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Ogun Monarch Sacks 10 Chiefs Over Land Sale

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The Olu of Orile Ilawo, Abeokuta, Oba Alexander MacGregor, has dismissed 10 chiefs for allegedly selling 1,600 acres of community land in Alagbagba and surrounding areas within Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Those dismissed include the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu; the Balogun of Ilawo, Chief Abraham Soyoye; and the Jagunna of Ilawo, Fatai Sodimu, along with seven other chiefs.

Addressing journalists on Saturday at his palace, the monarch, accompanied by other chiefs, expressed his dismay over what he described as the chiefs’ disregard for his authority as the Olu of Orile Ilawo.

According to him, the dismissed chiefs had been acting solely in their own interest, selling communal land without proper authorisation from the prescribed authority, which he claims resides solely with him.

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Oba MacGregor explained, “These chiefs have been selling land — over 1,600 acres—without my authorisation. They are not representing the interests of Ilawo but rather their own, engaging in illegal land sales that deprive people of their rightful heritage.”

The monarch further highlighted the historical significance of the Ilawo stool, noting that it predates the establishment of Abeokuta.

“The Ilawo stool is ancient, dating back before the formation of Abeokuta in 1830. Ilawo has always been a community united by shared customs and traditions. It is not subordinate to the Osile of Oke Ona Egba.

“I am the Olu of Orile Ilawo kingdom and the prescribed authority over all areas associated with Ilawo, whether in Odeda, Abeokuta North, Ewekoro, Ifo, or Obafemi. Our people have settled in these areas for generations, observing our customs, and I am responsible for overseeing these lands and their people,” he stated.

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He also warned the dismissed chiefs to stop using titles such as Oluwo, Balogun, and Jagunna of Ilawo, asserting that they no longer hold legitimate recognition under his authority.

The monarch condemned the actions of the dismissed chiefs, saying their behaviour undermines the “Omoluabi” values of the Ilawo people.

“I cannot stand by and allow the reputation of Ilawo to be tarnished by land-grabbing activities,” he said.

In response, the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu, speaking on behalf of the dismissed chiefs, denied any wrongdoing. He claimed that any actions taken by the chiefs had the full approval of the community.

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Dosunmu stated, “We have done nothing wrong, and whatever we have done has community backing. We hold certificates as recognised chiefs from the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso.”

He expressed surprise at the allegations, stating that the chiefs only learned about them through the media. “We were surprised to hear on the radio that we’ve been accused of selling land at Alagbagba. We haven’t received any official communication from the monarch regarding these allegations.”

He concluded, “I have spoken to the other chiefs, and we will decide how to respond, either by holding a meeting with journalists or releasing a statement to clarify our position.”

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Police Rescue Infant Abducted By Neighbour In Rivers

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Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have rescued a six-month-old child, Lucky Sunday, who was kidnapped over a month ago by a co-tenant of the child’s parents at their residence on Anekelane Street in the Mile 2 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Recall that the suspect, simply identified as Mr Erica, abducted the infant on Sunday, 29 September 2024, and reportedly fled with the child to Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

The Rivers State Police Command has been on his trail ever since, spreading their dragnet to ensure his arrest and prosecution.

The manhunt for the fleeing suspect finally paid off when detectives attached to the Mile 1 Police Division trailed him to Uyo, leading to his arrest and transportation back to Port Harcourt.

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It was gathered that during interrogation, the prime suspect revealed to the police that he sold the baby for N3.6 million to an unidentified female buyer who took the child to Enugu State.

Following a discreet investigation, detectives attached to the Mile 1 Police Division rescued the child on Sunday, 3 November 2024, and arrested the buyer and four other accomplices, bringing the total number of suspects to six, all of whom are currently detained at the Mile 1 Police Station in Port Harcourt.

The father of the child, Anekan Sunday, confirmed the rescue of his baby and the arrest of the six suspects, stating, “Yes, I saw my baby yesterday (Sunday). But the police didn’t allow me to take him yet because they said they wanted to go to court.

“The suspect who took the baby and the others have been arrested. They are six in all, and they are at the Mile 1 Police Division.”

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When contacted, the spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the rescue of the child and the arrest of the suspects, stating that it is a child trafficking syndicate.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, also revealed that the prime suspect had previously sold his own biological child before abducting that of his neighbour.

She stated, “It is a case of a child trafficking syndicate that our men have busted.

“The man sold his own biological son and also abducted another child, whom he sold for N3.6 million to a lady.

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“But the lady claimed she went to an orphanage to register the child for adoption in Enugu State. The child was adopted here in Port Harcourt and sold to her.

“The child has been rescued. The suspect and five others have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing.”

Meanwhile, a rights advocate and National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability, Prince Wiro, has commended the police for their due diligence in rescuing the child and arresting the six suspects.

Wiro stated, “We sincerely commend the officers attached to the Mile 1 Police Division for the rescue of the child. It shows a high level of professionalism and due diligence.

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“We believe that the officers deserve an award from the police authority in the state. We equally urge the police to arraign any of the arrested suspects found culpable during the investigation in court for justice to be served as a deterrent to others who may want to take the same line of action.”

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Gunmen attack Abia RRS facility, kill one detainee

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By Francesca Hangeior

Gunmen on Monday launched an attack on the Police Rapid Response Squad facility at Owerrinta, located along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.

During the assault, a female detainee was fatally shot.

Confirming the incident on Thursday, the state Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa, said one suspect was arrested.

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Isa stated, “On that day, there was an attack on our facility at Owerrinta shortly after midnight. The assailants arrived in about three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on our facility.”

“Our personnel repelled the attack. However, the assailants used dynamite to blow off our roof. In their attempt to release detainees, they opened fire, resulting in the tragic death of a female suspect.”

“Following the incident, we pursued the suspects using technical methods and successfully arrested one individual. The police are currently interrogating him to identify other accomplices. We are making progress.”

Unconfirmed reports suggest the female detainee killed during the attack had been detained in connection with a child trafficking case.

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Fire reportedly guts Ajah market in Lagos, destroys goods worth millions of Naira

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A fire incident occurred on Sunday evening at Ajah Market, near Alesh Bus Stop in the Lekki area of Lagos State, destroying goods and items worth millions of naira.

The fire started around 9 pm and ravaged several shops and stores containing combustible materials.

According to Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the agency, in collaboration with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Services, acted swiftly to contain the fire. However, the cause of the blaze remains unknown at this time.

Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries, as traders were not present due to the market being closed for Sunday.

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“The LASEMA Response Team, along with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, managed to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings,” Oke-Osanyintolu reported. “Efforts are ongoing to completely extinguish the fire and salvage remaining valuables.”

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