Niger Delta

Militants kill Police Inspector, Seize Two AK-47 Riffles In Bakassi

Published

6 years ago

June 24, 2020

Pandemonium was let loose in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River state, Tuesday, when men suspected to be militants, allegedly attacked the Police check point, killed an Inspector and went away with two AK-47 riffles.

The identity of the late Police officer could not be established as at press time. However, an eyewitnesses, who did not want his name mentioned, said the incident happened at a checkpoint between Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas, l normally referred to as ‘Welcome to Bakassi,’ as the invaders made away with two AK-47 rifles.

While praying for a peaceful repose of the late officer’s soul, the eyewitness said, “that incident is a very sad one, we have lost a gallant police officer. The man did not know that he will not meet with his family as he left for work. He died a painful death. May God accept his soul.”

Also speaking, the Chairman of Bakassi local government council, Hon Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, lamented that people would have the temerity to take the life of an innocent Police officer without any form of provocation.

He appealed to pockets of militants in the area, who were yet to embrace the State government amnesty programme, to drop their weapons

and embrace peace to help the local government area move forward.

In his words, “Bakassi local government area has a lot of challenges; from refugees and internally displaced persons challenges, infrastructural development and insecurity. Today, I had a security meeting in the council and we resolved to make that particular check point, where the incident happened, a joint checkpoint to be manned by combined forces.

“These forces should include Army, Police, Immigration, Navy, Civil Defence and other security outfits since the Police seem to have no adequate manpower to man the area effectively,” he noted.

The Permanent Secretary in charge of Security in Governor’s office, Dr. Alfred Mboto, who also spoke, confirmed the reports and lamented the level of impunity the attackers displayed.

When asked whether or not the incident could have been linked to the community, Dr Mboto said “It is not the community that shot the policeman. It was the hoodlums who went to the Welcome to Bakassi check point and attacked the Police. They shot one of the Policemen who later died and they took away two AK-47 rifles.

“The hoodlums outnumbered the Police. The dead Policeman was an Inspector and efforts are on top gear to see how the Police can recover the guns,” he said.

It would be recalled that Governor Ben Ayade had, in December 2018, granted amnesty to hundreds of Bakassi Strike Force Militants. The group was then led by one Benjamin Ene, alias ‘G1’who was thereafter appointed Special Adviser for Maritime Security.

From Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.

OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.

He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.

Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.

Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi, identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.

Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.

Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.

Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.

The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.

They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.

The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.

The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.

It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.

During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.

Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.

The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.

He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.

On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.

He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.

The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.

Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.

He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.

“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.

The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.

He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.

”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.

Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.

He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.

In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.

She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.