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Tag: ekiti

  • Panic as explosion rocks old Ekiti govt secretariat

    Panic as explosion rocks old Ekiti govt secretariat

    There was a loud explosion in the old secretariat of Ekiti State Government, Ado Ekiti in the early hours of Saturday throwing the entire state capital into panic

    The explosions, which occurred about 7.05 am in the Explosion Ordinance Disposal Unit situated within the old secretariat, reduced the EOD building into debris and shattered windows and ceilings of the government offices compound.

    There were, however, no casualties in the incident.

    The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, Asuquo Amba, said at the site of the blast that he suspected that the explosion was caused by counter-terrorism accessories kept in the office.

    “Let my men from anti-bomb department check around. Officers of the anti-bomb are combing the place as you can see,” he said.

     

  • Police raise alarm over influx of okada riders into Ekiti

    The Ekiti State Police Command has raised the alarm over the massive intrusion of a large number of commercial motorcyclists fondly called Okada riders into the state.

    It was gathered that the motorcyclists are from Lagos State as a result of the restriction placed on their activities by the state government.

    The Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, alerted the public about the incursion of persons suspected to be criminals into the state, expressing fear that such people could perpetrate criminal act, if not checked.

    In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Friday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Sunday Abutu, Amba said the suspected persons, entered the state with motorcycles under the guise of being commercial motorcyclists.

    “Information at our disposal has it that these suspected persons could cause criminal acts in no distant time, ranging from stealing, armed robbery and kidnapping.

    “In view of this, the Commissioner of Police has directed that all motorcycles across the state must be properly registered with the relevant authorities and relevant document of ownership/registration.

    “The police shall henceforth arrest, impound and prosecute anybody (motorcyclist) found perpetrating criminal acts”.

    He, however, called on members of the public to team-up with the command in dealing decisively with the criminals by cooperating with all the command by offering useful information that could lead to exposing crimes before they are perpetrated.

    He urged residents to be security conscious at all times by taking expeditious action in reporting any strange movement and happening observed in their locality to the nearest police station or call Emergency Control Room on 08062335577 for immediate action to be taken.

  • No case of Lassa Fever in Ekiti – Commissioner

    The Ekiti government on Thursday dismissed speculations in some quarters that the state might have recorded cases of Lassa Fever.

    The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, who addressed newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, however, said the state was ready for any outbreak.

    She gave an assurance that all primary health facilities, specialist and general hospitals as well as Teaching Hospitals had been sensitised and adequately prepared for an outbreak.

    ” We are doing a lot of sensitisation and education for food handlers, store keepers and all residents on radio, television and all our health facilities across the state,” she said.

    She appealed to residents to make personal hygiene a lifestyle, adding that they should engage in consistent and regular hand washing, cover their food stuff properly and refrain from bush burning.

    ” Cover your food, especially garri very well, ensure that the production process is done hygienically and clean your environment to avoid breeding of rats, ” the commissioner said.

    She also said that the Oba Adejuyigbe General Hospital had been dedicated as a quarantine center for any confirmed case of Lassa Fever in Ekiti.

    Earlier, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Health, Dr Jimlas Ogunsakin, had disclosed that the incubation period for Lassa fever was between two and 21 days, advising that any suspect be screened adequately.

    Ogunsakin noted that the symptoms of Lassa Fever include high temperature, headache, vomiting and itching of the body.

  • Miyettti Allah denies hoisting red flag in Ekiti

    Miyettti Allah denies hoisting red flag in Ekiti

    Fulani Herders under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), has denied claim that its members were behind the red flag hoisted at Orin Ekiti, in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

    The Head of Miyetti Allah in Ido/ Osi council, Alhaji Adamu Abashe, spoke in Ado Ekiti on Friday during a consultative forum between Orin community and herders resident in Ido /Orin axis to resolve the lingering crisis between the cattle rearers and some aggrieved farmers.

    The community had on December 18, last year raised the alarm over alleged intention to annex its land by suspected herdsmen, alleging that the red flag hoisted by the herders in Orin Farmstead was a signal that a portion of the community had been forcefully captured.

    Debunking the allegations, Abashe said: “We didn’t know how the flags got there. We were not responsible. We have lived in Orin Ekiti for over 30 years. We have been living together peacefully but in recent times, things have changed.

    ”When I was kidnapped, I did not say Orin people were responsible, because we are brothers. It was after my kidnap that the kidnappers came to kill a Tiv woman in that farmstead.

    ”When they kidnapped my labourer, I paid N300,000 as ransom and I didn’t say Orin people were behind it. I was not happy with the killings and destruction in Orin. So, we are not planning evil for these people that had lived peacefully with us”

    Abashe added that those fermenting trouble in the area were herders from the Northern states and not those that are resident in Ekiti

    “Those perpetrating killings and destruction of farmlands in Orin are outsiders from the North but with efforts coming from government, Orin community and Fulani people, all these issues will be resolved.

    ”Orin people are not my enemies but the bandits roaring in the town caused this disagreement. But If you have anything against me, kindly forgive me. Let us live together as brothers,” he pleaded.

    But despite the appeal by Fulani leader, the people of Orin Ekiti insisted that Abashe and his people must vacate their community where they live.

    Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr. Omotosho Kayode, insisted that Fulani herders were allegedly responsible for killings, hoisting of the flags and destruction of farms worth over N50 million in the town.

    ”Two years ago, they hoisted one white flag with red linen and 15 days after, a pregnant Tiv woman and our kinsman, Mr. Emmanuel Ilori were killed last year and these scenarios may not allow us to allow Fulani herders to live with us.

    ”These people are giving us a lot of discomforts. We appeal to Ekiti government to ask them to leave. We don’t want Fulani on our land anymore. We are peaceful people . We don’t want Orin Ekiti to be known for negative news”.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Brigadier Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana, advised the warring parties to tolerate each other in the interest of peace.

    ”The essence of this discussion is how we can live together peacefully. We also want to fashion out how all the herders coming into Ekiti are identified and accepted . We have lived together for so many years and we will continue to live together as a family.

    ”If anybody commits crime, we should be able to identify him . Some persons had been killing, destroying farms and hoisted flags at Orin Ekiti and wrote keep off on it. We want to investigate who were behind that. Government won’t fold its arms and allow these to continue.

    “We want to work out some conditions to control cattle -farmers’ relations , so that we can live in peace. Continue to tolerate yourselves until truce is reached on this issue. Every Nigerian can live anywhere, but there are owners of the land and settlers and the two must learn how to respect one another,” he said.

    In his remarks, the Information Commissioner, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, said peace is key to Governor Kayode Fayemi-led government, urging the two parties to sheathe their swords and see themselves one.

    Olumilua, however, directed the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to keep in its custody, the cows arrested by the its Agro-Rangers unit pending the resolution of the crisis.

  • Ekiti promotes 16 traditional rulers, grants five communities autonomy

    Ekiti State Government, on Thursday, announced the elevation of 16 traditional rulers.

    The announcement was made by the state Commissioner for Information and Values Orientation, Chief Muyiwa Olumilua, in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti.

    He said the elevation was sequel to the approval of the White Paper on the Justice Jide Aladejana Chieftaincy Review Commission by the state government.

    Olumilua said that the White Paper was considered and approved at the state Executive Council meeting held on Dec. 19.

    “The council approved the upgrade of 11 traditional rulers to Grade A and five others to Grade B.

    “It also approved the autonomous status granted to five communities, the commissioner said.

    He listed the newly upgraded Grade A chieftaincies to include the Elewu of Ewu Ekiti, Eleda of Eda Oniyo-Ekiti, Onisin of Isinbode-Ekiti, Apalufin of Aisegba-Ekiti, Olosan of Osan-Ekiti and Onigogo of Igogo-Ekiti.

    Others were the Olupoti of Ipoti-Ekiti, Oluloro of Iloro-Ekiti, Alasa of Ilasa-Ekiti, Onimesi of Imesi-Ekiti and Olusin of Usin-Ekiti.

    The newly-upgraded Grade B chieftaincies, according to Olumilua are the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, Obanikosun of Ikosun-Ekiti, Alafon of Ilafon-Ekiti, Onikogosi of Ikogosi-Ekiti and Olupole of Ipole-Ekiti

    The commissioner also gave the five communities granted autonomous status as Ijowa (Alajowa of Ijowa-Ekiti), Isaya (Asaya of Isaya-Ekiti), Ahan Ayegunle (Alahan of Ahan Ayegunle-Ekiti), Owatedo (Oloja Owa of Owatedo-Ekiti) and Iro Ayeteju (Owa Ateju of Iro Ayeteju-Ekiti).

    He said that the traditional rulers of the communities granted autonomous status would now bear Grade C title rank.

    The commissioner said that the exercise was ongoing and that further announcements would be made in due course.

  • Ekiti LG poll witnesses low turnout

    Ekiti LG poll witnesses low turnout

    The Ekiti Local Government election held across the 16 council areas of the state on Saturday witnessed a low turnout and was generally peaceful.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that apart from a lone incident of shooting said to have occurred at a polling unit in Ikere Ekiti, there was no confirmed report of violence.

    Witnesses said the incident began at Okitiko area of Ikere Ekiti on Ise/Emure Ekiti road after political thugs reportedly tried to snatch the ballot boxes of votes already cast from officials of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission(EKSIEC).

    They were, however, said to have been resisted.

    But when asked to comment on the development, the chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area, Mr Ayodele Oluwafemi, said he was unaware of the incident

    Accordibg to him,the exercise was peaceful at his polling unit and within the town.

    Also reacting, the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Abutu, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.

    He promised to react formally as soon as he got details of the alleged attack from the Divisional Police Officer in Ikere Ekiti.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in the state, Chief Gboyega Oguntuase, however, insisted that the local government poll was regrettable, saying violence was common in most places.

    But the Chairman of APC, Chief Paul Omotoso, while speaking at his Imesi Ekiti country home, absolved his party of any compilicity, insisting that the election was generally peaceful although it witnessed low turnout.

    He explained that the low turnout was not a sign of apathy, but a reflection of the people’s attitude of not taking local council election seriously.

    Meanwhile, collation of results had commenced as at the time of filing this report.

    To ensure a peaceful exercise meant to produce 16 chairmen and 177 councillors, the police commissioner in the state, Mr Asuquo Amba, had deployed officers to the 2,195 polling units across the state.(

  • Ikole Radiates Eminence with New Development Plan

    …Repositions Community to Embark on Giant Strides

    Amidst chanting of traditional songs, jubilations and a radiant atmosphere, traditional rulers, community leaders and people of Ikole Local Government area in Ekiti state, gathered at their town hall, to herald the launch of the new three-year development plan, setting the stage to unlock the potential of the largely agrarian community.

    A product of long partnership between Community Life Project (CLP), Reclaim Naija and the Community Development Department of the state Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, the plan is a bold step towards achieving integrated community development and better the lot of the people inhabiting the 24 communities comprising the area.

    The participatory process through which the plan was developed has promoted ownership, increased civic agency as well as improved community-government partnership. It also provides the Ikole Local government and its communities the tool for engaging private sector organisations, NGOs and foundations interested in investing in the social sector.

    Titled IKOLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2020 – 2022), it seeks to put in place a three year framework that will ensure that the practise of community participation in budget decision-making is sustained and that communities have a well articulated and consistent tool for engaging the government in open budgeting and ensuring that their voices are heard on where the money goes.

    Grassroots communities in Ikole have been empowered to work with the government in developing this plan via sponsorship from Ford Foundation, that provides a resource not only for addressing the real development needs of the communities but also for growing the local economy. The plan will also serve as a basis for government, development agencies and private sector interventions and service delivery programmes in the communities.

    The process of developing the plan was highly participatory. All the major stakeholders in the community played active role in the development of the plan. The Traditional Council of Obas (Egbe-Oba), women and youth leaders, persons with disability and other influencers and members of the 24 communities in Ikole LG were involved. It also had inputs from the chairperson of the LG, all heads of departments, representatives of the Local Government Service Commission and the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development.

    An elated Governor Kayode Fayemi says the launch of the plan is in line with his administration’s policy framework of 5 pillars including Governance, Social Investment, Knowledge Economy, Industrial and Infrastructural Development as well as Agricultural and Rural Development. It is on these 5 pillars, he says, “that communities across Ekiti State would be moved to greater participation in governance thereby enjoying more dividends of democracy.”

    He maintained that since his assumption of office, various developmental projects have been witnessed by various communities across the state ranging from collaborative efforts to:

    • building capacity of community leaders, political and public officers for more efficiency;
    • elimination of education tax, abolishment of school fees and improvement in dilapidated structures;
    • regular payment of salary and other emoluments, pension arrears as well as release of housing and vehicle loans to boost the morale of workers/civil servants;

    * engagement of International Donor Agencies for assistance in various areas including water scheme, completion of many abandoned community projects, supply of instructional materials, replacement of damaged electricity installations while other interventions like rehabilitation of 1000km rural roads, renovation of all public schools and attraction of about $100 million for the Cargo Airport, Agric zone among others are in the pipe line; and

    * participation of communities across Ekiti State in the preparation of 2020 Budget of which the compilation of Ekiti North Senatorial District Needs Assessment was done in this Ikole Local Government Secretariat Hall on 10th of October, 2019 with Mr. Governor in attendance.

    The Governor who was represented at the event by the Senior Special Assistant on Community Development, Mr Taiyelolu Olatunji, commended the effort of the Community Life Project for “its commitment, dedication and determination to better Ekiti State. It is my hope that you will continue with the good work.”

    “On the part of my Government, we shall continue to provide enabling environment for such collaborations to thrive while other Local Government Areas are enjoined to emulate Ikole Local Government,” Fayemi says.

    Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Development, Prof Adio Folayan traced the history of his ministry’s more than 10 year partnership with CLP in the area of capacity building for Ekiti public officers and Community Based Organizations Leaders such as Town Union/Community Opinion Leaders, Artisan, Youth & Women Leaders, Okada riders, Religious/Faith Leaders among others.

    Other areas of collaboration, according to the commissioner who was represented by the Director, Community Development, Mr Segun Olusola, include the following:

    • Participatory Governance in line with Open Government Partnership
    • Participatory budgeting in line with IPAS compliance
    • Voters education and women participation in governance
    • Civic engagement in governance to prevent sit-down look
    • Role of Religious & Faith Organizations in Governance
    • Conduct of community needs assessment/projects management etc.

    A very jubilant Chairperson, Ikole LG, Mrs Abiola Olukayode says, with the prioritisation of water, education and healthcare projects and the support of government, donors and our people in the Diaspora for the new development plan, “Our community will soon be transformed into a modern city”. ”May the Lord bless our aspiration. We pray that these programmes will provide massive jobs for our youth,” she says.

    Trilled by what he called “a trail blazer,” CLP’s programme Office, Mr Francis Onahor who reveals that the community development plan was novel, says it is an advocacy tool to reach out to government and donors. He also disclosed that a website devoted to this project would be managed on behalf of Ikole LG for three years after which its management will be turned over to a trained official of the LG.

    Commending Governor Fayemi for making community governance the plank of his administration, Onahor noted that the groundwork for the plan started in 2017 when a needs assessment of the community was done. A review of the needs assessment was later carried out at a meeting in September 2018.

    Located in Ekiti North Senatorial District, Ikole, regarded as a “food basket,” is the largest LG in Ekiti state with a landmass of 1090.64 kilometres. The largely agrarian community is blessed with abundant human resources.

    Prominent amongst those present at the epoch making event were the Elekole of Ikole, Oba Adewunmi Ajibade Fasiku and the traditional rulers of the 24 communities.

  • NSCDC arrest two herdsmen for invading farms in Ekiti

    The Ekiti state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mr. Solomon Iyamu said two herdsmen were arrested on Tuesday for invading farmlands with cows in the state.

    The NSCDC boss said the arrest of the suspects were made possible through a joint operation of the Agro Rangers Unit of the command, Nigeria Army, Police, Ekiti State Anti-Grazing Agency and men of Vigilante Group of Nigeria (GVN).

    The operation which he said lasted for about six hours along took place at Ago Aduloju and Ogbese axis of Ise-Orun and Gbonyin local government areas of the state.

    Iyamu explained that the herdsmen were arrested following a tip off that herders had invaded some farms along Ado/Ijan in search of pasture to feed their cows.

    He added that the arrested herdsmen will be charge to court as soon as investigation is completed, appealing to farmers in Ekiti to continue to be law abiding and always report any perceived herders’ threat to the men of Agro Rangers Unit for prompt action.

    He, however, lauded the Joint Operations for the collaborative work, urging them not to relent in the discharge of their mandates.

    He equally commended the NSCDC Commandant General, Abdullah Muhammadu for his decisive efforts geared towards solving farmers/herders clash across the country through the establishment of Agro-Rangers Unit.

  • PDP boycotts Ekiti council polls

    PDP boycotts Ekiti council polls

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has said it will boycott the December 7 local government election in the state over alleged plot by Governor Kayode Fayemi to rig the poll.

    In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Ado Ekiti by Hon. Yinka Olomofe on behalf of Ado-Ekiti Council Stakeholders, the party directed its members to distance themselves from the election, which it described as a predetermined exercise.

    The party also described the election as a shambolic exercise, alleging that information available revealed that Governor Fayemi had perfected plans to rig the exercise through political thugs.

    The opposition party alleged that the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Aladejana, lacked the moral impetus to superintend over the electoral body.

    The party claimed Ekiti SIEC was not capable of conducting free, fair and credible election since the electoral body was under the control of Governor Fayemi.

    The party said the ‘purported council election’ was a plan by Governor Fayemi to use EKSIEC as a conduit pipe to loot the state’s treasury to a tune of N5billion.

    The statement read: “The integrity of the Chairman of State Independent Electoral Commission is in doubt. A man suspended as Chief Judge of the state due to his professional misconduct lacks moral standing toconduct a free and fair elections,” the statement read in part.

    “We also frown at the ridiculous amount of money which is said to be about N5 billion purportedly allocated for this shoddy exercise. We will not participate in an exercise which is solely aimed at siphoning the state’s scarce resources.

    “An election predetermined to payback supporters of Fayemi in APC cannot enjoy our participation. We will not give unnecessary credibility to an election with a predetermined outcome.”

    “APC members in Ado-Ekiti have reliably informed us that the governor has directed his political thugs, especially transport workers, to attack with machetes, shoot or kill anyone that stands on their way before, during and after elections.

    “We therefore urge our members to continue preparing for 2022 governorship elections, which is our focus and allow Kayode Fayemi and his political thugs continue their peculiar mess.”

    In a swift reaction, the All Progressive Congress described PDP’s allegations as mere conjectural statements lacking content of validity in all its measures.

    The APC Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ade Ajayi, challenged the opposition party to come out with facts and figures to substantiate their allegations.

    Ajayi said APC was prepared for the election, saying the party would soon set out its machinery in motion to embark on a house-to-house campaign to garner votes for the party.

  • Police intercept vehicle load of Indian Hemp in Ekiti

    Police intercept vehicle load of Indian Hemp in Ekiti

    The operatives of Ekiti Police Command have intercepted a vehicle in Ise-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Areas of the state, fully loaded with bags of weeds suspected to be Indian hemp

    The suspects who were heavily armed were arrested by the police at about 7.45 am when the monthly sanitation programme, which normally cause restriction of human and vehicular movements, was ongoing.

    This development occurred barely two days after a branch of Wema Bank was robbed in the town leading to the death of a police officer, the arrest had fueled the insinuation around town that the suspects were arrested in connection with the bank robbery.

    Addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, the police spokesman, Ekiti Command, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said the suspects were arrested along Ise-Emure road when his men were on patrol of the area.

    Ikechukwu said they were arrested with dangerous weapons and with full load of substance suspected to be Indian Hemp inside a mini bus fondly called (Akoto).

    “I can’t confirm that four men have been arrested in connection with the Thursday’s bank robbery in Ise Ekiti. We are still investigating and trailing the perpetrators.

    “But I can confirm to your that our men this morning arrested four men inside a mini bus carrying full load of Indian Hemp in Ise Ekiti.

    “Apart from the fact they transported this dangerous weeds, they were caught with dangerous weapons which were not expected to be carried about.

    “They are currently being detained and investigation has begun to be able to ascertain the extent of their involvement in the illicit business, so that their syndicates can be fished out”, he said.