News
Police Confirm Arrest Of Killer Cops … As Scrap Dealers Petition IG
The Scrap Dealers Association has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to fish out the policemen that killed a member of the association, Mr. Chima Onyeogaziri, at Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital last week.
The Tide learnt that Onyeogari (30) from Ogborugiri in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State was having lunch when he was hit by a bullet allegedly fired by a trigger-happy policeman, who had been identified as Yahaya Mohammed after an argument with a truck driver.
It was revealed that trouble started when a team of three policemen trailed and blocked a truck loaded with iron scraps to the main gate of the popular scrap dump at Eleme Junction in Eleme local government area of Rivers state.
The policemen, according to the Chairman of Scrap Dealers Association in Port Harcourt, Mr. Uche Onyegbule, had requested the receipt of the scraps loaded at the back of the truck be provided.
Onyegbule told journalists in Port Harcourt yesterday that the policemen immediately ordered that the truck follow them to Elelenwo Police Station after the receipt of the scraps was shown to them.
He said, “the driver pleaded with them to allow him to move away from the gate and park the truck by the side of the road. One of the policemen identified as Yahaya Mohammed started shooting sporadically.
“While one of the bullets grazed the stomach of the driver, Onyeogaziri was not lucky because a stray bullet hit him on his forehead. Onyeogaziri and the truck driver were rushed to the hospital. Onyeogaziri later died on the way to the hospital.
Onyegbule called on the police to ensure that justice was done in the matter, adding that their brother and member of the association must not die in vain.
Commenting on the matter, the President of Mbano Brothers’ Youth Association, Mr. Ignatius Unachukwu, said the deceased would have been alive if the police were prompt in rushing him and the driver to the hospital.
Unachukwu explained that the doctors at one of the hospitals where the Onyeogaziri was first taken to by his friends rejected the deceased before he was taken to the police station at Elelenwo.
According to Unachukwu, “the police officers tried to take them to another hospital, but Chima (Onyeogaziri) died on the way. We don’t want the matter to be swept under the carpet. If the policemen did not run away after the incident and rushed Chima to the hospital, he would not have died.”
Speaking on the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ahmad Mohammad, said investigation into the matter was ongoing.
Mohammad, who disclosed that members of the patrol team that went on the operation had been picked up, promised that justice would be done in the matter.
According to him, “All the men that were in the patrol team were arrested. We are assuring that justice must be done in the matter.”
News
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.
-
Politics2 days ago
Obey Order On AA In Six Days, Court Directs INEC, Yakubu
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Cancer Risk: HYPREP, IARC Launch Human Biometric Study in Ogoniland
-
Sports2 days ago
Coach Eager To Transform El Kanemi Warriors
-
News2 days ago
Presidency Faults US Visa Restrictions On Nigerians, Demands Fair Treatment
-
Politics2 days ago
PDP Still Formidable Ahead 2027 – Nat’l Youth Leader
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Commissioner Explains Oborevwori’s Retirement Age Extentoon For Associate Profs
-
Politics2 days ago
Civic Duty, Not Politics Necessitated My Engagement With Abacha – Obi
-
Sports2 days ago
Oyibu predicts success for Team Nigeria at Athletics Championships