The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obio/Akpor Local Government Area

  • Nigerians blast Army over comments on Rivers election

    Nigerians on Tuesday expressed misgivings on the Facebook page of Nigerian Army over anti-Rivers Press Release.

    They  lambasted the army for allowing themselves to be degraded and reduced from the revered respect accorded by society.

    The Headquarters of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in a press release through the Deputy Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu had observed with dismay and sense of betrayal in the statement made by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) signed by its National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee Festus Okoye Esq on 15 March 2019, regarding the Commissions Fact-Finding Committee report that assessed the situation in Rivers State.

    Yartomizan Amades noted that the army have reduced themselves to Isakkaba Boys and have lost great confidence of the people following their activities in Akuku-Toru during the Presidential election and Governorship election in the state.

    “Following the true picture of what happened in Akuku-Toru during the Presidential election and also what happened in the past election, it is in regret that I will say our soldiers have been reduced to Isakkaba Boys and have lost great confidence of the people, ” he asserted.

    READ ALSO: Rann: Nigerian Army faults Amnesty International

    Chijioke Christian Woke lambasted the 6 Division for contradicting earlier claims that the injured soldiers are their officers when the Chief of Army Staff has publicly stated that the army that humiliated Rivers people are political thugs on military uniform.

    “By the way, how come the injured soldiers have now become your officers? You previously said the men on military uniform that humiliated and killed Rivers people were thugs,” he queried.

    Ebychukx Uche mocked the army for contradicting itself after denying involvement of its officers in the Rivers Governorship election and sort to know what the Army Captain claimed to have been shot by security aides was during at the Obio/Akpor Local Government Area collation centre.

    “The Nigerian Army is contradicting itself. Firstly, the army denied involvement in Rivers Governorship election and declared that politicians bought army uniform for thugs. Now you said that the Governor came to Obio/Akpor with thugs who shot an Army Captain.

    My question is simply, what was the Army Captain doing at Obio/Akpor before the Governor arrived? Have the Nigerian Army agreed that the soldiers where there officers” he questioned.

    Obioha Iyke Anyanwu described as shameful that the Nigerians Army have allowed themselves to be turned into local vigilantes by politicians. “The Nigerian Army has turned to local vigilantes because of politicians. So shameful,” he said.

    Amos Glad slammed the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army for deliberately covering its role in the election in the press release, describing it as unbalanced. “This is not a balanced press release. You failed to mention your role in the melee” he noted.

    Akanimo Sam also sorted to know the role of the military at collation centres as showed on video footages. “What role was the military to play at the collation centre? Video footage showed soldiers trying to invade the collation centre” he queried.

  • Police say public uncooperative in sharing information in Rivers

    Police say public uncooperative in sharing information in Rivers

    The Police Command in Rivers has alleged that the public  is uncooperative in sharing information that could lead to arrest of criminals.

    The command’s spokesman, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Monday.

    NAN reports that the command had in September declared eight young men wanted in connection with killings in Mgbuoshimi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

    “The earlier the eight wanted persons are withdrawn from the public, the better and safer for the society.

    “The public is not cooperative with the police in information sharing.

    “Modern policing is intelligence-driven.

    “We appeal to the public to share information with the command to arrest the eight declared persons wanted.

    “The public should see the police as partners in crime control and prevention.

    “The police personnel are not spirit to be everywhere and know all the happenings, hence the introduction of community policing,” he said.

    The spokesman said that wherever the suspects were hiding – house, uncompleted building, forest, was owned by somebody and appealed for information-sharing.

    He assured the public that such security information would be treated with confidentiality to protect the life of the informant. (NAN)

  • Rivers: Victims of demolished Estate demand N5Billion compensation  

    Rivers: Victims of demolished Estate demand N5Billion compensation  

    Victims  of houses demolition at Unity Estate in Eneka, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the State Government to compensate them with the sum of N5 billion for their property destroyed.

    It will be recalled that on 1ST June, 2017 the Rivers State Ministry of Land and Urban Development evicted and demolished over 70 houses in the estate, claiming that the houses were built on government owned land.

    Addressing newsmen Tuesday  in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, the Coordinator, International Human Rights Protection Initiative, Mr. John Ihua who spoke on behalf of the victims, called on the state government to pay N5 billion to the victims for unlawfully destroying their properties.

    Ihua, condemned the eviction said the government sacked the residents of the estate maliciously, adding that the state government encroached on community land and intimidated residents of the estate.

    He said, “We condemn the forceful eviction of the residents of Unity Estate. The forceful eviction led to the collapse of two women who are now in critical condition in the hospital. Several people sustained degrees of injuries during the demolition of more than 80 houses.  Thousands of children, some as young as 5 months old were forced out to live on the streets because they have nowhere to go;

    “We call on the government to immediately compensate the victims of this violent eviction with the sum of N5billion only, and provide alternative accommodation for the victims of the demolition.”

    Ihua said the government defiled the laid down principle, accusing the government of being undemocratic.

    He noted that the manner in which the residents of Unity Estate were forcefully evicted from their residence and their property destroyed was the same in the military rule which lacked absolute respect for the rule of law.

    “We know that this regime does not adhere to the rule of law, but we wish to state that the International Human Rights Protection Initiative and other partners will not watch the unity estate resident rights to continue to be violated by the Government of Rivers State and we stand in solidarity with the people of Unity Estate,” he said..

    However, Mr. Edwin Amadi, one of the landlords of the estate, has called on the state government to come and meet with the community for discussion on the demolition.

    Amadi further said that the land in question belonged to the community and was sold to the residents, stressing that the government does not own the area.

     

  • Kerosene explosion kills three in Port Harcourt

    Two persons were Friday feared dead and property worth thousands of naira destroyed in a fire incident that ravaged shanties at Road One, Orazi, Mile 4, Port Harcourt, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    The fire, according to sources started when one of the victims tried to put kerosene into a stove.

    It was learnt that police and fire fighters did not respond to distress calls during the kerosene explosion.

    A resident, Emmanuel Udom, said the number of casualties would have increased if not for divine intervention, adding that the occupants were helpless and confused on what to do during the fire outbreak.

    He appealed to Governor Nyesom Wike,  to come to their aide,  lamenting that they lost their valuables in the inferno.

    Details of the deceased could not be ascertained at the time at press time.

  • Gunmen abduct APC chieftain in Rivers

    Gunmen abduct APC chieftain in Rivers

    Unidentified gunmen have abducted a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Rivers State, Mr. Nnamdi Abbah.

    This was happening less than 24 hours after another chieftain of the party, Mr. Boris Neenwi, was assassinated in Tai Local Government Area of the state.

    Abbah, who is a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Emohua local government area, was taken away on gunmen point Tuesday night at Alakahia axis of East-West road, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

    The victim, according to a source that pleaded anonymity, was kidnapped around 8pm while returning to his house.

    The source said the victim was driving towards Obiri Ikwerre close to Ozuoba community before he was stopped by gunmen around Alakahia and taken to unknown destination.

    Confirming the incident, Barr Chizy Enyi, who is a close relative, said no contact has been established between the family and the kidnappers after the incident.

    When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP, Nnamdi Omoni said: “I am not aware of it now. I will find out from the DPO in that area.”

  • Rivers demolish cultists’ hideouts

    Rivers demolish cultists’ hideouts

    • To build police stations, barracks on lands recovered from the cultists

    The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has directed the immediate demolition of property acquired through the crimes in line with the state anti-kidnapping and cultism law.

    The Governor reiterated his offer of amnesty to cultists and kidnappers who submit their arms to the state security agencies and commit themselves to honest living.

    Speaking in a statement signed by Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, the Governor in a company of soldiers and policemen supervised the demolition of the home and hide out of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area notorious suspected cultist and kidnapper, Munachim Ihunwo in Rumuolumini community.

    The governor stated that his administration has zero tolerance for cultism and kidnapping. He said any suspect arrested will face the full weight of the law.

    He informed that the arrested suspect and his boys have terrorised Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, creating insecurity in the commercial zone of the state.

    He said: “The Rivers State Government has taken over the criminal hideout of these arrested cultists. After the ongoing demolition of their hideout, we will build a police station and mini barrack in this location. We have also taken over the home of the kingpin that we have also demolished.

    Wike demolishes“This is to let members of the public know that this administration is serious. We will not allow anyone to cause insecurity in this state. We will chase criminals to their hideout and recover crime.”

    Speaking further, Wike said: “Let them submit their arms and we will give them amnesty.”

    The governor declared that the state government will continue to demolish the homes and hideouts of confirmed cultists and kidnappers to serve as a deterrent to would-be cultists and kidnappers.

    He commended the combined team of soldiers and policemen for effectively fighting criminals in the state, while Wike appealed to the people of the state to continue to cooperate with security agencies by providing relevant information that will lead to the arrest of hardened criminals.

    Briefing Governor Wike on the operation that led the operation that led to the capture of the suspected notorious cult kingpin, Lieutenant Colonel AC Unaogu informed that Munachim Ihunwo runs a camp with 200 armed criminals. He noted that the security agencies are working round the clock to locate the camp.

    The Lieutenant Colonel said that the cult kingpin and his boys were captured in their hideouts, which has a shrine with human skulls. It was learnt that the demolished home of the cult kingpin also has a tunnel and shrine with human skulls.

    Wike directed the Special Adviser on Lands, Anugbum Onuoha to initiate the process for the government to acquire the lands hitherto owned by the suspected cultists.