News
PDP Blasts F-SARS Over Gberegbe’s Murder …Says Killer Won’t Go Unpunished
The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described as heartless, callous, awful to the ear and unimaginably conscienceless the testimony of the Commander of the Federal Anti-Special Robbery Squad (F-SARS), ACP Akin Fakorede concerning the dastardly killing of a lecturer with Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori and former chairman of the polytechnic’s branch of the Association of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ACSUP), Dr. Ferry Gberegbe, during the March 9, Governorship and state House of Assembly election in Rivers State.
The PDP while reacting to Mr. Fakorede’s testimony before the Joint House of Representatives Committee on Army, Human Rights, Justice and Police Affairs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State said that for Fakorede to deny involvement and responsibility for the barbaric act, which he allegedly personally masterminded on the day of the election, has cast a big question mark not only on his mental health but also on his very essence as a human being.
Reminding Fakorede that the perpetrators of the dastardly act would pay a costly prize, the PDP said more satanic and unforgiving was the unrepentant stance of the police officer when he alluded that the late academic and father of four was a victim of his own plot.
Still suspicious of Fakorede’s mental health condition, the PDP noted with dismay the incongruity and inconsistency in the F-SARS chief’s testimony when he alleged that the bullets that silenced Gberegbe were pumped through the nuzzles of the guns of his friends, and not from those of his foes or security operatives as widely reported.
The PDP wondered what Fakorede went to Bori, headquarters of Khana Local Government Area, and election results collation centre to do on the 10th of March, 2019, and how he got all the information he put up as a defence, and dismissed all his testimonies as deliberate evasion of the point at issue through attempts to obstruct the path of the investigation.
Insisting that Fakorede has questions to answer if such occurrences and inglorious disservice by the police personnel as witnessed during the Governorship election in Rivers State were to be checkmated, the PDP regretted that valuable assets like the person of late Gberegbe should be lost through the instrumentality of worthless elements whose only contribution to the society was to maim and kill for their political paymasters.
Asking the House of Representatives Committee to dismiss Fakorede’s testimonies on grounds of lacking in merit, inconsistency and self contradictory, the PDP said the blood-tasty and trigger-happy F-SARS commander was only trying to make two sorrows out of one to justify his brute rascality.
The PDP wondered how many unarmed and innocent persons they may have killed, and later lied against while dancing naked on their graves, like in the case of Dr. Ferry Gberegbe.
“Even at death, we still hold Dr. Gberegbe in very high esteem not only on account of his academic attainment but also in recognition of his standing up against injustice and laying down his life for the nation’s democracy to survive.
“We duff our hat for Dr. Gberegbe and pray that his spirit will not rest until all those who had a hand in his untimely death are brought to book no matter how highly placed. Dr. Gberegbe was never a cultist and could not have been one, was a friend of many and was only on lawful election duty on that fateful day when his life was cut short by hell-bent anti-democratic elements led by Akin Fakorede”, the PDP declared, praying that those behind his gruesome murder and their families never find peace.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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