Metro

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

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2023

Editor

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

Court Jails Football Coach For Sodomising Minor Player

Published

8 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

A Kano State High Court has sentenced a football coach, Hayatu Muhammad, to eight years in prison for sodomising one of his underage players.

The presiding judge, Justice Musa Dahuru Muhammad, delivered the judgment on Wednesday, sentencing Hayatu without the option of a fine.

According to the prosecution, the coach, who lives in Sanka area of Kano metropolis, committed the offence twice in different locations. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges.

To prove the case beyond reasonable doubt, the state counsel, Barrister Ibrahim Arif Garba, presented five witnesses who testified against the defendant.

In his defense, Hayatu took the witness stand alone.

The prosecution stated that his action violated Section 284 of the Penal Code Law, which criminalises sodomy.

After reviewing all the evidence and witness statements, Justice Dahuru ruled that the prosecution had successfully proved the case.

He sentenced Hayatu to four years in prison on each of the two counts, to run concurrently — meaning he will serve a total of eight years starting from the day of the judgment.

Metro

Lagos Fire Service Rescues Woman From 60-foot Well In Ikorodu

Published

9 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has saved a 32-year-old woman who accidentally fell into an uncovered well approximately 60 feet deep at No. 14 Mustapha Bolatiwa Street, off Agric Bus Stop, in the Ikorodu area of the state.

The incident, which drew a large crowd of onlookers, was described by residents as “nothing short of a miracle.”

Eyewitnesses said the woman, whose identity had not been immediately confirmed, reportedly wandered from a nearby compound and was seated on the edge of the well before losing balance and falling in.

Following a distress call, operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived swiftly and launched a well-coordinated rescue operation.

Confirming the incident, the Director of the agency, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said the woman was pulled out alive after a tense and delicate rescue effort.

“She was immediately stabilised and transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care,” Adeseye said.

She cautioned residents to ensure all open wells and similar structures are securely covered to prevent avoidable accidents.

Adeseye also praised the professionalism and prompt response of her team, reaffirming the agency’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across Lagos State.

Metro

DSS Arrests Two Dismissed Officers Over Impersonation, Fraud

Published

9 hours ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested two dismissed officers, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, accused of impersonating the Service to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

The DSS, in a statement issued on Wednesday, confirmed that both individuals, earlier declared wanted in separate public warnings, have been arrested and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“The Department of State Services recently issued disclaimers on two dismissed personnel of the Service, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin. These individuals were alleged to be cloaking under the Service to engage in fraudulent activities.

“The public is hereby notified that these culprits have been apprehended and will face prosecution in accordance with the law,” the Service said.

This comes after a series of alerts by the DSS warning Nigerians against dealing with the former officers dismissed for misconduct but still parading themselves as active operatives.

Recall that the secret police had raised the alarm over the activities of Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, accusing him of using the DSS name to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

In the same vein, on October 8, a separate statement was issued concerning Barry Donald, another dismissed officer alleged to be impersonating the agency for fraudulent purposes.

The DSS said it remains committed to protecting Nigerians from impostors and maintaining public trust in the Service. It also revealed plans to publish the names of other previously dismissed personnel to prevent citizens from falling victim to similar schemes.

The DSS urged members of the public to verify all official engagements through its verified communication channels and to report any suspicious activities involving persons claiming to represent the Service.