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Tag: Nigeria Police

  • Police wardens dismissed over death of NSCDC staff

    Two traffic wardens TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit have been dismissed and charged to court for complicity in the death of a staff of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), ASC Ogah Jumbo.

    Their arraignment followed investigation, which indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.

    A statement by the Force Spokesman, DCP Frank Mba in Abuja on Wednesday also noted forensic analysis by a pathologist as seen in the autopsy report clearly traced the cause of death to injuries inflicted on the deceased during his encounter with the traffic wardens.

    Details of the update into the cause of death of Ogar read: “In keeping with the assurances by the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Mohammed Adamu, to ensure a transparent, accountable, comprehensive and speedy investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late ASC Ogar Jumbo, an Assistant Superintendent of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Police have today arraigned in Court the two Traffic Wardens – TW GII Idoko Sunday and TW GII Katdel Dabit for complicity in the unfortunate death of the NSCDC Officer.

    “The arraignment of the erstwhile Traffic Wardens is sequel to the outcome of investigation into the case of alleged discreditable conduct and unlawful exercise of authority reported against them on 20th March, 2019.

    “The former Traffic Wardens had earlier been subjected to the internal disciplinary procedures of the Force – tried in an Orderly Room, and dismissed before the arraignment.

    “Police investigations positively indicted them for assault and excessive use of force on the deceased after his arrest.”

    On the outcome of the autopsy, Mba said: ​”For avoidance of doubt, the autopsy report states in part that the death was due to blunt force injury to the head, multiple skin and soft tissue injuries on the fore head and face, and that there was no natural disease in the body to sufficiently explain the sudden death.”

    He also stated that the two traffic wardens have been remanded in Kuje Prisons pending the next adjournment of the case.

    The IGP warned that like the indicted traffic wardens, any police officer found wanting for unlawful use of force and other sundry offences, will be publicly named, shamed and brought to book to serve as deterrence to others.

  • Aviation unions protest at Lagos Airport

    Aviation union members Monday protested at the Lagos Airport over brutality of their members by officers and men of Nigeria Police in Caverton Helicopters.

    The union members alleged that the management of Caverton Helicopters directed the Rapid Respond Squad RRS, to brutalise and molest their members who were protesting the non-payment of the redundancy benefits last week.

    The protest led to many passengers and motorists stranded along roads leading into both the local and international airports as they chanted solidarity songs calling on the Nigeria Police to stay within their limits.

    National President, National Union of Air Transport Employees, NUATE, comrade Ben Nnabue said it was unacceptable for the police to be involved in the matters of the unions when they were unaware of the Genesis of the issues at hand.

    He explained that the protest was to express their displeasure over the brutalization of their members and for Caverton helicopters company refusing to fulfill the agreement reached with them on the redundancy benefits.

    Secretary General, Association of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, ATSSSAN, Comrade Francis Akinjolie said the involvement of the police in the matter was uncalled for, adding that the unions are irked about this development and the unions would not take it likely for the police to dabble in matters that does not concern them and to the extent inflicting injury on their members.

    According to Comrade Akinjolie, the unions have it on good authority that it was the tradition of the company to embark on redundancy exercise and later re-absorbed the staff as casual workers.

    The labour Union leaders however noted that on Monday evening, the Caverton management scheduled a meeting with the unions this morning to discuss with a view to ending the continuous picketing of the company.

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    The company is said to have pleaded for six weeks  to garner funds to off-set what was owe the disengaged staff.

    The unions also picket two catering companies, ASL and Servair.

    Officials and vehicles of the Lagos State Task Force were deployed to the NewcrestASL to man the gates where members of the unions are protesting.

    Comrade Nnabue said the two companies have refused its staff who was interested in joining the unions from doing so, adding that some of them have been placed on suspension.

    He said the freedom of association allows that one can join unions they like and preventing such a staff from doing so was an infringement on their fundamental human rights.

    Comrade Nnabue emphasized that the unions would not take this likely with any organizations who threaten, harass or stop any of their staff interested in union activities from doing so.

    The unions involved in the protests match are; National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE); Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN); Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP); National Association of Air Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Services Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE).

  • Navy seeks effective prosecution of maritime offenders

    How to effectively prosecute arrested pirates and other maritime offenders was a major issue raised during the 2019 multinational sea exercise OBANGAME Express in the Gulf of Guinea (GoG), The Nation learnt yesterday.

    It was gathered that the Nigerian Navy (NN) was worried at the frequent release on bail or outright dismissal of charges against suspects by the court, a situation that has been blamed on the absence of genuine collaboration and understanding.

    The feeling of suspension and distrust among the agencies, according to the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC) Commodore Dickson Olisemenogor was as a result of the quest to outsmart each other.

    Olisemenogor who spoke to journalists on board Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) CENTENARY during the exercise said there was need for a wholistic approach to issues relating to crime in the maritime sector.

    Emphasising the need for collaboration among stakeholders, he said the country would benefit more in terms of revenue generation should all concerned work towards common good.

    Adjuging the five-day sea exercise as largely successful, Olisemenogor said it would go a long way if the various agencies could continue the team spirit exhibited during the simulations.

    He said the exercise afforded participants the opportunity to test their abilities to synegise as well as assimilate operations that lead to arrest, investigate, collation of exhibits and above all sharing of information that could aid successful prosecution of maritime offenders.

    To contain cases of firearm smuggling, drug/human trafficking and illegal fishing, the OTC said the various stakeholders must work together.

    According to him, the NN has done a lot in terms of human capacity development such as joint patrol and testing of exhibit samples, adding that the exercise had fostered better understanding among GoG nations especially with the borderless sea patrols done this year.

    To the Comanmder NNS CENTENARY Captain Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the exercise served as deterrence to criminals who would have attacked merchant vessels but for the heavy presence of warships across the GoG.

    Government agencies that took part in the sea exercise included the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture (Fisheries Department), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Immigration Service  (NUS), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force, among others.

  • 2019: ‘Security agencies open joint security control room in Enugu’

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Balarabe Suleiman, says that security agencies operating in the state have opened a joint security control room for the general elections.

    “The purpose of the joint security control room is for effective security co-ordination in the general elections,’’ Suleiman told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

    NAN reports that security agencies in the state included: Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigeria Police and Department of State Security Services (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Others are Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria Prisons Service, Federal Fire Service and State Vigilant Services.

    Suleiman noted that all security agencies in the state are involved in the election security, although, the Nigeria Police remain the lead agency for election security.

    “It has been the directive of the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, for every command to have a joint security control room for the elections.

    “The joint security control room is fully furnished; for all heads of security agencies or their representatives to be there as long as possible.

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    “It is also well furnished with all sorts of communication and information gadgets and stand-by operation vehicles attached to it.

    “This is for security issues during the elections to be attended to with speed in a most coordinated manner,’’ he said.

    According to him, the joint security control room, which is domiciled at the police headquarters in Enugu, will operate 24/7 this elections season.

    NAN reports that the Enugu Police Command distress numbers are: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08086671202 and 08098880172.

    Its social media platforms are: twitter @policeNG_Enugu and Facebook @nigeriapoliceforceenugustatecommand.

    NAN

  • Reps pass bill to regulate peace-keeping for Armed Forces, others

    The House of Representatives on Thursday passed through second reading a bill to regulate the participation of Nigerian Armed Forces and others in peace-keeping missions.

    “Nigerian Peace Keeping (Support & Participation) Bill, 2018” was sponsored by Hon. Oluwole Oke, Chairman House Committee on Public Procurement.

    It is expected to strengthen the Nigerian experience in future peace-keeping operations and to define the boundaries as well as set out the regulatory framework for such.

    The bill, which has 18 sections specifically, speaks to members of the Armed Forces, Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and other security organisations.

    While arguing for the second reading of the bill, Hon. Oke said: “Since its independence, Nigeria has been a frontline State and major contributor to United Nations (UN) and NON-UN peace-keeping initiatives.

    “It is worthy of note that in 1960, Nigeria deployed the first set of individual Police officers in Africa.

    “It is estimated Nigeria has spent over US$ 8 billion in peacekeeping missions it has provided within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    “Some of the ECOWAS countries that Nigeria has provided such missions are –Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali and Sierra Leone.”

    The lawmaker said despite the nation’s contributions to peacekeeping missions, Nigeria does not have a regulatory framework that guides the deployment and withdrawal of troops and security personnel from conflict zones.

    He said similarly, the constitution is silent on the issue as the power of the President to deploy troops is restricted to the boundaries of the country.

    According to him, when the need arises, “the President simply gives his approval for involvement in peacekeeping mission(s).”

    The bill addresses aspects like organisation, chain of command, internal order and authority, budgeting, training, discipline of personnel on peace keeping and composition, appointment of Commander and terms of service amongst others.

    When Speaker Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote, members passed the bill through Second reading without dissent.

  • Robbers cart away huge sum in daylight

    A five -man robbery gang on Monday evening at Hospital road, near Aba Area Command of Nigeria Police struck a tricycle warehouse and carted away an undisclosed amount of cash in a daylight robbery incident.

    The robbers, according to reports, came with two tricycles, pretending to buy goods from the warehouse.

    Information has it staffers of the warehouse sustained serious injuries after thorough beating at gun-point.

    The robbers were said to have had a field day as they operated without resistance.

    An eyewitness ,who identified himself as Kingsley, claimed efforts to alert policemen at the Aba Area Command who share the same main road with the compound failed as they (Police) reportedly failed to respond to distress calls.

    He said: “I was in my own shop when they came. One of my neighbours escaped through the back to call some policemen at Aba Area Command and Central Police Station, but to our greatest surprise, they refused to come nor even show their face.

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    “The armed robbers came with two tricycles, guns and other weapons and surrender all the workers in the warehouse and robbed the place within few minutes and left undisturbed.

    “This is unbelievable in front of the biggest police station in Aba. The worst is that one of the policemen called whom we all knew very well said he must finish his suya which he was eating before he could make a move.”

    Another eyewitness who sustained injury told our reporter that the situation remains dramatic to him.

    “They used heavy hammer to hit me on my shoulder. As you can see, I can’t even move my hands. They carted away huge amount of money.”

    A senior police officer at the Aba Area Command confirmed the robbery, but said that there was no contact to the police.

    The source said that the victims at the time of filing the report were yet to make official report about the incident.

    The source who accused the victims of being behind the incident wondered why they were yet to come to the police station to come and make official entry of the matter.

     

  • Submit yourself to Police, Falana advises Melaye

    Lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has advised Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, to submit himself for arrest by the Police in order to end the drama and the unwarranted inconvenience to which his family and neighbours have been subjected in the past six days.

    Falana who gave the advise in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday in reaction to the insistence of the Police to arrest Senator Dino Melaye on the allegation that he has committed the offences of criminal conspiracy and attempted culpable homicide, urged legislator of the upper chamber, to do so without any further delay.

    He argued that “by politely requesting Senator Melaye to submit himself for arrest, the Nigeria Police Force has accorded him the special treatment that is normally reserved for Very Important Personalities (VIP’s) in Nigeria by security agencies”.

    He contended that but for Senator Melaye’s privileged position in the country, the Police would have forcefully arrested him without laying any siege to his house.

    He regretted that the decision of the senator not to submit himself for investigation, led to the situation where a team of police personnel have surrounded his residence with a view to effecting his arrest noting that the siege to the house by the Police had needlessly lasted for six days while the supply of electricity and water to the house has been disconnected by the Police. Such action cannot be justified in law.

    To buttress his advice to the senator to submit himself for arrest, the senior lawyer cited a decided case relating to the matter.

    He said: “the Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear in the case of Dr. Oladele Fajemirokun v Commercial Bank (Nig) Limited (2009) 21 WRN 1 that no court has the power to restrain the Police from arresting any citizen who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence”.

    Senator Melaye, Falana noted, has however refused respond to the invitation of the Police on the grounds that the permission of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki was not sought and obtained.

    Falana contended that the Nigeria Police Force is not required to seek the consent or obtain the permission of the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives before arresting a member of the national assembly who is alleged to have committed a criminal offence in any part of the country.

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    While admitting that the fundamental right of every citizen to personal liberty is guaranteed by section 35 of the Constitution of Nigeria and article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, he argued that such right may however be violated by the State if there is reasonable suspicion that any citizen has committed a criminal offence contrary to what he described as the misleading statement credited to the leadership of the Senate on the procedure for the arrest of legislators.

    “Since legislators are not entitled to immunity under section 308 of the Constitution they are liable to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted if they are linked with the commission of any criminal offence. However. the arrest, investigation and prosecution must be conducted in strict compliance with the relevant provisions of the penal statutes and the Constitution”, he stated.

    Falana however blamed the Police for the sensationalizing the planned arrest of the Senator Melaye.

    “The Police ought to have effected the arrest of the Senator under the relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 which empower the Police and other law enforcement to break into any house to arrest if there is evidence that any criminal suspect against whom a warrant of arrest has been issued by any court has absconded or is concealing himself or herself so that the warrant cannot be executed.

    “By sending over 60 armed police personnel to arrest a citizen is exposing the federal government to ridicule”, he lamented.

  • Obaseki unveils Edo security architecture

    …as Imoukhuede heads over N2bn Trust Fund

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday in Benin City, the state capital, unveiled the Edo State Security Architecture, a new framework that will boost security in the state.

    The governor also launched the Edo State Security Trust Fund, with the state government committing N2 billion as seed fund.

    The components of the state security architecture include:  50 special security cars fitted with modern communication and security gadgets; 30 Toyota Hilux patrol vans; 30 patrol motor bikes and three Tropicalised Armoured Personnel Carriers; three Ambulances; Integrated Command and Control Centre and five special security check points to be manned at all the entry and exit points in the state.

    Others are Special Patrol Units (land and waterways); Integrated Electronic City Surveillance Unit; Establishment of a Special Force unit/anti-kidnapping squad; establishment of K-9 unit; establishment of paramedics unit; establishment of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme with 3000 trained and kitted workforce and a community police radio network.

    Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the governor explained that security is central to his administration’s reform agenda, noting, “Thanks to the chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede for kickstarting and donating N200 million to the fund. I call on all Edo State citizens to contribute to the Security Trust Fund.”

    Stressing that the new security architecture is a comprehensive programme, he said, “Apart from the police, Military, Department of State Security and other security agencies, we are recruiting 100 young men and women from each ward across Edo State. The first 1,000 of them have been recruited and trained by the Nigeria Police, as they will help in intelligence gathering, and monitoring of government assets across the state. We believe by involving the community, we would be able to obtain enough information as to what is going on in the state. The effectiveness of our new strategy is based on community participation.”

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Inyang, applauded the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government for embarking on the ambitious project and urged the private sector to support the fund to bolster policing across the state.

    “We are very happy to witness this wonderful gesture. I want to call on all on other private and public enterprises to support this initiative so that what succeeded in Lagos will also succeed in Edo State. Gone are the days that people left policing for the police alone. I also want to thank the Chairman of the Trust Fund for deeming it fit to come and assist the state.

    “With the launch of this security architecture, Edo people and residents will now sleep with their eyes closed. I am also aware that gun boats have been procured in addition to the vehicles and other equipment we are launching today.

    “This means we will be able to cover activities on land and sea which will be augmented with aerial surveillance using the Police helicopter. With all these efforts, Edo will become very safe for everyone. The security architecture will ginger security agencies to collaborate more, and where there is collaboration there will be coordination among us.”

    Chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund and Chairman, Coronation Capital, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended governor Obaseki for his foresight and his commitment to building a strong and peaceful state with initiatives such as the Edo State Security Trust Fund and Edo State Security Architecture, codenamed “WABAIZIGAN”.

    He assured that he would join efforts with other Edo sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to replicate the success story of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, in Edo State.

    The former Managing Director of Access Bank, donated N200 million naira to the Security Trust Fund, and explained that he was instrumental to the establishment and success of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and.

     “I and the companies I represent donate the sum of N200 million to the fund. I call on citizens of Edo State to join hands with the Edo State government and all the security agencies to make the state safe and peaceful for all.”

    “This process is not for the government alone but also for the private sector, companies and individuals to join hands with the state government in pushing the agenda for a peaceful Edo State.”

    Edo State Police Commissioner of Police Johnson Kokumo commended the governor for the support he has extended to the police command, which he said has made the state safer for residents.

  • Assassination: Ekweremadu threatens to release video clip

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday threatened to release video clips of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

    Ekweremadu said that he may be forced to actualize his threat to release the video clip if the Police fail to withdraw its claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

    The Senate resolved to ask the Police to do a thorough investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The upper chamber said that the conclusion that the incident was a case of burglary appeared to be hasty.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who raised the issue, prayed the Senate to condemn the hasty conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

    Abaribe lamented that “For the police to quickly without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened to, come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind. We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams was also killed in his home”

    “Our fear today is why is the Police engaging in a cover up? Why is the police continually at any time that it concerns people that do not have presidential oversight or cover, they quickly come out and have a report” Abaribe queried

    Ekweremadu, in his remarks said that a deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house with the Commissioner of Police for the FCT on Tuesday afternoon to sympathizie with him.

    “I showed them round and of course they were very sympathetic of what happened”

    He also informed Senate that he was shocked “when I wake up this morning to hear Police saying that what happened in my house is a mere case of burglary. I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son who was hospitialised, they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have invited security personnel attached to me who reported yesterday some are still reporting this morning.

    “They (the Police) looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house, apparently they were not able to figure it out. So it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happened”

    Ekweremadu noted that he has been able to figure out the correct picture of what happened and disclosed that he now has the video clip.

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    “Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody which the police is not aware of. I am sure that Nigeria will be shocked on what transpired and all the efforts made to save our lives. Now that the police appears to have concluded the case, unless they withdraw the statement that it is a mere case of burglary, I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international communities so that Nigerians and ordinary people judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

    Ekweremadu added, “It appears to me that the man who said it was a mere case of burglary does not know what burglary is about. He doesn’t need any teaching he just needs to go into the internet and find out what burglary is really about. He can compare if it is the same with what happened in my house.”

    He also said he might be forced to accept offers by some concerned Nigerians who wanted to offer free security in his house.

    “I also want to appreciate those who said they want to come to my house and provide security service for me with their machetes and Dane guns if the police have failed to do that. If they fail to withdraw so I have to accept those offers but I don’t want that to be our portion”

    Senator Dino Melaye, in his contribution said,

    “The police adopted a very myopic, porous and intellectually stagnant approach to a very serious matter. To start with, burglary is not mere. Anyone who is engaged in burglary has satanic intention. It is burglary that leads to assassination.

    “To come out and say its mere burglary shows that the Nigeria Police has identified some individuals that no matter what happen, we will not get their service.

    If this has happened to one of the faithfuls of Mr President, this will not be the reaction of the Inspector-General of Police. If this has happened to one of the close friends of the villa, this will not be the reaction of the IGP.” he added.

  • Delta community gives 14-day ultimatum to Police, NPDC

    To redress alleged Injustice, Impropriety

     

    The federal and Delta state government have been charged to take steps to address two issues of injustice against the people of Udu Kingdom in Delta state before the people resort to self-help.

    The charge was given on Tuesday by the people of the Kingdom during a peaceful protest, involving women and youths of the kingdom against alleged inconsiderate and unjust treatment of the people by both the Nigeria Police and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    The people, however, gave a 14-day ultimatum for the police to return the overseeing authority of the area from Burutu council to either Ughelli or Warri, just as it demanded that the NPDC locates a flow station within its land area to compensate its contribution to the nation’s daily crude oil export.

    The protesters, who matched through Otor-Udu, the headquarters of Udu council area of Delta state, had stops at the Udu council secretariat, Otor-Udu, the Delta state Government House Annex, Warri, the Delta Broadcasting  (DBS) studio in Warri and finally at the palace of the Ovie of Udu Kingdom.

    The protest, led by the Youth President of Udu Kingdom, Comrade Sunday Subi, was targeted at rejecting the decision of the Nigeria Police to attach the Ovwian/Aladja Divisional police to the Burutu Area Command and the neglect being suffered by the kingdom as a result of the absence of a flow station in the area, despite the huge quantity of oil drilled from the area.

    According to Subi, “this is to protest the attachment of the police in Udu council to Burutu Area Command, which is in Burutu council area. We totally reject this. As if that is not enough, the NPDC, which has been drilling oil from Udu for more than 30 years decides not to site a flow station here. So this is also to demand for a flow station to be sited in Udu.

    “We were initially with the Ughelli Area Command and they later took us to Warri and now to Burutu. The distance between here and Burutu is between 4 to 8 hours. However, the distance between here and Ughelli or Warri is between 20 to 30 minutes.

    “We are saying that with the number of communities we have in Udu, we are fit to have our own area command, but if they say they can’t give us an area command, they should attach us to either the Ughelli Area Command or Warri Area Command.

    “Our leaders have written petitions before now and this is the last action we will take to let the world know we have been demanding for these things. If after 14 days of this protest and we see no action, we will be forced to go ahead and lock all oil wells in Udu Kingdom”, he warned.

    Also speaking to journalists during protests, one of the leaders of the women, Mrs. Florence Jigbale said the distance between Udu communities and Burutu, which is an Ijaw riverine area, is too much for the people to contemplate.

    “The question is how do they expect us to be going that far? We can’t take this. Udu is big enough to be an area command; we have 36 communities in Udu, why will they attach us to a place that far? To get to Burutu you will go past Ughievwen and Ughelli before we can start the journey to Burutu. Udu won’t agree with them on this.

    “They should give us our own police area command, Udu is big enough, at least the federal government knows the benefits it gets from Udu. The same thing goes for the flow station demand”, she said.

    Meanwhile, attending to the protesters at the Udu council secretariat, the vice chairman of the council, Hon Justice Iyasere, said the issues being protested would be promptly addressed, noting that the chairman of the council, Hon Jite Brown, was already in Asaba with the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and would related their grievances to the appropriate quarters.