Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia has declared that it is an insult for him and the people of the state to say that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), George Akume, will decide their fate in the 2027 governorship elections.
Alia maintained that Benue electorate would vote him for second term based on his “performance, pedigree and precedence.”
The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, stated this while reacting to the comments credited to the Senator representing Benue North West senatorial District, Titus Zam, that the people of the State will wait for directions from Akume in 2027.
Speaking during his empowerment programme held in Wannune, the hometown of SGF George Akume, on Saturday, the Senator Zam, vowed not to disappoint Akume like Governor Hyacinth Alia.
“I promised Akume I will not disappoint him and I will continue to be loyal to Akume, my leader. I decided to hold this event at Akume hometown, Wannune as a sign of respect I have for him. I will not humiliate or disappoint Akume like Governor Hyacinth Alia,” Zam said
However, Alia maintained that the people, not, Akume or anyone else, would collectively decide his fate in 2027.
According to Kula, “This is the highest insult to the sensitivity of the Benue electorate. Zam should know that the political awareness of the people is more advanced than it was in 2019.
“It is only a madman who keeps doing the same thing but expects different results. Benue people are wiser.
“No individual will decide the fate of Benue people in 2027. Benue people will collectively decide. Alia has done one term and second term is won on performance, pedigree and precedence.
“What will determine direction for the 2027 general elections in Benue “is purely performance and pedigree.
“Those who betrayed the people that voted them into power; those who failed woefully to deliver on their mandate; those who preferred to worship emperors than fulfil their covenant with the people will face judgment from the people.
“No emperor can decide any election for the people. Alia is diligently and meticulously keeping his covenant with the people, and the people are there, much aware of developments around them to pass their verdict.
“The people have seen everything and they feel development and then what should somebody else will come and tell them something different to what they have seen.
“Akume cannot come and tell Benue people what to do in 2027. People are politically enlightened enough. They are seeing what is happening and still sit and wait for Akume to tell you what to do?
“That is the greatest insult on the sensitivity of Benue people because whatever they have seen they will still sit and wait for Akume to come and tell them what to do.”
Residents of Iboropa in Akoko North-East Local Government Area, Ondo State, were mortified after an elderly woman was allegedly ra3ed and killed by a young man believed to be in his early 20s.
The suspect, whose exact age has not been officially confirmed is currently in police custody.
The age of the victim has also not been formally disclosed, but community sources described her as an elderly woman well known in the area.
Sources in the community revealed that the suspect was arrested following investigations by security operatives after the body of the woman was discovered under suspicious circumstances.
It was gathered that the suspect was later brought to the community by Police Officers for identification at the scene of the incident, a development that attracted a large crowd of residents.
A video circulating on social media showed the suspect allegedly speaking while in custody, which residents claimed was part of the investigation process, although the content has not been officially confirmed by the police.
The incident reportedly caused tension in Iboropa Akoko, as angry youths and residents gathered when the suspect was brought to the scene. Security operatives had to hurriedly whisked the suspect away to prevent the situation from degenerating.
While confirming the incident, the Ondo State Police Command confirmed the arrest and gave the suspect age as 21-year-old and name Alabi Anthony.
It added that Alabi was being held in connection with the tragic death of one Olaseni Veronica ‘f’ in Iboropa, Akoko area of the state.
“Following credible intelligence, detectives promptly launched an investigation, which led to the tracking of the deceased’s missing phone and the subsequent arrest of the suspect.
“The suspect has confessed to the crime, admitting to having carnal knowledge of the victim and thereafter strangling her to death.
“The Command condemns this heinous and inhumane act and assures the public that justice will be diligently pursued. The case has been transferred to Headquarters, Akure for further discreet investigation and prosecution.
“The Commissioner of Police urges members of the public to promptly report suspicious incidents and avoid hasty conclusions in cases of sudden or unnatural deaths, as timely reporting greatly aids effective investigation.”
Leveraging on the efficiency of the Close Circuit Television, (CCTV) the Ondo State Police Command has been able to track three suspected kidnappers and rescued three of their victims.
The three suspects are being held in connection with an alleged kidnapping incident captured on a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera in Oda, Akure.
Command’s spokesman Abayomi Jimoh explained in a statement that “the arrest followed the circulation of CCTV footage on social media showing the abduction of a victim by suspected criminals in the Oda area of Akure.
“Upon receiving the footage, the Command immediately activated its intelligence team, leveraging digital surveillance analysis and coordinated field operations to identify and apprehend the suspects.
“Acting on credible intelligence and investigative leads derived from the footage, operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Squad carried out targeted operations which led to the arrest of one of the suspects.
“During interrogation, the suspect provided useful information that led to the subsequent arrest of two other accomplices believed to have played active roles in the incident and who were also captured in the CCTV footage.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects played various roles in the commission of the alleged kidnapping.
“They are identified as; Mohammed Koro ‘m’ aged; 27yrs, Muhammad Usman ‘m’ aged; 30yrs and Musa Alhaji ‘m’ aged; 23yrs.
“However, operational efforts have culminated in the successful rescue of three victims earlier kidnapped by the syndicate, namely: (1) Tosin Adesida ‘F’, (2) Adeniran Adesuyi ‘M’, and (3) Adewunmi Adewusi ‘M’.
“They have been debriefed and taken to nearest hospital for medical attention. The suspects have made useful confessional statements, which are aiding ongoing efforts to ensure the arrest of other syndicate members. They will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.”
I first became aware of the exploits of Mr. Omoyele Sowore during his days as a student activist. At 54, I believe we belong to roughly the same generational cohort. Over the years, I have followed his trajectory with mixed feelings – at times with admiration, at others with a measure of unease – particularly through Sahara Reporters. The platform, in my observation, has often been sharply critical of Mr. Peter Obi. My first personal encounter with Sowore was in Rhode Island, at a symposium organised by Chinua Achebe at Brown University, Providence, United States, around 2012.
Like most of us, he has grown with age and experience. To be honest with myself, I must acknowledge that I have come to admire what Omoyele Sowore represents in recent times. Have you watched his press conferences lately? While speaking, one can immediately detect that he possesses a mind filled with enthusiasm and ardour for action. He appears ready to carry the revolutionary mantle, provided the people are willing to rally behind him. He is always execrating tyranny with declamatory passion and enthroning liberty as nobler than life.
In many respects, he stands as the closest contemporary parallel to Gani Fawehinmi: fearless in activism, unapologetic in his voice, and remarkably consistent in his call for systemic change, even revolution. From his activism, one could detect the puritan zeal of Martin Luther, a relentless drive to confront corruption and to call for a moral and structural cleansing of the system, regardless of the consequences. The vices he confronts publicly are the very ones many Nigerians privately resent, yet often choose not to challenge for their peace of mind. What is apparent today, as always, is that many Nigerians are too weak of wing for a revolutionary flight. But let us even ask: does Nigeria truly need a revolution?
Mr Peter Obi
Yes, if by revolution we mean the weeding out of the evil structures that have produced our present condition, so that something new may be built in their place. I have myself, in earlier writings and even in my philosophical dissertation, engaged revolution as a necessary rupture with a broken order. Few honest observers, seeing Nigeria today, can deny the grief or the desire for a fundamental reset of the status quo. Yet revolution is not only about destruction; it can also be gradual, strategic, and almost imperceptible so that transformation is completed before the old order fully understands what has happened.
In Nigeria today, the two most visible currents of reformist energy are represented by Mr. Sowore and Mr. Peter Obi. Sowore is younger, more impatient, and believes change must come through immediate and total rupture. It may sound incredible, but it is true that around him are figures such as VeryDarkMan, Aisha Yesufu, Mama P, Peter Randy Akah, Mazi Odera, Tai, Maccool, Charly Boy, the Obidients, Magnus Oraka, Dr. Akpoki, Tanko Yunusa, Kingland, Dele Farotimi, Femi Falana, Aluta, and many other Nigerians who embody a deep and often righteous anger at a country that persistently knows the right thing yet repeatedly does the opposite.
On the other hand, there is the more restrained but equally influential current represented by Peter Obi. Those queuing behind Sowore only see Obi as the best available vehicle towards the ultimate destination. Obi is more mature in temperament, shaped by experience within governance, and inclined toward institutional engagement. He speaks consistently and forcefully about Nigeria’s structural and moral decay with greater persistence than most political actors. His method is more strategic, measured, and reformist rather than disruptive. His daily tweets have become a tocsin, calling on the government to recognize the impunity they commit daily while prescribing a rational course of action. If his approach is not impactful in its own way, why is he so often the most attacked – or even the only attacked – opposition figure? Once he tweets or makes an observation, e-rats, paid by the government, sally together to attack him like antibodies gathering to attack an infection. Indeed, his tweets have become bulwarks against the insolence of those in power. Have you not noticed that content creators across social media in Nigeria frequently draw upon the ideas in his tweets?
Omoyele Sowore
If Omoyele Sowore represents revolutionary fire, Peter Obi represents disciplined caution. The tension between them is therefore not merely personal but philosophical: if all is fire, society burns; if all is cold, society freezes. We shall return to resolving that tension later.
Is Sowore’s relentless attack on Obi the way to resolve that tension? One can easily distil three strains in what he says about Obi: moral outrage, revolutionary impatience, and a suspicion of compromise. He speaks doubtfully of the money Obi left behind, suggests that Obi is living outside Anambra because he did not do much to improve it, and argues that Obi cannot be disentangled from the “bad company” he keeps.
As Governor, his record remains unequalled. Many years after he left office, ThisDay Newspapers crowned him the Best Governor of the Decade. As Governor, Obi was unarguably a progressive force, establishing political stability after the initials up and down, restoring order, protecting life and property, reassuring the people, aiding industry; he advanced half a century during his eight years in the saddle. It is difficult to deny that his administration left a distinct imprint of restraint and efficiency, even among critics.
Contrary to what Sowore says, Obi left the funds he claimed and owed no kobo to anyone upon leaving office. Those who assert that the money was already encumbered are not being truthful to themselves. Many years later, the former Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Darius Ishaku noted that former Governor Willie Obiano told him it was the money Obi left that he used to build an airport. We also know to whom the dollars were sold and at what rate. This is the line of inquiry that figures like Sowore should pursue, rather than attacking a man he should see as a partner in progress. Regarding residency, Obi has lived in Onitsha since leaving office and merely visits Lagos, Abuja, and other locations from that base.
With an exaggeration of indignation, Sowore called Obi “a packaged fraud.” He sometimes frames Obi’s measured and mature approach as compromise, accusing him of “dining with the forces of destruction.” He occasionally regards such measured actions as a gentlemanly protest, easily forgotten and unlikely to bear substantial fruit. This reflects a deeper philosophical divide between reform from within and rupture from without. Let us turn to the history of the Reformation to make this point clearer.
History offers a useful analogy. Desiderius Erasmus advocated internal reform of the Church when the institution was in decay, believing that renewal could occur without total breakdown. He had his points. Martin Luther, influenced by the urgency of reformist critique, pursued a rupture that permanently divided Christendom – a division from which it has yet to fully recover, as evidenced by the fragmentation of Christianity into countless sects. Today, Erasmus is still accused of having laid the eggs that Luther hatched. The tension between Erasmus and Luther, in some sense, mirrors the tension between Obi and Sowore.
Obi’s approach resembles that of Desiderius Erasmus: cautious reform, institutional engagement, and gradual correction of decay. He dines with some purveyors of darkness without being contaminated by them. Sowore’s approach resembles that of Martin Luther: confrontation, rupture, and the belief that the system itself may be too compromised for slow repair. Who is right? Both are, but remember: if we are too hot, we will all get burnt; if we are too cold, we shall be frozen.
But disagreement does not justify hostility. The intensity of attacks directed at Obi often appears disproportionate and, more often than not, analytically weak. Critique becomes particularly problematic when it shifts from engagement with facts to the creation of suspicion as a default posture. This has led some to believe that Sowore is merely a rabble-rouser, driven by an elevated passion for fame. When public discourse begins to treat all actors as morally indistinguishable, it risks collapsing into cynicism. At that point, activism loses its critical edge and becomes virtually indistinguishable from the posturing of figures like Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, and Daniel Bwala. They are nurturing misguided progenies like the Adichies and Ejimofors of this world.
Within the wider activist ecosystem, voices like Mama P often express admiration for Sowore’s courage, commitment, and passion. Yet, they also question the necessity of direct hostility toward Obi. Did you notice that she challenged Sowore only with difficulty? It raises a fundamental question: why should opposition forces turn on one another, leaving the common enemy unchallenged, when their energies should be aligned toward shared objectives? Many observers therefore argue that both streams of energy, the fiery, uncompromising drive of Sowore and the measured, strategic engagement of Obi, should be viewed as complementary rather than antagonistic. When properly channelled, these currents of activism could reinforce each other, creating a synergy capable of challenging entrenched corruption, advancing structural reform, and holding power to account. By allowing internecine conflict to dominate the discourse, the activist community risks dissipating its collective energy, weakening its moral authority, and undermining the very causes it seeks to champion. In short, collaboration, not confrontation, may well be the most revolutionary act of all. What would it be like, and how would Nigerians react, if Sowore’s battle cry now were: “My elder brother, Mr. Peter Obi, if the ADC frustrates you, come to our party”?
The deeper issue, then, is not Sowore versus Obi as personalities, but how a society manages the balance between revolutionary urgency and reformist patience. As Aristotle reminds us, virtue often lies in the mean between extremes. By applying the concept of the mean, we shall avoid being burnt by the fire or frozen by the cold.
The writer does not claim certainty about the path forward. But it is increasingly clear that Nigeria’s renewal will not be achieved through antagonism among its reform-minded actors. Whether through confrontation or gradualism, both energies may ultimately be necessary.
Perhaps the real danger is not disagreement itself, but the possibility – just a possibility – that Mr. Peter Randy Akah’s Master Strategist is at work, subtly sowing seeds of discord here and there. The real challenge, therefore, is not simply choosing between fire and caution or Sowore and Obi, but recognising when external forces manipulate these energies for strategic advantage. The survival and renewal of Nigerian democracy may ultimately depend on the ability of its reformist and revolutionary actors to maintain cohesion, exercise discernment, and direct their collective action toward genuine reform rather than internal fragmentation.
The Delta State Police Command on Saturday March 21, 2026, informed that it has arrested 11 more suspects in connection with the se3ual assault unleashed on women in Ozoro, Delta State.
This is as the Command vowed to identify, arrest and prosecute all those involved in the despicable act.
The police had earlier on Friday, apprehended four suspected prime masterminds of the dastardly incident.
The source reports that a viral video online on Friday March 20, 2026, depicting the se3ual harassment of young ladies, during a purported local festivity (Value-Do Festival) in Uruamudhu Community of Ozoro Kingdom had provoked widespread national and international outrage and condemnation.
Some male youths were shown in the video footage stripping and se3ually molesting their female victims who were adjudged to have violated the rules of the festival by coming outside.
A statement from the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, Bright Idafe, said the arrest of the additional eleven suspects brings the total number of those apprehended to fifteen.
According to Idafe, preliminary findings indicated that the atrocious and outrageous act was perpetrated by some criminal elements hiding under the guise of the celebration of cultural heritage.
“Acting on the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, operatives of CP-SAT, conducted a thorough analysis of available video evidence and intelligence.
“This led to the arrest of 11 additional suspects: Sampson Atukpodo , Steven Ovie ,Ugbevo Sampson ,Afoke Akporobaro , Evidence Oguname ,and six others.
“These latest arrests bring the total number of suspects currently in custody in connection with the incident to fifteen.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta state Command CP Aina Adesola condemns these acts in totality, and reassures the public that the Command remains resolute in its determination to ensure that all those involved are identified, arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“Members of the public, particularly victims and witnesses are once again encouraged to come forward with credible information that will aid ongoing investigations.
“The Command assured that all information provided will be treated with strict confidentiality”, the police statement added.
The Delta State Government had earlier condemned the incident, describing it as despicable and offensive.
In a statement from the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information Charles Aniagwu, the State Government noted that such barbaric act ,has no place in any descent society.
“The Delta State Government strongly condemns the harassment of ladies and reported cases of rape during the Ozoro Festival.
“Such barbaric acts are totally unacceptable, and have no place in our society”, the Delta State Government stated.
The recent political realignments in Kano and the festering struggle for the control of the Emirate throne have taken their toll on the unity of the State with three separate prayers held on Friday during the Eid-El-Fitr celebrations.
The Source reports that traditionally, and under normal circumstances, the Eid prayers are conducted at the expansive Kofar Mata Eid Praying Ground in the city centre.
However, during this year’s Sallah celebrations, three separate Eid prayers were conducted with the 16th Emir Mohammad Sanusi II leading the Kofar Mata Eid ground prayers where Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf ,and his cabinet members and other Government appointees were in attendance.
The second prayer session of the day was held by the factional 15th Emir Aminu Bayero at his Nasarawa mini Palace featuring some Federal Government appointees, with Sheikh Kamarudeen Albasu conducting the prayers.
The Kwankwasiyya movement leader, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and the Kano State Deputy Governor, Comrade Aminu Abdulssalam Gwarzo, led other prominent figures in the third major prayer session of the day held at the Milner Road residence of Senator Kwankwaso.
The three separate prayers highlighted the seemingly intractable ,and irreconcilable differences that have permeated Kano traditional leadership and governance space in recent times.
Since May, 2024, factional Emirs Bayero and Sanusi have been battling for the soul of the Kano Emirate throne resulting in the duo maintaining parallel palaces.
While Emir Sanusi holds sway at the Kofar Kudu main Palace, his rival, Bayero holds Court at the Nasarawa mini palace close to Kano Government House.
The insistence of the two contending Emirs to lead and conduct parallel Sallah Dubar festivities ,have equally led to the traditional ceremonies being put on hold by security agencies over fears of possible break down of law and order since 2024 .
Instructively, the recent political alignments in the State which has seen Governor Yusuf parting ways with his erstwhile political godfather, Senator Kwankwaso to join forces with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his All Progressive Congress APC have similarly served to escalate the division within the leadership and governance space of the commercial nerve centre of the Northern region of Nigeria.
Before now, Governor Yusuf and Senator Kwankwaso were united in backing the 16th Emir Sanusi while the Federal Government, through its institutions and political allies including Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje the immediate past National Chairman of the APC supported Emir Bayero.
The political alignment is perceived to be at the heart of the polarization of the Eid prayers. Until now, and despite the struggle for the control of the Emirate stool, all combatants had converged on the Kofar Mata Eid Ground with the prayers led by neutral Clerics.
Suspected hired hoodlums on Friday, March 20, 2026, violently disrupted a political gathering by the women wing of the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Eleme Local Council of Rivers State.
The source reports that the latest attack comes on the heels of a similar violent disruption of the flag-off of the ADC e-registeration exercise in the home town of former Governor of Rivers state Rotimi Amaechi, Ubima community, Ikwerre Local Government Area,of the State a couple weeks back.
According to reports, the hired thugs in their numbers invaded the venue of the launch of an ADC Young Women Forum in Eleme and violently disrupted and dispersed the gathering, as well as destroyed canopies public address systems ,chairs and other materials set for the event.
The attackers who were said to have been led by a serving Councilor of the Eleme Local Government Area, reportedly warned the organizers and others that no ADC event will be allowed in the area without an expressed approval from his office.
The hoodlums also insisted that the programme will not be allowed because the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has not signaled the commencement of campaigns by political parties.
But reacting to the development, the National Coordinator of the ADC Young Women Forum Ms Atosemi Oma-Uwame, while condemning the action of the hoodlums, also described the incident as a direct assault on the country’s democratic arrangement.
“We gathered here today to inaugurate the ADC Young Women Forum in Eleme LGA. Thugs led by a Ward Councillor disrupted our meeting.
“The Councillor claimed that we did not obtain approval from his office. But we did not come here for campaign, rather for a gathering of ADC young women in my Eleme constituency.
“They said that if I want to host an event in the community, I should not use the name of ADC or mention my political party” Oma-Uwame stated.
The Women Coordinator however informed that she had earlier been warned by some people suspected to be close to the said Councillor not to attempt the hosting of any ADC-related events in the area.
“The disruption of our meeting is an attempt to stifle democracy.and prevent political engagements”, she added .
A community leader and five others in Delta State are assisting the Police in investigation into alleged se*ual assaults that occurred during a local event in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state.
Their arrests followed the circulation of disturbing videos from Oramudu Quarters in Ozoro, which reportedly captured the molestation and se*ual assault of young women during the event.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday during the annual celebration in Ozoro, where some local customs allegedly restrict women from moving freely during certain periods of the event.
While there were claims that some victims may have been ra*ed, authorities said such allegations were yet to be officially verified.
Reacting earlier, Edafe described the incident as “alarming, disgusting and embarrassing,” stressing that the police command condemned the acts in strong terms.
“No custom or tradition is superior to the rights of citizens,” he said, while urging members of the public with useful information to assist ongoing investigations.
The Delta State Government also condemned the development, describing it as barbaric and unacceptable.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, called on security agencies to ensure that all those responsible are brought to justice.
“No group should hide under the guise of a festival to commit criminal acts,” he said, urging organisers of cultural events to prioritise safety and put adequate measures in place to prevent a recurrence.
The state government reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on gender-based violence, warning that offenders would face the full weight of the law
In a statement issued on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, said the Commissioner of Police, Aina Adesola, expressed grave concern over the incident and strongly condemned the acts, describing them as criminal, inhumane, and a gross violation of the victims’ fundamental rights and dignity.
According to the statement, the chief organiser of the event, identified as Chief Omorede Sunday, along with four other suspects, has been arrested.
The police also confirmed the arrest of the head of Oramudu community in connection with the incident.
The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a comprehensive probe.
He also directed the deployment of tactical and investigative teams to identify and apprehend all individuals involved.
“The Command unequivocally condemns such acts in their entirety. Acts of se*ual violence are criminal and unacceptable under any guise,” the statement noted.
The police called on victims and witnesses to come forward with useful information that could aid the ongoing investigation, assuring that all information would be handled with strict confidentiality and professionalism.
Adesola further appealed to residents of the state to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding, reiterating the Command’s commitment to protecting lives, upholding citizens’ rights, and ensuring that all perpetrators are brought to justice.
The Delta State Police Command assured that those found culpable in the incident would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Following the shock that trailed the viral video of some Igbinedion School Students, bullying a fellow Student, the Edo State Police Command on Saturday, announced the arrest of the suspected Students.
The Police said that all the suspects involved in the blood chilling bullying at the Igbinedion Education Centre are presently in their custody.
Recall that last week, the Social Media was awash with the viral video from the School, showing some students being beaten, flogged and kicked by supposed Senior Students.
The State Command, in a statement by its spokesman, Eno Ikoedem, said the arrests were made after investigation and the suspects would be charged to the family Court in accordance with laws guiding juvenile justice and child protection.
The statement read: “The Edo State Police Command wishes to update the general public on the viral bullying incident which has generated widespread concern and public reactions across the state.
According to the Police,
“Following a thorough and painstaking investigation, the Command confirms that all individuals directly connected to the incident have been identified, while those implicated have been apprehended and will be charged to the family court in accordance with extant laws guiding juvenile justice and child protection.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident originated on Thursday 5/03/2026 when two female students, names withheld, both aged 14, had a disagreement with a fellow student. During the altercation, the said student reportedly uttered offensive words directed at their late father, specifically saying, ‘Ogun kill your papa.’
“Angered by the remark, the girls allegedly attacked the student after school hours. In the course of the assault, a parent, who had come to pick up her son, intervened but the two girls, still enraged, turned on the woman, physically confronting her and dragging her clothes. The school management subsequently intervened and expelled the girls for engaging in violent conduct.
“On the following day (06/03/2026), a retaliatory incident occurred. The male student, whose mother was earlier assaulted, attacked the victim in the viral video in what has been identified as a revenge assault, which was recorded and posted by one of the students. The victim being the brother of the girls that assaulted his mother.
“The Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate deployment and intensification of the Operation Safe Schools Initiative across secondary schools in Edo State, with a mandate to identify the gap in supervision and leverage lessons learnt in this matter, to prevent a recurrence.
“Additionally, the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices has been mobilised to engage students and school administrators through advocacy, sensitisation, and reorientation programmes.
“The Command, therefore, urges parents, guardians, and school authorities to take greater responsibility in the moral upbringing and supervision of their children and wards, while advising students to shun violence and report grievances through appropriate channels.
“While appealing to members of the public to remain calm, the Command assures that proactive steps are being taken to ensure that justice is not only served but that measures are also emplaced to prevent a reoccurrence.”
The Command stated that it remained committed to maintaining law and order and safeguarding all residents, especially children.
Ondo State Police Command has confirmed a fire incident at Ode- Aye in Okitipupa Local Government Area which burnt to death two siblings.
Already, investigation has commenced, to determine the cause of the fire which razed a private building in the community.
Initial reports indicate that the inferno claimed the lives of two young children, identified as Queen Ohwo (female, 6 years), Everlyne Ohwo (female, 4 years) both daughters of Mr.and Mrs. Peter Ohwo .
According to reports, Police operatives visited the scene promptly where photographs were taken and necessary documentation carried out.
The remains of the victims, severely burnt, were evacuated to the Health Centre in Ode-Aye. The parents of the deceased, who were present at the scene, were in deep shock and are traumatized.
It added that preliminary investigation suggests that the fire may have resulted from negligence during cooking activities.
However, the State Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Lawal, has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the incident to ascertain the exact cause and circumstances surrounding the fire outbreak.
The Divisional Police Officer in Ode-Aye has been directed to cordon off the scene, obtain statements from relevant witnesses, and collaborate with the Federal Fire Services to determine the extent and origin of the fire.
The Command commiserated with the bereaved family over the loss and urged members of the public to exercise utmost caution in handling fire and cooking appliances to prevent similar tragedies.
