News
Group Petitions Gov, RVHA Over Egbeda Cult Crisis …Police Intensify Search For Cultists
Egbeda Ronflict Resolution and Project Committee has petitioned the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, the Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani and Emohua Local Government Chairman, Hon. Tom Aliezi over the wanton destruction of lives and property in the area.
The letter, dated August 30, 2018 and addressed to the above named political office holders, called for urgent attention to the simmering crisis in the community.
The letter also, among other things, demanded audience with the committee’s executive to find lasting solution to the cult supremacy battle in the community, which had claimed many lives in the area, and caused the destruction of properties worth millions of Naira.
The petition, which was signed by the Committees’ President, Comrade Chibuzor Ogbuji catalogued the plethora of woes which the community had suffered in recent times in the wake of renewed cult violence.
In a related development, thousands of Egbeda people have fled their homes following the upsurge of cult violence in the area.
A spokesman for the community and the Chairman of Egbeda Conflicts Resolution and Project Committee, Comrade Chibuzor Ogbuji criticized the Emohua Local Government Council for blatant complacency in the summering cult crisis in the community.
According to him, “When the chairman was contacted, he told the committee that he was not the chairman of Egbeda but Emohua Local Council”.
Ogbuji expressed regret that instead of Aliezi championing the restoration of peace in Egbeda, he elected to trade blames.
Responding to a question from The Tide, yesterday, the Emohua Local government Chairman, Hon. Tom Aliezi said the community was not ready for peace.
Aliezi noted that there was nothing the council could do in the circumstances.
The council chairman, who spoke in a phone chat, expressed hopelessness in the handling of the Egbeda crisis.
The group has not received any response yet from the authorities.
Meanwhile, the police in Rivers State say they have began a manhunt for suspected cultists who shot and killed leader of a rival group in Egbeda and Ubimini communities in Emuoha Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesman of the Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni disclosed this to The Tide in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
It would be recalled that the notorious cult leader identified as Mathias was killed, last weekend.
Omoni, while confirming the incident in a telephone interview, said investigations into the cause of the killing and those behind the incident have intensified.
“Yes, we (the police) are aware of the incident. Right now, we are still investigating the killing, and our men are combing the area; although no arrest has been made yet.
“We advise youths to steer clear of cultism and related vices capable of endangering their future,” the police image maker said.
Our reporter learnt that Mathias, believed to be the leader of Iceland cult group, was shot dead by a rival cult gang in the area in a battle of supremacy.
The slain dreaded cultist, who was an indigene of Ubimini, was killed when he went to assist his gang members in Egbeda to fight a rival cult group.
His death, according to a community source, has led many natives and non-indigenes to flee for fear of a reprisal attack.
The source, who gave his name as Nelson (surname withheld), said the community received news about the cult leader’s death with mixed feelings.
The Egbeda Community Development Committee Chairman, Ukwoha Omereji, corroborated the views of the police image maker that security personnel have been deployed to the community.
Omereji, therefore, called on residents of Egbeda community, who fled the area to return.
Chidi Enyie, John Bibor & Dennis Naku
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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