Lagos indigenes under the aegis of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) have petitioned the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) over alleged defamation of their community and Eyo masquerade in the Gangs of Lagos film.
In a statement signed by the Union’s Chairman, Mr Yomi Tokosi, Gangs of Lagos released on Amazon Prime Video on April 7, 2023, scandalously portrayed the Isale Eko community and Eyo in the bad light of platforms for criminal activities.
The union expressed displeasure that Isale Eko was painted as a crime hub in the film directed by Jadesola Osiberu, and co-produced by Kemi Akindoju, adding that it brought the indigenes into blatant shame.
The statement read, “The attention of the Isale Eko Descendants’ Union (IDU) has been drawn to the very disturbing violent images in a new movie directed by Jade Osiberu and Kemi Lala Akindoju, executive produced by Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi-Wellington, and Kola Aina; and filmed by Greoh Studios, and released by Amazon’s Prime Video Nigeria called gangs of Lagos.”
IDU stated further, “In the movie, the unique Eyo masquerade indigenous to the Isale Eko community in Lagos was illegally and scandalously depicted as being used as a camouflage, decoy and subterfuge for murderers and gangsters operating in the Isale Eko area.”
The Union stressed that Eyo has been the exclusive cultural legacy of the indigenous Lagosians for close to 170 years, thus slamming Gangs of Lagos and its owners for viewing it in a “despicable and insensitive manner.”
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Eyo masquerade has been part of the unique cultural heritage of the Isale Eko community of Lagos since 1854 (169 years) and the Eyo is known as a masquerade for celebration in Lagos island and not an instrument of gangs of criminals as illegally and scandalously portrayed.
It said, “Most importantly, the movie has brought the Eyo masquerade and the people of Isale Eko into disrepute, who are now deemed criminally minded in the eyes of right-thinking members of the society.
“The Isale Eko descendants’ union is very disturbed that the culture and tradition of Isale Eko can be wantonly exploited in such a despicable and insensitive manner by Amazon Prime Video to the detriment of the Isale Eko community.
“The illegal and scandalous depiction of the Eyo masquerade in the movie is actionable and a petition has been lodged by the IDU with the National Film and Video Censors Board (NF&VCB) including other major stakeholders.
“The IDU has among other things requested that the NF&VCB withdraw the approval granted to the movie- Gangs of Lagos and direct the withdrawal of the movie from all viewing channels available to the public. The IDU and other community stakeholders will also be considering legal action for the damage done to the culture, tradition and image of the Isale Eko community and the Eyo masquerade.”
A 71-year-old man popularly known as Baba Jos in the Aba Alamu area of Apata, Ibadan, has reportedly died after smoking a dangerous drug known as Colorado.
Baba Jos, who until his death was a landlord in the community, died last Sunday.
The old man, who was notorious for being addicted to alcohol and tobacco, fell into coma immediately after taking the drug and eventually gave up the ghost three days after.
Sources at the Aba Alamu community informed newsmen that after collecting rents from some of the tenants in the 16-room one-storey building he inherited from his late mother, Baba Jos visited a joint to take alcoholic drinks and cigarettes as usual.
According to reports, the old man reportedly met some boys smoking colorado at the joint, and they invited him to join them.
Baba Jos, who had not tasted the hard drug before agreed and started smoking the stuff, because he was already drunk”, one of the sources explained.
The source further explained that immediately the man smoked the stuff, he started defecating on his body uncontrollably.
Initially, people at the joint were making jest of him, until he suddenly fell into coma and was rushed into his house located close to the joint.
“It was unfortunate that the old man did not come out of the coma until he died last week Sunday”, one of his tenants lamented.
A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man this morning crushed four people to death in a road crash that occurred at Ijoka Area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.
An eyewitness said the man was driving along the road and suddenly skidded off its lane to crush the victims who were on commercial motorcycles.
Sympathisers who rushed to the scene to rescue the driver found some fetish items inside the vehicle, raising suspicion that the driver was a “yahoo boy.” The sympathisers who were angered by what they saw in the car, descended on the driver and beat him to a point of comatose.
Shortly after, men of the state police command arrived the scene and took the beaten driver away from the mob.
“Out of concern for my young children and my wife’s well being, we made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria abruptly,” says Pastor Tomi Arayomi via his Instagram account.
Apostle Arayomi who’s the founder of the RIG Nation and Pioneer Church, United Kingdom (UK), was arrested and detained by the operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday at a Lagos Airport but was released after few hours.
The preacher who made some prophecies about the just concluded 2023 presidential election said he won’t be making further revelations about their Interrogations because his aide, Emmanuel Ezerika is still with the secrete police.
His statement reads:
Prophetess Tahmar and I would like to express our gratitude for all your prayers and international support during Fridays ordeal with The DSS. We can confirm that on Good Friday 7th April we arrived at Abuja to visit one of our branches when we were picked up by about 6 armed agents who did not identify themselves as DSS or any law enforcement agency.
My wife, myself and my aide Emmanuel Ezerika were forced to surrender our mobile phones and enter the vehicles where we were taken at considerable speed to what we later learned were DSS HQ. The officers, some of who wore balaclavas were not immediately recognisable as DSS.
Our pictures were taken, finger prints and data collected and we were locked inside a room with no real knowledge as to the grounds for our arrest. After a lengthy interrogation, it appears media and social media pressure forced DSS to release my wife and I. My aide still remains under DSS custody and thus far, DSS have been elusive as to his exact whereabouts.
We will not divulge the particulars of the investigation at this point as we are still awaiting the safe release of my aide.
Out of concern for my young children and my wife’s well being, we made the unfortunate decision to leave Nigeria
ODUDUWA NEWS has gathered that a lady identified as Adeshina Olayinka popularly known as khadi was found dead in a Wetland hotel in akobo Oyo state.
It was learnt that the lady before her death was a popular vendor who used to sell varieties.
According to the report, Khadi as popularly called went to spend a night with a man at Wetland hotel at Akobo on Wednesday night and when the man wanted to check-out on Thursday morning, the receptionist put a call through to Olayinka to confirm her safety and she picked up the call and gave permission that they should allow the man, that she was just resting and no cause for alarm, soon she will log out too.
Later, one of the receptionists who borrowed Olayinka power bank went to the room in order to return it and after knocking the door severally but no one responded, the hotel manager had to come with the extra card to open the door, unfortunately they saw her dead body on the floor.
According to a source who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, the man who took her to hotel might have perfected the timing of the ritual charm to work on her immediately after he left the hotel.
He said, “if the girl had died immediately before the man left, he would have been apprehended immediately and the mystery surrounded her death would have been revealed without any form of delay”.
Wasiu Alabi Pasuma ‘s mother, Hajia Khadijah has been buried today according to the Islamic injunction.
The deceased was laid to rest at her home residence amidst families, neighbours and friends.
Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma, son of the deceased seen weeping uncontrollably while mourning his late mother, Alhaja Adijat Kuburat.
The singer was captured in the company of friends and Muslim clerics who tried to console him with encouraging words about the good lifestyle of his late mother..
Pasuma announced the demise of his mother, who died on Thursday, 6th of April, 2023.
A Pastor, Dr. Owen Abraham have allegedly absconded with 52 Android and iphones, money, and valuables of residents of Aponrin in Agbowo, Ibadan who came for a crusade organised by him.
The crusader, according to some of his victims said he was led by God to come to Ibadan from Gambia for the crusade.
Abraham, at the last day of the three days crusade claimed Holly Spirit directed him to tell people to submit their phones and valuables, but later absconded with it.
The victims said Abraham, who lured them into three days fasting and prayer was no where to be found the last day of the crusade as all effort to reached him proved abortive.
A victim, Mrs Grace Akintola said many widows went for the crusade because the Pastor promised to give each person a bag of rice and money, adding that Abraham also promised to empowered students with scholarship.
Mrs Akintola, a widow while recounting her ordeal said, “the Pastor approached an Igbo lady in our area to assist him to gathered widows and students, he said he want to help us.”
“Someone in my area invited me for the crusade, the crusader wear Pastor regalia, he said he will buy house for one of us, he said the house is fully furnished.”
“He promised some people who attend the crusade money, even politicians can not give out such money he promised.”
“The last day of the crusade, he sold a bottle of water for us at the rate of N4,800, he said perfume is inside the bottle water, many people paid for the water.”
Another victim, a student of University of Ibadan (UI) who pleaded anonymity said the Pastor ordered them to fast for three days, adding that the evangelist collected their phones so as to keep it away from them and focus of the prayers unknowing to them that it was a trick to get rid of their belongings.
“He said no phone should ring, that was why he collected all the phones, in fact, a lady stood up and wanted to snapped him, he seized the phone from her.”
“On the last day of the crusade, he said he wanted to go and rest at the hotel where he lodged, he later said he wanted to go and eat at UI, we don’t know how he escaped with our belongings.”
“As a man of God, we respected him alot, we didn’t know that he wanted to use the name of God to duped us.”
Meanwhile, Abraham has been declared wanted by people in the area, as posters bearing his name and pictures has been circulated within the area to track him down.
Policeman was on Wednesday afternoon killed at Cele Bus Stop along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos during a duel with commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada riders.
The irate Okada riders also carted away three rifles taken from police operatives, ODUDUWA NEWS learnt.
The okada riders were seen brandishing cutlasses, daggers, big sticks and other weapons.
Many took to their heels to avoid being attacked by the weapon-wielding motorcyclists.
It was learnt that the convoy of policemen, apparently reinforced to combat the Okada riders. The officers, in about six vehicles, chased the Okada riders towards the Mile 2 end.
Members of the Muslim community in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Friday, staged a protest following the alleged invasion of a mosque in the Ilare area by some Oro adherents.
The protesters said on Thursday, the traditionalists entered the mosque, where some Muslims had gathered to observe the 4pm prayers, and attacked those they found in the building.
Beside the chief imam of the mosque, Abdul-Lateef Adediran, who was reportedly injured in the face, five other worshippers were allegedly stabbed during the attack.
An eyewitness, who identified himself only as Kareem for security reasons, said, “We were in the mosque to pray. Some people were performing ablution when the Oro worshippers entered the mosque.
We were aware that they would be going around with Oro and we didn’t meddle in their affairs. They had passed through the area. They later returned and entered the mosque.
“The imam was trying to ask what their mission was, but they didn’t even allow him to talk before they started beating every one of us. Six people were stabbed. Our imam sustained injuries on his face. All those injured were taken to hospitals in Ile-Ife.”
During the Friday protest, the protesters, who moved through major streets in the town, visited the palace of the Ooni of Ife, but the royal father was not available.
In the absence of royal father to speak to them, some youths were seen tying to gain entrance forcefully while some were throwing stones to the Palace.
