News

OPC, Fulani Trade Blame Over Kwara Clash

Published

3 years ago

August 15, 2022

The Oodua Peoples Congress and the Fulani traders who were alleged to be in the middle of last Friday’s bloody clash in Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government area of Kwara State have denied instigating the clash

While reacting on Saturday to the bloody clash between cow dealers and members of the OPC at Kaara market in Ajasse-Ipo, state chairman of the Gan Allah Fulani Development Association, Alhaji Alli-Mohammed Jounwuro claimed that 9 people were killed by the OPC members in the incident while 450 cows were lost.

Ali Mohammed alleged that while many people were injured in the bloody clash, over N6m was stolen by the OPC members in the clash.

He appealed to the State Government and security agencies to check the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, members from taking the law into their hands.

However, Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress in Kwara state, Comrade Ganiyu Oladipupo, described as unfortunate the crisis leading to the death of four persons in Ajase-Ipo area of the state, saying his members were not part of the crisis.

He described as lies the statement by Jounwuro that the OPC killed 9 of his members.

Oladipupo said the crisis had started earlier between Yoruba and the Fulani in the town before the attack on the OPC members that were returning from the grand finale of Osun festival held in Osogbo last Friday.

“The Fulani transferred their usual aggressions to the OPC, when a stray cow in the Kaara market along the road damaged the side mirror of one of the 20 vehicles conveying our members that were returning from Osun Osogbo festival to the state.

“Knowing that the buses conveying our members have been stuck in the gridlock,the Fulani Cow- dealers deliberately attacked the bus with various weapons.

“The reports, according to the Kwara State Police Spokesperson, Okasanmi Ajayi, showed clearly that the OPC was never part of the crisis.

“However, some of our members that sustained injuries in the course of the crisis have been receiving treatment at the hospital.

“The leader of the Kwara State cow dealers was trying to hide the truth in order curry favour from the public. He lied that the OPC members killed nine of his members alleging also that our members made away with several millions of naira during the fracas.

“Our members travelled along the same Ajase-Ipo road when they were going to Osogbo to celebrate the Osun Osogbo festival without causing any crisis.

“Why is it that the whole story changed as they were returning from Osogbo? They were attacked by the irate Fulani cow dealers who see the OPC as the only threat to their long term agenda.

“The Yoruba in Kwara state have been relating peacefully with the Hausa/Fulani untill recently when they alleged that the excesses of the Fulani in the state are becoming unbearable.

“As much as the Kaara Ajase-Ipo incident was most unfortunate, it also showed the excesses of the Fulani cow dealers who think they are at liberty to kill and maim without recourse to the law.”

Oladipupo said that though peace had been restored to the area, it was important to clarify that the OPC is a peaceful organisation that has been going about its cultural promotion activities peacefully without any hitch.

“Nobody has the monopoly to attack and kill. What the Fulani cow dealers did in Kwara that led to the death of four people was very unfortunate and shows their conquering spirit,” Oladipupo said.

Meanwhile, the state Police Command said that it recovered four unidentified liveless bodies from the scene of the clash at Kaara market, Ajase-Ipo on Friday night.

The Command’s Spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that normalcy had returned to the area adding that every barrier created as a result of the clash had been cleared.

Okasanmi, however, could not confirm if any arrest had been made in connection with the clash.

News

Edo Govt Bars Ijaw Communities From Laying Claim To Disputed Forest Reserve

Published

11 minutes ago

December 4, 2025

Editor

The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, says the disputed forest reserve between Abere and Ajakuruma Ijaw communities of the Ovia South West Local Government Area belongs to the state government.

The deputy governor who is the chairman of the state boundary committee subsequently barred members of the two communities from laying claims to the forest reserve.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor declared the disputed reserve as “Bona Vacantia” on Wednesday when he met with both communities.

He directed both communities to maintain peace and adhere to the resolution of the state boundary committee on the disputed forest reserve.

Idahosa explained that it was criminal for either of the communities to go into the forest reserve to take ownership of the landmass as the area in dispute was not “Bona vacantia.”

He noted that documentary evidence available suggests that the area in question belongs to the government of Edo state.

“You cannot fight over what doesn’t belong to you. Documentary evidence showed that the landmass in question belonged to the state, a process verified through the use of digital Coordinates.

“Whatever we have done here today is in line with the law. Go back to your communities and ensure that there is peace. Anybody that wants to foment trouble should be ready to face the wrath of the law,” he emphasised.

The deputy governor commended the Ovia South West council chairman, Mr Nosakhare Edobor, for averting crisis that would have led to loss of lives.

Edobor, who said the issue had been on for about seven months now, appealed to communities in the local government to always embrace dialogue in resolving contentious matters.

News

Edo Journalist Hospitalised After Being Attacked By Political Thug

Published

3 hours 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

3 hours 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.”