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Tag: Edo

  • Herdsmen murder Edo man in hunt for brother who exposed farm invasion

    Herdsmen murder Edo man in hunt for brother who exposed farm invasion

    In a brutal attack that underscores Nigeria’s escalating farmer-herder violence, Justice Ehebha (39) was fatally stabbed on Friday afternoon while defending his family home against armed herdsmen.

    The assailants were reportedly hunting for his older brother, Samuel Ehebha (43), a former Human Resources Manager at Imo Hills Farm in Osun State, who had previously exposed the group’s role in a violent farm invasion.

    According to police sources and family testimony, Samuel’s ordeal began at Imo Hills Farm in Osun State, where he served as the HR Manager. Earlier this year, he identified key herdsmen involved in a coordinated invasion that resulted in the destruction of crops and livestock. His testimony led to the arrest of suspects, making him a target for retribution.

    “They threatened to ‘silence him permanently’ for costing their men freedom,” recounted a family member who preferred to remain anonymous. Samuel fled Osun State days later, seeking refuge in his ancestral hometown in Edo State.

    Read Also: Edo: Police arrest 28 suspected kidnappers, robbers, cultists

    “Justice sacrificed himself to buy Samuel time to escape through the back fence,” said a tearful family member.

    “Samuel is now in hiding, knowing they’ll return. Samuel exposed criminals. Now Justice is dead, and Samuel’s life is ruined. We beg the government to intervene.”

    The tragedy reflects a broader national crisis. The United Nations estimates that over 6,000 deaths have occurred since 2000 due to herder-farmer clashes, driven by land disputes and religious divides. Samuel’s case reveals a chilling pattern: whistleblowers are targeted, families are terrorized, and justice remains elusive.

    Edo State Police Public Relations Office, PPRO, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident but stated that he had not yet been briefed on the details.

    He admitted that no arrests had been made. “We’re treading carefully. These conflicts ignite communal tensions,” he stated, referencing Nigeria’s volatile North-South divide. He promised to provide an update within the hour, but as of the time of filing this report, we have not yet heard from the Police.

  • Edo partners landlords on greenery project

    The Edo State Government has disclosed plans to partner landlords in the state capital, Benin City, on a greenery project, describing the move as part of efforts on environmental sustainability.

    Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, who said this in a chat with journalists, noted that the project will be driven through a social and behavioural change template that will encourage the landlords to plant and maintain trees in front of their houses.

    Read Also:Edo pays Libya returnees N60.17m in 10 months

    According to her, “There is a big drive at enhancing the beauty of our state. We are looking at parks and gardens. We are also looking at building what the old Edo was in a modern form.

    “Governor Godwin Obaseki’s drive is to create a beautiful Edo, a state where people can come in contact with tradition and with a feel of it, in the 21st century.

    She said, “we are looking at building up our parks, ring road, and intend to get our landscaping right. In the greenery project, we will commence an awareness campaign to appeal to people to plant flowers in front of their houses.”

    The Commissioner explained that the state government will support the people in achieving the greenery project, adding, “If everybody does their bit, it would become easier for government to work on areas that are not owned by individuals.”

    She explained that the state government will roll out a clean-up initiative, noting that the state government is trying to get dustbins in vehicles to for the control and collection of plastic wastes.

     

  • I was elected to serve Edo people not political leaders – Obaseki

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has said that he was elected to serve the people of the state and not political leaders.

    Obaseki said this on Friday during the second anniversary thanksgiving of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Christian Prayer Contact Committee.

    He was represented by the Secretary to Edo State Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie.

    Obaseki said: “We can’t share the money and still meet up with our electoral promises to the people of the state.

    “Our focus is on Edo people, developing the state and making life better for the overall well-being of Edo people.

    “My administration has done well by fulfilling my electioneering promises; We have built institutions and restored law and order in the state.

    “We are not owing our civil servants; we will pay August salary on the 20th due to the holidays.”

    According to him, pensioners no longer demonstrate in the state because their entitlements are paid when due while civil servants receive their salaries on the 26th of every month.

    He added that the dream of the administration was to make the state the economic hub of the nation.

    In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Religious matters, Pastor Eghosa Omoruyi, said God had used the governor to touch the lives of the people.

    Omoruyi said that the state had experienced great development in just two years, adding “we are optimistic that before the end of his administration, Edo will be better.”

    Similarly, Bishop Chukwu Anayo, the General Overseer of Covenant Ministry International in Imo state, said the governor had made the state peaceful for various religions to worship God.

    Anayo noted that prayer had helped the governor to achieve significant development, adding that the people were benefitting his leadership style.

  • 12 killed as gunmen rob banks in Edo

    Twelve persons including a policeman have been killed by armed robbers who attacked a police station and invaded two banks in Igarra, headquarters of Akoko-Edo local government area.

    Two persons who were detained at the police station in Akoko-Edo for minor offences were also killed by the robbers.

    Witnesses said the robbers first attacked the police station which is about 1.2 kilometre from the banks to demobilise the the policemen on duty.

    The robbers were said to have burnt the official vehicle of the newly posted Area Commander and killed a policeman in the process.

    Three other persons near the police station were reportedly hit by stray bullets.

    Four persons were killed within the premises of the two banks as witnesses claimed the robbers could not get access to the vault of the banks.

    A youth who gave Ofei Obende said policemen posted to the bank tried to resist the robbers but were overpowered by their heavy firepower.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct Islamic preacher, two others in Kaduna

    Secretary to the paramount ruler of the community, Otaru of Igarra, Elder Folorunsho Dania confirmed the incident saying, “This is a serious case, armed robbers have besieged Igarra. So many lives killed, ten dead persons have been counted.

    “The police station was set ablaze, the Area Commander’s new car set ablaze because we have an area commander now. Close to the police station, three people were killed and in the banks too; Keystone and Unity Banks many persons were killed and the banks raided.

    “It is a calamity. In all, ten lives have gone. They could not access the strong room of the banks. The people that were killed in bank were outside the bank premises. Four persons killed within the bank premises, a policeman killed in the police station then a stone throw from the police station, three persons were killed. I am right at the police station.“

  • Osinbajo: Local technologies to deal with climate change issues

    The development, deployment and transfer of locally relevant climate technologies remain the best solution to climate change challenges, the Acting President , Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

    The Office of the Vice-President said Osinbajo made the statement on Friday at the inauguration of the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC) situated at the Enterprise Development Centre of the Lagos Business School.

    Mr Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice-President, made Osinbajo’s view known in a statement on Saturday.

    The Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre is a public-private partnership involving the Federal Government, the World Bank Group and the Pan-Atlantic University.

    The Centre provides holistic, country-driven support to accelerate the development, deployment and transfer of locally relevant climate and clean energy technologies.

    Osinbajo said the task of advancing climate action was crucial, especially for Nigeria, in the view of the challenge of climate change and the need for the adoption of an innovative approach.

    “The pressure for livelihoods and food for a huge population will put tremendous pressure on natural resources and the implications for climate change will be dire indeed.

    “The creation of an enabling environment for climate-smart businesses to thrive is simply the only way to go,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo said he had visited several start-ups, technology hubs and innovation spaces around the country and seen innovativeness, creativity and drive of Nigerians.

    He said Nigerians were “constantly developing and deploying solutions in many sectors’’, including “agriculture, health, transport, security, climate action and many more locally relevant climate technologies’’.

    According to him, one of the key sectors where there is potential for high impact interventions by green technologies is the off-grid solar sector.

    Osinbajo said the Solar Home Project and  Energising Economies Initiative were some of the private-sector-driven efforts targeted at providing off-grid power to homes, markets and economic clusters across the country.

    He said that so far, 13,000 shops at Sabon-Gari Market in Kano were currently being powered through high-capacity stand-alone solar systems.

    He said more were expected to come on stream soon at the Ariaria Market in Aba, Sura Market in Lagos, and other markets in Oyo, Edo and Ondo states.

    The acting president challenged the new climate Centre to develop and deploy technology and expertise required to deliver clean energy in areas prone to oil pollution and other related hazards.

    According to him, the innovation Centre must seek to develop the technology and expertise required to deal with the oil spill challenge in the Niger Delta region.

    He said the Federal Government was investing considerably in Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to help overcome challenges and risks brought about by the use of kerosene and firewood in homes.

    Osinbajo tasked the NCIC team to come up with innovation in smart cooking equipment that could utilise LPG in the most efficient manner.

    The acting president urged stakeholders in the off-grid power sector to take advantage of the Green bond issued by the Federal Government and the opportunities provided at the newly inaugurated climate Centre to fund their projects.

    “It provides a platform to attracting or unlocking venture financing and private equity funds for climate-smart businesses and Nigerians providing climate-smart solutions,’’ Osinbajo said.

  • Egor workers nabbed for issuing fake revenue receipts

    Two revenue enforcement workers of the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State have been arrested for issuing fake receipt to unsuspected commercial drivers.

    The sum of N280,000 believed to have been realised from the sale of ticket was recovered from the suspects identified as Monday Esewi and Iyoha Osagie.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki had last year introduced e-ticketing as a means of collecting revenue by government officials.

    Luck ran out of the two suspects when the council boss, Ms. Eghe Ogbemudia, accosted a commercial driver and demanded to know whether he has paid the approved daily payment of N800.

    Ogbemudia was shocked to see the ticket provided by the driver was different from the official receipt.

    The council boss led other official to Uselu Market where the driver said he obtained the ticket from and discovered several booklets of fake receipt in the possession of the suspects.

    She further discovered that the usually began the sale of fake tickets at 6am before resuming at the council secretariat at 8am to collect the genuine receipts.

    In a chat with newsmen, Ogbemudia said it was shocking for her to know that the people she empowered with jobs would be the ones to destroy the system.

    According to her, “We discovered cash and fake receipts booklets from the two revenue enforcers. It was a driver that told me he bout the tickets at Uselu Market.”

    The suspects however denied selling fake tickets to commercial motorists.

    According to Monday,”Those receipts are not fake. They were given to us by staff of the local council.

    Iyoha said, “I was shocked when they said the receipts are fake. All the tickets I sell everyday are collected from the council secretariat.”

  • Edo is third in Africa Report ‘State of States’ Ranking

    Africa Report has ranked Edo third among states with impressive progress. The report, in its July/August edition, ranked the states along multidimensional poverty index, access to electricity and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    It ranked the 36 states, excluding Abuja.

    Edo was placed behind Lagos. Kwara took the second position. Edo ranked fifth in multidimensional poverty index, and with a score of 82.4 in Access to Electricity, it placed sixth.

    Also, with a 76.4 score in the Internet users as share of 2016 population, Edo ranked fourth among.

    Edo belonged to the group the report captured as land-cruiser states, which according to the magazine, “are making it farthest and fastest, with a few bumps on the road.

    “Lagos – Nigeria’s business hub – tops the chart, but its scores on the World Bank’s Doing Business rankings show that it has much to do to cut the complications of getting construction permits and other bureaucratic tasks.

    “Lagos blows the competition away on collecting taxes and despite widening inequalities, it is doing better than its peers at cutting poverty and boosting education and health care.”

    Other categories in the ranking are the danfo states, which are described as being “like the ubiquitous bus that gives them their name.

    “The danfo states are getting close to their destination quickly, breaking a few rules on the way and on a smaller budget.” The states include Abia, Ekiti, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Bayelsa, Ondo, Imo and Nasarawa.

    Then, there are the okada states and waka waka states. The okada states are Enugu, Plateau, Niger, Benue, Taraba, Kano, Gombe and Adamawa.

  • Optimal productivity: Edo FRSC holds retreat for personnel

    Toward achieving optimal productivity among its personnel, the Edo Command of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Thursday in Benin organised a retreat.

    Mr Anthony Oko, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, said that the retreat was aimed at changing the psyche of personnel toward the job.

    Oko said that on assumption of office a month ago, he observed that the morale of staff of both the command and component units was low.

    “In view of this, we decided to re-strategise through retreat as well as look inward and tell ourselves some truth toward rejuvenating our output and optimal productivity.

    “We will also look at issues of attitudinal change, because to be honest with ourselves, the attitude of some members of  staff in the course of their duties is nothing to write home about,’’  he  said.

    He said that the current environment was much more challenging than it was years back, adding that there was the need to evolve new strategies and adapt forcibly without negative consequences.

    “We can only achieve this for optimal productivity among staff through Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timely (SMART) approach.

    “This also means we all have to be disciplined, focused, purposeful and pragmatic,’’ Oko said.

    The sector commander said that the theme of the retreat, “Toward Enhancing Competitiveness in a Challenging Environment: The Role of Staff in achieving Optimal Productivity’’ was apt.

    The Zonal Commanding Officer  in Charge of Zone RS 5  comprising Edo, Delta and Anambra, Mr Kehinde Adeleye, said the third  quarter was a wake-up call for staff to go back to the drawing board to reassess  their achievements and challenges.

    He said the time and essence of retreat could therefore not be over emphasised.

    Adeleye urged all participants to make the best use of the retreat.

     

  • Edo uncovers 39,000 fake Cooperative Societies

    Edo State government has uncovered 39,000 fake Cooperative Societies that were registered for the purposes of raising funds for dubious reasons.

    It said the fake  societies were uncovered after an audit of registered cooperatives societies were carried out.

    State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Employment and Cooperatives, Barrister Emmanuel Usoh, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen said a little over 1000 Cooperative Societies were found to be functional in the state.

    Barr. Usoh said the state government carried audit because it planned to build a strong local economy in various locations where the Cooperative societies are located.

    Usoh stated that the discovery made a strict measure to be out in place for any new Cooperative Society to be registered.

    He said a committee has been set up to help recover funds from some Cooperative Societies that diverted the funding it got from the state government or financial institutions.

    Usoh noted that the data gathered would help the state government develop the Cooperative societies and fund them by building capacites, trainings and helping them access funds to be able to develop what they are set out to do.

    According to him, “We made a huge discovery of the fact that we lacked data to prosecute the intentions of this administration. A lot of Cooperative societies totaling 40,000 were registered with the aim of attracting quick funding that may never be used for the purpose of galvanising the local economy which cooperative society serve,

    “Having done an audit of of the Cooperative Society, we found out that only over 1000 were functional which we have compartmentalised into various groups. All these have their different roles they played in the local economy.

    “Once you are able to galvanise their intentions, we are good to go to building a very strong local economy in the various locations where the Cooperative societies are located. Their finances will be strong to attract funding or loans to deal with the basic requirement or expectations.

    “We have set up a machinery for registration of Cooperative Societies. The process are  now strict that if you do not have a purpose as a Cooperative Society, you will not be registered.

    “For others who have taken benefit of funding, we have set up audit to investigate and ascertain to what extent of culpabilities individuals and association have. When we are done, those to be referred to arbitrations will be refer. We have set up committees to recover such funds from association or individuals. When a case of fraud is established, we refer such group to the police for prosecution.”

     

  • Edo, Delta govts urge border communities on peaceful coexistence

    …tasks Boundary Commission to expedite action on demarcation

     

    The Edo and Delta state governments have called on border communities in both states to sheath their swords and live harmoniously pending the determination of boundaries by the National Boundary Commission.

    The advice was contained in a communique issued after a joint inter-state boundary meeting between Edo and Delta states at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    The two states committed to prevailing on the NBC to expedite action on final demarcation and survey of the disputed boundaries between the two states, noting, “A committee has been set up to look into legal and boundaries issues relating to the two states.

    Read Also:IGP orders probe of Edo policemen’s killing

    “The committee will comprise of the Attorney General of each state, Commissioner of Police of both states; Chairmen of Orhionmwon and Esan South East local government areas of Edo State and Ethiope East, Ukwani and Ika South local government areas in Delta State. Other members include Surveyor General of each state and the deputy chief of staff of Edo State.”

    Edo State Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu called on border communities in Edo and Delta states to sheath their swords over claims and counterclaims of land ownership, stressing that efforts are in top gear to resolve the dispute with the National Boundary Commission (NBC) leading the charge.

    Shaibu, who stressed that the two states ought not to have such issues as they made up the defunct Bendel State and share historical and cultural ties, he said there was need to maintain the strong bond and not allow disagreement on boundary divide them.

    He expressed appreciation to officials of the two states, noting that “despite the boundary dispute, we are still brothers. We were carved out of the old Bendel State and our history can be traced to Bendel. We should remain indivisible.”

    Explaining that the dispute by border communities started shortly after the creation of the two states in 1991, he said, “In 2001, the Federal Government waded into the crises by directing the NBC to undertake the provisional demarcation of the boundary between the two states.

    Shaibu urged the NBC to take urgent steps on the final demarcation of the boundary, as it will lay to rest the lingering tension and agitation between border communities of the two states.

    “This Inter-state boundary meeting is convened to douse the mounting tension in the border communities of our states.”

    Shaibu appealed to all communities in the border areas of Edo and Delta states to embrace peace, as the NBC and governments of Edo and Delta states intensify effort at ensure the demarcation of the boundary between the two states without further delay.

    Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Burutu Otuaro, said Delta and Edo states are sister-states and share common experiences and historical antecedents.

    He noted that the boundary meeting for dispute resolution is held with the active participation and guidance of officials of NBC and the office of the Surveyor General of the Federation.

    “It is pertinent to recall that from the series of communique issued after various joint meetings held with the NBC, both states were always enjoined to maintain the status quo in areas of dispute, as a means of sustaining peace, pending the completion of the process.”

    He said a committee has been set up to ensure that law and order is maintained, pending the conclusion of the demarcation process by NBC.

    Commissioner of Police Edo State, Mr. Jonhson Kokumo appealed to the boundary communities to stop the attack on law enforcement agencies, especially the police as such act will no longer be tolerated.

    “Law enforcement agencies have been attacked severally while performing their constitutional role of maintaining law and order”.