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Instablog9ja

Masquerades Lead Protest In Omu-Aran, Kwara State Over Hike In Electricity Bills

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News_Naija

Ex-councillor Killed, Houses Razed As Osun Communal Crisis Worsens

A former councilor from Ifon Orolu in Osun State identified simply as Azeez has been reportedly killed as the boundary disputes involving Ifon and Ilobu communities resurged. It was not immediately clear how the deceased met his death. But a resident of Ifon, who spoke on condition anonymity for fear of attack, said Azeez was confirmed dead at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, early on Friday. Also, during the bloody clashes involving the communities, several houses were reportedly razed. Media aide to Olufon of Ifon, Yusuf Adekunle, who confirmed the incident, accused Ilobu community of sponsoring the attack. The allegation was, however, dismissed by the Otun Jagun of Ilobu, Adegoke Ogunsola, who said Ifon people launched attacks on the residents of the town, during which many people were injured. Commenting further, Adekunle said, “The deceased is Hon Azeez, ex-councillor. Ilobu people have made several attempts to attack us, and we reported to security operatives on different occasions. From the 13th to the 20th of this month, we’ve written petitions to the governor and also the security agencies. “All of a sudden, in the middle of the night yesterday around 11 o’clock, we started hearing sporadic gunshots again. They started burning our people’s houses. “As I am speaking with you I can’t ascertain the number of our people they have killed already and I can’t even say this is the number of the houses they have destroyed they threw a woman inside her house and set the house on fire. “They affected areas like Akinponroro, Odo Oje, and all those border areas in our community. They even burnt government-owned primary health care in Akinponroro area.” Speaking on behalf of the Ilobu people, Ogunsola said many residents of the community were attacked by hoodlums from Ifon. He said, “The truth of the matter is that they started about five days ago, that was on Monday, to attack our people on the farms at Gbere Onireke, and Opapa. “They attacked one Liasu Ishola who is a Baale of Opapa on Tuesday and they attempted to kidnap him from his house, but he called for help and the farmers around and the bricklayers who were helping him to rebuild his collapsed building rescued him from the hoodlums from Ifon Osun. “On Wednesday, they went to Gbere Onireke to attack one Oseni Salawudeen and members of his family and one Prince Gbadamosi where he was working on his farm. “He was shot but was lucky to survive the gunshot. We cried to the police but they said they could not go inside the bush and as a result of that, we mobilised our people to go to the farm to bring the carcass of the motorcycles that were burnt and they are currently at the police station. “Very late in the evening yesterday, they went to Oke-Ebutu at Ilobu and started destroying peoples’ houses. Though we are seeing some security agencies now, they have not been able to curtail the spread of the clash. So, we call on security agencies to move in to stem the tide of the crisis.” Meanwhile, Osun State Governor, Ademola, has directed immediate security operations to restore peace between Ifon and Ilobu communities, urging the peace committee to revive the peace deal. In a statement signed by this spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke enjoined the joint security task force to step in immediately and stop the clashes. The governor, who decried the politicisation of the crisis, tasked the task force to go after the ring leaders and ensure they face the full wrath of the law. He further urged the peace committee to ensure immediate cessation of hostility to preserve lives and properties.

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Worldnews

Israels Netanyahu Warns Deadly Gaza Strikes Only The Beginning

Israeli leader says future ceasefire negotiations will ‘only take place under fire’. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that a wave of air strikes that killed hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza overnight is “only the beginning”. In a televised address on Tuesday evening, Netanyahu said that Israeli forces would strike Hamas with “increasing force” and future ceasefire negotiations would “only take place under fire”. “Hamas has already felt the weight of our force in the last 24 hours, and I want to assure you – and them – this is only the beginning,” the Israeli leader said. “We will continue to fight to achieve all our goals of the war – the release of all our hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and the promise that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.” Netanyahu’s defiant remarks come after Israel’s deadly attacks across Gaza shattered the fragile ceasefire with Hamas that began on January 19. The air strikes killed at least 404 Palestinians, many of them children, and wounded more than 560 others, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health. The assault targeted broad swaths of Gaza, including Khan Younis and Rafah in the south, Gaza City in the north, and central areas like Deir el-Balah, wiping out entire families in the process. Talks on the second stage of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, which would see the release of nearly 60 remaining Hamas captives and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire, have been at an impasse over Israel’s insistence that the first phase be extended until mid-April. Israel last week rejected an offer by Hamas to release an American-Israeli dual national and the bodies of four dead captives in exchange for the start of second phase talks and an end to the Israeli blockade imposed earlier this month. Hamas has released about three dozen captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners since the start of the ceasefire, which had been in limbo since March 1, when the six-week-long first stage expired. Before Israel’s assault, United States President Donald Trump’s US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, had been pushing for a “bridge” proposal to extend the ceasefire beyond Ramadan and Passover. Under the proposal, Hamas would have released additional living captives in exchange for prisoners while the sides worked on a framework for a permanent ceasefire. In his address on Tuesday, Netanyahu placed the blame for the lack of progress in the talks squarely on Hamas. “While Israel accepted the offer of President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Hamas flatly refused to do so,” Netanyahu said. “This is why I authorised yesterday the renewal of military action against Hamas.” Netanyahu also accused Hamas of being responsible for “all unintended casualties” in Gaza. “Palestinian civilians should avoid any contact with Hamas terrorists, and I call on the people of Gaza, get out of harm’s way,” he said. “Move to safer areas. Because every civilian casualty is a tragedy and every civilian casualty is the fault of Hamas.” Follow Al Jazeera English:...