Metro

Tension In Osogbo As Crisis Rock Park Management Team Over Alleged Extortion

Published

1 year ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

There was palpable tension in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, on Tuesday, July 2, after several gunshots were fired at the State Secretariat of the Osun Park Management System (OPMS) over alleged extortion, high-handedness, and death threats by an appointee of Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The crisis erupted barely 18 months after Governor Adeleke appointed Nurudeen Wakili, also known as Alowonle, as the chairman of the Osun park managers.

The incident began on Tuesday morning when a group of park managers, led by a man identified as Aroso and former State Secretary of the National Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Comrade Morounkade Akinade, protested against the chairman over issues including extortion and non-remittance of revenue to the government.

The protesters took over the secretariat, chasing away the executives of the park managers.

However, the executives regrouped and countered the protesters, leading to a gun battle and a fight that resulted in the hacking of the park manager’s chairman.

Speaking to The Nation about the protest, Akinade alleged: “Wakili always extort us. He collected N1.2m from us when Adeleke was conferred as Asiwaju of Ede Land. He very found of collecting money with the name of Adeleke’s family. If anyone challenged him he will threaten such person. So we decided that we don’t want him again. We don’t want him to direct the affairs of this Osun Transport Management System.

“The government gave us ticket, he refused to remit money to them. We opposed him then he threatened to kill us. We are at the secretariat now and they are threatening us with guns. They said they will kill us.”

However, the chairman of park managers, Wakili denied the allegation while speaking with newmen at hospital as he had sustained injury on his neck and right arm during the invasion to the secretariat.

He said: “I saw that some hoodlums gathered and blocked me on the road, two of them were our former members. They attacked and stabbed me. They shot at my car. They are the enemies of government. They are not pleased with the park management system that government formed. One of them is Arogundade Wasiu, aka Aroso, is one of them.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola said that the command is aware of the incident and has drafted operatives to the area affected.

NATION

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Doctor Over Woman’s Death During Caesarean Section

Published

9 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

The Edo State Police Command has said that it arrested a medical doctor following the death of a woman during an operation at a private hospital in Uromi, the administrative headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Moses Yamu, while confirming the arrest said that detectives were investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death.

“I can confirm the arrest of the doctor, and the command’s detectives are also investigating the matter.”

Police identified the doctor as Festus Ogheghele of Dickson Medical Centre, Uromi.

He was said to have performed a Caesarean section on the deceased, Susan Omoye-Okporan, 36, on August 2, 2025.

It was gathered that the woman reportedly developed complications and died shortly after the procedure, though her baby survived.

Her bereaved family members accused the doctor of gross professional negligence, which prompted a police investigation.

A family source said that the doctor may have been careless while performing the surgery, noting that they were ready to pursue the case to the highest level.

“I am sure the doctor was careless. Performing a cesarean section is one of the easiest surgical operations due to advancement in technology. The family is ready to pursue the case to the highest level,” the source added.

Findings at the command headquarters in Benin revealed that operatives of the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), took over the case from Uromi police over two weeks ago.

It was further learnt that an autopsy had been conducted, and the result is awaiting interpretation by police medical experts to determine the next line of action.

Metro

NDLEA Arrests 65 Suspects In Abia, 7 Prosecuted, Convicted

Published

10 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

The new Abia State Commandant of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Joseph Owoputi has disclosed that sixty five suspects were arrested by the Command between June and August 2025 with about 82 kilo gram of substances seized from them.

Owoputi who said his Command secured seven convictions within the period under review, disclosed twelve of the arrested suspects are currently being prosecuted.

He stated this on Wednesday, when he led a team of officials from his Command visit Abia State Governor, Alex Otti.

The new NDLEA Commandant also said thirty eight other individuals are undergoing counselling and rehabilitation in the Command’s facility.

Owoputi assured the Abia Governor that he would consolidate on the achievements recorded by his predecessor and solicited the assistance of the state government in providing them with operational vehicles for more efficient performance.

He further thanked the Abia Governor for the support he extended to the immediate past NDLEA Commandant in Abia, which he said, assisted the agency in the fight against drugs abuse and illicit drug transactions.

Responding to the new Abia NDLEA boss’ appeal, Governor Alex Otti approved two new Hilux vans for the agency and directed that NDLEA’S abandoned vehicles should be retrieved and fixed by the Abia State government.

Otti who called for tougher legislation against drug abuse and illicit drug dealers in Nigeria, lamented that drug abuse is destroying many young persons, including students.

Metro

Village Youths Capture Bandit During Midnight Attack In Benue

Published

14 hours ago

August 22, 2025

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be bandits launched an attack on Bigwa village in Mbayenge, Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, in the early hours of Tuesday, August 19, 2025.

Witnesses said the attackers invaded the community around 2 a.m., but were resisted by local youths who mobilized to defend the village.

During the confrontation, one of the bandits was overpowered and captured, while others fled with injuries.

Several youths were also said to have sustained injuries in the clash.

The captured suspect has since been handed over to security agencies for investigation.

Community members praised the courage of the youths in standing up to the attackers, but appealed to government and security forces to step up protection in the area to prevent further assaults.