News

Boko Haram Controls Eight LGAs In Borno

Published

11 years ago

November 5, 2014

Minister of Sports, Hon. Tammy Danagogo (left), with President, Market Place Apostles and organiser IC BEC2014, Pastor Uche Onoche (right), during the 4th International Christian Business Exhibition and Conference in Port Harcourt recently.

The Borno State Governor, Mr. Kashim Shettima has expressed worry on how Boko Haram had taken over eight out of the 27 local government areas of the state.
Shettima who disclosed this yesterday while receiving members of the Federal Government Sub-committee of the Victims Supporters Fund in Maiduguri. He said that the continued attacks on communities in the state had created hardships on the people.
He said, “The insurgents have taken over nearly eight LGAs in the state. “They have taken over Gamboru-Ngala, Kala-Balge, Marte, Dikwa, Gwoza, Bama, Askira-Uba and part of Konduga local government areas. “The insurgents have also carried out recent attacks in Abadam, Kukawa”.
Shettima, however, expressed optimism that the insurgency would end in a short while, saying “I strongly believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. ‘We are going to bounce back very soon by the grace of God”.
Speaking earlier, the sub-committee chairman on data collection, Retired Air Marshal Jonah Wuyep has commended the governor for his supports to insurgency victims.
‘We commend the responsible leadership of Shettima for what he has been doing in helping victims of insurgency in the state,” Wuyep said.
He said that the state alone could not be able to effectively provide help to victims of insurgency, especially with the renewed attacks on villages.
Wuyep said, “The Federal Government will step in to provide supports to the IDPs. The sub-committee was set up to gather data on the number of IDPs and infrastructure that were destroyed for government to intervene. “Our sub-committee was set up to get the details on the ground so that government can intervene”.
He said that the sub-committee decided to visit Borno fist because of the enormity of damage done by the insurgents in the state.
Meanwhile, members of the Boko Haram, have instituted Shara law in Mubi, Adamawa State which captured last week.
The insurgents were also said to have amputated the hands of 10 residents said to have been found guilty of sundry offences, including looting of property of fleeing residents.
Sources in Mubi town said they saw the terrorists parading 10 persons whose hands were said to have been amputated.
The victims were said to been amputated in the presence of residents the insurgents asked to converge to witness the enforcement of Sharia law.
An eye witness account indicated that two imams were dragged out from a mosque and beheaded for allegedly preaching against Boko Haram. The insurgents also advised all Christians in the Mubi Local Government Area to relocate to other areas except they were prepared to be islamised or be killed.
The source further said that the Emir’s palace in Mubi had been converted to the residence of the ‘Amir’ and that the insurgents hoisted their flags to signify that they were in control of the palace.
Our correspondent learnt that the most affected by the development in Mubi were students of the Adamawa State University and the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi.
The students were said to have gone through torture before some of them reportedly escaped through the border between Nigeria and Cameroun. Some of them were said to still be in the bush.
“I must give thanks and praises to God almighty for spearing my life; I saw as people were being slaughtered like goats. I am to happy to see myself alive”, a female student of the Federal Polytechnic, told our correspondent in Yola on Sunday.
The insurgents said their mode of prayer was different from what Muslims in the twon were used to and that they were “in Mubi to restore Islamic indepdence to the people and anybody who does not follow us must be killed”.
“We are not to hurt anyone but to free the people from religious salavery”, a source quoted the insurgents to have said.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Borno State, AlhajiZanna Mustapha, has said that the Federal Government needs to adopt more stringent measures against Boko Haram in the North-East.
Mustapha told journalists on Monday at the Government |House, Yola, that the state governments of Adamawa, Borno and yobe had raised the alarm over the future of their states as a resulf of rising occupation of towns and villages by Boko Haram.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

3 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.