News
Gunmen Attack Oyo Commissioner, Kill Driver
The Oyo State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the killing of a driver attached to the Commissioner of Lands, Housing and Survey in the state, Mr. Abdulraheem Abiodun.
The police spokesman, Mr. Gbenga Fedeyi told newsmen that the fleeing assailants who attacked the commissioner at Academy area of Ibadan, the state capital also shot the police orderly attached to the commissioner.
Fadeyi said, “The incident occurred around 8.30 p.m. on Wednesday and the police commissioner has directed that the fleeing armed men be apprehended.
“They killed the driver and also shot the police orderly attached to the Commissioner for Lands. They will be tracked and arrested to face prosecution,” Fadeyi added.
A government source said, “The sad development would be thoroughly investigated especially coming 24hours after Governor Seyi Makinde launched 100 vehicles to aid security patrol in the state.”
An eyewitness also confided to our correspondent that the commissioner with a team of sympathisers rushed the deceased to the Accident and Emergency Unit of the University College Hospital, last Wednesday night.
“I saw the commissioner making calls to the governor, on what happened to him and his aides. The governor ordered the security adviser to immediately proceed to the UCH because it was not quite long after the call, that he (adviser) arrived.
“The motive behind this attack could not be ascertained as these armed men after attacking the convoy reportedly took away the gun belonging to the wounded police officer,” he added.
Similarly, some gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted six persons, including a nursing mother with her three-week-old baby at Hayin Danmani Community in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
It was gathered that the incident took place last Tuesday night but community residents got to know about it last Wednesday.
Our correspondent also gathered that the kidnappers may have returned to the community on Wednesday night.
A source said, “We heard gunshots Wednesday night and it is possible that they (kidnappers) revisited.”
Meanwhile, it was also gathered that the kidnappers contacted the family of one of the victims and demanded a ransom of N10million.
A source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that when the gunmen invaded the community, they shot indiscriminately and went from house-to-house to pick their victims.
One of the community leaders said the residents of the community were not living in fear.
He said while the kidnappers picked the nursing mother and her three-week-old baby, her husband managed to escape.
He added that the kidnappers made away with six other people, who were mostly peasants.
He said, “The incident actually took place on Tuesday night but the community discovered the abduction Wednesday morning.
“We learnt that they made away with a nursing mother and her three-week-old baby.
“You know that Mahuta, Mando, Rigasa, Danmani communities share common boundaries with Dogon Daji which lead to Birnin Gwari, where a military operation is ongoing. It is possible that the military operation is becoming unbearable for the bandits. So, they are being pushed into the communities mentioned.”
As of the time of filing this report, the state command of the police had yet to confirm the incident as the spokesman of the command, DSP Yakubu Sabo, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s telephone call.
News
PDP Opobo/Nkoro Hails Fubara On Peace, Projects
Stakeholders of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Opobo/ Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State have commended the state Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara for his disposition that has fostered peace in the State.
Rising from an expanded stakeholders meeting last Saturday in Opobo Town, the body in an eight-point communique signed by its Chairman, Hon. Benneth Daminabo, Chairman of Council, Rt. Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam and LG party Chairman, Warisenibo Godwin Pepple commended the governor for linking Opobo/Nkoro LGA to the national grid.
In addition, it lauded the effort of the governor in pursuing the 50.15 kilometre Dual Carriage Ring Road, Elelenwo internal road, Aleto-Ebubu-Eteo Road in Eleme and Andoni Road projects.
Despite the distractions, the stakeholders said they were impressed that the governor had equally done projects in health-the unveiling of Prof. Kelsey Harrison Hospital, Agric projects at Tai and Oyigbo and improving welfare of civil servants.
In their words, “members reaffirmed their unalloyed loyalty and implicit confidence in his administration.”
Condemning the unfriendly and discourteous utterances of Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Tony Okocha in different fora in the State, the forum urged the duo to desist from such action in order not to heat up the polity.
The forum pledged to stand by the governor through, “thick and thin”, the stakeholders acknowledged the contributions of women, who through prayers for the government has impacted positively in the direction and posture of the governor.
Finally, the forum unanimously expressed gratitude to the Simplified Movement and other bodies that have thrown their weight behind the governor to ensure that the administration is stable and successful.
By: Kevin Nengia
News
‘Rivers People Are Now Breathing Fresh Air Under Fubara’
Aformer Caretaker Committee Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Council of Rivers State, Hon Elamo Arogu, says under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the people of the State are now breathing fresh air.
Hon Arogu said Governor Fubara has given Rivers people hope, considering the impactful and people-oriented projects being carried out by his administration.
The former CTC chairman made the assertion during the Simplified Movement’s thanksgiving service and rally held in honour of Rivers State chief executive last Friday in Abua .
Arogu said under Governor Fubara, the Abua/Odual people have the confidence that the dividends of democracy will definitely get to them.
He noted that the Governor has the strong will to change the narrative in Rivers State, being the reason he is receiving massive support across the State.
“The people of Abua/Odual are strongly behind him. Our doors ate open for everyone because there is government in place to attend to the needs of the people. I believe that he will develop Abua/Odual and other Rivers council areas, hence, the massive support. This government is business- oriented and we are ready to encourage him succeed and invest in our land. The issue of a bank; road networks and other necessities of life bordering on development as demanded by the people will be considered by Governor Fubara”, he said.
He called on the opposition to team up with Governor Fubara to build a stronger, united and viable Rivers State.
He maintained that ward nine under his leadership is Simplified.
News
Rivers State University Cooperative Society Elects New Leaders
The United Port Harcourt Peoples Cooperative Investment & Credit Society Limited, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has elected new leaders to pilot the affairs of the cooperative for the next two years.
They are Pastor Dr. Barine Aeba (President); Dr. Gift N. Nkweke (Vice-President), Dr. Kenneth Chima Adiele (General Secretary), Victor G. Banigo (Assistant General Secretary),
Rose Yeyeda Nwosu (Treasurer), Adaku Nwogu (Financial Secretary) and Stella Ereba (Public Relations Officer).
Inaugurating the new Management Committee after a keenly contested election held recently at the University Amphitheatre, the Director of Cooperatives in Rivers State, Dr. Elizabeth Chidi-Wike, congratulated the seven-member Executive for emerging winners at the election, charging them to uphold the bye laws of the Cooperative Society and hold regular congress meetings.
Dr. Chidi-Wike used the forum to commend the outgone Management Committee for reviving the Cooperative and placing it on an enviable pedestrial.
In her remarks, the Acting Registrar of the University, Mrs. Ibimonia Sotonye Harry applauded Cooperative members for keeping faith with the Cooperative Society, stressing that the goal of the society in helping members save for retirement cannot be over emphasised.
In his valedictory speech, the outgone President, Dr. Mie-Idala Jones Amachree expressed gratitude to God for the successful completion of his four-year tenure, thanking his fellow Management Committee members who gave him the needed support that transformed the Cooperative Society.
In his acceptance address, the President, Pastor (Dr.) Barine Aeba thanked the university management for providing the enabling environment for the peaceful conduct of the election, pledging that he will fulfill all his campaign promises.
A total of 165 Cooperative members participated in the electoral exercise which was conducted by an Electoral Committee led by Engr. (Dr.) Joseph D. Enoch.
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