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Christmas: Travellers decry highway extortion by fake council officials

Published

3 months ago

December 18, 2025

Travellers heading to various parts of the country for the Christmas festivities have raised the alarm over rampant extortion by hoodlums masquerading as local government officials on major highways.

Those plying the eastern axis lamented that the hoodlums have taken over key sections of the Lagos–Onitsha Expressway, stopping motorists to demand radio licences or force them to pay arbitrary fines.

Victims said the activities are most pronounced around Ore in Ondo State, Benin City in Edo State, Asaba in Delta State, and the Onitsha Head Bridge in Anambra State. Families travelling home for the festive season told Vanguard that the most disturbing aspect is that the extortion is carried out in full view of security operatives, including police officers stationed at checkpoints along the highway.

One of the victims, a Lagos-based nurse travelling with her family to Imo State in a private Sienna bus, recounted her ordeal at a location described as a “customs checkpoint” in Asaba.

She said about seven roughly dressed young men blocked their vehicle and demanded a radio licence from the driver, who told them he knew nothing about such a requirement.

“They yanked open his door, dragged him out and shouted that if he failed to produce a radio licence, they would impound our vehicle. We had children with us and the sun was scorching. Despite our pleas, they deflated our tyres and forced our vehicle off the road,” she said.

According to her, several other vehicles were similarly forced off the busy highway by the hoodlums, who could not produce any form of identification.

“Some of us approached policemen at the nearest checkpoint to complain, but to our shock, they brushed us aside, saying, ‘We are doing our work and they are doing their work.’ Our pleas, especially those of us with children, fell on deaf ears. Eventually, we were forced to part with money to continue our journey.

“Some paid N45,000, others N35,000 or N20,000, depending on their bargaining power. After payment, they gave us a phone number to call if we were stopped again. We were, in fact, stopped a few kilometres ahead by another group. When we called the number, nobody picked. We had no option but to pay again.

“Any motorist who challenged them had his tyres deflated and vehicle pushed off the highway, leaving passengers stranded for hours,” she added.

Another victim, a Lagos-based businessman, Mazi Ukadike, said both commercial and private vehicles were targeted.

He explained that motorists with fully wound-up windows sometimes managed to escape, while others were not so lucky, as their vehicles were damaged with sticks and cudgels wielded by the hoodlums.

“They force drivers with open windows to stop, drag them out and threaten to impound their vehicles unless they produce radio licences or pay fines. In my case, we were stopped on entering Asaba. Because we were not using the air conditioner, our windows were down.

“They aggressively demanded a radio licence. When we told them we didn’t understand what they meant, they pushed my driver out, took over the steering and drove the car onto a rough road off the highway to negotiate money.“They demanded N45,000. We pleaded and eventually paid N35,000. Like others, they gave us phone numbers to call if stopped again. These were the numbers they gave us: 09137214004 (John) and 08138755192 (Ifeanyi),” he said.

A security expert based in Benin City, Mr. Kingsley Osa, told Vanguard that the development was not new.

“They have been doing this for a long time, but the police and other security agencies have failed to checkmate their excesses. It is a creation of corrupt local government chairmen who use it to settle their thugs.

“There was a time the police headquarters in Abuja issued a statement condemning the practice and warning that tough measures would be taken against anyone blocking highways under this guise.

Unfortunately, nothing came of it. They are everywhere on our highways and appear to be above the law,” he said.

When contacted, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Benjamin Hundeyin, said he would reach out to police spokespersons in the affected states. However, as at press time, he was yet to respond.

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Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died

Published

11 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

Veteran Yoruba broadcaster and comic actor, Timothy Agboola, widely known as Ereke Ni Shop, has died after battling an illness.

It was reports that the entertainer passed away on Wednesday at a private hospital in Lagos after reportedly being sick for a long time.

Agboola built a strong reputation in Yoruba broadcasting and comedy.

Over the years, he became popular for programmes that mixed humour with storytelling while also promoting Yoruba culture and traditions.

Many listeners saw him as someone who loved his heritage and proudly represented Ijesa culture through his work.

Following the announcement of his death, many colleagues, friends and fans began sharing messages of condolence on social media.

One of his associates, Idris Shogbola, was among those who first shared the sad news online while mourning the loss of the veteran broadcaster.

“May the soul of our boss rest in peace. Pa Timothy Agboola ‘Ereke ni Shop’. Baba Oloye Repete… A broadcaster, actor, comedian. May God Almighty give you eternal rest in peace. Amen. Ereke ni Shop sun re o,” he wrote.

Agboola gained wide attention through his unique storytelling style and lively comedy.

His radio shows often combined humour with social observations about daily life, which made him popular among many Yoruba listeners.

During his long career in the entertainment industry, he worked with several well-known entertainers, including Baba Alajeju.

Some of his comedy performances date back to the 1970s when he was already becoming known for his lively stage presence.

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I Don’t Leave My House Without Going Through Newspapers – Tinubu

Published

15 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he is always concerned about the welfare of the masses.

He disclosed that he reads about happenings in the country every morning before leaving home.

Tinubu stated this during an interfaith breaking of fast with senior journalists and media executives at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He said that he was a little bit stubborn at the beginning of his administration.

The president also stated that his administration has opened up on the principles of true federalism to the extent that local governments now get direct allocation from the Federal Government.

He said, “There’s no morning that I ever leave my house without going through the newspapers. It’s an addiction. I read all of you.

“It might not be in full detail, but headline, the one that would hit me and the ones that won’t.

“At the beginning of this administration, I was just a little bit stubborn, looking at opportunities to correct things and make life more easier for the downtrodden.”

Meanwhile, Tinubu has stated that improving Nigeria is a collective responsibility.

He asserted that the country’s development cannot be the sole responsibility of the federal government and urged the media to hold states and local governments accountable.

The President stated this on Friday when he hosted media executives and proprietors at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu cited increased financial autonomy for the lower tiers of government and urged the media to extend the same level of scrutiny they apply to his government to the local and state administrations.

“We’ve opened up the principle of federalism to the extent that local governments are now getting their money. But how they use it is in your hands,” Tinubu said.

“So don’t bombard me alone; look at the local government too. Yes, we can complain it’s not enough; we can complain we are not where we should be. But we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress.

“Today, there is no state that is borrowing to pay the salaries of employees,” he told the gathering.

“Yes, we can complain that it’s not enough. We can complain we are not where we should be, but we have to manage what we have to sustain today, survive tomorrow, and make progress,” he added.

The ex-Lagos State governor reiterated his commitment to doing the job with dedication.

“And I promise you, the job that I continue to do is dedication, patriotic dedication to improve Nigeria. It’s all in our hands; it’s a collective responsibility,” he said.

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US Lawmaker, Moore Alleges American University Shooter Met ISIL In Nigeria

Published

16 hours ago

March 14, 2026

Oluwagbenga Olaoye

United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has alleged that a shooter who attacked Old Dominion University in Virginia met with members of the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Nigeria before carrying out the incident.

Moore made the allegation on his 𝕏 account on Saturday, in response to the attack.

It was understands that the attacker, Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted supporter of ISIS, entered a classroom filled with Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students and opened fire.

According to the FBI, the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar”, Arabic for “God is greater”, before shooting at students inside Constant Hall.

The classroom quickly descended into chaos as terrified students scrambled for safety.

However, several ROTC students bravely confronted the gunman and ultimately subdued him, preventing what authorities believe could have been a far deadlier massacre.

Reacting to the development, the lawmaker claimed that the suspect was earlier imprisoned but was released before the attack despite alleged ties to the terrorist group.

“The radical Islamic terrorist who attacked Old Dominion yesterday was let out of prison early despite meeting with ISIL in Nigeria and seeking to aide and abet ISIL in carrying out an attack on our homeland,” Moore said.

The congressman criticised the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s release, describing the development as alarming and unacceptable.

“This is insane, and it MUST END! That’s why I’m introducing a bill to denaturalize and deport any naturalized citizen who seeks to commit a terrorist attack or aids and abets terrorism against the American people,” he said.

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