₦airaland Forum

Kudos to the Lagos state govt for this initiative , I think they should go further by sending the image captured to the offender

Yes, two images were made available on their site when you punch in your car plates to pay the fine. One dark image that shows your plate and another clear photo that shows the car fully and you during the violation.

Didnt get any SMS. It was when I wanted to renew my papers that I got to know. Portal showed overpseeding around 1:59am. No other details. I knew It definitely wasnt me cos I avoid night driving cos of visibility. I contested it and thankfully it was knocked off

Ours had two photos; one of it showed the driver clearly…

For 6km? 🙆🏾‍♂️
When I got my own in January last year, at least it was because I had done almost 20 over the limit 😫

Na wetin pain me pass be that. Just 6km/hr extra 😭😭😭

Lagos State govt. texted my uncle with an over-speeding fine. We were arguing who drove that night so the person can chest the fine.

Ladies and Gentlemen, there was an irrefutable evidence on their site.

Face clear, evidence choke!!! 🤣😂😂

@jidesanwoolu ko da o.. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Following the recent violent protests in Ekpoma, Today, I met with the Deputy VC Administration of AAU, Prof Andrew Eromonsele, alongside the President of the Student Union of Ambrose Alli University, Comrade Osadebamen Ehizogie Michael, to review the security situation, and the arrests made.

I want to reassure students, parents, and the entire AAU community that my administration has nothing against the students. In fact, we have done more for the AAU community than any previous administration in the history of Edo State.

I have directed that any genuine student who may have been arrested in the process of restoring order will be promptly identified and released.

The destruction of markets and property in Ekpoma is condemnable, and anyone found sponsoring or using hoodlums to destabilize our communities will be brought to justice, regardless of status or affiliation.

The relevant security agencies, using technology-driven operations, are combing the bushes, leading to the arrest of suspected kidnappers and the recovery of firearms. We will continue to dismantle these criminal networks across Edo State.

My government remains fully committed to restoring peace in Ekpoma and ensuring that Edo State is not held hostage by criminal elements.

God bless Edo State.

RaySimran:
He did a video telling troops not to obey Trump.

Is Trump not a lawful US president?

RaySimran:
As a veteran and a serving senator, asking military members not to obey lawful order is seditious.

Senator Mark Kelly sues Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth over attempted demotion

Kayla Epstein
2 hours ago

US Senator Mark Kelly has sued Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, arguing that the Pentagon illegally tried to demote him in retaliation for criticising the Trump administration.

Kelly, a former Navy captain, attracted the ire of Hegseth and President Donald Trump after he filmed a video that told military personnel they could refuse unlawful orders.

Trump accused Kelly of "sedition", and Hegseth said he would open proceedings to lower Kelly's retirement grade, which could result in a reduction in his pay.

The actions violated Kelly's right to free speech and due process, and did not follow proper military procedure, his case alleges. The Pentagon and White House did not immediately comment.

Kelly had a prominent career as an astronaut before being elected to the US Senate for Arizona in 2020.

He also founded a gun safety group along with his wife, former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head at an event in 2011 and survived.

He staked out a position as a centrist Democrat focused on defence, and has criticised Trump's use of National Guard troops to patrol US cities.

Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, Portland, Washington DC, and elsewhere has sparked major court battles. The Trump administration argues that the forces are necessary to suppress crime, and to protect federal immigration agents as they conduct sweeps in major US cities.

In November, Kelly, along with five other Democrats, filmed a video that told military personnel: "Our laws are clear: you can refuse illegal orders."

The video irked Trump, who posted "LOCK THEM UP" on Truth Social. The president's account also reshared another user's post, that read, "HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!"

Trump later clarified to Fox News: "I'm not threatening death, but I think they're in serious trouble."

Hegseth then announced he would open retirement-grade determination proceedings against Kelly and issue a formal letter of censure. He described Kelly's comments as "seditious in nature" and a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The case filed by Kelly argues that Hegseth "is disciplining Senator Kelly solely for the content and viewpoint of his political speech".

Kelly also alleges that Hegseth did not have a legal basis to open a review of Kelly's retirement grade.

"Nothing in the statute authorizes the Department of Defense to reopen that determination based on post-retirement political speech - and if it did, it would raise serious constitutional concerns and subject all of the nation's retired veterans to an ever-present threat against their retirement," the case states.

Pete Hegseth is coming after what I earned through my twenty-five years of military service, in violation of my rights as an American, as a retired veteran, and as a United States Senator whose job is to hold him—and this or any administration—accountable. His unconstitutional crusade against me sends a chilling message to every retired member of the military: if you speak out and say something that the President or Secretary of Defense doesn’t like, you will be censured, threatened with demotion, or even prosecuted.

Every servicemember knows military rank is earned, not given. It's earned through the risks you take, the sacrifices you and your family make, the leadership you display, and the respect you earn from the superiors who recommend you for promotion. From the moment I drove through the gates of Naval Air Station Pensacola, to when I was shot at over Iraq and Kuwait, to when I landed Space Shuttle Endeavour on its last mission, I gave everything I had to this country and I earned my rank of Captain, United States Navy.

Now, Pete Hegseth wants our longest-serving military veterans to live with the constant threat that they could be deprived of their rank and pay years or even decades after they leave the military just because he or another Secretary of Defense doesn’t like what they’ve said. That’s not the way things work in the United States of America, and I won’t stand for it.

In 1986, at just 22 years old, I took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution. I have fulfilled that oath every day since, but I never expected that I would have to defend it against a Secretary of Defense or President. But I’ve never shied away from a fight for our country, and I won’t shy away from this one. Because our freedom of speech, the separation of powers, and due process are not just words on a page, they are bedrock principles of our democracy that has lasted 250 years and will last 250 more as long as patriotic Americans are willing to stand up for our rights.

So today, I filed a lawsuit against the Secretary of Defense because there are few things as important as standing up for the rights of the very Americans who fought to defend our freedoms.

Yesterday, I visited the palace of the Onojie of Ekpoma, His Royal Highness, Zaiki Anthony Ehizojie Abumere Il, following the protest in Ekpoma that resulted in the attack of the palace and widespread destruction of property in the community.

Having met with the… pic.twitter.com/HvsgJv3Jzk

— Senator Monday Okpebholo (@m_akpakomiza) January 13, 2026

PRESS RELEASE

EDO COMMAND DEBUNK FALSE SOCIAL MEDIA REPORTS OF POLICE STATION FIRE IN EKPOMA, CLARIFY ACTUAL FIRE INCIDENT AT POWA SHOPS

The Edo State Police Command has dismissed as false, misleading, and reckless the circulating reports on social media claiming that a Police Station was gutted by fire in Ekpoma.

The Command wishes to categorically state that no Police facility or station was affected by fire in Ekpoma. The viral claims are entirely untrue and calculated to misinform the public, generate panic, and undermine public confidence.

The actual incident occurred on Sunday, 11th January, 2026, at about 1130hrs, when electricity supply was restored by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and a spark reportedly emanated from one of the shops within the Powa Shops area of Ekpoma Division, igniting a fire that spread across several adjoining shops.

Swift intervention by Police personnel in collaboration with members of the public helped to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing further escalation. Although the Value of properties damaged is yet to be ascertained, no life was lost.

The Command strongly condemns the deliberate spread of false information by individuals and content creators who, in their desperate pursuit of social media relevance, propagate unverified and sensational narratives capable of causing public panic, economic disruption, and security threats, highlighting that such reckless misinformation does not only mislead the public but also diverts emergency resources, damages institutional credibility, and may trigger avoidable unrest. Members of the public are therefore advised to always verify information from credible and official sources before sharing.

The Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, reassures residents of Ekpoma and the general public that the security situation remains calm and fully under control. He urges citizens to remain law-abiding and to disregard all unverified social media reports capable of inciting fear or confusion.

Members of the public are encouraged to rely on the Command’s official communication channels for accurate information through;
FB: @Edo State Police Command
X: @EdoPolice

The Command’s Public Relations Officer through:
FB: @Eno Ikoedem
X: @EnoIkoedem
📞08169099849

ASP ENO IKOEDEM,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
EDO STATE COMMAND.

12th January, 2026.

PRESS RELEASE

EKPOMA PROTEST: HEAVY SECURITY DEPLOYED TO CURB CRIMINALITY; 52 SUSPECTS ARRESTED, CLEARS MISINFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The Edo State Police Command wishes to provide update on the Ekpoma protest and ongoing security operations in the area.

The Commissioner of Police CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, has personally supervised heavy deployment of personnel in Ekpoma, in company of the Commander Mechanized 4 Brigade, Brigadier General Ahmed Olatunboju Balogun, to personally see to the deployment of personnel in collaboration with sister security agencies including the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Security Corp (ESSC) and Hunters to sustain public safety and tackle the issue of kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Following investigations into the disruption of a peaceful protest in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area, a total of fifty-two (52) persons suspected to have participated in violent acts of vandalism, assault occasioning harm, looting, rioting, cruelty to animals among other acts , causing disorder, and undermining public safety, were arrested.

The arrested hoodlums also allegedly forcibly entered the palace of the Enogie of Ekpoma, His Royal Highness Anthony Ehizogie Abumere, assaulting him and his wife while they maliciously destroyed his property.

Contrary to claims circulating on social media, the Edo State Police Command guarantees that no peaceful protester was arrested, but were rather charged to go home and maintain peace. The suspects have since been arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction.

The Commissioner of Police, reiterates the Command’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of citizens to lawful and peaceful protest while maintaining zero tolerance for criminality, violence, and acts capable of infringing on the rights of law abiding citizens.

Members of the public are advised to disregard unfounded reports and rely only on verified information. The Command appreciates the continued cooperation of law-abiding citizens and assures the public of its unwavering resolve to sustain peace and security across Edo State.

ASP ENO IKOEDEM,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
EDO STATE COMMAND.

12th JANUARY, 2026.

PRESS RELEASE

CP EDO ORDERS REORGANISATION OF EKPOMA DIVISION;
OPERATIVES UNCOVER SELF-KIDNAP, BUSH COMBING YIELDS ARREST OF 11 SUSPECTED KIDNAPPERS, RECOVERY OF FIREARMS

The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that as part of ongoing security assessment and strategic repositioning in Ekpoma, the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, CP Monday Agbonika, fdc, has ordered the reorganisation of the Ekpoma Division, and approved the posting of CSP Tomofe Nwabueze to assume office as the new DPO with immediate effect.

Following a report of a suspected kidnapping along Old INEC Road, Ekpoma, received at about noon on 12th January, 2026, the new DPO immediately swung into action and deployed operational resources to track the caller. Technical intelligence and field investigations led to the arrest of the suspect, which later revealed a case of self-kidnapping.

The suspect, one Obehi Odine ‘F’, aged 18, was arrested for staging her own kidnapping and demanding a ransom of Ten Million Naira (₦10,000,000). She has confessed to the crime, admitting that the incident was deliberately fabricated to extort money.

In a related operation in Ubiaja, the Command recorded another major operational success as Bush combing strategy yielded success. The Divisional Police Officer, Ubiaja personally led a coordinated bush-combing operation around Akwocha Camp and adjoining forest corridors, in collaboration with the Nigerian Military and the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC). A concealed forest enclave identified by the drone squadron through intelligence generated from air surveillance as a suspected kidnapping and logistics base, was stormed. This resulted in the arrest of eleven (11) male suspects believed to be members of an organized kidnapping syndicate.
Exhibits recovered include twenty-four (24) Dane guns, seventeen (17) cutlasses, three (3) battle axes, gun powder, torchlights, mobile phones, solar panels, assorted charms, one Daylong motorcycle, and the sum of ₦209,700.00 cash, among other exhibits.

The Commissioner of Police, strongly warns members of the public against engaging in false kidnapping reports and other deceptive acts, noting that such actions waste critical security resources, divert attention from genuine emergencies, create unnecessary panic, and undermine public confidence, hence anyone caught will be prosecuted accordingly. He further reiterates the Command’s resolve to sustain technology-driven policing, aggressive forest domination, and intelligence-led operations to dismantle criminal networks across the state.

Members of the public are encouraged to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information through the following lines:
Emergency Control Room: 08077773721, 08037646272
Public Complaints Bureau (PCB): 08150999335
Complaints Response Unit (CRU): 08100389992

ASP ENO IKOEDEM,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
EDO STATE COMMAND.

13th JANUARY, 2026.

I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the kidnapping and killing of a young man in Ekpoma on Friday, January 9, 2026.

This tragic incident is heartbreaking, and I extend my sincere condolences to the victim's family, friends, and the entire Ekpoma community during this very painful time.

I understand the fear, anger, and frustration this has caused among residents and students of Ambrose Alli University. No one should have to live in fear or feel unsafe in their own community. The lives and safety of Edo people remain my highest priority.

I have personally visited Ekpoma, met the people and stakeholders to ascertain things for myself and I have directed our security agencies to intensify operations in Ekpoma and the surrounding areas, with immediate measures to prevent further incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. We are working closely with all relevant authorities to strengthen security and restore calm.

I hear the voices of our people, and I am committed to taking decisive action. I stand with Ekpoma, and I will not relent until safety is fully restored.

H.E Sen Monday Okpebholo
Executive Governor of Edo State