Comrade Kaduna Eboigbodin, former Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Edo State, has tragically passed away following an incident with police officers at a roadblock in Benin City.

Eboigbodin, who was traveling with his wife in the Upper Sokponba area of the city, was stopped by the police on Monday.

Reports indicate that officers questioned the car’s documents, including the vehicle’s glass engraving and plate number.

Despite having valid documents, they reportedly seized his papers and attempted to arrest him, even calling for a tow truck.

Tensions rose during the confrontation, and witnesses say Eboigbodin suddenly collapsed. His wife and bystanders rushed him to the hospital, but he was declared dead upon arrival.

Eyewitnesses allege that the police officers left the scene without offering any help.

In response to the incident, civil society organizations have demanded justice and accountability, giving the police 48 hours to identify those involved.

Rev. David Ugolor of the African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) described Eboigbodin as a committed activist, emphasizing his contributions to labor and civil society causes.

The Edo State Police Command has denied any wrongdoing, with a spokesperson stating that the account provided by the civil society groups does not align with the version given by Eboigbodin’s wife.

However, this has done little to quell outrage from labor unions and civil society groups calling for a full investigation into the incident.

Labour leaders in Enugu State have responded to media reports suggesting that the state had not implemented the new minimum wage, affirming that the N80,000 minimum wage, which exceeds the national N70,000 rate, was paid to workers starting in November 2024.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC) clarified that while the N80,000 minimum wage was paid, there were some discrepancies related to the consequential adjustments tied to its implementation.

They assured the public that these concerns had already been communicated to Governor Peter Mbah and expressed confidence that the issues would be addressed.

The statement, signed by Comrade Fabian Nwigbo (NLC), Comrade Ben Asogwa (TUC), and Comrade Ezekiel Omeh (JNC), explained, “The Organized Labour in Enugu State wishes to clarify recent media reports that have wrongly suggested that Enugu is among the states that have not yet paid the national minimum wage. We confirm that the N80,000 minimum wage was paid in the November 2024 salary.”

However, the leaders noted that the payment did not fully reflect the necessary adjustments under the new wage structure.

They emphasized that they had already brought these discrepancies to the governor’s attention and were confident that they would be resolved, given the governor’s past commitment to workers’ welfare.

The statement further praised the governor for his ongoing efforts, including the approval of a N25,000 wage award for workers from December 2023 to October 2024, before the new minimum wage was implemented.

They also acknowledged the governor’s inclusion of local government workers in the N80,000 minimum wage and his approval of outstanding entitlements, including a N1.9 billion leave allowance for public primary school teachers and salary arrears for staff at the Enugu State College of Education Technical.

Despite the issues with the wage implementation, the labour leaders stressed that there were no plans for a strike, noting that they remained confident in the governor’s dedication to resolving the outstanding matters.

“We are not on strike, nor do we foresee any in the near future, as there is no need for such action at this point,” the statement concluded.

A fire has ravaged the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, destroying several election materials.

INEC confirmed the incident on Tuesday via a post on its official X account, revealing that 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, and various other items were lost in the blaze.

The fire, which occurred on Monday afternoon, was reportedly caused by a power surge that followed the restoration of the public electricity supply.

According to the report from Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta State, the fire completely destroyed the section of the office where petrol generators and other materials were stored.

In addition to the ballot boxes and election bags, other items destroyed in the fire included three electric generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals, and various forms, envelopes, posters, and booklets. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported.

INEC has notified the appropriate security and emergency agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service, and has called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire.

The Commission expressed gratitude for the swift response from the police and fire services.

A suspected internet fraud syndicate member has been shot by his collaborators following a disagreement over the distribution of N94 million proceeds from an online scam.

The incident occurred on Sunday along Okhoro road in the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.

Reports say the victim, identified by his alias “Aza Man” — a term used by internet fraudsters for someone who provides bank accounts to receive scam proceeds — was driving his Sport Utility Vehicle when he was ambushed by gunmen in another vehicle. The attackers reportedly ordered him out of his car before shooting him at close range.

The dispute is believed to have stemmed from a failure to honor a prearranged agreement on how the scam money would be divided.

According to sources, the victim had been promised a certain percentage of the N94 million but instead decided to keep the entire sum for himself, refusing to share it with the other members of the fraud syndicate.

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the shooting. SP Moses Yamu, the command’s Public Relations Officer, stated that an investigation was underway to apprehend those responsible for the attack.

The victim is currently receiving treatment at a local medical facility.