TheNewsGuru

Tag: Auchi

  • Peter Obi reacts as Auchi polytechnic’s SUG election turns bloody

    Peter Obi reacts as Auchi polytechnic’s SUG election turns bloody

    A former presidential candidate, Peter Obi has outrightly condemned the violence that led to the death of two students in the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the Student Union Government (SUG) election of the Auchi Polytechnic, took place over the weekend, but turned chaotic after thugs allegedly evaded the election ground snatching ballot boxes and other election materials. 

    In the video that surfaced on social media, captured the moment students were running for their lives as security operatives used teargas to bring the situation under control.

    Reports indicated that at least two people died in the incident while several others were left with different degrees of injuries.

    In reaction to the incident, Peter Obi described the incident as a “national indictment”, saying: “The society we abuse today will eventually take its toll on our children, because they will only learn by our example. Everything we are experiencing in our country today is a reflection of the decay of civility and orderliness.

    “When we choose to conduct both our public and personal lives with bad behaviour and rascality, we normalise bad behaviour, lawlessness, and criminality.

    “I watched a heartbreaking video that showed students in Auchi Polytechnic in Edo State running for their lives as they were being shot at during their student election yesterday which left 2 students dead and several injured.

    “The question is: Where did they learn it from?

    “Are they cursed, or are we the political leaders who are cursed?

    “When we have chosen to “fight, snatch it, grab it, and run with it” how can we expect our children to do it rightly and democratically when they have learned from us?

    “This is not just disgraceful, it’s a national indictment. When we, the leaders, have chosen to fight, snatch, grab and run with it, our children have learned similar and rascality is now a normal situation.

    “It is now up to us, the leaders, to learn how to restore civility, order, and core values in our society by ensuring that our character and behaviour reflect the change we seek in our society.

    “We must do better, for our students, for our children, and for our country.”

  • Edo: Amid heavy rainfall, fallen trees kill 4, injure many others in Auchi

    Edo: Amid heavy rainfall, fallen trees kill 4, injure many others in Auchi

    Edo Government on Monday visited Jattu Market, near Auchi, where four trees fell, following a storm and rainfall, that killed four and injured many persons.

    Many, including traders, had taken refuge under the trees, when wind and the accompanying rain, uprooted four of the trees, that fell on the people about 9a:m on Monday.

    Deputy Gov of Edo, Marvellous Omabayo, who visited the scene, said the state government was at the market to commiserate with the families of those who lost their loved ones and access the extent of damage.

    Omabayo said the state government would set up State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Auchi due to high pollution of the area to mitigate future occurrence.

    The Deputy Governor commiserated with those who lost their love ones at the market and promised government intervention.

    “As a government, we are here to assess the damage by the downpour and the tragedy in the market.

    ”I have directed the local government to make a report on the incident for us to provide palliative to cushion the effect of the incident.

    “Before the next 24 hours, we will come out with a report on how we can approach the situation.

    “The trees are a century old so we would ensure that trees above 50 years are cut down while new ones are planted,’” he said.

  • Troops eliminate kidnappers terrorising Auchi-Benin road

    Troops eliminate kidnappers terrorising Auchi-Benin road

    The Nigerian Army says its troops of 4 Brigade, on Wednesday eliminated three kidnappers believed to be part of the notorious kidnap and robbery gang terrorising motorists along Auchi-Benin road in Edo.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, in a statement in Abuja, said the kidnappers met their waterloo while carrying out their nefarious operation along the axis.

    He said the kidnapers, however, ran out of luck as the vigilant troops swooped on them, engaging them in a gun duel that led to the elimination of three members of the gang, while others fled in different directions.

    Nwachukwu said the gallant troops recovered one AK 47 rifle, one pump action shotgun and other dangerous weapons.

    He said efforts were ongoing to track the fleeing criminals and free that corridor from all forms of violent crime.

    “The Nigerian Army wishes to enjoin the general public, particularly the good people of Edo to continue to expose criminal elements in their localities to law enforcement agencies.

    “They are also urged to go about their normal activities as efforts are in place to ensure seamless security,” he said.

  • JUST IN: Leader of kidnap gang terrorising Lokoja-Okene road arrested [PHOTOS]

    JUST IN: Leader of kidnap gang terrorising Lokoja-Okene road arrested [PHOTOS]

    Suleiman Dogoruwa, the leader of the kidnap gang terrorising travellers on the ever-busy Lokoja-Okene road has been arrested.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Chairman of Okehi Local Government of Kogi State, Abdulraheem Ohiare, who made this known, said Dogoruwa was arrested on Monday.

    According to Ohiare, the leader of the kidnap gang was arrested by the Professional Hunters, Okehi Command after the Kogi State Commissioner of Police spoke to the Police Area Commander in charge of Auchi, Edo State. “Due to the pressure mounted by the security agencies in Kogi State, Dogoruwa and some of his gang members relocated to Auchi in Edo State and had been on the run for over six months before he was finally arrested.

    “Suleiman has, however, confessed to his crimes and promised to assist the security agencies in the recovery of their arms.

    See photos below:

    JUST IN: Leader of kidnap gang terrorising Lokoja-Okene road arrested

  • Popular Edo Royal Family loses three notable Princes in quick succession

    Popular Edo Royal Family loses three notable Princes in quick succession

    The successive deaths of three notable princes in a popular royal family in Edo State has stated fueling panic in the state.

    According to reports, the popular Momoh Royal family (lkelebe kindred) of Auchi, currently the custodian of the Auchi Royal stool, in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, lost three of its prominent sons in space of two months.

    The Momoh family recorded a death each in March, April and May of 2020.

    The three Princes, Azeez, Hafiz and Liasu, died in quick succession.

    First to succumb to the pang of death was Prince Azeez Momoh. He died in the first week of March, as a result of a brief illness, at the age of 68 years.

    The late Prince who held the traditional title of Daudu I of Auchi Kingdom, a notable Electrical Engineer, a politician and former Chairman of Etsako West local government area Transition Committee.

    While the royal family was still mourning the great loss, death struck again on the 25 April, picking Hafiz Momoh, a 76-year-old retired Major-General. He died in Lagos during the lockdown curfew imposed by the Federal Government.

    Hafiz who held the traditional title of Takobi of Auchi Kingdom, served as the Commandant, Nigerian Army Education Corps and also as Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, NYSC.

    He was buried in accordance with Islamic rites at his country home in Auchi, after a full military honours due to officers of his rank.

    Again, on May 5, news of the death of Prince Liasu Momoh, a Benin-based business magnate and a one time leader of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, filtered into Auchi Kingdom.

    The deceased who died at 78, was the Madaiki of Auchi Kingdom, a close associate and right-hand-man of the then Governor of defunct Bendel State, Prof. Ambrose Alli.

    He worked in the Medical Department of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

    Meanwhile, in his tribute, a member of the Momoh Royal Dynasty and former Information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh, urged other members of the family to accept the demise of their brothers as the will of Allah.

  • Seven dead, 58 suspects arrested as Auchi cult clashes get messier

    Seven dead, 58 suspects arrested as Auchi cult clashes get messier

    Death toll in the clashes​ between rival cult groups in Auchi, Edo State, has allegedly risen to seven, following the killing of two more persons in a reprisal attack on Monday night.

    This is even as the Edo State Police Command confirmed the arrest of 58 suspects in connection with the cult clashes​ and the killings.

    The fight began last week Wednesday between the Aye and Jurist confraternity groups, following a disagreement over some issues.

    It was also gathered that four persons were hacked to death at Iyakpi, while one was killed in Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo state between Thursday and Sunday night.

    Among the victims killed on Sunday night at different locations in the area, it was gathered were Sikiru Jeliu and one Irale Obas, said to have recently completed the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC).

    The victims were allegedly killed in retaliation to the murder of the brother to the leader of one of the confraternity groups in the area.

    A source at Auchi confirmed that two others were also hacked to death on Monday night at Iyakpi.

    The source added that among the two was a female who was killed when cult group stormed the compound which she lived, in search of rival cult group member, said to be hiding there after carrying out an attack.

    The State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwanbuzor, who confirmed the development, added that 58 suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident​.

    Nwabuzor, however, declined mentioning the number of casualties, saying that the State Commissioner of Police, DanMallam Mohammed, has put adequate measure in place to arrest the situation.

    “For now it is not wise to tell you that the figure is five, six or seven, because we are still gathering information as regards the clash and it could still increase within the next one hour.

    “We have arrested a total of 58 suspects and more are still being searched ​for. As soon as we get them, we shall bring them to justice,” Chibuzor said.

    Meanwhile, the management of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, has denied reports that the federal institution has been shut over cult-related killings.

    Rumours had been making the rounds in the State, that the polytechnic was shut, following unrelenting cult clashes in the town.

    But, reacting to the rumors in a statement, the Spokesman for the Institution, Musa Oshiobugie, said the students were already on vacation.

    Oshiobugie who said the cult killings and violence occurred at Iyakpi, a community of about two kilometres away from Auchi, added that no student of the institution had been killed or injured in the violence.

    “The polytechnic has been on holiday for the past one week when the students finished their examinations and the hostels were vacated.

    “A school already on holiday cannot be shut. What appears to drive this rumour is a reported violent incident that occurred in Iyakpi, a town two kilometres from Auchi.

    “Preliminary reports show that no student of the polytechnic is among the reportedly dead people,” the statement said.

    Similarly, the Dean, School of Evening Studies (SES), of the Polytheistic, Dr. Shaibu Alasa, also debunked allegation of closure of the institution.

    Alasa, in a circular he issued to all staff and students of SES, described the rumor as “unfounded, baseless and untrue.”

    “The School of Evening Studies Examination Timetable is out and examination commences on 2nd October, 2019 and ends on the 22nd of October, 2019. All staff and students are by this circular advised to be in attendance at lectures and examination,” the statement said.

  • See what flood did to cars, properties at Igbe Road, Auchi-Edo State.

  • Army arrests 24 suspected Boko Haram members in Edo

    His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, in Edo, on Monday announced the arrest of 24 suspected Boko Haram members in the community by the Nigerian Army.

    The monarch, while speaking in his palace at Auchi, headquarters of the Estako-West local government area of the state, said the commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Engineering, NICOHO, near Auchi, informed him of the arrest of the suspected insurgents in his palace.

    “Shortly before you came, I had audience with the commandant.

    “He informed me about what they are doing and the arrest of some 24 suspected members of Boko Haram operating under the guise of Fulani herdsmen in the community,’’ he said.

    The Otaru said: “the commandant also informed me that the suspects would be transferred to Benin’’.

    He commended the commandant for taking proactive steps to have taken the fight to the suspected insurgents in the forest, saying that the “issue of security needs careful planning and execution’’.

    The Otaru, who described the activities of the herdsmen in the area as worrisome, said “we have asked farmers, especially the women, to stop going to the farms for now.

    “We gave them some grants to enable them to engage in petty trading in the mean time, to avoid the incessant attacks on them.

    “The traditional council is collaborating with the army, security agencies, and some vigilance groups, and we have recently incorporated the hunters to help to evolve lasting solutions to the problem,’’ he added.

     

    (NAN)