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Three LNRBDA staff hospitalised over NUAAE’s violent protest
- MD says protest meant to disrupt committee set up to probe fraud allegation
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
At least three staff of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority (LNRBDA), Ilorin, were on Monday hospitalised during a violent disruption of activities by members of the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Employees NUAAE in the establishment.
It was gathered that members of the NUAAE had staged a protest against the Management of the Authority over allegations of high handedness and absence of workers welfare.
The union members had reportedly attacked staff, inflicting various degrees of injury, while the Management, led by the Managing Director of the Authority, Engineer George Olumoroti, had to report to the State Commissioner of Police and the Directorate of State Security (DSS).
Speaking with journalists Monday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Olumoroti said that three members of the Authority were hospitalised after receiving severe beatings from the protesting union members.
The Managing Director, who described the disturbance as a violent attack and not a protest,
made available a video evidence of the incident to journalists.
According to him, the crisis stemmed from disciplinary actions initiated against a member of the union, Mudi Olayinka Raji, over alleged gross misconduct and non-remittance of government revenue.
He said the Management, upon assumption of office in April 2025 reviewed records and disciplinary reports as part of efforts to align the Authority with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He explained that previous Management had set up disciplinary committees to investigate allegations against the union leader, over alleged diversion of government revenue, unretired IOUs and unauthorised financial transactions involving his wife, who is not a staff member of the authority.
The Managing Director said the committees found the union leader and four others culpable, recommending sanctions, including refund of unaccounted funds, warning letters and dismissal over alleged gross misconduct and corrupt practices.
He added that the recommendations were later reviewed and upheld by another committee and subsequently by the Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee with representatives from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
Olumoroti said the affected officers were denied promotion in line with public service rules pending the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings.
He, however, said he personally appealed to the Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev to temper justice with mercy by commuting recommended dismissal to lesser sanctions similar to those given to the other affected officers.
According to him, the Minister approved the appeal, directing the leader to refund unaccounted funds, accept a warning letter and submit an undertaking of good conduct.
He said while other affected officers complied and returned to duty, the union leader allegedly rejected the clemency and petitioned the minister, claiming that documentary evidence used against him had been forged.
Olumoroti said the allegation prompted the Minister to direct a fresh investigation through a special disciplinary committee inaugurated last Wednesday.
He alleged that the violent disturbance was aimed at disrupting the committee’s work and frustrating ongoing reforms within the Authority.
“This is a case of corruption fighting back. We are introducing reforms, accountability and discipline into the system and some persons are resisting change,” he said.
Olumoroti further alleged that some workers invaded the premises with weapons, assaulted staff and breached security within the authority.
He said members of another union resisted the disruption, insisting they were at work and not part of the protest.
The Managing Director said the Management would not tolerate acts of violence or intimidation, adding that all staff must operate within public service rules and extant laws.
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Kaduna Government Allegedly Orders Activist’s Arrest Over Anti-APC Remarks
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani has allegedly ordered the arrest of political activist Zamani Musa, popularly known as Mycah Dangata, following comments in which he urged residents to vote against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources familiar with the matter, Dangata was reportedly arrested after publicly campaigning against the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani. He was also said to have called on Kaduna residents to reject all APC candidates in future elections.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the activist’s arrest followed the circulation of a video he recorded shortly after the APC primaries. In the video, Dangata allegedly declared support for the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and former Senator Danjuma Laah, while advocating for a power shift to Southern Kaduna.
A source claimed that Dangata was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, a security outfit established by the state government in collaboration with the Kaduna State Police Command and other security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and illegal arms trafficking.
“He was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, the state security outfit composed of policemen,” the source alleged.
Another source suggested that Dangata may have drawn the government’s displeasure after comparing Governor Sani unfavourably with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Activist Criticises Governor Sani
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Dangata, speaking in Hausa, criticised Governor Sani’s leadership style and political decisions. He praised El-Rufai, arguing that the former governor adopted a more people-centred approach to governance.
According to Dangata, El-Rufai allowed communities greater freedom in choosing their preferred candidates, whereas he accused the current administration of imposing candidates on local communities.
He further urged residents to unite politically against the APC, stating that those concerned about Kaduna State’s future should work together to defeat the ruling party at all levels of government.
“We should vote out Asiwaju (President Tinubu), vote out Uba Sani, and vote out every candidate presented by the APC,” he said.
Dangata described the alleged imposition of candidates as inconsistent with democratic principles and argued that residents should collectively oppose what he characterised as undemocratic practices.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and security authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations surrounding the activist’s arrest.
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One Killed, Several Houses Burnt as Suspected Militias Attack Benue Community
By: Fabian Apechihin
Suspected militia members have attacked a community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, killing one person and setting several houses ablaze before fleeing the area.
According to reports, troops operating under Sector 1, in collaboration with personnel of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, responded to a distress call at approximately 8:30 a.m. on June 4 following an attack on residents of Mbasa community in Utange Council Ward.
Security operatives swiftly deployed to the area but found that the assailants had already escaped before their arrival.
A preliminary assessment revealed that one resident lost his life during the attack, while several homes were destroyed by fire allegedly set by the attackers.
During a search of the scene, security personnel recovered two empty 7.62mm special ammunition cartridges, suggesting that firearms were used in carrying out the assault.
The victim’s body was later evacuated by family members for burial in accordance with local customs and traditions.
Military authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the attack. They also confirmed that security presence has been strengthened in the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents of their safety.
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EFCC Arraigns Husband, Wife for N1bn Fraud in Ado-Ekiti
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).
The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Taiwo and Omotola ran into trouble when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.
Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti
The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.
Count 2 of the charge reads:
“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADobobEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.
Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC custody.
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