News

Police Parade DSS Official, Three Others

Published

7 years ago

March 22, 2019

The Cross River State Police Command has paraded an official of the Department of State Security (DSS) and three others including a female for alleged kidnapping in the state.
Those paraded include Sylvia James F 26 years, Eyo Edet Okon M 29 years, Jason Udo, M 36 years and Eyo Bassey M 31 years who claimed to be a DSS official.
Briefing newsmen in Calabar yesterday the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo said, “Ogar Bassey M reported at Uwanse Police Station that unknown men came to their house, abducted his two brothers, Isaac Sampson, M 21 years and Brown Irek Ofadim M 23 years to an unknown destination.
“Through intelligence-led policing, the suspects were trailed to Atimbo where they were arrested. One Toyota Camry Car, CAL 237 CG, one Jackknife and assorted phones were recovered. Investigations are ongoing.
She said the incident occurred on Wednesday at Uwanse by 8pm. “They have kidnapped two persons, it occurred on Wednesday at 8pm. It was anti-kidnapping and cultism and DPO Uwanse that ran after the suspects.
“For DSS personnel, we have written a letter to his organization to ascertain if he is a serving DSS man or not. These suspects went to a certain house and kidnapped the brothers of Mr Robert Bassey and demanded a ransom of N250, 000 if not the victim would be killed”
One of the suspect, Eyo Edet Okon who spoke to newsmen denied their involvement in the alleged kidnap. Okon said “I am not a kidnapper, the allegation is a lie and it is a big fabrication.
“We went to Robert Bassey’ s house to ask him for our money, he promised to help and give us admission in Unical, he collected N107, 000 from me, and he collected N48, 000 from my sister which was looking for a change of course, nothing was done and our money was not given back to us.
“We have gone to him several times begging him to return our money and he kept on posting us and sometimes, he will say he will meet the head of the department. On Sunday, I went to him and asked him for the money and he promised to give us but did not. My parents are aware of this and more so, I am a member of Jehovah Witnesses.
“On Wednesday, we met our DSS friend and told him everything about the matter and he asked us if we have attempted to make peace with him, we said yes but he has refused to give us our money. We requested for DSS to invite him to their office for questioning but since we could not lay our hands on him, we now invited his two brothers who came with us to DSS and the DSS interrogated them and asked us to return them since they were not the person who owed us.
“On our way to return them, the man that owed us called one of them and spoke in their language and the DSS man asked him to bring in our money, he however arranged with the Police and alleged that we are kidnappers. We want justice to be done; the man should be interrogated to know the truth” he pleaded.
Also speaking to us, the victim, Brown Irek Ofadim and Victim Isaac Sampson gave different versions to the event that led to their alleged kidnap. Ofadim said “On Wednesday while I was copying my note, three boys and one girl came into our house and asked for my elder brother Bassey Robert and my elder brother said I should ask them what they wanted and when I told them, one of the suspects showed him his ID that he was a DSS personnel.
“Police came to our rescue at opposite Unical hotel. They said my brother should pay them N200, 000 before they release us. I don’t know the name of our street at Atimbo. I am a student of Unical studying Mathematics, 200 level” he said.
Sampson said, “While I was reading at Twins Street, Uwanse, the suspects entered, they did not ask us anything, they went and knocked on the door and came back and asked us about my uncle and I went in and saw my uncle and he told me that whenever he was sleeping, nobody should wake him up and I came back and told them that and they now picked us and took us away. “My uncle is a student in Unical, and I came to Calabar on Saturday for Police recruitment,” he stated.

News

Group Doles out N13m To Market Women In Isiama

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The peaceful Town of Isiama in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State was at the weekend agog with activities following the donation of over N13million to market women by Engr. Justus Ngerebara in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiatives, a non-governmental organization, as part of its first phase empowerment programme.

According to Justus Ngerebara, who is also the Executive Director of the organization, the women, numbering 108, will receive various sums based on their business proposal.

He stated that the organization will carry out an annual review of the performances of the beneficiaries, with a view to rewarding those who put the money into good use.

According to him, the initiative was a collaborative effort between himself and his wife, Dr. Unyime Ngerebara, in partnership with Fast Track Development Initiative (FDI), an organization committed to youth capacity building and community development.

He said the family believe deeply in the transformative power of women’s empowerment as a catalyst for economic growth, especially in rural communities.

“As the saying goes, when you empower a woman, you empower a community. This truth resonate strongly with us, knowing that empowered women uplift households and inspire generational change”, he stated.

Ngerebara described the programme as the beginning of more things to come and urged the beneficiaries to view the gesture “as a reflection of our deep love for the community and our commitment to easing the burdens of economic hardship.

“We encourage you to invest wisely, channel these resources into your business not frivolities.

“We will continue to follow up with each participant to monitor progress and Offer guidance.

“It is our goal to see thriving business, creative solutions to households hunger and a ripple effect of prosperity through Isiama.

“We also call on the men to stand beside their spouses, offering support and encouragement to ensure these resources are maximized for growth”, he said.

In an interview, Ngerebara said the second phase of the empowerment programme will start very soon, stressing that since inception the organization has done so much for the community.

He listed some of the programmes carried out by the group in the community to include the installation of solar powered lights, and solar powered water.

While declaring the event open, a former coymmissioner for Works in Rivers State, Engr. Sampson Ngerebara, described the event as the first of its kind in the community.

Engr. Ngerebara said the programme will go a long way to improve the conditions of not only the beneficiaries, but also the entire Isiama Community.

He also charged them against wasting the resources on frivolities, adding that their success will attract more of such empowerment programme to Isiama community

Giving a brief talk on women empowerment, a lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Dr. Awajimogobo Felix MacLean, warned the beneficiaries to justify the effort of the donor by avoiding wastages.

Dr. MacLean also urged them to be consistent in their line of business as well as avoid unnecessary competition.

She also stressed the need for them to network among themselves, while working out ways of helping the community to develop.

Guest of Honour at the occasion, Professor Uriah Oboada Alafonye, said Engr Justus Ngerebara, the initiator of the programme, has set a standard for present and future generations of leaders both in the community and the rest of Andoni to follow.

Prof Alafonye who is of the department of Arts Education, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, also appealed to the beneficiaries to seize the opportunity provided by the programme to reduce poverty in the community.

Speaking, one of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Hebron Mercy Fyneface, a crayfish seller and an interior designer, said it was the first time she was receiving such gesture from any organization or government.

She thanked Engr Justus Ngerebara for remembering the women of Isiama and urged others to emulate him.

By: John Bibor

News

Fubara’s Return Excites NCSU … As Hope Rises For Civil Servants

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The umbrella body of civil servants in Rivers State, the Nigeria Civil Service Union(NCSU) has expressed delight over the lifting of emergency rule in the State and the return to office of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Prof Ngozi Nma Odu and members of the State House of Assembly, saying, the development portends good omen for workers, the people and the State.

The Rivers State Chairman of NCSU, Comrade Chukwuka Richman Osumah, who gave the indication in an interview in Port Harcourt, said the return of the Governor to office portends good omen and better days for civil servants in particular, stressing that the union heartily welcomes the Governor back to office, to resume his good works in the State, after six months of the emergency rule, as well as his deputy and members of the House of Assembly.

He noted that civil servants in the State are not only elated over the development but are also full of hope that the Governor would start from where he stopped in attending to their welfare needs.

He contended that the political crisis that recently engulfed the State and the six-month emergency rule had for over one year pulled the State backwards, but expressed delight that a permanent solution has been found to stem further political upheavals in the State, and thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making this possible; the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and leader of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike; Governor Fubara; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule; members of the House; and other stakeholders for agreeing to amicably resolve all contending issues.

The labour leader said this is the right time for all political gladiators in the State to bury the hatchet, work together and embrace peace and genuine reconciliation in the overall interest of the State.

He described as too hasty the resolution of the House, mandating the Governor to present a supplementary budget to it, and pleaded with members of the House to be calm, to tread with caution, and harmoniously work with the Governor.

He said the return of democratic governance in the State would fast-track progress and development in the State, and enjoined the people of the State, particularly civil servants to continue to give their support and cooperation to the Fubara administration.

Osumah expressed optimism that Governor Fubara would give prompt attention to challenges facing civil servants in the State, being a former civil servant himself, stressing that the workers truly have hope, now that the Governor has returned to office, and knowing the kind of Governor he is.

According to him, he is going to look into the controversial and contentious contributory pension scheme; rehabilitation of the State Secretariat Complex; recruitment into the state civil service; extension of service and retirement years for civil servants; provision of vehicles to industrial unions; as well as provision of befitting staff quarters for civil servants; among others.

News

NDDC Organizes ADR Capacity Building for Staff

Published

3 days ago

September 22, 2025

Uchechukwu Okwum

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has organized a one-day sensitization program for its personnel on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) approaches to promote workplace compliance on transparency and due process.

The workshop, themed “Promoting Transparency and Due Process in the Workplace using ADR Approaches in Building a Culture of Accountability and Integrity,” aimed to equip staff with the skills to resolve disputes effectively.

Declaring the event open on thursday in port Harcourt,The NDDC Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, emphasized the importance of using ADR mechanisms to resolve conflicts in the workplace.

Dr. Ogbuku represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo,noted that ADR approaches can encourage a culture of honesty, fairness, transparency, trust, and reduce conflicts among staff, ultimately promoting efficiency and productivity.

He averred that those disputes and quarrels if not proper resolved can derail the vision and objectives of the commission to the people, noting that the commission must as a team and unity as service provider in order to render a profitable service delivery to the people.

“ADR approach will encourage culture of honesty,fairness, transparency ,trust and reduce back bitting and the workforce, noting that such tendency would in turns promote efficiency and increase results in workplace.

when integrity and honesty becomes the operandi of an organisation and employees begins to trust that their matters will be handled with fairness it will breed team work and increase in productivity.”he stated

He commended the department of DCR for organising the workshop and urged the participants to make good use of the opportunity and imbibe the culture of tolerance, integrity and teamwork in workplace.

Also speaking,the NDDC acting director of DCR ,Mr Godwin Ayewumi Ogedegbe noted that the theme of the captures the core of what the commission seeks to achieve a workplace where every action is expected to be guided by openness, fairness, and a steadfastness commitment to due process, where conflicts are not merely resolved, but prevented through structured,principled processes , and where accountability and integrity are not aspirational ideals but every day practice.

In his keynote presentation on the theme “workplace Ethics and alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation,

Prof. Sylvester Odion Akhaine of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos, delivered a keynote presentation on “Workplace Ethics and Alternative Dispute Resolution Correlation.” He stressed the importance of due process, transparency, integrity, and accountability in the workplace, noting that these values are essential for productivity and organizational goals.

The workshop aimed to promote a culture of accountability and integrity in the NDDC workplace. By equipping staff with ADR skills and promoting transparency and due process, the commission can build a more efficient and productive work environment.

By: Akujobi Amadi