Metro

Ondo Monarch Leads Mass Protest Against Forceful Ejection Of Farmers

Published

2 years ago

August 27, 2023

Editor

Aged farmers in llua village, Ondo west council area of Ondo state, weekend stage mass protest against the alleged sale of their cocoa plantations and other farmlands by the state government to foreign companies.

The protesters were led by the traditional ruler of Ilua, Oba Olalani Ibidapo.

Displaying placards with various inscriptions, they raised the alarm that the state government had issued them quit notice in all the 20 villages in the area and equally threatened to evacuate them forcefully if they failed to relocate before the end of the year.

Chanting “All we are saying, leave us alone,” the inscriptions on their placards reads, “This is another Slavery”; “We say no to the destruction of our cocoa farms; “No Farmers, No Nation”; “We don’t want to steal, farming is our job”; “Aketi should not sell our lands to Chinese”; “They should leave us here to farm, we have no where to go”; “Cocoa farm is our livelihood, don’t chase us out”; “Cocoa farm is what we live on, don’t sell the lands to China.”

Speaking with newsmen, the monarch, Oba Ibidapo, said: “There were some people who came to our villages and started erecting signposts that the state government has sold our farmlands and villages to Chinese and Indian companies.

“They said government has issued notice that we should quit our farms and villages because the companies wanted to move in and take over our farms and villages.

“We have been here for over 100 years and we are here farming, no other things. I have more than 19 villages under me here, Ilua, Laoso, Adejori, Logunofe, Keseomi, Obadore, Obakele, Ilua 2, Kangidi, Oloruntedo, Abayemisi and Magbaralewon just to mention a few.

“We heard suddenly that we should move out unexpectedly. Where are we going to go. Look at our people, no work. We have graduates among us here, but since there’s no job, they ventured into farming.

“We are protesting against this policy and we also appeal to our Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu to please consider our situation here.

“We are large communities and that’s why state government itself provided health centres, schools and polling units for us here.

“We voted for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general elections. We are more than 50,000 in terms of population.

“But I want government to take note that If they insist on ejecting us, there would be problem. Many of the victims would turn to criminals.

“Look at youths working on the farm, government should be happy about this development. Look at the crowd.”

The Chairman of Youths of Laje community, Laoso District, Ondo West, Akinbami Philip said: “We are begging our governor to rescind this policy and order.

“We have graduates who have farms here, we want the government to leave us so that we would continue working on our farms. This is where we feed our families.

“Government asked us to pay money and we are faithful to it. Every year, government did give us payment advice, sometimes N3 million and we did pay.

“But now, they no longer give us payment advice. The last time we paid to the government coffers was in 2021 because they don’t give us payment advice again.

“What we think is that the government wants to sell these lands totally. This would make us suffer. We have started seeing white men coming to the land, we are against this policy.”

Another community leader, Prince Francis Adewole, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help them prevail on Governor Akeredolu to allow them continue working on their cocoa and plantain farms.

“We are begging President Tinubu also to help us appeal to Governor Akeredolu to give us a chance to enjoy what we have laboured for.

“We have been here for over 100 years, we have lots of cocoa plantations, plantain farms, kolanuts farms and other crops. We are many here and our only occupation is farming.”

One of the farmers, a graduate of Physics, Ademola Ajibola, told newsmen that he decided to venture into farming when he couldn’t get a job in the city.

Ajibola said: “We are highly surprised by the state government’s action against us. We have been here for many years, I am a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University, but no job.

“Yet I decided to venture into cocoa farming. We do pay to the government our dues till 2021 when we saw some people erecting signpost on our farms.

” They said they were given the order to come and destroy our cocoa and other plantations. Where do we go from here?

“We have villages all around here, no hideout for bandits or criminals. We are protesting because the government would not let us breathe.

“Food security is our watchword here, we sell foods to the people in town. If we are being evacuated from here, I don’t know what might be the result.

“But if this policy of leaving here is being carried out, there would be social implications, there would be disaster.”

A community leader, Mrs. Faith Akinduro, lamented that instead of being encouraged by the state government for going into farming, the government allegedly wanted to eject them from their farmlands.

Akinduro said: “Sometimes last year, we were given notice that some people were being arrested here, so we should leave this place. They are ready to destroy all our properties.

“We are not criminals here, we are farmers, we should be encouraged instead of this. We do pay our dues. When it is election period, they do come here and we do vote for them. Why are they claiming that people are not here?

“It is a pity, I don’t have anywhere to go, we depend on farm work here, no other work for me. Where do you want over 50,000 people to go? We are doing fine here, they should look into the situation, because if not, we women would carry guns and turn to criminals.”

Contacted to comment on the alleged ejection of the farmers, the Senior Special Assistant (Agric & Agribusiness) to the governor, Pastor Akin Olotu, denied the allegations.

Olotu, said that state government didn’t issue such quit notice and sale of the farmers farms to anyone or foreign firm.

VANGUARD

Metro

16 Escape Death In Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway Crash

Published

11 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Sixteen people narrowly escaped death on Monday night in a crash involving a Camry car, a Suzuki bus, and a tricycle at Iron Market along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Ota Divisional Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, Mr Salau Hammed, confirmed the incident to News Agency Nigeria on Tuesday, noting that the crash occurred around 8:20 p.m.

He said the accident involved a Camry car, a tricycle, both with no registration, and a Suzuki bus marked KRD 246 YK.

He said that a total of 16 persons were involved in the accident; however, three persons, comprising two males and a female, sustained various degrees of injuries.

Hammed explained that the Camry lost control due to speeding and rammed into two other vehicles.

“Those who sustained injuries were immediately taken to Adetutu Hospital, Ilepa area for treatment,” he said.

Hammed advised motorists against speeding to prevent avoidable crashes.

He said that the vehicles had been removed from the road to ease free flow of traffic.

Metro

High-tension Wire Electrocutes PoS Operator In Anambra

Published

11 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

A Point of Sales male operator in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been electrocuted by a fallen high tension line.

It was gathered that the victim got electrocuted after a high-tension wire was cut and fell on him, while standing in front of his shop located under the high-tension wire.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the incident happened over the weekend, but the lifeless body of the victim, which was still lying on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body as of Tuesday, was still oozing out smoke, creating panic in the area.

This was corroborated by a video from the scene of the incident, currently trending on social media, showing the victim lying lifeless on the ground, with the high-tension wire still lying on his body, still oozing out smoke and sparks.

Although the full identity of the victim is yet to be ascertained, sources from the area said he recently got married.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Ossy Onuko, who reacted to the development on Tuesday, described the incident as unfortunate, noting that such misfortunes are part of the reasons the agency carries out sensitisation and enforcement against building or trading under the high-tension wire.

Onuko also noted that during the sensitisation, people often criticise them for their enforcement against trading under the high tension wire.

He said, “This is something we have been campaigning against from time to time, that it is very dangerous to build or trade under the high-tension wire.

“It is part of the reasons why most times, on social media, we are vilified as being inhumane for trying to let people know that they cannot either build or trade under the tension.

“It is something very pathetic. It’s a suicide mission to have your shop or your kiosk or your roadside activities under the tension. The avoidable loss of life is unfortunate. It is sadly one example of many negative outcomes and resultant effects of such an act of negligence to safety.

“That should serve as a deterrent to others who still indulge in such prohibited acts. This should also make the public understand that the sensitisation and enforcement being carried out by ACTDA against such things are not to witch-hunt them, but for their safety.

“Unfortunately, we have lost a soul. I pray for the peaceful repose of this soul. But also, it should serve as a deterrent to others, that they shouldn’t just fold their arms and wait for us, when we come, they run away and return when we leave.

“People should see it as a personal responsibility to be safety conscious, and also enlighten others, not just themselves. No precious life is worth being lost to such a careless and avoidable death. A stitch in time saves nine.”
(PUNCH)

Metro

Cybercrime: Court Fines 21 Foreign Nationals N1m Each, Orders Deportation

Published

12 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday convicted 21 foreign nationals over high-level cybercrime, fining each of them N1 million.

The trial judge, Justice Ekerete Akpan, while delivering judgment on the plea bargain reached between the convicts and the Nigeria Police Force, ordered the immediate departure of all 21 of them from Nigeria within six working days.

The convicts are among 109 foreign nationals being prosecuted by the Inspector-General of Police over charges of cybercrime, money laundering, and actions deemed threats to Nigeria’s national security in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/599/2024.

The 21 convicted individuals are Yang Yang (33), Li Xiao Fen (41), Zheng Peng Zhan (28), Shu Huan (20), Jupanpan (25), Feng Guo (29), Zhao Yifan (31), Mahunan (26), Wang Yi Bo (24), Chen Yan Qi (26), and Shi Hao Jie (28), all represented in court by Linda Ikpeazu.

Others are Xiejang Bing (29), Zheng Jian Feng, Zheng Peng Fei (32), Wei Tang (32), Wang Hao (27), Cheng Xing (30), Yang Xu Gung (27), Zhu Jiu Hui (28), Xhou Kia Lai (28), and Tue Xue Fie (21, female), represented by Julius Mba.

The 109 defendants, from countries including China, Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand, were arraigned in 2024 on a six-count charge.

They initially pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Kuje and Keffi Correctional Centres, respectively, pending fulfilment of stringent bail conditions set on November 29, 2024, which included N1 billion bail and five sureties with N200 million worth of landed property each.

The Police alleged that the accused operated out of Plot 1906, Cadastral Zone 807, Katampe District, Abuja, where they were running a “fraudulent and unregistered gaming platform.”

One of the counts read that they “aided, abetted, conspired among themselves to commit an offence, to wit; cybercrime,” contrary to and punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024).

They were also charged with unlawful access to a computer network and input of inauthentic data, punishable under Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act.

They were also accused of laundering proceeds generated from illegal platforms, including 9f.com, c2.top, and 8pg.top, in violation of Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The final charge accused the defendants of overstaying their 30-day business permits — an offence punishable under Section 44 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act, 2015.

Justice Akpan, in his judgment, held that the sentence was based on the agreed terms of the bargain.

“After the defendants entered the plea bargain agreement without being forced, I hereby convict you as charged.

“The sentence shall be based on the parties’ agreement of N1 million fine each, against each of the defendants which shall be paid before their release. They shall depart the country within six working days,” he said.

When asked if the fines had been paid, defence counsel, Linda Ikpeazu, told the court, “My lord, we are going to pay in the next five minutes.”

Justice Akpan also ordered that all gadgets used in the commission of the crimes be forfeited to the Federal Government.

Lead prosecuting counsel, A.A. Egwu, appeared for the Inspector-General of Police, while Ikpeazu and Mba represented different subsets of the 21 convicts.

The matter was adjourned to October 22nd and 23rd for the continuation of the trial of the remaining 88 defendants.
(PUNCH)