The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Bayelsa

  • Poll: Group alleges presence of killer squad in Southsouth, Bayelsa

    The Niger Delta Peace Movement (NDPM) has alleged suspicious presence of special gunmen in uniform with resemblance of special killer squad in the six states òf the South-South geopolitical zone including Bayelsa State ahead of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    The Secretary-General of the NDPM, Jephtah Akedi, said that the suspected killer squad could be working for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to intimidate the electorate and deliver the geopolitical zone to the party.

    Akedi alleged that the deadly squad comprising 130 men was in a mission to execute acts of repression against the citizens during the period.

    The NDPM Scribe stated further that his organisation got reports that some military officers had displayed unprofessional conducts and could be working with the suspected killer squad.

    Read also: Man accuses landlady’s son of causing wife’s miscarriage

    He said that the NDPM was worried that the some military officers were planning to execute a special election game plan in the South-South.

    Akedi added that since the deployment of a particular senior military officer in the region, he had issued unlawful orders to his subordinates to compromise the election in favour of the APC.

    He stressed that it was important to remind the Nigerian public that some military officers played illegal roles in Bayelsa killings.

    Akedi called on the Chief òf Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to check the activities of his officers on election duties to avoid tainting the service with political bias during elections.

    He said that it would be wrong for the Army to be dragged into the political dispute through the collusion of men in the corridors of power and senior officials of the service.

  • Confusion in Bayelsa as INEC retrieves 23 card readers

    There was confusion in Bayelsa State ahead of the forthcoming election on Saturday following the inability of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to retrieve all the 69 missing card readers.

    The commission declared 69 card readers missing shortly after conducting the Presidential and National Assembly elections and begged persons in their possession to return them.

    But it was gathered that out of the missing number 23 were returned by unknown persons while 46 were still with unknown politicians.

    Some politicians were unhappy at the development raising fears that without retrieving all the stolen card readers, the electoral process would be compromised.

    They were also unhappy at the inability of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Monday Udoh to give full disclosures of the circumstances that led to disappearance of the card readers and the identities of persons who returned the first 23.

    But Udoh said yesterday in Yenagoa that he had declared a two-day amnesty to persons withholding the readers.

    He confirmed that 22 smart card readers saying management would take strict measure on areas where card readers were yet to be recovered.

    Speaking during the stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of political parties, the REC explained that out of the 24 missing in Nembe Local Government area, only 14 were recovered.

    He said in Sagbama out of eight, three had been recovered, Southern Ijaw out of 24 only two were returned while in Yenagoa out of six, only three had been retrieved.

    Udoh commended the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), religious leaders, community chiefs, youths, women groups and other stakeholders for persuading the card reader thieves to return them.

    He said that INEC would continue to perform its roles as an unbiased umpire in elections conducted in the state.

    The REC also urged the people in the state to forego incidents of the past elections and eschew violence for a better election in the state.

    He said that election was not a war but a process for leaders to emerge and queried: “If those you are to lead are all dead what is the gain?’

    ”Election is not war. Where there is peace you find progress and development. So by the time you kill those you are to lead what is the gain and who will you lead?

    “Let us all allow peace to reign in the state, before, during and after the elections. 85 per cent of the sensitive materials are already in the Central Bank and we cross-checked them with all party agents to show we are transparent”, he said.

    Also speaking, the Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr. Nduh Sampson, said it was time to allow the people own the electioneering process, adding that the process required a collective and collaborative work.

    He also said that everyone must come together to be part of the history to change the narrative of violence to a peaceful and transparent election in the state.

     

  • Return all stolen card readers in Bayelsa, APC Chieftain tells PDP

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), Yekini Nabena has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being responsible for the disappearance of 63 card readers declared missing by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in five local government areas of Bayelsa state after the Presidential and national assembly elections.

    Nabena who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC is therefore, asking the main opposition and the state governor, Serieke Dickson to immediately return the card readers to the commission.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Nabena alleged that PDP leaders were planning to use the card readers to rig the Saturday’s State House of Assembly election in the state in favour of their candidates.

    INEC had declared the card readers missing, listing the affected Local Government Areas where the card readers were used to include Brass, Sagbama, Southern-Ijaw, Nembe and Yenagoa.

    The Bayelsa-born APC national officer asked the leadership of INEC and the security agencies to ensure that all the stolen Card Readers are recovered before this Saturday’s election.

    Only the State House of Assembly election will be held in Bayelsa state as the governorship election is not due until 2020.

    Nabena said: “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must be mindful of the desperate plan by the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson and the PDP to use the stolen card readers to rig the State House of Assembly elections in Bayelsa state.

    “INEC and security agencies must ensure that all 63 stolen card readers are recovered before Saturday. In the meantime, INEC should urgently embark on the reconfiguration of its card readers deployed for the Bayelsa State Assembly elections, following reports of attempts by PDP leaders in the state to hack the card readers.

    “The stolen card readers is among a list of strategies the rejected PDP government in Bayelsa state plan to deploy to rig Saturday’s elections. I had earlier alerted of Governor Dickson’s arms buildup and the illegal activities of the state security outfit, Operation Doo Akpo which is being used by the governor and other PDP chieftains to aid rigging of elections in the state.”

  • Counter protest rocks Bayelsa community ahead of polls

    A day after some women urged President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend elections in Nembe-Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area citing violence, scores of residents on Tuesday held a counter protest, declaring the community as peaceful.

    Women agitating for suspension of elections told Buhari and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that their place was no longer safe for polls.

    Spokesperson of the Women, Mrs. Sotonye Samuel-Johnson, said that the call to postpone the election in the community was to safeguard the lives and properties of women and children in the area.

    Samuel-Johnson said that women and children, who fled the community to nearby Ogbolomabiri and Yenagoa had not been able to return to their homes following activities of political thugs.

    But on Tuesday scores of women, elders and youths marched the streets of Nembe- Bassambiri and said there was no violence in their community.

    They described all the reports of violence as propaganda orchestrated by the state government to intimidate and stop them from voting for their preferred candidates.

    The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Seven years in office no single project in Nembe-Bassambiri “and “Toru-Orua for PDP while Nembe- Bassambiri is for APC”, said there was no truth in the reports that thugs had sacked the community.

    A woman leader in the area, Ingoebiye Braid, alleged the state government was persecuting them because of their political differences.

    Also, the Secretary, Community Development Committee (CDC) Kombonimi Awo, debunked insinuations the community was deserted following alleged violence that occurred in the area during and after the presidential elections.

    He further said the last elections held peacefully in the community contrary to claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Bayelsa urges Buratai to produce killers of photographer, PDP chief

    He said: “People are carrying rumours and are being sponsored by the Bayelsa Government that the community has been deserted but all these are false.

    “Nobody is running out of the community. The elders, chiefs, women and youths are going about their businesses without fears and molestations.

    “There is no fight or crisis in the community during and after the National Assembly and Presidential elections.

    “The only people that are out of the community are those hired with fake uniforms and thugs.

    “The rumours that the whole community has vacated is a pure lie. Those paid to stage protest in the state capital are paid agents of destabilisation. The call for the cancellation of the last election is wicked and should not be honoured by INEC. We voted peacefully without intimidation.”

  • 63 card readers missing in Bayelsa, says INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Bayelsa has raised the alarm over its missing 63 card readers in the state.

    The commission appealed to persons in possession of the card readers to return them before Wednesday ahead of the House of Assembly election scheduled for Saturday.

    The commission said it discovered the missing item after the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Speaking on Tuesday in Yenagoa, Head of Department, INEC Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said the card readers were found missing in Brass, Sagbama, Southern-Ijaw, Nembe and Yenagoa local government areas.

    Ifogah explained that one smart card disappeared in Brass ward 6 unit 19; 24 in Nembe, ward 1, 4, 12 and 13 while 24 were not found in Southern-Ijaw, ward 1, 2, 3, 12, 15.

    He said; Eight are missing in Sagbama ward 1 unit 5 and ward 6 unit 3 while in Yenagoa, a total of six are also missing in ward 1, 11 and 16 respectively.

    “Yes, about 63, card readers are missing. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) has issued a statement that those involved should return it to a point where it will get to INEC on or before Wednesday”.

  • We were not involved in Bayelsa killings, violence – APC

    The Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) has dissociated itself from the electoral violence in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Council of the state.

    A Government House photographer, Reginald Dei, and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mr. Seidougha Taribi, were shot in the area by gunmen in military uniform.

    But the State Publicity Secretary of Bayelsa APC, Mr. Doifie Buokoribo, in a statement dismissed insinuations by Governor Seriake Dickson and the PDP that the deceased were victims of violence perpetrated by APC supporters.

    The APC challenged the picture painted by the state government, saying nothing could be further from the truth.

    The party in its account of the incident said: “On the day of election, materials were brought to Oweikorogha. PDP supporters led by Moses Taribi, Seidougha Taribi, Promise Elijah, Reginald Dei and others were fomenting trouble with the intent to destroy the electioneering materials or hijacking them for their party. APC supporters did all they could to allow voting to take place.

    “While voting was ongoing, a certain Perebigha Azikwe of the PDP arrived the polling unit with a locally made pistol, and snatched the card reader. At that instance, the APC Ward 2 Agent, Deizigha ThankGod, approached the PDP loyalists to plead with them to return the card reader, but they refused.

    “APC loyalists then insisted that voting could not continue. While they were concentrating on the other two units, PDP thugs led by Moses Taribi forcefully took away the remaining materials of that unit to Seidougha Taribi’s house and were thumb-printing in favour of the PDP.

    “At that point, the voters sought for security intervention to secure the electoral materials. Soldiers arrived Oweikorogha, and stormed Seidogha Taribi’s house. There was an exchange of gunshots.

    “The APC is concerned that houses of our members and their relations have been burnt down in the community and property looted. Our members are also being hunted for possible assassination.

    “The party condemns this unnecessary insult in Oweikorogha. APC is the victim, not the aggressor. We call on the armed and security forces to restore law and order in Oweikorogha community. Our members and other peace-loving residents in Southern Ijaw need protection”.

  • Polls: Bayelsa govt house photographer dies in hospital

    The Bayelsa State Government House Photographer, Reginald Dei, has finally died in an emergency ward of a private hospital in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Dei was shot by gunmen in army uniform in Oweikorogha, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area during the last Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    He was shot alongside the leader of the PDP in Oweikorogha community, Mr. Seidougha Taribi, who died on the spot.

    Though the photographer was initially reported dead, he was later said to be unconscious in a Yenagoa hospital, after his colleagues and some government officials paid him a visit.

    But a statement by the Director Corporate Communications, Governor’s Office, Chief Nathan Egba-Ologo, said that the photographer could not survive the lethal wounds from the gunshots.

    He died on Sunday night, a week after the incident.

    Egba-Ologo called on the relevant security agencies to investigate the activities of the various security formations to bring the culprits of the dastardly act to book.

    He, however, lamented that while the state was mourning the unfortunate murder of Taribi and Dei, some suspected thugs were wreaking havoc in Nembe-Bassambiri.

    He alleged that the rampaging thugs sacked the mobile policemen and the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on deployment in the besieged community.

    Read Also: Bayelsa elders condemn electoral malpractices, killings

    According to him, the thugs dug military fashion trenches in Bassambiri with barricades to harass PDP members in the community and prevent those, who fled the community from returning.

    He called on the leadership of the Nigerian Army and the other security agencies to prevent brigandage and a breakdown of law and order in the area ahead of the next elections.

    He urged the security agencies to adhere strictly to their constitutional responsibility to ensure the provision of security and indeed the requisite environment in the next election.

  • Nembe community wants Aiteo sanctioned over failure to report explosion

    The community leadership in Nembe, Bayelsa, on Sunday urged the oil and gas industry regulators to wield the big stick against Aiteo Exploration Ltd over alleged poor handing of an explosion within OML 29.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an explosion had occurred on Friday along the 97 kilometre Nembe Creek Trunk line, discharging unascertained volume of crude and gas into the environment.

    Although Aiteo officials confirmed the incident on Saturday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) insisted that there was no record of explosion in Nembe.

    Chief Nengi James-Eriworio, Spokesman, Nembe Chiefs Council, said that the NNPC was misled because Aiteo did not report the incident to Joint Venture partners as required by law.

    James-Eriworio said that the Nembe communities were shocked at the statement from NNPC and urged the corporation to sanction Aiteo for concealing the incident.

    He said that the failure to report the incident had caused the entire oil industry an avoidable embarrassment.

    “Nembe Chiefs Council calls on NNPC to sanction Aiteo Company for concealing a high level of leakage and a gas explosion at their facility at Nembe Creek.

    “It is an offence by law for an Oil Producing Company not to report such incident to NOSDRA and other relevant agencies for verification and necessary action.

    “As a Community (Kingdom), we will not take it kindly for exposing our indigenes to environmental and health danger.

    “We will not hesitate to call for the revocation of Aiteo licence.

    “What happened at Nembe Creek near Well Seven is unacceptable and seen as a gross abuse of environmental rules and regulations.

    “We urge the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and others to visit the site of the incident for confirmation and for the record,” James-Eriworio said.

    Aiteo officials said that the resulting fire from the explosion which burned till Saturday, had been put out and no loss of life was recorded.

    The incident on NCTL, with a capacity of conveying 150, 000 barrels of crude daily to the Bonny oil export terminal, will adversely affect crude export, having been put out of use.

    The Public Relations Manager of Aiteo, Mr Ndiana-Abasi Mathew, had confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday.

    “There is no official statement at the moment but I can gladly inform you that the fire has been contained and no lives were lost,” Mathew said.

    NAN reports that the oil export line was shut for emergency repairs, following a leak when the incident occurred and discharged residual crude and gas trapped in the pipeline.

    Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in 2015,  divested its equity in OML 29 and transferred its interest in NCTL for $1.7 billion to Aiteo, an indigenous Oil and Gas Exploration and Production firm.

    Community sources at Nembe have bemoaned negative impact of the explosion, saying that the incident led to both gas leakage and oil spill compelling them to flee.

    An official of NOSDRA, Mr Francis Ume, said that that the agency was yet to be notified of the incident by the operator of the oilfield where the incident occurred.

    Ume, who heads the Bayelsa Office of NOSDRA, said that plans had reached advanced stage to visit the site for assessment. (NAN)

  • No record of pipeline explosion in Nembe – NNPC

    The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation says it has no record of pipeline explosion in Nembe, Bayelsa, as being reported in some quarters.

    Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the corporation disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), in Abuja, on Saturday.

    No fewer than 50 people were reported to be missing after a leaking oil pipeline exploded and caused stampedeIn Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa, according to the spokesperson of the community’s council of chiefs, Mr Nengi James-Eriworii .

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    He said the blast which happened in the early hours of Friday caused massive oil spillage in the community.

    But the NNPC said that the Nembe trunk line was operated by the Aiteo Group.

    ” It is not our pipeline, it is Aiteo that was mentioned, which ordinarily they are supposed to be on joint venture with NNPC.

    “I have cross-checked with our downstream unit that manages our pipeline and they said that they didn’t have such records,” he said.(NAN)

  • Three arrested over attack on DCP in Bayelsa

    The Nigeria Police Force said it has arrested three suspects for their alleged involvement in the attack on a Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Kola Okunola in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State.

    One of the suspects, Hon Israel Sunny Goli, according to the Police is a candidate of one of the major political parties in the House of Representatives elections in Brass Constituency, Bayelsa State.

    The Police, in a statement in Abuja on Friday by the Force Spokesman, ACP Frank Mba, said Adi was arrested in his hideout in Abuja on Friday morning.

    Other suspects arrested are Tamarapreye Victor, ‘m’ 34yrs and Azi Newton ‘m’ 34yrs.

    The suspects alongside others who are still at large brutally attacked and molested DCP Okunola a day after the Presidential and National Assembly elections while leading the team providing protection for INEC officials, voters and materials.

    The statement reads: “The Police have arrested Hon Israel Sunny Goli, the mastermind and ringleader of the irresponsible, unprovoked and unwarranted attack on a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Kola Okunola in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State, on Sunday, 24th February, 2019.

    “Two other persons arrested in connection with the incident are (i) Tamarapreye Victor, ‘m’ 34yrs and Azi Newton ‘m’ 34yrs.

    “Hon Israel Sunny Goli, a candidate of one of the major political parties in the House of Representatives Elections in Brass Constituency, Bayelsa State, was arrested in his hideout somewhere in Abuja this morning, 1st March, 2019 in a well-coordinated covert operation.”

    Mba explained that the arrest is in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu for the immediate arrest, comprehensive investigation and diligent prosecution of all persons involved in the Sunday, 24th February, 2019 attack on the DCP in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State.

    The Police also said effort is ongoing to apprehend other members of the gang involved in the unwholesome attack on the officer.

    On the forthcoming Governorship and House of Assembly Elections on March 9, the IGP reiterated that the Force under his watch will not condone any act of assault against any member of the Public, including the personnel of the Force legitimately assigned to protect the sanctity of the ballot.