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Bayelsa Killing: Police Nab Five …As Militants Release Victim, Two Expatriates

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At least, five suspects are alleged to have been arrested by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF)  in the early hours of Wednesday in connection with the dastardly killing of 12 policemen and have since been handed over to the Bayelsa State Police Command for interrogations.

Although the police in the state are yet to confirm the number of arrests and to establish whether the suspects are directly involved in the conspiracy and killing of the policemen, they were said to have been apprehended where they were relaxing in their homes.

‘’After interrogations, we shall be able to determine whether they are part of the criminal gang that killed the policemen,” said a security man who took part in the arrest.

Speaking yesterday at a news conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Kingsley Omire, said that the command was making progress in the investigation of the killing of 12 of its men in Azuzuama waterways in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state last Saturday.

Omire explained that everything was being done to bring the killers of the policemen to book, adding, “we are doing a lot on the case and our actions will show that we are working and at the appropriate time, we will inform the public on the progress.

“It will be premature and prejudicial to comment on the number of arrests so far made; at the moment, it is not in our strategic interest to make further comments.”

But a top security agent in the state, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed to The Tide in Yenagoa, that one of the suspects hails from Azuzuama community, while others are from other parts of Bayelsa and Delta States.

The source added that security agencies had intensified their search to track down more suspects linked with the killing of the policemen.

Omire, however, said that the search by security agents for the killers of the 12 policemen last Saturday has yielded positive results, adding that the search team last Tuesday recovered 10 bodies of the slain officers.

He confirmed that the decomposing bodies of 10 out of the 12 slain police men have been deposited at the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

Meanwhile, The Tide learnt yesterday that one of the remaining policemen still missing has been released by the militants, and is now reunited with his family in Bayelsa State.

The 31-year old Lucky Edobie, who hails from Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state, is said to have served the police for seven years.

He was said to be among the 15 police escorts detailed to provide security protection to the team of officials on the burial tour to Azuzuama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, when the militants attacked their boat last Saturday.

Sources told The Tide in Yenagoa yesterday, that Lucky Edobie was released last Wednesday by the militants, who had taken him captive to their camp in the creeks for interrogation, after the attack, even as he was reeling in a pool of blood, following bullet wounds he sustained from the exchange of gunfire between the police and the attackers.

Reliable security sources said that Lucky was released to the police high command in the state, along with two other expatriates initially held hostage, after a ransom of N1million had been paid.

It was gathered that Lucky was admitted at the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where he was treated of injuries sustained from bullet wounds, and discharged, yesterday.

Our source said that Lucky met three expatriates at the camp of the militants in the creeks, saying that one of the expatriates, apparently from Greece, was still being held by the militants.

Brother of the released police officer, Victor Edobie, who confirmed Lucky’s re-union with his family in an interview, thanked God for saving the life of his brother.

When contacted, Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, Alex Akhigbe, declined to comment on the release and any further details therefrom, but added that he would get back to our correspondent.

Akhigbe, however, did not get back to us as at press time.

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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo

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The Sole Administrator of Emohua Local Government Area, Barr. Franklin Ajinwo, has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to supporting community development, peace, and progress, describing it as his life’s calling.
Ajinwo made this known on when Okporowo Vanguard—a foremost association dedicated to driving sustainable development in Okporowo community—paid him a courtesy visit at the Council Secretariat, Emohua.

Speaking during the visit, the Emolga  Council boss advised the group to shun internal wranglings and leadership tussles, cautioning that such impediments could undermine their collective goals. He emphasized that unity is strength, and true power comes only from God.

Highlighting his ongoing efforts in repositioning standards within Emohua Local Government, Barr. Ajinwo commended Okporowo Vanguard for initiating plans to conduct large-scale skills acquisition training for young people in Okporowo. He assured them of his steadfast support towards such developmental initiative.

The former Chairman of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) in Rivers State stressed the need for selfless service, saying it is essential for achieving peace, unity, and development in any community.

He applauded the group’s vision of empowering youths through skills acquisition, aligning it with global best practices aimed at reducing dependency on white-collar jobs.

Earlier, the President of Okporowo Vanguard, Hon. Israel Emeji, outlined Barr. Ajinwo’s numerous and impactful contributions to the development of Okporowo community.

According to him, every family in the community has benefited from Barr. Ajinwo’s dedicated employment initiatives.

Hon. Emeji disclosed that during his tenure as Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA) and as NULGE Chairman, Barr. Ajinwo facilitated the employment of over five hundred (500) individuals from Okporowo community—a record that informed the association’s decision to honour him with the Excellent Leadership Award.

In a vote of thanks, the Secretary of the group, Dr. Okechukwu Godwin Amadi, praised Barr. Ajinwo’s outstanding leadership and unwavering support, both before and after his appointment as Sole Administrator.

He thanked him for the warm reception and appreciated members of Okporowo Vanguard for their strong turnout and continuous support for the present administration.

In their separate remarks, Barr. Kelvin Ajinwo, Chief Polycarp Ndala, and other dignitaries present prayed for God’s continued guidance and protection over Barr. Ajinwo, describing him as a divine gift to the Okporowo community.

They expressed hope that he would be granted even more leadership opportunities to further uplift the living standards of the people.

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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP  …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

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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

 

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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman 

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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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