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Family, Police Disagree Over Cause Of Suspect’s Death In Detention
The family of a man identified as Phillip Brown popularly called ‘Schoolboy’ who allegedly died in the cell of the Eagle Crack unit of the Rivers State Police Command has insisted that the suspect was tortured to death by the Diobu Vigilante and police operatives.
The Tide learnt that the deceased was one of the notorious criminals, who had been terrorising the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area and its environs for some time now.
It was further gathered that the deceased was nabbed while unleashing mayhem with AK-47 rifle on residents of a popular waterfront in Diobu along with members of his gang.
It was also discovered that luck ran out on the deceased when resilient and brave residents called in members of the vigilante, who cordoned off the area before swiftly enlisting the re-enforcement of police operatives to smash the operation.
The Tide learnt that with the backing of both security apparatuses, youths of the area, quickly rounded up the criminal elements, and beat them mercilessly.
While Phillip Brown could not escape the wrath of the mob, others managed to find their way out of harms’ way before the police took charge.
But an Uncle of the deceased, Mr. Daniel Malfred, who spoke on behalf of the family, last weekend, alleged that the claims of the security personnel were not accountable enough to dispel any suspicion of conspiracy, as the police formations visited initially denied knowledge of custody of the deceased.
He said that the circumstances of his death were unclear, and therefore, called on the police authorities to thoroughly investigate the circumstances leading to the death of his brother, just as he demanded the release of the deceased remains for proper burial.
Malfred expressed disappointment that the police were hiding the truth from him after he visited three stations to ascertain the news he heard about his brother’s demise.
“I heard that he died in the police station. So, I went to Mile 1 Police Station, they said such an incident never happened. I also went to E-Crack unit in Mile 1, and they also said that they were not aware of such incident.
“I went to Azikiwe Police Station in Mile 3, to get information so that we can get his body for the family to bury him. They also said that such an incident never happened. So, all the police stations we went to said they were not aware of the incident.
“But the information we gathered was that police were involved: That the Diobu Vigilante handed him over to E-Crack. I want the police commissioner to investigate this matter, and let them release his body so that we can bury him,” he stated.
But reacting to Malfred’s claims, the Chairman of Diobu Vigilante, Amatari Bipelede, told journalists in Port Harcourt that ‘Schoolboy’ was rescued half-dead from a mob at a waterfront in Port Harcourt after he was caught with an AK-47 rifle, and handed over to the police.
In his response to the family’s allegations of police involvement in the torture to death of Phillip Brown, the state Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, dismissed the claim as false and unfounded.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Mukan said, “That is a misconception of the actual fact. The suspect was involved in criminal activity at the waterfront.
“The vigilante got information and informed the police. They sent their men under cover and were able to grab one of the cultists that were making life unbearable for the people there.
“There was mob action. He was beaten to stupor. Some of the vigilantes were injured. There was reinforcement, and they took him to the E-Crack station.
“Unfortunately, when he got there, he was exhausted through the mob action, and he gave up the ghost,” Mukan explained.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.