News

Gbaraka’s Killing: Justice’ll Be Served, CP Assures Rivers People

Published

5 years ago

November 25, 2020

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan, has said that the erring officer who allegedly shot Mr. Gospel Gbaraka, a security guard attached to a company in Port Harcourt, has been detained, and was undergoing internal disciplinary procedures.
The commissioner made this known when the family of the deceased paid him a visit at his office in Port Harcourt.
Mukan assured the family of late Gospel Gbaraka that justice would be served in the matter.
While consoling the family of the deceased, he urged them to remain resolute, saying that the police would ensure justice in the matter.
Earlier, the father of the deceased, Mr. Innocent Gbaraka, said that he needs justice for his late son as he was the only hope of his survival.
He added that if justice did not prevail in the matter, he has no option than to commit suicide.
Innocent called on the police authorities to ensure justice for his son, urging the Inspector General of Police, the state Commissioner of Police and well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that justice was served in the matter.
“I was in church when somebody came to call me that my son, who left for work, has been killed. I thought it was a joke. He took me to UPTH where I saw my son in uniform lying dead.
“When I asked the supervisor of the company what happened, he said a policeman working in the same company with my son shot him dead. I don’t know what my son did that he killed him.
“I don’t have anything to say than: let justice prevail. I don’t have anybody else, I am crying because that is a boy I suffered to train. I am finished. He was my only hope. If not for my wife, I would have hanged myself because I don’t know what I am doing here again. I will hang myself if justice does not prevail,” he cried.
Reacting, the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign (CBRPAC) called for an immediate and unbiased investigation into the incident to unravel the circumstances that led to the shooting of the deceased.
The Secretary, Board of Trustees of CBRPAC, Prince Wiro, called on the police authorities to ensure that the investigation was concluded in record time, and anybody found culpable, made to face the law.
However, youths under the platform of Ogoni Youths Federation (OYF) have demanded justice for their murdered brother, urging the Commissioner of Police in the state, Joseph Mukan, to order an immediate investigation into the development.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, the President-General, Ogoni Youth Federation, Comrade Legborsi Yamaabana, said the youths were in shock over the news, wondering what had led to the shooting when there was no problem between the victim and the policeman.
Yamaabana said: “The Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF) worldwide on Sunday, November 22, 2020, received distressing and shocking news of the extra-judicial murder of one of its youths and shining lights, Mr Gospel Gbaraka, at the hands of a gun-wielding member of the Nigerian Police Force, one Inspector James, serving at the Marine Base Police Station in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, now being detained at the Mile One Police Station.
“Gospel Gbaraka was on duty at his security post this morning. The said Inspector James is also a police security personnel attached to the company.
“There were no altercations, riot or crisis situation at the company involving groups of persons requiring the use of live bullets to disperse crowds, neither was there any existing problem between the deceased and Inspector James.
“As a youth body, we are incredibly pained that the life of this young man has been taken, particularly now that Nigeria is at a crossroad, and the world has been awoken to the demands of #EndSARS protesters whose focal point is to end the recurring decimal of police brutality and extra-judicial killings.”
Our correspondent reports that 28-year-old late Gospel Gbaraka, a native of Gwara Community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was allegedly shot dead by a police officer while on his duty post as security guard attached to Bulk Strategic Reserve Limited at Abonnema Wharf in Port Harcourt.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

4 days 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

4 days 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

4 days 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.