The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Owan East

  • Edo assembly condemns murder of four policemen in Afuze

    The Edo House of Assembly on Monday condemned the gruesome murder of four policemen in Afuze, Owan East Local Government Area of the state.

    The four deceased policemen are: Mr Ojo Kosemani (DPO), Insp. Isaac Sadoh, Sgt Justina Aghomon and Glory David.

    Mr. Foly Ogedengbe, (APC-Owan East) who brought up the incident under matter of urgent public importance, called on members of the National Assembly to prevail on the president to adequately fund the police force.

    The motion was seconded by Mr Henry Okhurabo, (APC Ikpoba-Okha)

    Moving the motion, Ogedengbe said it is the duty of government to protect the lives and property of the citizens adding that the constitution guaranteed the right to life of all persons in Nigeria.

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    “It will be recalled that in July 2018, four police officers were gruesomely killed and burnt in their official Hilux van in Oke-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area of the state.

    “The security situation in the state is becoming worrisome. The police who are saddled with the responsibility of providing security are now at the receiving end,” he said.

    Ogedengbe also called on the state government to beef up security in Owan East and other local government areas to forestall a re-occurrence of the heinous and dastardly act.

    Other lawmakers also condemned the dastardly act and called on the state government to take urgent steps to rehabilitate the vandalised police station at Afuze to ensure effective security service delivery.

    NAN recalled that unidentified gunmen had on March 12, killed four policemen including the DPO in Afuze Police station.

  • INEC begins distribution of sensitive materials in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Edo, on Thursday began the distribution of sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas in the state for Saturday’s rescheduled elections.

    The first batch of the materials left the Benin branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in an articulated truck at about 9.30 a.m.

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    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, told newsmen that the vehicle was conveying the materials to Uhunmwonde, Owan East, Owan West and Akoko-Edo Local Government Areas.

    The truck was accompanied by some buses conveying security personnel and political party agents.

    “The second batch of materials are loaded into another truck under the watchful eyes of security and party agents and the truck is heading to Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central Local Government Areas.

    “The third truck is going to be loaded now with materials meant for Esan West, Esan Central, Esan North-East, Esan South-East and Igueben local government areas,” he said.

    According to Alex-Hart, the process is going on smoothly under the watchful eyes of security personnel and the party agents.

    “Hopefully, in the next few hours all the materials would have left the CBN to various local government areas.’’

  • Group vows to stop Alimekhena from campaigns in Owan

    The Owan Renaissance has vowed to stop candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC)  for Edo North Senatorial district, Senator Francis Alimekhena from campaigning in Owan Federal Constituency.

    It said Senator Alimekhena did not attract any project to both Owan East and Owan West local government areas.

    Coordinator of the group, Dr. Sam Aiyokha, in a press statement made available in Bénin City accused Senator Alimekhena of only attracting projects to three local governments out of six local governments that made up the senatorial district.

    Dr. Aiyokha said the group would mobilize support for President Muhammadu Buhari and other candidates of the APC but would find it difficult to support Alimekhena.

    He said other Senators that represented the district before Alimekhena ensured projects are evenly distributed across the six local government areas.

    Spokesman for Senator Alimekhena, Mr. Ben Atu, could not be reached for comments.

  • Edo: Commissioner flees as congress turns violent in Owan East

    Edo State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Jimoh Ijegbai, on yesterday fled for his life as suspected thugs invaded the venue of the Local Government Congress of the All Progressive Congress in Owan East Local Government Area.

    There were sporadic gunshots as party supporters who had gathered to celebrate the outcome of the congress scampered for safety.

    The fracas which occurred at Afuze, happened when party leaders in the locality were having a meeting to arrive at a consensus list of local government executives.

    It was learnt that the party leaders in Owan East had met on Friday night and agreed to go for harmonisation instead of going for election.

    Party members who had gathered at the secretariat waiting for the outcome of the meeting were chased away even as a 75-year old man was locked inside.

    The lawmaker representing Owan Federal Constituency, Hon Pally Iriase, said the crisis was because some persons wanted to jettison the directive of the National Executive Council of the APC that all zoning arrangement should be maintained.

    Commissioner Ijegbai, in a chat with newsmen, said it was worrisome that Afuze that  used to be peaceful has suddenly become a terrible place during election.