Metro

Strike: NLC Paralyses Activities In Edo, Public Offices, Others Shut

Published

2 years ago

November 14, 2023

Editor

Joseph Kanjo, Benin

The Nationwide strike embarked upon by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) recorded a huge success in Benin City, the Edo State capital, as government offices, public schools, courts, some banks were shut by officials of the state chapter of the NLC.

Other public places shut were the National Museum, the house of assembly complex.

The closure of the State Secretariat situated along Sapele Road, Benin was supervised by the chairman of Edo chapter of the NLC, Odion Olaye alongside some workers and union executives.

Speaking, Olaye stated that he had sent members to schools, airports, petrol stations, and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation to ensure that they were shut.

“We are complying with the directive by the national body. I am delighted with what the NLC and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Edo State chapters have displayed today. Our enforcement teams were on the ground and the enforcement was total.

“As you can see, we are in the premises of the State secretariat. No official activity is taking place here. We went round. Locked up Banks, NPDC, Airport, Schools and more.”

Also speaking, Comrade Alabi Precious, Chairman Edo State Trade Union Congress said, “Our action was necessitated by the brutalization of the national president of NLC, Joe Ajaero and we are ready to get to the end of this matter.”

Meanwhile, litigants were sighted stranded at the entrance gates to the High Court Complex while some personnel did not also open the judges gates through which High Court judges enter their offices.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, (SAN) Afolabi Olayiwola, who couldn’t access the court premises said the strike embarked upon by members of the organised labour was a sign of a failed system.

He expressed shock that despite a court order stopping the strike, the judiciary workers still embarked on the strike and called for a mutual resolution of all the issues.

“Ordinarily, the strike ought not to have been because there is a court order and if judiciary staff cannot obey a court order it shows it is a failed system and if it escalates it becomes a problem. If other sectors go on strike the judiciary arm ought not to have embark on it and they are aware of the court and that is where I am worried”

At the Benin Airport, an official said planes landed and took off from the airport in the morning.

Travellers were also seen making their way into the airport to catch their flight to different destinations.

Banks along Akpakpava, Mission roads, Forestry and other areas were shut down with customers trying to get money from a few ATMs that dispensed cash.

Government schools in the GRA were also shut as students were seen loitering around their schools.

Also, a security officer at NPDC said the staff were complying with the strike with only essential workers allowed in the premises.

Also, Oredo, Egor and other local government Secretariats visited in Benin City complied with the strike as workers in their numbers hung around the councils’ premises.

Metro

NDLEA Destroys Cannabis Farms, Arrests 39 Suspects In Edo

Published

14 hours ago

June 9, 2025

Editor

The Edo Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed two cannabis farms, arrested 39 suspected drug traffickers, and seized over 1.3 tonnes of illicit drugs in May.

Mr Mitchell Ofoyeju, the State Commander of the agency, disclosed this on Monday in Benin while presenting his first monthly operational scorecard.

Ofoyeju said those arrested included 18 males and 21 females.

He said that the two cannabis farms, measuring a combined 0.783 hectares, were located in Uzebba and Ohosu forests across Owan West and Ovia South West Local Government Areas, respectively.

He said that the Uzebba farm covered 0.266 hectares while the Ohosu farm spanned 0.517 hectares.

Ofoyeju noted that the major highlight of the operation was the interception of 74 and a half bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,115 kilograms at Oke community in Ohunwude Local Government Area, following an intelligence report.

“The two suspects arrested in connection with the seizure are a 33-year-old Isaac Israel from Abak Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom, and a 19-year-old Precious Zion from Ogba Local Government Area in Rivers.

“In a separate raid at the Oluku area of Benin City, an 18-year-old Nigerien, Mohammed Isah, was also arrested for an unlawful possession of various drugs.

“The drugs are four grams of methamphetamine, 54 grams of cannabis sativa, six grams of tramadol tablets (100 milligrams), and 28 grams of Exol-5 tablets,” he said.

The NDLEA commander linked drug trafficking to rising violent crimes in the state.

He said the activity undermined public safety, investment opportunities, and placed heavy burdens on the law enforcement and the healthcare system.

“Drug control is germane to Gov. Monday Okpebholo’s fight against kidnapping and cultism in the state.

“The Edo Command of the agency will continue to work assiduously in ensuring a safe and secure society for all,” Ofoyeju said.

He reaffirmed the mandate given to him by the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), to dismantle cannabis cultivation syndicates and expand the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.

Ofoyeju called for immediate and coordinated efforts to combat the risks associated with drug trafficking and abuse.

He also advocated proactive strategies and improved resource allocation to address drug and drug-related problems.

Metro

Police Rescue Robbery Suspect From Irate Mob, Recover Pistol In Enugu

Published

14 hours ago

June 9, 2025

Editor

The police command in Enugu State has rescued an armed robbery suspect from irate mob and recovered a locally made pistol from him.

The command Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, in a statement on Monday in Enugu, said that the suspect (names withheld) was rescued from the mob on June 8, at about 8p.m. within the Independence Layout, Enugu.

Ndukwe said that the feat was achieved through credible intelligence by a combined team of police operatives from the Independence Layout Division, Anti-Cultism Squad, working in collaboration with members of the Neighbourhood Watch.

“A locally fabricated pistol was recovered from him, while his cohorts reportedly fled the scene.

“The suspect, who sustained severe injuries inflicted by the irate mob, is currently receiving medical treatment.

“He (allegedly) confessed to being a member of the Black Axe Confraternity, while discreet investigations are ongoing to apprehend his fleeing accomplices,” he said.

Ndukwe said that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had commended the swift and collaborative efforts of the police operatives and community members that led to the arrest and recovery.

He said that the commissioner, however, strongly cautioned against mob actions and jungle justice, adding that such acts undermined proper investigation and the delivery of justice in criminal cases.

Metro

Retired Army Major Dies In Kidnappers’ Den After N10m Ransom Payment

Published

14 hours ago

June 9, 2025

Editor

A retired Army Major, Joe Ajayi, who was kidnapped at his residence in Odo-Ape, Kabba-Bunu local government area of Kogi State a few weeks ago, has died in the kidnappers’ den despite a ransom of N10 million paid for his rescue.

Major Ajayi was kidnapped on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, from his residence around 11:30pm by gunmen who shot sporadically.

According to Vanguard, the initial demands of N50 million ransom by the abductors lingered for long when the family could not pay; this resulted in his health deteriorating, as he had no means to get his medication.

It was gathered that the kidnappers informed the family that their plea for his medication to be forwarded to him will come at an extra cost, a concession that couldn’t be met by the family.

However, as soon as the abductors discovered that Ajayi couldn’t survive, they reduced the ransom to ₦10 million naira.

A source in the community said that the Ajayi family, believing he was still alive, quickly agreed to pay the ten million naira for his rescue.

“Once the ransom was paid, the kidnappers directed the family to where they would find him, only for them to meet his (Ajayi’s) lifeless body.”

The retired army officer’s remains has been deposited at Kabba Specialist Hospital mortuary.

Kidnapping has surged in the state for a while now, with the abduction of a first-class monarch, Oba James Dada Ogunyanda, the Oba Okoloke in Yagba West Local Government Area, who was in the same way abducted from his home in early May. He’s yet to be released either.

However, the governor of the state, Ahmed Usman Ododo, speaking at the Eid ground last Sallah in Okene, appealed to residents to remain calm, as efforts to rid the criminal elements out of the state are already yielding positive interest.