Rivers

18 Rights Groups Urge FG To Release #EndSARS Detainees

Published

5 years ago

October 22, 2021

Eighteen human rights groups under the aegis of Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) have called on the Federal Government to effect the unconditional release of all detained #EndSARS protesters in various detentions across the country.
The group in a press conference organised in Port Harcourt, to commemorate one year anniversary of the October 20, 2020 protest at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos resulting in alleged killing of some protesters by soldiers, said it was important for the government to appease the Nigerian youths.
This is even as the group described Nigeria as “surveillance state judging from its misuse of digital laws, technologies and importation of sophisticated hacking tools to arbitrarily intercept communications of targeted civic actors, illegal monitoring of opposition voices, among others.
The rights groups called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the ongoing oppression on dissenting voices such as the media, rights activists, among others, whose constitutional right is to advocate for accountability from government.
“Government must release all #EndSARS protesters still unlawfully imprisoned for daring to challenge an oppressive status quo. Government must also lift the suspension on twitter in Nigeria and commit to opening up the space for citizens to participate in governance and engage in constructive dialogue”.
Speaking at the conference, the South-South Coordinator of the AGFCS, Mr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface said the Nigerian government must restore confidence in the victims of police brutality by fully implementing the recommendations for compensation submitted by all panels of inquiry set up by various states to look into the cruel activities of the disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS).
Fyneface wondered why the reports of the panels had been ignored while the victims of the police brutality continue to wriggle in pains of losing loved ones or those who sustained life-threatening injuries.
The coordinator of the group also called on the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to investigate the activities of members of the local vigilante group, ONELGA Security, Peace and Advisory Council (OSPAC).
He alleged that members of the group had deviated from their assigned responsibility to maiming, killing and extortion of innocent citizens, adding that failure to heed this call, the rights groups would stage a peaceful protest in the state.
“We call on the Rivers State Government and the local councils to investigate some members of the group as they have now deviated to killing and extorting money from innocent people. Failure to heed this complaint, we will not hesitate to storm the streets of Port Harcourt on a peaceful protest”, Fyneface said.
On her part, a member of Kebetkache Women Development Resource Centre, Patience Ekong stated that the #EndSARS protest didn’t yield any result, adding that none of the five-point agenda demanded by the youths had been implemented one year after.
She called on the Federal Government to give everyone a free space to ventilate their grievances, noting that shutting down means of communication such as twitter and the social media space was uncalled for.
On her part, the Chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana stated that the #EndSARS protest had not made any change.
According to her, last year’s protest, named after the social media hastag #EndSARS, was intended to end the atrocities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, notorious for extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings, which later snowballed into wider protest against bad governance that led to the suspension of the unit and promised reforms, but regretted that there had been no change in police brutality, extortion and extrajudicial killings a year after.
She also called for proper welfare package for the police in order to curb extortion excesses.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana

Rivers

VIO HOLDS COLLABORATIVE MEETING WITH AUPCTRE IN RIVERS STATE

Published

12 hours ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Chief of the Rivers State Road Traffic and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO), Engr. Akobo Monibo, alongside other executive officers of the agency, received the leadership of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE), Rivers State Council, during a courtesy and interactive meeting held at the office of the Chief VIO.

The delegation was led by the State Chairman of AUPCTRE, Comrade Tamunoiminabo Toby, accompanied by other executive members of the union.
Speaking during the meeting, Engr. Akobo Monibo expressed appreciation to the union leadership for identifying with the VIO at this crucial time and commended the union for its commitment towards workers’ welfare and institutional development.

According to him, the responsibilities of the VIO remain enormous and vital to the development of a safer transportation system within the state.

In his response, the State Chairman of AUPCTRE, Comrade Tamunoiminabo Toby, appreciated the warm reception and hospitality extended to the union delegation by the leadership of the VIO.

He explained that the purpose of the courtesy visit was to facilitate the establishment of an AUPCTRE Unit or Chapter within the VIO, noting that the union already has members within the Ministry of Transport and other related agencies.

The chairman further emphasized the benefits of union membership, especially in promoting workers’ welfare, unity, cooperation, and professional representation within government establishments.

Also speaking during the meeting, the Deputy Chief VIO, Comrade Livings Denoi, appreciated the union for the visit and welcomed the move towards establishing a VIO Chapter of AUPCTRE, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening collaboration and staff welfare within the agency.

Other personalities present during the meeting included Sup. Stella Jacks and the State Secretary of AUPCTRE, Comrade Okpeyeme Adebajo, alongside other officials from both organizations.

The meeting ended on a cordial note, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to partnership, institutional growth, and the promotion of efficient service delivery in Rivers State.

Rivers

NEMA Launches Response Against Flood In Rivers

Published

14 hours ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched its 2026 flood disaster response campaign as flooding threats loom in Rivers and 21 other states across the country.

NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, flagged off the exercise during a stakeholders’ engagement in Port Harcourt.

The campaign is themed “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria.”

Represented by the agency’s Acting Director, South-South Zonal Directorate, Mr. Eric Ebhodaghe, Umar said the campaign was designed to drive early and coordinated action to save lives and livelihoods before the imminent flood.

”The campaign further seeks to promote proactive disaster management through stronger institutions and define clearer responsibilities among stakeholders.

“Each year, lives are lost, livelihoods are disrupted, and public and private infrastructure worth billions of naira are damaged.

“Communities also bear the burden of injuries, displacement, and the loss of life savings due to unmitigated flood events and their secondary effects”, she said.

Umar continued that the 2026 flood outlook predicted that 22 states and the FCT, covering 132 local government areas, fall within high flood-risk zones.

She added that another 14 states, covering 148 local government areas, had been classified as moderate-risk areas.

The NEMA boss explained that the agency had already convened an expert review meeting to assess the implications of the forecasts and develop strategies to minimise anticipated impacts.

She identified likely challenges to include delayed or erratic rainfall, shorter growing seasons, above-normal rainfall in some areas, prolonged dry spells, and rising temperatures.

“These factors are expected to affect key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, transportation, energy, water supply, education, and overall public wellbeing”, she said.

She further disclosed that NEMA had developed a 2026 Climate-Related Risk Management, Preparedness and Mitigation Framework to reduce flood impacts nationwide.

According to her, the framework includes capacity building for local responders, simulation exercises, strict adherence to weather advisories, prepositioning of relief materials, infrastructure integrity assessments, and development of community evacuation plans.

The NEMA boss said the agency had also identified flood risk profiles for vulnerable communities through its flood early warning system and procured vulnerability maps to support planning.

“Beyond this engagement with stakeholders, the agency is deploying technical teams to all states of the federation for direct community outreach.

“These efforts will be supported by State Emergency Management Agencies, Local Emergency Management Committees, and community volunteers”, she said.

Umar called on traditional rulers, religious organisations, women and youth groups, the media, and private sector to support the dissemination of early warning information.

Also speaking, the Head of Emergency and Disaster Management at the Rivers State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Tamunosiki Ogbanga, said the agency had commenced evaluation and monitoring of flood-prone areas across the state.

Ogbanga said SEMA, under the Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties, had begun reviewing possible mitigation measures and monitoring flood flashpoints to reduce the impact of flooding on residents.

“Our plan for the evacuation of residents in flood-prone areas is part of our ongoing evacuation and monitoring exercise”, he said.

Ogbanga explained that residents in vulnerable communities would be relocated to safer locations whenever the need arises.

“Where they cannot get a safe place, SEMA will relocate them to temporary Internally Displaced Persons camps and provide the necessary support”, he added.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to strengthen flood preparedness and emergency response across Rivers State.

Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Rivers

Monarch Attributes State’s Development To Peace, Unity

Published

16 hours ago

May 29, 2026

The Tide

The Eze Oha Evo III of Evo Kingdom, His Majesty King Leslie N. Eke, has attributed the steady development witnessed in Rivers State to what he described as the peaceful and purposeful leadership style of the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.

Eke stated this recently while chatting with newsmen at his palace in Woji Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

The chat was part of his reactions on the activities marking the 59th anniversary of the creation of Rivers State and the celebration of the Governor’s three years in office.

The royal father noted that since the creation of Rivers State on May 27, 1967, the state had passed through different political, economic and security challenges, but that the present administration had sustained relative peace across the state.

According to him, peace remains the bedrock of development, stressing that no society can attain meaningful growth and infrastructural advancement in an atmosphere of rancour and instability.

The Nyerisi Eli Woji cum Eze Woji XII, commended the Governor for promoting unity among the diverse ethnic nationalities in the state, adding that “the Governor’s calm disposition and inclusive style of governance had contributed immensely to the prevailing harmony being enjoyed in many parts of the state.”

The monarch, who is also the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ikwerre Government Recognized Traditional Rulers, observed that the administration had continued to record visible achievements in critical sectors of the economy despite prevailing political tensions in the state.

He further stated that the Governor had demonstrated maturity and commitment in the handling of state affairs, particularly in security and community relations, which he said had encouraged investors and businesses to operate without fear.

King Eke explained that traditional rulers across the state remained key stakeholders in the sustenance of peace, noting that the synergy between the government and traditional institution had helped in addressing communal disputes and youth restiveness in some areas.

The first class monarch urged Rivers people to continue supporting the present administration in order to consolidate on the gains already recorded in infrastructural development, healthcare delivery and human capital development.

He also called on political actors and stakeholders in the state to place the interest of Rivers State above personal ambitions, saying that the progress of the state should remain a collective responsibility of all citizens.

The royal father appealed to youths in the state to shun violence and criminal activities, while embracing dialogue, education and legitimate means of livelihood that would contribute positively to the growth of the state.

He expressed optimism that Rivers State would continue to experience greater peace, unity and development under the Governor’s leadership, and prayed for wisdom and strength for him as he pilots the affairs of the state.

King Onunwor