Metro

Vehicular, Human Movements Grounded In Benin As Pensioners Protest Non Payment Of Gratuities

Published

4 years ago

March 16, 2022

Editor

Vehicular and human movements were on Wednesday grounded at the ever-busy Oba Ovonramwen square popularly called Ring Road

as Edo State pensioners protested the non payment of gratuities between 2008 and 2012.

The blockade of the road by the pensioners resulted to heavy gridlock in major roads and adjoining streets such as Mission Road, Forestry Road, Sapele Road, Sakponba Road, Ekehuan Road, Uselu-Ugbowo axis and Airport Road linking the city centre.

The protest forced commuters to spend a major part of the day waiting for the pensioners to leave the routes while passengers had to alight from vehicles and trekked longer hours to get to their terminal point.

The retirees, drawn from the state and local government council, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Six years of this government no pensioner has been paid gratuity, pay us consequential adjustment base of 2019 minimum wage, save pensioners from avoidable death, pay us our gratuities, enough is enough,pay us our recent age increment,

The senior citizens who said they retired between 2008 and 2013 and served the governments diligently, said they should be duly compensated with their retirement benefits.

According to the retirees, state pensioners who retired from service in the year 2012 and 2013 were screened in April 2017 and their gratuity papers known as Yellow Paper were collected from them, adding that these set of pensioners are yet to be paid while some of the them have even passed away.

“Since 2008 to date local government pensioners have not been paid their gratuity. In addition to the above, majority of them have also not been paid their pension arrears”, they said.

Speaking, Marcus Afekhatse who retired in 2014, lamented that his gratuity has not been paid after eight years of retirement and it has made it difficult for him to cater for his family.

“Three groups are on the road today. Our colleagues in local government who retired in 2008 and has not been paid gratuity till date are here.

“At the state level, pensioners who retired since 2012 and have not been paid gratuity are also here while others are members still receiving pitiable sum such as N2000, N4000 as monthly pension since they retired over 20 years ago”, he added.

He claimed that the Permanent Secretaries that recently retired have been paid their gratuities at the expense of the lower cadre that have retired several years ago.

On her part, Josephine Aisagbovomwan, another pensioner, said the protest was to draw the attention of the world to their plights so that the state government can pay their gratuities.

Aisagbovomwan, who retired in 2017, said she is yet to get her gratuity, lamenting that she served the state for 35 years diligently only to be denied of her gratuity by the government she served faithfully.

Meanwhile, the Edo State government has assured pensioners that modalities are being put in place to offset the arrears of their gratuities.

Philip Shaibu, deputy governor of Edo State, gave the assurance while addressing protesting pensioners.

Shaibu, who pleaded with the pensioners to give the government time to resolve the issue, said it would be resolved.

Metro

Ex-convict Arrested In Edo For Armed Robbery, Possession Of Firearm

Published

43 minutes ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) has arrested a 45-year-old ex-convict, Owen Osas, for alleged unlawful possession of firearms and suspected involvement in a robbery incident.

Osas was reportedly arrested with a cut-to-size single-barrel gun during a covert operation along Fishpond Road in Eyean, Uhunmwonde Local Government Area.

The arrest reportedly comes barely a year after he was released from prison, where he had served time for illegal possession of firearms and other criminal offences.

Osas, who confessed to the latest crime, also admitted to being a member of the Eiye Confraternity.

READ ALSO:Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo
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Consequently, a victim of an alleged robbery incident, Reginia Izy, identified Osas as the person who robbed her a day before his arrest.
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The victim narrated that the suspect had approached her residence around 8 p.m., pretending to be familiar before carrying out the attack.
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‎The Deputy Commander Operations of ESSC, Richard Balogun, said the arrest was part of intensified efforts to rid Edo State of criminal elements.

READ ALSO:Edo South Senatorial Seat: Nothing Wrong Seeking Wike’s Support – Ogbeide-Ihama
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‎Balogun explained that operatives conduct both overt patrols and covert operations to track and apprehend suspects.
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He said, ‎“Our men are always on patrol. Some operate in plain clothes as part of covert strategies, while others are stationed at strategic locations.

“Osas, who is a former convict, was arrested with firearms and he also confessed to be a member of the Eiye Confraternity.”
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Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.