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Adamawa
The  Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS in Adamawa
State (ADSACA) has presented foodstuffs to members of the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS  in the state.
Presenting the items comprising grains, cooking oil, sugar and salt in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, the Chairperson of ADSACA, Dr Halima Nyako, said the gesture was part of the agency’s effort to ameliorate the challenges facing the patients.
Nyako said the agency was collaborating with the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and the Special Project Unit under the office of the state governor, to train people living with HIV/AIDS to enhance their living standard.
Nyako, who said that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS had dropped from 3.8 per cent to 1.9 per cent in the state, urged members of the public to know their status, in order to control the scourge of the disease.

Benue

Some internally displaced persons in Benue State have
called on the state government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide them with shelter.
The displaced persons from Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas, said they fled their homes after an attack by suspected herdsmen.
Some of them told newsmen in Makurdi that they had been living on the street since the incident.
One of them, Mr Aho Alexander, a resident of Daudu, in Guma Local Government urged the authorities to provide them with a camp to ease their hardship.

FCT
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Women Com
mission has  appealed to the Federal Government to do everything within its powers to stop insurgents from killing students in the northern part of the country.
The Chairperson of the commission, Mrs Lucy Offiong, made the appeal at the International Women’s Day 2014 celebration in Abuja.
She said, “we are saddened by the spate of killings in our dear country Nigeria, especially recent dimension of targeting young people in schools and colleges.
“Those innocent children were murdered in cold blood while pursuing their education. As mothers, we are greatly disturbed and condemn such cruel, inhuman and senseless killings.

Jigawa
The Jigawa State Universal Basic Education Board
(SUBEB) said it had concluded plans to supply furniture worth N100 million to primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
Its Chairman, Alhaji Sani Abdullahi, told newsmen in Dutse that the measure was to address the dearth of the materials in the schools.
According to him, the board is conducting census of schools that require renovation, provision of additional classrooms and teaching materials.
Abdullahi said new schools would be opened in more villages to make education accessible to children across the state.
Kano
The Kano State Government has released N6.4 mil
lion for the treatment abroad of two children who were involved in a motor accident recently in the state.
The Interim Management Chairman of Madobi Local Government (LG), Alhaji Auwalu Tudunwada, disclosed this at a press briefing in Kano, recently.
Our correspondent reports that the children are Jamilu Ahmed and Idris Yunusa from the Madobi Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
The LG chairman said the money had since been handed over to the children’s parents to enable them travel immediately to India for the treatment of their wards.
Katsina

No fewer than 324 persons, received free medical
treatment during separate health awareness campaigns organised by some Cotton Farmers Cooperative Societies in Katsina State.
Our correspondent  reports that the exercise, which began on March 6, ended on Sunday and was conducted in collaboration with West African Cotton Company Ltd., (WACOT).
The free healthcare programmes, were held at Babara village in Malumfashi and Unguwa Makera in Funtua local government areas, respectively.
Our correspondent  reports that patients drawn from farming families and other rural settlements were offered free medical services and quality drugs during the exercise.

Kwara

The Chairman of Oke-Ero Local Government Area
of Kwara State, Mrs Aminat Yusuf, said that traditional rulers should be given more constitutional recognition through the national conference.
Yusuf made this known while addressing APC members in Ilofa ward, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara.
She urged the conference to deliberate on assigning specific roles to traditional rulers to assist government in solving the socio-economic and security challenges at the grassroots.
The chairman said most of the communities in the country were witnessing development and increase in population due to influx of job-seeking youths into cities.

Lagos

Executive Director of  Centre for Citizens with
Disabilities (CCD), Mr David Anyaele,  has lamented the exclusion of hearing impaired persons as delegates to the forthcoming national conference.
Anyaele made the observation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
He noted that although six slots had been provided for persons with disabilities, none of those selected has hearing impairment.
“The list of delegates showed that Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria has six slots, which presuppose the six major cluster groups.
Ogun
A lawmaker in Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr
Joseph Adegbesan, has in Abeokuta expressed support for Federal Government’s plan to involve forest guards in combating Boko Haram insurgents in the country’s North-East geo-political zone.
Adegbesan, who is a member of the Ogun House of Assembly, told newsmen that he was optimistic that  the plan would work.
He said the recruitment of forest guards would help uncover routes where arms were being smuggled into the country.

Osun
The Osun State Commissioner for Women Affairs,
Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega, has called for gender equality in  political representation in the country.
Adegboyega made the call at a symposium organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs to mark the 2014 International Women‘s Day in Osogbo.
The theme of the symposium is ‘’ Challenges and Achievements in the Implementation of Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) for Women and Girls.’’
The commissioner said  to achieve the  MDGs, adequate recognition and representation must be given to women in the nation’s political setting .

Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has
urged President Goodluck Jonathan to use presidential powers to stop the killing of innocent people in North East and Benue State.
Our correspondent reports that Abubakar spoke in Sokoto when Jonathan paid him a courtesy visit recently.
“Human life is sacred. I always express sadness over the insurgency in North East and the most worrisome of it is the killing of innocent school children in Yobe.
“This is the height of madness of the insurgency and the killing must be stopped immediately’’, the Sultan said.

Taraba
The Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Mr
Josiah Kente has urged the people of Southern Taraba to forget about their differences and work toward the development of the area.
Kente made the call at the 3rd Southern Taraba Christian Youth for Peace and Unity Summit in Donga.
He said “God put the Jukuns, the Chamba, Tiv, Kuteb, Hausa/Fulani and Ichen tribes in Southern Taraba to live peacefully and  develop the area.
“It is not by mistake that God put the various tribes in the same area.

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Vice President Namadi  Sambo, Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Stella Okoli, Governor Olusegun  Mimiko of Ondo State and Mrs Glory Opusunju-Nene, at an  exhibition stand, during the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Abuja, last Monday.

L-R: Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Vice President Namadi Sambo, Managing Director, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Stella Okoli, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State and Mrs Glory Opusunju-Nene, at an exhibition stand, during the Presidential Summit on Universal Health Coverage in Abuja, last Monday.

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Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute

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The Ekeanyanwu family of Rumuaholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has strongly refuted allegations of land grabbing levelled against it, describing recent media reports as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The family made its position known during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the residence of Dr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke in Rumuaholu. The briefing was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, and family representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Eke dismissed claims attributed to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Gift Worlu, which allegedly labelled the family as land grabbers. He described the allegations as baseless, frivolous, and lacking any factual foundation.
According to Dr. Eke, the Ekeanyanwu family remains the legitimate owner of the parcel of land known as Ohia Agbada, comprising approximately 6,000 plots situated along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road corridor. He further maintained that Victory Estate, located within the disputed area, belongs exclusively to the Ekeanyanwu family and not to the Rumuosi Community as claimed by the council chairman.
Dr. Eke stated that ownership of the land had been affirmed by the courts, citing Case No. CCC/22/2015 at the Choba Customary Court. He explained that while the suit was instituted against another family in Rumuaholu, the Rumuosi Community sought to be joined in the matter but their application was rejected by the court.
He further disclosed that the family currently holds 15 subsisting court judgments in its favour relating to the disputed land, including judgments from the Customary Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
The family spokesman alleged that the Obio/Akpor council chairman, in collaboration with the local Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, was attempting to undermine the court decisions and dispossess the family of its land through what he described as “backdoor means.”
Dr. Eke accused the chairman of assuming the role of an appellate authority over matters that had already been conclusively determined by competent courts.
Expressing concern over recent developments, he alleged that individuals acting under the influence of the council chairman had destroyed properties worth millions of naira within Victory Estate. He described the action as a direct affront to existing court judgments and the rule of law.
Displaying copies of court judgments during the briefing, Dr. Eke questioned the rationale behind branding judgment creditors as land grabbers, insisting that those challenging the court rulings were the real offenders.
He called on members of the public to disregard what he termed misleading radio announcements purportedly made by the council chairman and urged government institutions and security agencies to uphold the sanctity of court judgments.
Also speaking at the briefing, Elder Prince Ndaokani, Principal Oji Owhor of Rumuaholu Community, supported the Ekeanyanwu family’s claims. He maintained that the disputed land originally belonged to Dr. Eke’s late father, who, according to Ikwerre native customary law, acquired ownership through the clearing and development of the land.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, Chief Alex Wali, who responded on behalf of the local government council.
Chief Wali declined to engage directly with the claims made by Dr. Eke, stating: “That man cannot be gifted with our valued response to his tirades. People like that should not be in public but should be rotting in jail for heinous crimes against humanity.”
He maintained that nothing would prevent the council chairman from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive and chief security officer of the local government area.
According to him, the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government at all levels, and the council would continue to discharge its duties in that regard.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running land ownership controversy in the area, with both sides maintaining opposing claims over the disputed property.
By Akujobi Amadi
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Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

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The Asarama General Assembly in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some identified criminal elements in the community.
It would be recalled that on Thursday the 28th of May  2026, the kingdom was thrown into mourning, following the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some criminal elements
The Assembly which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt also called for the establishment of a Mobile police and police anti cultism departments  at the Asarama Police Division.
The Okangh Ama /Paramount Ruler of Asarama kingdom HRM king Appolus J Nteijaewaye who read the text for the briefing onbehalf of The Asarama General Assembly at the briefing said the community condemned in totality the gruesome incident.
He said the kingdom also extends its condolences to the bereaved family of the murdered driver, stressing that as a kingdom it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such an incident never occur within it’s territorial space again.
The General Assembly also commended the prompt intervention of the Nigerian police Force which led to the arrest of some members of the criminal gang, adding that even though the crime was committed at Asarama, some of those allegedly involved were not indigenes of Asarama kingdom.
“As a kingdom we use the sober moment of this unfortunate incident to further commend the prompt reaction of the leadership and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers state that led to their effective results aimed at eliminating criminality and deterring the evil ones in our society “
The Community also described the incident as a pointer to the level of vulnerability of not only Asarama kingdom but the entire society, against the background that the sanctity of life ought to be sacred and protected by individuals, groups, communities and governmental institutions”
Meanwhile ,The Asarama General Assembly has called for the establishment of a Mobile Police  as well as police anti cultism departments at the Asarama Police Division
It said this has become necessary inview of the strategic location of the kingdom as a gateway to the rest of Andoni communities and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Area.
“Owing to the peculiarity of our geographical location especially the amphibious nature of Asarama kingdom, intricately linked with its neighbouring inter ethnic Ogoni and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Areas in general and intra Andoni communities in particular, the relevant authorities should urgently approved special mobile police force,Anti cultism and Marin units to be attached to the Asarama Divisional headquarters”
The kingdom also decried the continuous neglect of the Asarama police Division, since it’s establishment adding that the division up till date,does not have a single firearm as well as enough personnel
It said this situation has exposed the community to activities of criminal elements.
“The sordid state of the only security outfit that ought to police our territory and beyond now seems to complicate the delicate insecurity that we are already exposed to, first as a nation and second as a people inhabiting an intricate amphibious gateway kingdom
“Consequently we hereby cry to the appropriate authorities to urgently equip the Asarama Divisional Police headquarters with adequate men arms and ammunition “the Community said.
John Bibor
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Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

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The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

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