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Tag: Bayelsa State

  • Fake news fueling electoral violence, says Buratai

    The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the weekend, blamed increasing cases of electoral violence on fake news and said the menace posed grave danger to democratic process and military operations.

    Buratai spoke in Bayelsa State when he led military commanders, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to inaugurate projects at the newly-established barracks of the 16th Division of the Nigerian Army named Camp Buratai.

    He said prior to the general elections, he launched the Operation Safe Conduct to ensure success of the poll and established the Nigerian Army Situation Room (NASR) to manage electoral events including countering spread of fake news.

    Buratai, who was represented by Maj.-Gen. Adamu Saliu, the Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), noted terrorists and subversive elements were deliberately spreading fake news using the social media to influence public sentiment, cause confusion and ignite violence.

    The COAS said: “Use of media especially social media to deliberately spread fake news should be a thing of concern to all of us.

    “Rapid spread of fake news has been responsible for misinformation, thereby having an influence on public sentiment and sowing confusion among the electorate and easily ignite violence during elections as we have now.

    “The purpose of the situation room is among others to monitor electioneering process through the cyber warfare command of the Nigerian Army which also identifies and counters various forms of fake news and propaganda put out by terrorist and subversive elements. In this period of elections, we are collaborating with all stakeholders to confront the menace of fake news”.

    Read Also: Burutai asked to account for spendings on military operations

    Buratai insisted nothing would stop the army from playing its roles in combating security challenges in the country in line with its constitutional mandates.

    He said the army deserved the support of all Nigerians following its efforts to keep the country together adding that security agencies required timely information from the public to enable them deliver on their mandates.

    Buratai commended the Commander of the 16th Brigade, Brigadier-General, Kelvin Aligbe, officers and men of the outfit for their efforts to develop the new military community.

     

     

     

  • Police arrest armed robbers in Bayelsa

    The police in Bayelsa State have arrested some suspected armed robbers, who specialised in robbing residents in Yenagoa, the state capital, using a commercial tricycle.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Asinim Butswat, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said some of the robbers were shot during a gun battle with policemen.

    He identified one out of the four-man gang as Precious John ‘m’ 19yrs, saying he was shot on the leg and a locally-made pistol recovered from him.

    He said while the tricycle driver Abubakar Iliyasu ‘m’ 26, was arrested, the other suspects escaped with bullets wounds.

    He said: “Following reported complaints of cult activities in Yenagoa metropolis, the Commissioner of Police Bayelsa State directed the tactical teams to embark on vigorous stop and search operations and patrols within the metropolis.

    “On 17 March, 2019 at about 1150 hours, four men Armed operating in a tricycle with a locally made pistol robbed one Kelly Effiong ‘f’ at Ebis Road, Biogbolo of one Techno phone valued at N45,000, and an ITEL phone valued at N4.500.

    “On sighting a patrol team, the armed robbers engaged the policemen in a gun battle, the policemen fired back at the Armed robbers and arrested one Precious John ‘m’ 19yrs, who was shot on the leg and recover a locally made pistol.

    “The tricycle driver Abubakar Iliyasu ‘m’ 26 years, was also arrested, the other suspects escaped with bullets wounds. The command has intensified effort to arrest the fleeing suspects”.

  • Gunmen kill two policemen, injure one

    Unidentified gunmen at the weekend killed two policemen and injured another in separate incidents that occurred in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

    It was gathered that the gunmen in one of the incidents attacked a policeman attached to a popular supermarket in Amarata area of the capital city.

    They were said to have killed the lone policeman, snatched his AK47 riffle and robbed the supermarket.

    The activities of the hoodlums created panic in the area and forced many people to run to different places for safety.

    The supermarket, which was robbed twice, last year, could not open for business on Saturday after the incident.

    In the second incident, gummen stormed the Udeme Hotels along D. S. P Alamesiagha road in Yenagoa, attacked two of the policemen guarding the facility.

    They reportedly killed one of the policemen and injured another as they tried in vain to steal police riffles.

    It was gathered that the injured policeman engaged the gunmen at gun duel and stopped them from stealing the riffles.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said that the gunmen drove a Toyota Camry car into the hotel premises and pretended to be customers.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill driver in Kano

    “They later made a U-turn and drove towards the gate where they opened fire on the policemen”, the source said.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Asinim Butswat, confirmed the development saying it occurred at 9pm on Friday.

    He said:  “On 15 March, 2019, at about 2100hours, unknown gunmen operating in a Toyota Camry car, registration number unknown, went to a Hotel at Opolo, Yenagoa and without provocation open fire at the two Policemen on duty.

    “The policemen fired back at the Armed robbers and in the ensuing gun battle, one sergeant was fatally wounded, he was rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Yenagoa, where he was later confirmed dead. The other Policeman is responding to treatment.

    “The unknown gunmen escaped with bullets wounds. Based on a tip-off a notorious criminal hideout was raided, where their cohorts were arrested and they have volunteered useful information. Efforts have been intensified to arrest the gunmen.”

  • Bayelsa PDP, APC biker over Clark-led Elders group’s comments

    The Bayelsa State Chapters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have bickered on recent comments of Chief Edwin Clark’s group on the outcome of the 2019 General Elections.

    The Bayelsa APC had on Thursday criticised the Clark-led Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum for allegedly being partisan in comments on the elections.

    But in a reaction on Saturday, the state’s PDP said the APC criticism of the group was disrespectful.

    The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum had issued a statement titled, “On Danger Signals from Rivers and Other States.” which alleged that APC leaders in Bayelsa and Rivers, led by Ex-Govs Timipre Sylva and Rotimi Ameachi, were behind electoral violence in the states.

    The statement was signed by Chief Edwin Clark, leader of Pan Niger Delta Elders’ Forum (PANDEF) Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere, Chief John Nwodo, the President General of Ohaneze, the Igbo people umbrella body, and Dr Pogu Bitrus, the President of the Middle Belt Forum.

    The groups said: “There has been a spillover of the Rivers situation to Bayelsa State where Mr Timpire Sylva of the ruling APC has also been alleged to be terrorising residents with impunity.

    “We call on the President to call Messrs Rotimi Amaechi and Sylva to order; and restore normalcy so that the electoral process in Rivers State, in particular, can be concluded.

    “Indeed, if we are a Republic governed by law, Amaechi and Sylva should have been arrested by now for the wanton violence they have instigated.’’

    However, Mr Doifie Buokoribo, Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, observed that the party had seemingly expressed concern over the statement, saying that it was laced with malice and prejudice.

    According to Buokoribo, the APC finds the statement offensive, unwarranted, disgraceful and partisan.

    “Like most Nigerians, we know it as a matter of fact that these are partisan elders on the side of the opposition PDP.

    “During the Presidential Elections, this group openly supported and campaigned for the defeated PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    “These elders do not represent the interests of the ethnic nations they purport to speak for. They are only representing their pockets. And they have since made it clear who is lining their pockets.

    “In the specific case of Bayelsa State, if anyone needs to be called to question concerning the elections, that person is Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson.

    “The governor and his party, the PDP, were the ones that unleashed war and terror on our suffering people. And they were the ones spreading fake news to incite violence and try to cover up their evil activities.

    “They were so wild and uncontrolled that even the military had to issue a statement a few days ago to call Dickson and the PDP to order.

    “That statement was widely publicised by the local, national, and international news channels. It is surprising that the forum did not read such a crucial statement before making conclusions.

    “They just decided to pick and choose those to slander. But the thinking public knows Sylva is an innocent man. He is a man of peace,” Buokoribo claimed.

    The APC wondered why the elders failed to reach out to Sylva and hear from him on the allegations before releasing their statement.

    Read Also: Dokubo-must-go protest rocks Bayelsa

    Buokoribo noted that the principle of fair hearing was because the APC leader had only “been alleged” to do the things they referred to in the statement.

    On the other hand, the Bayelsa PDP described the response by APC as a “despicable display of disrespect’’ for the person of the Ijaw National Leader, Pa Edwin Clark, as well as other elder statesmen and leaders in the South-South and Middle Belt.

    The State’s Secretary of the PDP, Chief Godspower Keku, berated Buokoribo for casting aspersions on the integrity of the leaders saying the APC was attacking the group for speaking the truth about happenings in Rivers and Bayelsa.

    Keku said that it was as immoral for a son of the South-South to make such disparaging remarks about the elder; and leader of his people for saying the truth about issues of grave concern to them.

    The PDP said the people of Bayelsa had openly rejected the APC in the state when the PDP clinched 17 out of the 21 declared results of the 24-Member House of Assembly seats and APC got only four.

    Keku called on the state’s APC leader, Sylva, and his supporters to immediately tender an unresolved apology to the Ijaw Nation, the Niger Delta, the South-South and the Middle Belt.

    NAN

  • Army renovates Bayelsa school

    King George Lawson was skeptical when the 16 Brigade of the Nigerian Army was sited in Elebele, Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State. He was uncomfortable at the presence of the army in his neighbourhood.

    The Obanobhan 1 of Emeyal Clan stated reasons for his initial fears. “I used to know the army for guns and intimidation only. I had very negative impression about the army. So, I was afraid when they came to our neighbourhood. I thought bad things would begin to happen in our communities because of their presence.”

    But the king confessed recently that the leadership of the 16th Brigade changed his perception about the army. He said the brigade led by Brigadier-General Kelvin Aligbe made him and his communities fall in love with the army.

    “We have since changed our negative impressions. Since the coming of the army, we have only witnesses’ adequate security and infrastructural development. The army is the simplest security outfit. I told our governor recently about the good things we have witnessed in these communities because of the presence of the army,” he said.

    King George was right and he spoke out of experience as he stood with other stakeholders to receive 100 desks and sporting items including football kits donated by the army to the pupils of Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele.

    The king also saw how General Aligbe renovated a dilapidated Elebele Primary School 2 in his neighborhood. The school had leaking roofs, cracked and washed off walls. But the army gave it a facelift by changing the roof and repainting the blocks. The school environment became  neater, cleaner and more conducive for learning.

    The Obanobhan further saw the grin faces of the benefitting pupils. Their physiognomical countenances spoke volumes. Many of them indicated interests to join the army after their studies. They viewed Aligbe and his soldiers as their role models.

    Besides, George, the Paramount Ruler of Elebele community, His Royal Highness, King Osene Osene extolled the virtues of the General Aligbe-led Brigade. “It is examplary”, he said. “ This brigade has proved me wrong. I thought the army only carried gun to intimidate people. We were afraid when the entered our community, but now we can’t do without them. They have performed beyond our expectations,” he said.

    With the performance of the brigade in the community, Osene said he would never talk about the army as a force of intimidation. He said he never thought that the army could think along the line of developing its host communities.

    He said it was unimaginable that the army was carrying out projects they hitherto believed could only come from the government.

    The Principal of the Comprehensive Secondary School, Elebele, Nanigha Asara, was also overwhelmed. She described the gesture as a big surprise from the army. She said the army showed due diligence by conducting need assessment of the school before making their donations.

    She said: “I learnt that they initially came during one of our brief breaks to carry out an inspection of the school infrastructure. I believe it was based on this they came to overwhelm us with these various gifts.

    “The action so far has gone a long way to show that they believe in education, which we know remains the bedrock of every nation. Their action also has shown that they believe in the future of every one of our students.

    “I am deeply shocked to the bone marrow by such magnanimity and kind gestures showcased by kind soldiers. Since they believe in us, we will prove their belief right by working very hard.”

    The Prefect (Boy) of the school, Osuma Mannesah, captured the feelings of his colleagues. He said: “ It is a great thing of joy and we are actually excited to see the desire and the zeal of the Nigerian Army to facilitate the learning process in this great school.

    “It will help to give the students more zeal to pursue their academic goals. We want to say thank you to the brigade and the brigade-general and we pray God to give them more grace.”

    Aligbe encouraged the students to take their studies seriously and aspire to be the best in the world. He advised them against crime and company and urged them not to engage in exam malpractices.

    Stating reasons for the gesture, he said: “We are here to make donation to facilitate learning. This is recognising the fact that education and sports and veritable means of bridging gaps that we have identified in the Niger Delta region.

    “With this gesture we hope we have inspired these young students to know that there are alternatives to violence and we expect this kind of interactions will subsequently engender the kind of calmness we want in all the communities in the Niger Delta region beginning with Elebele communities where 16th Brigade is domiciled.”

  • INEC fixes March 23 for Bayelsa Assembly supplementary poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it would hold House of Assembly supplementary election on March 23 in Bayelsa State, in areas where election was declared inconclusive in Feb. 23, poll.

    Mr Wilfred Ifogah, Head of INEC Voter Education and Publicity in the state, disclosed this in a statement issued on behalf of the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Monday on Thursday in Yenagoa.

    “The election will hold in five wards in Ogbia Local Government Area(LGA).

    “It will also take place in two wards in Southern Ijaw LGA and one ward in Brass LGA,” he said.

    Read Also: INEC issues Certificates of Return to senators-elect

    According to him, the places where election will hold are: Otuokpoti, Ologi, Ayama and Okodi polling units in Ogbia constituency II, Ukube and Koluama units in Southern Ijaw constituency IV and some units in Cape Farmoso in Brass constituency I.

    “INEC wishes to inform the people of the state, especially the critical stakeholders of the date for the conduct of supplementary election in the constituencies were election was declared inconclusive,” he stated.

    NAN

     

  • National Park Service to establish marine park in Bayelsa

    The  National Park Service is to build a marine park in Bayelsa State, its Conservator-General, Alhaji Ibrahim Goni has said.

    Goni stated this in Abuja as the country joined the world to commemorate the World Wildlife Day, which is celebrated on March 3 yearly. It theme  was: “Life below water: For people and planet’’.

    He explained that marine parks were protected areas of sea, oceans, estuaries or large lakes where human activities are restricted.

    He observed that it’s not only human activities in the marine environment that affect life in the sea but also the things we do on land. He said the marine park will ensure that oceans and marine species are preserved and protected.

    Goni, however, said marine pollution remained a major problem that threatens life in the sea at all levels.

    According to him, the oceans  were used as dumping ground for for waste, including sewage, industrial run-off and chemicals.

    On pollution, he said it ranges from oil spills to pollutants from the communities which flow to the sea through flood during raining seasons.

    He said: “All marine pollutions have the potential to seriously damage marine habitats and life in the sea,’’ he said.

    He said the service was working hard to meet its targets for SDG 14 on oceans to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.

    He said the service was working with stakeholders to conserve wildlife across the country.

    According  to him there are thousands of wildlife species internationally traded and used by people in their daily lives for food, health care, housing, tourist souvenirs, cosmetics or fashion.’

    He, however, assured that with proper partnership, the survival of wildlife and their benefits for the livelihoods, health and environment would be ensured.

    On the way forward, he explained that he has entered into collaboration through MOU with various government and NGOs toward getting technical, financial, and scientific assistance.

  • ‘Buratai should probe electoral violence’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has appealed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to investigate the violence which happened during the elections.

    The party said some Army officials directly participated in the elections, and called on the military to redeem its image by probing incidents linked to them.

    Chairman Moses Cleopas said the activities of the Army deployed in Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw should be queried by the military.

    Cleopas lamented that PDP members were targets during the elections; he describing the situation as unhealthy.

    The chairman, however, described the victory of some candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as temporary, and vowed that his party would retrieve its mandate from them.

    Read also: Kwara elections met accepted standards, say observers

    He said: “APC chieftains came with military men and doctored results and forced INEC to change results to APC’s favour. This will not stand.

    “Nembe 2 and 3, Bassambiri was taken over by hoodlums. They chased away all PDP members from the community. Policeman who went there to maintain the peace were driven out by APC members. There were no proper elections there…”

    “We call on the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the activities of his officers and men in Bayelsa because it has become recurrent that soldiers now chase PDP members.”

  • Dokubo-must-go protest rocks Bayelsa

    Angry youths have asked Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Prof. Charles Dokubo, to resign his appointment following the recent looting of the Boro Town Amnesty Training complex in Kaiama, Bayelsa State.

    The placard-carrying youths appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to force Dokubo to step aside to allow an independent and unbiased investigation into the five-day looting.

    The aggrieved youths insisted that PAP officials must be probed for the “stage-managed theft to conceal fraud and non-existing contracts in the amnesty office”.

    Some of their placards read “Charles Dokuboh must be probed for the Kaiama amnesty facility looting”; “President Buhari, investigate Dokuboh for fraud”; “Fake contracts, all amnesty directors must go”; “There will be no safe haven for the corrupt”.

    Kingsley John, who led the protest under the auspices of Concerned Niger Deltans for Sustainable Development (CNDSD), wondered how a theft could happen for five days without any efforts to stop it.

    John, who led the protesters to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Yenagoa, accused Dokuboh of mocking Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

    He said: “The looting lasted for five days without security men to stop the hoodlums. On February 14, Prof. Dokubo drove along the East-West Road and saw the looting. Sources said stakeholders who saw him pleaded with him to call for security but he drove away.

    “Dokubo later called Esther Boro to open the facility on his behalf. While the looting was going on at one end, Madam Esther and a few elders were opening the facility at another end in the same complex same day.

    “The Head of the Training Centre reported the theft to the police, three days after the incident and Dokubo was angry with him for reporting, and instructed him to withdraw his statement and the police report.

    “On February 15, the head of the centre wrote to the police in Bayelsa state to withdraw his statement and the report he had already filed.

    “Dokubo waited for almost one month after the looting before setting up a committee to investigate it. However, the people of Kaiama and Niger Deltans know the truth.”

    But the Amnesty Office, through its spokesman, Murphy Ganagana, dismissed the protest, saying it was stage-managed by attention-seekers. Ganagana, who described the allegations as baseless, reiterated that immediately the incident happened, Prof. Dokubo took actions to stop it.

    A statement by Ganagana reads: “These allegations are false, preposterous and a calculated attempt to smear Prof. Dokubo’s reputation. As a decent and incorruptible scholar of international repute, he has given hope to the Niger Delta people through fresh initiatives that would reposition the Amnesty Programme to its original mandate.

    “It is on record that the invasion and looting of the Kaiama training facility happened in the presence of security personnel, including policemen and soldiers deployed in the centre, but they were overwhelmed by the numerical strength of the thieves.

    “The incident was reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Kaiama, and later at the Bayelsa State police command headquarters in Yenagoa. The police launched intensive investigation and have some suspects in custody. None of the suspects has linked any official of the Amnesty Office to the crime.

    “We urge enemies of the Niger Delta, particularly ambitious politicians eyeing Prof. Dokubo’s office, to desist from smear campaigns and other ignoble acts capable of portraying the Niger Delta people in bad light. Sponsoring ill-motivated protests aimed at causing mischief and splashing muddy water on Dokubo will do no one any good…”

  • Updated: Dokubo-must-go protest rocks Bayelsa

    Protesters on Wednesday asked the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Prof. Charles Dokubo to resign his appointment following the recent looting of the Boro Town Amnesty Training complex in Kaiama, Bayelsa State.

    The placard-carrying youths appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to force Dokubo to step aside to allow independent and unbiased investigations into the looting that lasted five days without any intervention by security agencies.

    The aggrieved youths insisted that PAP officials must be probed on allegations that they stage-managed the stealing of amnesty equipment to conceal alleged fraud and non-existing contracts in the amnesty office.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Charles Dokubo must be probed for the Kaiama amnesty facility looting’, ‘President Buhari, investigate Buhari for fraud, fake contracts’, ‘all amnesty directors must go’ and ‘there will be no safe haven for the corrupt’.

    Kingsley John, who led the protest under the auspices of Concerned Niger Deltans for Sustainable Development (CNDSD), wondered how looting occurred in a complex for five days without any effort by Dokubo to stop it.

    John, who led the protesters to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Yenagoa, accused Dokubo of mocking Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

    He said: “The looting of the facility lasted for five days with no police or Military Personnel present to stop the hoodlums.

    “On February 14, 2019, Prof. Dokubo drove along the East-West Road and saw the looting of the facility.

    “Sources said stakeholders who saw him, pleaded with him to call for security, instead, Dokubo drove away and went to Benin on February 14, 2019.

    “Dokubo later called Esther Boro, to go and commission the facility on his behalf.

    Read Also: Amnesty: Buhari won’t forsake Niger Delta – Dokubo

    “While the looting was going on at one end, Madam Esther and a few elders she gathered were commissioning the facility at another end in the same complex all on February 14, 2019.

    “The Head of the Training Center reported the looting to the Police in Bayelsa state February 14, 2019, three days after the looting of the N60bn Vocational Training.

    “After the Head of the Boro-Town Vocational Training Center reported the matter to the police in Bayelsa state, Prof. Dokubo became very angry at him for reporting the matter to the police.

    “Dokubo then instructed him to immediately withdraw his statement and the police report that had already been filed with the police in Bayelsa state.

    “On February 15, 2019, the head of the centre wrote to the police in Bayelsa state to withdraw his statement and the report that he had already filed with the police.

    “Dokubo waited for almost one month after the looting before setting up a committee to investigate the looting. However, the people of Kaiama and Niger Deltans know the truth”.

    But Ganagana faulted all the allegations saying they were baseless and clarifying that immediately the incident happened Dokubo took actions to stop it.

    “It is not true that nothing was done. There was military presence and even the police were drafted to the place immediately the incident started.

    “The invaders were too many that they overwhelmed the security,” he said.

    Ganagana explained there was security deployment even before the incident because the centre was being prepared for the inauguration of the items.

    He said besides the conventional security, the amnesty office maintained private guards at the centre insisting that security was never problem of the vocational facility.

    He said the office took further action to report the incident to the police adding that contrary to claims that the matter was withdrawn, the police were still investigating the reason behind it.

    He said Dokubo’s desire to get to the root of the matter compelled him to set up a high-powered investigative panel to unravel the circumstances behind the looting.

    “Prof. Dokubo will not succumb to the antics of blackmailers. He will remain focused in the discharge of his duties,” he said.