Niger Delta

Religious Leaders Dissociate Selves From Youth Protest In C’River

Published

11 years ago

August 12, 2015

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Dr. Ipalibo Harry- Banigo (2nd left), supervising the cutting of wedding cake of the newly wedded couple, Lt and Mrs. Bonaventure Obonyano, during the wedding reception in Port Harcourt on Saturday

Religious Leaders in
Obubra Local Government Area of Cross River State has dissociated themselves from last week youth protest against Council Chairman Dr. Kerian Mfam.
The religious leader threatened to file a legal suit against youths if they don‘t refrain from linking the name of the religious institution in a protest staged by Youths against Council Chairman stressing that they know nothing about the protest.
The reaction follows newspapers publications that the religious leaders in the area had participated in a protest staged by Obubra youth against alleged plan by incumbent Chairman to seek for a 2nd term in office when Local Government elections begin next year and that they are not being carried along.
Speaking to journalists in Ovunum Community, Branch Chairman for Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Obubra branch Rev. Emmanuel Tabershima and his Islamic counterpart, Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim Isa, maintained that the religious leaders could not have participated in the protest given the fact that council chairman is a friend to the Mosque and the church.
They said that such allegation was ridiculous and absurd adding that Council chairman had not offended them or shirked away from his responsibility to deserve such a kind of maltreatment.
“We don`t know these youths, we have no business with them. Why would we participate in a strike that is anti-chairman when we are always carried along by the chairman? Dr. Mfam had always attended our programmes when we invited him to the church.”The CAN chairman said.
The Muslim leader averred that the council Chairman had been instrumental to the success of the Sallah festival adding that the Council boss had always carried them along and called for caution from the protesting youths so as not to incur the wrath of Allah.
The religious leaders averred that as far as there are concerned no protest issue was included in any agenda of their meetings and warned that no one should henceforth include their names in matters of such nature without their consent, otherwise appropriate sanctions would be meted out to the erring group.
Also reacting on the issue, Public Relations Officer for Obubra branch of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr. Stanley Ovat said, “we disassociate ourselves from the stage-managed protest and disown these group of youths for going on rampage without seeking the consent of the youth Exco,” he queried.
“we don`t know these youths who we learnt carried out the protest purported to be against council chairman, we know that they were sponsored by some disgruntled element aspiring to take over from our council chairman, this is totally unacceptable,” the PRP said.
“How could they have stage a protest without youths Exco who are superintending activities of youths at grass root level?” The PRO queried.
National President of Obubra Central Women Osopom I, Mrs. Kate Willy Esangha accused those claimed that council Chairman was not carrying them along as detractors and said that the council boss was down to earth and accessible, responsive and had always met the womenfolk at the time of need.
When contacted on phone for comment the council chairman said he had no comment and said, “I do not have time to provide answers to these allegations that are base on falsehood. I am interested in doing council work which I was duly elected for. In any case I had not told anyone that I want to vying for a second term.”

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.