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Tag: Edo State

  • Nine arrested in Edo for cultism

    Nine arrested in Edo for cultism

    Operatives of the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, have arrested seven suspectsd cultists at Iguoshodin N’ Ikpemaba, Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Cache of firearms recovered included two baretta pistols, two cut-to-size double-barrel guns and AK-47 ammunition.

    Coordinator of the Squad, Idemudia Noah, said the operation was conducted, in collaboration with security agencies and community stakeholders, after credible intelligence was received from residents.

    Idemudia said the operation was in response to distress calls that cult groups were terrorising residents.

    He said the arms and ammunition were recovered from a building allegedly belonging to the Okaighele of Omi, Mr. Osazuwa Igbineweka.

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     “Prior to this operation, we had received multiple reports that cult members were causing serious unrest in Omi. Our raid not only led to their arrest but also exposed the dangerous weapons they used to perpetrate crime,” Noah added.

    The coordinator also said preliminary investigations point to the suspects being members of the Eiye Confraternity, a cult group notorious for violent clashes and criminal activities across several Edo communities.

    “From intelligence gathered and from the relief expressed by residents, it is clear that some of those arrested belong to the Eiye cult group. Their arrest has restored confidence among the people who are pleased to see decisive action being taken.

    “Among the weapons recovered were Baretta pistols, cut-to-size double-barrel shotguns, and AK-47 ammunition, all of which point to the extent of the threat posed by these individuals,” he explained.

    He reaffirmed commitment of the team to flush out cultism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

  • Nine suspected cultists arrested in Edo

    Nine suspected cultists arrested in Edo

    Operatives of the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, have arrested seven suspected cultists at Iguoshodin N’ Ikpemaba, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

    Cache of firearms recovered included two baretta pistols, two cut-to-size double-barrel guns and live AK-47 ammunition.

    Coordinator of the Squad, Idemudia Noah, said the operation was conducted in collaboration with security agencies and community stakeholders after credible intelligence was received from residents.

    Idemudia said the operation was in response to distress calls that cult groups were terrorizing residents. 

    He said the arms and ammunition were recovered from a building allegedly belonging to the Okaighele of Omi, Mr. Osazuwa Igbineweka.

    According to him, “Prior to this operation, we had received multiple reports that cult members were causing serious unrest in Omi. Our raid not only led to their arrest but also exposed the dangerous weapons they used to perpetrate crime,” Noah added.

    Read Also: Why we sacked consultant, by Edo SUBEB chairman

    The Coordinator further revealed that preliminary investigations point to the suspects being members of the Eiye confraternity, a cult group notorious for violent clashes and criminal activities across several Edo communities.

    “From intelligence gathered and from the relief expressed by residents, it is clear that some of those arrested belong to the Eiye cult group. Their arrest has restored confidence among the people who are pleased to see decisive action being taken.

    “Among the weapons recovered were Baretta pistols, cut-to-size double-barrel shotguns, and AK-47 ammunition, all of which point to the extent of the threat posed by these individuals,” he explained.

    He reaffirmed commitment of the team to flush out cultism, kidnapping, and other violent crimes.

  • Why we sacked education consultant, by Edo SUBEB boss

    Why we sacked education consultant, by Edo SUBEB boss

    Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Hon. Ebanehita Sonia Omonzane, has explained why the education consultant engaged before her appointment was sacked.

    Hon Ebanehita said the consultant refused her access to the contents developed to teaching pupils in public schools.

    She said she discovered that examples used to teach children were alien to Edo people culture.

    Speaking in an interview in Benin City, the Edo SUBEB boss stated that several meetings held with the consultant showed their contents were not in line with the Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration.

    Hon Ebanehita said Okpebholo has paid the UBEC counterpart funding and that plans were to renovate 100 public primary schools across the state.

    She, however, expressed worry over activities of vandals in the public schools.

    According to her, “I met a consultant who was running affairs of the board. I tried to look into what they have done so far. At leat, let me see wat they have done or what they are really working on.

    “I was told I don’t have access or right to view what they are teaching because of the agreement they had. It is only them that have right to their contents. I had several meetings with them but the meeting did not go well with our vision for Edo children. I had to disengage them.

    “We want all Edo children to have quality education when it comes to learning but sometimes when you are giving back to the society you should be able to know the culture and the society you are working with.

    Read Also: Edo SUBEB boss gifts UNIBEN best graduate N1m

    “I learnt that examples they were using wasn’t from our own culture. It was a different culture from Kenya. We were able to disengage them. We have to set up our team. We have to work with the Edos. We have to use Edo to teach the Edo children. We have many intelligent people in our system that we are using now.”

    On the issue of vandalization of public schools, Hon Ebanehita said the plan was to deploy security personnel to the schools.

    “We are looking out to renovate 100 schools. Monday Okpebholo is the first Governor to declare a state of emergency in education. We have a lot of renovation to do.

    “We have a bigger challenge of vandalization that is on in all our schools but the Governor is working on improving security in the schools. With that we will have better security in our schools. You will see the difference within a short time.”

  • Tension as Ajaero set to inaugurate Edo NLC caretaker committee

    Tension as Ajaero set to inaugurate Edo NLC caretaker committee

    Affiliates of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State are currently divided over the planned inauguration of a caretaker committee to oversee affairs of the union in the state.

    There are fears that the NLC might snowball into a crisis following the rejection of the Committee by the Edo NLC Chairman, Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide.

    The Caretaker Committee is to be headed by the Chairman of the Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Monday Igbafen.

    Meanwhile, the Comrade Adams Labour House in Benin City, venue of the inauguration, has been placed under lock and key.

    The Edo House of Assembly at its Tuesday plenary said Ajaero’s imposition of a leadership on the state chapter of the NLC was capable of breaching peace in the state.

    It asked Ajaero to work with Comrade Eguakhide, whom the Edo workers preferred.

    The Assembly passed a resolution calling on Comrade Ajaero to shelve the proposed leadership change of the NLC Exco in the state.

     Majority leader, Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu, who moved the motion, said there is a harmonious labour force devoid of strife under the leadership of Comrade Eguakhide.

    Acting National Secretary of the NLC, Benson Upah, in a statement, accused the Edo State government of trying to frustrate its efforts to inaugurate the caretaker committee.

    Read Also: Labour crisis: Edo NLC rejects Ajaero’s caretaker committee

    He said the keys to the NLC secretariat have not been released to its team.

    Upah said its decision was in line with labour law and global practices.

    He explained that the circumstances leading to the dissolution of the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress were opened.

    “They were preceded by efforts by a joint committee comprising leading lights from the Congress and the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment; Dr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi.

    “With the inauguration of the caretaker committee scheduled for Thursday, August, 28, 2025 in Benin City to which the government was invited, the key to the NLC Secretariat in Benin City has not only been seized by government, threats have been issued to members of the caretaker committee and those assigned by Congress to inaugurate them.”

  • Edo APC suspends Okpebholo’s aide

    Edo APC suspends Okpebholo’s aide

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has suspended the chairman of Edo State Forestry Commission, Valentine Asuen, for alleged infraction.

    Asuen, a former state youth leader of the party and Edo South Senatorial aspirant, was alleged to have committed actions that amounted to incitement and divisiveness within the party.

    His suspension was contained in a statement signed by the APC state publicity secretary, Peter Uwadia.

    The letter said Asuen was suspended from the Party in accordance with the provisions of the party’s Constitution 2022, as amended.

    It said the disciplinary action became necessary because Asuen’s conduct ran contrary to the spirit of unity, loyalty, and collective progress enshrined in the APC’s constitution.

    According to the statement, “His actions have been deemed to amount to inciting division within the Party, thereby undermining the cohesion and discipline expected of every member.

    “In line with Article 21:2 (ii) & (v) of the Party Constitution 2022, as amended, such conduct constitutes a violation of the obligations of a member.

    Read Also: Oredo APC promises to support Okpebholo

     “The APC remains committed to internal democracy, discipline, and the protection of its integrity. No act capable of destabilising the Party or inciting disaffection amongst members will be condoned.

    “Let it be clearly stated that all appointments made thus far by His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Monday Okpebholo, have been evenly distributed across the state, including Oredo Local Government Area, without any undue influence from the Party’s Secretary, Engr. Lawrence Okah.

    “The Party urges all members to remain steadfast, united, and focused on the collective vision of the APC, as we continue to work towards delivering good governance and democratic dividends to the people.”

    Last week, Asuen was fingered to have sponsored the calls for the resignation of Okah as Secretary of the party.

    He, however, denied the allegations.

  • Century-old country home reborn as world-class nursing college in Edo

    Century-old country home reborn as world-class nursing college in Edo

    •Idahosa family gifts Ehor landmark education centre

    An ancestral country home in the heart of Edo State now bears a new identity after the family that originally  owned it decided to dedicate it to the advancement of education and health.

     The historic property  in Ehor,  Uhunmwonde Local Government Area,  bears  Bishop JWI Idahosa Memorial College of Nursing Sciences, in tribute to the Right  Reverend  Johnson Wilfred Izevbokun Idahosa — the first Bini Anglican Bishop of the Benin Diocese and one of the most celebrated sons of Edo State.

    The college is designed as a cutting edge institution to change the face of healthcare education in Nigeria.

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     The Idahosa family   say  this is more than a building conversion :it’s a mission.

     “Bishop Idahosa believed in the transformative power of education. We are bringing that vision into the 21st century,” the family declared.

     The new college will stand at the forefront of nursing education in Nigeria, deploying advanced  visual and physical simulation labs to train students with the precision and realism of modern medical practice.

     The family said the  institution would harness the expertise of the Nigerian healthcare professionals scattered across the globe  to inject world-class standards, innovation, and global perspectives into its training.

     “The Bishop JWI Idahosa Memorial College will not only honour a towering figure in Nigeria’s Anglican history, but also equip a new generation to carry forward his legacy — saving lives, serving communities, and lifting the standard of healthcare across the nation,” the family said.

  • Edo APC dismisses PDP’s ₦3.5bn travel spending allegation against Okpebholo

    Edo APC dismisses PDP’s ₦3.5bn travel spending allegation against Okpebholo

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State has called on residents to disregard claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that Governor Monday Okpebholo spent ₦3.5 billion on travels in the last eight months.

    State APC Chairman, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, in a statement issued in Benin City, described the allegation as baseless and a reflection of the PDP’s lack of understanding of key economic realities. 

    He accused the party of making desperate attempts to defend what he termed an “unprecedented raid” on the state by former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Tenebe said Governor Okpebholo has shown financial discipline since assuming office on November 12, 2024, stressing that it was “pure hallucination” for the PDP to allege wasteful travel expenses when the governor has not embarked on any foreign trip since taking office.

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    “Our party, the APC, wishes to place on recored that Senator Okpebholo is a grassroots leader who is interested in finding home grown solutions to reposition the various sectors for measurable growth in the shortest possible time. 

    “We therefore call on Edo State people and friends of the state to ignore the PDP and their fugitive leader that is presently on the run. 

    “The APC government in Edo State is only interested in all round development of the 18 local government areas in line with global best practices. Governor Okpebholo will not continue in the habit of siphoning the state’s resources through fictitious globe trotting as was witnessed in the last PDP administration.”

  • Council chairmen enforce ban on illegal revenue collection in 18 Edo LGAs

    Council chairmen enforce ban on illegal revenue collection in 18 Edo LGAs

    In a strategic move to align with the State Government’s efforts to sanitise the revenue system, all the 18 Local Government Chairmen in Edo State, have unanimously pledged their support for the ongoing crackdown on illegal revenue collection.

    This declaration came during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Benin City, convened by the Edo State Government to address the lingering issues of extortion and unregulated revenue activities across the State, especially within the transport and informal sectors.

    The meeting was presided over by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Barr. Musa Ikhilor and had in attendance key members of the State’s Executive Council.

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    Those in attendance were Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Emmanuel Okoebor; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Lucky Eseigbe; Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Samson Osagie; Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Mr. Oladele Bankole-Balogun; and Managing Director of the Edo State Transport Authority, Mr. Henshaw Oligbi.

    Addressing the gathering, the SSG conveyed the resolve of Governor Monday Okpebholo to rid the state of illegal revenue practices, stressing that no individual or group would be allowed to exploit citizens under any guise.

    “The Governor, His Excellency, is very serious about ensuring that the common man on the street in Edo State is not oppressed, harassed, intimidated, or extorted,” the SSG stated. “That is why, upon receiving numerous reports of illegal revenue collection activities, he issued a blanket ban on all unions and organisations involved in such practices, regardless of the guise under which they operate.”

    Speaking on behalf of the Local Government Chairmen, the Chairman of Uhunmwonde Local Government council, Benjamin Osas Iredia, commended the Governor for his decisive action and pledged to ensure full enforcement of the ban in their respective areas.

    “It’s a meeting that has come at a nick of time, because we the Council Chairmen also have been worried about the workings of tax collection in our various Local Government Areas, in our previous meeting we also urged EIRS that we are ready to sit down with and them and see how we block many of these leakages and share ideas and see how we can improve the task collections in our various local government,” he said.

    The Chairmen also committed to launching widespread public enlightenment campaigns at the local level, aimed at educating traders, transport workers, and residents about the dangers of dealing with unauthorised revenue collectors.

    Presentations by the EIRS Chairman and the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs revealed how loosely-monitored authorisations in the past had created room for abuse, with many third-party agents and unions exceeding their mandates and operating unlawfully.

    Attorney-General Samson Osagie reinforced the legal backing for the crackdown, warning that violators would face the full weight of the law. “No one is above the law,” he declared. “Anyone found collecting revenue illegally will be prosecuted.”

    The session also explored the adoption of a centralised digital platform to streamline legitimate revenue collection, eliminate human interference, and reduce opportunities for abuse, particularly in markets and transport hubs.

    Raising concerns about the continued harassment of commercial drivers by non-state actors, the Managing Director of Edo State Transport Authority, Mr. Henshaw Oligbi pledged the agency’s full cooperation in supporting enforcement and protecting law-abiding citizens.

    The meeting ended with a collective resolution to strengthen collaboration between Local Governments, the EIRS, security agencies, and transport authorities.

    As part of immediate actions, the SSG announced a temporary suspension of all revenue collection activities for a period of one month, giving room for reforms to take effect.

    The strong backing from the Local Government Councils signals a coordinated front in the Government’s mission to sanitise Edo State’s revenue environment and restore public trust.

  • Edo traditional rulers drop ‘HRH’ appellation

    Edo traditional rulers drop ‘HRH’ appellation

    Traditional rulers in Edo State, especially those in Edo Central senatorial district, have dropped the ‘His Royal Highness’ appellation and adopted ‘His Royal Majesty’.

    Before now, only the Oba of Benin was referred to as ‘His Royal Majesty’ in Edo State.

    There was an outcry when Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, in a statement, referred to the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella as HRM instead of HRH.

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    The adoption of HRM by other traditional rulers is being viewed as an affront to the Oba of Benin.

    Traditional rulers in Edo Central were referred to as HRM when they were introduced to candidates who visited them for a royal blessing.

  • Okpebholo begins reforms of power sector in Edo

    Okpebholo begins reforms of power sector in Edo

    Edo State government said it has taken the lead to reform the power sector by establishing the Electricity Law 2024.

    It said establishment of the Electricity Law 2024 was to enable it achieve major reforms in the power sector.

    Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Dr. Washington Osa Osifo, disclosed this at a one day workshop for the development of policy framework for electricity market in Edo state. 

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources And Energy, Mr. Joseph Nyamali, Osifo said Governor Monday Okpebholo has established an inclusive, forward looking and regulatory framework which led to the formation of the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

    He called for collaboration with other critical stakeholders in the power sector to enhance workable policies as well as commitment to achieving positive results in energy delivery to consumers.

    Representative of the Edo Electricity Commission, Mr. Odion Omofoma explained that body was to bring sanity and ensure compliance to energy laws.

    Read Also: Okpebholo bans NURTW, RTEAN, others

    Mr. Omofoma further revealed that the commission is also saddled with the responsibility of licensing, tariff regulation, market promotion and regulating standard setting.

    Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, advocated prosecution of those involved in electricity theft.

    Dr. Alenkhe who decried delay in supply of meters by Discos said such delays led to energy theft. 

    Representatives of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Michael Ogunleye, thanked Governor Okpebholo for taking steps to addressing challenges bedeviling the power sector in the state.