Hundreds of Niger Delta militants yesterday invaded Hotel Presidential, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital and disrupted the investigative hearing on corruption, initiated by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The militants, who forced their way into the Royal Banquet Hall of the five-star hotel, owned by the Rivers State government, prevented the hearing from holding, despite the tight security provided by riot policemen and other security personnel at the hotel.
The agitators did not bother about the presence of prominent monarchs, members of civil society groups and NDDC contractors from across the nine states of the Niger Delta.
Their grouse was that the Federal Government’s interventionist agency did not invite them to the hearing, which was erroneously thought to be a forum to award contracts or to share money.
One of the militants who declined to give his name, said: “If you move close to me, I will punch your face. I am not ready to speak with any journalist.
“We are also NDDC contractors. Why will NDDC invite some contractors and ignore many others? Since the commission has refused to invite us, the investigative hearing will not hold.
“If the hearing is fixed for another day and venue, without inviting us, we will still not allow it to hold. We are critical stakeholders in the Niger Delta. We must all be carried along.”
The six-member committee on corruption charges is headed by Dr. Ekanim Princewill, who is NDDC’s Special Duties Director.
The hearing was to unravel allegations of corruption and racketeering concerning the commission.
It was fixed for 12 noon at the expansive and well-decorated hall, with all the 100 randomly-selected contractors from the nine Niger Delta states seated. The event started on time.
As the moderator, Iniruo Wills, a lawyer, who is a former Bayelsa State Commissioner for the Environment, was making his opening remarks and addressing the contactors and other eminent personalities, the militants invaded the hall at 12;15 p.m.
Efforts were made by Niger Delta leaders to prevail on the militants to allow the hearing to hold, but they kept shouting and making attempts to upturn the chairs and tables, as well as beat up the NDDC’s top officials and other dignitaries.
The rowdiness continued for over 30 minutes and when it became obvious that they would not allow the hearing to hold, Wills announced its cancellation. He said a new date would be fixed.
A civil society group leader at the hearing, Mr. David Ugolor, who is the Executive Director, African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, condemned the behaviour of the militants.
He said the impunity and lawlessness in the Niger Delta must end, paving the way for sustainable development of the crude oil and gas-rich region.
NDDC spokesman Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, who is a member of the committee on corruption charges, told reporters after the event: “The public hearing is for persons, especially contractors who have stories to tell, questions to ask and who have evidence to show that the allegations are true.
“When we started in the committee, our responsibility was to reach as many contractors who had things to say on allegations of corruption. We sent letters to them and we expanded it to contractors across the nine states of the Niger Delta, in order to get to the bottom of the matter, as directed by NDDC’s Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere.
“Sadly, what happened today (yesterday) is typical of things that go on in the Niger Delta region, where the best intentions are misunderstood. Most of the things happened long before he (Ekere) became the managing director and he still found it important to set up the committee, to take decisive action, to put an end to the stories.”
Tag: Militants
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Niger Delta militants disrupt hearing on corruption in Port Harcourt
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Dislodged militants now employed as guards, drivers to spy on targets, Lagos police warn
Lagos residents have been warned to ensure circumspection when employing domestic workers, and to allow proper profiling of their domestic employees by the police.
Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Fatai Owoseni gave the warning yesterday, disclosing that some of the militants/kidnappers dislodged from creeks now disguise as private security guards.
Owoseni said the police were already taking census of some of the estates where these kidnappers have been posted by their firms as guards, without knowing they were spying on victims.
He also disclosed that cases of criminality perpetrated by domestic helps were on the increase especially with respect to drivers fleeing with their employers’ vehicles.
The police boss warned estate managers, private guards to stop denying policemen on patrol, duty access into the premises, adding that the command was working with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to address anomalies.
Owoseni said: “Criminal elements and suspected militants/kidnappers have found themselves enlisted into services of private security company, where they choose the estates they want to go and work.
“It gives them platform to do monitoring and then give information to their cohorts outside. The command wants to advice Lagos residents on the need to profile domestic servants and drivers they employ.
“By doing that, they would be helping to secure themselves, protect valuables and assist the police in its quest to reduce crime to minimal level in Lagos.”
Giving details of arrests made by the command between Tuesday and yesterday, Owoseni said a syndicate that advertises and present themselves as drivers in order to steal from their employers was apprehended.
He said: “They do so in connivance with guards in some of the houses they work as drivers. We got four members of the gang after a Hyundai jeep which was stolen from the owner’s home, was intercepted at Ondo State, enroute Abuja.
“Through diligent investigation, kingpin James Jacob was arrested. During interrogation, three others were arrested. On a serial basis, they give out themselves as drivers. After working for the family for sometime, they steal the car or connive with guards.
“They have confessed that there are five other cars stolen in that manner. James Jacob has been paraded last year for a case of rape and stealing of vehicle. He raped his boss’ house help and stole the car. He was charged to court but unfortunately, he got bail and refused to learn his lessons.
“The gang had number plates belonging to government offices, which they use to move stolen vehicles to places they sell them.”
Owoseni also said the command through the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), arrested four suspected tricksters, armed robbers, who usually shoot their victims after luring them to particular locations under the guise of buying wares from them.
Wilfred Ehi, 30; Bright Eloho, 24; Olanrewaju Kamilu, 33 and Ekeme Gbmedu, 22, were arrested at Olamoti Hotel, Iyana-Iba by a decoy team.
They were said to have shot a policeman, who disguised as a phone seller and stood at a place they asked him to stay with the phone.
According to Owoseni, the command has received about 13 reports on the activities of the suspects, prompting an undercover operation to arrest them.
He said: “They ask the sellers to bring phones to the hotel. Once the person got there, they fire the person and collect the phone. They fired one of the policemen who carried phones to them as a seller. He was shot in the leg in the course of the operation.
“Police eventually had upper hand and kingpin of the syndicate was nabbed, leading to arrest of three others.
“A KIA Optimal saloon car, four expensive telephones, two wristwatches, a cannon E087D camera, laptop, WiFi and a wrap of weeds was recovered from them.
“We also arrested three suspects including the brother of producer, Seun Kareem alias Egbegbe for being his accomplices. The suspects, Lawal Kazeem, Olalekan Yusuf and Muyideen Shoyombo have confessed to the crime and would be charged to court.
“Five members of a syndicate that specialises in faking to be haulage contractors were arrested. The command has been on their trail until the last operation where the command worked with victim. “They present themselves as haulage contractors to big companies and individuals wanting to transport goods from Lagos to other parts of the country. They use their trucks or those of victims to carry goods, which they divert and sell around Shagamu and then, they take the trucks away.
“RRS tracked and arrested five suspects. Two of the diverted trucks were dismantled and sold to different spare-parts dealer. The two have been recovered. They confessed to other trucks they have diverted and butcher like that.
“Flour that was given to them to transport out of Lagos has been traced to the receiver. It has been recovered and worth N46m.”
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Dislodged militants now enroll as private guards – Police
Lagos residents have been warned to ensure circumspection when employing domestic workers, and to allow proper profiling of their domestic employees by the police.
Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr Fatai Owoseni gave the warning Friday, disclosing that some of the militants/kidnappers dislodged from creeks now disguise as private security guards.
Owoseni said the police were already taking census of some of the estates where these kidnappers have been posted by their firms as guards, without knowing they were spying on victims.
He also disclosed that cases of criminality perpetrated by domestic helps were on the increase especially with respect to drivers fleeing with their employers’ vehicles.
The police boss warned estate managers, private guards to stop denying policemen on patrol, duty access into the premises, adding that the command was working with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to address anomalies.
Owoseni said: “Criminal elements and suspected militants/kidnappers have found themselves enlisted into services of private security company, where they choose the estates they want to go and work.
“It gives them platform to do monitoring and then give information to their cohorts outside. The command wants to advice Lagos residents on the need to profile domestic servants and drivers they employ.
“By doing that, they would be helping to secure themselves, protect valuables and assist the police in its quest to reduce crime to minimal level in Lagos.”
Giving details of arrests made by the command between Tuesday and Friday, Owoseni said a syndicate that advertises and present themselves as drivers in order to steal from their employers was apprehended.
He said: “They do so in connivance with guards in some of the houses they work as drivers. We got four members of the gang after a Hyundai jeep which was stolen from the owner’s home, was intercepted at Ondo State, enroute Abuja.
“Through diligent investigation, kingpin James Jacob was arrested. During interrogation, three others were arrested. On a serial basis, they give out themselves as drivers. After working for the family for some time, they steal the car or connive with guards.
“They have confessed that there are five other cars stolen in that manner. James Jacob has been paraded last year for a case of rape and stealing of vehicle. He raped his boss’ house help and stole the car. He was charged to court but unfortunately, he got bail and refused to learn his lessons.
“The gang had number plates belonging to government offices, which they use to move stolen vehicles to places they sell them.”
Owoseni also said the command through the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), arrested four suspected tricksters, armed robbers, who usually shoot their victims after luring them to particular locations under the guise of buying wares from them.
Wilfred Ehi, 30; Bright Eloho, 24; Olanrewaju Kamilu, 33 and Ekeme Gbmedu, 22, were arrested at Olamoti Hotel, Iyana-Iba by a decoy team.
They were said to have shot a policeman, who disguised as a phone seller and stood at a place they asked him to stay with the phone.
According to Owoseni, the command has received about 13 reports on the activities of the suspects, prompting an undercover operation to arrest them.
He said: “They ask the sellers to bring phones to the hotel. Once the person got there, they fire the person and collect the phone. They fired one of the policemen who carried phones to them as a seller. He was shot in the leg in the course of the operation.
“Police eventually had upper hand and kingpin of the syndicate was nabbed, leading to arrest of three others.
“A KIA Optimal saloon car, four expensive telephones, two wristwatches, a cannon E087D camera, laptop, WiFi and a wrap of weeds was recovered from them.
“We also arrested three suspects including the brother of producer, Seun Kareem alias Egbegbe for being his accomplices. The suspects, Lawal Kazeem, Olalekan Yusuf and Muyideen Shoyombo have confessed to the crime and would be charged to court.
“Five members of a syndicate that specialises in faking to be haulage contractors were arrested. The command has been on their trail until the last operation where the command worked with victim. “They present themselves as haulage contractors to big companies and individuals wanting to transport goods from Lagos to other parts of the country. They use their trucks or those of victims to carry goods, which they divert and sell around Shagamu and then, they take the trucks away.
“RRS tracked and arrested five suspects. Two of the diverted trucks were dismantled and sold to different spare-parts dealer. The two have been recovered. They confessed to other trucks they have diverted and butcher like that.
“Flour that was given to them to transport out of Lagos has been traced to the receiver. It has been recovered and worth N46m.”
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‘Militants should not be role model for Niger Delta youths’
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), startups and youth entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta have agreed to work together towards changing negative perception about the region, especially its youths.
Speaking at a ‘Meet the Leader’ session organised by the Port Harcourt chapter of the WEF Global Shapers Community in partnership with PIND’s Niger Delta Link, participants agreed on the need to change the negative image of the Niger Delta youths as lazy and militants.
A participant lamented that militant leaders have become role models, stressing that a recent study showed that “80percent of youths said they wanted to become militant because those who own the big houses and drive big, fast cars are militants”.
Mr. Nsima Ekere, Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, who spoke on ‘How Youths Can Drive Sustainable Development in Niger Delta’, expressed joy at the caliber of youths in the gathering, stressing that it is at variance with the image of the region.
”What people know us (Niger Delta) for is not this (intellectual gathering). They know us for aggression, harassment, kidnapping, violence, blowing up of pipelines etc.
“The narrative of the Niger Delta over the years has been horrible; it has to change and we are changing that. The ownership mentality of Niger Delta youths needs to stop; we need to do things differently going forward. While challenging those present to strive to change the image, Ekere advised: “You should know that your destiny is in your own hands and you (attendees) give me hope.”
“My challenge to young people is to look for innovative ways of living their lives; with innovation and drive, you cannot imagine what you can do because people selling ideas are the richest people.”
Ekere condemned empowerment programmes of the past boards of the commission, which he said was aimed at “appeasing truants and rewarding truancy”.
The Curator, PH Global Shapers Community, Mr. Ebenezer Wikina, expressed PH Global Shapers willingness to work with the NDDC and other relevant agencies to turn things around in the region.
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Fear grips Ikorodu community as militants return to terrorise Isawo residents
Residents of Isawo in Ikorodu, Lagos State, say they now live in palpable fear following the return of militants who are terrorising people in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the militants, mostly kidnappers and pipeline vandals, were chased out of the area in August last year following bloody clashes in the community.
NAN reports that scores of people were killed in 2016 during clashes between militants and residents of Isawo community, leading to the deployment of a joint military taskforce in the area.
Residents told NAN on Monday that many of the hoodlums had returned to Isawo and neighbouring communities, robbing and terrorising residents.
“The militants are back to Isawo area. They brandish guns openly during daytime and rob people at night; many residents are now living in fear.
“The men are boasting that they are back to revenge the killings of their people in Isawo last year.
“For instance, Olusola Oke Street junction in Isawo near Majidun is one of the militants’ meeting points where they smoke Indian hemp openly.
“Residents don’t go out daily until 7a.m, and before 6 p.m., everyone is back home,’’ a female resident, who pleaded anonymity, told NAN in Isawo.She said some residents had relocated from the area for their safety since the return of the hoodlums.
Another resident, who also sought anonymity, told NAN: “When we thought that these people were gone forever, they came again.
“We want the military and the police to check them before they start killing again.’’
Reacting to the development, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, Lagos State Police spokesman, told NAN that the command was re-strategizing the security arrangements in the state, including Ikorodu area.
Famous-Cole said more police patrol teams would be deployed in the area, and urged residents to provide useful information on the activities of the hoodlums., told NAN :”I don’t have any report yet to suggest that militants are back in those areas.
“But Lagos State Governor has approved the return of swamp buggies to open up the creeks in those areas to enable us carry out in-depth patrols,” he said.
The swamp buggy is a motor vehicle used to traverse boggy swamp terrain.
Buggies are able to move about on dry land, shallow mud, sand, shallow water and deep mud.
NAN recalls that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Idris Ibrahim, on Aug. 4, 2016 visited Isawo creeks in Ikorodu neighbourhood over the activities of militants.
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Stop destroying oil installations, Ndoma-Egba begs militants
The Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has urged militants to stop destroying oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta.
Ndoma-Egba spoke at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, when members of Cross River State University of Technology (CRUTECH) Alumni Association visited him.
The NDDC chiaman appealed to aggrieved persons in the region to call a truce.
He said: “We are in urgent need of development in the region and it is only in an atmosphere of peace that we can develop.”
Ndoma-Egba noted that poverty and restiveness could only be addressed when development was allowed to thrive.
He said: “We cannot develop in an environment of militancy.”
The NDDC chairman said President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had increased the financial allocations to the development agencies in the region.
Ndoma-Egba said President Buhari had demonstrated goodwill in his administration’s steps to develop Niger Delta.
He said: “If you look at the 2016 budget, there is a marginal increase in everything concerning the region. Allocation to Niger Delta Ministry went up, the budget of the NDDC went up, and the budget of the Amnesty Programme went up.
“Now, something is being done with some urgency on the completion of the East-West Road. We have the Lagos-Calabar rail line and, recently, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo visited Delta State. He gave very firm assurances that the problems of the region would be addressed urgently.”
The NDDC chairman said the least Niger Delta residents could do was halt the breaches of oil and gas infrastructure.
He regretted that criminal activities, such as pipeline vandalism and oil theft, were detrimental to the interest of the region.
According to him, these are more like “shooting ourselves in the feet”.
Ndoma-Egba acknowledged the importance of education in changing the mind-set of youths, who he said were sometimes prone to restiveness.
He said: “The real resources of a nation are its youths. But the youths remain a resource only if they are educated and skilled to be empowered. If the youths are not educated, skilled and empowered, it becomes a challenge.”
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FG urged to approve amnesty programme for militants
The federal government has been urged to take necessary action to end the crisis rocking Niger Delta region by approving Amnesty program for the militants.
In a statement by Ondo State Chapter of the Niger Delta Youth Militancy Vanguard signed by its President, General Akintoye Olatunji (Ebie) the group urged the federal government to urgently approve the Amnesty program without delay
The group expressed its readiness to be of law abiding and ensure security Surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure in each of their environment.
“Ondo State is the most and only peaceful state in Niger Delta States. Ondo State has 220 Oil wells, six feet onshore and offshore.
“Where the government missed everything before now was that, it was the youths destroying properties that met the government, and the previous Amnesty program for the Niger Delta Militants was not extended to all the youths in the nine States, especially Ondo State.
“The government who should have made the leadership of the youths as security of the properties and listen to their worries was instead politicizsing the region and making wrong selection. Now we are happy to inform the federal government that they have realized their inability to fix capabilities to where capabilities are.
” We appeal to the government to fast track the Amnesty program in the Niger Delta States in order to curb the youths,” Akintoye Olatunji said. -
FG urged to approve amnesty programme for militants
The federal government has been urged to take necessary action to end the crisis rocking Niger Delta region by approving Amnesty program for the militants.
In a statement by Ondo State Chapter of the Niger Delta Youth Militancy Vanguard signed by its President, General Akintoye Olatunji (Ebie) the group urged the federal government to urgently approve the Amnesty program without delay
The group expressed its readiness to be of law abiding and ensure security Surveillance and protection of oil and gas infrastructure in each of their environment.
“Ondo State is the most and only peaceful state in Niger Delta States. Ondo State has 220 Oil wells, six feet onshore and offshore.
“Where the government has missed everything before now was that, it was the youths destroying properties that met for government, and the previous Amnesty program for the Niger Delta Militants was not extended to all the youths in the nine States, especially Ondo State.
“ The government who should have made the leadership of the youths as security of the properties and listen to their worries was instead politicizing the region and making wrong selection. Now we are happy to inform the federal government that they have realized their inability to fix capabilities to where capabilities are.
“ We appeal to the government to fast track the Amnesty program in the Niger Delta States in order to curb the youths,” Akintoye Olatunji said.
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Troops recover militants’ rifles in Bayelsa
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Delta Safe (ODS) have recovered a sack of assorted riffles from a speedboat belonging to suspected militants at Polako Waterfront, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The troops were said to have shot dead the driver of the boat identified simply as Mike and another unnamed suspect during the operation to retrieve the alleged weapons.
Following a lead, the troops were said to have stormed the waterside in two patrol vehicles at the weekend.
It was gathered that on arriving the waterfront, the soldiers disembarked their vehicles and took positions at strategic points.
Their actions reportedly caused panic among indigenes, traders and travelers at the waterside.
On sighting the boat, the soldiers were said to have opened fire on its occupants and in the process shot dead one of the suspects.
The boat driver reportedly jumped into the water shouting his innocence, but was hit by one of the bullets.
The troops were said to have retrieved the sack of weapons, which sources said belonged to a gang of unrepentant militants in the area.
A source who spoke in confidence said: “The indigenes of the community were surprised by the arrival of some patrol team of soldiers at Polako waterfront. When they arrived, they took positions. Upon sighting the boat with some passengers, they opened fire.
“We suspected that the soldiers acted on tip off. But we were worried that the boat driver was shot instead of arresting him. Some arrest were also made in the process and they recovered the sack of rifles.”
Other sources, however, said there was a shoot-out between the soldiers and the suspects, whom they described as gunrunners.
According to the version, the gang was allegedly conveying a consignment containing materials suspected to be guns to Polaku from Igbedi community, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area of the state when the soldiers intercepted them.
But the community sources claimed that the boat driver was not a member of the gang adding that he was only hired by the hoodlums to convey them without knowing the reason for their mission.
“He initially turned them down when they approached him but he only agreed to carry them to Igbedi after they promised to pay him a handsome fare.
“It was when they were confronted at Polaku by the ODS operatives who acted on a tip-off that the boat driver got to know the dangerous nature of the movement”, a source, who spoke in confidence said.
When contacted, the ODS’ Commander, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi, said he would confirm the incident from the Sector 2 Command of the outfit in charge of Bayelsa and get back to The Nation.
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IPOB, militants: Global rights group slams govt
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticised the Federal Government’s handling of last year’s Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) protests and the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.
In its 687-page 2017 World Report, its 27th edition, HRW reviews human rights practices in more than 90 countries.
The Report, which reviews human rights situation in countries for 2016, was released yesterday. The international rights watchdog expressed “growing concerns about intolerance of dissent and a heavy-handed response to protests”, which it said dominated Nigeria’s human rights landscape in 2016.
It alleged that “government rhetoric about security sector reform and improving accountability for rights abuses has yet to translate into concrete action”.
The group said: “In the Southeast, police killed at least 40 pro-Biafra members of the separatist Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) during protests and processions in February and May 2016. No security agent has been prosecuted for the killings.
“In December 2015, soldiers killed 347 members of a Shia Muslim minority group, allegedly for blocking the army chief’s motorcade in Zaria, Kaduna State. Scores more had died when bans placed on the group by governments of Kaduna and four other northern states triggered days of mob and police violence in October and November 2016.
“A resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s economic powerhouse, has been met by harsh sweeping security measures against communities perceived as harboring militants.
“Soldiers allegedly destroyed homes and businesses in three Bayelsa State communities during a search for members of the militant Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) group.”
A Nigerian researcher with the HRW, Ms Mausi Segun, said: “People shouldn’t be killed for taking part in peaceful protests and processions
“The use of extreme force by government forces appears to be fueling the transformation of non-violent activities into bloody clashes.”
On Boko Haram, the report said: “As the seven-year Boko Haram conflict wanes in intensity in the northeast, a near-catastrophic food shortage is affecting many of the 2.5 million displaced people. Severe restrictions on their movement have affected access to basic livelihoods, health, education, and protection from sexual abuse.
“The now fractured Boko Haram holds hundreds of people, including 197 Chibok schoolgirls and more than 300 school children from Damasak, Borno State. Contrary to government claims, the conflict is not over. More than 550 civilians died in 2016 during suicide bomber attacks, and fighting across the region.”
The report, however, gave kudos to Nigeria for showing “a commitment to justice by maintaining support for the International Criminal Court, and successfully co-sponsoring a UN resolution on internet rights.”