News

Police Nab Pirates, Recover N7m, Weapons

Published

13 years ago

May 31, 2013

Men of the Nigerian Police Force, Rivers State Command, have made a major breakthrough in the fight against sea piracy across the coastal communities in the state, with the arrest of four sea pirates and recovery of the sum of N7 million from the gang.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Mbu who gave the names of the two major suspects of the gang as Alaye Adams David, ad Andals James, while the others are Asuquo Williams and a 20-year Miss Asikari Eventine, identified as the girl friend of the alleged gang’s kingpin, Mr Jackson Lucky, the owner of Jack Bar, located at No 43 Aba Road, now at large.

Mbu further disclosed that on the 8th of May, 2013, men of metro patrol attached to Citi sighted a commercial taxi with seven occupants suspected to be men of the underworld, adding that the vehicle was flagged down for stop and search.

According to him, immediately the vehicle was intercepted, two of the occupants took to their flight, saying, they were pursued and later arrested by police officials.

He disclosed that a search was conducted on them and the police recovered three computer laptop machines, 11 mobile handsets, the sum of N7,870,000 and $1,900 as well as assorted charms.

He averred that upon interrogation, the suspects confessed that the money and items found on them were proceeds from armed robbery and sea piracy operations carried out by them at the border between Bayelsa and Bonny High Sea, adding that the suspects also admitted to have stolen the sum of N30,000,000 on boarding a ship within the route.

Mbu disclosed that the suspects who hail from Nembe Community in Bayelsa State would be handed over to Bayelsa Police Command for further prosecution on related crimes committed in that state.

He said that a high-powered investigation was on-going with a view to arresting the fleeing gang leader and other members.

The state commissioner of police, Mbu Joseph Mbu, gave the name of the suspect as Ibrahim Tijani from Kogi state. He said on the 26th of May, 2013 at about 2.40pm, a distress call was received by Diobu division that a Peugeot 406 salon car had been reported stolen from Silverbird Cinema along Abonnema Wharf Road.

According to him, men of the division quickly alerted all other police formations, adding that shortly afterwards, the stolen vehicle was sighted at Leventis park area along Aba Road.

He said while the patrol team from Diobu was racing to the scene of crime, they had a fatal motor accident that led to the death of the commander of the team, one Sergeant John Adiele.

He, however, said the stolen vehicle was intercepted and the driver arrested while the vehicle was impounded by men of Mini-Okoro division.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

22 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

22 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

22 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.