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Edo court remands 52 youths over anti-herdsmen riot *Okpebholo warns kidnappers
An obviously angry Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has sent a clear message to kidnappers and other criminals involved in other forms of high crimes in the state – leave now – you have no place here.
The warning is coming ahead of the remand of 52 youths in the state by an Edo State High Court, for the protest that took place last weekend over the relentless attacks and kidnap of residents, which the organisers insist were perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen.
Patrick Ebojele, spokesman of the governor, quoted his boss who spoke against the growing public concerns over security in the state that decisive measures were already yielding results in the fight against kidnapping, cultism, and other criminal activities.
Giving details of how the government had made massive investments in modern security apparatus, intelligence gathering, and inter-agency collaboration to confront criminal elements head-on, Okpebholo affirmed that the issue of kidnapping, particularly, was being seriously and strategically addressed.
Warning against flippancy over security matters, which he said were sensitive and not always suitable for public debate, adding that premature disclosures could undermine operational effectiveness.
Hear him: “This administration will not allow criminals or their sponsors to take Edo State hostage. Anyone involved in kidnapping, cultism, or any form of criminality will be tracked down and brought to justice. There will be no hiding place for perpetrators.”
He reaffirmed his determination to win the battle against crime and restore lasting peace across Edo State, calling on citizens to support security agencies by providing useful information and refusing to shield criminals in their communities.
The Edo State High Court, Criminal Court 2, ordered the remand of youths involved in the protest, which rocked the Ekpoma area of the state at the Ubiaja Correctional Centre, following pleas by the prosecution for a 14-day remand period.
Videos emanating from the court showed some of the remanded protesters climbing into the Black Maria trucks conveying them to the prison facilities amid the wailing and protests from anxious relatives.
The youths, were said to be among the angry demonstrators, who took to the streets to protest against the spate of kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in the university town located in the Esan West Local Government Area, which the police claimed was hijacked and led to serious crimes.
Eno Ikoedem, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), and spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, said in a statement on Sunday that upon the commencement of the protest on Saturday, the Area Commander, Ekpoma, immediately mobilised police personnel in strategic collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure that it remained peaceful, orderly, and within the confines of the law.
Hear him: “Regrettably, the protest was hijacked, and all the rules of peaceful protest were ignored, which led to incidents, including malicious damages, looting of property, vandalisation of shops, as well as a military personnel discharging firearms at a protester.
“In response to the sudden escalation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, promptly led additional tactical reinforcements from the State Command Headquarters, Benin to Ekpoma to reinforce operational control, restore public order, and prevent further degeneration of the situation.”
It said that through coordinated deployments, strategic positioning of personnel, and professional crowd control measures, normalcy was swiftly restored across the affected areas.
The police also stated that those who engaged in acts of “violence, vandalism, and looting” were identified and arrested, while thorough investigations were ongoing to ensure that all culpable persons were brought to justice.
The statement, also stressed how Monday Agbonika, Commissioner of Police, visited a man identified as 32-year-old Osagie Abraham, who was shot during the protest, and is presently receiving medical attention at a medical centre in Ekpoma.
It said: “He has ordered the immediate and thorough investigation of the incident. Meanwhile, the military personnel involved in the shooting incident has been identified, while the appropriate military authorities have been formally notified for necessary administrative and disciplinary action in line with established protocols.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, reiterates that it is the constitutional right of citizens to engage in lawful protest and freely express their grievances. However, such protests must always be conducted peacefully, responsibly, and without infringing on the rights, safety, and property of other members of the public.”
Addressing the concerns raised by residents regarding the incidence of kidnapping, the Commissioner of Police assured the public that the Edo State Police Command was deploying intensified intelligence-led operations, strategic patrols, and targeted tactical interventions to decisively curb kidnapping across Edo State, including Ekpoma.
“It demonstrates, in the clearest possible terms, that when citizens act with unity, clarity of purpose, and resolve, they can indeed move mountains.”
These were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), reacted to Tuesday’s agreement of the 10th Senate to reverse the controversial provisions in the Electoral Amendment Bill, in which they earlier retained the discretionary provision of transmission of results of election electronically by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the coalition party, attributing the U-turn to the resilience of Nigerians, described the development as a victory for democracy and people-powered civic action.
Abdullahi, a former Minister, who called on Nigerians to stay alert and continue mounting pressure on relevant authorities until the amended bill secures presidential assent, is duly gazetted, and takes full legal effect, urged Nigerians to maintain eternal vigilance.
Following a groundswell of outrage across the country, regarding its initial decision to retain the 2022 provision and subsequent protests, which saw Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023 and Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor Rivers State, teaming up with a group of Nigerians on Monday and Tuesday, respectively, the Senate eventually bowed to pressure mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit elections to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), real time, but with a proviso to use manual collation only as a contingency in cases of technological failure.
Hailing the development, ADC stated that the recant by the lawmakers was beyond a simple legislative reversal, but a reflection of the resilience, alertness, and growing political awareness of Nigerians from all segments of society.
The statement, added: “The decision of the 10th Senate to urgently reverse the contentious provisions of the Electoral Amendment Bill that it passed is a significant victory for the Nigerian people.
“This outcome is not merely a legislative U-turn. It is a testament to the resilience, vigilance, and rising political consciousness of Nigerians across all walks of life. From street protests to digital campaigns, the Nigerian people have once again shown that sovereignty truly belongs to them.
“In the face of the ruling APC’s habitual disregard for due process and democratic values, the Nigerian people have reaffirmed their place as the ultimate custodians of our democracy.
“In this regard, the African Democratic Congress salutes the courage and tenacity of Nigerians. We commend every citizen who raised their voice, whether online or offline, to resist legislative mischief that threatened to undermine our electoral integrity.”
Calling on Nigerians to remain steadfast, stressing that the development represents only a step in the right direction, not the final victory, the party, added: “We must now ensure that this momentum is sustained until the amended bill is not only passed but duly assented to by the President, properly gazetted, and becomes an enforceable law of the Federal Republic.
“We must remain vigilant to ensure there are no last-minute betrayals or technical ambiguities, the kind that often lead to ‘stories that touch.’ Let this be a reminder that democracy does not thrive in silence or indifference. It demands participation, persistence, and sometimes, peaceful defiance.”
Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, confirmed that President Bola Tinubu has once again intervened to stem the political schism between the Rivers State House of Assembly and Siminalayi Fubara, the governor that would have led to the latter’s impeachment.
But the Minister, left a caveat – this is the last time the President would be making such an intervention – as he added that both sides would now have to work according to the terms agreed at the parley.
In the latest faceoff which started early in the year, 27 members of the assembly said to be loyal to Wike, had launched a fresh impeachment move against the governor – the third since he took office in 2023, accusing him of sundry infractions of the constitution including spending money without appropriation.
Fubara, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), last year, was believed to have run to the President for succour, whose intervention is believed to have halted the move.
Giving details of the rapprochement, Wike told reporters in Abuja, on Tuesday that the President playing a fatherly role stepped in to resolve disputes between the two parties.
His words: “He is very kind to the people of the state. If there seems to be any problem between the legislature and the governor, as a father, he really has to intervene.
“This is the second time Mr President is intervening and I believe by the grace of God that this will be the last time Mr President will intervene.”
Wike, who has since been linked to the crises from the outset and in firm grips of the lawmakers, also pointed out his own role in the matter, saying: “I have told them to obey Mr President and I know that they would not hesitate.”
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday finally sent the name of Usman Isa Dakingari, former Governor of Kebbi State to the Senate for confirmation as as a non-career ambassador after last month’s embarrassing mix-up in which his name suddenly appeared for posting to Turkey without legislative clearance.
Tinubu, in a correspondence conveying the appointment, which was read by Godswill Akpabio, said: “I write for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Usman Isa Dakingari as non-career ambassador,.
“Whilst I hope that the senate will consider and confirm the nominee expeditiously, please accept, distinguished senate president, the assurances of my highest consideration.”
After reading the letter at plenary, the Senate President, said the matter would be referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for consideration and report back to the Committee of Whole within one week.
Electoral Act: Don’t go to sleep, maintain eternal vigilance, ADC tells Nigerians
This is the last time Tinubu will intervene in Rivers’ row – Wike
Tinubu finally sends Dakingari’s name to Senate after ambassadorial posting row
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