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Tension As Obaseki Plans Demolition Of Edo NUJ Press Centre

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INFO DAILY Recounts Demolition, Take-over Spree By Obaseki’s Govt.

There is tension in Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) as the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has concluded plans to
demolish and take over the NUJ secretariat.

The Press Centre built in the early 70s by the late Military Governor of the defunct Mid-West/Bendel State, Brig.-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia, is on an expanse of land is at 1, Gabriel Igbinedion Road, and was donated to NUJ, Edo state council by the then Oba Akenzua of Benin.

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NUJ press Centre in Benin is strategic, as it is the venue for daily distribution of local, regional, national newspapers and magazines to vendors and distributors.

The press centre of Edo NUJ also houses the befitting offices of correspondents’ chapel among others.

It was gathered on Friday in Benin that Obaseki wanted to use Edo NUJ’s land to build Edo Museum of West African Art (EMOWAA), to house the stolen artifacts being returned to Benin from Europe, to rival the Edo Royal Museum, being built by Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, to house the same artifacts.

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The Edo royal museum is located opposite the palace of the first-class monarch (Oba of Benin), with major stakeholders in the state and beyond supporting the initiative, which is backed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

READ ALSO: Edo Govt, APC, Trade Words Over Alleged Land-grabbing, Demolition Of Houses

It was also learnt that expatriates that would handle the EMOWAA project at NUJ’s press centre were on Thursday at the site for inspection, and they were accompanied by fully-armed policemen, with the demolition likely to commence this weekend.

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The Functioning Director of Lands, Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), Mrs. Lydia Igbinigie, earlier wrote to Edo Chairman of NUJ, Festus Alenkhe, on the land matter, while the Managing Director of EDOGIS, Mrs. Osaro Aihie, who was appointed by Obaseki about three months ago, later called Alenkhe on the same matter.

The Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, a lawyer, met in his office on Friday morning with some stakeholders on the NUJ’s land matter, with a member of the executive of the state’s NUJ (name withheld) quoting the SSG as stating that he was not aware of the land tussle and demolition bid, but promised to get the details.

Efforts were later made to speak with Edo SSG, but his MTN line was not available, at press time.

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Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, through the telephone, stated that Obaseki’s government was working on moat’s right of way in Benin and its environs, while he declined further comment on the NUJ’s land matter and planned demolition of the befitting secretariat.

Edo chairman of NUJ, who lost his mother some days ago, when contacted through the phone, declined to comment on the matter.

The President of NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, when contacted for his reaction, through the phone from Owerri, Imo State, at 4:53 p.m. on Friday, said: “Please, ask Edo State Chairman of NUJ. I earlier told Festus Alenkhe what to do.”

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Alenkhe, at 5:03 p.m., through the phone, said: “Mr. President (of NUJ) directed Edo State Council’s leadership of NUJ to resist the forcible take over of the land.”

READ ALSO: Edo APC, Govt Trade Words Over Land Grabbing, Others

Edo chairman of NUJ also added that the directive of Isiguzo would be strictly adhered to.

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INFO DAILY recalls that Obaseki demolished the over 100 years Edo State Government-owned Cenetral Hospital on Sapele Road, near the NUJ Press Centre, several months ago with the rumour making the rounds that he was to build the same EMOWAA on the land, but till as at when filing this report, nothing has been built on the land.

INFO DAILY also recall that Obaseki brought down the state-owned Library edifice on the same Sapele Road and sold it out to owners of Shoprite Mall, and presently, the mall is still under construction while till date an alternative Library has not been built.

It would be also recall that on September 29, 2022, the Obaseki-led Edo government imposed 24 curfew on Irhirhi-Obazagbon-Ogheghe axis, on alleged communal clash and next day went their with bulldozer wherein over 200 houses were demolished, thereafter took over the land measuring 1229 hectares.

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The government claimed the houses were illegally built on land belonging to the state government.

 

 

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We’ll Deny You Visa If You’re Traveling To Give Birth, US Tells Nigerians

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The United States Mission in Nigeria has warned Nigerians planning to travel to the US primarily to give birth to secure American citizenship for their children.

In a post on X, the US Mission stated that using a visa for the main purpose of childbirth is prohibited under US immigration policy.

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“Using your visa to travel for the primary purpose of giving birth in the United States so that your child will have U.S. citizenship is not permitted. Consular officers will deny your visa application if they have reason to believe this is your intent,” the US Mission said.

READ ALSO:Nigerians Nurses To Commence 7-day Warning Strike Over Unmet Demands

This warning is coming following the rising scrutiny of visa applications and growing enforcement around what is informally referred to as “birth tourism”, the practice of traveling to the US to give birth so the child obtains automatic citizenship.

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Recall that the United States Department of State had also revised its visa reciprocity policy, announcing that most non-immigrant, non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry visas with a three-month validity period.

The US maintained that its visa policies are based on global technical and security benchmarks aimed at protecting the integrity of its immigration systems.

 

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Three Dead, Several Injured As Train Derails In Germany

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Rescue forces work at the site of a derailed train near Riedlingen on July 27, 2025. (Photo by Thomas Warnack / dpa / AFP) / Germany OUT / GERMANY OUT

Three people were killed and several others injured when a regional passenger train derailed in a wooded area in southwestern Germany on Sunday, police said.

About 100 passengers were aboard the train, when the accident occurred at around 6:10 pm (1610 GMT) near the town of Riedlingen in Baden-Wuerttemberg state.

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Contacted by AFP, police initially said four people had been killed before correcting their statement to three victims.

Authorities declined to elaborate on the number of injured or how seriously hurt they were, though tabloid Bild cited emergency workers saying there were 50 injured.

READ ALSO:Ex-Army Chief Proposes Mandatory Military Training For Nigerians

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German rail operator Deutsche Bahn confirmed several deaths and numerous injured. Two train carriages had derailed “for reasons yet unknown”, it added.

Authorities were currently investigating the circumstances of the accident, the operator said, and traffic had been suspended over a 40-kilometre (25-mile) stretch of the route.

German media reported that a landslide might have caused the accident as severe storms swept through the region, according to weather services.

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The passenger train was travelling from the German town of Sigmaringen to the city of Ulm when it derailed in a forested area.

READ ALSO:Wike: Sen. Ireti Kingibe Narrates How Her Car Was Trailed From Abuja Airport

– Outdated train infrastructure –

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In a post on social media, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed his condolences to the families of those killed.

He added that he was in close contact with both the interior and transport ministers, and had asked them to “provide the emergency services with all the support they need”.

Footage from the scene of the accident showed yellow-and-grey-coloured train carriages lying on their sides, as firefighters and emergency services tried to get to the passengers.

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According to local TV station SWR, helicopters arrived shortly after the accident to transport the injured to hospitals in the area, and emergency doctors from nearby hospitals were alerted.

READ ALSO:UNICAL VC Selection Thwarted As Court Halts Process, Transfers Case To Abuja

German transport is regularly criticised by passengers for its outdated infrastructure, with travellers facing frequent train delays, and various technical problems.

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The government has pledged to invest several hundred billion euros over the next few years, in particular to modernise infrastructure.

In June 2022, a train derailed near a Bavarian Alpine resort in southern Germany, killing four people and injuring dozens.

Germany’s deadliest rail accident happened in 1998 when a high-speed train operated by state-owned Deutsche Bahn derailed in Eschede in Lower Saxony, killing 101 people.

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Man Stabs 11 People At Walmart Store In US

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At least 11 people were injured in a stabbing at a Walmart store in the Midwestern state of Michigan on Saturday, with police saying it appeared to be a random attack.

A 42-year-old male suspect was in custody, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea told a press conference.

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Based on the information that we have at this time, it appears they were random acts,” Shea said of the attack in Traverse City, Michigan.

“The victims were not predetermined,” Shea said, adding that the suspect, a Michigan resident, apparently acted alone and used a “folding knife.”

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Six victims were in critical condition late Saturday, and five were in serious condition, Munson Healthcare said in a statement.

At least three of the victims were undergoing surgery, according to Shea. The victims included six men and five women.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she was in touch with law enforcement regarding the “horrible news.”

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“Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence,” Whitmer said in an X post.

READ ALSO:Woman Stabs 80-year-old Trader To Death In Ogun Market

Eyewitness Julia Martell told The New York Times she heard screaming and saw a man with a knife running through the store’s pharmacy section.

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Martell said she saw the man shoving and stabbing people as he moved through the store.

The 30-year-old witness described seeing three people with stab wounds and “blood everywhere.”

READ ALSO:Popular Singer Hamisu Breaker, TikToker G. Fresh Sentenced To Prison For Naira Abuse

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Shea said the stabbing spree initially started near the checkout area of the store.

“It is very uncommon for our area,” he said of the violence, adding that citizens in the Walmart “assisted” in apprehending the suspect.

Traverse City is a popular tourist destination located on the shore of Lake Michigan.

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FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said agents were providing “any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart.”

AFP

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