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LG Bosses Decry Rising Insecurity In Rivers …Accuse Police Of Attack On Obio/Akpor

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The chairmen of local government councils in Rivers State have disagreed with the Rivers state Commissioner of Poilce,Mr Mbu Joseph Mbu that  crime rate in the state has reduced since he took over the management of security in the state.

The chairmen who made this known on Saturday in Port Harcourt while speaking with Journalist in Port Harcourt, noted that the rate of crime, kidnapping, armed robbery and general insecurity has gone up since the current Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu took charge of the state police command three months ago.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, Mr. Chikaodi Dike, accused the police of masterminding the May 14, 2003 explosion that damaged some sections of the council secretariat at Rumuodomaya, near Port Harcourt.

It would be recalled that the Commissioner of Police last Thursday while briefing journalists said the crime rate in the state has reduced since he took charge, admitting that he was directed by the Inspector General of Police to submit every minutes of  Rivers State security meetings to Abuja.

This development confirmed the earlier allegation by the state government that the Commissioner of Police was leaking security information to people in Abuja.

Chairman of Okrika Local Government Area, Barrister Tamuno Williams, disclosed that former militants, who ran away from the area are gradually returning to the communities to wreck havoc,adding that in less than two weeks, two incidents of vandalization of oil and gas pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) occurred at Okochiri community as well as near the council secretariat at Okrika mainland.

According to Williams, “in the past two weeks, we have experienced vandalization of pipelines belonging to NNPC at Okochiri and opposite the council secretariat. With all these happening, we believe we are having a decline in security and we are worried about this.”

Also speaking, Chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area, Mrs. Maureen Tamuno, described the level of criminality being perpetrated in the past few weeks, by some youths, suspected to be ex-militants, as the worst since 2011 when she became the council boss.

Tamuno, who was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2011, said last weekend, a young man was shot dead in Ogu community by a group of armed men, who later escaped with the corpse of their victim through the water-ways.

Meanwhile, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of Obio/Akpor Council, Mr. Dike has said that the presence of men of the Rumuodomaya Police Station inside the council secretariat when the explosion occurred was an indication that they masterminded the incident that damaged the generator house of the secretariat.

He said; “the explosion was masterminded by the police, let it be on record. The police were there when the explosion occurred and I met them. I got to the council secretariat to take over since the Federal High Court ordered the police to vacate. When I got there, all the police men were still on ground.”

Meanwhile,  a medical doctor and member of Nigerian Medical Association in Rivers state, Dr Didi Chukwuemeka, who was abducted last week in Port Harcourt yesterday regained his freedom.

The Rivers State chapter of the NMA confirmed the release of Dr Chukwuemeka yesterday.

The NMA gave credit to the efforts of its members and the media for the release of the doctor but did not confirm if any ransom was paid or what was done to secure his  release.

The Rivers State NMA chairman, Dr Ibiturokoemi Korubo, however said that the strike action will continue in spite of Dr Chukwuemeka’s release.

The NMA has  said that from Tuesday June 18, all doctors would be withdrawn from all primary health centrs across the state and would only provide emergeency service at the  secondary health centres.

Kurubo said doctors in the state were frequent targets and that more needed to be done to make doctors in Rivers State safe.

‘This was not just about Dr Chukwuemeka, it was about four doctors that had been kidnapped over the past two months. Where are the security agents? Did the security agents go out there to save Dr Didi?

The answer id no. Our demand is that the security situatin must improve. How can a doctor provide quality care for you when he is not sure of his safety? He queried.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.

The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP  Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.

CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.

The students, led by  Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.

According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.

The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.

Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.

He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.

Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.

The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.

He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.

CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.

He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.

Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.

The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.

The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.

According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.

The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.

Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.

He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.

CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.

International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.

Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.

He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.

Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.

“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.

Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.

He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.

The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.

According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.

Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.

The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.

Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.

By: John Bibor

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.

Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.

The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.

He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.

Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.

On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.

The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.

Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.

On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.

The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.

Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.

By; King Onunwor

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