Armed robbers currently operating in a Lexus 350 SUV within Benin City metropolis have shot dead a businessman identified as Derrick Denco.
The robbers were said to specialise in robbing jewellery from their victims.
Derrick was on the popular Igun Street to fix his car when he was accosted by the robbers in front of the shop where he had parked to buy the vehicle parts.
Witnesses said the robbers asked Derrick to give them the jewelry he was wearing, but he resisted, which made the robbers shoot him twice in the leg.
Several Acting Chairmen of local government areas in Edo State have tendered their resignations, sparking anxiety among council workers who stayed away from offices over fears of unrest.
The acting chairmen, originally elected in 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s tenure, assumed office after defecting to the All Progressives Congress (APC) following the impeachment of elected chairmen who refused to defect.
Although a court later overturned the impeachment, the affected chairmen never returned to office.
In Ikpoba-Okha, Obosa Jolly Ogbeide resigned, paving the way for Hon. Sino Osawaru of Ward 10 to emerge as Chairman. In Esan West, Hon. Blessing Albert Egodaghe replaced Hon. Godsent Aigboboh, while in Egor, APC supporters witnessed the swearing-in of Osaro Eribo after Hon. Kelvin Eguakun stepped down.
An APC leader, who spoke anonymously, said the resignations were meant to reward party loyalty and allow the Acting Chairmen to prepare for council elections next year.
Chief Emmanuel Iyase, another APC chieftain in Egor, dismissed claims that the chairmen were forced to resign, noting that they still retained their positions as councillors.
The new Egor Council boss pledged to deliver effective governance, while in Ovia South West, Acting Chairman Charles Edobor—hailing from the same area as Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa—remained in office without impeachment or resignation.
Operatives of the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, have uncovered two abandoned buildings allegedly used by kidnappers in Ugboha Forest, Esan Southeast Local Government Area.
The houses were discovered during combing of forests to crack down on criminals in strategic locations.
Operatives of the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, has uncovered two abandoned buildings allegedly used by kidnappers inside Ugboha Forest, Esan South-East Local Government Area.
The houses were discovered during combing of forest across the state with a view to crackdown on criminals in strategic locations.
The coordinated exercise was carried out under the direct supervision of the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and the Governor’s Principal Security Officer (PSO).
It covered Ovia North-East, Esan North-East, Esan West, and Esan South-East Local Government Areas of the State.
Besides the two houses, the operatives also recovered two locally made double-barrel guns and one live cartridge.
Speaking on the combing of forest, a member of the squad, Eribo Emwanta, said drones, military personnel, and advanced surveillance have been deployed in the relentless pursuit of kidnappers.
Emwanta said the Squad also embarked on a show-of-force exercise across Sobe, Ozalla, Iruekpen, Ekpoma, Ihunmudumu, Eguare, Irrua, Idumu Ojiezua, Ivue/Obeidu, Eror, Arue-Uromi, Egbele, Amedokhian-Uromi, Ugboha, and several other communities.
He said the oeration was intended to reassure residents of government’s commitment to safety as well as send a strong warning to criminal networks.
The operatives trekked for hours deep into the forests in search of criminal hideouts.
No arrest was made but Emwanta said security personnel were seriously on the trails of kidnappers even as he described the operation as a preventive strike that dismantled potential bases of kidnappers.
Edo state government has denied allegations that it has five percent shares in Ossiomo Power, an indigenous electricity generation and distribution firm.
It said Ossiomo Power was a private firm and that it was one of its customers.
Ossiomo Power has been shut down since September 1, due to ownership tussle between the Nigeria partners and the Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC).
It generates 95MW of electricity which it supplied to government buildings, Edo government house, Edo NUJ secretariat, private organisations, streetlights among others.
Already, 115 subscribers of Ossiomo Power have indicated interest to switch back to Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).
Speaking at a stakeholders meeting with Ossiomo Power subscribers, Director General of the Edo State Electrification Agency, Saturday Omozokpea Egbadon, said available records showed the state has no shares in Ossiomo Power.
Egbadon said 80 percent of state government facilities have been migrated to a dedicated line provided by the BEDC.
He said management of Ossiomo Power was yet to officially inform the state government about troubles in the firm.
Egbadon insisted that the state government provided the 11kva lines Ossiomo subscribers were connected to.
According to him, “We cannot keep the state like that. We have to act quickly. Ossiomo did not consult the state government. We did not play any role in their crisis. We are just their customers. We were told the state government has shares in Ossiomo but records showed that we are their customers. We dont have any five percent shares. They are using our facility. We pay over N2m monthly to vend.
“Before this crisis, we have given Ossiomo licence to operate in Edo Central. It is between him and the Chinese partners.”
Chief Technical Officer of the BEDC, Kingsley Achengbu, assured that adequate power would be provided for the Ossiomo subscribers.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has donated 300 motorcycles to security agencies in the state.
The motorcycles, according to Governor Okpebholo, were specifically designed to support security agencies to accessing hard-to-reach terrains, particularly forest areas where criminals sought refuge.
The Edo Governor said there would be no hiding place for criminals in the state under his administration.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 300 motorbikes in Benin City, Governor Okpebholo said the donation was part to fulfil his electoral promises.
According to him, “We promised our people during the campaign that we would fight insecurity and restore peace to every part of Edo State. Today, we are fulfilling that promise. These bikes will be deployed across the senatorial districts and will help security agencies reach areas where vehicles cannot go.
“Let me be clear, criminals must leave Edo State. These motorbikes, along with other security technologies we are deploying, will make it very difficult for them to operate. We are not just equipping the system. We are maintaining it. These bikes will be properly serviced and supported to ensure continuous use.”
Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, said the donation was a “new dawn” in Edo’s security efforts, especially in tackling forest-based crimes like kidnapping.
Agbonika said, “This is a great day in our fight against crime. With these motorbikes, we can now go deep into the forests where criminals hide. The days of impunity are over.”
•Arrested suspects featured in viral video allege extortion by agency, rejection by families •Govt agency: We made arrests, but exploitation allegations unfounded
In Benin, Edo State capital, young ladies found roaming after 8pm are now at the risk of being labelled prostitutes following the decision of the state government to declare war against prostitution. Many unsuspecting ladies have been so tagged, arrested and detained by the Edo State Migration Agency (EDMA), the body saddled with the responsibility of ridding the state of the menace posed by women of easy virtue. But some ladies arrested in the clampdown alleged being extorted by EDMA officials before regaining their freedom and shocked. They also said they were shocked to see video recordings of their arrest going viral on social media and causing families and friends to disown them. INNOCENT DURU reports that many of the ladies affected are traumatised or even depressed.
Esther, a 22-year-old ulcer patient, was pounced on and whisked away by officials of the Edo State Migration Agency (EDMA) from where she stood with her friend penultimate Thursday. They were arrested at about 8:30 pm for roaming at an “ungodly hour”.
Prior to her arrest, she had stayed for long hours without food. The hunger triggered her ulcer, fired up the stomach walls and provoked serious discomfort in her gut.
She said amid sobs: “I was picked up opposite Victorious Kitchen and taken to their office.
“I had not eaten by the time they picked me up and kept us in their custody till the next day.
“They did not buy anything for us to eat.
“I was even begging them to give us water, but they did not buy anything for us.
“Incidentally, I have an ulcer.”
Following the distressing experience they had, Esther said, “One of us even fainted in their custody. When they saw that her condition was serious, they took her to one clinic around the area.”
Highlighting how endangered young ladies have become in the city, she said: “They even arrested one girl that was deaf and dumb. We begged them to allow the girl to go but they did not agree.”
After clamping them in ‘cells’ within the office, the state officials subsequently brought them out and “collected our statement and did a video recording of all of us that were arrested.
“When they did the video recording, we begged them not to post it online because we have friends and families online.
“We even told them that if they would post the video for any reasons, they should cover our faces.
“But they told us to shut up, saying ‘wetin we wan take your face do?’
“There was one dark, short guy among the agency officials, who kept threatening us.
“We begged them to allow us to call our relations to intimate them about our whereabouts because we were scared as we did not know where they were taking us to.
“But the dark guy told us to shut up adding that they could carry us like that and ‘kill you troway’.
“We all shouted when he said that, wondering why he would make such a heartless statement.
“He also told one of us that he could hit her and make her to disappear.
“He boasted that we should go and ask about him around Iyama, threatening that he could do this and that to us.
“I really feared the guy because he could do anything to anybody.”
Esther added: “Thereafter, they asked us to write statements.
“The woman that was instructing us said we should write that we were caught engaging in prostitution.
“I told her I could not write anything like that and asked why she would force me to write such.
“But she said if you refuse to write that you were caught prostituting, you will have to tear the paper and write another one stating that you were caught prostituting.
“I ended up writing that I was arrested for prostitution.
“If you didn’t write so, they would say what were you doing outside by that time of the night?
“The time in question was between 8pm and 8:30pm.
“When we were writing our statements, they told the people from Benin not to write that they are from there but from other states.
“That is why there was no mention of Benin girl in that video.
“But the truth is that the bulk of the people they arrested were from Benin.”
She said after writing the statements, she thought they would allow them to go. “But I didn’t know that they wanted to collect money from us.
“They collected N50,000 from each of us, and we were 32 altogether.
“I didn’t have money to pay; it was my friend that transferred N40,000 to me while I added the balance.
“I was released between 5pm and 6pm the following day.
“They are on the trail of one of the girls who did a voice note revealing how they extorted money from us.
“The lady has left Benin out of fear, because they are seriously looking for her.”
Esther said contrary to the agreement reached on the recorded video, “they eventually posted the video on the social media without covering our faces.
“I also appeared in the video and people who know me have been calling, wanting to know if I was the person they saw in the viral video.
“Many of us are now having issues with our families because of the video.
“I have been traumatised and scared by the development.
“I can’t walk freely on the street anymore.
“I no longer go out at night. If I must buy something, I do so before 5pm.
“If I am thirsty and it is already night, I will never go out to buy water because of this horrible experience.
“Many other ladies have run away from Benin because of the trauma.
“Anytime I go out now, I have to come back very early.
“If I am anywhere by 8pm, I will have to sleep there.
“I can’t afford to go about once it is night.”
Also reliving her ordeal, a victim who gave her name simply as Vanessa said: “We were in front of Exquisite Club at Iyama Road when they swooped on us.
“We had gone there to see someone around 8.30 pm and they beckoned on other guys to come with a bus.
“They took us away and picked some girls on the road as we were going.
“As they were going, they were picking people on the road. They picked people from Benoni Junction and Okpor Road too.”
Confirming Esther’s claims, Vanessa said: “They picked one girl that is deaf and dumb without giving her any opportunity to express herself.
“As we moved on, they saw two ladies walking on the road, they parked and picked them.
“They took us to their office and put us in two rooms. We were not given food in the morning as well all through afternoon till we left there.”
Continuing, she said: “They told me to write a statement. The woman said I should write that I was doing hook-up.
“I was like, I am not a kid. I went to the club to see somebody. So, you can’t force me to write what I don’t know.
“She insisted that I must write that I was doing hook-up, but I didn’t write such in my statement.
“She said I should go back because I didn’t want to write that I was doing hook-up.
“After video-recording everything, the woman that had said I should write a statement that I was doing hook-up asked if we had somebody that could stand surety for us or we were willing to do surety by ourselves.
“I was like, what is surety? She said we were going to bail ourselves.
“Just then, another person came in and said we should pay N50,000 each.
“One girl among us said she had N10,000, but they said no. The other girl said she had N20,000 but they also said no, that it was N50,000 or they would take us to prison.
“I wanted to send the money to the woman directly, but there was this tall man that came in and she said I should make the transfer him.
“They called him Honorable. So, I transferred 50K (N50,000) to the Honorable.
“Some other people also paid to him while others paid to some other people.
“That night, they did a video recording of us about two times. Then in the morning, they video-recorded us about two times too.
“We were curious and asked them if they were going to post the video but they said no.”
She added: “But seeing the video online, I saw my face. I saw everything.
“Everything showed in the video. They didn’t cover our faces after they collected the money.
“My family members have not seen the video yet, and I pray they don’t see it. It is my friends from other states that called me.
“They saw my video on TikTok, saying it was Edo Migration Agency that posted my video on their page.
“Before they posted the video, a short man among the officials was narrating while recoding that there are too many hook-ups in Benin and that most of them are from other states.
“Meanwhile, the same person told all those people that are from Benin that they should deny they are from Edo State.
“He instructed them to say they were from other states and should not be spoiling Benin’s image.”
She said she had been in shock since the incident. “I am feeling very shocked. I couldn’t even go outside,” she said.
“The few times I went out, people said is that not the girl I saw online?
“I had to go and change my hair and burn those clothes. It is that bad.
“I can’t go out at night again. It wasn’t even late at night that they picked us. It was 8.30pm.
“Immediately they came, they collected our phones.
“They didn’t even give us a chance to call or let someone know that this is where we are.
“About three people in our room had ulcer and were begging for food.
“They could not eat that night. They were crying and feeling pain throughout the night.
“The girl that is deaf and dumb was not allowed to go that night. It was in the evening of the following day they allowed her to go.”
The efforts made by the reporter to reach some other victims were unsuccessful as their mobile phones were not reachable. Our correspondent, however, obtained voice notes of some of the victims shared via WhatsApp.
A victim who spoke in one of the audio messages said she was arrested when she and her friends went to a club called Club Q at Iyama.
She said: “We went out to get ‘suya’ (a meat delicacy) opposite Victoria’s Kitchen, then still eat at Victoria’s Kitchen, because we were hungry.
“On our way out, officials of EDMA picked us up.
“We tried to explain to them that we were not prostitutes; that we came to get suya and food.
“But they did not even want to hear our explanation. They even arrested a girl that was waiting for her boyfriend.
“They took us to their office and made videos of us.
“As they were making the videos, they were asking us questions.
“We begged that they should not post the video because we have family members who are on social media, but they said they were going to cover our faces.
“When they wanted to post the video, I thought that having made the videos, they would just leave us to go. But they kept us there till about 6pm the next day.
“We were more than 30 girls that they arrested, and they collected N50,000 from each of us.
“They started with N100,000 but we said we didn’t have that much.
“We begged them that we didn’t have money and should please let us go because we had not done anything wrong. But they said they were going to take us to prison. So we were scared.
“We now begged to pay N20,000 but they said no, that it is N50,000 last.
“My sister saw the video and she saw me very well. They are calling me now. My father is also angry with me, and I don’t even know how to explain to them, because I’ve told them my own side of the story but they don’t want to believe me.
“Even when they took our statement, we were trying to tell them what happened, that we just went out from the club.
“They said no, that was not what we were going to say. We must say that they caught us in the streets. We must say that we were standing in the streets doing prostitution.
“We told them no, that was not what happened.”
Other victims: We’ve been disowned by relations
Another victim whose ordeal was obtained online said: “I was shocked to see my face on the internet. They didn’t even cover it.
“Now my family members have seen me in the video and have been calling me since morning. They have been abusing and cursing me.
“They said I am a shame and a disgrace to the family.
“I am an orphan. My uncles and aunts who saw the video said I am a disgrace to the family. Now my family said they don’t want me again.”
Reliving her ordeal, a broken victim said: “My problem is not that they arrested us. My concern is that they videoed us and after agreeing that they would cover our faces, they went and posted it on social media.
“Many people including my family members and friends saw it (sobs). Now I am in trouble.
“What they did is not good. They collected N50,000 from each of us but that was not enough for them.”
We made arrests but I’m unaware of exploitation allegations – EDMA DG
The Director General of EDMA, Lucky Agazuma, in a telephone chat with our correspondent, admitted that the agency arrested ladies in various parts of Benin City on that Thursday. He, however, dismissed the allegations of exploitation.
“That cannot be true. It can’t be possibly true,” he said.
“Oga, nothing of such. I am a Nigerian in Diaspora. I know myself and I believe in my officers.
“We have police there, we have immigration, we have the DSS working with us. They brought people to my office last Thursday, of course.”
Informed that the victims shared evidence of payment, he said: “Really? None that I am aware of. To who? My people? Can I have the names? I am surprised to hear this. Let me call my team and call you back.”
He declined response to further questions.
Civil society coalition decries development
Meanwhile, Edo Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights (EDOCSCHUR) has condemned the action, describing it as unlawful extortion and public shaming of young women by EDMA.
The coalition in a statement signed by the Coordinator Marxist Kola Edokpayi and the Secretary General Comrade Hon. Aghatise Raphael, said: “EDOCSCHUR condemns, in the strongest terms, the manner and method in which the Edo State Migration Agency, under the leadership of its Director General, Mr. Lucky Agazuma, is reportedly conducting its operations in the name of sanitising the state of street prostitution.
“While we support genuine and lawful efforts to restore social order, reduce trafficking and curb street-level crimes, we must also state categorically that any approach rooted in illegality, extortion, abuse of power, and violation of human dignity is unacceptable, unlawful and condemnable.”
The statement added that reports reaching EDOCSCHUR indicate that young women arrested on allegations of street prostitution are being compelled to pay huge sums of money—in some cases tens or hundreds of thousands of naira—in exchange for non-prosecution or the suppression of public disgrace, noting that these practices amount to state-enabled extortion and undermine the very laws the agency claims to enforce.
“After receiving these huge sums, officials of the agency allegedly proceed to record and publish videos of the young women online, portraying them as criminals and objects of ridicule.
“This violates their rights to dignity, privacy, and fair treatment, regardless of any alleged offence.
“If truly reform is the goal, then shaming, blackmailing and extorting vulnerable persons are not the tools of progress—they are tools of oppression, exploitation, and corruption.
Constitutional and legal violations
These actions directly contravene the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended):
* Section 34(1)(a) – Right to Dignity of the Human Person says: “No person shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment.”
The public shaming and extortion of arrested individuals violate this fundamental right.
* Section 36(5) – Presumption of Innocence: “Every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. “Filming and posting suspects on social media before trial is a violation of due process.
* Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 says Unlawful publication of personal data, images, or videos without consent is punishable under Nigerian law.
EDOCSCHUR went on to demand immediate cessation of public shaming videos
“The Edo State Migration Agency must immediately cease the act of publishing videos or images of arrested individuals on any platform, including social media.
“We call on the Edo State Government, the Ministry of Justice, and the Edo State House of Assembly to investigate allegations of extortion, bribery and abuse of office by officials of the agency.
“The leadership of the agency must be held accountable for any proven misconduct, and agency officers must undergo mandatory human rights training to understand the boundaries of lawful enforcement.”
EDOCSCHUR said it would provide legal assistance and human rights support to any victim of extortion, blackmail, or public humiliation arising from this abuse of office.
“We support all sincere efforts to reform society, but not through criminal abuse of vulnerable people.
“A reformed state is not built on bribes, blackmail and disgraceful displays, but on justice, equity, dignity and lawful governance.
“We will not keep silent. We will continue to expose and challenge every abuse of power in Edo State.
Edo State Government has introduced new policy on education for basic and secondary schools, in line with the National and State Policies on Education, Edo State Education Law and other relevant statutory frameworks.
It said all schools, public, private, and faith-based in Edo State were required to comply with the policy.
Among the policy was to allow younger siblings to use approved textbooks previously purchased by their older siblings.
It said only textbooks recommended and approved by the ministry would be permitted in all schools across the state.
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Emmanuel Iyamu, in a statement, cautioned authors and publishers that no textbooks should contained workspaces within its content, saying, ‘any textbook that includes workspaces will be derecognised by the ministry.
Dr. Iyamu said only students who have completed the Basic 1-9 and Senior Secondary 3 were permitted to hold graduation celebrations.
Iyamu said all Pre-Basic pupils were not allowed to embark on graduation ceremonies and parties across the state.
According to him, “this policy is aimed at ensuring that pupils, students, parents, guardians, stakeholders and school managers remain focused on achieving quality learning outcomes at the conclusion of each educational level.
“The minimum age of a pupil to write MBA (primary 6) remains 10 years.”
Iyamu announced a mandatory four-week intensive entrepreneurship skills training programme for all JSS 3 students.
“This is in line with the transformation drive of our education-loving Governor Monday Okpebholo, in ensuring that every Edo child graduates with not just an academic certificate, but also a hands-on skill. A certificate of training will be issued along with the BECE certificate.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared candidates of the All Progressives Congress, Barr. Omosede Igbinedion and Hon Joseph Ikpea winner of Saturday’s by-election for Ovia Federal Constituency seat and Edo Central Senatorial District respectively.
The results were announced in the early hours of Sunday.
Retuning officer for Ovia Federal Constituency, Clement Ighodaro, said Igbinedion scored a total of 77,053 votes while the PDP candidate, Johnny Aikpitanyi got 3,838 votes.
Candidate of the ADC, Sandra Asemota scored 925 votes.
Igbinedion was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2011.
Prof. Kingsley Omo-Iwoze, the INEC Returning Officer for Edo Central, announced the result in Ubiaja, headquarters of Esan South-East local government area, said Ikpea, polled 105,129 votes.
Ikpea defeated his closest rival, Joe Okojie of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 15,146 votes.
According to the Returning Officer, “I, Prof. Omo-Iwoze, hereby certified that I am the Returning Officer for the 2025 Edo Central Senatorial District bye election, held on the 16th day of August, 2024.
“That Ikpea Joseph of APC , having satisfied the requirements of the law is hereby declared winner of the election” Prof. Omo-Iwoze said.
On his part, Ikpea said the people have chosen vision over sentiment, progress over politics-as-usual.
“This victory reaffirms the people’s faith in our capacity to deliver. I will not disappoint them.
“I will work hand in hand with our governor, our party, and community leaders to ensure that every part of Edo Central feels the impact of quality representation.
“Governor Monday Okpebholo is a leader of exceptional qualities, strategic, selfless, and deeply connected to the people. His support has been a stabilizing force throughout this journey.”
An agent of the Peoples Democratic Party was beaten and manhandled at Ozolua Model Primary School, Iguobazuwa East Ward, headquarters of Ovia South West local government area.
The name of the agent was yet to be ascertained.
The voters said the agent refused to release their Permanent Voter Cards.
It was intervention of the police that saved the agent.
Voters turned out to vote at various Wards in Iguobazuwa.
