City Crime

Institute Moves To Eradicate Violence Against Women

Published

3 years ago

March 10, 2021

The Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies University of Port Harcourt has said that it will not rest on its oars until all forms of violence against women in the country are eradicated.
The Acting Director, Centre for Conflict and Gender Studies (CCGS), University of Port Harcourt, Dr. Heoma Nsirim-Worlu said this during the 2021 International Women Day celebration in Port Harcourt at the week.
Nsirim-Worlu noted International Women’s Day offered women the opportunity to push hard in the society.
The opportunity when granted, she said, would avail women equal and full right to participate in leadership at all level of governance.
“To make the case that substantial the essential role of women, vision and achievement to realise humanity’s vital projects of sustainable development, peace and security” she said.
According to her, has in recent time, carried out activities geared towards elimination of all forms of sexual and gender-based violence within their precincts.
On how to achieve its goals, she informs that round table discussions and collaborations with United Nations women, European Unions and Economic Organisation of West African State (ECOWAS) as well as centre gender are prepared to fight for women freedom.
Within the communities, she noted, leadership role, institutions and documentary video are part of its strategies on the elimination of sexual and gender based violence campaign as carried out by the centre.
“As an institution, the Centre continues to produce translational research in peace, conflict and gender issues. Train and equip gender and development professionals with relevant skills required to make a profound change in the world, and women leadership”, she said.
The don recalled that currently that there were some eminent women who have broken glass ceilings, pushed the frontiers of women’s leadership and have paved the path for other women and girls to follow.
In his keynote address, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi who described women as powerful agent of societal development, added that women played a vital role during the lockdown period.
Akiyode-Afolabi, lamented that, in spite all the efforts by women, that they are subjected to various degree of molestations.
Such molestations, as noted, ranged from rape, sexual abuse, relegation, gender-base violence, cheating among other things from their male counterparts.

She charged women to rise up to the theme of this year celebration: “#Choose-To -Challenge,” as the best of the realisation of the goals.
“This year’s theme is the possible way to achieve the gender equality, affirmative action, women education, value orientation among others”, she said.
Earlier in his address, the Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Stephen Okodudu, who spoke via the Registrar, Dr Dakuru Grandvile, tied women to the theme of their international anniversary, said, they are equal to the task and added that they have the capacity to both choose and challenge.
Meawhile, the special guest of honour and the Hon. Commissioner for Social Welfare, Mrs. Ineme Aguma, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. A. Chu, hinted that statistics had reviewed that women performed greatly when given the opportunity and called for greater participation in changing the narratives of the women.

By: King Onunwor

City Crime

Delta Attorney-General Laments Hike In Human Trafficking

Published

1 month ago

March 6, 2024

The Tide

Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekemejero Ohwovoriole (SAN) has lamented the increasing rate of human trafficking, especially the girl child in the state.
Ohwovoriole decried the increase in his office in Asaba when the zonal commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Mr Nduka Nwawenne paid him a courtesy visit.
The Attorney-General stated that it was against the dignity of the state and disheartening to see that Delta State now ranked first in human trafficking, overtaking Edo State.
He stressed the need for stakeholders to tackle the menace, adding that if it was one single victim that was rescued, they would be rewarded for their efforts.
Ohwovoriole stated that young girls were the most vulnerable ones in the issue of human trafficking, stressing that children from poor family backgrounds also fall victim to human trafficking.
While saying that their request for an office space in the state would be looked into, to see how the government could be of assistance to them, he assured them of his ministry’s partnership in the fight against human trafficking.
He said that the Task Force on human trafficking and irregular migration, which he chairs, should be having regular meetings.
Earlier, the Zonal Commander of Naptip, Mr. Nwawenne informed the commissioner that Delta state had overtaken Edo state as the foremost state in human trafficking in nigeria.
He told the Attorney-General that their Zonal Command was the first to be established in Nigeria because of the prevailing issues of human trafficking in the area, noting that ika south was the highest in cases of human trafficking as a result of its proximity with edo state.
Nwawenne appealed to the Commissioner and the State Government to provide office accommodation for their officials to operate in Asaba.

City Crime

Army Arrests 50 Foreigners, Others For Job Racketeering

Published

5 months ago

December 1, 2023

The Tide

The Nigerian Army said it has arrested 50 suspects, including foreigners, for alleged international job racketeering in Lagos.
The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who addressed journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday, said the suspects were arrested during an operation jointly conducted by the Army and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He also disclosed that no fewer than 13 criminals were killed and 88 arrested during various operations across 20 states of the federation.
Among those arrested include 50 suspects comprising foreigners who were nabbed for alleged International job racketeering.
Onyema said, “In the South-West region, on November 2, 2023, troops of 9 Brigade Nigerian Army in conjunction with personnel of Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos State Command, conducted a raid operation on a suspected criminal hideout at Ifako Ijaye.
“During the operation, 50 suspects, including foreigners who specialise in international job racketeering, were arrested. In a similar development same day, the same troops arrested two suspects at a hotel in Ogba in the Ikeja LGA.
“The arrest was in connection with the murder of one Mallam Idris Ardo, the Ardo of Panya Village in Plateau State. Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the arrested suspects masterminded the killing of Ardo and fled the community since the incident occurred.”

City Crime

Elder Statesman Charges FG On Judges, Magistrates’ Security

Published

5 months ago

November 15, 2023

The Tide

An elders statesman and advocate of oil rights in the Niger Delta, Rev Sokari Soberekon, has called on the Federal Government to beef up security for High Court Judges and Magistrates in the country. The iconoclastic doctor of humanities made this plea while addressing newsmen during the just concluded 2023/2024 rededication of the legal year of the Rivers State Judiciary held at the St. Cyprian’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt last Thursday.
Soberekon stressed the essence of maximised security for Judges and Magistrates in Nigeria to ensure prompt and fearless dispensation of justice, equity and fairplay. He, maintained that apart from armed Police orderlies, the Judges and Magistrates should be legally authorised to keep personal arms for self defence when necessary, adding that this innovative policy would enhance the desired environment for an independent judiciary.
According to the octogenarian minority rights activist, the judiciary is the sanctuary of justice and equity.
He recalled the circumstances surrounding the gruesome murder of the former Federal Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Late. Chief Bola Ige.
Soberekon noted that, in spite of the retinue of official security aides attached to the late former Governor of Oyo State, Ige would not have been murdered if he was personally armed on that fateful day of his demise.
Soberekon emphasised the need to shun eye service in the nation’s polity.
He, however, maintained that the only Oga in politics is God Almighty, who he said uses people to install others in office.
Soberekon recalled the meeting he had with King Alfred Diete-Spiff in Lagos from where the pioneer Governor of the State started planning the blueprint of the old Rivers State.
He said what Rivers State needs now is peace, and applauded the placard with the description, ‘Peace’, displayed during the rededication ceremony.
He noted with delight that while delivering a sermon at the occasion, the Vicar of the church advised Nigerians to give peace a chance and also to build a nation where peace and justice reign.