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Niger Delta

MOSIEND Rejects NDDC Sole Admin, Seeks Akpabio’s Sack

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The Movement for the Survival of Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), yesterday, barricaded the headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in Port Harcourt, as a way of sending the message to the Presidency that they completely reject the imposition of a sole administrator for the commission while also asking for the sack of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio for misleading President Muhammadu Buhari on the affairs of the commission.
MOSIEND also vowed to disrupt the activities of NDDC, if President Muhammadu Buhari fails to reverse the new appointment and put in place a constitutionally mandated Management and Board to manage the affairs of the commission.
In a 17-point demands signed by the National President and Secretary of the group, Kennedy Tonjo West and Amb Amain Winston Cottrell, respectively, MOSIEND said the interim management phenomenon was unknown to the Act that established the commission, accusing the minister as tactically smuggling in the IMC as a self-serving measure.
In the statement presented to the commission, the Ijaw group also accused the minister of turning the NDDC into his “private cocoa farm”.
MOSIEND further alleged that the inefficiency of the supervising minister has placed the entire Niger Delta region on a keg of gunpowder as well as put undue pressure on the states of the region.
The group, therefore, called on Buhari to do the needful by calling the minister to order or redeploy him, saying that Akpabio’s style of leadership, as it affects the NDDC, was highly anachronistic and antiquated.
Meanwhile, the President of MOSIEND, Eastern zone, Kennedy West, said the people of the Niger Delta, particularly the Ijaws, were ready to spill blood again to correct all the anomalies in NDDC.
Kennedy, in an interview with The Tide after the protest at the NDDC, yesterday, said “Our focus is to ensure poverty is reduced to the barest minimum, especially amongst the Ijaws.
“Our concern is to make sure Ijaws in all the states of Nigeria occupy their rightful positions in the comity of other ethnic groups in the country.
“We will work to have a positive impact on the lives of the people of Ijaw and to ensure that our interests are protected across the board.
“The Niger Delta people can no longer tolerate or allow this divisive and deception disposition of the minister of Niger Delta Affairs as it is not telling well on the region.
“The region is sitting on a keg of gunpowder; this is due to the overbearing tendencies of the Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio”, he added.
In his response, the Director of Security at NDDC, Tonye Frank Oputu said the message of the Ijaw people would be convened to the sole administrator of the NDDC.
Oputu, who represented the sole administrator, said the NDDC was doing everything possible to ensure that the purpose for establishing the commission was actualised even after the administration of the sole administrator.
Also speaking, the Chief Security Officer in-charge of the contractor handling the NDDC Corporate Headquarters, Rodnab Construction Company, Mr Ben O. Ogoriba, urged the group not to do anything that would undermine the development of the region as well as the ongoing construction work at the new site, assuring the group that whatever might be constituting a hitch would be resolved amicably.

 

By: Enoch Epelle

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Niger Delta

Edo CP Vows Justice For Slain NSCDC Operatives

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The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Monday Agbonika, has vowed to hunt down and bring to justice those behind the killing of eight NSCDC operatives in the State.
Agbonika gave the assurance on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the attack scene, which also involved the abduction of a Chinese national.
Describing the incident as “a dastardly act that will not go unpunished”, the Commissioner expressed condolences to the Edo State Command of the NSCDC.
He paid tribute to the fallen operatives, describing them as “gallant personnel who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”
“We stand in solidarity with the NSCDC in this grief. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, and Edo people should expect justice”, Agbonika said.
In a separate meeting with Chinese community members at BUA Cement, Okpella, the police chief assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted expatriate alive.
“Our men are on the ground, and operations have been intensified. We are determined to rescue the kidnapped victim and prevent further incidents in the area”, he said.
Agbonika appealed for calm among residents, urging cooperation through timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.
“Security is a collective responsibility. We call on residents to support us with information. Together, we will defeat criminals threatening Edo’s peace”, he added.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, stressing that it would not relent until the attackers were arrested and justice delivered.
The Tide’s source reports that the Okpella attack occurred on Friday.
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Niger Delta

Police Nab Suspected Illicit Drugs Dealer In Delta

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The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a suspected female illicit drugs dealer in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s Spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.
Edafe said the suspect was nabbed alongside her three apprentices on August 29 by the police operatives attached to the Ughelli Area Command.
He said the operatives carried out the raid following credible information on the activities of some individuals that indulged in the sale of illicit drugs within Afisere/Ughelli town.
“The operatives trailed and arrested a drug baron who operates a chemist store in Afisere Community alongside three of her apprentices.
“The suspect led the operatives to her house at Afisere and a search warrant was executed.
“Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: 355 bottles of CSC codeine, 57 rolls of 50MG tramadol capsules, 335 rolls of 100mg tramadol capsules.
“Others were: 33 rolls of 200mg super royal, seven backwoods, 540 sachets of swinol capsules and 16 cups of Canadian liquid cannabis”, he said.
The police spokesman said investigation further revealed that the suspect was a major dealer in illicit drugs in Ughelli and its environs.
Edafe added that investigation in the matter was ongoing.
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Niger Delta

C’River Assembly extends Bekwarra LG Chairman’s Suspension By 3 Months

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The Cross River State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of the Bekwarra Council Chairman, Ms. Theresa Ushie, to 90 days.
Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Elvert Ayambem, made the remark on Wednesday during plenary.
The Tide’s source recalls that Ushie was suspended on June 10 for three months on allegations of corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.
The suspension followed a petition from the Bekwarra Local Government Legislative Council, signed by eight of its members, who also attempted to impeach her.
Ayambem explained that the extension was to allow the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution more time to investigate the petition written against the chairman by the Bekwarra Legislature.
The House had earlier deliberated on a motion calling for the extension of the office of the LGA Acting Chairman, Mr. Egbung Obama, before agreeing to extend Ushie’s suspension.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Investigative Committee and member, representing Abi State Constituency, Mr. Davies Etta, said the committee needed more time to carry out a thorough investigation.
Ushie was elected as Bekwarra Local Government Council Chairman and sworn-in in November 2024.
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