Metro

Protests In Bayelsa As Govt Relocates RDA Headquarters From Wike’s Ally’s Community

Published

1 year ago

April 21, 2025

Protests have erupted in Bayelsa State over the state government’s relocation of Kolo Creek Rural Development Authority (RDA) headquarters from Kolo community to Emeyal community, both in Ogbia Local Government Area.

Kolo community is the hometown of Mr George Turnah, a former aide of Governor Douye Diri, who switched loyalty to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, after falling out with Governor Douye Diri.

The governor and Turnah, who is the lead Convener of ‘New Associates’, a political group loyal to Wike, have been involved in heated exchange of words in the recent past over the plan to host rally in support of President Bola Tinubu and Wike in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Kolo Creek RDA was one of the unrecognised local government areas created by the former governor of the state, Chief Solomon Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, in 2000.

However, the current controversy, which had sparked protests by the people of Kolo community, was the decision by the state government to relocate the RDA local government headquarters to Emeyal II ahead of the planned creation of more local government areas in Bayelsa State.

The people had denounced the relocation, citing the ongoing rift between Turnah and Diri as the reason for the decision.

According to the people, the decision to marginalise the people of Kolo community because of the politics of Turnah was in bad faith, according to Daily Trust.

They noted that discreet moves by the state government to approach the National Assembly to create a full-fledged local government named Ogbia North Local Government Local Area from the existing Kolo RDA and site its headquarters in Emeyal II instead of the Kolo community, which is the headquarters of Ogbia constituency III, will trigger avoidable crisis.

Chief Solomon Ederi Aginaye, 1st Deputy Agholo, King of Kolo Kingdom, declared that the people, through protest, have expressed their grievances over the attempt to shortchange them.

According to him, the people are disturbed because their interest was not taken into consideration by those who have made up their minds to ‘’gang up against Kolo”.

He lamented that since Kolo community supported the governorship ambition of Senator Douye for his first and second term, the Kolo community has not benefitted in terms of projects and appointments.

Chief Aginaye appealed to Diri to resist the temptation to allow his interest to override the interest of the state.

He said: “The people are calling on President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the House of Representatives Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and Wike to stop the evil orchestration by the Diri administration against peace loving people of Kolo and reinstate Kolo as the headquarters of Kolo Creek RDA as a full-fledged local government area which has now been fraudulently renamed Ogbia North Local Government Area in the proposal submitted to the National Assembly’’

Governor Diri, had in a meeting with representatives of Kolo and Emeyal communities in Government House last weekend, disclosed that the meeting was called to ensure that there was law and order in Ogbia Constituency III following the disagreement about what he called the perceived relocation of the headquarters of Kolo Creek Local Government Area from Kolo community to Emeyal II.

Diri, who insisted that Kolo remains the headquarters of the RDA, explained that the notice for the creation of new local government areas from the Federal Government was received late, leaving the state government with a very short time to make a decision.

He emphasised that councils were yet to be created, stressing that historically, no civilian administration has been able to create local government areas.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

15 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.

Metro

Police Arrest Private Chef Over Alleged N150m Theft, Drugging Of Employer, Burglary

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a chef, John Cosmos Govi, over his alleged involvement in a burglary operation at a residence in Abuja, where luxury items and valuables worth about N150 million were reportedly stolen.

The arrest was announced on Monday, May 25, 2026, by the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Anthony Placid, who said the suspect was apprehended by operatives of the Force Intelligence Department Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) after investigations into allegations of criminal conspiracy, housebreaking, theft, malicious damage and administering harmful substances.

According to police findings, Govi, who allegedly gained employment as a chef at the residence, was said to have studied the movement of occupants, internal routine and security setup before allegedly carrying out the operation on April 23, 2026.

Investigators said he reportedly worked with two accomplices identified as Peter and Moses, who are currently on the run.

Police alleged that food prepared in the house was laced with a suspected sedative substance to weaken the occupants and security personnel.

After they reportedly became unconscious, the suspects allegedly broke into the property, damaged CCTV installations and stole 20 luxury wristwatches valued at about N150 million, alongside other valuables.

Speaking on the development, DCP Anthony Placid said the suspect was intercepted around the Gwagwalada axis of the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to flee to Lagos. He added that an iPhone 17 Pro Max, believed to belong to the victim, and a suspected chemical substance were recovered.

“We remain committed to dismantling organised criminal networks and ensuring that all fleeing accomplices are brought to justice,” Placid said.

Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and conclude investigations into the case.