The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Warri

  • Accident claims two teachers in Delta

    Accident claims two teachers in Delta

    At least two teachers of Adaka Grammar School, Ugboren, Sapele council area of Delta state, lost their lives to an auto-crash near Elume Junction, Sapele yesterday afternoon.

    Yesterday’s accident came less than a week from an earlier incident, which claiming the lives of three secondary school principals and a vice principal, who were on their way to Kwale an official assignment.

    The Nation gathered that the teachers involved in the unfortunate incident yesterday were in the company of other passengers, including the principal of the school, identified as Mr Esemuede, in the school’s bus when the accident happened.

    Although details were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, the Nation gathered that the accident involved only the bus conveying the personnel of the school back to their homes. According to sources, the bus tumbled a couple of times.

    It was also gathered that other passengers of the bus, including the principal had been taken to a hospital for medical attention.

    “I was just informed of the accident this evening, they said they were returning home after the day’s school classes. I was told two of the teachers died while other injured occupants were taken to a hospital”, a source told the Nation

    Confirming the development, the spokesman of the Delta state police command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said two people died, adding that the injured persons had been taken to the hospital. He added that an investigation would reveal the cause of the accident.

    “I’ve not got much of the details, but yes the accident did take place. I don’t know the type of vehicle, but two people died, until we get the details, I understand that those who were injured were taken to the general hospital in Sapele.

    “We have also gone for the evacuation of the vehicle. It was a lone accident, we learned that the vehicle somersaulted. It calls for an investigation to know what exactly happened,” Aniamaka said.

  • Family demands justice over murder of son in Warri

    The Sini family of Warri on Monday demanded for justice over the alleged killing of their son, Akporido Sini.

    Mrs Mary Odibo led members of the aggrieved family to the Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondent Chapel, to intimate newsmen of the sad development.

    The late Akporido was alleged to have been apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Police “B Division”, Warri, alongside two others, Efe Otikpo and Urhuemu over a robbery incident on March 15, 2017.

    Akporido, Otikpo and Urhuemu, who were alleged to have stolen a Toyota Camry car, were apprehended at Ometa axis in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta.

    Odibo explained that the late Akporido, 36, who was a hair stylist, was returning from the service of songs of one of their in-laws at Ometa when he was arrested along with Otikpo and Urhuemu in the car.

    “I know that my brother cannot rise again; we are only asking for justice; innocent souls are dying.

    “The press should help us so that innocent people will not keep dying in the name of curbing criminality,” she said.

    Another member of the family, Mrs Bethel Esini, said they were not allowed to see the suspects when the trio were conveyed to B Division.

    “They asked us to come the following day by 10.00, we came and waited till 2.00 p.m. but could not gain entry; but my sister waited till 7 p.m. at the police gate.

    “It was later on that Thursday evening that youths in our community showed us photographs that my brother was dead.

    “Up till now, the Police have not told us that our brother is dead.

    “The Toyota Camry car belongs to my landlord’s son and he bought it last year in Warri with the original documents,” she said.

    Meanwhile, a Warri-based human rights activist, Mr Oghenejabor Ikimi, has called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to commence independent investigation into the matter.

    Ikimi, the Executive Director of the Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Monday.

    According to him, in the Nigerian Constitution, every person is innocent until proven guilty in a law court.

    “It is in the light of the forgoing that we write this petition for you to commence an independent and unbiased investigation into the murder of an innocent and unarmed citizen.

    “Justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

    In his response to the matter, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Delta, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said the Police was saddled with the responsibility to protect citizens and not to kill them.

    “Police does not kill; our duty is to protect the citizens; that is it and we have issued a statement to that effect in Asaba,” Aniamaka said.

  • Omare emerges President of factionalised IYC

    Omare emerges President of factionalised IYC

    Eric Omare, the immediate past spokesman of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), has been elected to lead as President of the apex Ijaw youths body by one of its factions.

    The election, which ushered Omare in, alongside three other executive council members, was held in Burutu town, headquarters of Burutu council area of Delta state between Thursday, March 2 and Friday, March 3, 2017.

    The election was held in defiance to a general resolution reached in Patani, Patani council area of Delta state, by a group of stakeholders of the IYC, including past presidents, elders and leaders from different parts of nation, which called for a new convention to be held on Sunday, March 5 in Okrika, Rivers state.

    According to the stakeholders, the convention scheduled for Okrika this coming weekend, which would have been second of its kind, should produce a credible electoral committee, which should organise the body’s election.

    However, the election held in Burutu, which produced Omare as president, had the blessing of the outgoing president, Udengs Eradiri.

    Omare emerged winner with a total of 67 votes to defeat his only challenger, Justine Okubo who did not record a single vote.

    Other executives elected are Ebalakpo Parkins, secretary general; Magada Franklin, financial secretary and Henry Ayala, Spokesman.

    Omare, a lawyer by professional practice, served as the Publicity Secretary of the outgoing executive council. He is also a Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Youths and Community Matters.

    In his acceptance speech, Omare while acknowledging the crack in the IYC, said “the new IYC executive would hit the ground running as we would immediately kickstart the process of healing the wounds that arised as a result of the election.”

    Speaking earlier, the outgoing president, Udengs Eradiri, said: “I pray the new IYC exexutive carry on with the vision and mission of the IYC. Eric Omare is a man that is very grounded in the Ijaw struggle and I believe he won’t fail on this regard.”

  • Nollywood actor Okon robbed in Warri

    Nollywood actor Okon robbed in Warri

    Comic actor Ime Bishop, widely known as Okon, was robbed in Warri, Delta State on Tuesday.

    According to an Instagram post by his wife, Idara Bishop, Okon was robbed of his cash, gadgets and other valuables few hours to an event he was supposed to attend.

    “So pathetic that the more we pray for a better Nigeria, the more things become so sour,” she said.

    “Few minutes ago, I saw a strange number calling and the voice I heard was my hubby’s voice. I was surprised to see him used a strange number to call, I quote him “Baby pray for me, I’ve just been robbed by robbery men in Warri and all my gadgets and money have been taken away from me, threatening to kill me also, I’m stranded and the event I’m supposed to attend here, I can’t make it anymore, no contact to communicate with anyone for direction, except yours.”

    She however, said the thieves said they would return the phones if money is paid to them.

    “I pray only to God to touch their minds, and as they have said they will return the phones and other items taken, but only and if money will be paid to them without informing the police, which is not a problem.”

  • Lawyers, others set for 5-km run in Warri

    Members of the legal profession and residents of Warri will on Saturday  gather for a five-kilometer run tagged: “Warri Centric 5km Run”, sponsored  by a law firm, Compos Mentis Chambers and Perfectus Laundi. It was organised to kick off the new year.

    Managing Partner of Compos Mentis Chambers, Mr. Dafe  Akpedeye (SAN ) said the run is being organised to promote fitness and wellness of residents of Warri and environs.

    The “Warri Centric 5km Run”, which is first of its kind in the area is open to walkers and  runners of all ages and fitness levels.

    A statement issued by the organisers said venue is the  NNPC Housing Estate, Ekpan, Warri while  registration is now open online at https://www.truppr.com/ events/4567/warricentric-5km- run-walk.

  • DESOPADEC shut down by naked protesters in Warri

  • Warri institute signs pact with Ghanaian varsity

    The Izisco Obos Institute of Maritime Studies and Technology, Warri, Delta State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Regional Maritime University, RMU, Accra, Ghana to boost quality training of maritime personnel.

    Chief Executive Officer, Captain Isaac Oyazi, signed on behalf of Izisco Obos Institute while Prof. Elvis Nyarko signed for RMU at the Izisco Obos Institute in Warri.

    Oyazi expressed delight that Nigerian youths seeking marine education overseas now have it at their doorstep and it only requires Naira as a medium of exchange.

    Oyazi said it was with courses like Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Port and Shipping Management, and Marine Engine Mechanic approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) that the school signed the MoU with the Ghanaian institution.

    After three semesters in Nigeria, Oyazi said the students would spend a fourth semester at the RMU campus.

    The CEO further disclosed that the institution also offers short courses in ISPS Awareness, Tanker familiarization and Efficient Deckhand for the benefit of those that cannot afford the full diploma courses.

  • Delta Govt. disowns 700 staff in tertiary schools

    Delta Govt. disowns 700 staff in tertiary schools

    Over 700 academic and non-academic staff of some tertiary institutions in Delta state, whose names were not on the State’s payroll have been disowned over ‘illegal’ employment.

    The state’s Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr Jude Sinebe, announced this at a news conference in Asaba on Wednesday.

    The commissioner said there was no provision for such employment before the staff were engaged.

    “In tertiary institutions, we don’t just employ workers for the sake of employment. We only employ when there is a need for such workers.

    “This issue can be likened to a case of illegal employment and I can tell you that it is not only in the Delta Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku; we have similar cases at the State Colleges of Education in Agbor and Warri.

    “The affected staff were employed out of the institutions’ statutory provisions. The system that we operate,  does not recognise them as our staff, as such, we cannot pay them”, Sinebe said.

    The commissioner further explained that many of the schools went out of their way to employ the affected staff without recourse to approval from the state government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that many of those employed between 2013 and 2015, were lecturers, technicians, information officers, clerical officers and messengers.

  • Warri institute signs pact with Ghanaian varsity

    The Izisco Obos Institute of Maritime Studies and Technology, Warri, Delta State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Regional Maritime University, RMU, Accra, Ghana to boost quality training of maritime personnel.

    Chief Executive Officer, Captain Isaac Oyazi, signed on behalf of Izisco Obos Institute while Prof. Elvis Nyarko signed for RMU at the Izisco Obos Institute in Warri.

    Oyazi expressed delight that Nigerian youths seeking marine education overseas now have it at their doorstep and it only requires Naira as a medium of exchange.

    Oyazi said it was with courses like Marine Engineering, Nautical Science, Electrical/Electronics Engineering, Port and Shipping Management, and Marine Engine Mechanic approved by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) that the school signed the MoU with the Ghanaian institution.

    After three semesters in Nigeria, Oyazi said the students would spend a fourth semester at the RMU campus.

    The CEO further disclosed that the institution also offers short courses in ISPS Awareness, Tanker familiarization and Efficient Deckhand for the benefit of those that cannot afford the full diploma courses.

     

  • Panic as military men storm Gbaramatu communities

    Men in military gears, believed to be operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF), code-named Operation Delta Safe (ODS), on Saturday stormed two Ijaw communities in Warri South-West council area of Delta state, including Oporoza, the headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom.

    Although the mission of the men on the operation was not officially confirmed, The Nation  gathered it would be in connection with recent escalating militant activities in the area, resulting in the destruction of some critical oil facilities.

    Though efforts to get confirmation that the operations were carried out by the military were unsuccessful, it was gathered that the men broke into several houses in search of targeted persons, sending panic round by communities and causing residents to desert their homes and seek cover in the bushes.

    The soldiers were said to have arrived Oporoza at about 8am on Saturday in speedboats and gunboats, and immediately made their way into the community. The second community they reportedly visited was Tebujor.

    Chairman of Kokodiagbene community in Gbaramatu Kingdom, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, confirmed the incident when contacted on phone, noting that many residents fled to the bush upon sighting the armed soldiers.

    Mulade, who is also the National Coordinator of the Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ),  told The Nation that many of the people who fled into the bush for cover including, women and children, had not been seen.

    He called on the federal government to halt incessant harassment of their kinsmen  as many of them were already traumatised and finding it difficult to cope.

    Efforts to get spokesman of the ODS, Lt Col Olaolu Daodu, to confirm the operation, was unsuccessful.