Chaos erupted on Tuesday morning at the ever-busy Oba Ovonramwen Square, popularly known as Ring Road in Benin City, Edo State, as market women from Oba Market staged a protest against an eviction notice issued by the state government ahead of planned renovation work on the fire-ravaged section of the market.

The women blocked the major road, causing heavy gridlock and forcing traffic to be diverted to adjoining streets.

Their protesters later moved to the Edo State House of Assembly, where they sought government intervention.

Oba Market was among five markets gutted by fire at the wake of the 2020 governorship election in Edo State.

The immediate past governor, Godwin Obaseki, had promised to rebuild the affected markets, a pledge that was not fulfilled, leaving the burnt portions to deteriorate into waste dumps.

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However, Governor Monday Okpebholo, during a recent visit to the market, vowed to rebuild the gutted areas.

Following his visit, the market women were issued a two-month notice to vacate the premises for renovation.

Speaking during the protest, Mrs. Florence Eweka, said the women were taken by surprise by the sudden directive for all traders to leave the market.

According to her, “the problem was that they announced that they want to rebuild the gutted part of the market close to Bob Izua Park.

“They have started working on it, but they just announced that all the market women should leave the market. Where do you want them to go? There should be a preparation to where to go before you send them out.

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“The Ekiosa Market they are rebuilding has not been completed yet. Those ones are in trouble, they are stranded, where do you want us to go? Prepare a place for them before moving them out of this place,” She said.

Another trader, Mrs. Mary Okosun, who operates four shops with six employees, also questioned where she was expected to relocate.

“I have four shops in the market, with six workers, where do you want me to take those wares to? How do you want those persons to feed from? They are asking us to leave here by the end of January.

“Where do they want us to pack? If they want us to pack, they should make provisions for us. Those in other markets are stranded; where do they want us to pack?” she said.

Addressing the protesters, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, appealed for calm, assuring the women that their concerns would be conveyed to Governor Okpebholo.

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He said the governor’s intention was to rebuild the market for the benefit of the traders.

“We are your representatives, and any problem that is brought before us here will be sorted out. The governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, meant well for that your market, because those areas gutted by fire have been turned into toilets. He wants to renovate the market. But you are saying that not all the markets were gutted.

“So we are going to pass the information to him. The area that was burned down will be first rebuilt, then you people will move in there, then the other parts will be rebuilt. The governor wants a better market for you all,” he said.

The Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ethiope East Local Council, Delta State, Mr Ese Idisi, murdered.

Idisi was killed by unidentified assailants in the Okpara Waterside community, a development that has sent shockwaves through political and community circles.

The killing has sparked outrage and deep concern within the APC in Delta State.

The party, in a strongly worded statement, described Idisi’s death as a “brutal and condemnable killing” that has devastated its state chapter.

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In the statement, the APC State Publicity Secretary, Mr Valentine Onojeghuo, called on security agencies to conduct a “thorough, uncompromising, and professional investigation” into what he described as a “cruel and senseless murder.”

He insisted that “the perpetrators, sponsors, and anyone connected to this heinous act must be identified, apprehended, and brought to justice without delay. Nothing short of a full-scale investigation will suffice in the prevailing circumstances.”

The party extended its condolences to Idisi’s family, describing him as a loyal, committed, and dependable party stalwart whose death had created a painful void in his community and within APC’s Ethiope East Ward 4.

“His death is not just a loss; it is a heavy blow that has plunged the Party into mourning,” he added.

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The spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident.

He said the command received a report of the killing and had opened an investigation.

“We got a report that he was murdered and we are presently investigating,” Edafe said, adding that details surrounding the incident remained unclear as of press time.

Imo State Police Command has concluded arrangements for the arraignment of five men who brutalised a woman, Mrs. Ndudiamaka Agu, in Emekuku, Owerri North Local Government Area of the state.

A viral video, which has been circulating for more than a week, shows how the men allegedly manhandled the woman, including lifting and throwing her heavily against a building wall, leading to public outcry.

The men were said to have approached Agu unexpectedly in her marital home and attacked her because she was suspected of cooperating with some policemen during their visit to carry out an investigation in the community.

In a statement issued on Monday evening, the spokesperson for the command, Henry Okoye, regretted that one of the men had run away, stating that the police were in pursuit of him to arrest him.

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The statement disclosed that the Commissioner of Police (CP), Aboki Danjuma, had assured that justice would be served in the matter.

Okoye, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said: “The Imo State Police Command wishes to provide an update on the investigation ordered by the Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma, into the viral video showing Mrs. Agu Ndididamaka being assaulted in Emekuku, Owerri North LGA. In furtherance of the CP’s directive for swift action, operatives of the X-Squad Unit have arrested five suspects linked to the barbaric assault.”

The arrested suspects are Onyekachi Njoku, 40 years ‘m’; Chiazor Osuji, 45 years ‘m’; Chukwuma Iwuala, 46 years ‘m’; Eugene Njoku, ‘m’; Njoku Emmanuel, 35 years ‘m’ all of Uboegbelu in Emekuku in Owerri North LGA.”

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) disclosed, “All five suspects have made confessional statements admitting their roles in the attack.”

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“Meanwhile, the sixth suspect, identified as Onyedikachi Njoku, is still at large, and operatives are intensifying efforts to apprehend him.”

On the extent reached to take the suspects to the court, he explained: “The Commissioner of Police condemns the assault in its entirety and reaffirms that intimidation of citizens who lawfully cooperate with the Police will not be tolerated. The arrested suspects will be arraigned in court soon with the appropriate criminal charges.”

The Guardian recalled that soon after the men assaulted Agu, many Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) took up the matter, escalating that the suspects must be apprehended, arraigned, and justice served.