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Rivers LG Polls: Police Deploy 20,000

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The Rivers police command, has deployed 20,000 policemen for the local government elections in the state scheduled for tomorrow.

Mr Suleiman Abba, the Commissioner of Police in the state, told a newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that other law enforcement officers would also be required.

Abba warned politicians and their supporters against unlawful brandishing of weapons during and after the polls or snatching election materials.

The commissioner explained that the police would deal decisively with culprits.

Abba further warned against violence at the polling units and collation centres, just as he insisted that malpractices would not be tolerated.

He said that bribery, corruption, impersonation, underage voting and disorderly conduct at the polling units, among others, would not be tolerated during the election.

The police chief advised politicians, their supporters and voters to conduct themselves in a peaceful manner, assuring that the police would diligently enforce the law.

The commissioner urged the police and other security personnel to make themselves accessible and approachable to all, warning politicians against moving from one polling unit to the other.

According to him, security operatives will arrest and prosecute politicians who contravene the law because politicians are not expected to monitor the election.

He added that there would be no movements as from 10 p.m. on Friday to 6 a.m. on Saturday, saying that the curfew would be strictly enforced by security operatives.

Abba said that all the flash points in the state would be adequately patrolled to avoid break down of law and order.

He commended the Rivers government for installing CCTV cameras at strategic locations in Port Harcourt, saying it had helped the police in crime detection and prevention.

Meanwhile, Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission says it has recruited 16,000 ad-hoc staff in readiness to ensure the conduct of free and fair local government elections in the 21 out of the 23 local government areas in Rivers State.

Commissioner for Communication and Civil Education, Hon Nimi Walson-Jack who stated this while briefing journalists said this yesterday Saturday’s elections was significant because it would be the  second election in the present commission would conduct, adding that the election would not hold in two local government areas, Degema and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.

He explained that elections would not hold in Degema because the last election was held in November 2010 while the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni  election outcome was still in court.

The commissioner noted that 60 political parties had indicated interest to contest the chairmanship and councillorship seats in the 21 local government councils in the state.

Walson-Jack explained that the 60 political parties were not fielding candidates for all the seats in the councillors and chairmen.

According to him, in order to avoid litigations for exclusion, the commission designed ballot papers to accommodate the 60 political parties, but voters would only vote within the jurisdictions of their local governments and wards.

In collation of results, the commissioner said presiding officers would take into consideration only the votes cast for the contesting parties in that particular wards or local governments.

He said RSIEC will only supervise the elections and that the commission would not be at the polling centres, adding that the polling centres would be manned by 16,000 ad-hoc staff of the commission

“The ad-hoc staff have been recruited through open process, shortlisted and trained in order to update their knowledge of  the modified voting process”.

He, however, said they were counting on the dedication and commitment of these ad-hoc staff that would guarantee free and fair elections.

He warned that ballot boxes with ballot papers should not be taken away from the units without votes being counted, stating that after the elections, the votes would be counted at the units before they area taken to the collation centres.

He further warned that collation centres are for the addition of figures not for counting of votes.

According to him, it was the responsibility of voters to ensure that their votes are counted, recorded and announced to them. Walson-Jackson said the 9.am time was to allow all materials to get to the polling units in all the local government areas, assuring that personnel and materials would arrive on eve of the elections.

He said the security of voters, ad-hoc staff had been guaranteed by security agencies, stating that restriction of movement had been ordered from Friday night to Saturday morning.

The commissioner said by the Rivers State Electoral Law as amended, it is an electoral offence to gather not for the purpose of the election and enjoined residents to cancel all social programmes.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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