The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Warri

  • Warri Federal Seat: Ereyitomi promises to tackle poverty, others

    Winner of the Warri federal constituency seat in the just concluded National Assembly elections, Chief Thomas Ereyitomi says he is out to tackle poverty and communal conflicts across the area.

    The director-general of Chief Thomas Ereyitomi Constituency Office, Chief Robinson Ariyo, disclosed this during a press briefing on Friday, in Warri.

    Unveiling its cardinal plans for the next four years, which include economic development, capacity building, peace building and research and advocacy, the DG pointed out they are in tandem with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), as well as the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) master plan.

    He explained the high poverty rate, conflicts in communities among others, informed the four themes.

    Noting that the office may not be able to succeed in everything it hopes to deliver, the Ariyo stated that each intervention that is embarked on will be done in a way that it will be sustainable.

    Lamenting that economy of Warri has suffered for too long, he said: “It is one thing to promise, it is another thing to deliver on the promise.

    “Our people have been left behind for far too long. We need to take our proper place in the committee of oil producing communities.

    “If the society, Warri Federal Constituency is better today, it will be better for all of us. It is on record that Nigeria is at the top of poverty rating in the world.

    “In the area of peace building, most of our communities are polarized. But there is no conflict that is unresolvable. We want to make a deliberate effort to ensure that our communities live in peace.”

    Expressing gratitude to the people for their support throughout the elections, Chief Ariyo urged aggrieved individuals “to sheathe” swords and pursue development of the land.

  • Ex-convict arrested for armed robbery

    A 37-year-old member of a notorious robbery gang, Philip Rome, said to have been terrorizing residents of Ugheli, Patani and Warri areas of Delta State, has been arrested.

    He was arrested recently by the operatives of Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), in Ugor Community in Ugheli South Local Government Area of Delta State alongside two other members of his gang identified as Saturday Isegini and Oke David.

    The suspects, according to sources had carried out several armed robbery and kidnapping operations across Delta State.

    It was said that two locally made short guns, seven live cartridges and a stolen Volkswagen Golf 3 car were recovered from Rome and members of his gang at the time of their arrest.

    Rome, who was released few months ago from the Warri Prisons, allegedly confessed during interrogations that the robbery operation that led to his arrest was the first and only robbery operation.

    He said:  “One of my friends by name,  Eseletu, who  I  met at the Warri Prison, lured me into joining the gang and  I  was arrested after my first operation where the Volkswagen Golf 3 car, N500,000 and mobile phones were robbed by my gang that fateful day”.

    A source however dismissed the suspects’ statement as untrue, adding that they had been on the wanted list of the Delta State Police Command and the Department of State Security (DSS).

    ”The three suspects and some others at large are notorious armed robbers and kidnappers and they have been terrorizing Ugheli, Patani, Warri and Sapele areas of Delta  State.

    ‘’They have been involved series of armed robberies and kidnappings. They are not first offenders and some of their syndicate are still in prison.’’

    ‘’They are among criminals on the wanted list for kidnapping and armed robbery in Delta State and we were deployed to this state to arrest them and we caught them while they were planning another robbery operation.

    ‘’We tracked and arrested them after they have successfully robbed a man of his Golf 3 wagon car and a lady passenger who they took her  cash and other valuables .

    ‘’They took the vehicle to Kokori where it was hidden with the intention of using it for kidnapping and armed robbery the next day and they were intercepted and arrested”,  the source added.

     

  • Three killed, 20 injured in Warri

    At least three persons have been reported dead while some 20 others have sustained various degrees of injuries as rival gangs engage each others in the Effurun area of Warri metropolis.
    Although facts were unavailable to establish a link between the crisis and political power tussle, residents of the areas involved, those conversant with the perennial Uvwie crisis suggested Sunday evening the latest round of unrest is a supremacy fight between political thugs loyal to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).
    The Nation gathered that trouble started around Dumure area of Effurun on Wednesday when shots were heard fired in the area. Situation became more tensive on Friday when violence broke out between the warring sides, leaving not less than three persons dead and some 20 more critically injured.
    According to a source resident in the Alaka area of Effurun, one of the troubled areas, Mr Julius Emuakpor, strikes had intermittently erupted around the Jakpa Junction, Alaka area, Dumure, Orhumarho, Effurun Market and the parts of PTI Road close to the Effurun Market.
    “Trouble started on Friday from Dumure when some shots were fired on Wednesday, but there was no injury, it was like some persons were firing warning shots.
    “The following day, being Thursday, was relatively peaceful as there no confrontation, but the bloodiest happened on Friday when several shots were fired and some guys started going to attack the homes of their opponents.
    “We were around Ovie Palace Junction and Solidas when we started hearing rapid gunshots coming from Jakpa Junction axis. That was about 10pm on Friday. All of a sudden we saw one guy who had been matched all over his body, obviously looking for help.
    “It was a taxi driver who agreed to take him to the Warri Central Hospital and according to him, 10 other injured victims had been admitted before he got the man there.
    “From that day’s bloody event alone, we have heard of about three deaths and many seriously injured; nothing less than 20 people have been admitted in various hospitals”, Emuakpor said.
    Another source who spoke under conditions of anonymity, because of his safety, said the fight had been largely between thugs loyal to PDP and APC.
    He added other miscreants had also taken advantage of the chaos in the area to carry out robberies and other criminal activities, further worsening the peace of the area and creating panic for residents and commuters.
    “I saw policemen parking people at Jakpa Junction around 12:30pm today (Sunday), but that is not enough, that’s not where those who have caused mayhem are.
    “Police know that the thugs and other hardened criminals are lurking in the adjoining streets around, waiting for them to just leave the main road for them to come out to continue their reign of terror,” the source said.
    Confirming the development, spokesman of the Delta state police command, Mr Andrew Aniamaka (DSP), said there had been unrest indeed, but could not confirm casualty figures as such had not been made available to him.
    “Yes I can confirm to you that there was unrest in that area and that the command has managed to bring the situation under control. The DPO Ebrumede, S.O.S Commander and other key operatives of the command had been on ground. Even the Area Commander is involved in the operation that has restored order in the area”, he said.
    When asked about casualties, he said “nobody has brought anything about casualty figures or anything relating to that to my attention. What is important is that the Delta state police command has been on the matter and we have restored peace”.

  • NNPC School hike: Buhari, Kachikwu called to intervene

    President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to intervene on the staggering hike of tuition fees in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Leadership Academy, Warri , Delta state.

    Pupils of the school, through a representative of their parents, Mr. Patrick Edema, made the call Tuesday in Warri.

    According to the learners, who also appealed to the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, to step into the matter, increasing the fees mid-session may increase the financial burden on parents who had taken loans to ensure their school fees payment for the entire session.

    Describing the sudden increment as highly insensitive, considering the current economic hardship across Nigeria, they pointed out that the increase came in just two days to resumption of the present term.

    Read Also: Buhari to Ngige: end ASUU strike immediately

    The NNPC Leadership Academy, Warri, had allegedly increased tuition fees by 200%, giving parents barely 48 hours notification via SMS.

    However, the learners commended the management of the NNPC for subsidizing the school fee all these years.

    Remarking that it (school’s management) has the right to review the fees of the academy, they opined that it should be done at the beginning of a new session, adding that such way, parents will get ample notice.

    They also stated that refusal to review the decision may lead to mass withdrawal of pupils from the school which may lead to complete closure of the school.

    Further emphasizing that over ninety percent of pupils of the school are children of host communities, they charged President Buhari and Dr. Kachikwu to prevail on the management of NNPC to maintain the status quo.

  • ‘South-South is supporting Buhari’s re-election’

    Contrary to the belief in some quarters, President Muhammadu Buhari, has been tipped to win big in the states of the South-South, in response to his works in the region.

    Giving the tip during a media chat in Warri on Saturday, a prominent youth leader in the South-South, Mr. Tamuno George, revealed that majority of the people and voters in the region are supporting the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He expressed confidence that the South-South region will vote enmass for President Buhari to enable the region demand for adequate representation and benefits in the next government.

    He also commended Senator Godswill Akpabio and Dr. Ebikabonwei Victor Ben, also known as Gen Boyloaf, who had volunteered to mobilize and sensitizing the people of Niger Delta, changing the narratives in the creeks and communities in the region.

    “Despite the fact that South South did not vote for President Buhari in 2015, the President has shown more commitment to the development of the region. President Buhari has completed the Itakpe-Aladja railway, dredging of Escravos to open up the Warri Port, Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko, reconstruction of Port Harcourt International Airport, sustenance of the Amnesty programme among others.

    “The people of South South now understand and have clearly seen Buhari’s genuine commitment and good plans for the development of the region, and that is why the people of the region would cast their votes for President Buhari at the presidential election on February 16”, he said.

    Tamuno further noted that with the overwhelming outcome of the Presidential and Delta State Campaign flag off in Warri Township Stadium; it is an indication that President Buhari is sure of victory, adding that after the election the region will put forward competent and patriotic leaders to work with President Buhari to move the region forward.

  • Truck crushes bicycle rider to death

    A truck conveying cement to Warri, Delta State has crushed one Musa Abduramah to death at Evbukhu Junction along Sapele Road in Benin City.

    Musa was riding his bicycle with which he used to sell empty sacks of cement when a vehicle knocked him down.

    He was said to have fallen on the road while the truck driver that was trying to park properly crushed him.

    Read Also: Dangote: killer-truck not ours

    The victim was said to have three wives and many children.

    Eye witnesses said the car that knocked him down sped off after realizing the truck has crushed him.

    Brother to the deceased, Mohammed Shehu, called on the state government to fish out the fleeing driver.

     

  • Mother, children survive gas incident in Warri

    It was a narrow escape from death on Friday for a mother and her three children in Okumagba area of Warri, Delta state, when a cooking gas exploded in their kitchen.

    It was gathered that the victims of the gas explosion, whose names could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, sustained various degrees of injuries and had been admitted to a private hospital around Okere-Ugborikoko Road in Warri.

    The gas cylinder explosion also razed down the entire kitchen in the three bedroom apartment.

    An eyewitness who craved anonymity said the gas cylinder was turned on by one of the children, unknown to the mother, who was about cooking when the incident occurred.

    “As the woman lighted a matche, what we heard was a loud noise. We later saw fire coming from the apartment before we rushed down to help the kitchen had already burnt down”, he said.

    Read Also: Tears as eight PDP accident victims are buried

    The eyewitness also said the incident occurred because the gas cylinder may have expired, saying “the gas cylinder had a big cut in between. But thank God for saving the situation.”

    As at the time of filing this report, firefighters, sympathisers as well as other residents of the one storey building were battling to quell the fire.

    When reached for an official comment, the spokesman of the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said he was yet to hear from the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area.

  • Eight persons feared dead as vehicles plunge into river in Warri

    No fewer than eight persons were feared killed Saturday afternoon when two vehicles rammed each other into a river along the ever-busy NPA Expressway in Warri metropolis.
    Eyewitnesses informed that the two vehicles were on the same lane of the dual carriageway, around the Ekpan community axis of the expressway when the accident happened.
    The Nation gathered that one of the two vehicles, a sports utility vehicle (SUV), rammed into a commercial bus, which was reportedly parking on the side of the road to pick a passenger, plunging the two  and all the eight persons aboard into the river.
    “The bus was picking a passenger around that spot when the Jeep (SUV) on high speed ran into it and pushed the bus and itself into the river. Eight bodies were recovered from the wreck inside the water”, an eyewitness said.
    It took the intervention of sympathisers as well as officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, Ekpan Divisional Headquarters, to recover the corpses and evacuate the vehicles from the scene of incident.
    When reached for confirmation and comments, the spokesman of the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said he was yet to get a situation report on the development, although he been informed of it.
    “Yes, I have heard about it, but I am yet to get a situation report from the new Ekpan DPO. We will have to talk later,”, Aniamaka said.

  • Woman allegedly vomits cash in Warri

    There was panic yesterday on Ogaga Street, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government of Delta State when a lady, Mariam Abdul, allegedly vomited cash.

    It was gathered Mariam’s husband Taye Adekunle raised the alarm about 3.45 am that neighbours should come to his aid as his wife was behaving strangely.

    An eyewitness said Mariam had recently been a victim of suspected ritual act.

    “Recently, Mariam’s panties were stolen by some unidentified ‘Yahoo Boys,’ and she raised the alarm that her panties had been stolen. You must know that this has been a trend in the state in recent times.

    “But about 3:45am, we heard a strange voice of ‘help me o’ from their apartment. The man was calling for help. Many of us could not open our doors until we heard the voices of some vigilante men in the area. When we got there, we saw the lady vomiting N500 notes.

    “I would have doubted if I had not seen her myself. We’re all dumbfounded because we don’t know what to do. The N500 notes were coming out one after the other. It was through the effort of the pastor and some residents who were praying for her that she stopped.

    “Three weeks ago, she and her husband announced that her panties, which were hung in front of their apartment, were missing. No one claimed to have seen the panties. We suspect that whoever stole the panties might have used them for ritual since it is the reigning thing,” the source said.

    Warri Area Commander Mohammed Shaba said the matter would be investigated.

    He said: “Today, according to the DPO (B’ Division), he received a distressed call this morning that Taye Adekunle, of Ogaga Street, reported to B’Division that three weeks ago his wife, Mariam Abdul, washed two panties and a wrapper and spread them outside their apartment. That the two panties and the wrapper were stolen.

    “That Saturday, December 22, his wife started experiencing strange spiritual attacks and then he invited a pastor and when he started praying for her, she started vomiting water, including 14 pieces of N500 notes. The victim had been taken to hospital but when they are done the case will be transferred to the state CID.”

  • Panic as woman allegedly vomits cash in Warri

    There was panic Sunday on Ogaga Street, Effurun in Uvwie council area of Delta state when a lady, Mariam Abdul, in her 20s was allegedly found vomiting cash early Sunday morning.
    The Nation gathered that the husband of the lady, whose name was gathered to be Taye Adekunle, raised the alarm at about 3:45am, calling neighbours to come to his aid as his wife was behaving strangely.
    According to an eyewitness, who is a resident of the area, Mariam had recently been a victim of the suspected ritualists who go around collecting female panties and other underwears in different parts of the state.
    “Recently, Mariam’s panties were stolen by some unidentified ‘Yahoo Boys’ and she raised the alarm that her panties she spread after washing had been stolen. You must already know that this has been a trend in the state in recent times.
    “But at about 3:45am, we heard a strange voice of ‘help me o’ from their apartment. The man was calling for help. Many of us could not open our doors until we heard the voices of some vigilante men in the area. When we got there, the saw the lady vomiting N500 notes.
    “I would have doubted if I had not seen her myself. We’re all dumbfounded because we don’t know what to do. The N500 notes were coming out one after the other. It was through the effort of the pastor and some residents who were praying for her that she stopped.
    “Three weeks ago, she and her husband announced that her pant which was hung in front of their apartment was missing. No one claimed to see the pant. We suspect that whoever stole the pant might have used it for ritual purpose since it is the reigning thing,” the source said.
    Meanwhile, when reached for response, the Warri Area Commander of the Delta state police command, Alhaji Mohammed Shaba, narrated the much he had been informed of the situation preceding the alleged vomiting of cash, adding that the matter would be investigated.
     “Today, according to the DPO (B’ Division), he received a distressed call this morning. That one Taye Adekunle of Ogaga Street Warri reported to B’Division that three weeks ago his wife, Mariam Abdul, washed two pants and a rapper and spread them outside their apartment. That the two pants and the rapper was stolen by unknown thieves.
    “That Saturday 22nd December, his wife started experiencing strange spiritual attacks and then he invited a pastor and when he started praying for her, she started vomiting water including 14 pieces of N500 notes. The victim had been taken to hospital but when they are done the case will be transfer to state CID,” he said.