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Navy Arrests Avengers Strike Force Leader In Delta

A suspected serial pipeline vandal and strike force leader of the Niger Delta Avengers, has been arrested by the Nigerian Navy around Sapele Council Area of Delta State.
The suspect, Abraham Suru, also known as Gabon, from Ondo State, was arrested weeks after he had been declared wanted by the Nigerian military for being responsible incessant attacks on oil and gas facilities within Warri North and South-West Council areas of the state.
Parading the suspect before newsmen at the Warri Navy Base, yesterday, the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, Commodore Joseph Dzunve said the suspect was arrested Tuesday 20 September, 2016 around Sapele where he had been hiding.
Commodore Dzunve noted that Gabon’s arrest was part of intense efforts by the Navy through the Operation Delta Safe to flush out militants and other criminal elements from the region.
The Naval Chief said, “As part of the ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to stop crude oil theft and illegal bunkering activities in the nation’s maritime domain, the Nigerian Navy Ship Delta, being part of the Operation Delta Safe, has arrested a notorious gang leader who has been in this business since 2011.
“He (Abraham Suru aka Gabon) is involved in pipeline vandalism, sea robbery, attacks shipping, illegal bunkering and currently a suspected member of the Niger Delta Avengers.”
He added, “The Nigerian Navy remains committed in apprehending those behind all forms of criminal activities in the Nigerian Maritime Domain. Let me assure the general public that the Navy component of ODS is resolute in curbing criminal activities in the nation maritime environment.”
Answering questions from newsmen, Dzunve explained that the arrested Gabon was the ring leader of one of the cell groups within the Niger Delta Avengers whose team members include one General Felix that had earlier been arrested by his operatives.
The arrested Suru confessed to allegations of being a militant and blowing up oil facilities in the region, including one at Dibi community in Warri North.
He said although he was not a member of the Niger Delta Avengers, he was recruited in 2011 into the criminal act by Genera Kaphapolo, a former militant leader who died recently in a ghastly motor accident; and has since then carried out series of attacks.
Gabon said, “General Kaphapolo told me that their youths are not being recognised by oil companies in the area; and that is why we were attacking facilities.
“But after General Kaphapolo died in motor accident, I was contacted by one General Tony Felix to join their team because they know I am capable of blowing up oil facilities. I am not a member of Niger Delta Avengers.”
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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