News
LG Boss Imposes Curfew OverKillings
The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Council of Rivers State, Chief Oji Ngofa, has imposed a 10-hour curfew within Eleme metropolis.
Our reporter learnt that the curfew which begins at 9pm and ends 6am is part of efforts to check the spate of recent killings and threat to security within Eleme land.
Our investigation revealed that insecurity of lives had heightened in recent times in Eleme with the latest killing of Mr Mike Ejire Kattey, a prominent youth leader of Aleto Community by yet to be identified gunmen
The late Mike Kattey family told our reporter that the yet to be indentified killers were over 15 in number, all dressed in black T-Shirts.
The elder brother of Mike Kattey said the men invaded the residence of his younger brother at about 1.am on the fateful day and broke into his house through the kitchen door and shot him dead in the presence of his wife.
He said the younger brother died on their way to Teme Hospital in Port Harcourt that night.
Mr Kattey said that no single item was removed from his late brother’s house by his killers.
There has been rising concern over insecurity in Eleme in the past weeks as prominent chiefs and other stakeholders call for the deployment of men of the Joint Military Task Force to Eleme.
Investigations further revealed that Mr Jonah Bode of Aleto community recently was shot by yet unknown persons during the burial of his step mother, late Chief Osila Bode.
The Tide gathered that Jonah is currently being treated at Teme Hospital for the gun shot injury.
Last Thursday, our reporter was informed that one Mr Promise Nwolu of Okerewa community was also shot by yet to be identified persons. He was rushed to Teme Hospital where he is currently receiving treatment.
All efforts to speak with the two victims proved abortive as family members told our reporter that they were having rest.
When our reporter visited the Eleme Council Headquarters last Friday, Ogale, he was directed to see the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the chairman, retired SSS personnel, Chief Wuwu Onungwe, who said the council chairman had reported the upsurge in criminal activities and crime rate to the appropriate authorities.
He further said that the council in partnership with the security agencies had put in place security measures to checkmate the rising crime rate in Eleme.
Onungwe said “ the council’s chairman, as a responsible leader, has approved the immediate formation of vigilante groups to operate within the ten clans of Eleme.
The CSO said the curfew was to restrict movement for the security personnel to monitor events and not to intimidate any law-abiding citizen, adding that Eleme remained peaceful and safe to all Nigerians, including foreign investors.
When our reporter visited Eleme Divisional Police Headquarters, Ogale, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Kayode Sinclair said the division had set up a crack team directly under his supervision and headed by one Inspector Saviour Etim to deal with the situation.
The DPO appealed to members of the public to give useful information to the police about any suspicious acts or movements in Eleme and communities within the local government area.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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