Metro

[UPDATED] Edo Guber: APC Youths, Women Take Over Secretariat, Demand Sack Of SWC

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2024

Some angry youths and women on Monday took over the All Progressives Congress Secretariat along Airport Road in Benin City, demanding sack of the State Working Committee (SWC) led by acting Chairman, Jarret Tenebe.

They alleged that some of them were bribed by an aspirant to deliver him but since they could not deliver the aspirant, they are now discrediting the exercise.

They also alleged that some of them have been bribed by some opposition parties to cause confusion in the party.

Led by the Youth Leader of the party, Tony Adun popularly known as Kabaka, the angry protesters forced their way into the offices and brought the furniture, bags of rice and other equipment and vowed to stay at the building for seven days.

The Youth Leader said: “We heard that some people collected money from the opposition and some aspirants and want to use that opportunity to destroy the party. The information that reached us is that they went to collect money from the opposition to destroy our party. They did it before, they sabotaged and betrayed us in the election.

“What we are hearing now is that because their preferred aspirant did not win, they want to destroy the party. Even if 100 persons contest in an election, only one person will emerge as the winner and one person has emerged.

“The election was conducted peacefully even when they tried to hold a parallel congress, they did not succeed. We the youths and women are saying that this is our time and a youth has emerged as the candidate of the party. We will resist any attempt to change it.

“I want to send a message to the NWC that since the SWC can disobey what the NWC wanted, they need to be suspended from the party and if that is not done, nobody will enter this secretariat again.

“We all voted with our membership cards on the day of the election and we all voted for Hon Dennis Idahosa, they are trying to sabotage our efforts but we will not allow it. It is ‘Youth o’ clock’ and that is what we have been crying for, God almighty has done it and anybody who wants to change it, we will resist it because we constitute 75 percent of the voting population here.”

Also speaking on behalf of the women, a woman leader from Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Mrs Esther Okpera said they were supporting the actions of the youths because it is the youths and women that participate in elections.

She said: “On election day, you will see women carrying their children under the sun and rain, while the men are nowhere to be found. Now, we are saying no. Look at our state secretariat, you will see bags of rice yet our women are buying one cup of rice for N400, and we are seeing the rice.

“It is the youth and women that own the election.

“Politics is about openness, when you are open to your people, they will follow you. We want to win this election in September.

“For all those that have collected dollars, they don’t care whether we win or we don’t win. We have not collected anything. All we want is to win the election.”

Contacted on the allegation, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Uwadia Igbinigie said an official reaction of the party would be made on the development at the appropriate time.

Metro

Delta Police Arrest Suspected Serial Killer

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

The Delta State police command has announced the arrest of a suspected serial killer and a prison escapee linked to multiple violent crimes in the past.

The suspect, known as Michael Ezenwai, was apprehended by the Agbor police division of the state on October 24, 2025, while he was attempting to sell a stolen phone.

Meanwhile, further checks revealed the phone belonged to a woman who was later found dead in her apartment.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to murdering her during a robbery at her residence on 23rd October 2025.

Ezenwai has been linked to multiple violent crimes, including a 2020 rape and murder case involving a university student.

Commenting on the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command, SP Bright Edafe, said the command swiftly took action after receiving a distress call.

“On the 24th of October 2025, the DPO Agbor received a complaint that one Michael Ezenwai was trying to sell a suspected stolen phone.

“The DPO swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene and immediately arrested the suspect. Upon interrogation, the suspect claimed that he brought the phone from Libya.

The DPO swiftly mobilised operatives to the scene and immediately arrested the suspect. Upon interrogation, the loop suspect claimed that he brought the phone from Libya,” she said.

Edafe said the suspect thereafter stated that he went on a robbery operation at her house on October 23, 2025, and murdered her when she refused to let go of her motorcycle keys, and also made away with her mobile phones.

He said preliminary investigation later revealed that the suspect is a serial murderer and was part of the syndicate that raped and murdered Uwaila Omorzua, a 200-level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), who was murdered in the church when she went to study in 2020.

“The suspect further stated that he escaped from the Oko correctional centre during the EndSARS 2020 jailbreak. The suspect is in custody, and the investigation is ongoing,” the spokesman stated.

The suspect is currently in custody as the police continue their investigation.

In other news, Edafe has listed some of the achievements recorded from October to date by the Delta State Police Command under the leadership of CP Olufemi Abaniwonda.

He listed the number of firearms recovered as 13, number of ammunition and cartridges recovered – 591, number of kidnapped victims rescued – five, and total number of suspects arrested – 77.

Metro

Many Killed In Ibadan Gas Explosion

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

File photo

Several people were killed on Friday night after a gas explosion rocked the Bioku-Alaadun area in Ibadan, Ona Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The explosion occurred while a tanker was discharging gas into a retail outlet. Casualties reportedly included the owner of the gas shop and others who were nearby at the time of the incident.

The General Manager of the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident, saying operatives were already on the ground working to contain the situation. He noted that while there were casualties, full details were still being compiled.

Akinyinka said: “The emergency call was reported at exactly 19:40 on Friday, November 21, 2025, through a telephone call from Pastor Oyebamiji regarding a gas tanker explosion at the above address.

“Immediately the call was received, the Agency’s personnel, led by CFS Adedeji (Mrs.), promptly responded and were deployed to the scene.

“Upon arrival, a gas tanker, Reg. No. LSR268YC, loaded with 15 tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), was transferring its contents into a gas skid tank when it exploded.

“The blast damaged two commercial buildings and a residential building. Three persons were rescued and handed over to a team of policemen from Akanran Division.

“The operation was carried out jointly with a crew of firemen from the Federal Fire Service, Ibadan Command. While the explosion sparked panic among residents, the prompt response of our officers helped contain the situation.”

The fire service chairman urged the public to always observe safety precautions when handling petroleum products, emphasizing the importance of obtaining approvals from the Fire Service, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and other relevant stakeholders before installing gas tanks or cylinders to avoid unnecessary explosions.

He assured the community that all necessary fire safety measures had been taken and that an investigation team would be dispatched to determine the root cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.

He added: “Let our people continue with their daily activities without fear. The presence of the Executive Chairman of Ona Ara Local Government, Dr. Temitope Kolapo, was highly appreciated.”

Metro

Zamfara Police Repel Bandits’ Attack, Rescue 25 Kidnapped Victims

Published

8 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Editor

The Zamfara State Police Command has revealed that its operatives repelled an attack by bandits and rescued 25 kidnapped victims on Friday night.

According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesman, DSP Yazid Abubakar, the rescued victims included 10 women and 15 of their children.

Abubakar said that the victims were kidnapped in Kuraje village of Damba area unit in Gusau Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, immediately the police received the information on the abduction, a joint team swiftly mobilised to the scene on a rescue mission.

He explained that the police and the State’s Community Protection Guards pursued the fleeing bandits and engaged them in a coordinated and fire-for-fire operation, saying that the kidnapped victims were rescued unhurt and were reunited with their families.

“On 21st November 2025 at about 21:45 hours, a group of armed bandits in large numbers, wielding dangerous weapons and firing sporadically, attacked Kuraje village in the Damba area of Gusau LGA.

“During the attack, the assailants abducted 10 women along with 15 of their children, all residents of the community.

“Upon receiving the distress call, joint police patrol teams from Damba Division and the Department of Operations, Gusau, working in collaboration with the Community Protection Guards (CPG), swiftly mobilised to the scene.

“The team confirmed the incident, pursued the fleeing bandits, and engaged them in a coordinated and strategic operation.

“Thanks to the professionalism, gallantry, and swift response of the operatives, all twenty-five (25) abducted victims were successfully rescued unhurt.

“They were immediately relocated to Sabongari Damba for safety and proper profiling. The rescued women and children have since been reunited with their families.

“The State’s Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba commended the bravery and dedication of the officers involved in the operation.”

He reassured the public of the command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state.

In other news, the police in Kebbi State have cautioned residents against embarking on any form of protest over the recent abduction of students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar Kotarkoshi, the command said it had received intelligence indicating that some groups and non-governmental organisations were planning to stage demonstrations in reaction to the incident.

Kotarkoshi noted that the current security situation in the state remains fragile and unsuitable for protests or public gatherings, warning that such actions could trigger violence and disrupt ongoing rescue operations.

“While the police acknowledge the public concern over the abduction, the command views any planned protest as misguided and counterproductive,” he said.

(Guardian)