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Tipper Drivers Block Major Routes In Benin, Protest Killing Of Colleague By DSS [PHOTOS]

Published

3 years ago

January 18, 2022

Tipper Drivers Block Major Routes In Benin, Protest Killing Of Colleague By DSS [PHOTOS]

The ancient city of Benin was thrown into confusion on Tuesday as tipper drivers in their hundreds blocked major roads, protesting the killing of one of their members by personnel of the Department of State Security. (DSS)

The blockade which was still on as at the time of filing this report, subjected residents going to Sapele Road and the GRA axis to trek far distance to beat the blockade before they could get vehicle going to their destinations.

The DSS operatives were said to be in two cars moving to theTipper Garage, Ikpoba Slope on one way traffic owing to an articulated vehicle which blocked the other lane.

While the tipper drivers were trying to regulate the traffic, unknown to them the second vehicle (Audi) was also occupied by DSS operatives.

According to Comrade Austin Uhuagho, Chairman of the Tipper Driver Association, Edo State, the DSS operatives were coming from an operation and when they saw that the road was blocked, they took one way and when the drivers identified the first vehicle as one occupied by the operatives, they allowed them to go, and asked an unmarked Audi to go back, this made the operatives to get angry and on getting down, they unleashed terror on the drivers and shot one dead there.

“This morning, there was traffic, and as usual when there is traffic, our people make sure the road is free, so the DSS vehicles were passing one way, so when the drivers found out they were DSS operatives, they asked the cars to pass, so the second one that was (an Audi) was refused passage and they asked him to go back, not knowing that it was them (DSS) that was inside the Audi.

“The drivers thinking that the car was a passenger car asked him to go back. The operative came out from the vehicle and punched the driver on the face, and his was face was covered with blood, and there he was shot dead, so when the drivers saw that their person was down they went mad, at the process, and that made the operatives to call for reinforcement, and when they came they started shooting randomly at everybody in our office, this made many to be injured,” he said.

The drivers took hundreds of their tippers to the DSS office blocking the entrance where the State Police Command and other security agencies are situated in Benin

Reacting, the Department of State Services (DSS) said the Service in a bid to free arrested kidnappers in Ikpoba Slope in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, were confronted by some hoodlums who wanted to free the kidnappers.

“We arrested three of their men who are involved in kidnapping and they decided to lay siege on us at the popular Tipper Garage by the Tenboga Junction to free them.

“The hoodlums, upon sighting the DSS operatives, pounced on them with guns and various dangerous weapons, at the process, our operatives sustained vary degrees of injuries from the attack while their vehicles were also damaged,” the source said.

Related Topics:#Benin DSS Tipper Drivers

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Metro

NDLEA Destroys Cannabis Farms, Arrests 39 Suspects In Edo

Published

10 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

10 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

10 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.