The Nation Newspaper

Category: Niger Delta

  • ‘How we killed my married lover’

    ‘How we killed my married lover’

    When a rig worker, Bankole Charles met 28-year-old Ms Loretta Odikagbo on Badoo, a social media platform in 2013, he did not know he had started a relationship that would end his life. Their relationship flourished until it came to a stormy end on September 19, last year.

    Before them, the bond had gone sour when Ms Odikagbo, at the peak of her affection for the man, discovered he was married with children. The news did not go down well with her.

    When she confronted the late Charles, who hailed from Ondo State, he confirmed it and allegedly promised her a car as settlement.

    However, for whatever reason, he failed or was unable to keep to his promise leading to a chain of events that culminated in his unfortunate end.

    Ms Odikagbo, an Ordinary National Diploma holder in Marketing from the River State Polytechnic (RIVPOLY), confirmed in an interview at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) last week that in company of some accomplices, she stormed the Woji, Port Harcourt residence of her estranged lover, who was an employee of Halliburton Nigeria Limited, under the cover of dark and killed him.

    She was not found out until a team of four policemen led by Mr. Joseph Okpamen, an Inspector, of the Homicide Department of the SCID, busted the gang and forced them to break their covenant to maintain sealed lips over the killing.  The SCID team first traced Ms Odikagbo to the residence of her other boyfriend whom she was putting up with at Rumukpokwu, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area on December 10, last year.

    Police discovered that she did not execute the heinous job alone. She reportedly went there with 30-year-old Ime Francis Moses (Jr), a university dropout and native of Eket in Akwa Ibom State, and another accomplice, a tout.

    Ms Odikagbo and Ime are cooling off their heels in police cells. The tout is still at large, but the police have vowed to arrest him at all cost.

    Ms Odikagbo told Niger Delta Report: “I was arrested over the death of my boyfriend Late Charles Bankole. I conspired with my friend and took my in-law to his house to harass him so I could get some money from him, which led to his death; but I was not there when he died, I was at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM). There is a third person that can tell the story of how he died but unfortunately, he has not been arrested. So, he is not here now. This story can’t be complete if the third person is not arrested.

    “I am 28 years.  I met Bankole on the internet. I initially did not know that Bankole was married; overtime I discovered. He actually promised to settle things with me. He talked about buying a car.  When I hinted this to my in-law (Ime), he said he had a way to help me get what I wanted from him and I conceded to the idea.

    “On the agreed day, I moved into Bankole’s house and waited for them there. He came with another of his friend. I opened the door for them. They came in. His junior started tying Bankole up. Ime was holding a torch which they came with because this happened in the night and there was no electricity supply and it was raining heavily.

    “At a point, I decided to go to the ATM with his (Bankole’s) card to withdraw some money from his bank account. One of the two men decided to go with me. So, my in-law (Ime) was left behind with Bankole who was still alive when we left.

    “He (Ime) later met me at the ATM point to get some money from me. He informed me that he called a taxi driver to carry some things from Bankole’s house (supposedly some of his property). I told him that I was going because it was already late at night.

    “I was arrested on December 10, brought here (at the SCID), and showed picture of lifeless body of Bankole. I don’t know who killed him. The relationship lasted for over a year. I am not so certain because we related a long time on the internet before we met in real life.”

    Asked if Bankole ever promised to marry her, she said: “No, we never discussed marriage.”

    On why she was enraged when she found out he was married, she said: “I was not actually angry, but he did not just tell me he was married. At a point we were serious with the relationship but when I discovered his marital status, I was disappointed and decided to pull out to continue with my life but he insisted on buying me a car instead to calm me down. That was what happened.”

    Asked how she was able to get her victim’s ATM card and pin, Ms Odikagbo said: “He gave me his ATM card and pin number under duress. He told me that he had N130, 000 in that account, but I got N120, 000 from the account.

    “I am a student of Bori Polytechnic in the Department of Marketing. I have just completed my OND and about to go for my HND. I did one year internship with NARUFUS Inter-Bricks Company.”

    Expressing remorse over the incident, she said: “I feel so terrible and primitive. I am guilty of the crime. Bankole was my first internet boyfriend; I am not used to meeting people on the internet or Facebook. I blame my action on hanging out with wrong friends.”

    The Eket-born Ime disclosed that he dropped out of the university after securing his admission with a forged certificate, adding that he was conscripted by Ms Odikagbo for the dirty deal.

    “Loretta called and informed me that her boyfriend owed her some money, which he was supposed to use and settle her out of their broken relationship but he was turning her up and down.

    “I promised to help her get the money out from the man. On the day agreed, she called me and picked me up at my street junction, from where we proceeded to pick another boy she had earlier called for the job, but the boy came and declined going with us.  On our way out from the boy’s junction, we met another boy who I know that loads taxi at the junction there. I called him and she explained to him what she wanted to do that night; he agreed to go with us.

    “When we got to the man’s house, she went in while we stood under the staircase of the one-storey building he shared with other occupants, waiting for her instructions. I was holding a torch light which she gave me money to buy and a holding a car window winder, which looked like a gun, while the boy was holding a rope and cellotape she brought.

    “After a while, she came and opened the door for us. We got in through the kitchen, where we stood before she called us to come to the bedroom where she was with the man.

    “When we stepped into the room, I pointed the torch light on the man and told him that he befriended our sister for such a period of time, and pushed her out empty and without shelter, no settlement.

    “The man pleaded that we should wait, that he was going to settle her. At that point, she started to slap the man all over his face and used the tape to tape his mouth, after which the other boy tied his legs and hands.

    “It was then she asked the man for his ATM card and pin; she got them and went to the ATM point with the boy, while I was left with the man in case the pin failed. While they left for the ATM, they carried the man’s phone and laptop.

    “After a while, she came back to me at the man’s house. I asked her to come let us go, she said, ‘no’, that the man knows her very well, that if we should leave him at this junction, he will definitely come after her, and that when he gets her, she will mention my name. She asked if I will like to be arrested, I said ‘no’.

    “She now went to the man’s kitchen and brought polythene bag which she wore on the man’s head and sat on it. As the man was struggling, I held his head until the man was motionless.”

    Asked how much he was paid for the job, Ime said: “It was not a job, but an assistance I rendered to Loretta. I tried to persuade her to leave the man at the point we had tortured him, but she insisted on going down with me if the man comes after her. She gave me N28, 000 only. I feel very guilty for the action.”

    Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO) Ahmad Mohammad, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said:  “I want to use this opportunity to warn members of the public to be careful with friends they got through social media; because these are people you do not know their background, and upbringing. There are so much you may never know about them.

    “Again, I want to appeal to members of the public to continue to co-operate with us the way they helped us in arresting these suspects, Loretta and Ime. I want to assure members of the public to continue to repose confidence on the police. We have all that it takes to investigate matters beyond the imagination of common Nigerian, like what happened in this case. There was nothing to trace these people with but they were tracked and arrested.”

  • First circuit in Nigeria set for Edo

    First circuit in Nigeria set for Edo

    When Niger Delta Report met Okao Uduagbon, he was brimming with enthusiasm and the glint in his eyes as he spoke revealed how much love he has for motorsports. Although motorsports rank low on the list of sporting activities of most Nigerians, particularly people in the Niger Delta, Uduagbon, President of Motor Sports Club of Nigeria, said he and his team of hardcore motor sport enthusiasts are determined to change that. He said they are committed to popularising the sport and elevating it into the mainstream of sporting activities in the country.

    Uduagbon, who spoke with our reporter in the wake of hosting the first superbike race – the Edo Super Bike Road Race – said his interest is to improve biking in Nigeria.

    “Motorcycle racing is the only sport many Nigerians are not currently taking part. We believe that if we introduce this sport, it can create opportunity for development of the youths, the host communities, boost tourism, and all-round economic gains for the country.”

    He said he bought his first bike in 2005, but conceded that many people that have been riding for much longer than that, adding: “Some bikers in Nigeria have been in this sport for over 35 and even 40 years. So, in relative terms, I am a new biker.”

    He said he chose motorcycle sport because of his love for biking, noting that there are about 5000 bikers in Nigeria.

    “I am a biking enthusiast. So, the interest was first of all personal and we decided to find a way to make a personal interest be of benefit to the larger society. We actually started the motor-cross racing in 2012. Motor-cross is the riding of motor bike on sandy tracks and till date we have had eight races before we graduated to the superbike category which is the Edo Super Bike Road Race. The first Superbike race was held November 29th 2014 in Edo State. Our interest in motorcycle sport is geared towards making Nigeria be a part of the global motorcycle sports family and transferring the likely gains to the people.”

    Uduagbon said his foray into the sport came while watching a motor-cross event on television, adding, “It just struck me like a bolt. And I asked myself the question, ‘why can’t we do this? I woke my wife and asked her the same question. I told myself we had sand everywhere and there are bikes everywhere, at least the Okada (regular motorcycle) version, it looked too simple to me, and that was how motor-cross took off.”

    To test the waters, he did a motor-cross in 2012 and started doing a monthly event, which has now graduated into annual event and also have competitions during Easter celebrations. But having introduced motor-cross to Okada (regularly motorcycles), he said the challenge was to take it to the next level.

    “Some of my friends who were super-bikers asked me to organise an event for them because clearly their bikes cannot do motor-cross races. So, this was another challenge. What do we need? We needed a good tarred road that would be closed to traffic for the period of the race. In road race worldwide all that was needed was for the roads to be closed for specific hours and the routes are often lined with spectators. For us in motor-cycle sports it looked simple and we said to ourselves let us find a road we can shut down for some hours and do the superbike race.

    “Having enjoyed tremendous support from the people and government of Edo State, and that of His Royal Highness, Prof Gregory Akenzua, Enogie of Ebvobanosa, who is patron of Motorcycle Sports Club, we said let us go back to where our efforts have been appreciated and let them know we want to raise the level and actually engage in superbike racing. Again we found support and on November 29th 2014 we held the third government-supported superbike race in West Africa and we are hoping to attract motorbike fans, enthusiasts from all over the world.”

    Uduagbon called for support from government, corporate bodies and individuals to help unearth and nurture the enormous potentials available. In three years, he said the body intends to make the Edo Super-Bike Road Race the flagship motor sports event in West Africa and to attack global recognition. To achieve the target, he disclosed that there would be “reasonable prize money” and support through medical and insurance, adding that such incentive would attract superbike aficionados from as far as Iceland, “because for those of us in motor sport adventure is, first of all, a key ingredient of your interest in motor sport.”

    “You must have that sense of adventure. I did not find many Nigerians in Silverstone, but to get to Silverstone it’s like you are on a Pilgrimage, when you get there you will find that you are one of over 120,000 fans that have come from all over the world. I hope that we continue to enjoy the support of the Edo State Government because the benefits of a vibrant motor sport culture rooted in Edo State cannot be quantified in employment generation, revenue, and the feel-good effect. It will make the Edo man and woman and Nigerians feel good.”

    In spite of the beautify picture he painted, the MSCN chief listed lack of awareness of the benefits the sport and perception that it is a dangerous game create a stumbling block. “I think a lack of awareness of the benefit of motor sport is a major challenge, but I accept this and we will try to educate the people to the benefit accruable from motor sport.”

    He further disclosed that effort to get the relevant sports authorities’ backing had not been successful because of bureaucracies and hurdles. “The FIM (the world governing body) requires that in some of their competitions you represent your country, they say get a letter from the NSC that they can deal with you. So when we send participants for international events, they can be officially recognised as Nigerians. We met the past Minister for Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi and we submitted a proposal and we were told to set up in 24 States at our own cost before we get a letter. This is some of the peculiarities of Nigeria. It is that letter that is stopping our affiliation to the international body and open up more opportunities. South Africa has only four circuits, Zimbabwe has only one.”

    In spite of the challenges, Uduagbon said his council is forging ahead, revealing, “The Evbobanosa locals where the superbike was held last year know the benefits of this annual race to their community, so the first thing is education we need to educate a lot of people that motor-sport can be done safely. Secondly, capital is another challenge. We will like to have more and better of everything. At the last race the biker bought fuel themselves, we will like that indigenous oil companies step in in this regard, hotels can also subsidise accommodation costs.

    “I use this opportunity to appreciate the Enogie of Evbonosa community, Prof Gregory Akenzua, for donating to our club 130 acres of land and the Edo State government for giving certificate of occupancy and also the promise to build the first asphalt circuit in Nigeria. We are eagerly waiting.”

  • Help me rid my kingdom of miscreants, Kalabari monarch pleads

    Help me rid my kingdom of miscreants, Kalabari monarch pleads

    It was supposed to be a political campaign by the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate representing Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru Federal constituency in the National Assembly, Dr. Dawari George, who is seeking re-election. But  His Royal Majesty, King Disrael Gbobo Bob-Manuel, the Gbobo II, Owokosi Xi, used the opportunity to express concern over miscreants in his domain.

    The monarch made an unusual plea to the lawmaker: “Please help me clean the area of miscreants.”

    Looking around the communities visited, including Buguma, Abonema and Ido communities, it was easy to understand why the monarch made the appeal. Walking around the streets in the area, dozens of youths could be seen hanging around, smokin Indian hemp . Some of them looked mean and seemed like boys who would do anything for money.

    The monarch noted that there was need to improve the security of the area if the Kalabari kingdom wants to experience development.

    He said security is the most important thing to them considering the terrain which nature has made available to them. He said his people enjoy travelling on the water than road, adding that for them to do their business freely and enjoy their movement in the creeks and on the roads, the issue of security must be addressed.

    The monarch also pleaded with the lawmaker to discuss with his counterparts who are representing the area in different capacities to facilitate the only road in Kalabari Kingdom linking Degema, Buguma and Abonema. He revealed that he had made a lot of efforts to ensure that Federal Government  repairs the road.

    “Please help us provide security and clean up the place of miscreants to allow us travel in peace and do our businesses freely, especially through our creeks. We enjoy travelling on the water instead of road. I don’t feel comfortable travelling in the bus, a distance from Abonema to Port Harcourt is like travelling to Kano. But on the sea, one feels comfortable without any form of heat. The security of the area is very important to our people; I know you as a very quiet and peace-loving person. I enjoy your leadership influence. There is no member of your party or your supporters that you will ask to sit down and he or she will disobey.  That shows they respect you.   Just like I have told the other parties, the Kalabari area needs peace. We are not ready to witness another crisis that probably could lead to burning of houses. We are not ready to run away from our communities because of violence.

    “All we want to do is to participate in party politics and to bring development to our area. Tell your supporters that you are a man of peace and you want the process to be peaceful. I have no doubt that you will enthrone peace in the area so that we would be alive to vote for the candidate of our choice. This is your constituency. We are aware of your contributions to the development of our communities. The empowerment programmes which you brought to the area and so many other projects you initiated, we are happy about them.

    “There are things I believe that you should spearhead, particularly in Kalabari.  Though you have mentioned quite a lot of them, I am happy about that, but as a federal lawmaker, I will want you to work with your colleagues and ensure that the only road we have in Kalabari that is connected to Degema, Buguma and  Abonema should be constructed. That road is in a state of despair. I have personally mentioned it to Mr. President, but it is the task of the lawmaker to push for it.”

    He went on: “I want to advise you, like you have always done in the past, try to remember your constituency and create an opportunity to hold meetings with us because there are so many things you have done in this constituency that we are not aware of. Some of these projects I am just hearing about it today, some I heard it from people. Be that as it may, on behalf of the people of Abonema, I bless you and pray for you to go and bring peace and development to our land.”

    George thanked the monarch  for accepting him and his supporters in his palace  and for appreciating some of his constituency projects sited in the area and other Kalabari communities.

    On the monarch’s call for improved security, the lawmaker said: “To end insecurity in the area is the responsibility of all. You will not see me on the Election Day carrying guns and other weapons; it is the same youths who are supposed to carry their voters’ card to vote that may engage in violence on the election day.

    “Look, leadership is the ability to inspire people to follow what you believe in. I will not sponsor anybody to engage in violence, but I will rather preach against it. Today, apart from the local government, there are no businesses and company in my constituency because everyone is scared of insecurity. Insecurity has been the setback of the development of our communities. So, we are responsible for it because those of us who find ourselves in the position of power have failed to let the people know that when there is no peace, development cannot take place. First and foremost, I will ensure that peace reign in the area so that all those projects I have initiated and those yet to be initiated can be executed and sustained.”

    George recalled his convenant with the people in 2011. He said although he might not have fulfilled all the promises, he had done a lot to justice his call for a fresh mandate. “We believe that for us to be fair, there is need for us to renew that mandate so that we can continue with what we have started.  When we started, we told them that legislative work is mainly for lawmaking but we will concentrate more on the oversight function which include development, planning and empowerment.

    “What I have done is to attract many projects, particularly in education and water, which have been identified as a major challenge in the area. We have also built bridge, general empowerment, skill and unskilled projects and other programmes that will re-position our people to be able to run their lives as they should. We also try to provide leadership so that despite the challenges we can work together and live in unity, we can make progress for ourselves and the community. I have introduced a platform that will bring change and foster relationship among our people. And when this is done, all other development can flow.”

     

  • A modern home for Sapele police

    A modern home for Sapele police

    It was a joyous moment for officers and men of the Sapele Police Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, Mr Mamma Sale Rijau, CSP, as the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Alkali Baba Usman inaugurated a modern police station built by the division.

    The structures, which included a befitting DPO office, an administrative office, a 2-bedroom DPO quarters and borehole facility, were built through the effort of CSP Rijau, who has left marks in several police stations across the state, before his elevation as DPO of the largest division in Delta state.

    The edifice, which is a legacy of the highly respected police officer, was built through communal effort and the goodwill of the police officer who has earned the sobriquet of a ‘Crime Buster’ among his colleagues and members of the community.

    CP Usman was effusive in his praise of CSP Rijau and promised to mention his sterling qualities and dedication to duty to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Abba.

    “This project has been constructed with the cooperation of officers and men and community members, to reduce crime rate to its barest minimum. Sapele, being one of the largest divisions in Delta State, the station was faced with some constraints which hindered efficient performance.”

    CP Usman admonished police officers in the state to borrow a leaf from the dedication and commitment shown by the Sapele DPO over the years and to redouble their effort towards reducing crime and making the society more peaceful and safer.

    He said: “Over the years, there had been repeated cases of serious crimes such as armed robbery, murder, kidnapping and illegal oil bunkering among others and therefore charge his men to work harder to raid the area of the socio-vices.”

    Niger Delta Report gathered that the construction of a new DPO Office and administrative office has brought a relief to the DPO and his administrative officers, who hitherto had to squat in the same overcrowded general build of the station.

    Members of the Ekpan Police Community Relations Committee who attended the ceremony, said they were not surprised by the stride of Rijau, remarking that as DPO of the strategic Ekpan Police Division, he transformed the station and built a perimeter fence to secure the station.

    “He does not rely on handout and other sources of fund, which has helped him to maintain his integrity, he is innovative and creative. He was the one who built a DPO’s quarters as well as developed some new lockup stores to generate revenue to the station.”

    The presence of two serving members of the Delta State Executive council, Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya, two local government council chairmen, traditional rulers, members of NURTW and the state and local chairmen of PCRC, who attended the event were clear testimony of the super cop’s goodwill.

    Speaking with our reporter after the ceremony, the police top brass disclosed that he personally supervised the construction of the new building to ensure that not only was it done properly, but that the cost was brought to the barest without compromising on the quality of materials used.

    He revealed that he pooled resources and support of members of the community, who he had earned their trust to join and partner with the station to combat crime and develop the station as was the case in the new building.

    He said:  “What you are seeing today is the effort of the community, you are seeing the borehole in the station now, the new administration and DPO’s office. We also have a new two bedroom building in the DPO’s quarter now. All this were put in place during my time and I thank my God for it”, CSP Mamman Sale Rijau said.

    According to him; “I have work with the people diligently, they carry me along and I carry them along too hence I was able to put this in place. This is what the IG have been preaching, that the police cannot do it alone and that it will take the effort of members of the public for the police to achieve it purpose of policing the society.

    “I can say I have the spirit to transform wherever I am posted to, I like to leave a good mark which I exhibited when I was in Ekpan. When I was in Ekpan, police goes outside the station to fetch water, so I dug a borehole there, renovated the other two making it three. I put a new structure there too like this one. Anti-Robbery Office, I renovated it, the DPO’s office I also renovated it and so many others and I am very satisfied.

    “I am from Niger state, but Delta has been my home. I feel where you are working, you should transform it and that’s what I am doing”.

    “When we embark on this kind of project, we are only setting examples for junior officer to emulate. I would rather advice the junior officers to emulate the IG and CP because they are the ones we are emulating. They should learn from our senior officers because when you work and people appreciate it you would become satisfy.

    “Everything is not about money because if it was money, I couldn’t have achieved this, I have the power to pocket the money meant for this project, but I said legacy first. I supervised this job myself from starting to ending and I feel satisfied that people are appreciating it.”

  • Cowards of Rivers

    Cowards of Rivers

    It is not by power. Neither is it by might. Might has nothing— absolutely nothing—to do with it. It is all about brain and not about brawn. Physical looks cannot also be a judge. Have all the muscles in the world and it still does not change the fact.

    The fact on my mind centres around who is qualified to be called a man. Built, gait and the possession of manhood have been used to distinguish between a man and a woman. But, it really should go beyond all that. Masculinity should be more about taking responsibility for one’s action. Anyone who does anything  that he is not bold enough to admit and instead lies about it or simply just keep mum should be de-robed of his status as a man until he is ready to live up to its ideals.

    For weeks now, men without spine, men of brawn—and please permit me to add— who lack humanity and conscience have put Rivers State, the Lagos of the Southsouth, on the spot. It is either they are shooting guns or they are throwing bombs. And when they do it, they hide their faces. They act under the cover of the dark and masks.

    Aside guns and dynamites, they also use machetes and other dangerous weapons. Heads have been broken. Necks have been twisted. Arms have had hot leads pumped into them. And there was a woman whose back was reshaped with bullets. It is simply a tale of blood— which has left sorrow and tears in many homes.

    The other day, I received the picture of a man on a hospital bed somewhere in dear Rivers. Blood was gushing out of the middle of his head. It looked as though his skull was broken. His name, I found out, is Emenike. In the picture, he looked dead. In fact, he was reported dead and condolences were sent to his friends and families. The picture was to illustrate a story for the next day’s edition of this paper. But, we simply could not use it. It was gory. My Editor, Gbenga Omotoso, cringed on seeing the picture and simply screamed: “We can’t use this. It is gory.”

    He was not the only one attacked that day.  Others were too. They were at a meeting when they were swooped on by men of low moral standing, men who are so-called because of their physical possessions.

    It is baffling why anyone will agree to be someone else’s thug. Poverty of the mind seems to be the only reason I can think of. Regular poverty does not explain to me why a man, whose children are probably abroad having the best of education or attending one British or American international school in Lagos or Togo, will turn another man’s children into thugs after arming them with guns, dynamites and machetes and some miserable cash that cannot take them out of poverty. These little tin gods sit on their wooden thrones and dish out evil instructions.

    There is an interesting ring to the violence in Rivers. Jerry Needam, who speaks for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, alleged that the Chief of Staff to Governor Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Tony Okocha ordered political thugs and APC supporters to attack a former chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government, Timothy Nsirim at a function in Rumueme. Needam described the alleged attack as “criminal, barbaric and animalistic”.

    Nsirim, he claimed, was physically battered by Okocha and sustained major injuries all over his body and had his clothes torn to shreds. “The PDP, therefore, calls on the Inspector General of Police and the Rivers Commissioner of Police,  to arrest and prosecute Tony Okocha.” He  described Okocha as lawless and blood-thirsty.

    But Nsirim’s father, who is the King of Rumueme community, Nyeweli Omunakwe Nyeche Nsirim, burst his son’s and his party’s bubble when he accused his son of using thugs to disrupt the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally. According to him, the APC stalwarts in the community  duly obtained the blessing of the chiefs to organise their political rally. He described as false the claim by the PDP that Okocha and APC supporters attacked the former council chairman. The question I ask is: Is the traditional ruler lying against his son?

    It is gratifying though that Police Commissioner Dan Bature has condemned acts of violence. He even called a meeting of the leaders of the major political parties in the state. The PDP and APC traded words at the meeting. Bature has vowed to unleash the law on offenders. We are watching.

    One thing is clear, the bulk of those at the receiving end of the madness in Rivers are of the APC. The PDP says the APC is the one throwing the dynamites and attacking its own to buy sympathy. Really?

    Several APC supporters on their way to the official flag off of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign in Port Harcourt were attacked by gunmen near Harry’s Town, in Degema and Sakpenwa, in Tai. The cowards were not bold enough to do it without hiding under face masks. They left many unconscious and in their pool of blood and fled into anonymity to spend the filthy money from their cowardly masters.

    Ask Aadum Pya-Alu , Beatrice Deemua, Sorbari Npebee, Barbe Jack, Victory Vinam and Wisdom Akpogbara and they will tell you tales that not only touch the hearts but break them.  Pya-Alu’s leg shot by the cowards tell all the story; Beatrice’s back-arm can never forget the day hot leads were pumped into it; Npebee, who was shot in the head and neck, is lucky to be alive to tell the story; and elated is Jack for not dying as a result of the gun-attack on his stomach; so is Vinam, who was shot in the leg; and Akpogbara must be thanking God that the bullet he received on the head for daring to identify with Gen. Buhari’s aspiration did not kill him. One wonders what they think about the police’s claim that they were victims of armed robbery, yet their valuables were not taken.

    My final take: It will not be well with all who arm other men’s children with guns, dynamites and cudgels to kill and maim— all in the name of politics. It does not matter to me what party the sponsors of this horrendous acts belong. They will live long to reap the fruits of their evil deeds. By the grace of the Almighty God, they will not reap anything good as a result of militarising the electoral process. Shame will be their rewards; disgrace will be their lot; and in the end, they will repent and serve the living God truly and only then will they get respite. For now, I decree peace out of the lives of these cowards of Rivers, who see themselves as the Alpha and the Omega.

    It is time the people looked at the quality and characters of those seeking their votes. I advise that agents of violence, irrespective of political affiliations, should be rejected through the Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVC). Chikena!

     

     

  • JTF’s carrot-and-stick approach

    JTF’s carrot-and-stick approach

    ILLEGAL oil bunkering, pipeline vandalism and other forms of oil theft in the Niger Delta have continued despite years of military operations. But the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield appears to have pulled a master stroke.

    In his reign, the Commander JTF, Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Atewe, seems to have found the curative pill for the ongoing economic sabotage and environmental menace in the region. He is speaking the language of carrot and stick.

    First, the commander has launched some empowerment and poverty reduction programmes to identify with the plights of oil-bearing communities which continue to languish in penury despite hosting the mainstay of the economy.

    Atewe after touring most of the creeks within nine months he took over the command of JTF, realised that most of the oil-producing communities were provoked to engage in oil theft or to harbour and shield oil thieves because of their poverty-stricken conditions.

    They lack drinkable water because their main hydro source had been polluted by oil exploration and exploitation. They lost their sources of livelihood (fishing and farming) because their land and rivers had been contaminated by constant oil spillage. Most of them have no access to quality education, healthcare, electricity and other facilities.

    Therefore, to ameliorate the suffering of the rural communities notorious for oil theft, JTF, has commenced medical mission, enlightenment campaigns and sinking of boreholes for portable water.

    One of the communities to benefit from the outfit’s medical rhapsody is the Igbomatoru in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. People from the community were falling over one another as they scrambled to get medical attention from the team of medical experts employed by the JTF.

    At the end of the exercise, more than 2000 people suffering from various ailments were treated. Others whose medical conditions were beyond the team were referred to specialist hospitals with JTF promising to foot the bills.

    The Surgeon and Chief Medical Officer, JTF, Lt. Com. Samuel Akinyemi led the mission. He had in his team opticians, consultant, general medicine and social workers.

    People were tested freely for blood sugar test , HIV, blood pressure and other health conditions. Drugs were given out freely. The people in need of eyeglasses and lens received them without paying a dime. A borehole was also sunk in the community.

    Maj.-Gen.Atewe, who was represented by Akinyemi, thanked the Igbemotoru community for their support in the fight against illegal oil bunkering and oil theft in the region. He restated the JTFs commitment and readiness to eradicate all oil-related criminalities in the region.

    He assured them of the commands support to the community especially in the areas of provision of social amenities. In his response on behalf of the community, the Chairman Community Development Committee (CDC), Mr. Morris Jonathan thanked the commander for his selfless service and assured him of the communities readiness to support his campaign on zero tolerance to oil theft.

    JTF has also lined up many other communities to visit with its medical missions and other interventionist projects. As part of the carrot approach, the outfit further embarked on confidence building patrol to discourage youths from engaging in oil theft.

    During the patrols, town hall meetings involving community chiefs, women and youths were held on the environmental, health and economic dangers of illegal oil bunkering and pipeline vandalism. T-shirts with an inscription, “shun any act of illegal oil-related activities”, were distributed to the locals.

    Narrating the success of such approach while rendering the scorecard of the JTF in the year, the outgoing Media Coordinator, Col. Mustapha Anka, said it had rekindle hope of better life in the rural areas. He said communities were beginning to view themselves as part of the war against oil theft.

    He said the outfit was combining its humanitarian interventions with aggressive military operations. According to him, no fewer than 253 vessels were impounded by JTF within nine months of its operation against illegal bunkering, oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta. The vessels, he said, included 53 ships and 200 barges.

    He said since Maj.-Gen. Atewe assumed the command of the outfit, JTF has recorded many success stories. He noted that over 840 illegal refineries were destroyed within the period.

    He said hundreds of Cotonou boats and thousands of drums and jerrycans used for illegal oil bunkering activities and oil theft were seized and destroyed by JTF.

    He said the command uncovered a hideout used for illegal oil bunkering beside a pipeline belonging to the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) at Ekiogbo junction along Warri-Ughelli North and Eleme in Delta and Rivers states.

    He recalled that the troops of JTF patrolling River Ramos in Agge flow station, Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, arrested 19 illegal bunkering suspects.

    Atewe said the troops further located and destroyed four militant camps in the region. He said the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) had testified that it witnessed increased in oil production because of the command’s aggressive patrols of the region.

    He recalled how the command arrested Jarret Tamede, Peter Dulian and 10 others for attempting to vandalise and siphon crude oil from one of the pipelines belonging to Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) at Chanomi creek in Delta state after the suspects failed to bribe the Commander, Sector 1 with $65,000.

    “The command made concerted efforts by organising series of arbitrations and mediation meetings between the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and host communities across the region,” he said.

    Apart from fighting oil theft, Anka said JTF had also contributed in ridding the region of other criminalities such as piracy and cultism.

    “This led to the recovery of cache of different arms and ammunition, smoke grenades, speedboats, pumping machine including communication gadgets and generators”, he said.

    He thanked the Federal Government, Ministry of Defence, Defence Headquarters, service chiefs and other institutions for their support against economic sabotage.

  • NDDC earmarks N1bn loan scheme for farmers

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Wednesday said it had earmarked N1 billion “revolving” loan for farmers in the Niger Delta region.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the commission’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr Iditoye Abosede.

    According to the statement, the loan scheme is in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture (BOA).

    The statement quoted the commission’s Managing Director, Mr Bassey Dan-Abia, as saying that the scheme would boost agricultural activities and production in the area.

    “NDDC is fully committed towards boosting agricultural production to becoming a reliable economic base for the country.

    “We are also partnering with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to integrate rural dwellers into agricultural entrepreneurship,’’ it said.

    The statement said the commission on Monday inaugurated a two-week Agricultural Entrepreneurial Training for farmers at Vika farms in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    It said the commission had recently distributed 100 tractors to various ministries of agriculture and corporate societies in nine Niger Delta states to boost food production and reduce unemployment.

    According to the statement, the 180 tons daily rice processing plant at Elele Alimini in Rivers would soon be revived through a private sector partnership arrangement.

    It said that the Federal Government’s various agriculture programmes had led to the transformation witnessed in the sector and had set the stage for Nigerians to go back to farms.

  • Celebration as Jekennu bows out of Port Harcourt

    Celebration as Jekennu bows out of Port Harcourt

    January 18 was a special day in the life of Air Vice Marshall Ajibola Augustine Jekennu. He was celebrated for his era as the Commander of the 97 Special Operations Group (S.O.G) at the Port Harcourt Air Force Base, reports BOLAJI OGUNDELE 

    When the Commander of the Port Harcourt Air Force Base, 97 Special Operations Group (S.O.G), then Air Commodore Ajibola Augustine Jekennu, got promoted towards the end of last year to the rank of an Air Vice Marshall, those who understand the operations of the military knew it was time he moved to an office fitting for his new promotion. Having served the office of the Commander for almost a year, February 2014 to January 2015, he has now left Port Harcourt to serve in a higher capacity.

    The people he had lived with in the Port Harcourt Air Force Base for many years would not just let him go like that; there is so much attachment connecting the two star Air Force General to a lot of the people within the barracks and the larger Port Harcourt community. Like he said while giving his testimony during a thanksgiving service held in the Nigerian Air Force Protestant Church, A.V.M Jekennu said if he was given the time and privilege, he had much to say about virtually everyone present in the over-crowded church auditorium because they had all affected his life one way or the other.

    The day, January 18, started out with a thanksgiving service at the church , followed by a lavish reception at the officers mess, hosted by the AVM, his  wife and children. It was only in the church that speeches were made, including the sermon, delivered by an Air Force Clergy, Squadron Leader (Reverend Canon) Otowo, titled “Lifted despite the odds”. Save the sermon and the testimony of the AVM at the church, not much of speeches were seen at the two segments of the celebration.

    When summarising his experience on the job over the years and the feeling of being celebrated after so many years, AVM Jekennu said: “It has been a fulfilling time, having served here several years and it’s just normal that when you serve in an organisation you crave for advancement, promotion from time to time, so getting to a level where I got to command a unit was personal fulfilment for me and it gives some kind of satisfaction that my imputes have not been in vain. Basically, I’ll say I feel accomplished, haven commanded 97 S.O.G.”

    On what is next after his tour of duty to Port Harcourt as Commander, the AVM said since the Air Force headquarters is the one in charge of the movement of all men and officers, he would first go back to the headquarters.

    “Normally the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force deploys us; so, I’m going to the headquarters of the Nigerian Air Force.”

    He advised those coming behind him, saying: “They should work hard and put in their best. There’s no hard-work that is ever wasted; sooner or later, it pays off.”

     

  • How military transferred houses to us, by UNIBEN

    The properties in dispute at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) were transferred to it by the military government, the university’s management said on Wednesday.

    It said the military governor of old Bendel State, Col. George Innih, authorised the transfer.

    Among land and property transferred to the university, it said, include the Ugbowo Campus, the Ekenwan Road Campus, Staff Quarters and Club allocated to the University at GRA, and the Arts Theatre, Airport Road.

    Agents of the state government allegedly demolished some houses on the land occupied by some university staff.

    Special Adviser on Media and Communication to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, said what the government did was in line with the rule of law.

    “What we have simply done is to recover and repossess Edo State Government’s assets, located around Government House in GRA,” he was quoted as saying.

    But the university, through its legal counsel, Mr Hannibal Uwaifo, at a news conference in Lagos, exhibited documents exchanged between the government and the university during the transfer process.

    In one of the letters to the school by the Ministry of Education, dated 23 September 1974, the government acknowledged the transfer.

    The acknowledgment followed the education ministry’s letter to the Permanent Secretary of its counterpart, Ministry of Land and Housing.

    The letter reads: “Since it your ministry that is directly in charge of all government buildings, it would be appreciated if you could take steps to get the above-mentioned properties transferred to UNIBEN either by an edict with a schedule of the said properties or an appropriate gazette notice indicating the said properties.”

    The university said the government should have waited for the outcome of its appeal against a judgment of a Benin High Court on the properties, which was in Edo State’s favour, before carrying out the demolitions.

    According to Uwaifo, the judgment was delivered on December 16, last year. Not satisfied with the decision, the university filed a notice of appeal on December 17.

    It also filed a Motion for Stay of Execution of the judgment on December 19, and the processes were served on the government.

    It was learnt that the government claimed not to have been served with the processes, but Uwaifo exhibited a proof of service dated December 22, 2014.

    The university’s ground of appeal is that the judgment by Justice E. O. Ahamioje “is against the weight of evidence”.

    UNIBEN is urging the appellate court to allow the appeal, overturn the lower court’s judgment and grant its claims.

    In the motion on notice, the university had prayed “for an order of this honourable court staying execution of judgment in this suit No B/74/2013…pending the determination of the appeal.”

    The state government claimed that the properties were loaned to the University by the Midwest government.

    But the university insists the properties were given to it during its take-off.

    “We have evidence showing that part of the conditions for the take-over of UNIBEN by the Federal Government led by Gen. Yakubu Gowon was that properties being used by the university as at April 1, 1975, would remain UNIBEN’s properties.

    “Liabilities that were owed to the university by the Midwest government would remain their liabilities.

    “Most of those houses were uncompleted. It was the Federal Government and UNIBEN that took time to complete them,” Uwaifo said.

     

  • Bayelsa SUBEB snubs sacked teachers

    The Bayelsa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has snubbed a directive by the National Industrial Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to negotiate out-of-court settlement with 51 teachers allegedly sacked illegally by the board.

    The Niger Delta Report gathered that Liverpool, despite promising to obey the order, has been playing to the gallery.

    The suspension of the teachers in 2013 by the board vide a radio announcement had generated public outrage.

    The teachers, who were owed arrears of salaries before the suspension,  accused the board and the state government of denying them their only means of livelihood without following the civil service due process.

    Having exhausted all internal processes to get the board reinstate and pay them, the teachers last year took their matter to the National Industrial Court.

    But a document obtained at the Festus Keyamo Chambers, a legal firm handling the matter, showed that the court had in June 17, directed the state government to resolve the matter.

    The court after adjourning the matter was said to have been waiting in vain for the report of the settlement.

    According to the document, Liverpool, on August 12, had promised to ensure that the teachers were reinstated with their salaries paid.

    The chambers in a letter dated August 25 and signed by Omonade Mathew had appealed to Liverpool to fulfill his promise.

    Mathew told the SUBEB Executive Secretary that the affected teachers were going through unbearable hardship since they lost their jobs.

    “We do sincerely hope and believe that you will use your good office towards ensuring that what is just and fair is done”, he appealed.

    Mathew also sent a similar letter to Governor Seriake Dickson, urging him to end the two-year suffering of the teachers.

    It was, however, gathered that six months after the court order, Dickson and Liverpool, have failed to act on the agreement.

    The affected teachers are said to be frustrated over the careless attitude of the government to their plight.

    When contacted on the telephone on Thursday, Liverpool said out of court settlement was suspended because the counsel for the teachers brought a court summons in the process of the settlement.

    “We were in the process of settling the matter out of court when the lawyers for the teachers brought another summons. For now, the matter has been suspended as we have to attend to the summons first,” Liverpool said.