The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta states

  • PDP decries mass arrest of members in N/Delta states

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged mass arrest and detention of its leaders and members in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states by soldiers ahead of Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly elections.
     
    In a statement on Wednesday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP decried what it described as attempts by the Presidency and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to turn the South-South states into war zone.
    The main opposition party blamed the APC for desperation to suppress voters, manipulate the electoral process and forcefully take over control of the states.

    The statement said, “In Rivers state, leaders of the PDP are being hounded and forcefully picked up in a well-coordinated operation by military operatives attached to the Director General of Buhari’s Campaign Organization and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

    “Our party has received reports on how soldiers led by one Major Mustapha Bello from Sokoto Division, under Amaechi’s directives, manhandled, arrested and took away the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Tam Gogo Jaja to an unknown destination.

    “During the February 23 polls, soldiers, also under the directives of Rotimi Amaechi, invaded the state and engaged in unrestrained harassment of PDP supporters, resulting in the killing of over 30 innocent citizens.

    “The PDP invites Nigerians and the international community to note the development in the South-South as well as how the Buhari Presidency and the APC are provoking the people of the region and pushing them to the precipice.

    “The tension in the Niger Delta has been dangerously stretched and there is a limit to what the people can stomach in the face of such aggressions without resort to self-help.

    “Moreover, the Niger Delta region remains a stronghold of the PDP and no amount of intimation and assault by the APC can change this reality.

    “Our party, therefore, demands the immediate release of every PDP member arrested by the military as well as instant stoppage of military aggression in the region ahead of the elections. Any delay in cessation of this aggression by the APC and the military will destroy the precarious peace in the region and spell doom for our nation”.

  • Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin

    Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin

    Ex-militants from Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Delta states, have kicked against alleged plot by unknown persons to remove Head of Onshore Education Unit, office of the Amnesty Programme, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin (rtd).

    The ex-militants said there have been improvement in the scheme since Morawin assumed office and his appointment showed that the ruling party meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

    Spokesman for the ex-militants, Mr. Atangbala One, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City said some few individuals want Morawin removed because true beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are now selected for the scheme.

    Atangbala alleged that the few cabal in the system placed fake beneficiaries in schools and subsequently force them to remit the sum of N30, 000 to N40,000 monthly to them

    According to him, “Major Mowarin has been fighting feverishly against the commercialization of admission process for amnesty sponsorship which was supposed to be free for the genuine delegates for the program.

    “But a cabal hijacked it and sell the beneficiary codes of the poor children of the Niger Delta to their cronies.

    “The few cabals who do not mean well for the people of the region have gone as far as paying for on-line media, smear publications and also  paying some uninformed persons to stage protest against him all in attempt to remove him and continue with their blood money business.”

  • Army arrests three suspected kidnappers, 27 cultists in Edo, Delta

    Army arrests three suspected kidnappers, 27 cultists in Edo, Delta

    The 4 Brigade Nigerian Army said its troop of 19 Battalion has arrested three suspected kidnappers and 27 suspected cultists in Edo and Delta states.

    It said its adoption of the use of swamp buggies has enabled it destroyed illegal bunkering camps within its area of responsibility.

    A statement issued by its spokesman, Captain Mohammed Maidawa said the suspected kidnappers whose names were given as Emomotimi Thomas aged 30, Mebi Blas’s a.k.a Producer and Smart Yebu were arrested at MT Palace Hotel off Airport Road, Warri while holding a secret meeting.

    The statement said the suspected cultists including four females were nabbed at a hill top joint in Benin City where they gathered before carrying out nefarious activities.

    Captain Maidawa stated that the use of swamp buggies led to the destruction of several metallic tanks, drums as well as the covering of several dug out pits all containing illegal bunkering substances.

    Maidawa said a total of 103 dug out pits used as storage facilities for illegally refined products were destroyed and covered in various illegal oil bunkering camps within its Area of Responsibility.

    He stated that on two speed boats hidden by militants in the general area of Ajakurama in Ovia South Local Government Area of Edo State were uncovered while another militant’s hideout in Ugbolukangnn Community in Ovia South Local Government Area of Edo State was destroyed.

    The Army spokesman said troops of 4 Brigade Operation Crocodile Smile II on routine anti bunkering patrol discovered and destroyed five dug out pits and five metallic storage tanks loaded with about 110,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude oil and about 20,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK)w at an illegal refining site at Lapase, in Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.

    According to statement, “Troops intercepted and destroyed a Cotonou boat loaded with quantity 100 X 30 litres jerry cans containing Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) near the camp.

    “The troops also destroyed another illegal refining camp in Aziza with dug out pits and metal storage tanks loaded with more than 60,000 litres of stolen crude oil and 35,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined Automated Gas Oil (AGO) All the products were destroyed before troops returned to their location.”

  • Politicians acquiring arms for militant camps – Dickson

    Politicians acquiring arms for militant camps – Dickson

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, on Tuesday raised the alarm over alleged ongoing arrangements by disgruntled politicians to reopen destroyed militant camps in the state.

    He said those behind the plot had already started acquiring arms to actualise their devilish scheme.

    In a tacit indictment of Rivers and Delta states, Dickson, said “neighbouring states” were behind the plot to destabilise, Bayelsa, the state of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He insisted that desperate politicians and their collaborators from neighbouring states were behind some of the street protests that occurred recently in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    He alleged that such disgruntled elements who were bent in unsettling the state had gone underground to organise what he referred to as “sponsored mass street protest.”

    According to the governor, the looming protest is part of the group’s campaign of calumny and propaganda against the state government.

    Dickson was recently appointed the Chairman of the 13-member reconciliation committee raised by the Peoples Democratic Party to resolve its festering problems.

    Delta and Rivers States share borders with Bayelsa State. While Delta is relatively calm, Rivers has been enmeshed in violent powerplay with accusing fingers pointing at the Presidency.

    But Dickson in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said politicians from neighbouring states had unleashed their anger on Bayelsa.

    He said: “In recent times, we have seen deliberate attempts by this group of desperate power seekers sponsoring some gullible graduates to take to the streets.

    “They were also behind the recent protest staged by pensioners in the state. It is sad to note that they are now on a planned mission to incite unsuspecting youths to take to the streets to protest against the state government.”

    He said such politicians had started dolling out cash to youths to mobilise them for the demonstration.