• Residents flay Edo govt over flood victim 
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a warning to companies attempting to exploit the lingering boundary dispute between Edo and Delta states.
 
Represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, Okpebholo further cautioned the companies to desist from encroaching on Edo territory, as the matter remains before the National Boundary Commission (NBC) for adjudication and adjustment.
 
The governor’s stance followed a recent report of encroachment on Edo territory by the Delta State Government and companies allegedly attempting to establish operations on disputed lands. 
 
Okpehbolo, accompanied by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 5, Salman-Dogo Garba, and other top security officials, spoke when he paid a fact-finding visit to the disputed areas.

The disputed territory lies between Urhonigbe Community in Orhionmwon Local Council Area of Edo State, and Umutu Community in Ukwuani Local Council Area of Delta State.
 
The governor, while addressing residents of Urhonigbe Community, assured them of his administration’s commitment to safeguarding their interests, however, urging restraint. 
 
He further urged the affected communities to remain peaceful and law-abiding, stressing that the dispute was being handled at the highest level of national authority.
 
On another development, residents of Ekpoma in Esan West Local Council Area of Edo have bemoaned the state government over failure to show concern on the tragic incident where a cocoa merchant, Frank Omoruyi, was swept away by flood.
 
Recall that this incident was reported on Tuesday, when Omoruyi, identified as a motorcyclist, was swept away by flood.
 
The residents, while expressing displeasure over the state government’s failure to send any rescue team to help recover the corpse, said they paid what they termed ‘good money’ to divers from Benue State to recover Omoruyi’s corpse from a burrow pit at Uwenbo area after two days of intense search.
 
The residents, who lamented that no state government or local government official joined in the rescue operation, threatened to protest and stop further construction work on the Benin-Auchi highway.
 
Edo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, said the governor had desilted drainages across the state.