BOMB SCARE IN EDO! COMON, WE ARE HUNGRY!

Bomb scare in Edo CBN

On October 31, 2011 · In News

BENIN—Edo State Police Command Anti-Bomb Disposal Unit, weekend, condoned-off Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s premises following alleged presence of a black polythene bag suspected to contain a bomb. The action caused panic at the busy Akpakpava Road as people ran for their lives.

Motorists were diverted to other routes as security agents searched frantically with detectors.

It will be recalled that in August, Boko Haram, the dreadful Islamic sect, had threatened to bomb University of Benin and other universities, which caused panic in the affected institutions of learning.

When Vanguard visited the scene Saturday eve-ning, security agents were still around.

An eyewitness said the content of the black bag was not revealed to onlookers by the anti-bomb squad.

Edo State Police Acting Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ejiriro, declined comment on the incident.

 

Redfactor says; are we going to divert resources to supposed boko Aram or we are going to attend to youth unemployment, crime and prostitution problems in Edo state. We are not buying this, at least just now? 

 

This week's campaign; STOPPING KIDNAPPING IN EDO STATE;‏

Please we need write ups, solutions and how we can contribute to stopping the problem of Kidnapping in Edo state.
We need to know;

1. The causes of Kidnapping?
2. How Edo state arrived at this point?
3. How were we living before?
4. Why Kidnapping?
5. Who let us down?
6. Who are the kidnappers? Edo youths?
7. Options and alternatives for Edo youths?
8. What can or must be done to stop kidnapping in Edo state. by the Government, the corporates in Edo state and yes, Edos in diaspora ?
9. The effects of kidnapping to Edo state. How it stops investment growth etc.
10. it is all our responsibility to put our home in order.

You can answer the part you think is more relevant to you but all suggestions are welcome.

This is Red Factor, your message and support will be delivered to the Edo state government and the people of Edo state.
Its time to have a say in the governance of our state.


Regards

Secretary

LIBYA: "out of the 79 returnees, 70 are indigenes of Edo State

23 Days in the Desert, More Nigerians Return from Libya with Woeful Tales

Posted By Planet

On October 31st, 2011 08:32 AM | News

For 23 days and 23 nights, another set of 79 Nigerians sojourned through the desert, in search of their way to Nigeria. It was all a tale of woes and misery as they arrived Nigeria, drained, dirty and barely able to even narrate their ordeal.
Before them, some 450 other Nigerians had arrived last week, after spending over 30 days traversing the desert as they fled from the rapacious rebels, many of whom robbed and raped them.
But their troubles may not quite be over as the transit camp being arranged for them by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) may be coming under intense pressure given the swell in number of persons having to now use the facilities.
The agency was Sunday saddled with the responsibility of providing succour for another batch of 79 returnees from the former enclave of Muammar Gaddafi, even as another set of 300 returnees are yet to cross the desert on their way to their fatherland.
The NEMA Zonal Coordinator in charge of North-east, Aliyu Sambo Bafale, told journalists in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital that the returnees were brought to the Nigerian borders from Chad Republic by the United Nations supported International Organisation for Immigration (IOM).
“We have 79 of them in this batch who were brought into country by the IOM to the Nigerian border town of Gamboru-Ngala where we received them and we brought them into Maiduguri where we offloaded them into the vehicles that will take them to their respective states,” said the NEMA Zonal Coordinator.

He said further that out of the 79 returnees, 70 are indigenes of Edo State, “and that makes the deployment very easy as those going to Edo State will be conveyed to Benin. From there, they can find their ways easily to their respective homes”.

One of the returnees, Paddy Irete, a student of Civil Engineering at the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State who abandoned his HND programme mid-way in search of better living opportunity to Libya early last year, said many Nigerians and black Africans were principal targets of the “Asma Boys”, a bye-word for the Libyan anti-Gaddafi rebels who killed, and robbed them.

Explaining the possible reason why the rebels targeted Nigerians and other black Africans, Irete said: “The Asma boys believed Baba (Gaddafi) liked the blacks in Libya and he may have used them to boost his supporting army. So anywhere they see us, they harassed us. At times, they even forcefully asked the blacks to go and rob stores for them; if you refuse, you are in for their trouble.”

An Ekiti State-born pharmacist, Mrs. Suleiman, who was seen carrying her one and a half year old daughter, Bilkisu, a citizen of Libya, told journalists that some of their fellow returnees died on the way.
“One young man was buried by the dunes of Sahara on their way from Libya to Ndjamena,” Suleiman said.
Though she appeared to be pregnant, Suleiman said many ladies who were also in the journey had lost their pregnancies due to the fatigue and rigours of the 23 days journey through the desert.
She lamented the harrowing experience they had to go through in order to escape from the mayhem which Libya had become for them. She said that the torture and suffering was much, adding that many who could not withstand the strain of the odyssey, either gave up on the trip or decided to face whatever repercussions awaited them if they had to remain in Libya.
According to her, it was worse that there was no provision of medication or victuals during the sojourn. And that was why some of those who took ill could not be treated.
Earlier, the batch of 450 returnees which returned last week had had similar tales of torture and stress on their 30-day journey through the desert.
Hear them: Splendid Eze, who claimed that she had been in Libya since the last four years, said at the peak of the revolution, she had to take refuge at the UN camp in Saba, Libya for two months.
Eze said she was repatriated alongside 450 others from the camp on 28 September and they were made to take the long and tortuous journey through the desert.
She said before leaving the camp at Saba, they faced various hazardous situations including sleeping in the open and getting hit by bullets from the warring factions.
According to her, they did not fare better on the journey back home as they “were robbed and raped by the rebels”.
She said: “I was robbed of my US$1000 and some of those in my company were robbed of their valuables including laptops and handsets.”
Another returnee, Obire Matthew Tony, said they were packed in a truck like sardines and sent on the long and tortuous journey through the desert to Nigeria.
He revealed that they had a stopover for three days in Ndjamena where they were accommodated by the IOM and subsequently sent to Nigeria by the organisation.
He alleged that the Nigerian ambassador to Chad avoided them like a plague and at no time came to their assistance.
The IOM Security Attaché Allabouladje Roland, who accompanied the returnees to Maiduguri, said about 18 of them fell sick on the way and the officials of NEMA also revealed that those that came back ill had all been treated and were to embark on the over 1,000km journey to Edo State.

Redfactor says; its time we make Edo state great again. Everyone is involved.
NB; A lot of our brothers and sisters died in these countries. RIP.

Associazione Iroko Onlus, Italy. Creates 1st action to Prevent Edo girls being transported to Europe for Sexual Exploitation.

One of the young women we supported in school to prevent her being trafficked by her family into sexual exploitation in Europe just graduated. Now, I am working on a project to give micro credit to women with daughters (who may be at risk of being trafficked) to enable them set up an economic activity to take care of themselves and of their daughters. I want to publicize this as there is every good reason to believe it will be possible to get the financing. The idea is to give up to 100,000 naira at a very low interest rate, payable over a period of 2 years. The money recovered will be spent to finance other women. Is this likely to be of interest for your radio or tv programme?
Thanks.
Esohe Aghatise
Associazione Iroko Onlus
Italy
Red Factor says, This is affirmative action. No gimmick, no bulls, just help an Edo person and you too can contribute towards changing our Edo state. Thank you Esohe and hope you become an inspiration for others.

Reactions to OUR PROBLEMS WITH IJAWS IN EDO LAND.

Wharf Snake wrote:

Nnaa 

Akuko ndia di kwa three much. I continue to praise God for your presence on this board to debunk their fallacies and false stories. In my hometown where the njawa originates, we call this akuko ifo. People continue to dream and this dream they portend to be history. Once nwanna Obi Nwakanma queried in amazement on this  board about this mighty civilization with no ruin. He asked about the ruins of the administrative buildings, the court house. Where are the signs of this greatest civilization that we have read about.  Nnaa akuko ifo continues to amaze us and we are all ears. As for the heartbeat, one wonders, if benin ceases to exist, would Nigeria disappear? This question seeks an answer nut none will provide it as you know.

Folks:

This is a very good interview from the Royal family. Oba ator ukpe-re. Ise. This is truly why Edo State is nicknamed "The Heart-beat of Nigeria." It is all glory. Cheers and peace. 

 

Alenbaluye (Alen) Ighedosa

Please don't think I will ever like you, just because I am addressing you. You still owe me a reason why you think my Ijaw parents can not own land in the only region of Nigeria they ever know. Those selfish Edo people, we fed them with our fishes, they never appreciate anything.

Be warned, don't come after me for my comment, I will open book o.

Smile, Alen, God loves you.

Gloria Johnson, MSN., MBA., Almost Ph.D.Dean, School of Re-Education,

College of No-nonsense, GLORIA JOHNSON UNIVERSITY. Our satellite campuses worldwide.

 

Alen, the interesting thing about Benin is that it has history told over and over again and known perhaps, across Nigeria. That is it. Benin is no heartbeat of no Nigeria...take that double negative. The thing that interests me here is how straight and simple is the history recounted by your monarch, which every thinking man and woman of reasonable prudence will buy. I read a piece here submitted by some Izon group claiming to own some land space all over Nigeria, andI quipped, that if we let them Izon, they might lay claim to all of the dry land space in Nigeria. My knowledge of the Izon through out my stay in the old Mid West from whence I took off to Oyibo land, were this people who disembarked their canoes at the water's edge in Warri, and headed off into Warri city. I never could imagine they had a thing to do in dry, dusty, red earth Benin Land, being of the water. Ogam Vincent has to read this and his mind will run to PH, as does mine, each time I read Izon dry land grab mindset. During my infant days in the 60s in PH, there were no Izon. I knew only one of them, from Brass or so, a classmate. Then there were the Kalabari, Okrika, Buguma, Bonny (mainly Igbo). Suddenly of late, not more than a decade now, every Okrika says they are Izon, Kalabari..etc. Suddenly too, they developed dry land grab mindset, and set about claiming even PH, an Igbo town, where once they were only peripheral inhabitants at the water's edge. It simply riles the blood when once a settler, begins to lay claim on land to which he or she has not history of ownership. The same Izon turned the once great Warri town, into a war zone, on account of false ownership claim of the town. People should now know what this Izon people are up to, and gird their loins to do battle with them, wherever they are and whatever claims they make, that are bound to be pretext for dry land grab.

peter opara

 

Peter:

 

You wrote: "Alen, the interesting thing about Benin is that it has history told over and over again and known perhaps, across Nigeria. That is it. Benin is no heartbeat of no Nigeria...take that double negative."

Well, Peter, If you have never been associated with greatness, you do not know the joy in it! We are not seeking nor waiting for your approval in this discuss. Criticisms and challenges are obviously expected from skeptics and bigots like you but, they carry no weights for obvious reasons. The might and significance of Benin Kingdom, Benin Empire, and back to Benin Kingdom, are very well documented in the annals of world history of expansionism and governance. It is no surprise that you may scorn the relics of what made Benin Kingdom great. After-all, Jesus Christ was killed by his people. They prefer to remember him as the son of a poor carpenter who himself led the life of a destitute.

ok, ok, more will be published later. thank you gentlemen and ladies.

 

The strategic location of Edo Nation to-date in Nigeria, speaks for itself. It may be geographically small but, it remains the prominent catalyst in defining Nigeria of tomorrow, believe it or not. The potency of confidence, leadership, and intelligence resonate in Edo Nation to-date. 

 

I grew up to know the Izons (Ijaws) to live on large canoes along river banks! Since life has changed due to modernity, their educated children should humbly and politely negotiate for parcels of dry land to build permanent homes as opposed to living on floating canoes. More grease to your elbows my good friend, Peter. Cheers and peace.    

 

Alenbaluye (Alen) Ighedosa

STORIES THAT TOUCH THE NERVE, EDOS IN DIASPORA VS OTHERS (QUIET NICE BANTER)

Heres how it started, pls read views and reactions.. you may learn something or want to send your own views.

Our problem with Ijaws in Edo – Akenzua

October 29, 2011

Politics

For some time now, there has been tension in Ijaw/Bini communities in Ovia North East Local Government Council of Edo state as a result of land dispute. The Ijaws in the area are claiming ownership of the land which had pitched them against the palace of the Benin monarch.

The Enogie (Duke) of Obazuwa, His Royal Highness, Prince Edun Akenzua who also is the younger brother to the Benin monarch, Oba Erediauwa oversees this disputed area. In this interview with Saturday Vanguard, he describes the Ijaws in the area as settlers asserting as unthinkable the claim being made by the Ijaws.

He also speaks on the curse placed on kidnappers by the Oba of Benin, Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s administration and other national issues. Excerpts:

The Ijaws and the Binis have been living harmoniously all these years. What went wrong?

Prince Edun Akenzua... We are in peace with Ijaws

Well, there is no problem between the Benins and Ijaws over land. What we have is that the Ijaws are claiming land which we know belongs to the Benins. And we are telling them that that part of the area is Benin land. We accept the Ijaws, we know they live here for a very long time but they are living on Benin land. They have lived here over a 100 years.

Nobody is going to ask them to leave because they are not Benin people but they cannot attempt to claim that the land on which they live here belongs to the Ijaw country. I describe them like the black Africans who are now referred to as African Americans, who were taken away to America.

They have lived there for hundreds of years. They cannot claim that where they live in America belongs to any African country. Or that the only laws they will listen to are the laws made in Africa. So it is here. The Ijaws who live here are entitled to whatever goodies are available in Benin but the land belongs to us.

How ijaws came to Benin soil

Oba Orogbua brought them from Benin River to Iko. Oba Orogbua was the Oba that founded Lagos, Dahomey and all that. He went on expedition and of course he needed canoes to carry him and his troops across, and the Benin people are not sea faring people.

So he decided to go and bring the Ijaws who were at that time at the Benin River where they were fishing. He brought a large number of them to Iko to paddle his boat for that expedition. After that they remained here. They have no business with land. They are not farmers. They stayed at the river banks where they built their houses.

They caused no problem to the Benin people. In fact, in the late 80s, the Ijaw people in Gelegele were coming to pay homage to Oba Akenzua 11, that’s my father, by bringing fish. In 1988, I was installed the Enogie of Obazuwa. They was an Ijaw man, he was the Amakushiwe at that time, of the Ijaws in Iko. He told me that he used to be one of those who would put basket of fish on their heads.

There were no cars then, and they would walk all the way from Iko to come and pay homage to my father. And he told me that when they got to Benin, there was a Chief called Legema who was at that time the Ogua who would now announce them. So we had very cordial relation.

In 1988-89, the Ijaws in Iko would bring fish to Igo market and barter the fish for plantain and yam. We have been living peacefully with them but only now that their sons are becoming educated and they began to dangle before them the possibility of having a local government, the possibility of having a state, that they suddenly realized that they needed land. If you want a state, you cannot build a state on water, so you must have land. So this is why they are now fighting everywhere claiming that the whole of the water front should be constituted into a state for them. I don’t see any nation that will make one state to have all the water front contained in five or more states.

Was it why they attacked your palace?

What happened was that there was a time the state government was going to establish a model school and we had offered land because the government was looking for a suitable place for it, and we said we have a place. Government now sent a delegation to go and inspect the area we said was available. And when they came, they saw the flat land and they said they required about 12 hectares.

So when they left, I called some boys in Obazuwa to physically measure the land to ensure that we had what was required. So the next morning which was a Friday, as the boys were doing that, almost opposite my palace there, the militants came and descended on them, cutting them with cutlasses and all that. In the process, they abducted three of the boys and took them to Iko. So I called the governor and the Commissioner of Police. We had to keep policemen on the land for over one month to protect the work the boys were doing.

The opposition PDP is saying that Governor Adams Oshiomhole is not doing enough to check the activities of kidnappers in the state. What is your assessment of the ACN led government in the state?

I will rather talk about Oshiomhole’s government because what he has done for Edo state, his work has turned him into a reference point. I personally appreciate more what he has done to the psyche of Edo people than building of roads.

What he has done, perhaps not as visible, is what he has done to the psyche of the people because before Oshiomhole, governors in Edo state said physical development could be done because there was no money. Because people will now ask where did Oshiomhole get the money? We discovered now that Oshiomhole has in fact done what in two years the PDP government did not do in eight years. I was reading criticism of Oshiomhole the other day by the chairman of the PDP in the state, saying that the contractors being used by Oshiomhole are not Edo people. I just thought it was very unnecessary to say that. I don’t care who the contractor is provided the road is well built. And I hardly see any difference between ACN, PDP or ANPP. Because there is no difference between them. That is why it is so easy for any member to cross to the other party and feel comfortable in that new one.

And those he is meeting feels happy to receive him because they are all the same.

Before the last election…am the convener of a group known as the Bini Leaders of Thought. At that time, our focus was to have a Bini man to succeed Lucky Igbinedion. The reason for that was because one–we wanted to use our population to produce a governor because our thinking was that if we have a Bini man succeeding Lucky Igbinedion, the things we did not do during the administration Lucky Igbinedion we would have opportunity of doing them. And that was to develop the state.

That was what we had in mind. Then Oshiomhole came, people reacted in the polls. And because the PDP government did nothing at that time, people supported Oshiomhole. He came and proved himself, he has proved he is capable of doing things. So this time around that they are going back to the polls, I will be surprised really if he does not get the support of the people.

What if the PDP decides to throw up a Bini son as their candidate to challenge Oshiomhole? Where do you think the Binis will go?

We the Benin people really believe in what people always say- that you don’t change a winning team. Oshiomhole has come to do what he is expected to do. Why must you change him? The Benins don’t just push for a position for the sake of it. Benin is one of the few places where we send non Benins to positions. Years back, we sent one Ekuyasi from Ogwasi Ukwu area to represent us in the Western House of Assembly. We look at competence not tribe really.

Sent from my iPhone

 If we are only for ourselves what are our lives for? Make a difference; make the world a better place.

Dr Stephen E Ogbonmwan

 

 

 

 

 

NIGERIAN ATTORNEY DIED IN CHICAGO.

My people;

Nigeria community in Chicago & Environ need to come together to remove and level this mountain facing us.  How can this happen to us, we might ask?  Our brother (Attorney Ejike Ezenwanne), with his family, migrated from Nigeria with immigrant visa on Sunday, October 9, 2011 and died on Tuesday October 11, 2011 at John Stroger's Hospital, Chicago, Illinois.
My people, we have a big load in our hands and we need everyone's help to level this mountain before us.  This is not a task for one family or two but for all of us because, he is part of our family.  This could have happened to anyone or any family, it is God's will.  Please put yourself in this young family's shoe.  
The least we could do for this young family, is to come together and do what ever we can to help his wife and 2 young children take their husband and father home, to Nigeria.  How can our brother who came to USA, died  2 days later? this is really heart breaking to the Nigeria community.
Once again, I am pleading to you all, please my brothers and sisters, let us come out en mass to be and support this family during this difficult and hard time.  Come out with your family, friends and neighbors and God must surely bless you.

Peace and love.

Jasper C. Ofoma