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Nigerian Government To Engage Militants Over Kidnapping, Others

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Amid the incessant cases of sea piracy and kidnapping at the coastal communities in Oron, Akwa Ibom State, the President General of Oro Development Union, Sir Esang Nsa Bassey in this interview urged Akwa Ibom State government to seek audience with the ex-militants who have expressed willingness to stop their nefarious activities. He also expressed dismay at the delay in the realization of Ibaka deep seaport, among other issues.

The Federal government in 2013 proposed to construct a bridge for Oron-Calabar River, what is the update?

Actually, the contract for the construction of the bridge was awarded in 2013 under the leadership of Goodluck Jonathan without funding the project. We hope that the present Federal government will mobilize contractors to complete the bridge. It’s about 13.5km. The bridge when completed will ease movement from the South South region to the North East region of the country and boost the economy. Even the people of Northern Cross River will equally benefit. We urge the federal government to make funding arrangements immediately. Oron remains a coastal town and a Nigeria window to other countries such as Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, among others.

So we want the federal government to reactivate that project, resolve what held it back. They would have signed the funding agreement but there came the issue of alignment where the bridge should start and where it should stop, so we want them to speedily resolve what was the problem. Also we have the issue of our seashores being constantly washed away; the federal government, since it is their duty, should protect our shorelines so that it will not go beyond what we are having at the moment.

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Is there any problem between Akwa Ibom State government and Oro nation because Uyo, Nsit Atai, Okobo road have remained uncompleted for many years unlike other road projects?

As a people, we don’t have any problem with the Akwa Ibom State government. Since 1999, the five local governments in Oro have been supporting the state government even up to this moment but I can’t understand why we’ve been marginalized and our road remains like that up till this moment. I will say the present administration is trying to do something about it, until they do it, it is what it is. The truth is that unless you develop Oro the whole Akwa Ibom State remains undeveloped. Thank God that the state government is trying to do something on parts of the roads. While the state government is doing that, we call on the federal government to work on the trunk A road- Oron-Uyo Ikot-Ekpene-Aba. The portion between Aba Ikot Ekpene is under construction but Uyo Oron, Ikot Ekpene Axis of trunk A road should be awarded to good contractors and the project completed as soon as possible, it is something that will boost the economy of the area.

Honestly, Ibaka deep seaport has been embroiled in politics over the years, the Federal government set up an implementation committee to deliver the port within two years, what happened thereafter we cannot comprehend. Till today, the state government has not told us why the federal government had to leave, why the name has to change from Ibaka deep seaport to Ibom deep seaport and where the new location of the seaport is.

I think one day the seaport will be constructed at Ibaka because it has a natural bay; as I said earlier, unless you develop Oron, the rest of the Akwa Ibom State will remain undeveloped, because if you can’t develop a seaport there, I don’t see how this state can develop economically and benefit from blue sea economy that the present federal government is championing. Go to Lagos State, they have Tin Can Island, Apapa wharf, then Lekki seaport and they are building another one in Badagry and we are here struggling to get one seaport.

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I think we should understand that when the port is constructed, it’s not only Oro people that will benefit from it, everybody will benefit from that. So, nobody should try to stifle the project thinking to stop Oro people from benefiting from it. Also, if the state government allows the proposed solution hub of the NNPC to come up, it will also bring development to the state.

Are you not worried that the Maritime Academy upgraded to a university is yet to commence operation?

Yes we are very worried that Maritime Academy is yet to function as a university after the law establishing it received assent by the then President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022. What is remaining now is for the Federal government to constitute the governing council and appoint a Vice Chancellor. We hope that the senate president, Chief Godswill Akpabio will look into it as he promised and ensure its full implementation.

The rate of sea piracy and kidnapping in Oron is getting too high, what are the measures put in place by the union to address it?

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Insecurity has become a problem all over the country. We know that it is getting high in Oron, a once bubbling community and market in Oron is now a ghost town due to the activities of these people.

When I assumed office, I had a meeting with the ex-militants in this area, they paid me a courtesy visit and issues of insecurity, sea piracy, kidnapping were raised and they (ex-militants) assured me that they would work with me to ensure that insecurity is addressed. If you look at other parts of the country, the governments are using them (ex-militants) to maintain peace by giving them contracts to protect the area as well as pipelines.

So, why is our state government not adopting that? Why is our state government refusing to speak with these ex-militants who agreed to stop militancy and incessant kidnapping in Oron? They said they need the government to assist them in terms of funding and engage them. I use the opportunity to call on the Akwa Ibom State government to address the issues of ex-militants in Oron so as to curb the insecurity issues bedeviling the area.

Since the creation of Akwa Ibom State, we’ve had prominent sons and daughters of Oron in government but none has become the governor, do you still have hope that the Oron nation will produce a governor in the near future?

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I have great hope that one day we will have a governor of Oron extraction; we are standing on a three tripod, the other two have had their turn and Oron will one day occupy the hilltop mansion. Irrespective of the marginalization of Oron people, we will get there. All I know is that political power is not given, it is worked for, we shall raise our sons and daughters who will have the will to work for the power, grab it and run with it.

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Metro

Gunmen kill one, abduct another same day Soludo announced amnesty for criminals

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Gunmen operating in Anambra State on Tuesday night shot dead an unidentified man, abducting one more from his vehicle.

The two men were attacked in Ifitedunu community, Dunukofia Local Government Area, while travelling in a Nissan SUV with Lagos registration number; SMK 439 HJ.

This happened the same day that the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo announced total war against criminals in the state while also giving amnesty to repentant criminals.

A viral video circulating on social media showed the body of the slain man in the car, while the driver who was travelling with him was abducted by the criminals.

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Members of the Ifitedunu community vigilante who rushed to the scene said the incident happened around 8pm. A voice in the video said the men were chased from a neighbouring community to Ifitedunu by men driving an ash-coloured Lexus Jeep.

They said items in the car showed that the men were returning for Christmas while calling on anyone who knew the vehicle or the slain occupants to come for them.

As of the time of filling this report, the Anambra State Police Command was yet to react to the incident.

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Man abandons lady on date after she chooses Davido over Wizkid, tells singer to foot her bills

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A Nigerian man has sparked reactions online after abandoning date with a lady because she picked Davido as her favorite artist over Wizkid.

The incident, which surfaced on the popular social media platform X (formerly Twitter), was shared through an anonymous post.

According to the man, during their first date, he decided to ask the lady a series of questions to get to know her better.

One of the questions was to choose her favorite artist between Davido and Wizkid.

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The lady reportedly answered, “30BG or nothing,” signaling her support for Davido. Upset by her choice, the man walked out of the date, leaving her to handle the bills.

He sarcastically remarked that Davido should come and clear the bills.

In his words: “Would you imagine? I took this girl on a first date, so we were getting to know each other. I then asked her to choose between Wizkid or Davido. She said 30BG or nothing. I angrily left her there. Davido will come and clear the bills.”

The post quickly went viral, leaving many social media users shocked and amused.

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The comment section was flooded with reactions as people shared their opinions on the man’s actions.

See some reactions below:

@PrettyMfon: “😂🤣😂. 30BG all the way!!! You should have laughed it off and let her know your preference. Next time, don’t walk away. You can ask her what she likes about Davido. Please call her and apologize. Thank you.”

@IrekefeT: “Please in whatever you do, don’t ever involve politics, sports, entertainment, religion and tribe into your marriage, relationship or daily life. Don’t get emotional about the above mentioned things for your own good.”

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@phveektordrayne: “I’m happy for the babe. Imagine if she had chosen Wizkid, is this the rubbish she would have been dating and be saying she has a man? No offense to Wizkid FC but a man doing this just shows immaturity. Even if he was 30BG, this is so condescending of an adult.”

@lilyjoelily: “She even answered you and that’s both of you guys cup of tea because why would anyone ask me such question to start with. Mtchewwwwwwww.”

@IrekefeT: “This was how some people stop talking to their friends, parents and partners during 2023 election because of political differences, while the politicians they’re fighting for are friends and colleagues in real life..”

@Banksj44444: “I’m a wizkid fan but d guy na mumu,everyone has choices, just like me,I’m a Barca fan and my babe is a Liverpool fan.Everywhere good.”

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Metro

Police arrest suspected ritualists for abducting woman in Ogun

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The Ogun State Police Command said it has arrested a suspected ritualist, identified as Monday Ogunniyi, for the abduction of one Regina Oladeyo in the Oja Odan area of the state.

The suspect, a resident of the Okegbala area in Oja Odan, was arrested following a complaint filed by one Oladeyo Idowu.

The police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, told DAILY POST on Tuesday that, upon receiving the information, officers of the command swung into action and found the victim at the residence of the suspect.

According to the spokesperson, Ogunniyi, during interrogation, confessed to the abduction and alleged that he and the complainant were involved in rituals using human remains.

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Odutola said: “On December 16, 2024, at about 4:30 pm, a man named Oladeyo Idowu from School 4 Area, Oja Odan, came to the police station to report a case of abduction involving Monday Ogunniyi, who resides in the Okegbala area of Oja Odan.

“During questioning, Monday Ogunniyi confessed to the abduction but also claimed that he and the complainant were involved in rituals using human remains.”

She noted that, following the revelation, a team of detectives visited the site, where they discovered a dried human skeleton draped in female clothing near a river in the Afige area of Oja Odan.

Odutola added that the suspect provided a confession implicating Oladeyo Idowu regarding the storage and dismemberment of the corpse.

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She, however, noted that the case would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran for further investigation and likely prosecution.

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