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Army Uncovers Skulls, Arms Cache In Omoku
The 6 Division of the Nigerian Army has crushed a criminal hideout in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State and arrested some suspects.
Military sources said the hideout is the palatial multi-million naira estate of the notorious ex-militant, repentant cultist, kidnapper, armed robber and illegal oil thief, Johnson Igwedibia, alias Don Waney at his home town, Aligwu, Omoku in Rivers State
A statement by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Col Aminu Iliyasu, also confirmed the recovery of assorted arms and ammunition, military uniforms, including hard drugs and human skulls.
In the statement, Iliyasu said, “In the early hours of Monday, 20th November, 2017, as part of their continued efforts to rid the Niger Delta of criminals and acts of criminality, troops of 6 Division Nigerian Army, based on a tip-off by some patriotic citizens, raided the camp and shrines of a notorious militant, cultist, kidnapper and ardent illegal oil bunkerer, Mr. Igwedibia Johnson (aka “Don Waney”), who has been terrorising the peace-loving Omoku community in particular, as well as the entire people of Rivers and Bayelsa states.
“After about an hour of gun fight, the gallant troops overpowered the criminal elements. Some of them scampered in disarray, and are believed to have escaped with gunshot wounds through River Orashe in Omoku.
“The troops, however, arrested seven others, including two ladies while they were trying to escape during the encounter.
“It is believed that the main kingpin, Igwedibia Johnson (aka “Don Waney”), was not at the location during the encounter as concerted efforts are on by security agencies to track, arrest and bring him to justice,” Iliyasu explained.
He further emphasised that “The troops recovered quite a number of items at both the camp and the shrines, which include; 10 human skulls, various human bones, two AK-47 rifles, one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), and 18 AK-47 rifle magazines.”
The statement stressed that the Army also recovered, “Four pairs of military camouflage, five camouflage T-Shirts, three Fabrique Nationale (FN) rifle magazines, 39 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) ammunition, 20 rounds of 9mm ammunition and one round of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition.
“Others are two bags weighing about 25kg containing substances believed to be Cannabis (Marijuana), three ICOM Hand-held Radios and two MAG ONE Hand-held Radios,” it added.
The statement quoted the Headquarters of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, as thanking the good people of Omoku and Rivers State, for the timely information and understanding while also soliciting for their continued support in the Army’s determined effort to rid the area of militants, cultists, illegal oil bunkerers and kidnappers.
Community sources said that the ex-militant leader and repentant cultist, was reportedly shot in the wee hours of Monday alongside other of his lieutenants by the local security task force during a joint operation in the area.
It would be recalled that in October, last year, the militant leader and cultist embraced the Rivers State Government amnesty programme, and surrendered some arms and ammunition, with a pledge to completely retrace his steps in perpetuating crimes and criminality.
He had been accused in some quarters of being responsible for most of the criminal activities, violent killings, among others, in the Omoku and Ahoada areas, including the East-West Road and Bayelsa State.
Sources said that the cult leader had continued in his criminal enterprise even after receiving the state pardon from the Rivers State Government.
However, conflicting reports have emerged since the Monday gun duel, with his whereabouts yet unknown.
Meanwhile, speculations are rift that the ex-militant leader was killed in the gun battle.
His death has not been confirmed by the authorities.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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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
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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.
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