Images of Ebiraland

By Ismail M. Kabir The real image of the exploded car Following a car explosion that occurred around NMPC fuel station along Obehira road in Okene last sunday the July 15th 2012, new discoveries have ensued. While eye witnesses and residents around the explosion scene continue to dismiss the reports as mere dynamite blast, security operatives in the state insist on a failed terrorist attack on a church within the area. Beside the exxagerated bad press that greeted the incident, Ebira people within and outside Ebira land have been thrown into confussion. People in the community can hardly tell the truth from the lie as contradictory reports and false claims by security men continue flying around. One sure fact remains that those behind the purported explosive attack are not from Ebiraland neither have they been confirmed to be terrorists as available facts indicate that they are labourers from Northern Nigeria who are invloved in blasting rocks with dynamites for cons...

I am writing this article to express my grievances, feelings, and displeasure over the status of a common Anebira on the scale of security agents in Nigeria and indeed Kogi state in particular. I’m Salawudeen A. Abdulrahman, a student of politics, I was born and brought up in Ebiraland and I have witnessed several unjust security cracks down of innocent’s sons and daughters of Ebira since the creation of the state (Kogi) under various successive government. By the grace of God I was also brought up to believe in the sanctity of human life, and I have lived the greater part of my life in the service to humanity. I dream humanity, I preach humanity and I talk humanity. I must write this because a story that must be told never forgives silence. I am putting this down because history teaches us that evil triumph in any society when good men remain mute and hurdle. I am writing this article because I know that the greater part of hell will be surely reserved to th...

Bodies of some of the victims A community group in Okene, Kogi State, where the Nigerian Army on Friday night supposedly killed nine suspected members of the Boko Haram terror group, has sensationally announced that innocent civilians — not members of the dreaded sect — were killed. The group also alleged that the gunmen who engaged soldiers in a duel were armed robbers, not Boko Haram members as claimed by the Army and certain media agencies (excluding THEWILL). After Friday’s exchange of gunshots, Maj.-Gen. Alphonsus Chukwu, Brigade Commander in-charge of Chari Maigugeri Barracks in Lokoja had told newsmen in Okene that nine Boko Haram members, a soldier and an official of the State Security Service (SSS) died while three SSS officials were wounded. He said that a combined team of the Army, SSS and Police tracked the suspects to their hideout and invaded it, killing some of them while others escaped, and recovering items such as hand grenade, two pistols, improvis...

- Assured the actualization of Ajasteel project By Ismail M. Kabir The vice chairman of senate committee on Niger Delta, Senator Nuradeen Abatemi Usman has said that the long abandoned Ekuku Dam project has been enlisted in the 2012 budget of the federal republic of Nigeria for its revitalization. The Kogi central district senator made the declaration in his office during a meeting with the coordinators of Ebira Youths for Progressive Change Initiative (EYPCI) at the National Assembly. He said that the provision of portable water to the people of the central senatorial district of Kogi state forms a significant part of his legislative agenda as declared in his campaign promises. Senator Abatemi who applauded the objectives of EYPCI emphasized his commitment to delivering the expectations of the electorates while analysing the efforts he has made towards ensuring adequate discharge of his primary responsiblities to his people just as he has delegated a capable team to attend to ...

PRESS RELEASE Sen.Nuradeen Abatemi Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman representing Kogi Central Senatorial district has asked the Senate to prevail on the management of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to reverse its decision to retire one Ibrahim Oricha Yusuf from his constituency and others with similar cases. A statement issued by Abatemi-Usman’s media assistant, Michael Jegede noted that the Senator while presenting Yusuf’s petition on the floor of the Senate through a letter he addressed to the Senate President said: “I have received a petition from one Mr. Ibrahim Oricha Yusuf a senior Inspector of Customs (CONSOL 8). Mr. Ibrahim was employed in the Nigeria Customs Service as a junior staff with disability and served for 25 years. Regrettably he was retired arbitrarily on 3rd October, 2011 on grounds of ill health, in spite of a medical report certifying his fitness. Mr. President Sir, the petitioner is...

It was a special Friday on the 11th of November 2011 otherwise regarded as 11-11-11 and the Sallah (Eid ul-Adha) holiday just ended. As a farewell to the holiday, we embarked on a tour around Ebira Natural sites to explore their Tourism Potentials.Our first call was at the Cowrie Mountain (Ataba Uto) in Eika, Okehi LGA of Kogi State. Accompanied by a local TV crew, we embarked on the long trek uphill the ancient settlement of Eika people. After hours of sweat and fun, we re-organised and headed for one of Ebira greatest treasure, the Upogo Waterfall. UPOGO WATERFALL Located in a remote thicket, about a kilometer from the Check-point axis of the Okene-Ajaokuta highway, the Upogo Waterfall is a rocky cliff that spreads about 250m from its foot uphill. The Waterfall is a beautiful sight to behold as it snakes down the rocky channel to a stream at its foot. There is sandy ground that forms a perfect platform for picnic and flat rocks for sun bath. Hidden from public knowl...

GUESTS AT THE MEETING Speech by the event organizer, Hon. Yusuf Ahmed Tijani The Ohinoyi of Ebirra land, Dr. Ado Ibrahim has warned his subjects against vandalizing the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline in his domain. Addressing his subject during Okene/Oghori-Magongo town hall meeting in Okene at weekend organized by Honourable Yusuf Tijani Ahmed representing Okene/Oghori-Magongo Federal Constituency, the royal father said NNPC is complaining bitterly about the development. He said the issue was giving him serious concern, saying that President Goodluck Jonathan was also not happy with the development. Ohinoyi advises the people of Ebirra land to do away with it because of the hazardous nature of bunkering to the people and the economy of the country. Relevant Links The traditional ruler stressed that the relative peace witnessed in Ebira land must be sustained, calling on parents to always check their wards so that the land should continue...