Niger Delta

Vigilante Group Arrests Child Trafficker, Rescues Two In Bakassi

Published

11 years ago

April 10, 2015

The Vigilante Group of Ni
geria, Cross River Command, has arrested a man suspected to be child trafficker and rescued two boys at Abana, Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Addressing newsmen in Calabar, the state Commander, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Rev. (Dr.) Mercy Effiom, disclosed that she received information from her Divisional Vigilante Officer in Bakassi two weeks ago concerning the trafficker and she directed the DVO to go back and ensure that the suspect was arrested and brought to her for onward hand over to the police.
She hinted that following her directive, Mr. Godknows Okon Edem a fisherman and a native of Ikot Obio Okon in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, residing at Abana was arrested by men of Vigilante Group of Nigeria.
According to the state Commander, “My Divisional Vigilante Officer (DVO), Bakassi gave me information about kidnapping of children on March 18, 2015 and I ordered my Ikang Divisional Vigilante Officer to go back and make sure the suspect is arrested and brought to me for onward handing over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.”
The state Commander noted that during interrogation, the suspect disclosed that a particular woman who usually brought children to him and others who had need for children, adding that she was paid the woman 10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Naira) monthly.
Rev. Mercy Effiom once again appealed to the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke and the incoming administration to assist the command with basic equipment to work with and as well incorporate the organisation into the scheme of security operatives in the state saying “we are prepared to help fight crime in the state since our motto is SAY NO TO CRIME”.
She also solicited for the cooperation of other security agents in the state and called on parents to watch over and take proper care of their children.
On his part, the Deputy Vigilante Group Officer in Bakassi, Mr. Duke Bassey Ekpenyong said, few weeks ago, he received a phone call from one Mr. Ebito Okon, an Inspector of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria who resides at Iniabasi that, he woke up one morning and found a small boy lying down outside, and when he enquired from the boy why he was lying down outside the boy said somebody brought him and three others there from Akwa Ibom, adding that the most senior amongst them had escaped.
According to Mr. Ekpenyong, “after the phone conversation with Inspector Ebito Okon, I called my Divisional Vigilante Officer and informed her of the situation, the DVO immediately alerted the state commander who in turn ordered us to investigate the matter.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar

Niger Delta

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

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

C’River Suspends Taskforce Activities Over Drivers’ Protest

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Assembly Urges More Private Investments In Agriculture

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

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.