Niger Delta

Police Arrest Eight Robbery Suspects In Cross River

Published

14 years ago

July 12, 2012

The Cross River Police Command has arrested eight armed robbery suspects and recovered N2 million from them, the Police Commissioner, Osita Ezechukwu, said.

Ezechukwu said in Calabar at a press briefing to mark his 100 days in office that the police also recovered some arms and ammunition from the suspects.

According to him, the gang had robbed one Mrs Ekpo-Anwan Toyo after she withdrew the money from a commercial banks in Calabar.

He said that the suspects’ attempt to escape was not successful as they were caught up in a gridlock. “Their frantic efforts to escape the traffic hold-up aroused the suspicion of undercover policemen who got them arrested.

“When the vehicle was searched, a Ghana must go bag full of clothes, charms and the sum of N2,000,000 cash was recovered”, he said.

Ezechukwu said that six of the suspects were arrested at their hideouts in Calabar South, adding that three vehicles were recovered during the operation.

The commissioner said that another gang of five robbery suspects from Gbedue village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue were also arrested on May 20, 2012.

He said the gang was arrested at Bendeghe in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River.

According to him, items recovered from them include three locally made pistols, 22 live cartridges, three 7.62 live ammunition and 13 cell phones.

Others were three motorcycles, one expended cartridge and N46,340.

Similarly, Ezechukwu stated that five suspected cultists, including a woman, who had escaped from police custody in Calabar South had been re-arrested at new Netim in Odukpani Local Government Area.

He said that the police recovered six vehicles during the operation.

Ezechukwu said the command was committed to reducing the activities of criminals in the state, pledging to engage in “visible” community policing.

He called on members of the public to assist the police by exposing criminals in their neighbourhood.

Niger Delta

IYC Ex-Mobilization Director Picks Publicity Scribe’s Form … Pledges Diligence

Published

21 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

Former Director of Mobilization of the umbrella Ijaw youth group, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) and Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa State Governor on Media and Public Affairs, Wisdom Oniekpar Ikuli, has picked nomination form to contest for the position of Publicity Secretary in the March 6th, 2026 National Executive Pouncil polls of the apex Ijaw soci-ocultural organisation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

In a press statement by his media team, Ikuli said he was vying for the position to create a better and enduring legacy for the Ijaw nation, promising to serve with diligence and respect for the Ijaw nation when elected.

He noted that nobody from any other ethnic nationality in the world can tell the true Ijaw story more than the Ijaw people themselves, saying over the years actions and inactions of the Ijaw nation have been misconstrued and mistaken for something else.

The statement read in parts: “Over the years, we, Ijaws, with the richest history, have allowed others to tell our history. In doing so, they have mutilated and doctored our history.

“They present Ijaws as beggars even when, as the richest tribe in the Nigerian state, we have continued to feed the entire country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups since 1956, when crude oil and gas were discovered in commercial quantities and quality in Ijaw land.

“In human history, Ijaw people have never been conquered by any of our neighbours, not even the European explorers and adventurers and later colonialists.

“The Europeans were trade partners of Ijaws when civilization was still far from many tribes, yet they portrayed Ijaws as victims and conquered people.

“Ijaws are the most hospitable people. It is only in Ijaw land that visitors feel very comfortable and safe without fear of food poisoning, betrayal, or death. Ijaws treat visitors as families and great assets. Ijaws do not joke or gamble with relationships with outsiders. Yet, they erroneously describe us as unfriendly people.”

Ikuli added that Ijaws are some of the most peaceful humans on earth, yet others portray them as violent and very hostile people, noting that at times people from other tribes deliberately distort and bastardize history and happenings in the Ijaw land so as to gag Ijaws.

“At times people of other ethnic groups want to stop us from telling the story of our contributions to the peace, unity, growth, and development of the country. Despite our immeasurable sacrifices, they make us feel very insignificant and unappreciated.

“Ijaw is the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups that were hitherto independent nations, empires, emirates and kingdoms before the amalgamation of Northern and Southern protectorates, yet they portray us as minority.

“How can the fourth largest tribe in a country of over 350 tribes and ethnic groups be a minority?”, he queried.

The aspirant alleged that the endless balkanization of Ijaw territories were fruitless attempts to weaken the Ijaw nation and destroy her greatness and Ijawness, saying that the Ijaw nation has some of the best brains in the world, yet citizens of the ethnic group are being portrayed as lazy, unproductive, and unsuccessful.

“Oftentimes people from other ethnic groups portray us as very lazy, just to deliberately seek to make us lose our self-esteem and self-confidence. Ijaws have some of the richest cultural heritage, yet they try to portray us as inferior beings.

“As far back as the 12th century, when many were still struggling with the issue of self-consciousness amidst identity crisis, Ijaws were already a very organized and highly formidable people.

“Ijaws can boast of one of the oldest democracies in the world. I call it ‘Ijaw Traditional Democracy’.

“As far back as the 12th century, when the first European explorers and adventurers, precisely Portuguese, arrived Ijaw land, they discovered that Ijaw societies, our great kingdoms, were living well organized lifestyles.

“We had Amanyanabo-in-Council, Ebenanaowei-in-Council, Pere-in-Council, and others who worked in great synergy with community paramount rulers. While our kings served as today’s judiciary, our regular gatherings at town squares, now town hall meetings, served as legislature and executive, while able bodied men and warriors served as army and police.

“So, Ijaws had very organized and prosperous villages, towns, and kingdoms.

“It was the well organized systems in Ijaw land that made the British Crown and their various trade merchants and agents to sign several trade partnership agreements and treaties with many Ijaw kingdoms.

“Before the advent of crude oil and gas, Ijaw communities boasted of sufficiencies in terms of food, timber, palm oil, and others. As a matter of fact, as far back as the 18th century, palm oil from Ijaw land dominated the European market.

“Ijaw Nation, which is one of the oldest and greatest tribes in the African continent, has the richest history, yet they deliberately denigrate, demonize, and portray Ijaws in very bad light in order to destroy our Ijawness.

“Multitudes admire our rich cultural heritage in secret, but condemn and speak against it in public. They deliberately do this to make us hate and even reject our natural endowments and heritage. It is time to tell the Ijaw rich history to the world. It is time to speak naked and undiluted truth to power.

“Throughout my service to the Ijaw Nation as the National Director of Mobilization and Chairman, Action Committee of the most revered Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, and even as Acting President of the IYC Worldwide, there is no record anywhere that I collected a dime from any public office, company or individual in the name of Ijaw struggle. I only fought for employment opportunities, which I shared among the zones.

“At the age of 49, no individual can accuse me of betraying or stealing a dime belonging to another person.

“I have consciously lived a decent, honest, and sincere lifestyle that has never betrayed public trust. I promise and assure the Ijaw Nation that I shall serve diligently to the best of my knowledge and ability as the National Publicity Secretary of the most revered Ijaw National Congress (INC) and I will make the Ijaw Nation proud as its image maker”, he stated.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Otu Reiterates Support For Military Veterans, Families

Published

21 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of military veterans and their families.

Otu, who spoke at the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration in Calabar, said his administration would not forget the contributions of fallen heroes.

Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Peter Odey, the Governor described the armed forces remembrance day as a reminder of the sacrifices made by military veterans to keep Nigeria united and peaceful.

“The lesson is to remember our fallen heroes, people who sacrificed for the country, many of them paid with their lives to protect this nation”, he said.

Otu further said that widows of late military officers would continue to be part of his government’s programmes and interventions.

“All widows are being carried along, the Commissioner for Social Welfare ensures their inclusion in every programme”, he said.

Earlier, the Cross River State Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Daniel Ojugbo, said the ceremony was not only an honour for fallen heroes, but a time to reflect on the challenges being faced by military veterans and their families.

Ojugbo said families of fallen military officers faced delayed welfare benefits, limited medical care and unemployment for their widows and other dependants.

He commended Otu for his support, saying that his administration had shown genuine and remarkable concerns for the legion and its members.

Also speaking, the Coordinator, Military Widows in the state, Mrs. Miriam Orok, thanked the Governor for improved treatment and inclusion in welfare interventions.

“We are actually seeing better changes. He has been carrying us along, and we are very grateful. We also thank the governor’s wife for her sense of compassion”, she said.

The Tide’s source reports that the event featured prayers, wreath-laying, and tributes to the fallen heroes.

Niger Delta

N’Delta University Building Dept Inducts Pioneer Set Into NIOB

Published

22 minutes ago

January 23, 2026

The Tide

The Department of Building, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Niger Delta University (NDU), in Bayelsa, has inducted its pioneer set into the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB).

The ceremony, which took place in the institution, had the theme: “Building the Future: Innovating, Integrating and Inspiring in the Construction 4. Era”.

In his address, the Acting Head of Department (HOD), Building, Dr. Christopher Belonwu, described the occasion as a day of fulfilment, reflection and profound joy.

Belonwu noted that the university was committed to raising competent ethical and industry-ready building professionals, who would contribute meaningfully to national development and global best practices in the built environment.

“As head of department, witnessing the induction of our graduates into the graduate cadre of the Nigerian Institute of Building gives me joy.

“The Department of Building was officially kicked off in the 2019/2020 academic session with a clear vision.

“Like every worthwhile venture, the journey was not without challenges. We started with modest facilities, high expectations and an unshakable belief in what the department could become. Today, that belief has been validated.

“This induction ceremony marks the fruition of years of hard work, resilience and determination by our students who dared to dream, our lecturers who laboured tirelessly to impart knowledge and character, and the university management, whose support made this dream sustainable.

“To our pioneer graduates and those who have followed, you are not just a product of this department; you are its ambassadors, proof of concept and living legacy”, he stated.

According to him, being inducted into the graduate cadre of the Nigerian Institute of Building is more than a ceremonial rite.

He noted that it was a formal recognition of the readiness of the inductees to take their places in the professional community of builders.

“It signifies that you have met the academic and ethical thresholds required to begin your professional journey. With this honour comes responsibility.

“It is your responsibility to uphold the standard of the profession, to practice with integrity and to continuously develop yourselves in knowledge and skill”, he said.

He encouraged them to view this milestone as the commencement of a more significant journey, emphasisng the importance of embracing lifelong learning, seeking mentorship, fostering innovation, and upholding ethical standards above expediency.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Allen Agih, described the occasion as important, having produced the first set of builders of the institution.

The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Sylvester Ebibai, noted that the university was operating with global best practices, in line with the accreditation of the course.

He commended the lecturers, the professional bodies and the students, who were all set to soar as builders.

Ebibai urged the inductees to ensure they grow on the job.

In his remarks, the President, NIOB, Abimbola Kolade, commended NDU for the training of the students and the knowledge gained as graduates inducted into the Nigerian Institute of Building.

Kolade was represented by Mr. Ahmed Baba Ahmed, former Chairman, NIOB, Bayelsa Chapter.

Kolade encouraged them to excel in the building profession, innovate, research, and upskill to progress.

He also urged them to attend NIOB events for more knowledge.

Also, a former National Publicity Secretary of NIOB, Mr. Akinola Bammeka, said there are a lot of opportunities in the building industry.

He emphasised that achieving success requires effort and determination, stating that the magnitude of one’s effort directly impacts progress in their profession, and advised maintaining focus while avoiding obstacles to personal and professional growth.