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Commercial Drivers Protest Killing Of Colleague In PH …As Police Promise To Nab Culprit
Some commercial drivers plying the Rumuokoro axis staged a peaceful protest to Government House, Port Harcourt and the State Police Command over the alleged killing of their colleague, Chinatu Bright by an unknown policeman.
The Rivers State Chairman, Drivers’ Wives Association, Lekia Azu said the protest was to ensure that justice was done over the killing of their colleague.
“We are protesting because a Sunday before last, one of our own was taken just like that by men of the Nigerian Police and until now we have not gotten anything from them. No information about the culprit and he has not been brought to justice and the family is dying. We want justice to be done today. This is why we are protesting.
“We want to see the authority in charge they should tell us the way forward because the family of our late colleague needs to be catered for. Imagine a wife of 21 years old with a four months’ old baby. They are hopeless now, so we want to get to the logical conclusion of this matter,” Azu added.
Reacting to the killing, the elder sister to the deceased driver, Uwarungwa Peace, stated that the killing of her 31 years old junior brother has created a big vacuum to the entire family members, especially his aged mother.
Peace called on all relevant agencies and government to come to their aid and also to ensure that the culprit is brought to book.
“I feel so bad now that they killed the breadwinner, my junior brother, a 31 years old boy, who was barely a year and two months old in marriage and a four months old baby. He was the one that has been taking care of his junior ones and aged mother.
“They killed him like a chicken, by an ordinary policeman escorting fish, killed my immediate younger brother. I want government and the police to fetch out their member and brought to justice because they were at the junction when the man passed and they heard the gun shut, but didn’t do anything. They should bring him out and prosecute him,” peace added.
Meanwhile, the chairman, Rivers State Civil Society Organization, Enifah Georgewill who led the protest noted that the police must provide the killer of the commercial driver.
“After Mr Bright Mark was killed at Rumuokoro yet, the police have not giving us any information as regard the whereabout of the trigger police officer. If the police officer is a visiting police officer how come that they have not produced him until now, how did they know that he was a visiting police officer if they don’t know of his whereabout? For us we think that the police High Command should come clean on this issue, else if they failed this protest would continue until they produced the officer that killed our colleague and also visit and compensate the families he left behind,” Georgewill added.
The Tide observed that no government official came out to address the protesting commercial drivers as they waited to be addressed, but all was in vain at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
In a bid to register their demand, the protesting group including their wives and spouses later headed to the Rivers State Police Command.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command reassured its determination to arrest the police officer who killed the driver at Rumuokoro.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni has stated that the police are still on the trail of the police officer.
Omoni disclosed this to newsmen before the latest protest by the commercial bus and taxi drivers.
“The perpetrator of that dastardly act will be brought to justice. The deceased deserved justice and must be given justice. It may take some time, but I know at the end of the day he will face justice.
“Right now like I said before, he is a visiting mobile, but we have been getting some clues about his identity and where he is serving, so in no time we will get him apprehended to face justice,” Omoni added.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
