Rivers

IGP Justifies Road Blocks Removal

Published

14 years ago

May 2, 2012

Acting Inspector-General of Police (AIGP), Mohammed Abubakar says the removal of police road blocks across the Nation’s roads was for the good of all Nigerians.

The acting Inspector-General of Police, who stated this during his one-day official/familiarisation visit to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, last Friday averred that the road blocks mounted in the past did more harm to the force and the nation at large than the desired good it was meant for.

According to him, such act led to the battered image of the force by members of the public who accused the force of being corrupt, adding that since the removal of the road blocks, the image of the force has improved steadily.

“The road blocks have done much harm than good. Armed robbers will stop at the check points mounted by policemen and bribe them, have their way without arrest. But today, such has become history as road blocks have gone for ever,” he added.

He disclosed that Nigerians have benefited immensely since the removal of the road blocks across the roads, adding that such measures were aimed at improving the perception of the force by members of the public.

He further disclosed that his administration will accord training and retraining of staff high premium, adding that a trained police force will perform its duties effectively to make the society better.

The police boss noted that it was in recognition of the importance of training that he declared a state of emergency on all the training institutions of the force on assumption of duty, adding that over 45,000 policemen are currently under going various training programmes within and outside the country.

He disclosed that the security challenges witnessed across the country would soon be a thing of the past, noting that there is no country in the world that is without a story of crime challenges.

The acting Inspector-General of Police identified lack of motivation, incentives and enhanced salary package as some of the impendiments affecting the performance of the force, and urged all levels of government to assist the force to function effectively.

He stated that the reason for visiting the state was to meet with various stakeholders, apart from men and officisls of the command so as to interact with them on how best the force can move forward, as well as make people accept the force in the society.

The AIP, while commending traditional rulers for their support to the force in fighting crime in the society, called on all to join hands with the police in other to enthrone a peaceful society for all.

He called for attitudinal change of people, especially in the areas of security and crime prevention among the people, and advised that people should be interested in knowing even their neighbours.

The inspector-general of Police used the medium to call on the media to stop giving promienence and publicity to criminal activities, especially the Boko Haram, adding that the force was capable of clamping down of the menace.

He thanked the state government for its support to the security operatives, especially the Police force, and assured of the force’s determination to fight crime in the country.

Earlier, the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa had commended the acting Inspector-general of Police for his visit, and assured him of the readiness of the command in fighting crime.

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

17 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.

OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”

Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.

“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.

According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.

“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.

“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.

He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.

The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.

He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.

The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

Published

17 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).

The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.

Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.

He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.

“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.

Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.

Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.

“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.

He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.

Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.

Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

Published

17 hours ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.

The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.

It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.

According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.

It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.

The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.

It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

By: King Onunwor