang gave a seven-day ultimatum to the Yoruba farmers in the area to vacate recently, noted that if not for the presence of the military, Lawrence Yanbor would have succeeded, adding that he would have used that opportunity to loot and burn down houses.

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Recently, Lawrence Yanbor gave the Yoruba farmers an ultimatum to vacate the area. He said he had an operation to carry out so they should leave the area. When did Lawrence become government that he should be giving an ultimatum to a people to leave a particular area so that he can carry out his operation? Is he government? Besides, which operation does he have to carry out that he had the audacity to tell a people to leave, if not for looting,” Samson Yanbor questioned.

READ ALSO: How I Was Trafficked For Prostitution In Mali – Actress Jumoke George’s Daughter

Also speaking, Dr Atele Biriodoubrah. The Ibe-Bolowoniwei of Okomu Kingdom, on behalf of the kingdom pleaded to the Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo to replicate what did in Ehor, Edo State, in Okomu by establishing Forward Operating Base (FOB) in the area.

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We need a Forward Operational Base in the area. We, therefore, plead to Governor Monday Okpebholo to help us establish a Forward Operational Base (FOB) in our community as he has done for the people of Ehor in the state,”  he said.

He named Opuba as the hiding place for Lawrence Yanbor and his gang, urging the military and other security agencies to look into this direction.

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Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.

The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.

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According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.

READ ALSO:Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X

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Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.

In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”

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READ ALSO:‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book

Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.

“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.

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In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.

 

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Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead

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The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.

Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.

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Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.

READ ALSO:Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.

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Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”

Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.

READ ALSO:Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

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Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.

Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.

This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.

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Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.

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Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management

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The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.

Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.

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Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO:Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power

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He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.

According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

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“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO: Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.

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“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”

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