Metro

Protest Hits Benin Over Obaseki’s Compulsory COVID-19 Vaccination

Published

4 years ago

August 30, 2021

Some members of the civil societies group in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Monday, defy the early morning downpour in protest against Edo State Government plans to make Compulsory for residents COVID-19 vaccination before accessing large gathering.

Obaseki at a briefing had named such gathering to include churches, mosques, banks, wedding or burial receptions among others.

He stated that such gathering would no longer be accessed without presenting the vaccine certificate from the second week of September.

Obaseki had further stated in the briefing that the third wave of COVID-19, is causing devastating effects across the country, hence the need to introduce stiffer measures to reduce the effect.

But the peaceful protesters who marched through the streets of Benin City carrying placards with various inscription as: ‘Obaseki can’t force us to take COVID-19 vaccines’; ‘I have right to mosque’; ‘we have right to decide’ among others, said the plans by the government is tantamount to trampling on the fundamental rights of the citizens.

A cross section of the protesters in the street of Benin on Monday.

The protesters, under the aegis of Equity Initiatives, while addressing newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Secretariat, NUJ, in Benin, asked the Governor to face infrastructural decay and insecurity in the state.

Convener and spokesperson for the group, Chris Iyama said, “we are here to express our displeasure over government move to force Edo people to take COVID-19 vaccines. This is against our fundamental human rights.

“You cannot force someone to eat what he or she doesn’t want. Are we in Banana Republic. We own the state not the government.”

Also, the Interim state chairman, Edo Civil Socity Organistions, Bishop Osadolor Anthony Ochei, said it is the right of the citizens to decide whether to be vaccinated or not.

“If the government have failed, we cannot fail ourself. Government have the right to make policies but this policy is not law,” Ochei noted.

The protesters had earlier protested to the Benin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA and Edo State Government House.

Metro

Woman Dies, Homes Set Ablaze In Plateau Communal Clash

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

A woman has been confirmed dead and several houses burnt following a violent clash between some Fulani herders and native residents of Rwan and Kopmon communities in Mushere District, Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident, which occurred on Monday was shared by security analyst Zagazola Makama in a post on X on Tuesday.

According to the report, the crisis broke out early in the morning, and the Youth President of Mushere District alerted the authorities at about 8:10 a.m.

Although the exact cause of the clash is still unknown, the tension reportedly escalated into violence, leading to the death of an unidentified woman and destruction of several homes.

“Troops of the Nigerian Army, along with other members of the Joint Task Force, were quickly deployed to the affected area to calm the situation and prevent further violence,” Makama wrote.

Security sources said monitoring is still ongoing in the communities, and efforts are being made to identify and arrest those behind the attack.

Metro

Akwa Ibom: Police Raid Shrine, Arrest Suspected Rapists, Recover Two Coffins, Sanitary Pads, Pictures

Published

2 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

Akwa Ibom State Police Command has raided a criminal hideout suspected to be a shrine in Abak Local Government Area of the state and arrested five alleged to have been involved in armed robbery, cultism, and rape in the area.

The operatives recovered items including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, in Akwa Ibom, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a press statement issued in Uyo on Tuesday.

John explained that the raid followed a formal complaint lodged on June 26, 2025, by a man (name withheld) that a group of armed individuals broke into his room at a guest house (name withheld) in Abak, robbing him of his belongings and raping his female guest.

John said the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, therefore ordered operatives of the Command to initiate an investigation and arrest the perpetrators. She added that on July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:10 PM, detectives, following discreet investigations and intelligence, raided the criminals’ hideout, leading to the arrest of the suspects.

She mentioned the suspects to include: Richard Edet Udo, Hope Unibong Anitie, Joseph Ibongidi, Christian Joseph Johnny, and Joseph Joseph.

She said the Command is continuing its investigation to arrest other members of the gang.

The statement reads in part: “Acting on a firm directive from the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, operatives of the Command initiated an investigation. On July 30, 2025, at approximately 11:10 PM, detectives raided the criminals’ hideout. Operatives recovered disturbing items from what appeared to be a shrine, including two coffins filled with women’s sanitary pads, pictures of people, and other fetish items.”

Metro

22 Dead, Others Injured As Trailer Carrying Passengers, Cattle Crashes On Niger Road

Published

3 hours ago

August 5, 2025

Editor

At least 22 people have been confirmed dead and 20 others injured in a lone accident involving a trailer along the Lapai–Lambata road in Niger State.

The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Monday at about 3:00 a.m.

According to Sahara Reporters, the Sector Commander of the FRSC in Niger State, Aishat Saadu, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, saying the trailer was conveying both passengers and cattle from Kano to Lagos.

“The crash occurred around 0300hrs along the Lapai–Lambata route,” Saadu said. “It was a lone crash involving a truck. Forty-two people were involved. Twenty-two died, while twenty sustained various degrees of injuries as at the time of rescue.”

Eyewitnesses said most of the passengers on board were from Zamfara State and were reportedly travelling for commercial purposes.

The injured were taken to the Federal Medical Centre in Lambata, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the General Hospital in Suleja.