News
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 Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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