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How ‘pastor’ brutalises woman, 90, Imam in Edo community

Published

5 months ago

July 20, 2024

How ‘pastor’ brutalises woman, 90, Imam in Edo community

Tempers have flared up in a riverine community, Ofukpo-Ekperi, in the Estako Central LGA of Edo State following a viral video of a man brutalising a woman in her 90s, Adishetu Atairu, and an elderly man, said to be the imam of the community, Musa Shaibu, and six others.

The video footage on WhatsApp and Facebook shows a crowd at night led by a man simply identified as Pastor Sharp-Sharp.

In one of the clips, the elderly woman with a walking stick was dragged to the middle of the crowd while a young man was yelling at her to sit down.

When she sat down on a chair, Pastor Sharp-Sharp was heard saying she should sit on the floor, even as another young man then kicked her legs, forcing her to fall to the ground.

In another clip, a man identified as the chief imam of the community is seen sitting on the bare ground while a young man removed his cap.

In another clip, a woman wearing a hijab was brought forward, and Pastor Sharp-Sharp was heard saying, ‘You killed Eshe and killed the wife’, and the woman said that she had something to say, but Pastor Sharp-Sharp cut her short, saying, “Not now, take her away”.

In another clip, another woman wearing a small hijab was also brought in and the pastor accused her that they were the two and then asked her to leave.

The crowd in the video was heard commending the pastor after humiliating his victims during the unfortunate incident.

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A resident of the community, Abu Buhari, told the Daily Trust in an interview that on July 5, his stepmother, Adishetu Atairu, and others were dehumanised and assaulted by Pastor Sharp-Sharp and his accomplices.

He said, like his stepmom, the community chief imam and other residents were also abducted by Pastor Sharp-Sharp in the middle of the night, using gun-wielding thugs. The victims were physically assaulted and made to confess to crimes they knew nothing about.

“On the faithful day, residents of my community went to bed as usual, only to be woken up by strange, gun-wielding men. The victims were dragged before a waiting crowd and accused of witchcraft. My stepmother was brutalised, humiliated and traumatised,” he said.

“The information I got was that the community youths who are vigilantes initiated a move to offer prayer for the community to progress. But the community members were not in support because of the gangsterism they employed in achieving it.

“They went ahead to contact one Pastor Sharp-Sharp whom, I learned, charged them fees. The youths said the pastor had been performing miracles in some areas. So against the wish of the community, they went and brought the so-called pastor and started unleashing terror on the people.

“The pastor organised a crusade in the midnight and perpetrated terror on those they claimed were witches and wizards.

“According to the information that was available to me, the youths wrote the names of the people they claimed were witches and wizards and handed them to the pastor, who in turn started calling their names out during his crusade.

“When the pastor called names of the people, the youths would go to the person’s house in the dead of night and forcefully bring them to the venue of the event and then proceed to assault and dehumanise them.

“Like in the case of my stepmother, they stormed our house, abducted her despite the injury she sustained on her leg and brought her to the pastor. They gave her a chair but the pastor commanded that she must sit on the floor, which she refused to do, saying she committed no offence.

“In order to force her to obey their so-called overseer, one of his boys tackled her and she fell down. That same treatment was meted on our chief imam and about seven other persons in the village.

“Because of beating and dehumanisation, some people ran away that night. And because of fear of the same treatment meted out to the victims, others started saying all sort of things they know nothing about.”

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According to Buhari, after the dehumanisation, the pastor forced them to pay sundry amounts ranging from N10, 000 and above for chaplain and some miracle medicines.

He said they reported the incident to the police, who asked them to submit a petition on the incident, detailing what happened.

He said after the petition was submitted, the pastor was arrested by the Police Area Command Office in Agenebode, Etsako East LGA on Wednesday, July 17.

“Ofukpo is a riverine community and in the rainy season, the people are cut off from the Ekperi community due to lack of access road,” he also said.

He called on the police and other relevant government agencies to intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice to avert communal and religious crises in the state.

Buhari said his stepmom and other victims are still in pain as a result of the beating and dehumanisation they suffered.

The spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, said, “Yes, the incident is confirmed, the police are aware of it.

“The pastor and one other person have been arrested and they are in police custody. The suspects have been charged to court.”

Reacting to the incident, the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria’s Amir (president) in Edo State, condemned the attack and called on the state government and security agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Also reacting, Afemai Islamic Movement’s (AIM) Amir, Sheikh Ismaeel Danesi, called for justice for the people of Ofikpo community.

“Our people are peaceful. No one has the right to assault anyone, let alone old people who are innocent. Our culture forbids it, just as our religion is against it.”

On its part, the Edo Muslims for Equity and Good Governance, (EMEGG) commended the Nigeria Police and other security operatives for wading into the matter before it escalated.

The group’s coordinator, Sirajudeen Muhammad, assured Muslims in the state that justice for those humiliated will not be compromised.

He said religion is to save and not to harm, adding that the group will follow the case to its logical conclusion.

“The pastor and two others have been charged to court, we were at the court today and we will always be present at the court. The case has been adjourned to August 7, for hearing.”

– Trust

How ‘pastor’ brutalises woman, 90, Imam in Edo community

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Electricity: We installed 184,507 meters, issued 50 licences in Q3, says FG

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

prepaid meters

Electricity: We installed 184,507 meters, issued 50 licences in Q3, says FG

The Federal Government has recorded significant progress in Nigeria’s electricity sector with the installation of 184,507 new meters and the issuance of 50 licences, permits, and certifications during the third quarter of 2024 (Q3).

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) revealed in its Q3 2024 report released on Friday that 184,507 meters were installed, marking a remarkable 256.01% increase compared to the 51,826 meters installed in Q2 2024.

The increased metering pushed the net end-user metering rate in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) to 46.15%, up from 45.43% in Q2, a rise of 0.72 percentage points.

The installations were largely carried out under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) framework, which accounted for 178,715 meters or 96.86% of the total. The Vendor Financed framework contributed 3,508 meters, while the DisCo Financed framework added 2,298 meters.

This development signifies a concerted effort to address challenges like estimated billing and promote consumer satisfaction across the electricity distribution value chain.

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Power sector development: 50 licences issued

To complement the surge in meter installations, NERC issued 50 licences, permits, and certifications aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s power sector infrastructure. These include:

Six (6) new off-grid generation licences with a combined capacity of 30.06 MW.
One (1) renewal of an on-grid generation licence with a gross capacity of 39 MW.
Two (2) new electricity trading licences.
Eleven (11) captive generation permits with a total gross capacity of 63.36 MW.
One (1) registration certificate for a mini-grid.
Seven (7) certifications for Meter Service Providers.
Twenty-two (22) permits for Meter Asset Providers.

These licences are expected to encourage investments, improve power supply, and expand access to renewable and off-grid energy solutions, especially in rural areas.

Key Implications for the Power Sector

The surge in meter installations and issuance of licences marks a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s electricity sector. By prioritizing metering through initiatives like MAP, the government is tackling the pervasive problem of estimated billing, which has long plagued electricity consumers.

Furthermore, the rise in off-grid and mini-grid licences underscores a growing shift towards renewable energy and decentralized power solutions, vital for enhancing energy access in underserved regions.

A Promising Outlook: These advancements highlight the Federal Government’s commitment to reforming Nigeria’s power sector and creating an enabling environment for both consumers and investors.

With metering and licensing activities gaining momentum, stakeholders anticipate further progress in Q4 2024, laying the foundation for a more reliable, sustainable, and inclusive energy sector.

Electricity: We installed 184,507 meters, issued 50 licences in Q3, says FG

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Ibadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi his ex-wife, Naomi Ogunseyi

Ibadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has encouraged his ex-wife, Naomi Ogunseyi, and radio owner, Oriyomi Hamzat, not to be discouraged following the tragic stampede at a Yuletide ceremony for children in Ibadan, Oyo State, which claimed 32 lives.

The monarch also pledged support for the families of the victims and called for immediate measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

His comments followed the arrest of his ex-wife by the police and were made in a statement issued by the Director of Media and Public Affairs at the Ooni’s Palace, Moses Olafare.

In his statement, the Ooni expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the government of Oyo State, the organisers—Agidigbo Radio, owned by Oriyomi Hamzat, and former queen at the Ooni’s Palace, Ms Naomi Silekunola Ogunseyi, as well as the bereaved families of the young souls lost in the tragic incident in Ibadan yesterday.”

He also expressed solidarity with the Oyo State government and commended the governor for his swift response.

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“This tragedy underscores the urgent need for collaborative efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our children across Nigeria. The House of Oduduwa pledges to support all efforts aimed at bringing solace and healing to those affected by this devastating loss,” he added.

The Ooni called for immediate action to improve safety measures, stressing the importance of adherence to safety standards and child welfare policies in educational institutions. He advised Naomi Ogunseyi, Oriyomi Hamzat, and other co-organisers not to be discouraged by the unfortunate outcome of the event, which was originally intended to bring joy to children during the festive season.

He concluded, “Rather than being discouraged, they should remain committed to organising such laudable programmes for children, but with better planning and strategies in the future. The lesson must be learned.”

Ibadan stampede: Ooni reacts after arrest of ex-wife

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Farotimi: Advocacy group wants UK college to break ties with Afe Babalola

Published

10 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Dele Farotimi and Aare Afe Babalola

Farotimi: Advocacy group wants UK college to break ties with Afe Babalola

A growing wave of international pressure is urging King’s College London to sever its ties with prominent Nigerian lawyer and philanthropist Afe Babalola following the controversial arrest of rights lawyer Dele Farotimi.

Babalola, who is a major donor to the prestigious UK institution, has been accused of using his influence to have Farotimi arrested for alleged defamation.

In a petition dated December 17, 2024, the advocacy group Mothers United and Mobilised (MUM), representing a collective of Nigerian women and mothers, called on King’s College London to distance itself from Babalola and his actions.

The petition, signed by MUM convener Boluwaji Onabolu, urged the institution to release a statement condemning the alleged suppression of dissent and to return the €10 million donation made by Babalola in 2023.

Farotimi was detained by police officers from Ekiti State, Babalola’s home state, following critical remarks about the 95-year-old lawyer in his book.

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The book criticized Babalola for allegedly winning cases with financial leverage rather than legal skill, a claim that reportedly triggered the arrest.

Farotimi was detained for more than two weeks, despite being granted bail under stringent and punitive conditions.

The group contends that the situation in Ekiti, where Babalola holds considerable influence, presents little hope for a fair trial for Farotimi.

“The defamation charge, a civil matter, should have been addressed through legal proceedings in Lagos, but instead, it was escalated to an arrest orchestrated by Chief Babalola using his home state’s police,” the petition read.

The group stressed that King’s College London, a globally recognized institution, should not be associated with actions that undermine freedom of speech and legal fairness.

The group urged the UK institution to publicly support Farotimi’s right to a fair trial and demand his release from detention.

“King’s College London must stand on the right side of history. We urge the institution to break its silence and align itself with the fight for justice, human rights, and the protection of free expression, which are fundamental to the values it represents,” the group said.