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Wike Launches War Against Criminals …As Police Nab Soldier, Nine Others For Kidnapping

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Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (right) and the APC National  Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, briefing State House correspondents after a  meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last  Monday night.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (right) and the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Monday night.

The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared war on criminals in the state.
He made the declaration shortly after the new Rivers State Police Commissioner, Chris Ezike paraded some criminals and other exhibits as part of the successes recorded within one month in office at the State Police Headquarters on Monday in Port Harcourt.
Wike declared that, “we will not continue to wait for these boys to terrorize the people and business community. So, we will take the war to wherever they are.”
The governor, therefore, pledged to provide full support and necessary logistics to aid the police in routing the criminals in the state.
While commending the police for the success so far recorded, Wike observed that, “God’s time has come, and justice will take its course. You have given us hope.”
Wike disclosed that soon, government will unveil vehicles and other equipment to help the police work effectively.
Earlier, the Rivers State Police Command had said  it has arrested one Elijah Owoh, an army private, who was said to have absconded from his duty post in Biu, Borno State for alleged armed robbery.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Chris Ezike, while parading nine other suspects before newsmen on Monday, said the soldier shot and killed a male victim during a robbery operation.
“Owoh, during investigation, confessed his involvement in a robbery incident in which a male victim was murdered around Eneka Farm Road in Port Harcourt.
“He admitted being an army Private with service number 12NA/68/7580-93 of 231 Battalion, Biu, adding that he fled the fight against insurgents in the North-East without official approval.”
Ezike said an AK 47 rifle with 90 rounds of ammunition in three magazines, a Mercedes Benz car with fake registration number, Lagos MS 301 KJA, were recovered from the suspect.
In another case, Ezike said policemen trailed and arrested a gang of three armed men (names withheld) around Elekahia, Port Harcourt,who specialised in kidnapping and killing of their victims.
He said the gang had on July 5, abducted one Friday Ozogo, who for inexplicable reasons, they had killed and buried in a shallow grave around Choba waterfront in the state.
“Unfortunately, despite their callous actions, the kidnappers continued to harass the victim’s family for ransom, and have collected over N500, 000 before police tracked them down.
“The victim’s corpse has been exhumed and taken to the mortuary for autopsy, while positive identification has been confirmed by the family.”
The commissioner said that two locally made pistols and 7.62mm ammunitions were recovered from the suspects.
Similarly, Ezike said his men had apprehended a notorious kidnap kingpin (name withheld), while trying to collect ransom from relations of a lawyer who was abducted on July 21 in Eleme, Rivers State.
He said that through the arrest, the police rescued a kidnapped lawyer and arrested two other members of the gang which included a suspected witch doctor.
“During interrogation, the kidnappers revealed that they were contracted to execute the job for N1 million, and were given 20 per cent mobilisation fee.”
According to Ezike, one locally made revolver with six rounds of ammunition was recovered from the suspects.
The police also paraded four women and two male teenagers for their alleged involvement and conspiracy in the theft of a seven-month- old baby girl who was stolen from her home.
“The suspects (names withheld) confessed to have conspired and sneaked through a broken window at night and quietly stole the child at her parent’s home at Mile 2, Diobu, Port Harcourt.
“The baby was taken to Nekede, in Imo state, and sold for N200, 000 to one Nkechi Anyanwu, 45, while two female accomplices of Anyanwu who resides in Owerri were equally arrested.
“The child’s mother, Mrs Rose Friday, had earlier reported the child’s abduction from her residence at the Mile One Police station,” he said.
Ezike said that Police Mobile Force Personnel, Tactical Unit and Special Detectives had been deployed to combat cultists, armed robbers and kidnappers terrorising residents in Eleme, Ubima, Aggah and Emohua communities.

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198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

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A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.
Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.
He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper,  7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.
He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin.  This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.
“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education.   We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”
Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic,  “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.
The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.
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Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council  trains tra 1,000 teachers

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The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.
This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies
The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.
He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.
Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.
“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.
“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.
On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.
Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.
He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.
 Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo
Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.
He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.
He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.
According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.
Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.
She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa
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RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

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The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.

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