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Gunmen Kill Soldier At NLNG Facility
Unidentified gunmen, last Monday, shot and killed a soldier at one of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) facilities in Ubeta community in Ahoada West Local Government Area, Rivers State.
The soldier, whose name was not clear as the time of filing the report, was said to be on his duty post when the gunmen struck.
A security guard at the NLNG road junction, who pleaded anonymity said, there were three military men on duty, including the Army who was gunned-down that fateful night.
The source said as the Bayelsa State-born soldier heard sound of two motor cycles plying the road, he came out, flashed his torch light to flag down the speeding motorcycles.
“On arriving the point, the hoodlums immediately shot the soldier on the chest. He fell to the ground with a thud, and they quickly zoomed off,” our source said.
Our impeccable source added that two of the Army personnel were inside the security post when their colleague was shot dead.
The Tide learnt that before the Army personnel could rush to the scene, the hoodlums, who did not waste any single minute, had disappeared into thin air.
However, the Paramount Ruler of Ubeta Community, Chief Chimezie Nathaniel said, “a week ago, a man from Owube community was killed in his farm; two weeks ago, a soldier was also killed in Oboburu community in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. Again, the day before yesterday, another soldier was killed at NLNG facility at Ubeta where over 12 soldiers were supposed to guard.”
Nathaniel described the manner in which the soldier was killed in Ubeta as unfortunate, and alleged that it was the same gang of hoodlums who killed their victims in Oboburu, Owube and Ubeta.
Explaining that Ubeta, Owube and Oboburu communities were not safe, he appealed to the Rivers State Government to mobilise Army contingent to the area, arguing that Ubeta plays host to facilities of other multinationals such as Agip and Total E & P.
On the repentant cultists in Ubeta community, he said, the boys were conducting themselves in a peaceful manner since they embraced the Rivers State Government’s amnesty offer, assuring that peace has finally returned to the community.
A community source told The Tide that when the news filtered in that a soldier had been killed, the people were seen in groups discussing the tragedy and calling on the government to intervene to check the spate of criminality and cult-related violence in the area.
Further investigation revealed that some residents of the community have fled their homes for fear of reprisal attacks as several pick-up vans carrying military men had invaded the community.
However, The Tide learnt that no arrest has been made so far.
Meanwhile, the community’s youth leader, Comrade Abali Innocent has condoled with the leader of the military team at the NLNG facility in Ubeta.
In the message, Innocent sympathised with the leadership of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, family, relatives and friends of the deceased, and prayed God to grant his soul eternal rest.
He further appealed to misguided youth still wielding illegal weapons in the area despite the state government’s amnesty offer to surrender their arms for peace to reign or face the full weight of the law.
Agimo Emenike Benson, Ahoada
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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