Niger Delta

Police Rescue Spaniard From Abductors

Published

13 years ago

March 11, 2013

The police in Edo have rescued a Spaniard, Mr Jose-Anthonio Murili-Turrilo, from his abductors in Benin, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Foluso Adebanjo, said.

Adebanjo announced the development to newsmen in Benin while giving an update on the arrest of crime suspects in the state.

He said he received a telephone call on Saturday that the Spaniard was being held in a hotel and consequently the police mobilised to rescue him from his abductors.

He said the two suspected kidnappers, aged 28 and 25, were arrested at the scene.

Adebanjo said a Nigerian woman deported from Spain, who was the lover of the Spaniard, lured him from Spain to Nigeria.

He said the Spaniard was made to withdraw all money in his domiciliary account.

The commissioner said when the suspects discovered that their victim had no money on him, they forced him to call his sister in Spain to send 2,000 Euros to them before they could allow him to return to Spain.

He said the sister in Spain reported the incident to INTERPOL in Spain, who contacted their Nigerian counterparts.

Adebanjo said the victim had since been handed over to INTERPOL.

In a related development, the Police Command in Edo arrested four suspected kidnappers, seven armed robbery suspects and four suspected cult members.

The suspected kidnappers, aged 25 to 37 years, kidnapped an employee of Pipelines Products Marketing Company from his farm on February 17, the commissioner said.

He said the police rescued the victim unhurt on Feb. 20, arrested the suspects and recovered four locally-made guns, six cartridges, one expended cartridge and two masks and a pair of gloves from them.

Adebanjo said the police also arrested two suspected armed robbers and recovered one locally-made pistol, one single barrel gun, N63,940, two Nokia cell phones, one blackberry, two cartridges and a school bag from them.

He said the police also arrested a car snatching gang, based in Warri, Delta, but operating in Benin, while it was attempting to snatch a Toyota Camry, from the owner at Emulu village.

Adebanjo said the police also arrested four suspected cult members as well as a 22-year-old man, who allegedly killed his father-in-law.

He said the 22-year-old man allegedly conspired with a 20-year-old herdsman to murder another herdsman, named Idirisu Jubril, to enable them to steal Idirisu’s father’s cows.

Niger Delta

Delta Begins Uromi Junction Flyover Construction

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Delta State Government says it has began construction work on the long-awaited Uromi Junction Flyover Bridge in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

Director-General (DG) of the Delta State Bureau for Orientation and Communications, Dr. Fred Oghenesivbe, confirmed the development to newsme in Asaba.

According to him, heavy-duty construction equipment have arrived the site, a project which is being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, one of the country’s leading construction firms.

Oghenesivbe, described the flyover as a massive infrastructure project with far-reaching socio-economic benefits for the area.

He said the project would significantly transform the Agbor metropolis by easing traffic congestion, improving the city’s aesthetics, and boosting commercial activities within the local government area.

He described the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, as a promise-keeper and pragmatic leader whose administration remains committed to infrastructure development and economic growth across the state.

The DG expressed confidence in Julius Berger’s capacity to deliver the project within record time and according to the highest construction standards.

“The Uromi Junction serves as a major link between different parts of the country but has recently been plagued by severe traffic congestion, making vehicular movement increasingly difficult”, he noted.

He urged residents to cooperate with the contractor and safeguard construction materials and equipment to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Rejects Ekid Ownership Claim Of Stubbs Creek

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims by the Ekid People’s Union that it owns land within the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, describing such assertions as “false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

In a recent statement, signed by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, the state government said it was compelled to respond in the “overriding public interest,” despite a pending court case instituted by the same group.

The government stated that contrary to claims circulating in the media, the historic case of Ntiaro and Ikpak vs. Ibok Etok Akpan and Edoho Ekid, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1918, did not vest ownership of Stubbs Creek land in any ethnic group or community.

“The final judgement merely dismissed the claims before the court and granted title to no party whatsoever”, the government stated, adding that “any assertion to the contrary is false, misleading and a distortion of the judicial record.”

According to the statement, the land was lawfully reserved by the colonial government under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930, later amended in 1941, 1955 and 1962, with “the principal rights of the land forfeited to the Government upon the change of status.”

It said the area has since been administered under applicable laws by the Akwa Ibom State Government, which “has at all times acted within its lawful authority in the management and allocation of land in the area for legitimate public and economic purposes.”

Citing the 1999 Constitution and the Land Use Act, the government stated that all land in the state is vested in the governor to be held in trust for the common benefit of Nigerians, noting that claims of absolute ancestral ownership are subject to existing laws.

The government “categorically denies allegations of fraud or misrepresentation” regarding Stubbs Creek or investments there and warned it would take “appropriate legal steps” against any individual or group publishing false or defamatory material capable of undermining public confidence or discouraging investment

The statement also assured the federal government of “full access and Right of Way” for the proposed Coastal Highway through any part of the state.

The government statement followed an earlier report in which the Ekid People’s Union accused Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State of making comments that allegedly linked the community to terrorism, while he was defending the Coastal Highway project passing through the Stubbs Creek.

Ekid People’s Union maintained that the people of Ekid are the original owners of the land known as Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, arguing that their ancestral ownership predates colonial rule.

The group cited historical occupation, customary ownership and a 1918 Privy Council case, which it claimed affirmed Ekid rights over the territory.

The union also accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of misrepresenting history to justify taking over the land for commercial interests and the proposed Coastal Highway, an allegation the state government has denied.

The group rejected any suggestion linking the Ekid people to criminality or terrorism, insisting they were peaceful citizens defending their ancestral land through lawful and civic means.

Niger Delta

Diri Mourns Ex-Federal Lawmaker, Brambaifa

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed sadness over the demise of former federal lawmaker, Senator John Kojo Brambaifa.

The late Senator Brambaifa, who represented the State’s West Senatorial District in the 5th National Assembly between 2003 and 2007 died on Saturday in a hospital in Abuja at the age of 81.

In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the Bayelsa Governor described Senator Brambaifa, popularly known as JKB, as an illustrious son of the state.

Governor Diri stated that the late former lawmaker was an astute politician, who distinguished himself in public service.

“Bayelsa and Nigeria have lost an elder statesman, amiable gentleman, astute politician and a great community leader.

“Brambaifa left a legacy of unblemished and committed service to Nigeria, the old Rivers State, Bayelsa and indeed his community.

“On behalf of the Government of Bayelsa State, I extend sincere condolences to the Brambaifa family and the Agbere community in Sagbama Local Government Area, where he hailed from”, Diri said.

The Governor urged his family and community to be comforted by Brambaifa’s meritorious service and remarkable public and political career.

The Tide gathered that until his death, Senator Brambaifa was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the fledgling Federal University of Agriculture, Nembe-Bassambiri, in the Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

He was also a past chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council in the old Rivers State as well as a former chairman of the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa