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Delta Community Agog As IGP Orders Probe Of Land Grabbing Syndicate
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has order an investigation of the attacks on
Ogbe-Ozoma Quarters of Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State by suspected land grabbers.
Consequently, he directed both the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, and Commissioner of Police, Delta State Police Command Headquarters to decisively investigate all criminal infractions committed against the community and consolidate all pending petitions.
The elated indigenes of Ogbeozome Quarters of Okpanam, made the submissions in a statement signed by Chief Felix Okafor,
Sunday Nwanze, Lucky Abuah
and Chinedu Ofuani for and on behalf of Oshimili North LGA of Delta State.
According to them, the IGP’s directive followed a petition dated September 23 2024, which chronicled, with litany of empirical evidence, alleged compromise by the police, undue interference with criminal cases in courts, malicious destruction of properties, murder, and other sundry violent infractions allegedly committed by a businessman, Chinedu Okeke popularly known as Ekwe Ogidi.
While commending the IGP, the community leaders said bad eggs in uniforms who have been aiding and abetting the compromise of police investigation equally provided a veritable cover for the ceaseless perpetuation of the heinous infractions on Ogbeozoma community.
“The grave perversion of the cause of justice orchestrated by these elements, which finds support/approval of their enablers from Abuja, reached a disturbing turn. A team of policemen from Special Enquiry Bureau (SEB) FCID, Abuja, discretely came into Asaba, ostensibly, acting on the strength of a signal raised by the Office of the DIG, consequently presented the said signal to the officer in charge of Legal Department, Delta State Police Command, and withdrew an ongoing criminal trial involving some of these land grabbers”, the community said.
The O/C in charge was said to have immediately taken over the case file, including all exhibits recovered by the personnel of Delta State police command from the Crime Scene.
The statement said the exhibits recovered at the scene of the crime specifically at Ogbe-Ozoma ancestral homeland, were all handed over to Ekwe Ogidi and his boys , including Caterpillar l, Toyota Hilux, live ammunition, and other personal belongings of Ekwe Ogidi.
The community said, “We indigenes of Ogbeozoma community are profoundly delighted and consequently welcomed the deserving proactive intervention of the Inspector-General of Police, by directing for a well detailed, transparent and comprehensive investigation of the mind-boggling allegations contained in the said petition and consolidation of all pending petitions affecting the same parties.
“This is a commendable development, which outcome shall certainly put an end to this unabated criminal activities and shall in a very big measure expose the evil activities of these marauders for what they really are.
“When the Senior lead counsel to Ogbeozoma community Okpanam, on Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta state, in the person of Ifeanyi Ejiofor was contacted for his opinion on the intervention of the Inspector-General of Police on this age long desecration of Ogbeozoma Quarters, Okpanam, he equally stated in confirmation that similar petition was written to the chairman of the Police Service Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation whose interventions are stil being awaited.
“We the leaders of Ogbeozoma Quarters of Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area, profoundly commend the Inspector-General of Police for listening to the age long cry of our peaceful community for justice.”
ENDS***
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) comprising junta-led Mali, Niger Republic, and Burkina Faso have imposed a 0.5 percent import duty on goods from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member nations.
The move further strains relations between the three junta-led nations and the ECOWAS, which they withdrew from earlier this year following a series of military coups and economic sanctions.
The AES, which began as a security pact between the military rulers of the three countries in 2023, has now metamorphosed into an aspiring economic union with plans for biometric passports and closer economic and military ties.
In a joint statement last week, the AES said the levy aims to generate revenue to fund the alliance’s activities.
The tax, which came into effect on Friday, applies to all imports from ECOWAS countries, except humanitarian aid.
The taxes also disrupt the free trade once enjoyed by all countries in the West African region.
The economic implications could be severe, leading to higher consumer prices, supply chain disruptions, and strained regional economic stability.
While it may provide short-term revenue for the junta-led governments, it risks other long-term consequences, including weakened regional integration.
ECOWAS has maintained that it will keep diplomatic channels open with the junta-led states until July, despite announcing their permanent expulsion from the bloc earlier this year.
Monday Okpebholo, the governor of Edo state, says 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing of Kano-bound travellers in Uromi LGA of the state have been transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
The suspects were detained after a mob attacked a group of hunters travelling to Kano for Sallah celebrations on Thursday.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday during a condolence visit to Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president, Okpebholo condemned the attack and assured Nigerians that those responsible would be brought to justice.
Okpebholo also announced that his government had set up a committee to support the families of those killed.
“It’s unfortunate that it happened in our state. We are here to say, to let you and other people know that we are not happy,” Ismail Mudashir, media aide to Barau, quoted Okpebholo as saying.
“The president is doing something drastic about this. He’s not happy also.
“The IG has swung into action. The DIG CID is in charge. So far, they have arrested 14 suspects.
“So they are bringing them to Abuja for interrogation. We have also set up a committee to see that we take care of the families of the deceased.”
Responding, Barau said the perpetrators of the act must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We cannot undo what has been done. But we all want – all Nigerians, what they are looking forward to is to make sure that these people are arrested and brought to justice. And you are doing well in that direction,” Barau said.
“And I’m also glad you’ve spoken about the fact that your government is ready to assist the families of those affected.
“I want you to continue to pursue the case so that all those who were involved in these barbaric actions are brought to justice. It’s a barbaric action, to say the facts.”
He urged the Edo government to ensure all those involved were held accountable, adding that such attacks must never happen again.