Metro

Residents, ‘Ogogoro’ Traders Panic As Erosion Hits Delta community

Published

2 years ago

July 16, 2023

Residents and traders of Bomadi-Overside community in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State have called on Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, to intervene and arrest the frequent erosion ravaging the commercial hub of the council area, which is on verge of being washed away by the dreadful phenomenon.

Calling on both the state and federal governments, landlords, residents and traders on the locally-made gin, popularly known as Ogogoro, appealed to Gov. Oborevwori and the management of NDDC to make haste to avoid catastrophe befalling the community.

Mr Peter Oseghe, who spoke to Vanguard on behalf of Bomadi-Overside landlords, narrated the impact of the River Dragon on residents of the community, noting that they were living in fear, particularly during the night hours when everybody is asleep.

He said: “We are living in absolute fear because the incident occurs every month now. Initially, it was not so when I came to this place, but now we’re experiencing continuous erosion phenomena eating deep into our land and houses.

“I am a landlord and when I built my house years back, the coastline was far away, we walked a long distance to fetch water from the river. But now, my house is very close to the shore and we’re living in fear, my tenants and I cannot have a good sleep during the night hours.

“So, we are appealing to Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori and the management of NDDC to make haste to come to our aid because anything can happen anytime, most especially in this flood season coupled with the rains.

“We have made individual efforts to curb the situation but it is beyond our control, government should intervene to either pile the waterfront or construct a seawall to arrest the situation”.

However, findings by Vanguard revealed that, if urgent steps are not taken by appropriate authorities to curb the situation, Bomadi-Overside, which is the commercial hub and cosmopolitan community in the local government area, will be washed away with the frequency of occurrences of the incident.

Mr Tinto Eniekezimene and Mrs Gbebe, speaking on behalf of Ogogoro Union traders, however, disclosed that countless houses had been washed away by erosion over the years.

“We have lost countless houses to this erosion, we cannot count them because the waterfront you see here was far away from this place years back. Mr Gabriel’s house has also been washed away and we cannot continue to fold our arms to watch anymore.

“We observed that the river current is directly facing this side, eating deep into the land while there is sandbank across the river.

“The apparent solution to this situation is to dredge the sand from across the river to this side and to either pile the waterfront or build a seawall to control it.

“This is beyond our capacity and that is why we’re crying to Gov. Oborevwori and the federal government to come and help us out of this dreadful situation.

“Delay is dangerous in this issue as the occurrences this year alone have taken much of our land and still encroaching as we are speaking to you”, they said.

Metro

JUST IN: Hausa, Benin Youths Clash Over Killing Of Suspected Yahoo Boy

Published

11 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

Photo: file copy

Several persons were on Wednesday night injured in a clash between Hausa and Benin youths, in Ogheghe community, Egor Local Government Area of Edo State, over the killing of a suspected yahoo boy identified as Chizi Benz.

According to sources, Chizi Benz was said to have been stabbed to death by a Hausa youth over a sour deal.

Though details of the deal were not available as at press time, the killing of Chidi Benz sparked outrage as youths stormed the streets with dangerous weapons in a revenge mission.

According to sources, many ‘Abokis’ were injured in a reprisal attack while others fled for safety.

News of the killing was to have spread to nearby communities of Uwelu along the Siluko Axis, forcing Hausa youths who do petty trading and rides okada closed their businesses and fled for safety.

According to sources, policemen who were deployed to the area fired tear gas to disperse the angry youths.

Edo Police Spokesman, Moses Yamu, who confirmed the incident, promised to send a detailed statement.

He was yet to do so as at press time.

Metro

EFCC Arraigns Three Over 25m Petroleum Theft In Lagos

Published

13 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, arraigned a vessel, MT Ostria, and three individuals before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, over alleged petroleum theft involving over 25 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit belonging to NNPC Retail Limited.

In a statement posted by EFCC on Wednesday on X, the defendants — Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin, and Mr. Vincent Wayas — were charged alongside the vessel on a four-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

The charges state that the defendants conspired to steal 25,354,000 litres of PMS, an offence contrary to Sections 411 and 280 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015, and punishable under Section 287 of the same law.

One of the counts reads: “MT Ostria, Captain Raymundo A. Panaligam, Chief Officer Roneno Villarin and Mr. Vincent Wayas sometime in January 2024 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: stealing of Thirteen Million, Five Hundred and Fifty Four Thousand (13,354,000) litres of Premium Motor Spirit, property of NNPC Retail Limited.”

Other counts outline alleged thefts of 9 million litres and 3 million litres of PMS on or about January 17, 2024.

All defendants pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, EFCC prosecuting counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, prayed the court “to set a trial date and remand the defendants in a correctional facility. She prayed the court not to grant them bail, that the applicant was a flight risk, that they had nothing to lose if they jump bail or abscond from trial.”

The statement stated that: “However, the defence team informed the court that bail applications had already been filed and urged that the defendants be allowed to continue under the bail conditions earlier granted by the EFCC.”

Justice Dada subsequently ruled, “That the defendants should continue on the existing EFCC bail conditions and subsequently adjourned the case to November 17 and 27, 2025, for the commencement of trial.”

Metro

NSCDC Arrests Five Fake Security Operatives In Anambra

Published

13 hours ago

October 29, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Anambra State Command, has arrested five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump-action rifle during a series of coordinated raids in Awka.

The State Commandant, Maku Olatunde, disclosed this on Wednesday while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Awka.

Olatunde said the operation, conducted across several hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, around 11 am, followed credible intelligence reports.

He explained that the intelligence indicated the presence of individuals wearing uniforms resembling those of legitimate security outfits, allegedly hired by political actors to cause unrest ahead of the November 8 governorship election.

He said, “In a bid to rid Anambra State of individuals masquerading as private security operatives, the NSCDC, Anambra State Command, has apprehended five suspected illegal private security operatives and recovered a pump action rifle during a series of raids conducted in Awka.

“The raids conducted across various hotels and grocery stores in Awka on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at about 11:00hrs, were based on credible intelligence indicating the presence of individuals dressed in attire resembling that of a security outfit, who may have been hired by political actors with the intention of utilising them to cause chaos during the election.”

He listed the suspects as Mmeka Ekene (43), Peter Detuchi Kelvin (28), Sunday Akpan Idiong (45), Enemuo Ifeanyichukwu (26), and Francis Ugochukwu Nwosu (28).

Olatunde explained that the operation, which was carried out by the Private Guard Companies Department, was aimed at flushing out undesirable elements, criminal gangs, and irredentists, as well as preventing emerging security threats, illegal possession of firearms, and any form of violence or intimidation that could undermine the peaceful conduct of the election.

He continued, “We are resolute in our commitment to providing a secure environment for the conduct of the forthcoming governorship election, slated for November 8, 2025. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Anambra State remains peaceful and secure.”

The Commandant further stressed that the NSCDC would not be swayed by the antics of individuals pretending to be private security operatives in a bid to disrupt the electoral process.

“The Command, in collaboration with other security agencies, will take all necessary measures within its operational guidelines to counter and suppress any act that could potentially destabilise the peace enjoyed in the state,” he said.

Olatunde also revealed that the Command had strengthened surveillance and enhanced intelligence gathering to thwart any attempts by “disruptive elements or desperate politicians” to compromise the electoral process.

He stated, “The arrested suspects are currently being interrogated and will be charged in court upon conclusion of the investigation,” The PUNCH quoted him.