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Tag: Rivers

  • Rivers crisis deepens

    Rivers crisis deepens

    • Amaewhule-led lawmakers issue governor seven-day ultimatum
    • Fubara inaugurates exco member cleared by Oko-Jumbo, two others
    • Court bars CJ, Clerk from dealings with 27 Assembly members

    The Rivers State crisis deepened yesterday with a flurry of activities indicating that it is not about to abate.

    The Amaewhule-led House, in its first sitting after last week’s Court of Appeal judgment which reaffirmed their positions, issued a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Siminialayi Fubara to represent this year’s budget or face sanctions.

    The Oko-Jumbo-led three lawmakers, sitting at the Government House, screened and cleared Mr. Emmanuel Onengiye-Ofori Frank-Fubara, who was swiftly sworn in as Finance Commissioner by Governor Fubara.

    A Rivers High Court granted an injunction barring the Chief Judge and the Clerk of the House of Assembly from having any dealings with the 27 lawmakers.

    The 27 lawmakers sat at the Auditorium of the Assembly Quarters along Aba Road in Port-Harcourt.

    Rejecting the recognition given to Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers, the 27 lawmakers reeled out what they refer to as Fubara’s constitutional breaches.

    The Amaewhule-led lawmakers also gave Governor Fubara a seven-day ultimatum to re-present the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

    A statement by  Amaewhule’s Special Assistant, Martins Wachukwu, described the sitting as the second session of the 10th Assembly.

    The lawmakers deliberated on the actions of Fubara, stressing that they were in breach of the 1999 Constitution, the extant laws and judgments of competent courts of law.

    They said Fubara had not presented the 2024 Appropriation Bill to the duly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly in line with the provisions of Section 121 of the constitution and in compliance with the judgment of Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court.

    The lawmakers further drew the attention of Fubara to his alleged breach of Section 192(2) of the Constitution.

    They said the governor inaugurated purported members of the State Executive Council as commissioners.

    They also accused Fubara of breaching Section 7 (1) of the Constitution and the Rivers State Local Government (Amendment) Law, 2023 by inaugurating certain unelected individuals to manage the affairs of the 23 local government councils.

    According to them, the actions of the governor were in flagrant disobedience to the constitution and the court’s judgment.

    Amaewhule decried a situation where the “governor, in total disregard for the constitution and judgments of courts” transacted legislative business with three suspended members of the Assembly, parading themselves as the House of Assembly.

    He said the purported screening and confirmation of commissioner-nominees, caretaker committees and other approvals by the “three impostors” had been declared null and void by the Court of Appeal judgment, adding that the governor and his co-travellers were in contempt of the court.

    He said the alleged constitutional breaches by Fubara amounted to gross misconduct and abuse of office.

    Read Also: FG orders 37 contractors to deliver 260 emergency road projects in three months

    The Leader of the House, Major Jack, presented the judgment of the Court Appeal to the House.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Education presented the Report on the Rivers State Education (Return of Schools) (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to the House.

    Three-member House confirm commissioner-nominee

    The Victor Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers confirmed Frank-Fubara as commissioner during their seating.

    During the screening, Frank-Fubara explained that he hails from Abonnema Town in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area.

    He said he had been in legal practice for 26 years where he managed his private legal chamber in Port Harcourt after being called to the bar in 1998.

    The Oko-Jumbo-led lawmakers also debated and passed two bills: the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency Bill, 2024; and the Rivers State Transport Company Reform Bill, 2024.

    Court bars CJ, Clerk from dealing with G 27

    A High Court issued an ex-parte order for an interim injunction barring the Chief Judge of Rivers and Clerk of the  House of Assembly from having dealings with the 27 lawmakers.

    The order dated July 8 and issued by Justice  Jumbo Stephens originated from Suit No PHC/2177/CS/2024 filed by the governor and  Attorney-General of Rivers State.

    Defendants are Amaewhule and 26 other lawmakers and Oko-Jumbo, Sokari Goodboy Sokari, Orubienimigha Adolphus Timothy, Chief Judge of Rivers State, the Clerk Rivers State House of Assembly and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as 28 to 33 defendants.

    The court ruled: “That an order of interim injunction is hereby made restraining the 31st and 32nd defendants from dealing or howsoever relating with the first to 27 defendants as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and from receiving, forwarding or howsoever acting on any resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other documents or communication from the first to 27th defendants pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed herein.

    “The parties to this suit are hereby directed to maintain the status quo ante bellum in this suit as of 5th July 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

    The court also ordered substituted service of the originating and other processes in the suit on the first to 30th defendants by pasting the same at the gate of the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters located along the Aba Road.

    The court adjourned to July 15 for the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    27 lawmakers list Fubara’s “sins”

    The Martins Amaewhule-led House highlighted Fubara’s actions that breached the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    The House, in the letter of July 8 to the governor signed by Amaewhule, said he cannot spend public money unless the budget is approved.

    The House said: “You are yet to present the Rivers State Appropriation Bill, 2024 in line with Section 121(1)of the 1999 Constitution as altered and in compliance with the judgment delivered on the 22nd day of January 2024 by Honourable Justice J.K Omotosho of the Federal High Court of Nigeria.

    “The Rivers State Government under your watch is now barred from spending funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.

    “The House hereby gives you the opportunity to present same within seven days from the date of this resolution.

    “The learned judge restrained you from dealing with the three suspended lawmakers who with your connivance are parading themselves as Rivers House of Assembly in total disobedience to the order of the learned Judge.

    “These infractions by you on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered, other extant laws and judicial pronouncements constitute gross misconduct and abuse of office on your part.”

    I’m not ungrateful, says Fubara

    At Ikwerre, Fubara said he was not an ungrateful person, saying that he appreciated the good gestures towards him.

    The governor said gratitude had compelled him not to throw caution to the wind in handling the political crisis.

    Fubara spoke when he hosted Ikwerre stakeholders, including the leadership of Ogbakor Ikwerre Cultural Organisation Worldwide, the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Traditional Rulers, Ikwerre women, and opinion and youth leaders at Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday.

    He said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, that he was not ungrateful as insinuated in some quarters, and if that was the case, it would have been difficult to hide it for too long from everybody.

    Fubara said: “I want to also say this: Fubara is not an ungrateful person. If I were a bad person, you can’t hide a character that is bad for more than one week, two weeks, one month, one year, two years, eight years, even more than eight years. For 16 years, if I was a bad person, everybody would have known.

    “But, even your own child that is in your house that you have given birth to, let us start with even the girl child. It gets to a stage, your girl child will enter the bathroom and lock the door from behind.

    “Even if they forcefully put a feeding bottle in my mouth, if I get filled up, won’t I pull it out?

    “So, when people stand outside and say what they say, I want you people to ask them to tell you in their own good conscience, what is that bad thing, that wickedness, that ungratefulness that this man (Fubara) has ever shown or done. But, I leave that one to God who will judge everybody.”

    Fubara said the visit was not meant to address the political crisis, but to appreciate the delegation and the Almighty God for what He had been doing for the state.

    He recalled how people had injected propaganda and ethnic politics into the crisis, thanking the Ikwerre people for their support and solidarity.

    The governor said his administration would continue to work with well-meaning people and execute more developmental projects in the four local government areas of Ikwerre.

    He said: “What kind of support again do I need when their fathers are here with me to say look, we support you?

    “It is the greatest blessing that any son can get. So, let me thank all the royal fathers, and opinion leaders of Ikwerre (Nation) Worldwide for this support.

    “I want to assure you that not minding what is happening, I will not throw caution to the wind. I will continue to appreciate the support you people gave and continue to give to me through one of your sons.

    “It doesn’t matter whether the person accepts it or not. I will continue to appreciate it. That one alone is what makes me restrain my actions when it gets to that point when I need to act.

    “The restraint is because I was a well-brought-up boy. My story is clear: I wasn’t disowned. I was a pure young man. I served people, and I have a genuine record of everything.

    “So, I tell you with all boldness and strength that I am well brought up, and for that reason, I have respect for others.”

  • NGO kicks as new oil spill ravages Rivers community

    NGO kicks as new oil spill ravages Rivers community

    A new oil spill has caused significant damage in Bodo City, Gokana local government area, an Ogoni territory in Rivers State, following months of similar incidents.

    The Eco Defence Alliance (EDA), a non-governmental organisation, has expressed concern over the frequent oil spills in the Bodo community. EDA criticized the government’s inability to implement permanent solutions to the ongoing crisis in Bodo.

    “This is not funny to hear that Bodo is a community with the highest number of crude oil spills that the world has ever recorded in human history”, the NGO said.

    EDA spoke at the site of the oil spill in Bodo City shortly after a visit to the scene on Thursday.

    The group in a statement signed by its coordinator, Damian Gbogbara said the latest spill occurred on Thursday 4th July 2024, at about 12:45 am in the Sugi area of the Bodo community, not far from where multiple oil spills occurred in recent times the Trans-Niger Pipeline (TNP) operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) Ltd.

    Read Also: Updated: INGO launches community-based approach to end violence in Rivers, others

    Mrs Monica, whose residential home is located close to the spill site said: “A loud sound was heard like that of last year’s blast at about 12:45 am.

    Members of EDA and community folks report that the latest spill was allegedly caused by equipment failure.

    The community-based environmental advocacy group said it had lost count of oil spills in Bodo due to incessant occurrences.

    The group warned that caution should be exercised by relevant authorities in the quest to find out the cause of the spill and subsequent closure of the leaked pipes to avoid any crisis in the community.

    The statement said: “Again, there is the need for transparency in the whole process, from constituting the JIV team to its implementation and its final result to avoid any form of crisis as witnessed the other time.

    “The JIV report will help to hold the companies to account and also served as evidence-based documents for possible litigation on the ecosystem destruction, and safe the fragile Bodo, Ogoni, and Niger Delta Environment, especially with the ongoing Clean Up exercise by the Bodo Mediation Initiative (BMI), beside the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) coordinated Clean Up gearing up to start in the area.

    “Eco Defence Alliance, therefore, calls on the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) to immediately embark on a joint investigation visit (JIV) with Shell and other relevant stakeholders to the spill site in Sugi Area of Bodo City and not to delay as it has always been doing, and thereby refused to carry out JIV on the February 18th, 2019, Oil Spill till date.”

    Damian said the JIV report was important as it would help to determine the cause of the spill, the volume of the spill, and the extent of damage to the environment and the ecosystem.

    He warned against any attempt to manipulate the JIV process and its outcome.

  • Rivers arms cache

    Rivers arms cache

    • The big people behind the contraband must be exposed and prosecuted

    Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Monday made public the huge arms cache its officers and men intercepted at the Onne Port in Rivers State. Bashir Adeniyi, its comptroller-general, told an apparently stunned nation how 844 units of assorted rifles, 112,500 pieces of live ammunition, among other contraband, were intercepted at the port.

    Mr Adeniyi said at a media briefing at Onne, Area 2 Command, organised to declare the seized items and hand them over to appropriate authority that “Based on intelligence sharing, a 40-footer container with No MAEU-165396 which originated from Turkey was tracked based on some risk factors associated with its importation.

    “The container laden with rifles and ammunition concealed in various items such as dolls, furniture and plumbing fittings was intercepted at a bonded terminal of the Onne Port on 21 June, 2024.”

    He is not done: “The intercepted container laden with rifles and ammunition has a duty paid value of more than N4 billion adding that three suspects are in their custody in connection with the seizure, after getting a detention warrant from a competent court of justice.

    If this was all that the customs boss disclosed, it was enough to cause Nigerians sleepless nights.

    But it was not all.

    The customs boss also disclosed that another 80 by 40 container laden with Tramadol, codeine and other illicit drugs with duty paid value of N9.6bn, as well as 720 bales of second hand clothing with duty paid value of N154million, was similarly intercepted by his men.

    We can therefore understand the presence of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, ably represented by Adamu Laka, a major-general and national coordinator, National Counter-Terrorism Centre, and the National Coordinator of Small Arms and Light Weapons, Johnson Kokumo, a retired deputy inspector- general of police, at the media briefing.

    We commend the NCS for these significant seizures. This shows the power of intelligence in security matters. We are impressed that the customs service was able to follow the cargo from its country of origin in Turkey to the point of interception in the country.

    We can only imagine the havoc that could have been wreaked on the nation if these arms and ammunition had managed to get into the wrong hands. There is no doubt that several other dangerous weapons which had escaped the customs and other security agencies form the bulk of arms in possession of all manner of criminals now terrorising the country.

    Of course the criminals do not rely only on arms; they also take hard substances to facilitate their illicit businesses. That the seizures in question came complete with the twin elements of terrorism — arms and drugs — should therefore not be surprising. The two are like the snail and its shell.

    Given the sheer size of the cache and the equally high duty paid on the consignments, about N14billion in all, it is clear that some powerful individuals must be behind the importation of these items.

    This is our worry.

    This is not the first time that security agencies would be making such huge seizures. Several others had been well dramatised publicly in the past that seemed to have died as there are no updates on them.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Finidi George unveiled as new head coach of Rivers United

    We cannot win the war on terror unless we get the influential persons behind these importations to account for their actions. It even demoralises the officers and men who do the patriotic duty of trailing the criminals only for them to get to a dead-end with the people causing their fellow citizens avoidable pains. It is sad that people who cannot use their wealth to better the lot of fellow Nigerians would be ready and willing to part with N14billion duty on destructive items like arms and drugs. This is aside the money spent to procure the contraband.

    We implore the Federal Government to ensure that those behind these seizures are exposed this time around, arrested and prosecuted, to serve as deterrent to others, that it is no longer business as usual.

    It is against this background that we also implore the NCS and indeed all security agencies to make significant progress on cases like this before going public, so that those involved would not run away before the long arm of the law catches up with them.

  • Updated: INGO launches community-based approach to end violence in Rivers, others

    Updated: INGO launches community-based approach to end violence in Rivers, others

    An International Nonprofit Organisation (INGO), Search for Common Ground (Search) in partnership with the European Union has commenced a community-based system to end violence and enhance security in Rivers State and other parts of the Niger Delta region.

    The INGO inaugurated new executive members of its Peace Architecture to spearhead the community-based approach to peace for Rivers State project during its multi-stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt.

    The National Conflict Analyst/Programmes-West of the INGO, Andy Nkemneme, said the project was designed to empower community actors to address social exclusion, economic opportunities, and environmental degradation.

    He said the project would last for 18-month project and was expected to bring together diverse stakeholders to foster inclusive community security and promote social cohesion.

    Nkemneme harped on the establishment of structures to nip conflict in the board to avoid its escalation.

    He said the state-level peace architecture would help to bring state-level actors, local government representatives and and community leaders to respond to escalated issues and concerns.

    Worried by unresolved community conflicts, the INGO, however, called for a high-level advocacy on policy change and charge the inaugurated state-level peace architecture, to build trust between government, security, and community stakeholders.

    He said that the platform would serve as a monthly convergence for stakeholders to discuss conflicts arising in communities and to develop sustainable solutions.

    He said: “The inauguration ceremony marked the beginning of a new era in conflict resolution and peacebuilding in Rivers State, with stakeholders committing to work together towards a more peaceful and secure future

    Read Also: Police arrest Rivers vigilant group’s commander with human parts

    The Regional Head of Office and Head of Programme for Search for Common Grounds in Niger Delta, Agbadjagan Yacinthe said the Peace Architecture had been established in 66 communities, 33 local government areas, and three states in the Niger Delta region.

    He noted that the initiative, funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen dialogue, local ownership, and conflict resolution capacity among government, civil society, traditional institutions, and other stakeholders.

    He said: “The Peace Architecture, launched in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta states, will facilitate collaboration and trust-building between government, security agencies, and community stakeholders.

    “The platform will also ensure that community and local government issues are brought to the attention of state-level authorities for effective resolution.”

  • We spend N4m on electricity, diesel monthly, says Rivers nightclub

    We spend N4m on electricity, diesel monthly, says Rivers nightclub

    The Beer Barn, a nightclub and bar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has urged the Federal Government to ensure steady supply of electricity and reduction in energy tariffs, lamenting that it currently spends about N4m on diesel to generate its power monthly.

    The Beer Barn, which operates three branches in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja, said despite the challenges especially the high cost of doing business, it had successfully maibtained 300 employees in its efforts to help in solving the problems of joblessness.

    Speaking during the Port Harcourt’s Beer Barn’s 10th anniversary, the General Manager of the club, Mr. Toni Cheikwata, said the firm currently placed emphasis on survival instead of posting high profit margin.

    He said: “We are celebrating our 10 years anniversary in Port Harcourt. We have our first Beer Barn branch in Abuja opened in 2012. Beer Barn Port Harcourt was opened 2014 and Beer Barn Lagos was opened 2017.

    “We are celebrating our customers, our staff and rhe management and everybody that has worked hard to make this business stay for 10 years. It is not easy. We thank God we have made it.

    “We are always keeping it up. We have faced many challenges. Every business has challenges. The main challenge is the high cost of running business; the cost of diesel, cost of electricity, goods and drinks. They have all gone up.

    “So, to maintain your standard you keep adjusting your prices to keep moving. It is not time you can make a lot of money. What you have to do is to survive. Most important is to keep paying our staff salaries, our rents and our suppliers. We are not owing anybody.

    “We used to pay N800,000 a month to generate our own electricity. But now we pay around N3m N4m a month and it is extra expenses”.

    On the importance of steady electricity to the survival of businesses in the country, Cheikwata appealed to the Federal Government to drive a process of giving the country 24-hour power supply with affordable tariffs.

    He said: “The federal government should work on reducing the tariff, it is too much. Not everybody can survive with this rate. They should have a clear plan for Nigeria to have 24 hour light or at least 20 hours; not using diesel and generators all the time.

    Read Also: Electricity cost, insecurity threats to our survival – Manufacturers

    “The best way is to give light. Since we can give light to other countries, why don’t we keep light for 24 hours.

    He said the main objective of opening Beer Barn was to generate employment for people especially the youths adding that the firm had grown from 25 employees to about 300 staff strength.

    He said: “Our aim of opening Beer Barn is to give job opportunies to people. We started with 25 employees now we have almost 300 staff in the three branches which is a good thing for everybody.

    “They are working hard to take care of their responsibilities. There is always security challenge but we took out decision to keep security in all our branches”.

    Also speaking, the Chairman of Beer Barn, Dr. Abu Inu Umoru, said the firm was planning to open another branch in Port Harcourt because of its success in the oil-rich city.

    While commending the people of Rivers for trusting the brand, he said the firm was always studying thebmarket and adopting the right strategies to survive the prevailing economic challenges.

    He said: “It has been splendid. We thank God for this initiative in Rivers particularly Port Harcourt. We thank the Port Harcourt people and the trust they have in our establishment.

    “We thank the management and staff. Port Harcourt has been a blessing and we intend to remain here and probably open more branches. We need to identify our market strategy and how to approach the present economic hardship and challenges.

    “We try to keep a price that is affordable. Most of the time we try to look for products that we can promote. It is all about relaxation. But we want to have a price that people can afford”.

    Hundreds of customers, who trooped out to celebrate the 10th anniversary, were treated to free costly drinks, gifts, entertaining performances and music.

  • Rivers vows to probe vandalism of govt’s plants

    Rivers vows to probe vandalism of govt’s plants

    …promises to revive abandoned facilities

    The Rivers state government has vowed to go after persons behind the vandalism of the Scrap to Wealth Plant located in Kira, Tai local government area of the state.

    The state’s commissioner for environment, Tambari Sydney Gbara, made the promise after touring the plant as well as the Waste to Wealth facilities owned by the ministry at Iriebi in Obio-Akpor local government area.

    He said the administration of Governor Siminialayi Fubara was interested in reviving the facilities to ensure the economic sustainability of the state.

    Tambari insisted that nobody has the right to tamper with government facilities maintaining that those behind the plant’s vandalism would be made to face the wrath of the law.

    He said the governor’s desire to resuscitate the facilities was to economically empower the youths, boost the economy, and create job opportunities for the people.

    Tambari accused those charged with securing the property at Kira of complicity lamenting that about 95 percent of vital parts of the plant had been stolen.

    He said: “Those, who were in charge of that place must be questioned. They must have something to tell us about how substantial parts of the plant were vandalized because it is not something somebody can just sneak in and sneak away. It took days for them to cut off those parts.”

    The commissioner advised the youths especially those from Kira to shun vandalism, stealing, and violence and to assist the government in protecting facilities placed in their areas because the plants were designed for their benefit.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Rivers announces date for LGA elections

    He said: “My message to the people of Kira is that they should wake up. We are no longer in the Dark Age when Rivers youths were known for vandalism, stealing, and violence.

    “We are now in a new era with a governor who is a young person, who understands the yearnings and aspirations of the youths. So they need to cooperate with the government and protect what they have “.

    He, however, commended the people of Iriebe and Rumukrushi, host to the Waste to Wealth plant for protecting the facility from vandals, assuring that they would be the greatest beneficiary of the plant when it resumed production.

    The commissioner said that the visit would bring hope to the people of Iriebe and Rumukrushi and the entire youth of Rivers State, urging them to have faith in and support the present government in the state.

  • Rivers locates suspected bomber as police probe incident 

    Rivers locates suspected bomber as police probe incident 

    The Rivers state government said it has found a suspect who was severely injured while trying to detonate an explosive device near the state-owned Presidential Hotel during a protest in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, June 25.

    The discovery was made less than 24 hours after the state’s commissioner for health, Adaeze Oreh, told the public and private medical facilities in the state to look out for a suspect with a blast injury.

    There were reports that an explosive suspected to be a dynamite was detonated close to the hotel axis of the Aba expressway.

    The state government had initiated an investigation to unravel the identity of the suspect, who sources said was injured and was immediately rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

    As part of the investigations, Oreh said: “Now the Rivers State Ministry of Health is calling for an alert to all medical facilities in the state, both public and privately owned facilities to be vigilant and look out for an individual, a young man with a traumatically dismembered upper limb because this injury which was sustained will require medical attention.

    “If such an individual and their accomplices are present in any of the facilities, immediately notify the Commissioner for Police, Rivers State and the Rivers State Ministry of Health.”

    Following the alert, Oreh on Tuesday night said the unidentified suspect was rushed to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (UPTH) for treatment by his friends, who later left the premises.

    She said that the suspect was brought semi-unconscious and individuals, who brought him claimed that he was involved in an accident. 

    She said: “Following from that call, our medical facilities in the state, we were on a heightened sense of alert and so when a young man was brought to the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital with alleged injury sustained during what was said to be a road traffic accident the medical personnel that were on hand to examine him and offer care were on alert.

    Read Also: Rivers youths take anti-CTC protest to police headquarters

    “And immediately recognized that the injuries seen on this individual were not in tandem with a road traffic accident, but rather resemble injuries that would have come from a blast.

    “The individual was taken to the theatre for immediate resuscitation because as of the time he was brought in he was semi-conscious.

    “The medical personnel did the needful and immediately informed the Rivers State Government. Immediately informed the Commissioner for Police and the Rivers State Ministry of Health about the presence of that individual in the facility even when providing emergency medical care to revive and resuscitate him.”

    The commissioner said that the suspect was now stable after receiving medical attention at the facility.

    She said: “We are working with the Rivers State Police Command and so the Hospital has been fully secured, the premises and the perimeter have been fully secured.

    “The patient is undergoing medical treatment. He is stable and the police are doing their own part in carrying out the necessary investigations.

    “And so in this manner we just seek to inform the public that this is the update following the earlier incident of today in Port Harcourt.”

    When contacted, spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she had not been briefed about the identity of the suspect.

    But the Commissioner of Police, Olatunju Disu, had said the police were investigating reports of the  alleged bombing and circumstances behind it.

    Disu, however, did not link the incident to the protesters, who were in support of the police barricade of the 23 local government council secretariats.

    He said: “We got that information that four persons in a white Corolla vehicle somewhere along Aba Road stopped their vehicle and there was an explosion.

    “The information we gathered was that two of the occupants of the vehicle were injured, while two others came out, put them in the vehicle and drove off.

    “We have triggered all the necessary units of the Nigerian Police Force within the state to be on the lookout for these people and the victims in case they are going for treatment anywhere.

    “At the same time we have brought in officers in charge of the bomb squad. They have been able to gather particles to confirm that some particles that indicate IED (Improvised Explosive Device) were discovered.”

  • Rivers youths take anti-CTC protest to police headquarters

    Rivers youths take anti-CTC protest to police headquarters

    There was a new twist to the political crisis in Rivers State yesterday as youths embarked on a peaceful protest against the local government caretaker committees  inaugurated by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

    During the protest, the aggrieved youths under the aegis of the Nigerian Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN also visited the headquarters of the state police command to thank the Police Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun, Police Commissioner Tunji Disu, and security agents for taking over the council secretariats to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    House of Assembly Speaker Martins Amaewhule, who led the protest in Obio-Akpor local government, urged the people to sustain the tempo of resistance to injustice.

    The police authority assured the protesters that its officers and men would not play politics with their jobs.

    Noting that the crisis has fostered, Ijaw leader Chief Edwin Clark, urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene so that the state can regain its peace.

    ‘Why Police should not vacate secretariats’

    The youths, who marched from the Isaac Boro Park at Mile One to the police headquarters in Moscow Road, said the state was not at war, addibg that the police deserved applause  for taking measures to avert violence.

    The youths carried placards with inscriptions: ‘FG save Rivers State from autocracy,’ ‘Youths ask CP to arrest deviants,’ ‘we say no to LGA CTC,’ ‘and Thank you the Nigerian Police for maintaining law and order in our LGAs,’ appealed to the police not leave the secretariats until the cases in courts are resolved

    NYCN Chairman Nwinsabari Bani, who led the youths, said: “Rivers State is not at war and we are here to say to the Nigerian Police Force, thank you. in our loud voice and numbers.

    “It is very bad that we are in a society that when a man does something bad, we can pay our flight to Jupiter and back just to write it for people to see. But when a man decides to do what is right, which is the rule of law, he becomes an enemy to the few.

    Read Also: Rivers youths march to police headquarters in anti-CTC protest

    “We are here to state firmly to the Nigerian Police Force, led by CP Tunji Disu, that we are happy with what you have done for Rivers youths because many people would not know what’s happening in Rivers State.

    “What you have combated is known as terrorism in some states and it’s worse because the people that hold our task payers money are the ones fanning this crisis.

    It is so worrisome that we had expected that the hard-earned resources of Rivers people would be used to develop the state.

    “I want to say this that the Nigerian youths and Rivers youths are grateful for you coming to takeover our secretariats thereby stopping invaders”.

    Bani lamented that before the arrival of policemen, some  local government areas had been invaded by the people loyal to the Governor Fubara.

    He said the youths were initially happy.when the governor said he was handing over the administration of local government areas to the civil servants, pending the determination of the cases in court.

    But Bani said: “To our dismay on the 17th of this month, people were given funds meant for development to go and sit and takeover our local governments with arms.

    “We are saying this because we want to thank the Nigerian Police Force for preventing these hoodlums from taking over our secretariats and looting them. We are saying to the Inspector-General of Police that the current leadership of the Command in Rivers State is discharging their responsibilities without bias to party A or party B.

    “We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to at this point give  all the needed support to this command to ensure they continue to occupy, secure and dislodge any hoodlums that want to take over our local government councils.

    “We are here because the Rivers state police command has shown the way that the rule of law is very important. We are not here because we haven’t had issues with them. We have always criticized them, but today we are here in solidarity with the Nigerian Police Force.

    “Our demands remain that you should further occupy our local government secretariats till judgement is served Rivers people. We are also saying that your men have done very well, keep them in our local communities”.

    Bani recalled that the commissioner of police in Rivers had arrested notorious criminals, cultists and kidnappers to keep the peace and ensure the return of nightlife to Rivers.

    Describing CP Disu as a thoroughbred professional, he called on the IGP to shun any propaganda aimed at compelling him to redeploy the police commissioner.

    He also called on the commissioner of police to arrest the people bearing illegal arms in communities and bring them to justice.

    He said: “We also want to thank Rivers youths for maintaining restraints and their respectful disposition by not seeking self-help but obeying the rule of law.

    “What happened yesterday in Rivers State is an eyeopener to what we are doing here today. It’s no longer news that some of them are now using our money to purchase arms to give to the youths to kill themselves but Rivers youths are wiser now.

    “We’ll not leave governance in their hands, we’ll not leave politics for politicians this time around. We are marching our words with action and we will ensure that Nigerian youths will provide support and due intelligence to the Nigerian Police Force to ensure that all their responsibilities are carried out in Rivers State”.

    Rivers police won’t play politics, says Disu

    Disu said the duty of the police was  to protect lives and properties, assuring that he would not renege on it.

  • Rivers youths march to police headquarters in anti-CTC protest

    Rivers youths march to police headquarters in anti-CTC protest

    …as Amaewhule leads Obio-Akpor protest

    Hundreds of youths under the auspices of the Nigerian Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) have taken a peaceful protest against the caretaker committee arrangement for local government areas to the headquarters of the police in Rivers state.

    The youths, who kicked against using caretakers to run the councils, thanked the Inspector-General of Police and the state Commissioner of Police for maintaining neutrality in the political crisis in the state.

    Specifically, the youths said the police’s decision to take over the secretariats of local government areas was in the best interest of the state pending the determination of the cases in court.

    The youths, who marched from the Isaac Boro Park at Mile One to the police headquarters in Moscow Road, said the state was not at war insisting that the police must be appreciated for taking measures to avert violence.

    The youths carried placards with inscriptions, ‘FG save Rivers State from autocracy, Youths ask CP to arrest deviants, we say no to LGA CTC, Thank you the Nigerian Police for maintaining law and order in our LGAs among others appealed to the police not leave the secretariats.

    The factional chairman of NYCN, Nwinsabari Bani, who led the youths, said: “Rivers state is not at war and we are here to say to the Nigerian Police Force, thank you in our loud voice and numbers.

    “It is very bad that we are in a society where when a man does something bad, we can pay our flight to Jupiter and back just to write it for people to see. But when a man decides to do what is right which the rule of law is, he becomes an enemy to the few.

    “We are here to state firmly to the Nigerian Police Force led by CP Tunji Disu that we are happy with what you have done for Rivers youths because many people would not know what’s happening in Rivers State.

    “What you have combated is known as terrorism in some states and it’s worse because the people that hold our task payers money are the ones fanning this crisis.

    It is so worrisome that we had expected that the hard-earned resources of Rivers people would be used to develop the state.

    “I want to say this the Nigerian youths and Rivers youths are grateful for you coming to take over our secretariats thereby stopping invaders”.

    He lamented that before the arrival of policemen, some local government areas had been invaded by the people loyal to the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

    He said the youths were initially happy when the governor said he was handing over the administration of local government areas to the civil servants pending the determination of the cases in court.

    But Bani said: “To our dismay on the 17th of this month, people were given funds meant for development to go and sit and takeover our local governments with arms.

    “We are saying this because we want to thank the Nigerian Police Force for preventing these hoodlums from taking over our secretariats and looting them. We are saying to the Inspector-General of Police that the current leadership of the Command in Rivers State is discharging their responsibilities without bias to Party A or Party B.

    “We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to at this point give all the needed support to this command to ensure they continue to occupy, secure and dislodge any hoodlums that want to take over our local government councils.

    Read Also: Rivers women block airport gate over lack of electricity

    “We are here because the Rivers state police command has shown the way that the rule of law is very important. We are not here because we haven’t had issues with them. We have always criticized them, but today we are here in solidarity with the Nigerian Police Force.

    “Our demands remain that you should further occupy our local government secretariats till judgement is served Rivers people. We are also saying that your men have done very well, keep them in our local communities”.

    Bani recalled that the commissioner of police in Rivers had arrested notorious criminals, cultists and kidnappers to keep the peace and ensure the return of nightlife to Rivers.

    Describing CP Tunji as a thoroughbred professional, he called on the IGP to shun any propaganda aimed at compelling him to redeploy the commissioner.

    He also called on the commissioner of police to arrest all the people bearing illegal arms in communities and bring them to justice.

    He said: “We also want to thank Rivers youths for maintaining restraints and their respectful disposition by not seeking self-help but obeying the rule of law.

    “What happened yesterday in Rivers State is an eye-opener to what we are doing here today. It’s no longer news that some of them are now using our money to purchase arms to give to the youths to kill themselves but Rivers youths are wiser now.

    “We’ll not leave governance in their hands, we’ll not leave politics for politicians this time around. We are marching our words with action and we will ensure that Nigerian youths will provide support and due intelligence to the Nigerian Police Force to ensure that all their responsibilities are carried out in Rivers State”.

    Responding to the protesters, CP Tunji said the duty of the police was to protect lives and properties saying he would not renege on it.

    He said: “We are not politicians and we’ll do our best to remain apolitical. I thank you so much for all you have done and the support you have given us and I assure you that we’ll continue to do our jobs in maintaining law and order.

    “Rivers State is a very important state to the economy of our dear nation Nigeria and there must not be breakdown of law and order. We have taken note of all you have said here and we’ll continue to do our job. Whenever we do anything wrong, do not hesitate to call us to order to correct our mistakes. We appreciate you.”

    It was further gathered that Speaker Martins Amaewhule led a massive protest in Obio-Akpo in support of the police and against the caretaker committees inaugurated by the governor.

  • Rivers women block airport gate over lack of electricity

    Rivers women block airport gate over lack of electricity

    Women have blocked the entrance to the Port Harcourt International Airport in Omagwa, Rivers State, to protest lack of electricity in their community.

    The Ipo community women at 7:30am on Tuesday blocked the gate at the airport roundabout, carrying placards, singing and even cooking at the gate.

    They carried placards with inceptions such as, “We Demand Our Citizens Rights”, “Ipo Women Peaceful Protest”, among others.

    The action of protesters caused traffic congestion as passengers could not access the airport.

    Read Also: Rivers crisis: Pro-police protests rock 21 council secretariats

    It was gathered the women were coming to the airport for the second time to demand electricity in their community.

    They carried out a similar protest on the 27th of March but were pacified to vacate the area by the former Chairman of the Rivers Traditional Rulers Council, Sergeant Awuse.