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NAPTIP arrests another “notorious trafficker” in Edo

NAPTIP arrests another “notorious trafficker” in Edo

NAN-HG-1

Arrest

By Mustapha Sumaila

Abuja, June 20, 2017 (NAN) The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it has arrested a 45-year-old woman, Rhoda Omorogie, alias Mama Bobo, for her alleged involvement in the trafficking of young girls from Benin to Europe.

The NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations, Mr Josiah Emerole,
said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the operatives of the agency in Benin Zonal Command arrested the suspect in an early morning operation on Tuesday.

Emerole explained that Omorogie, a nurse by profession and an indigene of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, was nabbed by the operatives at about 5 a.m at her residence located at No. 65 Osayande St. off Upper Sakponda Road, Benin City.

He said that the suspected trafficker had been in hiding since June 16 following the arrest of one of her gang members, Monday Ugbo, by NAPTIP operatives and rescue of three victims.

According to him, the “notorious trafficker’’ is presently in NAPTIP’s custody for interrogation.

The spokesperson stated that preliminary reports showed that Omorogie has over the years been involved in the recruitment of young women from Benin to other places including Europe.

He said the report also revealed that she was connected to the recruitment of the three victims that were rescued in Benin at the weekend.

Emerole quoted the Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs Julie Oka-Donli, saying that it is disheartening to see women involved in the “disgusting trade of human beings’’.

She however stressed the need for people to be more careful while dealing with traffickers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recall Ugbo was nabbed by NAPTIP operatives at the weekend and rescued three victims from his residence located at number 72 Osayande St., Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, Edo.

Ugbo was arrested in the process of receiving a registration fee of N50,000 he had demanded from a prospective victim and preparing to take the victims to a River for oath taking. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

Auchi monarch tasks community on agriculture

Auchi monarch tasks community on agriculture

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Agriculture

By George Edomwonyi

Auchi (Edo), June 18, 2017 (NAN) The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, has advised people in his domain to embrace agriculture for economic self reliance and boost food production in the country.

The monarch gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.

Momoh said that no fewer than 200 women farmers in the Kingdom have been encouraged to key into the Federal Government agricultural revolution policy towards achieving national food security. The Otaru said the zeal by the women from an agrarian community was to boost food production and ensure food security within the locality.

He said the traditional council had enjoined all the 25 village heads in the kingdom to encourage their wards towards going back to agriculture.

“We are asking everybody to start planting groundnut; Auchi has a product which is groundnut, and we are now saying everybody should go and grow groundnut.

“Even my wife has her own farm, by virtue of that policy, we encourage the women to farm and trade,” he said.

The Otaru assured that the traditional council had created the enabling environment conducive for investment in agriculture in the communities.

He further disclosed that the traditional council had donated 5,000 hectares of land as part of the community’s effort to support the federal government agricultural revolution.

He said the hectares of land were meant for crops such as groundnut, maize, cassava and other economic crops.

“We have allocated some hectares of land to the Federal Government for the planting of cashew, cassava, maize and groundnut, and we are expecting them to come and inspect the land,’’ said Momoh.

Besides, the monarch disclosed that the community had disbursed N5 million to some women farmers to engage in petty trade due to attacks on them by herdsmen.

“Because of the Fulani herdsmen issue, we gave out some money to farmers to ease them off from the threat of Fulani herdsmen who threaten them in the farm,” he said.

The traditional ruler assured residents that the traditional council was already working with security agencies, including the local vigilance group and hunters, to arrest the situation and make the farms safe for cultivation. (NAN) GE/KOO/MST

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Sport

Edo govt targets sports development to revive reputation, Deputy Gov.

Edo govt targets sports development to revive reputation, Deputy Gov.

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Sports

By Kevin Okunzuwa

Benin, May 28, 2017 (NAN) Edo State Government says  it is determined   to revive sports, re-enact and surpass the glory days for which the area is noted in sports.

The reassurance was given by the State’s Deputy Governor, Mr Philip Shaibu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin.

He said the state government`s policy direction involved developing and exposing talents from the grassroots side-by-side with education to ensure well-rounded sports personalities from the state.

He said that the state-owned Insurance FC of Benin, currently campaigning in the Nigeria National League would be re-branded to gain promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League and play continental football.

He said the Gov. Godwin Obaseki-led administration possessed the will, courage and resolve to drive the state to excellence in sports.

“When we fix up all this area across the Local Governments, when we arrange one or two tournaments, when insurance is back to premiership, when insurance is back in the Confederation of African Football competitions, they will give back.

“For instance, during the work shop, one of our living legends, Segun Odegbami made a statement that Bendel Insurance football club is not a football club but a mass movement of Edo people.

“And so, when they hear that their darling insurance is back to premiership, their darling insurance is playing continental match, they will come to support.

“Presently, insurance survives through small support from different people that feel insurance must not die,’’ he said.

According to Shaibu, when the state government concludes the branding of sports “from primary, secondary and university levels and do inter Local Government competition’’ its intentions will be better appreciated.

“You will see that in the next set of under 17, under 20, Edo is bringing 10 out of 22 players that will play.

“And each time they watch television, you will see out of 11 players and Edo is having about eight, you see that they will come (sponsors). We just need to brand it.

“We just need to bring that name back, Edo is home of sports and Edo has interest in sports. So what has been lacking is the will and I can tell you that this government have that will.

“This government has that courage because it is one thing to have the will and don’t have the courage to back that will up. We have the will and the courage to back it up,’’ Shaibu said. (NAN)

KOO/DOE/MEMO

===============

Edited by Dianabasi Effiong/Mike Mbonye

Politics

NASS by-election: Edo group drums support for candidate

NASS by-election: Edo group drums support for candidate

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Support

By Ehigimetor Igbaugba

Benin, Jan. 3, 2017 (NAN) The Etsako Progressive Agenda, a social cultural organisation, has urged progressive minded Etsakos to support the aspiration of Mr Johnson Oghuma as candidate for the Estako Federal House of Representatives in the upcoming by-election.

The group drummed the support in a statement signed by Dr Sani Usman, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Tuesday.

NAN recalls that Oghuma, a former lawmaker, has represented Etsako Central Constituency twice in the Edo House of Assembly.

He is now seeking to replace Mr Phillip Shaibu as the representative of Etsako Federal Constituency, after the latter was elected Deputy Governor of Edo.

The organisation expressed confidence in Oghuma to effectively represent the people at the National Assembly, having delivered on his mandate at the state House of Assembly.

It called on other politicians in the constituency to close rank and support Oghuma, whom it described as an experienced, loyal and grassroots politician.

The group noted that what the federal constituency needed was a bold, fearless person to fill the big shoe left by the deputy governor in the National Assembly (NASS).

“It is time we put aside politics of self-interest and parochial tendencies that has been the bane of politics in Afemai land and support someone who can represent our people, rather than pretenders who seeks public office for personal benefits.

“We decide to come out this time to ensure that we don’t get anything less than the best for our people because the task of law-making at that level should not be left for neophytes,” it said.

It would be recalled that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, had recently declared the Etsako Federal Constituency seat vacant.

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to fix a date for the by-election, no fewer than six aspirants have indicated interest to fill the position. (NAN)

ESI/ORO/MST Edited by Razak Owolabi/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Niger Delta

Fadama group lauds SEEFOR project in Edo

Fadama group lauds SEEFOR project in Edo

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Project

By Nefishetu Yakubu

Benin, Jan. 1, 2017 (NAN) The Federated Fadama, a group of enterprising youths, has lauded the State Employment and Expenditure For Result (SEEFOR) project in Edo, saying that it has been a huge success.

Mr Henry Ebole, the National Secretary of the body, made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Sunday.

SEEFOR project, which is sponsored by the World Bank and the European Union (EU), engages youths and women who are paid stipends to clean drains, maintain roads and dispose refuse.

NAN reports that the programme which is aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment has been on in four Niger Delta states of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers for the past three years.

Ebole said: “The Edo Government has, in conjunction with SEFFOR, given a boost to its youth employment programmes, with the engagement of women and youths across the three senatorial districts.

“SEEFOR project does not only create jobs; it has also assisted farmers in grading farm roads in the state.

“We appreciate the project for the routine maintenance of roads, de-silting of drains, and regular sweeping of roads across the three senatorial districts in the state.” (NAN)

NY/EMO/MST

Edited by Ejike Obeta/Muhammad Suleiman Tola