Gunmen on Tuesday stormed the Ilejemeje Local Government Area Secretariat in Ẹda-Oniyọ, Ekiti State, causing panic and chaos among workers.

The attackers disrupted normal activities and forced employees to flee the premises for safety.

This happened days after armed Yoruba Nation agitators invaded the Oyo State Government Secretariat.

The hoodlums, who were said to have come from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in the neighbouring Kwara State, violently stormed the secretariat, firing several gunshots, making workers run in different directions and in the ensuing pandemonium, one of them got injured.

The hoodlums were said to have vandalized the secretariat building and other property of the council.

Though the cause of the attack is still sketchy as at the time of filing this report, it was reliably gathered that the two communities have been embroiled in crisis for some time over land disputes.

During the attack, which lasted for several hours, it was gathered that one person was said to have sustained serious injury and was rushed to the State Specialist Hospital in Iye-Ekiti for urgent medical attention.

The Eleda of Eda Oniyo community, Oba Awodipo Awolola, while speaking on the attack, explained that the hoodlums had in few days attacked some residents of the community with charm in their farmlands.

He said the development resulted in panic and tension in the community.

The traditional ruler who lamented the absence of police posts in the area, said there is a need for security outfits to mobilize more officers to the community to prevent further breakdown of law and orders.

Similarly, the Chairman of Ilejemaje Local Government, Mr Alaba Dada, said the suspected hoodlums were from the Obbo-Ayegunle community in Kwara State.

He attributed the attack to the lingering land dispute between the two communities, and explained that security agents had been mobilized to the town to prevent reprisal attacks.

Dada added that there is a need for the Ekiti and kwara governments to meet to settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship. (dailypost)

Delta Government has prohibited journeys on its water for actors in carrying out their creative talents without putting on life jackets and ensuring other safety measures.

This is contained in a condolence message by the State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nnamdi Ijeh, to the families of those who lost their lives in the ill-fated boat mishap on the River Niger last week, made available to newsmen in Asaba, on Monday.

According to the letter, dated April 11, 2024, the commissioner conveyed the sympathies of the State Government and the creative family in the state in the unfortunate incident of April 10, 2024.

‘’On behalf of the State Government, Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the entire creative family in the State, I sympathise with the families of those who lost their lives in the process of expressing their creative talent on their way from the location of shooting a movie on April 10, 2024, and the entire Nollywood family.

‘’It is with a heavy heart that I want you to know that we share in your pain. At the time the news got to us, we arrived at the scene and discovered that the few ones who were saved from the boat mishap were on life jackets.

‘’It is therefore very expedient that, at this time of grief, to say that henceforth, such journeys should not be embarked upon without life jackets, expert divers and other safety precautions,” he said.

Ijeh also added, ”the Delta  Government takes the life of every citizen as a priority and therefore warns against water journeys without the required safety gadgets, especially those within the entertainment industry.

In the letter, copied to the President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Dr Emeka Rollas, the  commissioner also prayed for the repose of the departed souls.

In a bid to enhance inclusivity and support for children with special needs, Ekiti State Government has launched a two- day comprehensive fundamental ethics and proficiency training and workshop for 74 support staff that were recently recruited.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s deep concern for children with special abilities has spurred significant investments in the sector, part of which is the training programme organised by the office of the Special Adviser, Special Education and Social Inclusion.

Gathered at the School for the Blind in Ikere Ekiti, the newly recruited staff drawn from the state’s three government special schools embarked on the intensive two-day seminar to equip them for their new roles.

The State Commissioner for Education, Dr Olabimpe Aderiye, lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s multifaceted initiatives aimed at supporting children with special needs. She urged the new recruits to reciprocate the government’s commitment by delivering high-quality service, emphasizing the importance of punctuality, dedication, and innovation in their duties.

Mrs. Adetoun Agboola, the Special Adviser on Special Education and Social Inclusion, in her remarks at the event, reiterated Governor Oyebanji’s dedication to inclusivity in governance. She assured the recruits of a rigorous selection process based on merit and proximity to each special school, minimizing logistical challenges and ensuring seamless learning experiences for the children.

Highlighting ongoing projects such as school renovations and vehicle refurbishments to enhance mobility, Mrs. Agboola emphasized the significance of the support staff’s role in the state’s inclusive agenda.

Dignitaries at the event including Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and Dr. Azeez, Special Adviser on Tertiary Education, encouraged the recruits to uphold the government’s commitment through diligence and productivity.

The Special Adviser, Special Education and Social Inclusion, Mrs Agboola led the invited guests including Commissioner for Capacity Development, Prof Patrick Tedela; on an onsite assessment of the school’s AGILE project after the flag off of the training programme, even as she emphasized government’s proactive approach to educational infrastructure in the state.