Metro

Youths In Enugu Governor’s Community Protest alleged Land Grabbing, Others by Traditional Ruler, Ex PG

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2023

By Our Reporter

… Accuses Igwe Of Selling Their Land To Gov Mba

Youths in Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State in their numbers recently protested alleged land grabbing and other offences committed by His Royal Highness, Igwe Godwin Okeke Arum and a former President General, PG, Mr Okeke Akpu.

Owo is the community where Enugu State governor, Peter Mba hails from.

In a viral video, the youths chanting solidarity songs with placards bearing different inscriptions as: “Okeke Arum, leave Owo Kingdom alone”; “Okeke Arum mind Mburu Owo Autonomous Community”, among others went round the community to register their annoyances against the Traditional Ruler, and Akpu.

Speaking, the current President General of Owo Town Union, Prince Augustine Nnajieze, said their protest was against alleged atrocities committed by the Igwe including turning the Community Neighbourhood Watch to his personal security and thugs by which he harasses and intimidates anybody against him.

“Okeke Arum is not the Igwe of Owo, but the Igwe of Mburu Owo Autonomous Community, yet he is forcing himself on the entire community. This man has committed so much atrocities in Owo Town. He has turned the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch into his personal security and thugs. He uses the Neighborhood Watch to harass, intimidate and kill anybody who disagrees with him.

“The Owo community has no traditional ruler, but he wants everybody to come and bow to him. The very moment you don’t accept to bow before him, you become an enemy.

“Igwe Okeke Arum, sold a land that belongs to Asisi village to the governor, His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah and pocketed the money. The land was sold to the governor for 200,000,000(Two Hundred Million Naira) by the agreement of the whole community, but the man started spending the money, by constructing roads and other things without consulting the community.

“The community does not have a traditional ruler today, because of the man’s many activities. The Asisi village is in crisis because the man has been selling land that belongs to everybody. He sold the land where we have boundary with Ndiagu. If it were not for him, we don’t have any reason to be dragging land with our brothers in Ndiagu Owo.

“The former governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi once called him to leave Owo Town and mind Mburu Owo Autonomous Community, but he refused. The crisis in Ohani, Ogara and other clans over sales of community lands are from him.

“We are pleading with the Governor, His Excellency Peter Mbah to please deliver us from the hand of this man. His Excellency should please save us from the terror of this man, so that we can select the person that will be our traditional ruler by ourselves.”

Also, the people of Obeagu Ohani Owo (one of the clans that forms the Mburu-Owo Autonomous community) expressed displeasure and unwillingness to continue to be part of the Mbulu Owo Autonomous community.

Speaking, the Chairman Ohani Owo Development Association, Hon Emmanuel Egbo said that going by the “terror from the autonomous ruler, Igwe Okeke Arum, who terrorises people with his armed men and has never deem it fit to influence any little basic amenities like motorable road and electricity, which he is enjoying in his area,the people are no longer interested in being part of the autonomous community.”

He said the people were equally threatened with his divide and rule system which, according to him, “is only a ploy to weaken their strength in order to succeed in his unsearchable quest to grab the lands left behind by their ancestors.”

“What this man is doing is abominable, he is presently bulldozing people’s farmland, appropriating and selling same.

“I don’t know what he has in mind, because, he has some cronies among our people. Even, he locked the community head, and we have been on the case for sometime now.

Contacted via telephone, Igwe Okeke Arum declined comment, urging anyone who wants to know his side of the story to come to his house to interview him.

Metro

18-year-old OAU Medical Student Dies While Sleeping

Published

7 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, has announced the death of an 18-year-old part-three medical student of the institution.

The student, identified as Timilehin Adetoye Toromade, was a student of the College of Health Sciences, Department of Medicine and Surgery.

According to a statement by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, Timilehin with matriculation number CLI/2022/133, reportedly died in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

The statement revealed that the “university received the news of the student’s passing with shock and deep sorrow”.

It also described the incident as devastating to the academic community.

According to the statement, “preliminary information suggested that the student might have died shortly after 2 a.m., as one of his roommates reportedly said the deceased opened the door for another student around that time.

“The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, expressed condolences on behalf of the Visitor, the University Council, Management, Senate, staff and students”.

The VC, Professor Bamire, described the incident as a painful loss, saying, “The loss of a young life filled with promise, purpose, and potential is a tragedy that words alone cannot adequately capture.”

He added that the university community was united in grief over the passing of a student who had embraced the rigours of medical training with the aim of serving humanity.

According to him, the death had left a void among the student’s peers and all those who knew him within the university community.

The university management stated that it was working closely with relevant authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident, in line with established medical and administrative procedures.

It also disclosed that appropriate support measures were being put in place to assist students and members of the university community who may have been emotionally affected by the loss.

The management called on students, staff, alumni and friends of the institution to remain calm and compassionate, while extending sympathy to the family of the deceased.

Metro

Panic As BRT Bus Catches Fire On Third Mainland Bridge

Published

7 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Panic gripped motorists on Tuesday afternoon following a fire outbreak involving a Bus Rapid Transit, BRT, vehicle on the Third Mainland Bridge, leading to massive traffic disruption.

The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. near the Adekunle section of the bridge, heading towards Iyana Oworo.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, confirmed the development in a statement posted on its official X handle.

According to the agency, the high-capacity BRT bus suddenly went up in flames, prompting anxiety among road users in the area.

Footage shared online showed the bus completely consumed by fire, with thick plumes of smoke rising into the sky as motorists slowed down or sought alternative routes to avoid the scene.

While no injuries or loss of life were reported, the incident caused a heavy traffic buildup extending from Adekunle towards Iyana Oworo.

“A high-capacity bus is currently on fire on the Third Mainland Bridge by Adekunle, inward Iyana Oworo, and this is impacting traffic flow,” LASTMA stated.

“Our personnel are on ground managing traffic, while efforts are ongoing to extinguish the fire,” the agency added.

Subsequent updates indicated that officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived at the scene and worked to control the blaze to prevent further damage.

Traffic officers were also deployed to redirect vehicles away from the affected area as emergency responders tackled the situation.

As of the time this report was filed, the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.

Metro

Kwara Vigilante Men Arrested By Soldiers In Edo State Released

Published

10 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Editor

Six Kwara State vigilante men arrested by the Nigerian Army on December 31,2025, along Auchi-Ikpeshi highway in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, have been released after a thorough investigation by the authorities.

Spokesperson of the state police command, SP Adetoun Ejire Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement in Ilorin on Tuesday.

The statement read in part; “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to confirm that on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025, it received six vigilante members who were earlier arrested by personnel of the Nigerian Army along the Auchi–Ikpeshi Road in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

“The Vigilantes, travelling in a vehicle belonging to Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, were formally handed over to the Kwara State Police Command by the Brigade Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Barracks, Ilorin, Brigadier General N.N. Rume, for the purpose of investigation and profiling.

“Following a thorough investigation, it was established that the individuals are legitimate members of a vigilante group operating in collaboration with recognised security agencies in the ongoing efforts to combat banditry and other forms of criminality.

“Consequently, having been exonerated of any criminal wrongdoing, the vigilante members were released to their respective leaders,” the statement added.

The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, reiterated the command’s commitment to synergy among security agencies and community-based security outfits, while urging all groups to continually operate within the confines of the law.

He assured members of the public that the command remains steadfast in its resolve to ensure the safety and security of all residents of the state.