Five Nigerian pastors and others residing in the Idabato II community of Cameroon, formerly known as the Bakassi Peninsula, have been arrested and detained by the Cameroonian authorities.

Their detention followed the kidnap of the community’s Divisional Officer, Ewane Roland, by armed men in early October.

A former chairman of the Yoruba community in the defunct Bakassi Peninsula, Eniola Alabo, disclosed this to Saturday PUNCH during an interview on Tuesday.

Local media had reported that Roland, alongside another official of the council, Etongo Ismaeil, was whisked away on October 1, 2024, by gunmen who used a flying boat in the coastal area.

According to Alabo, the Cameroonian government blamed Nigerians in the area for Roland’s abduction and deployed soldiers to arrest them.

“The Gendarmerie came to the community and started shooting sporadically into the air on the day they arrested some of these Nigerians,” Alabo said.

The man explained that his compatriots in the troubled community called and explained that the incident had plunged them into panic and anxiety in the border town.

During the raid, some Nigerians, including Iseoluwa Eniola, Feran Ajimosun, Idowu Ajimosun, Abiola Ajimosun, Blessing Ajimosun, Sunny Bassey, Feran Samagbeyi, and Godwin were detained in Idabato II.

Governor locks down community

Saturday PUNCH gathered that Cameroon’s South-West Governor, Bernard Okalia, visited Idabato on October 8, 2024.

He was said to have declared a total lockdown of the area, which had mostly Nigerians who were fishermen.

Okalia was said to have issued a 72-hour ultimatum to both Nigerians and Cameroonians in the community to produce Roland alive.

A clip of the visit, obtained by our correspondent, showed him saying, “All shops are closed…the churches are closed till further notice. No exit, no entry in this whole Idabato.”

Alabo said Nigerians in the community were rendered economically handicapped, leading to hunger and frustration.

Residents, however, reportedly defied the governor’s order in the first week of November to go about their fishing business.

“They stayed at home doing nothing for three weeks. The people were hungry because their source of livelihood was put on hold. They had to go out to eat,” Alabo said.

The action was said to have angered the Cameroonian authorities, who deployed soldiers in Idabato on the 10th and 11th of November 2024 to arrest Nigerians in the community.

According to Alabo, the soldiers invaded the community and started shooting sporadically in the air, which made many Nigerians suffer varying degrees of injury.

Pastors arrested

During the lockdown imposed on Nigerians in Idabato II, churches were also locked.

But when Nigerians began attending to their normal activities, churches also opened on Sunday to Christians.

“Some soldiers invaded the Assembly Church of God in the area and arrested the Nigerian pastors there because they were told not to engage in any activities,” the Bakassi Peninsula ex-leader said.

“The names of the pastors arrested by Cameroonian soldiers that day were Adeleke Omoniye, Cascar Ubom, Etim Asuquo, Olamide Ayeye, and Umoh Atete.”

Buttressing the claims, one of the Nigerian leaders in Idabato, who identified himself as Johnson for security reasons, said the lives of the pastors were in danger.

Johnson said the pastors were whisked away by the Cameroonian soldiers to unknown places.

“The Cameroonian soldiers took the pastors away,” Johnson said. “A few days later, we heard that they have been released, but we’ve not seen them.”

The source also said the incident forced many people to relocate to neighbouring communities in Akwa Ibom and Cross River.

“We are in panic,” the source revealed. “The Cameroonian authorities have made life unbearable for Nigerians in Idabato. We have all the major tribes of Nigeria here. We have Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Efik, and other people.”

Woman died

During the lockdown, a Nigerian woman, Esther Okon died after giving birth to a baby on the 20th of October, 2024.

Okon reportedly bled to death after giving birth as she could not receive any medical treatment from the hospital.

One of the executives of the Nigerian Union in Idabato, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed this, adding that the woman had been in labour since 19th October.

The source said Okon would not have died if she had been transported to Ibaka in Mbo local government area of Akwa Ibom State but there was no movement.

“It takes only two hours by a speedboat but if we see a flying boat, it is just 45 minutes to get her to Akwa Ibom,” the source said.

Confirming the incident, another Nigerian man, who claimed to be Okon’s husband’s friend and did not disclose his identity for security reasons, said her corpse was repatriated to Nigeria after some documents were signed with the Cameroonian authorities.

Tax payments

One of the problems causing conflicts between the Cameroonian authorities and Nigerians in Idabato is the payment of taxes.

The authorities had accused Nigerian nationals in Idabato of evading taxes but proof of adherence to the payment of taxes was shown to them on many occasions, Johnson said.

“We have documents like receipts issued to us as evidence after the payments of taxes. It is called global tax collected annually,” the source added.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that some of the taxes might not have been remitted to appropriate quarters.

Failed interventions

When asked about the possible intervention of the offices of Consulate-Generals of the two West African countries, the Nigerian nationals said their efforts had not yielded results.

“I have gone to the office of the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria, but nothing happened. I was not allowed to see the woman. I learned that she is a new person appointed,” Alabo said.

All efforts to reach the Consulate-General of Cameroon in Nigeria were futile as both numbers and email addresses on their website appeared dormant as of the time of filing this report.

NiDCOM reaction

Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission disclosed to Saturday PUNCH that the matter was for the consular division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle.

While explaining why it was not in the jurisdiction of the NiDCOM, the commission’s Head of Media, Abdur-Rahman Balogun said the issue now involved Nigeria and Cameroon.

“NiDCOM only engages in matters relating to Nigerian individuals in the diaspora,” Balogun said. “This case is between two governments. It should be handled by the consular office.”

“Moreover, I am not aware of the incident,” NiDCOM spokesman added.

The efforts to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerning the issue did not yield result as the number was not connecting.

A message was sent to the email address of the ministry but there was no response as of the time of filing this report.

In 2002, the International Court of Justice awarded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.

On June 12, 2006, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed the Greentree Agreement, which outlined the withdrawal of Nigerian troops and transfer of authority.

Some Nigerians left the community to move to the coastal areas belonging to Nigerian states namely Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

Meanwhile, about 50,000 Nigerians are still residents of the Bakassi Peninsula, claiming that the now Idabato community remains their ancestral home despite being under the control of Cameroon.

The Anambra State Police Command said it has arrested two suspects, including a native doctor, for alleged kidnapping and armed robbery.

The command said it also recovered one pump action, the victim’s vehicle and other incriminating items from the suspects.

This was disclosed by the command’s spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a press statement on Saturday, adding that the arrest was made following the testimony of a rescued kidnapped victim.

The statement read in part, “Following the testimony of a rescued kidnapped victim on 22/11/2024 by 6pm near Abagana Girls Secondary School, joint security forces comprising of Police and Anambra Vigilantes busted a shrine of a native doctor at Uru, Abagana and arrested two suspects.

“During a manhunt on two others, the police also recovered one pump action, the victim’s vehicle, rope, horsewhip and other incriminating items. The suspects included one Maduabuchukwu, Ikechukwu Okafor age 30yrs, and Nweze Chijindu aged 38yrs all natives of Abagana while One Supuluchukwu Nweze and Sunday Nwakanze aged 30yrs are presently at large.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was lured to the location by a phone call allegedly initiated by Sunday Nwakanze. The victim was abducted at gunpoint, dispossessed of valuables, and transported to a shrine where he was restrained using ropes and had his mouth sealed.

“The two suspects confessed to the crime and are currently assisting the Police with information for possible arrest of other gang members.”

Ikenga assured all that the command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Anambra State.

Olajumoke Orisaguna, a Lagos-based bread vendor who gained prominence in 2016 as Jumoke ‘Onibredi’, is returning to fame as a broadcaster after several years of diminishing visibility.

Naija News recalls that Jumoke Onibredi was discovered by the esteemed photographer, TY Bello, during a photo shoot which went viral at the time.

Jumoke Oniburedi garnered national attention when Ty Bello noticed her during a photo shoot while selling bread on the streets of Lagos, recognizing her potential as a model.

Her narrative of rising from humble beginnings to success became a media phenomenon, leading to her appearance on magazine covers and inspiring numerous Nigerians.

However, her trajectory turned negative four years ago when she experienced a decline in fame, financial stability, and public relevance, having fallen prey to fraud allegedly perpetrated by her former manager.

Jumoke asserted that she was misled by the manager, who misappropriated her earnings from endorsement deals and other business ventures.

She shared this experience during a meet-and-greet event titled The Comeback of Olajumoke (Oni Bredi), organized by the Cardinal Foundation, where she recounted her struggles.

“I really suffered and lost everything. She took me to South Africa twice for a documentary, but I had to pay for our flights and accommodation. When we returned to Nigeria, she only gave me N50,000. I had no money, nothing. I lost everything. I started calling people for food. It was Aunty Azuka and TY Bello who came to my rescue.

“Aunty Azuka paid my rent, furnished a shop for me, and regularly sent me foodstuffs and money to take care of my daughters. It was that bad.

“I have learned my lessons, and I will never leave those who truly mean well to me again,” she shared.

Jumoke Onibredi expressed gratitude to the CEO of Media Room Hub, Azuka Ogujiuba, TY Bello, and Mrs Adedoja Allen, who supported her during those challenging times.

Despite her strained relationship with Ogujiuba, whom her former manager had allegedly alienated her from, Ogujiuba provided financial assistance for food and rent.

“Aunty Azuka and TY Bello really helped me. Whenever I called Azuka for help, she would provide it, even when she didn’t have much—her daughter would step in. TY Bello also assisted me financially. I am so grateful to these two women; they were my saving grace,” Jumoke noted.

To assist Jumoke in reconstructing her life, Ogujiuba reached out to Mrs. Adedoja Allen, the CEO of City FM and the founder of the Cardinal Foundation, which is part of Cardinal Broadcasting, to provide her with a chance in the broadcasting field.

Ogujiuba shared the details of how he engaged the police to apprehend Jumoke’s previous manager, who had committed fraud against her. Unfortunately, the case did not produce any meaningful results, as the manager was released and did not respond to further police summons.

Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has reiterated its calls that citizens are suffering as a result of the economic policies of the federal government.

The Secretary General of ACF, Murtala Aliyu, said while they engage state governments in the North on the need to provide good governance, economic policies are made by the federal government.

Aliyu stated this on Friday in an interview with Arise TV.

He noted that ACF is not completely blaming the national government, but the hardship affecting the citizens resulted from the federal government’s policies.

“We’ve made our statements previously. We’re still making our statements today, the persons on the street really complaining. They are suffering. Food is becoming difficult on the table. People are finding difficult to move, even to go to work. These are realities on the ground, but the government has explained, and it’s government’s responsibility to tell us when this will be eased. And so as ACF, we will continue to have government that people are complaining, that people are suffering,  they have to know that this is a happening,” he said.

Speaking on ACF‘s engagement with political leaders in the North on the need to provide good governance, Aliyu emphasized the need for the government at all levels to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

“Well, first of all, let me say that we engage the governors at the governor’s forum level. We also engage the governors at the individual level. We also engage the traditional rulers and where there is a responsibility at the sub-national level, we bring their attention to that. We’re not totally blaming the national government for all the wars in the country. Just like the North, any part of the country will have to wake up at sub-national level to do the right thing.

“So the federal government will complement those efforts. But economic policies, are actually defined by government at the center, and if things are going right or wrong, the center should address it. At a micro level, the state governments or the governments at the national level will handle that, and we are talking to them.

“So we’re not saying we’re heaping all the blame on one person or one or one location. No, we’re saying all people at each level should wake up to their responsibility and also be aware that the people at the grassroots are complaining, and so we expect to see the promises government made that changes will come soon, and the circle will come to the people,” Aliyu added.

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Cletus Obun, has warned President Bola Tinubu to retrace his steps, especially regarding appointments.

Naija News reports that Obun, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, said that Tinubu is being led into committing political suicide by certain people.

Obun expressed displeasure over the reward system in APC, noting it was worse under the administration of former president Muhammadu Buhari, and Tinubu is acting likewise.

The APC chieftain lamented that members of the party who worked tirelessly during the last election for the emergence of Tinubu as President were not being rewarded accordingly.

He said, “It is a wrong strategy not to reward your own allies. It would surely boomerang. In a developing democracy such as this, it is a brazen affront to loyalty.

“What you are seeing here are genuine agitations. The reward system in the APC is very poor. APC had the worst reward system under Buhari and today we’re seeing the repeat.

“A man works like an elephant and eats like an ant. It’s not correct. I’m sure he [Tinubu] has enough time to retrace his steps on this matter because certain attempts are being made to mislead him into thinking that those who worked for him in 2023 may not be useful to him in 2027, that is a wrong headed political suicidal to ever attempt.

“This direction of not rewarding those who worked, even their prayers alone will affect him. Karma is real.”

On Friday, November 22, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State recounted his last conversation with the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Ubah, who was Anambra South Senator, died in the United Kingdom, UK, on July 27 at the age of 52 years.

Speaking during the funeral service held for the late Ubah at St. Peter Claver Parish, Umuanukam Otolo, Nnewi, Anambra State, Soludo said death was not part of his discussion with Ubah.

The governor said he, Ubah, and Emeka Offor planned a meeting due to the late lawmaker’s intentions to run for “something.”

Soludo said he was waiting for Offor to set a date for the meeting when he learnt of Ubah’s death.

According to Soludo: “I still remember when we met sometime in May this year, and I asked him that it seems he was nursing an ambition for something and he told me that he also would want to be part of it.

“And he also said that the only way out is for Sir Emeka Offor to convene a meeting at our instance.

“Then later, Emeka Offor also echoed the same thing, and we both agreed, and it was that meeting that we were still waiting for before someone sent me a message about his death.

“I did not believe it, until a senator called to tell me.

“I then called his wife and she confirmed it but that was not what we discussed and agreed on.

“And I ask him, is this what we discussed?”

Candidates from political parties that participated in the recent Ondo State governorship election have expressed their acceptance of the election results and pledged to support Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in fostering the state’s development.

During a meeting held on Friday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Akure, the state capital, the candidates, along with their party chairmen, affirmed their commitment to collaborate with the governor to build a prosperous Ondo State.

Representatives from 13 political parties, including Accord (A), Action Alliance (AA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), All People’s Party (APP), African Democratic Party (ADP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Labour Party (LP), Youth Party (YP), Young People’s Party (YPP), Boot Party (BP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to extend a hand of fellowship to all opposition parties for the collective good of the state.

In response, Governor Aiyedatiwa thanked the candidates and their party leaders for their readiness to support his administration, emphasizing that their cooperation would not be taken for granted.

He reiterated his commitment to inclusive governance, ensuring that no political party would be excluded from contributing to the state’s progress.

The governor called on all stakeholders to join hands in fulfilling the shared responsibility of developing Ondo State, pledging to maintain a government that prioritizes inclusivity and collaboration.

Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the late Nigerian federal lawmaker, has been buried.

The senator was laid to rest in his hometown in Umuanuka village, Otolo Nnewi in Anambra state on November 22.

The Senator passed away while in the UK on July 27. He was 52 years.

Until his death, he was the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly.

The businessman-turned-politician would have been 53 on September 3, 2024.

Dignitaries at the funeral included Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state, Peter Obi, Chris Ngige, Olisa Metuh, Senator Osita Izunaso and many others.

See more photos below…

The Edo State government has reported that more than 200 vehicles are currently missing under the administration of former governor Godwin Obaseki.

It had been reported on Thursday that a 12-member committee was set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo to recover all vehicles belonging to the Edo State Government which were said to be in the hand of the immediate past governor of the state, Godwin Obaseki and his aides.

Okpebholo had appointed Kelly Okungbowa to lead the committee as he gave them two weeks to deliver on its mandate and ensure that the government vehicles in private hands are fully recovered and subsequently returned to the state government.

Okungbowa who spoke to journalists after 24 hours said three vehicles including one Hilux van and two Toyota Hiace buses had been recovered.

According to him, in one of the Toyota Hiace buses, the committee recovered some palliatives which was meant to have been shared to Edo people. He added that the palliatives include bags of garri and rice of 10kg and 25kg.

He appealed for more information from members of the public, saying it was the information earlier obtained that led to the recovery of the three vehicles.

Okungbowa also assured whistleblowers that a handsome reward awaits them provided their information is correct and verifiable.

He said; "Yesterday, we were inaugurated, we promised to follow the law to carry out the mandate of Mr Governor which is to recover all missing government vehicles in private hands. We are glad to inform the people of Edo State that we have recorded success within 24 hours of our inauguration.

'I am glad to announce to you that we have recovered one Hilux and two Toyota Hiace buses in private custody. You see that within 24 hours that we have made success and recovered some vehicles.

"We assure Edo people and the State Government that we are going to do the job to the best of our ability. We will make sure we recover all the stolen vehicles.

"Reports reaching us is that we have over 200 government vehicles missing. We appeal for more information as the whistleblowers will be handsomely rewarded.

"This is not private property but the property of Edo citizens and it is not good for a private individual to steal government property. These vehicles were recovered from one person's house. Palliatives were recovered from the Toyota Hiace bus as some garri and bags of rice where kept in the bus.

"We are just wondering how many will be in the Houses of former government officials like the Chief of Staff, SSG and so-called Deputy Governor which is not known by law.

"We appeal to former government officials and other citizens holding back government vehicles to return the vehicles within 48 hours. Information is key as these three vehicles recovered this morning was as a result of information.

"We need more information as we are moving to other places where we have been informed that government vehicles are parked. There have not been resistance so far because security agencies are backing our operations."

The Labour Party (LP) has dismissed the video making the rounds in social media that its leadership was partnering with President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Mr Obiora Ifoh, National Publicity Secretary, LP said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to Ifoh, the party has on several occasions debunked the allegations that it has an understanding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to collaborate in the 2027 general election.

“As a matter of fact, the Labour Party is the most visible opposition party as at today and our National Chairman, Barrister Abure is the leading voice in the opposition camp, and has been most critical of the present government.

‘”After the 2023 general election, it continued to interrogate the system’s failure and has been very visible playing the role of the opposition, continuously critiquing the policies, proffering solutions and advising the government.

“Recently, the party under the able leadership of Mr Julius Abure came up with series of programmes, including the creation of the Electoral Reform Committee.

“With it we hope to enthrone credible, fair, and transparent processes, leading to the selection of leadership in the country, Labour Party being a major victim in the 2023 general election,” he stated.

Ifoh said the party had created a Political Education Committee for reorienting citizens on the need to have a positive behavioral change towards politics in Nigeria.

He also said the party had become the first party in Nigeria to attempt to deepen participatory democracy by the introduction of e-membership registration with thousands of people already subscribing.

”All these efforts to reposition the party, for someone to be demarketing such a party in such an unguarded and callous manner, is most ridiculous and unfortunate.

“We are, therefore. challenging Deji Adeyanju and any other person to come up with facts and proofs that either the party leadership or Mr. Abure intends to work for President Bola Tinubu or his party, the APC in the 2027.

” Adeyanju’s assertion which is presently trending globally has caused the Labour Party enormous harm and we are demanding that he refrains from causing the party further harms.

“As a political party, we view Deji Adeyanju’s now viral comments as a criminal defamation, a clearly motivated ploy to ridicule our hard earned reputation.

“We are therefore, calling on Mr Adeyanju to without delay provide facts and evidences to prove that Labour Party has been ‘bought’ over by President Tinubu.

“He also has a choice to withdraw his ill assertions and apologize to the leadership and millions of members of Labour Party for the great harm he has caused the party,” he stated.