Niger Delta

Prophet Narrates Experiences In Hands Of Kidnappers

Published

13 years ago

October 23, 2013

The General Overseer of
Divine Winners Ministry International, Prophet Confidence Ozor narrated his experiences in the hands of kidnappers, saying it was not a pleasant one.
Prophet Ozor who was kidnapped at Owerri, Imo state while attending a crusade was released by his abductors last Tuesday after spending five days in the hands of the kidnappers whom he said confessed to him that they were hired to kill him due to his overwhelming and spiritual prowess which had made him to win so much members within a short period of his stay in Bayelsa State.
Prophet Ozor’s freedom did not come without payment of ransom money of five million naira to his abductors.
Narrating his ordeal, the Anambra state-born cleric said he would still consult his God before he would be able to understand the whole scenario, saying, “people don’t like success”.
He said, “I travelled to my village with my team on Thursday and that day I also stopped by to see my God’s son in Irete town, very close to Owerri, the capital of Imo state, who was preparing for his birthday that was coming up on the 17th of October, and I am supposed to be one of the guest speakers at the occasion.
“As I was having a look at the posters, six men just barged on us and forced us into my car but my car refused to start, they forced us out to my God son’s car and took us away.
“Immediately, they started beating us and collected all our belongings, blindfolded us and took us to a faraway desert .On getting to their destination, they started asking us how much we have in our account and all of that,
“When we said we don’t have any money in our account they continued with the beating. In fact, they fired five shots at us but I don’t know what happened but it did not enter, at that point, they asked us what kind of charms are we using.
They went back to the car and searched, saw bottles of olive oil and Bible, they broke the olive oil and threw the bible into the bush, came back to us and started using the head of the gun on us”.
“They claimed to have been monitoring me and they said something as if pastors are behind it, they also asked whether I am the only pastor in Bayelsa State that am so known every where for this little time I have spent in the state”.
“When I tried to tell them that am a pastor I don’t deserve this kind of treatment, they said they were given order to kill me and not to negotiate any ransom but one of them noticed that we are from the same place, a nearby village to my own, he now took it upon himself and said to me he will make sure am not killed as earlier planned”.
The prophet said, it was at that point that they asked him to contact somebody to bring N50 million, with stern warning not to involve the police, but they later brought it down to N5 million after much negotiation with my people.
When asked why he did not have the premonition as a man of God, he explained that for the past two weeks, he had noticed weakness in him and had asked his prayer warriors to pray against impending danger, but he never knew the manner the danger would come
He, however, said that the incident had proved the power of God to,protect His own at all times, promising his resolve to carry on with the task of saving souls for the Creator.

Niger Delta

850-bed UCTH overstretched, services 5m patients – CMD

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.

He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.

The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.

According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.

“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.

“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.

He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.

According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.

Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.

He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.

The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.

“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.

“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said

In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.

He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.

The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.

He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.

According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.

The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.

The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.

Niger Delta

Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.

She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.

The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.

AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.

“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.

“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.

According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.

Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.

“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.

He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.

“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.

Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.

CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.

The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.

Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.