Metro

Two Feared Dead As Itsekiri/Benins Clash Over Development Levy In Edo

Published

5 years ago

March 6, 2020

Two persons were said to have died while several others injured in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State as a result of a clash between Itsekiri and Benin youths in oil-rich Ologbo community.

The entire community was deserted when journalists visited the community Friday as soldiers were sighted patrolling the place. Commercial activities were paralysed as hostilities resumed following reprisal attacks on some Itsekiri youths.

According to Vanguard, the busy streets in the community, including the market were empty and shops were locked up as the town was devoid of any human activities.

As at the time of the visit, many residents locked themselves indoors while others were said to have temporarily relocated to neighbouring villages.

But the leader of the Itsekiri in the area, Chief Johnson Atseleghe, the Iyatsere of Warri, blamed boys loyal to the Enogie (Duke) of Ologbo as the cause of the crisis.

Vanguard quoted him saying, “The cause of this latest clash is caused by the Enogie of Ologbo boys. Somebody was laying a foundation for a building and some boys led by Osazuwa went there to collect ‘deve’.

“The man said he has N30,000 but they refused and demanded N100,000. The man is my in-law. My son went there and offered additional N20,000 but They still refused. Before they knew what was happening, they shot my son and two others.

“One of the boys they shot is a big shot in eiye confraternity. It now escalated to a cult war. A lot of people are now in hospital. The police has intervened. We signed a peace accord. The Commissioner of Police told us to address our people. I came but the Enogie did not come.

“After the peace accord, we came and got report that they have destroyed some Itsekiri houses in town. They burnt their property. The major problem we are having is the Enogie boys. They used the palace as refuge. We begged the Enogie to ask the boys to leave the Palace.

“The fight in Enogie palace is cult fight. It is not our boys. Our boys going to work today were attacked. If he used his palace as place for cultists, the other rival group will come there to attack.”

Councillor representing Ologbo in Ikpoba-Okha, Felix Edogiawere, said steps have been taken to curb the crisis with the move to arresting key players in the crisis.

“It was one Osazuwa that went to collect development money. He went to where they were building a house and demanded money. That was how the fight started. Prince Johnson’s son, Giwa went to asked Osazuwa why he went to demand money.

“There was no attack at the Enogie Palace. They shot one boy. He is dead now. They went to attack another man and used a machete to inflict injuries on him.”

A visit to the palace of the Enogie showed a deserted palace with some youths sitting around the premises where some of them said they were not cultists but free borns of Ologbo community.

(VANGUARD)

PHOTO: File

Metro

Armed Bandits Attack Mopol Camp, Cart Away Rifles In Kebbi

Published

12 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

Kebbi State Government has confirmed that a group of armed bandits attacked a Mobile Police post in Makuku, located in the Zuru Local Government Area, and made away with an undisclosed number of rifles.

The Director of Security at the Cabinet Office, Abdulrahman Zagga, disclosed this to journalists in Bagudo Local Government Area on Saturday.

According to Zagga, the mobile police post, which was manned by visiting officers, came under heavy attack from a large group of bandits numbering in the hundreds. Despite engaging the attackers in a fierce gun battle, the officers were ultimately overpowered.

“The bandits burnt a Toyota Hilux patrol vehicle belonging to the unit and escaped with an undisclosed number of rifles,” he stated.

Zagga clarified that it was not a police station that was attacked, as some reports claimed, but a temporary mobile police post. He added that the mobile police officers were forced to withdraw due to the overwhelming number of assailants.

He further revealed that upon learning of the attack, the state government requested air support from the Nigerian Air Force, which helped force the bandits to retreat.

“No casualties were recorded during the incident,” Zagga said. “Most of the bandits infiltrated from neighbouring Zamfara and Niger States.”

He explained that Makuku village shares a border with Niger State, making it vulnerable to such attacks.

Zagga also emphasised that, unlike some neighbouring states, Kebbi State has no peace agreements with any bandit groups or their leaders.

He pointed out that informants remain a major obstacle in the fight against banditry and noted that attacks tend to intensify during the rainy season due to extortion tactics used against farming communities.

“Once they demand money from a community and it is paid, the bandits may temporarily leave that community alone. But once the money runs out, they move on to another community to extort. That’s why many communities remain in constant fear,” he added.

However, Kebbi State Command Police image maker, CSP, Nafiu Abubakar, could not be reached for comment as of the time of filing this report.

Metro

I Will Not Move Out Of My Husband’s House, Divorced Woman Tells Court

Published

23 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

A mother of six, Latinate Sanusi, has told a Shari’a court in Magajin Gari, Kaduna, Kaduna State, that she cannot leave her former husband’s house after three pronouncement of divorce.

Latinate stated this in response to Abdulrazak Yunusa’s prayer to confirm the three pronouncement of divorce he made to her and compel her to leave his house.

“My children are all girls and I intend to stay so that I can take care of them; after all he does not provide most of their needs,” she said.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the complainant told the court that he takes care of his family adding that he divorced her because she was not submissive.

The judge, Malam Kabir Muhammad after listening to both parties confirmed the three pronouncement of divorce between the couple.

He explained that there was no marriage between the couple until the woman remarries.

“What is before me is a suit on confirmation of divorce; the issue of children custody can be filed as a fresh case,” he said.

Metro

Court Dissolves Marriage On Couple’s Agreement

Published

23 hours ago

June 28, 2025

Editor

An Area Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the Islamic marriage between one Mujidat Abdullahi and Muyideen Raji based on mutual agreement.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the presiding judge, Toyin Aluko, in his ruling said that the husband sent a letter to the court, saying that he has agreed to the divorce application of his wife.

Aluko said that since the two parties have agreed to divorce, there was no need to prolong the case.

He added that marriage should not be forced on anyone.

Aluko, therefore, dissolved their marriage and awarded custody of the only child of their marriage to the wife, due to the child’s young age.

The court ordered that the woman should observe the iddah (waiting) period before she could remarry again.

It also ordered that a copy of the ruling be made available to the husband.

Raji was ordered to pay the sum of N10,000 monthly for the child’s feeding and upkeep.

He was also granted the opportunity to have unlimited access to the child, but at a reasonable time.

Earlier, the wife had told the court that she was tired of the marriage due to lack of love and care, adding that she wanted divorce.