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Ebola: We’re In Control, Amaechi Tells Citizenry …Visits Temporary Quarantine Zone
Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi has urged citizens of the state to remain calm as the State Government has the capacity to tackle the menace of Ebola disease.
He gave the assurance shortly after visiting the Ebola Isolation Centre in Oduoha Community yesterday in Emohua Local Government Area.
Amaechi said, “I am not saying that Ebola virus is bad as we think, and it doesn’t just kill the way people think. Professional doctors have said, if Ebola virus infection is well managed, the possibility of tackling the virus is there.”
Calling on citizens not to feel shy to report any symptom of infection through the state emergency lines, Amaechi noted that doctors are at hand to attend to patients.
He said plans have been concluded to upgrade the facility to enable experts and professional medical doctors properly manage and control the spread of the Ebola virus in the State.
Amaechi assured that the involvement of technical partners like the World Health Organization (WHO), Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) also know as Doctors Without Borders, the American Embassy and the Federal Government will ensure drastic measures are put in place to tackle and eliminate the disease.
“This is a temporary approved quarantine site for the Ebola virus and we are working on it to upgrade the facility. The place is a bit out of town and we want to start from here while we continue to search for a permanent site. I am going to address the State on the issue. I am not saying that Ebola virus is bad as we think and it doesn’t just kill the way people think. Professional doctors have said, if the Ebola virus infection is well managed, the possibility of tackling the virus is there. The World Health Organization (WHO), Doctors without borders, the American Embassy and the Federal Government are involved and so we are sure and confident that we will control the Ebola virus from spreading and possibly eliminate it in our state,” he said.
“I don’t want anybody infected to feel shy and possibly take it to the rural areas because it could affect your children, family and relations and any result to death. That will be too disastrous. When you have high fever you cannot account for, please don’t go to any Primary Health Center, come to the corridors of government and our doctors will pick you and give you adequate treatment,” he said.
He lauded the people of Oduoha Community for assisting government to fight the menace, assuring them that the disease is not airborne hence they should not panic at the location of the Isolation Centre in their area.
Meanwhile, Rivers State has now recorded two cases of Ebola infection in the state.
These include the medical doctor who attended to a diplomat who visited Port Harcourt two weeks ago and his wife.
An autopsy test carried out on the body of the late medical doctor, Dr Ikye Enemuo, who treated the diplomat revealed he died of Ebola disease Commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker announced on Thursday to journalists in Port Harcourt.
“A few hours ago the result of the test carried out on the medical officer showed it positive of Ebola virus,” he declared.
Dr. Parker revealed that the widow of Dr. Enemuo, a medical doctor had equally taken ill after contracting the disease from her husband and had been quarantined with about 100 persons currently being placed under watch.
According to him, those in the watch list may have made contacts with the dead medical officer either through the clinic or the hotel where the diplomat was housed.
Explaining how the disease came into the state, Parker stated that a staff of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who had made contact with Patrick Sawyer in Lagos, visited the state and was checked into a hotel from where he was attended by late Dr Enemuo.
Explaining how the scourge came into the state, the Health Commissioner disclosed that the diplomat had consulted Dr. Enemuo due to illness from where he checked into a hotel. Enemuo took ill after the departure of the diplomat who is now fully recovered.
It was the physician who was taking care of Dr. Enemuo that became suspicious after his colleague showed signs of diarrhoea, fever and stooling and died two days later on 22nd August.
Already, the Health Commissioner stated that the hospital and hotel have been decontaminated in an effort to check further spread of the disease.
He therefore assured residents of the state to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as government was on top of the situation.
Parker added, “ Ebola is not a chronic disease once you are treated you are immune. We have more people who have survived than those that died, but people must avoid unnecessary bodily contacts and maintain strong hygiene”.
Noting that, “We have all the material and human resources to fight and defeat the deadly virus. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Health and other international agencies are already working with the state Ministry of Health.”

Permanent Secretary,Rivers State Ministry of Information and Communications, Mrs Cordelia Peterside (middle) making a speech during a three-day capacity building workshop for decoder installers organised by the Ministry in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday. With her are Permanent Secretary, Establishments, Mr Asoelu Gayamos Ogo (left) and Chairman, NUJ, Rivers State Council, Mr Opaka Dokubo
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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
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.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
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
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
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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