The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo state

  • Woman found dead in her room in Akure

    A middle-aged woman, popularly called Toyin, was on Thursday found dead in her room in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The deceased was said to be a food seller at Tipper garage area, Isinkan quarters, Akure.

    Sources said the deceased had finished cooking, but did not come out at 6am for business.

    The development, it was gathered, made her neighbours to force her door open. They found her body inside the room, with two calabash containing concoction.

    The Nation learnt that her phone was checked and it was discovered that she last called a person whose name she saved as ‘Alpha’, at 1am and 3am.

    Read Also: Trailer overturns, injures pregnant woman, two others

    Toyin, a mother of three, was said to be living alone in her face-to-face room, after divorcing her husband.

    She was said to be preparing for a case scheduled for April 18 with her divorced husband over the custody of the children.

    Family, relations, neighbours and symphatisers stormed the house yesterday, expressing shock over Toyin’s mysterious death. They said she was hale and hearty the previous night.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP), could not be reached last night for comments.

     

  • Woman found dead inside room with two fetish pots

    A middle aged woman, fondly called Toyin, was on Thursday found dead in her room in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    According to sources, Toyin, said to be a food seller at the popular Tipper garage area, Isinkan quarters, Akure had already finished cooking for the day as usual but could not come out as at 6am for business.

    The development forced her neigbbours to force her door opened and found her lifeless body inside the room with two calabash containing concoction.

    It was learnt that, her phone was checked and discovered that she made calls to a person registered with ‘Alpha’ on the phone at exactly 1am and 3am consecutively.

    Toyin, a mother of three, was said to be living alone in her face-to-face apartment, after having issues with her husband.

    Read Also: Suspected ritualists kill 50-yr-old woman in Ondo

    She was also said to have been preparing for the pending court case scheduled for April 18, with her divorced husband over who should take charge of the children.

    Family, neighbours and sympathizers stormed the house, expressing shock over Toyin’s mysterious death, stressing that she was hale and hearty the previous night.

    Police spokesman, Femi Joseph, a Superintendent of Police (SP) could not be reached for comments on the incident.

     

  • Why Army holds annual training, by GOC

    The 2nd Division in Ibadan has kicked off the 2019 edition of its annual competition in Akure, Ondo State capital, for corporal and below.

    The four day-competition, which drew 55 participants each from five Army formations in Southwest, is hosted by the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Cantonment, Akure.

    The formations are 2 Division; HQ 4 Brigade Benin; 32 Artillery Brigade, Akure; 22 Armoured Brigade, Ilorin; and 42 Engineer Brigade, Ibadan.

    The events include physical fitness, obstacle crossing, combat, swimming and parade.

    General Officer Commanding 2 Division Gen Okwudili Azinta said the event was organised in line with the Army’s forecast of event and the chief of Army Staff (COAS) training directives for 2019.

    Azinta was represented by Brig Gen. Koko Akamba Isoni, chief of staff at 2 Division.

    Read Also: Why Army holds annual training, by GOC

    He explained that the competition would improve leadership traits, organisational ability, and use of initiative and promote espirit-de-corps by personnel in that category.

    “It is also intended to prepare them physically and mentally to contend with the contemporary security challenges confronting the nation.

    According to him, “…relevant events geared toward enabling the participants to imbibe the goals of the competition were carefully selected.”

    Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was the special guest of honour, lauded the Army for its efforts in training its personnel to secure the territorial integrity of the nation more effectively.

    Akeredolu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Olugbenga Ale, described training as the bedrock of any organisation.

    He said “when soldiers are well trained, their performance in maintaining peace and unity of the nation is guaranteed. On our part, the government … will continue to support the military…”

  • Ijaw group petitions Akeredolu, alleges marginalisation

    Indigenes of Arogbo Ijaw community in Ese-Odo Local Government of Ondo State resident in Lagos have rejected the composition of the 11-man committee recently inaugurated by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for the creation of local council development areas in the state.

    In a communiqué after a meeting convened by the Arogbo Ijaw Community Organisation (AICO) to deliberate on the matter, the community said though the idea of creating more council areas as a catalyst for development is a step in the right direction, the non-inclusion of an Ijaw person in the committee to represent the interest of their people is not acceptable.

    The statement by the convener of the meeting, Goodluck Kpemi and AICO Chairman, James Ashidi, said the Ijaw terrain is difficult to access and that the committee would require the knowledge of people within the area to carry out its investigation there.

    REad also: Akeredolu showcases Ondo economic potentials in Dubai

    It reads in part: “It is against this background that we appeal for the inclusion of our representative to ensure that the outcome of the assignment does not bristle with problems capable of enveloping the entire Niger Delta axis of Ondo State.

    “Already, we have a functional council area created by Second Republic Governor Adekunle Ajasin of blessed memory, in fulfillment of a campaign promise by the late Pa Obafemi Awolowo, who visited Arogbo in 1979 while on a campaign trip. Before it was created, the late Pa Ajasin went the whole hug to ensure a peaceful exercise, by co-opting some indigenes of Arogbo Ijaw to work with the government. This helped tremendously in nipping many problems in the bud.”

    Mr. Suffy Uguoji, who identified himself as the AICO liaison officer for Abuja, Lagos and Akure, said the government ought to have co-opted a person of Arogbo Ijaw extraction into the committee, since the area is the only non-Yoruba speaking one in the state.

    He said: “Ondo State is a purely Yoruba-speaking state and the 11 members of the committee are all Yoruba-speaking. The only group in the state that does not speak Yoruba are the Ijaws.

  • Banks shut down in Ondo communities

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Tuesday gave a marching order to security agencies to arrest the robbers, who attacked a bank on Monday at Idoani in Ose Local Government.

    Seven lives, including that of a policeman, were reportedly lost during the robbery.

    Security operatives said they have arrested a suspect.

    Akeredolu spoke on Tuesday when he visited the Alani of Idoani, Oba Olufemi Olutoye, at his palace.

    The governor, represented by his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, described the incident as unfortunate, but implored security agents to fish out the perpetrators.

    Akeredolu assured people that his administration would partner security agencies to tighten security.

    He urged residents to assist the security operatives by giving them information, to reduce crimes.

    Read Also: Akeredolu showcases Ondo economic potentials in Dubai

    Oba Olutoye said the hoodlums also entered his palace by damaging the entrance door, “but their efforts eventually became fruitless.”

    He appealed to the government to assist the bereaved families.

    Economic activities at the neighbouring Akoko area were yesterday paralysed.

    Commercial banks in the four local governments, especially in Ikare-Akoko, were shut down.

    Many people, who came for transactions, returned home without achieving their aim.

    Efforts to speak with the Ikare Akoko Police Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Razak Rauf, on this development, failed.

     

  • Akeredolu showcases Ondo economic potentials in Dubai

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has joined President Muhammadu Buhari and other world leaders at Dubai, United Arab Emirates 9th Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) to showcase the state’s potentials.

    Akeredolu, who has attracted many investors into the state within the space of two years, will also address potential investors on the gains of investing in Ondo State.

    The governor had visited China last year with fruitful outcome, which produced the current industrial revolution ongoing at the Ondo – Linyi Industrial Park in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area.

    The AIM is the world’s leading platform for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

    It is an initiative of the UAE Ministry of Economy, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

    Read Also: Rainstorm victim to Akeredolu: pay my gratuity

    Before he departed Nigeria for the UAE, Akeredolu told reporters in Akure that the trip would further expose the economic potential of the Sunshine State to the developed economies of the world.

    The theme is: “Mapping the future of FDI: Enriching world economies through digital globalization”.

    Already, the Ondo State stand has been set at the venue of the largest global investment gathering of corporate leaders, policy makers, businessmen, regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, leading academics and experts showcasing up-to-date information, strategies and knowledge on attracting FDI.

    The governor and his investment team will showcase the potentials of the Sunshine state at the meeting and also attract more investors to develop the state

  • Empowerment programme for Ondo community

    The lawmaker representing Owo/Ose Federal Constituency of Ondo State in the House of Representatives, Dr Bode Ayorinde has organised an empowerment programme for residents of his constituency.

    Among the beneficiaries were some physically challenged individuals.

    Even though he lost his second term bid to represent his people in the House of Representatives, he considered it necessary to still assist most of them.

    He distributed assorted empowerment facilities worth millions of naira.

    He said he must continue to do good for those people who voted for him to represent them at the National Assembly in 2015.

    Ayorinde said: “There is the need for us to continue the provision of projects that will positively touch the lives of our people. We have renovated some schools, installed transformers in some communities and done some other projects for our people.”

    The proprietor of Achievers University, Owo said he would continue to touch lives of the people in the constituency.

    Read Also: Seven feared killed in Ondo bank robbery

    He said: ”We will still have to do as much as what God enables us to do. Life must continue.”

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said the empowerment programme was the first phase, even as he said there are 400 physically challenged persons to benefit from the programme.

    According to him, the distribution of empowerment items to the beneficiaries would be in four batches.

    Some of the items distributed were wheel chairs, grinding and sewing machines and cash of N10, 000 to each of the beneficiaries.

    Many beneficiaries who spoke with Southwest Report hailed Ayorinde for his generosity, stressing that the empowerment scheme would help them enhance their economic well-being.

    They noted that the lawmaker had done a lot for the people of Owo/Ose Federal Constituency. They prayed for God’s blessings upon him.

  • Robbery: Banks shut down in Ondo Communities

    Following Monday bloody bank robbery in Ido-ani, Ose local government area of Ondo state which claimed seven lives, economic activities of the neighbouring Akoko area was on Tuesday grounded.

    All commercial banks in the four local governments especially Ikare-Akoko, the nerve centre,were shut down to customers.

    Many people who came for bank transactions waited endlessly before they returned home with regrets.

    A senior bank official who spoke in confidence recalled Monday’s attack in Idoani where many lives were lost and substantial amount of money carted away.

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    He noted that security report had not been very favorable for operation of banks in the vicinity, stressing that they would not transact business unless adequate security was guaranteed.

    A customer who came from Akunu-Akoko, Micheal Bello and another one from Irun-Akoko, Mrs Ronke Ademulegun said they were not aware of the robbery at Idoani before coming to the banks, stressing that they would remain stranded in Ikare-Akoko, since they could not get the means of returning to their respective towns because of closure of banks.

    Efforts to speak with Ikare Akoko Police Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Razak Rauf on this development failed.

  • Ondo hails CBN over N200b facility to farmers

    ONDO State has lauded the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for approving N200 billion facility to farmers of five major cash crops at a single digit interest rate.

    The cash crops are cocoa, cashew, oil palm, shea butter and sesame seeds.

    The decision to support the farmers was arrived at the bankers’ committee meeting of the apex bank.

    Commissioner for Agriculture Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati said the development is one singular opportunity Ondo State’s cash crops farmers have been yearning for ages to take their trade to the world stage.

    Adefarati, who praised God for making this possible during the present administration, noted the efforts put in place by Akeredolu, who took the battles to the highest level of the National Economic Council (NEC).

    According to him, the contention of Ondo State, a leading producer of cocoa and major producers of oil palm, is to convince the CBN to advance the facility to cocoa and oil palm sector as it did to rice farmers.

    Adefarati was of the view that with a single digit  interest rate facility, cocoa, oil palm and cashew farmers would be able to get the necessary inputs to improve their production.

    Hailing the NEC, which Akeredolu took the campaign to and the Bankers’ Committee for approving the facility for cash crop farmers, Adefarati enjoined cocoa, oil palm and cashew farmers to take advantage of the opportunity by approaching their banks to access the much-needed loan.

    He called on the Federal Government to set up a Presidential Committee on Cocoa Production like it did for some other sectors to ensure the Cocoa Rebirth Revolution, saying this is the surest way to maximise the country comparative advantages in cocoa production.

  • Over 500 buildings affected as rainstorm wreaks havoc in Ondo

    Barely four days after rainstorm devastated valuables at Ugbe, Akoko North East Local Government  of Ondo State, two other neighbouring communities of Ikare-Akoko and Supare-Akoko at the weekend  lost property worth millions to the same natural disaster.

    Sources said over 500 houses were affected in the two communities.

    In Supare-Akoko, home town of former Deputy Governor Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the only downpour devastated many houses.

    Residents were in tears. The development was the same in Ikare-Akoko, headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government.

    An eyewitness, Mr Aliu Ehinju Anobi, from Supare-Akoko,  said when the rainstorm started, people started running for their lives.

    Read also: Two new mini-grids for Ondo

    He said over 70 per cent of  buildings in the town were ravaged.

    Ehinju Anobi listed Police Station, the old palace, schools and churches as badly devastated.

    He said at Ikare-Akoko, the situation was worse as houses, especially at Igbede  and Ishakunmi, were affected because of the demolition.

    A community leader from Ishakumi in Ikare, Akoko, Chief Oluke Olamomiara, urged government to come to their aid now that buiding materials were  costly.

    The Olisupare of Supare-Akoko, Oba Kasali Adedeji,  called on the government and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist  the people.