Metro

‘We’d Always Been Victims’ – Gbelemotin Indigenes Clear The Air On Clash With Cocoa Farmer

Published

8 months ago

March 2, 2025

The people of the agrarian community of Gbelemotin in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State, have absolved themselves of blame in the recent killings in the area.

Recall that a clash between some migrant cocoa farmers and Izon boys accused of stealing farm produce in the area claimed lives and properties worth millions were burnt.

Also recall that the Edo State Command had, while confirming the clash, said that five people lost their lives in the clash that also led to the burning of houses and other property .

The Command’s spokesman, Moses Yamu, assured that the Command was on the trail of the perpetrators and would bring all of them to book.

A statement issued by Gbelemotin community on Sunday, and signed by Karaem Evimibowei,
claimed that the indigenes of the community had always been victims of the migrant Yoruba cocoa farmers, who, they said had many years ago encroached their land to plant cocoa.

In the statement made available to journalists in Benin on Sunday the community added that the migrant cocoa farmers, as a way of settlement, agreed to pay a token to the Gbelemotin community for planting their cash crops.

The community alleged that over time, the Yoruba migrant cocoa farmers formed the habit of attacking their youths through a vigilante group they set up.

The statement stressed that the harassment of the Gbelemotin indigenes continued because the farmers appeared to have the backing of some powerful people in the government.

The statement, which chronicled how they had been harassed over the years, stated that over time, the Yoruba farmers began expanding beyond the original areas they were allowed to plant, thereby encroaching on the free uncultivated lands reserved for Ijaw communities

Tension grew in the community when the Yoruba farmers started accusing the Ijaw farmers of stealing their cocoa, an allegation the community denied.

“They went further to prevent indigenes of Gbelemotin from passing through the roads and footpaths leading to other Ijaw communities”, the statement added

It stated that many of the indigenes were labelled as thieves, beaten up and injured, just as women were not also spared in those attacks.

The community also alleged that the migrant farmers formed a vigilante group headed by one Igbala, which they had been using to enforce their plans against the indigenes.

The statement reads: “The situation took a deadly turn last year when a young Ijaw man, a married man and father of children, was murdered by the vigilante group while returning from a funeral in Jide Village.

“When an eyewitness of that incident accompanied a delegation from one of the communities went to the police to report the killing and seek justice, he was unjustly arrested on false charges, further confirming that the authorities were not on our side.”

Ebimobobowei claimed that not long after that, an Urhobo youth who climbed to harvest wild palm trees was shot dead by a vigilante and the matter was allegedly swept under the carpet by the police.

The statement said that what caused the latest killings was that Ijaw youths went to rescue their people when they heard they were attacked and in the process, they were ambushed agan by the cocoa farmers and their vigilante

“When news of the attack reached the village, the youth were outraged; they mobilised to search for their missing brothers, hoping to rescue some that may have survived the onslaught.

“While searching the bushes, they were ambushed again by the vigilante group. However, they managed to fight back and successfully rescued two seriously wounded victims who had been left for dead.

“At the end we lost four of our youth, two of whose bodies were taken away by the murderous and escaping vigilantes led by an Ikale man named Igbala who happened to be the Head of the Vigilantes. Several other youth of Gbelemotin returned with gunshot injuries.

“It is necessary to point out that this same Igbala is fond of using his powers as a vigilante to harass both women and youth as they move daily on the earth’s roads”.

Ebimobobowei said the narrative being spread by the cocoa farmers portraying the Gbelemotin indigenes as the aggressors was not true and urged the government and security agencies to carry out a thorough investigation, insisting that as Ijaw, they “have the right to live peacefully and work in their homeland.”

Metro

Two Children Die In Separate Well Tragedies In Kano

Published

14 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Tragedy struck in two communities in Kano when two children lost their lives in separate well incidents.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incidents in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, ACFO Saminu Yusif Abdullahi. A copy of the statement was made available to the press on Wednesday in Kano.

According to the statement, both incidents occurred in the Dawakin Tofa and Dala local government areas of the state.

According to the statement, “The first incident took place on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at about 8:53 a.m. in Kashirmo Village, Sarkakiya, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area. An eight-year-old girl identified as Zara’u Muhammad reportedly fell into a well while playing”.

However, residents of the area made desperate efforts to rescue the child before the arrival of firefighters, but were unsuccessful due to the depth of the well and the high level of water inside.

Metro

ICPC Arraigns Woman For Forging Marriage Certificate, Visa Fraud

Published

14 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before Justice Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, for allegedly forging a marriage certificate and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps to fraudulently obtain a United Kingdom (UK) visa.

The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, followed a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25 Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).

According to the charge sheet, the offences were committed around 2019 within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The ICPC prosecution team alleged that the defendant forged a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by a Nigerian marriage registry, and used it to support her UK visa application.

The Commission also accused Ms. Ojo of forging entry and exit stamps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on her international passport, presenting them as genuine to strengthen her visa application.

These actions, according to the charge sheet, contravene Sections 363 and 366 and are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which deal with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”

When the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all four counts. She was represented by her counsel, C.A. Owo Ekele.

Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi of ICPC, informed the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and requested a date for hearing, while the defence counsel applied for bail on liberal terms.

After listening to both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum. One surety must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the second must be a resident of Abuja with a family and possess landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within the FCT.

The second surety is also required to attach copies of his or her passport and C of O to the bail documents for verification.

Justice Akobi further ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

In a statement on Wednesday, ICPC’s spokesperson and Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, said the Commission will continue to collaborate with relevant embassies and international partners to curb visa-related fraud and bring offenders to justice.

Metro

Abductors Kill Seminary, Free One In Edo

Published

16 hours ago

November 5, 2025

Editor

Kidnappers have killed Emmanuel Alabi a seminary of Immaculate Conception Minor, Ivianokpodi, Estako East Local Government Area, 95 days after he was abducted.

Late Alabi and two other seminaries, Japhet Jesse and Joshua Aleobua, were abducted on July 10, 2025.

In June this year, Peter Andrew, from the same Ivianokpodi seminary was abducted and killed.

Jesse escaped and regained freedom but others remained with the kidnappers.

Their plea for freedom and rescue did not yield any results even as the kidnappers placed them among their previous dead victims.

Aleobua regained freedom on November 4th but Alabi was shot dead while attempting to escape.

A statement by the Catholic Diocese of Auchi and signed by the Assistant Director of Communications, Fr. Linus Imoedemhe, was silent on how Alabi died.

The statement said Bishop of the Diocese of Auchi, Most Rev. Gabriel Dunia, expressed deep pain and sorrow over the loss of the young seminarian.

It said Bishop Dunia called on security agencies to intensify efforts toward protecting the lives and property of all citizens and cautioned political leaders against turning a blind eye on the worsening insecurity situation in the nation.

Bishop Dunia urged them to prioritize the safety and well-being of the people over political ambitions ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to the statement, “The Catholic Diocese of Auchi invites all the faithful and people of goodwill to join us in praying for the repose of the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and for the peace, healing, and security of our people and land.

“The Diocese of Auchi remains committed to the values of faith, peace, and justice, trusting in God’s infinite mercy to bring comfort to the bereaved family, the seminary community, and all those affected by this tragedy.

“May the soul of Emmanuel Alabi, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”