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Protests Rock Model Colleges In Lagos Over 186% Hike In Boarding Fee

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Peaceful protests have rocked the model colleges in Lagos State over the insistence of N100,000 payment per term as boarding fee by the State Government.

This is as the Parents Forum of Model Colleges in Lagos have officially informed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State of their intent to carry out a peaceful protest to the governor’s office in Alausa, Ikeja on Monday.

At the Igbokuta Model College, Ikorodu, it was observed that students’ resumption was abysmally low.

Also, for the few students that turned up, teachers assigned to each class refused to accept them back to the school, insisting on the payment of the boarding fee.

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Attempts by the parents to persuade the teachers to accept their wards failed, which did not go down well with most of the parents on ground.

However, the Principal of Igbokuta Junior Model College, Mr. Raheem later intervened and instructed the teachers to register the students for resumption of school.

At this point, more students were allowed to come into the school and resume their academic activities.

Also, it was observed that students in JSS1 and SSS1 who had initially paid the compulsory N70,000 were allowed into the school premises by the teachers.

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Speaking on the issue, one of the concerned parents at Igbokuta Model College, Dr. Taofeek Ayinde, appealed to the Lagos State Government to rescind its decision on the hike on the boarding fee.

According to him, the government should listen to the plights of parents and guidance on the issue, stressing that the government did not show empathy with the parents especially at this time of economic doldrums.

He said: “Looking at the state of the economy, the government must listen to the yearning of the people in order not to send our children and wards out of school.

“We have some parents with three or four children in the colleges at this moment. Where do you expect such parents to get N400,000 every term from? The government should revert this bogus fee.

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“If at all, nothing can be done, the boarding fee should not be more than N50,000 per term, not this about 200 per cent increment by the government. This is a bitter pill for parents to swallow.”

Also, at Agbowa Model College in Ikorodu, some of the parents were seen carrying placards of various inscriptions.

In solidarity, the parents chanted “We no go pay, we no go pay, N100,000 we no go pay.”

They also appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State to intervene in the matter.

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Besides, a letter to the Police Commissioner of Lagos with the head: ‘Notice of Peaceful Protest (II), dated November 1, 2024, signed by Mr. Dapo Dawudu and Prince Adeyemi Sowemimo, the Chairman and Vice Chairman, Lagos State Parents Forum, respectively and obtained by our correspondent, notified the police of the intending protest slated for Monday.

The body also sought police protection for parents who might embark on the peaceful protest.

The letter read in part: “The essence of this protest is to peacefully register our dismay and grievances over the unjust, criminal and satanic increment of hostel boarding fee from N35,000 to N100,000, which we find to be outrageous being well over 200 per cent.

“We wish to notify you, sir, that parents also wish to picket on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at each of our respective children’s school gates.

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“We seek for your understanding and protection of our members from unnecessary intimidation and harassment.”

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Reps Direct IGP, DG DSS To Deploy Personnel To Etsako LGA Over Worsening Insecurity

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and Director General, Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi to urgently deploy personnel to tackle the worsening insecurity in Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imiegba and Okpekpe communities in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the “Urgent need to deploy security agents to Itsukwi, Imiegba, Okpekpe and Imiakebu communities to halt herdsmen’s onslaught against innocent citizens,” by Rep. Billy Osawaru, member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Edo State on Thursday at plenary.
Rep. Osawaru, drew the attention of the House to the provision of Section 14 (b) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) on the need for government to provide security and welfare for the people.
He stated that Section 17 (b) of the Constitution provides that the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced; governmental actions shall be humane.
According to him,  Chapter 4 of the nation’s Constitution in Section 33 (1) provides that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
He said: “The House is aware that on Monday, October 28, 2024, herdsmen invaded Ugbereke, a popular farmland known for its fertility and destroyed completely the yam plantation of a youth leader in Itsukwi community (Ward 9, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State), Mr Samuel Igbeneghu.
“The House is also worried that on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, three farmers by the names Umuagene Obey, Emuesugheli Obi and Ogbitabu Imoudumhe (all from Okpekpe community in Ward 10, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State were ambushed on the way to their farms and brutally murdered by suspected herdsmen.
“Same day, the killers made their way to Ugbereke, and killed one Undyar Aondongu (male) while  five women were beaten and left to flee with various degrees of injuries.”
The lawmaker stated that as a result of these violent campaigns, farmers in these communities no longer visit their farms for fear of being attacked or killed.
He therefore warned that if the Federal Government fails to take urgent steps to address the crisis, acute hunger owing to food scarcity would be the natural consequence, not just for the people of the area but the entire Etsako East Local Government Area and by extension, Edo State as a whole.
Then the presided officer, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put itcto a vote, the House unanimously adopted the motion, observed a minute silence in honour of the dead and directed the immediate deployment of security agents to the four communities.
The House also mandated the Inspector General of Police and other relevant security agencies to investigate this tragic incident and fish out the perpetrators for prosecution, while also tasking them to Immediately step up the security surveillance to contain the escalation of insecurity within Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imiegba and Okpekpe communities and beyond.
The legislative body also urged the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, DG, DSS, General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Commander, 4th Mechanised Brigade in Edpo State to deploy their personnel to Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imeigba and Okpekpe communities to safeguard the lives and properties of the people.
The motion was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Army, Police, National Intelligence and Legislative Compliance with a timeframe of four weeks to report back for further action.
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BREAKING: Finland Police Nab Simon Ekpa, 4 Others Over Terror-related Activities

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The Central Criminal Police in Finland has announced the arrest of Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa and four other individuals over terror-related activities.

According to a tabloid in Finland, Ekpa, the self-declared Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, was remanded in custody by the district court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

In a Thursday statement published on its website, the Central Criminal Police in Finland said it arrested five persons on suspicion of terrorist crimes.

The police said the main suspect was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”, while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime”.

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The police added: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”

The statement reads, “The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”

The statement quoted the head of the investigation, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen from the Central Crime Police as saying that “the man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels”.

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“Four other persons are suspected of financing the aforementioned activity. All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week.

“International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation,” the statement added.

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SAD! Gunmen kill lawyer in Benue

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A lawyer, Mike Ofikwu, has been shot dead by gunmen in Otukpo town, Benue State.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday night at his residence on Otukpa Street, Otukpo.

A source close to the deceased, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the lawyer was ambushed by two armed men while waiting for his gate to be opened.

“Two armed men had laid an ambush for him. As he was waiting for his people to open the gate, the assailants emerged from hiding and shot him at a close range,” the source said.

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The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, but medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, Catherine Anene, said an investigation was underway to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

“This incident is confirmed, and investigations are ongoing. I commiserate with his family and friends and assure them that justice will be served,” Anene said in a brief statement.

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