News

Pipeline Vandalisation: Herbalist, 9 Others In Police Net

Published

15 years ago

December 27, 2010

A herbalist including 10 other suspects are telling the Bayelsa State Police Command what they knew about the series of oil pipeline vandalisation that has been going in the creeks of Bayelsa State.

The suspects were caught by the patrol boat of the Joint Military Taskforce with over 172,500 illegally refined petroleum products worth thousands of naira at two different locations; Igbomaturu and Nembe creeks in Southern Ijaw and Nembe Local Government Areas of the state.

The native doctor who hails from Ondo state, described himself as victim of circumstance, submitting that he was not a member of the team as being alleged but was hawking herbal medicine inside the boat.

He stated that as at the time the boat was intercepted in Ikoromagbene, eight people were on board but seven escaped by diving into the river, adding that he decided to stay put since there was nothing to hide.

Briefing the newsmen over the seizure of the petroleum products, the Commander, Joint Military Task Force, Major General Charles Omoregie said one of the boats tagged Cotonou was discovered during a raid carried out at Igbomaturu in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.

Soldiers attached to JTF, acting on a tip, according to the JTF commander stormed the illegal refinery being operated by the vandals in Igbomaturu community and discovered a boat loaded with 340drum of illegally refined products.

The Commander disclosed further that he personally intercepted the second boat along the Nembe creek during the tour of the Sector two under his Command, adding the Federal government through JTF would not relent in its efforts at ridding the region of criminals.

On the activities of the soldiers along the creeks of the Niger Delta, he said, the aim of the anti-illegal bunkering campaign is to seize, destroy the illegal products and prosecute the offenders, but not to kill or maim anyone.

This explains why the troops on patrol did not go to the extreme to arrest those fleeing suspects.

Aside the eleven arrested vandals, the JTF commander said the command has in its custody 11 pipeline vandals who were arrested in Tunu on a tip-off by vigilant indigenes of the Community.

The suspected vandals have been handed over to the police for prosecution, while the JTF Commander in response to the poser raised by the State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa over the custody of seized product said it would be handed over to the NNPC after laboratory test.

In another development, the JTF Commander has asked for the inclusion of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) in the security formation.

His words, we have written for the inclusion of the EFCC in the team. They should be part of the team.

The State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa commended the efforts of the JTF at restoring sanity along the creeks of the Niger Delta.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

2 days 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

2 days 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

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.