News

I Summoned Courage To Overpower My Abductors -Kidnap Survivor

Published

5 years ago

December 28, 2020

A kidnap survivor and legal practitioner in Rivers State, Mr Tamuno Igbikiberebima, has said he overpowered his abductors because of the unprofessional way they handled the AK-47 rifle in their possession while attempting to abduct him at his residence in Rumuigbo, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
He added that having noticed that the kidnappers were amateurs, he became encouraged to challenge them, saying that in the scuffle that ensued, the hoodlums were subdued, and they immediately abandoned him and fled before they were given a hot chase, and arrested by neighbours and passersby.
Igbikiberebima disclosed this while speaking with journalists during a press briefing at the Rivers State Police Command Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, recently, noting that he was able to disarm the two-man kidnap gang of their AK-47 rifle because he believed God has given him the grace and wisdom to win battles over evil.
The legal professional, who is also a staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said he mustered the courage to resist the kidnappers because he noticed the naïve way they were handling the rifle, and concluded that they were not trained on the handling of firearms.
According to him, he was making a call in front of his gate on December 17, 2020, when a black Toyota Camry suddenly pulled over with two occupants, and they ordered him to enter the vehicle.
“One of them came out with an AK-47 rifle and ordered me to enter the back seat. When he asked me to enter, I said ‘why should I enter’? He said he will kill me. I begged him not to do that, and asked him what I had done.
“When I noticed how he was handling the gun, it appeared to me that he is not proficient in gun handling. I told myself that ‘ordinarily, one-to-one, this guy cannot beat me.’ That was the courage I had.
“When he faced the nozzle of the rifle down trying to cock the gun, I started struggling with him. In the process, both of us shot one bullet on the ground. When he saw a crowd coming, he left the rifle, and ran into the car, and they took off”, he stated.
“I then ran into my compound and brought out my Toyota Hilux, and some people outside my gate joined me to give them a hot chase. We overtook them at Apara Link Road, got them arrested, and handed them over to the police”, he explained.
He opined that what gave him the courage to resist the hoodlums was because he thought that their intention was to kidnap or assassinate him.
“I thought well, it is better for me to die in front of my gate so as to be more honourable, instead of following them to wherever they wanted to take me to”, he stated.
In his remarks during the briefing, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan said that his men were interrogating and investigating one Mr Godspower Saturday ‘m’ age 23yrs and David Simeon, the suspected kidnappers who attempted to abduct Barrister Tamuno Igbikiberebima on December 17, 2020 in his residence at Rumuigbo.
He explained that luck ran out of them as the victim displayed uncommon bravery by putting up strong resistance, whereupon he singlehandedly dispossessed one of the kidnappers of his AK-47 rifle, and was aided by passersby to arrest them.
The CP stated that the operatives of the command would ensure thorough investigation into the incident, and arraign the suspects in court to face justice.
Mukan assured the good people of the state that the police were in the state to protect their lives and property, adding that they were going to do “nothing more, nothing less.
“And I will do everything in my power to guarantee that the fundamental rights of the people are protected. We will also minimise police misuse of firearms and stop extra-judicial killings.
“The respect for human rights is sacrosanct and must be obeyed by my men,” Mukan assured.

News

HYPREP Tightens Security At Project Sites

Published

6 hours ago

November 30, 2025

The Tide

Following the rupture of the ground tank of its water facility in Ebubu Community in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has tightened security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

HYPREP, which dropped this hint in a statement signed by its Head of Communications, Dr Enuolare Mba-Nwigoh, said the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey had given the directive for security to be tightened across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

Mba-Nwigoh noted that the tightening of security across the project sites has become necessary to forestall interference with the facilities.

He further disclosed that following the rupture of the ground tank of the Ebubu water facility, a team led by HYPREP’s Director of Technical Services, Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi has visited the scene of the incident to assess the situation, stressing that the water facility has been cordoned off for public safety.

The statement indicated that following the incident, HYPREP has henceforth barred non-project personnel and non-facility staff from gaining access into any of its active project sites in Ogoniland without authorisation.

While appealing to residents of Ebubu Community and the public to remain calm, the Head of Communications assured them that the Project is taking prompt steps to restore water to the community, saying, the cause of the unfortunate incident is being investigated.

He equally noted that the Chief Security Officer of HYPREP has been directed to immediately tighten security across all its project sites in Ogoniland.

The statement said HYPREP is deeply concerned about the incident, stressing that despite the setback, the Project reiterates its commitment to delivering sustainable cleanup in Ogoniland.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

1 week ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa