Author: Iduozee Efe Paul

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to go on strike in three Bayelsa State Government-owned universities over the non-implementation of the 2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The affected institutions are the Niger Delta University, Bayelsa Medical University, and University of Africa. Speaking at a joint media briefing by the three ASUU branches under the Port Harcourt Zone, the lecturers expressed frustration over the government’s failure to implement the agreement. They said several letters sent to the Bayelsa State Government since February 2026 had received no response, warning that continued silence could trigger industrial action. The Zonal Coordinator…

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in collaboration with Directorate of State Security in Edo State have embarked on a peaceful sensitization protest against all form of social vices, such as kidnapping, cultism, armed robbers, terrorism and other criminal elements. The protesters who converged on the Museum premises at Ring road, came with flyers with the following inscriptions, “Edo is united against terrorism and other social vices, Say ‘No’ to Kidnapping,” marched through Edo State House of Assembly, went through Sapele road, to NBA axis, down to DSS office to register their grievances. The President Coalition of Civil Society, Comrade…

Edo State Government has demolished a building allegedly owned by a suspected kidnap kingpin in Obagie-N’Evbuosa Community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area as part of its crackdown on kidnapping and other violent crimes. The demolition was carried out by the Principal Security Officer to Governor Monday Okpebholo, alongside security agencies and the Edo State Security Squad, codenamed Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists. The squad’s spokesperson, Noah Idemudia, said the building had been identified as a hideout where kidnapped victims were allegedly kept before being moved to other locations. “We are here to demolish this building identified as a den where…

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved a ₦1 million grant for each Edo indigene evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks, as part of efforts to help them resettle and rebuild their lives. The governor announced the intervention on Monday while receiving the returnees at the Festival Hall of the Government House in Benin City. He said the financial support, which is expected to be paid within 24 hours, is intended to enable the returnees secure accommodation and avoid being stranded upon their arrival. According to Okpebholo, the state government will also provide soft loans to those willing…

Two suspected pipeline vandals have been arrested in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Their arrest followed a joint operation by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Pipeline Surveillance and Security. The suspects were arrested at a cattle market in Idumabor, Ekpoma, following intelligence reports on the activities of individuals allegedly involved in the vandalism of NNPC oil pipelines and other critical national assets. The suspects, identified as Kadiri Isah, 55, and Mustapha Naphiyu, 27, had been under surveillance by the…

The National President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Ali Alimasuya Rabiu, has extolled the exemplary attributes and qualities of late Engr. (Chief) Geoffrey Osatohanmwan Aiwerioba for the great legacy he left behind. Rabiu made the statements at the 9th public lecture organized in honour of the late Engr. Aiwerioba in Benin City, with the theme, “Strengthening Infrastructure Delivery Through Engineering Governance in Edo State.” He asserted that engineers are committed to the vision of the project of their society. “It is a great building of interest and our commitment as engineers to the development of our country.…

Residents of Iyanomon Community in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, displaced by a prolonged communal clashes have appealed to the government to urgently intervene and restore and order in the area. The appeal was made during a peaceful protest, during which women and other residents called on the authorities to bring the warring parties together and find a lasting solution to the conflict. Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mrs. Aiwekhoe Omon said although no deaths had been recorded in the latest outbreak of violence, residents were traumatized by persistent gunfire and explosions that rocked the community.…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has described the return of the Benin Bronzes as a historic milestone for the Benin Kingdom, insisting that the artefacts belong to the Oba of Benin’s Palace and should not be politicised. Governor Okpebholo stated this on Wednesday when he received the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), Olugbile Holloway, alongside the Consul General of Switzerland in Lagos, Conny Camenzind; Director of the Ethnographic Museum of the University of Zurich, Professor Dr Alice Hertzog; Curator at the museum, Dr Alex Malefakis; and other members of the delegation at the Government…

Troops of 4 Brigade have arrested 12 suspected kidnappers in Edo North and Edo Central senatorial districts. The suspects were arrested in separate operations that commenced on May 12, 2026, in the Owan East, Esan South-East, and Esan North-East Local Government Areas of the State. National Point reported that Captain Kennedy Anyanwu, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army, Benin City, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City. According to Anyanwu, the suspects were arrested during clearing operations at Ugbovbighan Village, Olelo Forest, Egoro Amede Village, and conducted cordon-and-search operations at the Rugan…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Edo State Command, have destroyed two cannabis plantations with a yield of 1,388.42 kg and arrested four suspected drug traffickers in the past one week. The Commander of Narcotics, Mitchell Ofoyeju, who is also the NDLEA Edo State commander, disclosed this on Monday, detailing the command’s achievements across the state. According to Commander Ofoyeju, NDLEA personnel, acting on credible intelligence, raided the Ago Forest in the Orhionmwon Local Government Area of the state, where two large cannabis farms were located. The farms were completely destroyed. The estimated yield of the illicit…