Niger Delta

Monarch Decries Dearth Of Values, Culture In Communities …Lauds Wike On ‘Operation Sting’

Published

7 years ago

August 5, 2019

A monarch and Paramount Ruler of Okori in Eleme Kingdom, Rivers State, HRH. Appolus Chu has decried the dearth of values and culture in communities, saying it as a source of insecurity; just as he commended Governor Nyesom Wike for the recent launch of ‘Operation Sting’.
Chu who stated this during a traditional festival of the Eleme people called ‘Ogbon-ja’ meaning coming together and eating together held in his compound in Eleme, explained that exposure to western civilization have somewhat made the people to forget some aspects of their culture; noting that any society without custom and tradition was bound to experience crisis.
“The way we eat, dress and coordinate ourselves, even the way we do our intelligence gather and security protection is different from the western world. In Nigeria we have a constitution that guides us a people. Even corporate establishments and religious bodies do have rules. I believe that because we have neglected what our values stand for. That sense and value of morality that checkmates us is dying.
“Otherwise, when one think of the consequences for you and your family, it translate into morality. And where there is strong morality, there will be harmony, love, unity and development in any society. But we are in trouble because many things are going wrong in our communities. The Eleme man is very proud. Even our language and our dressing is going.
“We (Eleme people) don’t even know ourselves anymore. I find out that this disregard for custom and culture is one of the major source of insecurity in our environment because that custom that checkmate us and bring us together are being forgotten,” he said.
“Like what you are seeing today, there are many faces that have not seeing themselves for ten years or more. But this reunion ‘Ogbon-ja’ means coming together and eating together. If our forefathers can set this kind of platform, this kind of programme and we enjoyed it. Personally I think I witnessed this even when I was about ten years old, “Chu who is the Egbere Emere 1, Okori in Eleme Kingdom stated.
He further said, “So I conceive a thought that let me revive it (Ogbon’ja). Then let us go back to where we come from. Our custom, our culture is our identity that makes us different from the other kingdom. As a traditional ruler and as a king my primary duty is to promote the custom and the culture of the people and maintain peace in my domain. I promise to always do that.”
Asked how he brought the various communities together, he said, “Every kingdom must have a leader, and the leader they will choose is a leader they have value and respect for. Any king that has no influence over his people cannot achieve anything. So the beauty of a kingship is the influence you have over your subjects.
“And you can only have influence over your subjects when you have a very high level of discipline. Any king that lost loyalty from his subjects is becoming a ceremonial king. And when you are a ceremonial king, government will not enjoy you. Because when they communities go into a level of restiveness, government want to count on the king. And the king is one that can call the people to order,” he said.
He commended the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom WIke for his outstanding efforts in developing the state and also lauded him for continually interacting with monarchs across the state, saying it is a noble step that will constantly remind them of their roles, especially in terms of ensuring that peace reigns in ‘our various communities at all times.

Dennis Naku

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

1 day ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.