The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rivers

  • Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin from Amnesty office

    Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin from Amnesty office

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Aide clears air on Rivers APC chieftain Celestine’s attack on Magnus Abe

    Aide clears air on Rivers APC chieftain Celestine’s attack on Magnus Abe

    One of the aides to the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, Kennedy Barileilo Friday, yesterday explained why a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Ogoni, AkpoBari Celestine, has declared war on the senator.

    Friday alleged that the refusal of Abe, the Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, to buy a requested house in Port Harcourt for Celestine, made him (Celestine) to continually fight him, not considering the fact that he had no money to buy the house. Abe, an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers/ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), was a governorship aspirant of APC in 2015, and presently aspiring to be the standard bearer of the party in Rivers in 2019, while Celestine has also indicated interest to occupy the Brick House (Government House), Port Harcourt in 2019, on APC’s platform. Friday said: ” Before and immediately after the gruelling and tasking December 2016 rerun election, Celestine had told Senator Abe to buy him a house, that Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation Minister/former Rivers governor) said Abe should buy for him (Celestine) somewhere in Port Harcourt. Abe replied that he was speaking with the minister everyday and that the minister never mentioned that to him and that the minister could not have asked him to buy Celestine a house, without mentioning where he would get resources to buy the house.

    “That is the assistance Celestine was talking about on the pages of newspaper (in earlier interview) and he (Celestine) should have been honest enough to state it clearly, instead of creating a wrong impression about Abe. “Ever since then, Celestine has been on WhatsApp and on Facebook, castigating Senator Abe, as if they are quarrelling over anything. Celestine has continued to present himself as the person who can take on Senator Abe and he is obviously now allowing himself to be used in that role. And you wonder, how can he succeed at that? How will that answer whatever ambition he claims to have?”

  • Rivers accuses Fed Govt of plot to grant amnesty to ’32 cultists’ 

    Rivers accuses Fed Govt of plot to grant amnesty to ’32 cultists’ 

    Rivers State government yesterday accused the Federal Government of plotting to grant amnesty to 32 suspected cultists.

    Information and Communication Commissioner Emma Okah made the allegation at a news conference in Port Harcourt.

    He said: “The Rivers State government is in receipt of credible intelligence that the Federal Government has concluded plans to grant amnesty to 32 cultists declared wanted by the State Security Council.  Details of the intelligence indicate that the Federal Government is granting the cultists amnesty for the purpose of undue electoral advantage in 2019 general election.

    “This action is not a surprise to us because we have repeatedly said officials and agencies of the Federal Government are frustrating the fight against crime in Rivers State. In particular, we have accused the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of involvement in and aiding criminal activities.

    “This sad development coming at a time the state is winning the war against kidnappers and cultists is a major setback and a ploy to undermine the security of Rivers State.

    “Each time, we record successes in the promotion of security, the Federal Government and its agents take deliberate steps to sabotage the security of the state at the instigation of some unpatriotic Rivers sons at the centre.

    “We call on the international community, civil society organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to take notice of this deliberate act to compromise the security of Rivers State for ungodly political gains by All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government. For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State government will continue to work with security agencies to ensure the security of life and property.”

  • Day old baby abandoned in refuse bin in Rivers

    Day old baby abandoned in refuse bin in Rivers

    Panic as abandoned baby dies in refuse dump in P-Harcourt

    Residents of the area say they woke up on Thursday morning to see the baby wrapped in a white clothe and abandoned at the midi of road among heap of refuse.

    Unknown person suspected to be single mother yesterday had allegedly dropped the one-day old baby in front of St. Thomas Anglican Church, Mile 2 Diobu, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.

    Eye witness said the baby was dropped off the previous night. Rumour mills on Thursday said a new baby was also dropped at the same spot late last year, but was rescued alive.

    The situation yesterday created panic among residents and business operators at the popular Ikoku auto spare parts market in Port Harcourt.

    The baby was reportedly dumped among refuse bins at the Midwest of a dual carriage road in Ikwerre road

    When contacted, the state police command denied knowledge of the incident. The spokesman Nnamdi Omoni a Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP), said he would investigate it.

    Residents of the area condemned the idea of dropping a life babies in refuse bins to die. They viewed that taking them to safe places where they could possibly be rescued by responsible persons or baby homes is better than abandoning them to in dangerous places to die.

    Speaking further, an eyewitness simply identified a Nnenda who spoke to the Nation at the scene of the incident confirmed that the baby was dropped at the wee hours if the night but was alive as at the time it was seen in the middle of refuse early yesterday morning.

    She narrated: “We woke this morning to see this baby here. She was alive but the baby later died. We don’t know if it is a boy or girl child. We don’t know who abandoned the baby. Maybe it is cold that killed the child.“

  • Ecologist urges Fed Govt to speed up Ogoni clean-up

    An ecologist, Mr Dennis Ugwuja, has appealed to the Federal Government to fast-track the clean-up of oil spill in Ogoni land, Rivers.

    Ugwuja, also the Executive Director of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Initiative (CCMAI), an NGO, made the appeal on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

    According to him, the Federal Government should accelerate the implementation of the Report on Environmental Assessment of Ogoni land.

    The ecologist said that the Report, which was inaugurated in 2011 by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), was also handed over to the Federal Government for implementation.

    The ecologist recalled that the report recommended, among other things, that the Federal Government should commence immediate clean-up of oil spill in Ogoni land.

    “Having carefully studied the oil spill and clean-up projects of Gulf of Mexico and the Exxon Valdez Oil spill, it didn’t take ages to clean up the whole thousands of miles that were affected.

    “Ogoni communities have never enjoyed the natural resources deposited in their land as a result of impacts of oil activities on their land, especially the oil spill on their economic land,” he said.

    According to him, it is high time for the Federal Government to address the clean-up of Ogoni oil spill project it inaugurated in 2017.

    Ugwuja said that his organisation was yet to see the hand work of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) saddled with the responsibility of facilitating the implementation of the clean-up in Ogoni land.

    “It is only in the third world country like Nigeria that serious issues affecting the lives of oil producers and their economic farm land are politicised.

    “Government should make undiluted effort to ensure speedy clean-up of Ogoni land. The Ogoni people can no longer be deceived by mere promises,’’ he said.

    He called on well meaningful environmentalists to form synergy and remain steadfast in the fight against oil pollution in the Niger Delta.

     

  • Wike offers N640m bounty for the arrest of 32 cultists

    Wike offers N640m bounty for the arrest of 32 cultists

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has declared 32 cultists wanted in a state broadcast  and asked the security agencies to go after them, putting a bounty of N20m each for information that could lead to their  arrest.

    The total reward is N640million, N440million more than what the governor offered for the arrest of Don Wani, the kidnap kingpin and cultist, linked with the killing of 23 people in Omoku on New Year’s Day.

    The broadcast  was a celebration of the killing of the criminal, whose real name was Johnson Igwedibia. He was killed by the military on Saturday at a hideout in Enugu.

    According to Wike,  32 cultists remain in 12 local government areas in the state and had reneged on the terms of amnesty offered them by his government.

    He listed them and said he  wanted all of them arrested  and prosecuted by the security agencies, pledging all assistance necessary.

    “Based on reliable information by the security agencies, I hereby direct them to immediately arrest and prosecute the under-mentioned persons who have either reneged on the terms of the amnesty and or refused to embrace same by continuing with cultism, kidnapping and armed robbery in the state,” the governor said.

    “The Rivers State Government will pay N20 million to any person who volunteers useful information that would lead to the arrest and prosecution of any of the afore-mentioned persons. Since 2015, we have been calling for tackling security issues devoid of political considerations in Rivers State in order to achieve maximum result,’’ he added

    Governor Wike wanted to end the era of criminals running colonies in the state as he  warned them  to leave the state or risk facing the death sentence.

    His government is proposing an amendment of the State Anti-kidnapping Law, which  prescribed death sentence for criminals involved in cultism, robbery and kidnapping.

    Wike warned that the State Government has zero tolerance for crime and criminal activities, adding that his administration will continue to adopt measures to protect lives and property in the state.

    “We reiterate our zero tolerance for all forms of criminality and reassure all residents of our determination to be tough on those who choose to violate our criminal laws and undermine peace and security in the state,’’ he added.

    “To underscore the seriousness we attach to the fight against violent crime, we shall be amending the Anti-kidnapping law to prescribe the maximum sentence for engaging in cultism, robbery and kidnapping.”

    He lamented that the amnesty programme of the state government which enthroned peace and was largely successful had been compromised.

    “Our decision to offer amnesty to all repentant cultists, militants and criminals was done in good faith and in the best interest of the state,” he said.

    “Regrettably, while the programme was on course, some opposition leaders in our state, unhappy with the successes recorded, dissuaded some armed militants and cultists from sincerely embracing the amnesty,’’ said the governor.

    “This is the reason why we must thank the President for doing things differently and with the support of all, a different result has been achieved,’’ he stressed.

    According to him, the security challenges in Omoku antedated his administration.

    “For years the security situation in Omoku in particular, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area in general, has been most challenging because of the criminal activities of Don Wanny and his gang,’’ he said.

    “We therefore wholeheartedly thank President Muhammadu Buhari for rising to the occasion and not politicking with the issue of security,’’ the governor said.

    “We also commend the security agencies, particularly, the Nigerian Army and the Department of State Security, for swiftly rising to the challenge in the most professional manner,’’ Wike said.

    “There is no doubt that this heroic success has proven what is possible when our security agencies are willing to discharge their constitutional duties with unadulterated commitment and professionalism,” he stressed.

    He said that the decision of the state government on the amnesty offer was clear, adding that “those who genuinely embraced it were bound to fully, completely and perpetually renounce all forms of criminality to enjoy the terms of the amnesty or face the full weight of the law when they deviated  from the programme’’.

  • Resumption: Rivers bemoans poor turnout of pupils

    Resumption: Rivers bemoans poor turnout of pupils

    The Commissioner for Education in Rivers, Tamuno-Sisi Jaja, on Tuesday  lamented the poor turnout of pupils and students  in  primary and secondary schools.

    Jaja spoke on the sidelines of  his ongoing inspection of schools in Port Harcourt.

    He expressed regret that some schools were yet to reopen for academic activities inspite of  several notices on the Monday resumption date issued  by the Ministry of Education.

    Read also: Low turnout of workers as work resumes in Abuja

    “The low turnout of pupils and non-compliance to our directive  is quite worrisome.

    “However, we are impressed with the level of compliance by private schools that have re-opened for academic activities,” he said.

    Jaja said the ministry would continue to monitor and enforce  resumption of  schools in the state.

    NAN

  • Sen. Abe condemns recent killings in Rivers

    Sen. Abe condemns recent killings in Rivers

    Sen. Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, on Tuesday condemned the killing of 20 persons in some communities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers.

    Abe made the condemnation in a statement issued by his Spokesman, Mr Parry Benson, in Port Harcourt.

    According to him, no fewer than 20 people were killed on January 5; several houses were burnt in the past few days following coordinated attacks by suspected cultists in Asarama, Unyeada and Ajakajak communities.

    Read also: Rivers PDP chair hails security agencies, Wike for ending killings

    Abe expressed his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives, property and those injured during the attacks.

    The Lawmaker called on the security agencies to work round the clock and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crime were brought to book.

    “Every life is precious and no one has the right to take the life of another, because all lives belong to God, the Creator.

    “I pray that God will give strength to all families directly affected by this tragedy,” he said.

    Abe appealed to all Rivers communities to be good neighbours, provide security and comfort to any displaced persons that fled to their communities for safety.

    “We must find strength to stand together and defeat this evil,” he said.

    NAN

  • Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    Onyeama receives 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, has reassured Federal Government’s commitment to return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    Onyeama gave the assurance when he received 491 Nigerian returnees from Libya at Port Harcourt International Airport, alongside Rivers Government officials.

    The minister said there were stories of exploitation and suffering by stranded Nigerians in Libya, which compelled Federal Government to act decisively.

    He added that “we made it clear to the Libyan Government that we want to see all Nigerians there. We insisted that we should see all of them, instead of hearing from them.

    “We made it clear that they ( Libyans ) are signatories to international conventions and we expected them to have control of those who guard our children.

    “They cooperated with us because of respect for Mr President, there were people who were making money from these children and did not want them to return home.

    “We carried out rigorous outreach to ensure that we have everybody back.”

    The minister noted that the programme was a continuous process that would return all stranded Nigerians from Libya.

    The minister explained that “the Libyan Government got the message that as far as they are Nigerians, we have zero tolerance for molestation.”

    The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Sir Kenneth Kobani, who led the state delegation, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making efforts in returning the stranded Nigerians.

    He said “as a state government, we had no choice really, let me say that the Rivers State Governor made it clear to me that  we should  do everything possible to make sure that this exercise was handled smoothly.

    “The  Rivers State Government would do everything in its power to assist federal agencies handling this programme, because above everything else, we are all Nigerians and this programme is a clear indication that when we work together, we can achieve anything.

    “What you are seeing here today clearly shows that our governor and indeed the President feel same about this issue.

    “On behalf of the Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, I will like to thank President Muhammadu  Buhari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and his team who worked tirelessly to make the return of our brothers and sisters successful.”

    Reports say that all the returnees were profiled at designated booths at the airport.

    The minister was accompanied by officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service, NEMA NAPTIP and military personnel.

    NAN

  • Rivers massacre: Notorious cultist Don Waney, lieutenants killed

    Rivers massacre: Notorious cultist Don Waney, lieutenants killed

    A notorious cultist and  kidnapper Mr. Igwedibia Johnson, aka Don Waney, who has been on the run since he masterminded the New Year’s Day killing of 17 worshipers after crossover service in Omoku, the headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA of Rivers State, has been killed.

    He was reported killed by soldiers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), along with two of his lieutenants: Ikechukwu Adiele and Lucky Ode.

    The body of Johnson, Adiele and Ode were on Sunday morning displayed at the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, by the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the division, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh, who was accompanied by Rivers Director of DSS, Mr. Tosin Ajayi, and Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed.

    Udoh said: Intense surveillance activities on him (Johnson) and his gang by the DSS, Rivers State Command, revealed that after committing the atrocities, he relocated to a neighbourhood within Enugu Town in Enugu State, where he rented an apartment and started living among unsuspecting neighbours within the community.

    “From the relative safety of his newly-rented apartment, Don Waney was already perfecting plans to wrought another mayhem in Omoku, in which he was to attack churches, schools, army and police locations and the residences of the generality of the already-traumatised people of Omoku.

    “However, following his successful geo-location to his new Enugu neighbourhood hideout by the DSS, Rivers State Command, a combined team of troops of 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu and personnel of DSS, Rivers State Command, raided the hideout to arrest him and his other accomplices.

    “Incidentally, on sensing that the combine team were closing in on his residence, Don Waney, his Second-in-Command (Ikechukwu Adiele) and another gang member (Lucky Ode) attempted to escape through the back exit of the apartment and were shot down by the eagle-eyed troops in the process. One of them died on the spot, while the other two, who sustained gunshot wounds, eventually died, while being evacuated for medical attention.

    “The remains of Don Waney and his cohorts were brought back to Port Harcourt by the combine team and handed over to the Rivers State Police Command, for further action.”

    While also speaking, Rivers police commissioner assured residents of the state of the safety of their lives and property, declaring that other members of Johnson’s gang and other criminals in Rivers would be arrested and prosecuted, to serve as a deterrent to other criminal-minded persons.