News

Aluu 4: Dismissed Sergeant Indicts DPO

Published

12 years ago

April 11, 2014

A dismissed police sergeant, Lucky Orji, who is the second accused in the murder case involving the four undergraduate students of the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State has alleged that the action taken by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Isiokpo Divisional Headquarters in Ikwerre Local Government Area, Supol Daniel Udeze was responsible for the death of the students.

Sergeant Orji said this yesterday during the trial-within-trial session at the resumption of the case at the Port Harcourt High Court presided over by Justice Letan L. Nyordee.

He told the court that the late Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, Cross River State, had during the investigation of the matter at the state Central Intelligence Department (CID) in Port Harcourt, declared that the DPO was culpable as a result of the directive he gave to the patrol team to withdraw from the scene of crime following a distress call by the commander of the patrol team, ASP Nwogu Anamekem.

According to him, the late AIG after conducting the investigation, blamed the DPO for issuing such order, and ordered that the DPO should be under the custody of the assistant commissioner of police in charge of the CID in the state.

He explained that his team was assigned 24-hour routine patrol check at the Isiokpo Divisional Police headquarters and four others under the command of ASP Nwogu, adding that on the 5th of October, 2012, while on patrol, they met over a 3,000-member mob at Omokiri-Aluu, who held the students hostage.

Orji disclosed that the police team after forcing themselves through the human barricade, had a breakthrough and secured the custody of the boys alive, adding that after they secured custody of the boys, the mob later regrouped to attack them.

“My Lord, we were under attack, the mob wanted to kill us, they pounced us and threw bottles and blocks at us,” he declared.

Orji stated that the situation forced the commander of the team to put a call across to the DPO, who ordered that they should pull out from the scene of crime.

He averred that when the video clip was played before the AIG and the patrol team that went to the scene of the crime, he was not seen involved in the act, adding that his arrest by the police was manipulated by the superior officers at the state Central Intelligence Department (CID).

It would be recalled that four students of UNIPORT, Ubonna Obuzor, Lloyd Toku Mike, Tekena Elkanah and Chiadika Biringa were killed by angry mob on October 5, 2012, for which the second accused person allegedly participated in the mob action.

The authorities of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) headquarters had announced the dismissal of Sergeant Lucky Orji from the force due to his alleged complicity in the matter, and has since been standing trial over the incident.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

23 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

1 day 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

1 day 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.