Metro

Vehicular Movement Grounded In Benin As Youths Protest Law Proscribing Okaighele’s Activities

Published

3 years ago

July 30, 2021

Vehicular movement at King’s Sqaure (Ring Road), Benin City and other link roads were ground for hours, Friday, as Association of Okaighele (youth leaders) in Benin Kingdom protested law recently put in place by Edo State Government proscribing their existence.

Okaigheles in Benin are youth leaders in communities in charge of land – purchase and sales of landed properties in Benin kingdom.

Recall that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration in the state recent signed into law bill repealing the Edo State Private Property Protection Law 2017 and re-enact the Edo State Private Property Protection Law 2021.

The bill passed into law by the Edo State House of Assembly and signed by the state Governor banned the activities of Okhaighele in the state.

The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions as: ‘Governor Obaseki, you are not our spiritual father; ‘we are Okaighele to the Palace of Oba of Benin, not Government House; ‘we are proud of our King; ‘arrest and persecute any Okaighele that practice illegally’, matched to the Palace of Oba of Benin to air their grievances and later to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council.

Speaking on behalf of the youth leaders, Glory Ikponmwosa, chairman of the association said Okaigheles of Benin kingdom are not political appointees, adding that they are only loyal and subjects to the Benin Royal Stool.

“We are not politicians and we should not be treated as one because we are ready to resist any attempt to reduce our rights as traditional citizens of Benin kingdom by anyone or group of persons no matter who or what is involved,” (sic) he declared.

While declaring that they are native of Benin and cannot be intimidated or oppressed under any guise, the Chairman said the title is an age long traditional position under the Benin native laws and customs.

He posited that Edo State Government does not have business or rights to ban Okaigheles to operate in Benin kingdom under the Benin Traditional Council law of the state.

“Okaighele in the Benin kingdom is an age long traditional position under the Benin Native Laws and Customs which is over 400 years old, it is not a recent creation.

“Under the Benin Traditional Council settings, communities have leadership structures which comprise the Odionwere, the Ohen, the Okaigheles in addition to the Enogies in communities where Enogies exist.

“Edo State Government does not have any business or rights to ban Okaigheles in Benin kingdom under the Benin Traditional Council law of Edo State,” he said.

Related Topics:#Oba of Benin Obaseki Okaighele Protest

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Metro

Police Rescue Three Toddlers Locked Up In Lagos Home

Published

1 hour ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued three toddlers allegedly locked up in a room at Agodo-Egbe in the Ikotun area of the state.

According to The PUNCH, the children, which included a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four years, were locked inside for some time by one Fatimo Ganiyu said to be their grandmother.

Some members of the community who became curious about their whereabouts were said to have immediately alerted the police on Wednesday.

Following the tip-off, a team of policemen visited the scene and forced the door open, thereby leading to the discovery of the children in the room.

It was learnt that the kids were found looking malnourished, while the suspect was arrested on the spot.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident.

He said, “At about 4 pm on Wednesday, information was received at Ikotun Police Division that three children, a girl and two boys between the ages of two and four, were locked up by their grandmother, one Fatimo Ganiyu, around Agodo Egbe, Ikotun.

“The DPO immediately led a team of anti-crime detectives to the scene, and the children were rescued and taken to the station.
“They were looking malnourished and unhealthy. The suspect was arrested while the infants were transferred for proper treatment and care. The investigation is ongoing.”

Metro

Edo: NAPTIP Arrests Fake Rev. Sister For Allegedly Trafficking 38 Children

Published

2 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

The Edo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arrested a fake Reverend sister over the alleged trafficking of 38 children in Delta State.

It was gathered that the suspect, Ikejimba Maryvianney (alias Oluchi) 40 years old, and one Chidera, now at large, handed over the children to two orphanage homes under the guise of giving them better care.

The children, it was learnt, were handed over to the suspects by their parents at a farm community in Enugu-Awka camp by Monastery, Ilah, Delta State.

Maryvianney was reportedly arrested by the NAPTIP following a tip-off.

When contacted, the NAPTIP Zonal Commander in Benin, Nduka Nwanwenne, who confirmed the incident said the suspect was in custody.

He said the suspect claimed to be trained in Ghana as a Rev. sister while their headquarters is in the Philippines.

She said she came to meet the parents and persuaded them to allow their children to follow them to their orphanage homes and that they would be given better care.

He added, “To convince the parents when they were handed over the first batch of the children, he said the suspects asked two of the parents to follow them to know the two orphanage homes the children would stay’.

“32 of the children have been recovered by the agency while six who are between the ages of three and six years old are yet to be recovered

“The suspect claims that three of the six children are in Badagry while the other three are in Ogun State but later said they have been adopted by people in the East.”

He said the agency was still on the trail of the other suspect who is at large and that the suspect would be charged in court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

He warned parents to be vigilant and never trust anybody with their kids without asking fundamental questions.

Metro

JUST IN: Police Allegedly Arrest Rivers Lawmaker, Fubara Loyalist In Abuja

Published

3 hours ago

April 18, 2024

Editor

Two loyalists of the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, including the lawmaker representing the Aboada West Constituency of the state House of Assembly, Sokari Goodboy; have been arrested at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

Also arrested by the police was a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state identified as Ezebunwo Ichemati.

The duo was allegedly arrested by policemen outside the venue of the National Executive Committee meeting of the PDP in Abuja on Thursday.

In a viral video seen, a lady who claims to be a member of Fubara’s media team, said the two men were arrested on the orders of a Local Government chairman in Rivers State.

She stated, “All of us, the media team that came from Rivers State were together. The next thing – he (the LG Chairman) pointed out that they should arrest the present serving Assembly member who is representing the good people of Aboada West.

“The next thing that came up again, he started giving them instructions he attacked Ezebunwo and tore his shirt.

“We don’t even know what we are doing here because he has ordered that they should arrest all of us.”

It was gathered that the two governor’s loyalists were taken away by the security operatives.

When contacted, the Governor’s Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Jerry Omotsegunwa, confirmed the incident and called for their immediate release.

He stated, “They were there in solidarity so why should they be arrested? Going there to show solidarity, they were not the only ones.

“A lot of Governors also came there with their people and coming to picket some people on the orders of an individual is not it at all. So they should be released immediately.”

Of the present 31 lawmakers of the State House of Assembly, 27 led by the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, while the remaining four are loyal to Fubara.

Of the four, one and former factional Speaker, Edison Ehie, resigned from the state House of Assembly and was later appointed as Fubara’s Chief of Staff, following the protracted political crisis rocking the state.

The State House of Assembly has 32 constituencies, but one of the lawmakers Dinebari Loolo who represented the Khana Constituency 2, died in 2023.

However, a by-election had yet to be conducted to fill the vacant seat.

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, Adejobi Olumuyiwa picked up the call but dropped it immediately our correspondent introduced himself.

He had yet to reply to a text message sent to his mobile as of the time of filing this report on Thursday evening.