News

PDP Blasts F-SARS Over Gberegbe’s Murder …Says Killer Won’t Go Unpunished

Published

6 years ago

May 10, 2019

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.

News

Kano Gov Congratulates NUJ At 70

Published

3 days ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has congratulated the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on its 70th anniversary.
The governor acknowledged the NUJ’s vital role in strengthening democracy and promoting accountability in governance.
This is contained in a statement by the governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Dawakin Tofa in Kano, yesterday.
The governor lauded the NUJ for its unwavering commitment to ethical journalism and nation building.
He commended the union’s leadership, led by Mr Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, for advancing press freedom and advocating for journalists’ welfare.
“The NUJ has been instrumental in shaping Nigeria’s narrative, promoting democracy and ensuring accountability in governance.
”The Kano state government recognises the critical role of the media in our democracy and will continue to support and collaborate with the NUJ to uphold a free and independent press,” he stated.
Yusuf urged journalists to continue to uphold professionalism, integrity and objectivity.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fostering a strong partnership with the union, while ensuring that the media remained a pillar of democracy in the state and the country at large.
“Once again, congratulations to the NUJ on this remarkable achievement. May the next 70 years bring even greater successes and accomplishments for the union and its members,” he stated.

News

Monarch Lauds Fubara On Enduring Peace, Installs Three Chiefs In Ngo

Published

3 days ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

The Village Head of Ngo in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, King Dogood Ngere, has commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for his peaceful disposition and leadership qualities in the State.
King Ngere has also appealed to the governor and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to resolve their differences and work together for the interest of peace and development of the State.
The monarch stressed the need for the two leaders to put Rivers State interest above personal interest and reconcile their differences.
He said Fubara’s decision to implement the Supreme Court judgement shows that he is a man of peace and appealed to the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Rt Martin Amaewhule to work with the Executive to move the State forward.
The traditional ruler stated this shortly after he installed three chiefs at his palace in Ngo Town.
The three chiefs are Chief Daniel Dimkpa Nelson of Ebirien Ngere family, Chief John Biboh John of Ngor Egbesi family, and Awajimotumu Ukot Idawaji as chief of Ida Awaji family.
Addressing the new chiefs after their installation, King Ngere charged them to see themselves as role models for their individual families, stressing that as chiefs, it behoves them to be exemplary in their conducts.
According to the traditional ruler, the new chiefs must not only work for the peace of their families but Ngo community in general.
King Ngere also advised members of the three families to give their chiefs the desired respect while also supporting them to succeed.
He commended Governor Fubara for his numerous developmental projects in Andoni, particularly the ongoing Ngo/Oyorokoto Road, saying that when completed, the road will open up economic opportunities in the area.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Secretary of the Egweoke Council of Chiefs, Chief Awajiokan Mbosowo Ukumor, described the installation ceremony as a big success.
He said the three chiefs fulfilled all the conditions for their installation and are therefore admitted as members of the Ngo Council of Chiefs.
The ceremony was attended by people from various walks of life.

News

NDLEA Seizes Large Consignments Of Skunk, Heroin Across Six States, FCT

Published

3 days ago

March 17, 2025

The Tide

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized large consignments of skunk, heroin, and other opioids in raids across Kano, Kwara, Kaduna, Taraba, Abia, Osun, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
NDLEA’s Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Abuja, yesterday.
Babafemi said that in Kano, a total of 727 blocks of compressed skunk weighing 479kg were recovered from a 40-year-old suspect.
According to him, the suspect was arrested by operatives of the NDLEA at the Chalawa area of the state on March 12.
He added that no fewer than 58,300 pills of tramadol were also intercepted along Kabba-Obajana highway, Kogi, in a commercial bus coming from Lagos, enroute Abuja on March 11.
He added that raid operations in Kachia, in Kaduna on March 13, led to the arrest of a 21 year-old suspect, with 4,900 pills of tramadol 225mg seized from him.
Babafemi said that a similar exercise in the Hayin Banki area of Kaduna North Local Government Area (LGA) on March 14, also resulted in the arrest of another 25-year-old suspect.
According to Babafemi, 2,900 tablets of tramadol 225mg was also recovered from him.
“A total of 40,200 tablets of tramadol 225mg were recovered from the duo of Olowoko Faruk and Akeem Ridwan along Ilorin – Jebba expressway, Bode Saadu, Kwara, on Friday, March 14.
“The NDLEA operatives equally seized 21,700 capsules of same opioid from a suspect, along Eiyenkorin expressway, Ilorin on Thursday, March 13.
“Also, in Taraba, NDLEA officers on Friday, March 14, another 30-year-old suspect, at Bente Road, Kurmi LGA, with 15.77kg of skunk,” he stated.
Speaking further, he noted that agency operatives had also on March 13 in Osun, intercepted a commercial bus with registration number, SGB 564 YS coming from Idumota, Lagos Island.
According to him, the NDLEA operatives recovered a total of 48.7kg Ghanaian Loud, Colorado and Canadian Loud, all strains of cannabis.
“Not less than nine suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure in Osogbo and Ile-Ife during follow up operations.
“A 58-year-old suspect was on March 11, arrested along Gwagwalada expressway, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, with 27,800 pills of tramadol 225mg.
“Another 26 year old suspect sold was nabbed same day with various quantities of skunk and cocaine at Wuse zone 3 area of Abuja.
“In Abia, NDLEA operatives had also on March 15, raided the Ntigha community, Isiala-Ngwa North LGA, where a 34-year-old suspect was arrested.
“Operatives recovered from him, 274grams of heroin, 141grams of methamphetamine, 2.931kg of cannabis sativa, four grams of cocaine and N753,015 monetary exhibit,” he said.