News
Unease In Delta Community Over Senator’s Arrest
Palpable tension has continued to mount in Ibusa community near Asaba, Delta State, the country home of Senator Nwaoboshi following his arrest by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundry running into billions of Naira, and other related acts.
Nwaoboshi, Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was picked up by the EFCC last Friday for alleged money laundry and its related act.
His arrest had sparked-off series of controversies, particularly his home town, Ibusa where aggrieved youths said he (Nwaoboshi) was arrested on an alleged order of President Mohammadu Buhari including top All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftains.
Sources said the senator, a one-time state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), until his arrest by EFCC, was the senate committee chairman on NDDC who had allegedly fought Deltans perceived not to have voted for him during his election to the senate.
Our informed sources further alleged that Senator Nwaoboshi diverted money meant for constituency projects. One of such is the Illah-Ebu road that is now deplorable and abandoned.
But at Ibusa, elders including youths were seen gnashing their teeth in pains as they lamented the disgrace the anti-graft commission had meted out on the community and its illustrious son.
Mr. Pascal Adigwe, one of the elders in the area who spoke to our correspondent said: “We are shocked, disbelieved over the arrest of our beloved son, he has not stolen any money, EFCC is just chasing shadow, EFCC is being used by President Mohammadu Buhari, Senator Nwaoboshi knows the law as a lawyer, it’s a wasteful venture, he is not a thief, he needs freedom”.
An elder statesman in Ibusa community, Chief Donald Nwaoboshi told our correspondent “it is sad to see our son held for nothing in Nigeria the right is used for a escape goat, President Buhari should release our son, he has been doing well, he is not a thief”.
But unconfirmed sources said Senator Nwaoboshi had had litany of problems to contend especially with those who worked for him to succeed, and the Delta House he bought in Lagos.
One of those who worked for him, Mr. John Nmadu said: “Nwaoboshi is a senator who knows how to use, and dump, he is stingy, wicked and plays abrasive politics” while many of the senator’s supporters are currently asking God for his mercy, those in the know said the senator might not return in his bid for second when let off the hook as the party cacus recently resolved to queue behind Prince Ned Nwoko. Prince Nwoko, had in the past few months painted the state with his campaign posters, and had vowed to bring back the lost glory of Delta North.
Speaking to our correspondent, Mr. Norbert Chiazor said: “The people ahead of the 2019, prefer Prince Ned Nwoko to Nwaoboshi for obvious reasons, Ned has all it takes, he is detribalised, focus, we need him as the next senator to represent Delta North Senatorial district”.
Senator Nwaoboshi’s problem allegedly started when he was growing up, and in rude manners allegedly bully his seniors, many of whom in his community in Ibusa allegedly placed a curse on him.
But his media aide, Julius Okah dispelled the news, saying ,”There is no curse placed on the distinguished senator at all, it’s all lies”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has cautioned parents to closely monitor their children’s craving for cookies and gummies, warning that some of the products may contain illicit substances being smuggled into the country.
In a statement posted yesterday, NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, said recent seizures by the agency’s officers had revealed attempts by criminal elements to introduce prohibited substances under the guise of everyday snacks.
“As parents, if your kids and young ones always crave for cookies and gummies, you may have to pay a little more attention. There may be more to it than ordinary cookies and gummies,” Babafemi wrote, sharing images of seized packages.
The photos showed colourful pouches of “Cookies Delta 8 Gummies” in flavours such as Hawaiian Rain Pineapple Guava and Thai Mango, labelled as vegan and hemp-derived, alongside the actual gummy products.
The warning comes amid a major interception by the Nigeria Customs Service at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Officers seized two 40-foot containers containing large quantities of cannabis-infused products concealed among legitimate imports such as used vehicles, generators, batteries and fabrics.
The consignment included thousands of Delta-8 cannabis pre-roll cookies, packs of cannabis-infused gummies and other cannabis-infused cookies, with a combined estimated street value of about ?373.8m.
The items were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA.
NDLEA officials described the products, which originated from the United States and were packaged to resemble ordinary vegan snacks with appealing flavours, as an emerging public health threat.
They noted that the attractive packaging could appeal especially to children, students and young people, raising the risk of accidental consumption of concentrated cannabis.
The Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) has announced plans to partner with the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) to strengthen efforts at combating illegal waste dumping and improving environmental sanitation across the state.
The partnership was unveiled during a meeting between officials of RIWAMA and the leadership of the Rivers State chapter of the PCRC in Port Harcourt, recently, where both organisations pledged to work together to restore the Garden City status of the state capital.
In his speech, the Supervisor of Market and Community Sanitation in RIWAMA, Mr. Omereji Ukoha, said the collaboration was in line with the vision of the agency’s Managing Director, Dr. Ibimina Wokoma, and the Board Chairman, Dr. Samuel Nwanosike, to promote a cleaner and healthier environment.
Ukoha described the PCRC as a strategic grassroots partner capable of mobilising communities and driving behavioural change through sustained public enlightenment on proper waste disposal.
He expressed concern over the increasing rate of indiscriminate refuse dumping in parts of Port Harcourt, particularly in New GRA, where blocked drainage channels and illegal shanties have continued to contribute to flooding and environmental degradation.
According to him, the agency is determined to intensify enforcement against environmental offenders, warning that unregistered cart pushers and residents who patronise them would be prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the RIWAMA Act, 2014.
The RIWAMA official urged residents to embrace proper waste disposal practices and patronise only government-approved waste operators in order to safeguard public health and protect the environment.
Responding, the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee in Rivers State, Dr. Voke Emore, commended RIWAMA for seeking collaboration with the committee in addressing environmental challenges confronting the state.
Emore said the PCRC would deploy its community-based structures across the state to support public sensitisation and encourage residents to comply with environmental sanitation regulations.
He also called on local government councils to play more active roles in waste management, noting that they collect sanitation levies and should complement the efforts of the state government in maintaining a clean environment.
The PCRC chairman described indiscriminate refuse disposal as a serious environmental and public health concern, stressing that sustained collaboration among government agencies, community leaders and residents remained critical to achieving lasting sanitation goals.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the partnership would promote cleaner communities, reduce environmental hazards and strengthen public participation in efforts to ensure a healthier and more sustainable environment for the people of Rivers State.
King Onunwor
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly terrorising communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the State.
The State Police Command disclosed this in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, in Port Harcourt, recently.
The suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation at Oyigbo, following directives by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju.
Those arrested were Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44, from Benue State; Chukwuma Mbanefor, 51, from Anambra State; Nicholas Diala, 65, from Imo State; Ndubuisi Uwakwe, 49, from Abia State; and Ifeanyi Nwakwo, 51, from Imo State.
The Command said the arrest represented another significant operational success in its ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the State.
According to the Police, preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping operations within Rivers State.
The suspects, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to their involvement in kidnapping and further admitted participating in several operations carried out in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
The Command said investigation was ongoing, with efforts intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate who may be connected with the criminal activities.
The Police boss said the operation reflected the implementation of operational directives and the intelligence-driven policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc, NPM.
Adepoju reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain aggressive intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Rivers State.
He warned kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the State that there would be no safe haven for them, stressing that the Command would relentlessly pursue, arrest and ensure that those found culpable were brought to justice.
The Commissioner further assured residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in the fight against crime.
He appealed to residents to provide the Police with credible and timely information capable of assisting security operatives in preventing criminal activities and apprehending suspected criminals.
The Command urged members of the public who may have useful information on the activities of the suspected kidnapping syndicate or other criminal elements to contact the Police through its emergency lines, assuring that such information would assist ongoing investigations.
King Onunwor