Connect with us

News

SAD! Edo govt laments rising widows, fatherless kids from cult related deaths

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

The Edo State Government has lamented the negative impact of cult-related killings, noting that they have increased the number of widows and fatherless children in society.

The Secretary of the Edo State Special Security Squad, popularly known as “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists,” John Izegaegbe, stated this on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, during the launch of the state government’s campaign against cultism and drug abuse in Benin City.

Izegaegbe called on all stakeholders to collaborate with the government in combating drug abuse, cultism, and cult-related crimes in the state.

He said that in a bid to tackle the menace, the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration has taken the campaign directly to schools to sensitise students on the dangers associated with drug abuse, cultism, and related crimes.

Advertisement

According to him, the campaign is aimed at catching children young.

Earlier, the Coordinator of the Edo State Special Security Squad, Idemudia Noah, said the state governor had declared zero tolerance for drug abuse and cultism.

He explained that the declaration led to the establishment of the Edo State Special Security Squad, also known as “Operation Flush Out Kidnappers and Cultists.”

Noah, who is also the Principal Security Officer (PSO) to Governor Monday Okpebholo, said that the squad, alongside security agencies and other stakeholders, visited Ihogbe College, Akenzua Senior Secondary School, Edo Boys High School, and others as part of the campaign.

Advertisement

He added that the state government initially focused its campaign on the general public but later shifted strategy to target students directly.

He disclosed that the campaign, which began in Edo South, would be extended to the Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts.

“The campaign was first taken to the society, but now we want to take our message to primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions. Even primary and secondary school students are now involved in these activities.

“Governor Okpebholo charged us to take the campaign to the grassroots to ensure cultism is eradicated from the state. Starting from secondary schools will greatly help in fighting this scourge.

Advertisement

“We started in Edo South, and we will move to Edo Central and Edo North. From Edo State, the message will spread across the nation,” he said.

On his part, Hon. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, a former member of the House of Representatives who represented the Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Constituency, described cultism, drug abuse, and substance dependency as critical social threats that continue to endanger communities.

Agbonayinma, who was also a guest speaker at the event, said cultism, drug abuse, and substance dependency destroy young lives and undermine the future of society.

He called on students to join the fight against cultism and drug abuse, stressing that neither cultism nor drug abuse is an option.

Advertisement

He also urged students to disassociate themselves from the scourge, warning that it could destroy their lives and futures.

In his remarks, the Junior Principal of Edo Boys High School, Mr Usiobafo Nicholas, commended the governor for the initiative and appealed for the creation of anti-cultism clubs in secondary schools across the state’s 18 local government areas to further spread the message.

Students of Ihogbe College, including the Head Girl, Aisosa Osakpamwan, and the Head Boy, Blessed Edomwonyi, thanked the governor for his efforts, noting that the campaign was timely and would help curb cultism in schools across the state.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

News

Makinde Hails Adeleke’s Re-election, Berates Attempt to Use Federal Might 

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, has hailed his Osun State counterpart, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, on his re-election, describing the victory as a triumph for democracy and the people of Osun State.

Makinde, who is also Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said Adeleke’s victory was a reward for his commitment to serving the people and delivering good governance.

In a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the governor commended Osun voters for demonstrating courage and determination in exercising their franchise despite what he described as violence and the use of federal power.

He urged Adeleke to see his re-election as an opportunity and encouragement to consolidate his achievements and deliver more development to the people of Osun State.

Advertisement

Makinde said the outcome of the election had once again demonstrated that power ultimately belongs to the people in a democracy.

“The results of the election proved again that the people reserve the absolute power in a democracy and that their movement will always triumph over all other considerations,” he said.

The governor also commended the people of Osun State for voting for their preferred candidate, saying their action demonstrated that the will of the electorate could prevail over political manoeuvring.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Osun election: Read What Adeleke Said After Defeating Oyebamiji

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

Osun State Governor and candidate of the Accord Party, Ademola Adeleke, has thanked God and the people of the state following his victory in the governorship election, saying he expects the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to call and congratulate him.

Adeleke, speaking after the declaration of the election result, described his victory as a triumph for democracy and a reward from the people of Osun State for his administration’s achievements.

He thanked God for what he described as a successful election, saying the outcome reflected the people’s appreciation of his administration’s efforts in infrastructure, healthcare, security and other areas.

“I thank God Almighty for this victory. It’s a victory for democracy. Victory for Osun election,” Adeleke said.

Advertisement

According to him, the result was also a way for the people of Osun to repay his administration for its efforts in improving infrastructure, healthcare and security across the state.

He said: “The victory is a way Osun people is repaying me for the infrastructural developments, health, security and other things I have delivered for my people.”

Adeleke, who adopted a conciliatory tone after the election, said there was no victor and no vanquished, while expressing optimism that his main challenger would accept the outcome.

It’s no victor, no vanquish. I am expecting for the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to call me and congratulate me,” he said.

Advertisement

The governor also attributed his victory to his faith in God, saying, “I have a God who never fails.”

Adeleke further thanked President Bola Tinubu for what he described as a successful election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke the winner of the election after he polled 511,067 votes, defeating Oyebamiji of the APC, who scored 444,815 votes.

Adeleke won in 19 of the state’s 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji won 11, giving the incumbent a 66,252-vote margin.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

NDLEA nabs India-bound bizman with cocaine, recovers N3.6b Colos, codeine in Lagos(Photos)

Published

on

ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad
ADVERTISEMENT
Zoom Ad

 

. 70-year-old grandpa nabbed, large consignments of opioids, others seized in Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo, Delta sweeps

A 48-year-old businessman Nwankwo Innocent Onyebuchi who liquidated all his assets to chase a dream of quick riches in the illicit drug trade has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja Lagos, while heading to New Delhi, India, with 1.550 kilograms of cocaine cleverly concealed within the side walls and railings of his bag.


Nwankwo who deals in marbles in Lagos was arrested at the departure hall of terminal II of the Lagos airport while attempting to board a Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi, India.

A search of his check-in bag uncovered 1.550 kilograms of cocaine factory-fitted in the walls and railings of his bag.

Advertisement

In a candid confession that lays bare the desperation that fuels the drug trade, Nwankwo said he had sold off his marble business and every asset he owned to raise the ₦23 million he paid for the consignment, with the expectation of selling it in India for as much as N100 million.

With his assets gone, and Nwankwo’s dream of transiting from a marble trader to a drug kingpin effectively shattered following his arrest, the suspect remains in custody awaiting prosecution and likely time in jail.

In another operation, NDLEA operatives acting on credible intelligence raided a warehouse within a residential compound at 20 Hakeem Dosumu street Ago Palace area of Okota, Lagos, where a massive stockpile of codeine-based syrup was discovered.

A total of 3,776 cartons, comprising 377,600 bottles of the controlled substance, valued at over N2.6 billion, were recovered between Friday 7th and Saturday 8th August 2026.
In yet another intelligence-led operation, NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 14th August raided the residence of a 55-year-old kingpin Shoremi Kayode, at 37 Ogundare street, Ipaja estate, Ipaja area of Lagos, recovering 324 kilograms of Colorado, a synthetic strain of cannabis, with a street value of Nine Hundred and Seventy-Two Million Naira (N972,000,000).

Advertisement

Also recovered from the suspect were a Mercedes-Benz car and a Toyota Corolla car.
In Kwara, two suspects: Abubakar Adamu, 50, and Bilyaminu Nuhu, 30, were on Thursday 13th August arrested at Kam Wire area of Ilorin with 55.96kg skunk in a truck marked DKA 350 XL recovered, while two other suspects: 70-year-old grandpa Abdulfatai Oyelaran and Abdulrauf Ajadi, 50, were nabbed by NDLEA officers on patrol along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ibadan, Oyo state on Wednesday 12th August. Recovered from their Toyota Sienna vehicle marked FFA-115KA, include: 52,000 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 6,000 ampoules of tramadol injection.


A total of 124,100 pills of tramadol; 786 bottles of codeine syrup; 2,598 tablets of rohypnol;
4,800 tablets of diazepam; 470 ampoules of pentazocine injection and 200 ampoules of tramadol injection were recovered from two suspects: Osaro Ikpoba, 43, and Samuel Godbless, 18, along Onitsha/Asaba expressway on Thursday 13th August, while another suspect, Emeka Tony, 50, was nabbed with 1,244 pieces of cartridges and monetary exhibit of eight million naira (N8,000,000) only along Kwale/Ozoro expressway on Wednesday 12th August.
A Toyota Corolla car with registration number MKD 341 EA was intercepted by NDLEA operatives along Riyom/Jos road, Jos Plateau state where 239,490 caps of tramaforce, a brand of tramadol were recovered and a suspect Kasum Sherif arrested.
In Kano, six suspects were arrested on Monday 10th August by NDLEA operatives on patrol along Zaria-Kano road.

They include: Okodili Ibeabuchi, 60; Onyeka Vincent, 47; Nwanko Wisdom, 36; Success Chigozie, 30; Emmanuel Jude, 27; and Chinedu Peter, 39. Large consignments of opioids were recovered from them include 728,958 pills of tramadol, rohypnol, and others as well as 360 grams of cocaine, 99.8 grams of methamphetamine, 50 bottles of codeine syrup and and 2.7 kilograms of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis.


Also in Kano, NDLEA operatives on Friday 14th August raided the Zawaciki Gida Dubu, Kumbotso LGA, where they recovered 171 blocks of skunk weighing 106.8kg and arrested two suspects: Mustapha Iliya, 30, and Abdulwahab Abdulrashid, 24 in connection with the seizure.
A total of 4,628.9775kg skunk was destroyed on two cannabis farms that measured 1.851591 hectares at Ugboku/Igbanke forest, Orhionmwon LGA, Edo state where a suspect Agholor Elebojie, 40, was arrested in one of the farms during a raid by NDLEA operatives on Wednesday 12th August. Another suspect, Kingsley Anigala, 28, was nabbed with 25.857kg Loud and 93 grams of meth during a raid of drug joints at Oluku area of Benin city on Friday 14th August.


The War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy activities by NDLEA Commands equally continued across the country in the past week. Some of them include: WADA sensitization lecture delivered to students and staff of Madarasatu Sheikh Muhammad Rabi’u Arabic School, Kano and Olomu Junior Secondary School, Ajah, Lagos state, among others.

While commending the officers, men and women of MMIA, Lagos, Kano, Kwara, Edo, Plateau, Oyo and Delta Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) also praised their counterparts in all the commands across the country for pursuing a fair balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction efforts.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News