News

Five Die In Cult Clash

Published

9 years ago

May 1, 2017

There is uneasy calm in Umudioga Community in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Not fewer than five persons have been shot dead with one of them beheaded last night, in a rival cult gang clash.
The Community Development Committee Chairman of Umudioga, Anyunele Bright, who confirmed the senseless killing, attributed it to the invasion of a rival cult gang in the community on a reprisal mission.
According to him, “they killed five boys, among whom, one was beheaded. When I got the information about the attack, I called the Commissioner of Police who detailed the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Ahoada. The Police anti-cultism unit, SARS, the army are all here and peace has returned to the community but not with welled up apprehension that there may be counter attack in the nearest future.”
Umudioga Youth President, Chinyere Amadi, said Ezeka Nwadike and Prince Omata were among those killed.
Amadi said the community has been deserted as inhabitants seek refuge elsewhere in the absence of security operatives.
A member of the Caretaker Committee of Emohua Local Government Council, Larry Godwin, also said that the council immediately contacted the security agencies about the cult clash and different security agencies deployed their officers and men to the community to quell the situation
“Just as you are already aware, as a local government council, we contacted the relevant security agencies which quickly mobilized to the flash points in Umudioga. The community is now calm. We advise anyone who has useful information about the hoodlums to contact the nearest police station,” Godwin assured.
The Rivers State Police Command said a number of suspects have already been arrested.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, assured that security agencies have been deployed to the community to contain the bloody clash.
It would be recalled that the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, had given state amnesty to cult members in the state who voluntarily surrendered their dangerous weapons to the State Amnesty Committee headed by Ken Chinda after a 90-day window that enabled the committee to mop up illegal arms in the hands of hoodlums.
Unfortunately, recent upsurge in kidnapping, rival cult gang attacks and robberies is a pointer to the fact that the disarmament by the amnesty committee may not have been effective enough in the state.
In another development, one person has been reportedly killed while several others sustained bullet wounds in clashes in Akabuka town in Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area.
A source from the community told newsmen that trouble started when a suspected cult leader returned home for the first time after he was granted amnesty by the Rivers State Government.
Our source said the presence of the returnee cult leader sparked an argument between members of his group and a rival gang, which later resulted in sporadic shooting yesterday evening.
Men of Joint Military Task Force have since been deployed in Akabuka town to calm the situation.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

21 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

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”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

21 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

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

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

21 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

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.