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Community Seeks Govt’s Intervention Over Herdmen’s Attacks

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11 years ago

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The Otulu community in
Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State has called for the state government’s intervention over alleged incessant attacks on them by Fulani herdsmen in the area.
The Otulu community Chief, Paul Eboji, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Otulu yesterday.
He said the people were now living in fear due to the rampant attacks of the headsmen.
Eboji added that government’s intervention was necessary because the community was peace-loving and would not want to be dragged into clashes with herdsmen that could take lives.
He alleged that the Fulani herdsmen had turned their farmlands into grazing ground for their cattle.
The community chief added that the herdsmen attacked and maimed the helpless community farmers whenever they were challenged.
“We are living in fear due to the invasion of our farmlands by the Fulani cattle rearers. They beat and maim our people when challenged in the farms.
“We have made several complaints to the police but all to no avail. The herdsmen have continued to destroy our farms with impunity.
“Our yams and cassava farms have become grazing areas for their cattle. We are appealing to government to intervene and save our community.
“We do not want to fight with them like what is happening in some parts of the country today.’’
According to him, the herdsmen often molest and flog women in their farms with horsewhips.
He said that recently, it took the intervention of two men to rescue an aged woman from the herdsmen who were beating her in her farm.
“I was recently called to Edo-Ogwashi camp which is under my jurisdiction, where a farmer was beaten to a coma by some herdsmen who invaded his farm.
“Sympathisers eventually rushed him to the hospital where he was revived and today he is alive to tell the story.
“We cannot continue like this; something must be done. I, as the chief of the community, appeal to government to address this problem because we are helpless,” he said.

Members of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, in a group photograph with students of the National Defence College, Abuja, during a courtesy visit on the traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

Members of Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, in a group photograph with students of the National Defence College, Abuja, during a courtesy visit on the traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

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Niger Delta

Stakeholders In Delta Seek Stronger GBV Action, Women’s Leadership

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1 week ago

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March 2, 2026

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Stakeholders in Delta State convened in Asaba for a leadership workshop organised by Otdel Health Heritage and Environmental Initiative (OHHEI), focusing on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and women’s participation in decision-making processes.
OHHEI Project Director, Mr. Peter Olayinka, represented by a consultant, Juliet Obiajulu, urged participants to contribute meaningfully toward advancing women’s leadership and combating GBV across communities in the state.
He said the workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ capacity to influence policies, challenge harmful cultural norms, and reinforce initiatives designed to prevent and respond to GBV.
Olayinka said women often faced bias even when they occupied leadership positions, and stressed that gender diversity improved the quality of decision-making and promoted innovation and accountability in governance structures.
Speaking, the Chairperson of the Association Against Child Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, Mr Eris Jewo-Ibi,  identified cultural norms, domestic responsibilities, political resistance, and grassroots barriers as constraints to women’s participation.
Delta State GBV Desk Officer, Mrs. Rosemary Okpuno, emphasised that effective decision-making required women’s perspectives, adding that inclusion remained critical to addressing persistent gender-based challenges.
Voke Angbagh of the Delta State Ministry of Justice outlined penalties for rape and called for the establishment of special courts to handle sexual offences cases.
Angbagh said frequent adjournments delayed justice for survivors, stressing that dedicated sexual offences courts would ensure timely trials and stronger protection for victims in Delta State.
The Tide’s source reports that facilitators identified cultural acceptance of violence, unequal power relations, discrimination, poverty, limited education, and low self-esteem as major drivers of GBV.
They emphasised that violence and exclusion resulted in social, physical and emotional harm, imposed economic costs, reinforced harmful stereotypes, and widened existing gender inequalities.
The source also reports that OHHEI, a local non-profit organisation, focuses on education, health, environment, and social justice, promoting sustainable development initiatives with gender equality at the centre of its interventions.
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Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

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1 week ago

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March 2, 2026

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The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has called for more private sector investments in agriculture.
The Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Moses Essien, made the call when the committee visited Aviclaire Farms, a private establishment in Usung Idem, Uruk Usoh in Abak Local Government Area.
Essien, who represents Ibiono Ibom in the Assembly, commended the Management of the farm for partnering an NGO, ECEWS, to promote private investment in agriculture.
He commended the partners for adopting climate-smart agriculture initiatives in their operations, adding that such move would promote food security.
“Your interest in using transformative intervention to promote food security is a veritable way of complementing the efforts of the state government,” he said.
The lawmaker continued that adopting practical climate-smart agriculture model would help to generate employment, improve nutrition outcomes, and strengthen food sufficiency.
He further said he was impressed with the strides recorded by the partners, saying, “your investment has created jobs for no fewer than 2,000 youths.
”You are an example of an environment-friendly investor. I urge Akwa Ibom residents to embrace environment-friendly and technology-driven agriculture models,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer, ECEWS, Dr. Andy Eyo, who conducted the committee round the farm, said the collaboration was conceived to demonstrate the viability of climate-smart farming in ensuring food sufficiency.
Eyo said the farm, which commenced operations with four greenhouses, had expanded to 14 within two years, and currently supplying high-quality produce to major markets in Uyo and neighbouring communities.
He said ECEWS was exploring cooperative frameworks to enable rural farmers and women’s groups to adopt greenhouse technology for sustainable livelihoods.
In her remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Aviclaire Farms, Mrs. Victoria Eyo, said the controlled-environment ensured precision cultivation and consistent yields.
She further said the farm served as a capacity-building centre for students, interns, and agri-business trainees.
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Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

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1 week ago

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March 2, 2026

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The Cross River State Government has suspended all taskforce activities connected to commercial transportation and ticketing across the state.
The State Governor, Bassey Otu, announced the suspension at an emergency stakeholders meeting on Friday in Calabar.
It would be recalled that commercial drivers in Calabar metropolis took to streets on Thursday to protest alleged multiple taxation and extortion by government agencies.
During the protest, the drivers alleged that taskforce groups claiming to represent the state government openly harassed and extorted them.
Represented at the meeting by Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on General Duties, Otu said the suspension would subsist pending further review of the situation.
The Governor stated that the state government did not commission anyone to extort drivers in the name of task force.
He urged commercial drivers and other road users to remain law-abiding while government worked out a lasting solution.
On his part, the Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Calabar Metropolis, Mr. Sunday Dennis, expressed optimism that the dialogue would yield positive results.
He said the meeting had provided an opportunity for the aggrieved commercial drivers to present their concerns directly to the state government.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Unified Drivers Association, Mr. Nta Henshaw, described the harassment on drivers as worrisome, and urged the state government to be decisive in resolving the matter.
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