EVENTS

Experts call for collective action against GBV in Ogun

Published

1 month ago

June 27, 2025

Experts in Ogun State have called for urgent action to curb the state’s persistent increase in Gender-Based Violence, GBV, and other forms of abuse.

They made the call at a stakeholders’ engagement on GBV, Standard Operating Procedures, Case Management, and Legislative Framework Workshop organized by the Gender Unit of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, OGSTEP, and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The engagement, held on Thursday at the OGSTEP conference room, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, brought together 86 media professionals, online content creators, civil society groups, and government agencies to strengthen ethical reporting on Gender-Based Violence, GBV.

Speaking at the engagement, OGSTEP’s Gender Specialist, Mrs. Ewajesu Fasina, lamented that the state had the highest number of GBV cases and insisted that everyone involved, particularly the media, must raise the alarm on the danger posed by the menace.

Fasina stated that according to a report from the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, 28% of Nigerian women aged 25–29 have experienced some form of physical violence at the age of 15, while 1 in 10 boys experiences sexual abuse.

She stressed the importance of the media in influencing public opinion on GBV and urged journalists to prioritize the dignity and safety of survivors in their reporting, warning against narratives that could cause further harm.

Fasina said, “Journalists have the power to overturn court cases with the power of the pen or the power of the keyboard.

“Journalists have the opportunity to cover all angles, the health, the security, the legal aspects of every story and that’s why we’ve taken out our time to say, in this war against gender-based violence, without media, without journalists, we cannot win it. Only this group of people have the better and eagle’s eye view.”

Also, a legal expert and State Coordinator of the Child Protection Network (CPN), Barrister Adedamola Lapite, maintained that asking for consent and maintaining confidentiality would help to prevent trauma for the survivors.

He guided participants through the legal framework for gender-based violence response and reporting, urging media practitioners to report responsibly and increase public awareness about the harmful impact of such issues on society.

“What we have done here today is basically talk to us on the things required in reporting gender-based violence cases. We must talk about the need for confidentiality, for consent, so as to avoid traumatizing survivors when we’re reporting them,” Lapite said.

The OGSTEP Project Coordinator, Mosunmola Owo-Odusi, stated that as part of their program intervention, they have renovated four Sexual Assault Referral Centres throughout the state and outfitted two of them with empowerment centres to ensure that survivors have a safe place to go.

EVENTS

Fresh Discovery: Fake C of O, Allocation Papers Recovered from Illegal Revenue Syndicate Arrested at Okigwe Road

Published

40 minutes ago

August 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Owerri – Thursday, July 31, 2025

In a follow-up to the recent arrest of a notorious syndicate of illegal revenue collectors along Okigwe Road, new and disturbing discoveries have emerged during ongoing investigations.

The Imo State Inland Revenue Service (IIRS) in collaboration with the Office of the Governor on Monitoring and Compliance, has confirmed the recovery of several forged documents from the apprehended individuals, including:

Fake non-filled documents in hundreds ;

Fake unused Certificates of Occupancy (C of O)

Fake Land Allocation Papers

Fraudulent Housing Allocation Documents

These falsified documents were reportedly used by the syndicate to conduct fake land allocations, defraud unsuspecting citizens, and impersonate government authorities for personal gain.

According to officials close to the investigation, this latest discovery reveals that the syndicate was not only engaged in illegal revenue collection, but also deeply involved in a wider network of document forgery and land-related fraud.

The items recovered confirm that the group had established a sophisticated operation targeting landowners, civil servants, and small business operators across the state. Investigators are now tracing the syndicate’s previous activities and potential accomplices.

Authorities have assured the public that the culprits already in custody will face the full weight of the law, and additional arrests may follow as the investigation expands.

This fresh breakthrough further strengthens the Uzodimma-led administration’s resolve to clean up the state’s revenue system and protect the rights and resources of law-abiding Imo citizens.

The government urges residents to remain vigilant, and to report any suspicious revenue or land-related dealings to the appropriate authorities.

The fight against fraud and illegal revenue collection is far from over.

EVENTS

Police arrest suspected stolen goods dealer in Akwa Ibom, recover items

Published

41 minutes ago

August 1, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has apprehended one Mr Elijah Etim Nyah, a male resident of Okonna Street, Ikot Ekpene for his suspected involvement in receiving stolen or vandalized properties in the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, DSP Timfon John who disclosed this in a release on Thursday said valuable items, suspected to be stolen were recovered from him.

The PPRO said the arrest followed credible information and a confession from a previously apprehended suspect.

She listed the items recovered from his possession to include: assorted cut-to-size PHED electric cables, different sizes of burnt and peeled electric copper wires, and cut-to-size aluminum roofing sheets.

She said investigations are already ongoing and the suspect would be charged to court upon completion.

The elease read in parts, “On July 28, 2025, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command successfully recovered stolen items and arrested a suspected receiver following an operation based on credible information and a confession from a previously apprehended suspect.

“At approximately 3:45 PM of July 28, 2025, the Police raided a black spot located at No. 56 Aba Road, Ikot Ekpene. The operation led to the recovery of several items, including electric wires and an iron protector, all suspected to be stolen. These items are believed to be part of property vandalized and stolen from an abandoned Chambers of Commerce building located on Etokebe Street, Ikot Ekpene.

“Further investigation extended to a shop and premises also on Aba Road, Ikot Ekpene. There, Mr. Elijah Etim Nyah, a male resident of Okonna Street, Ikot Ekpene, was arrested as a suspected receiver of the vandalized and stolen goods. Recovered from his possession were assorted cut-to-size PHED electric cables, different sizes of burnt and peeled electric copper wires, and cut-to-size aluminum roofing sheets.”