A socio-ethnic movement in the Niger Delta, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People USA (MOSOP-USA), has demanded for the creation of an autonomous state out of Rivers State, to be known as Bori State.
The demand was contained in a memorandum signed by the President of MOSOP-USA, DineBari Augustine Kpuinem, and submitted to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
The movement, in the memorandum, said that in view of the economic viability of Ogoniland, the people of Ogoni deserve an autonomous state and should be constituted into a state to be called as Bori State with Bori as its capital.
Kpuinem argued that the Ogoni people are economically viable, resourceful and independent ethnic entity that can sustain themselves if granted a political autonomous state in the country.
According to the group, the resources derived from Ogoniland would be better managed optimally for the benefit of the Ogoni people if they have the full control and management of their resources as a state.
MOSOP-USA, therefore, demanded that Section 8(1a, b, c and d) of the 1999 Constitution that pertains to the process of state creation be amended to include economic viability, ethnic and cultural distinctiveness and marginalisation as the dominant criteria for the creation of new states.
It also demanded that Section 3(1) of Chapter 1, Part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) should be further amended by including Bori State as among the states in the federation.
The memorandum also sought for the amendment of the First Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution to include the five local government areas of Eleme, Gokana, Khana, Oyigbo and Tai in the present Rivers State as component units of Bori State.
“It is the view of MOSOP-USA that Section 8 (1a, b, c and d) that pertains to the process of state creation should be amended to include economic viability and ethnic and cultural distinctiveness and marginalisation as the dominant criteria for the creation of new states.
“Following these criteria, MOSOP-USA demands that the distinct and marginalised indigenous people of Ogoni, who have been so recognised by the United Nations, should be constituted into a state to be called Bori State with Bori as the capital”, the memorandum read in part.
MOSOP-USA lamented that no Ogoni has been elected a governor in any state or region since independence, adding that the people of other ethnic nationalities are always imposed on them.
“The Ogoni people had been denied elective position into the office of the governor since independence. It is a known fact that a Yoruba man will elect a Yoruba man to govern them in a Yoruba state. Likewise the Ibos, Hausas, Fulanis, and other major ethnic nationalities.
“The Ogoni people have no state of their own; people of other ethnicities are always imposed on us. No Ogoni man has ever been elected as a governor in any state or region since independence”, MOSOP-USA said.

The Police Command in Rivers State has busted a child trafficking ring, rescuing 16 children and arresting a female suspect linked to the crime.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, confirmed the rescue in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
She said the children were found in an estate in Ozuoba Community, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
“The 16 children were rescued by our police operatives in Ozuoba following a tip-off and conducting intelligence gathering in the area.
“One individual has been arrested, and an investigation is underway to identify other accomplices”, she said.
Iringe-Koko said the case had been referred to the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit for further investigation.
Recall that residents of Ozuoba had raised alarm about the suspect, who frequently returned home with different children.
An eyewitness, who gave her name as Faith, alleged that the woman had been taking children from nearby communities and churches.
“On Sunday, some individuals confronted her and inquired what she was doing with so many children, but she could not provide a satisfactory explanation, prompting them to contact the police”, she said.
Another eyewitness, who spoke in confidence, said the suspect had been residing in the fenced compound with numerous children for over two years.

In a sustained onslaught against criminality, banditary, kidnapping and other social vices, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested six suspected notorious criminals for their involvement in criminal activities across the State.
The police also displayed caches of recovered military uniforms and ammunition as well as sophiscated military rifles allegedly used by the suspected criminals in carrying out their nefarious operations in the State.
Among those paraded by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu include a fake police Inspector, one Fred Monday, a native of Khana Local Government Area of the State who dressed in a full police comouflage uniform and five other criminal gang of assassins who were allegedly responsible for the killing of a traditional ruler in Mgbuosimini community in the State .
Parading the suspects before journalists at the police headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the State Commissioner of Police told journalists that the five other suspected criminals were among the criminal gangs of late Daddy Chukwu that allegedly murdered the late Mgbuosimini CDC Chairman, Chief Ndidi Livingston on 13th January, 2024 in front of Peculiar Faith Ministry Church, Rumueme in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
Disu further disclosed that after the killing of the community chief last year, he drafted a team of operatives from FID Intelligence Response team of the command to swing into action with a view to apprehending the gang, adding that those allegedly arrested were spotted out from a viral video that captured the gruesome killing of the traditional ruler as well as the mastermind and the kingpin of the gang, late Daddy Chukwu.
He gave the names of the suspects as Sunday Godspower, Ifeanyi Nwadike, Success Oge, Chigemezu Anochirimoyanya and Ogolo Promise. Others include Chimezie Adiele, Adebayo Adebayo, John Lucas and Nnamdi Emmanuel, alias BYC.
The police boss stressed that during the investigation, four of the suspects, John Lucas ‘m’, Nnamdi Emmanuel, m ‘, Ogolo Promise ‘m’ and Adebayo Adebayo ‘m’ led operatives to one of their camps at Pipeline, Aluu village where the police recovered cache of weapons and added that while the police operatives were approaching the camp, they were attacked by other gang members.
“The suspects attempted to escape but in the ensuing ambush were caught in the crossfire. The hoodlums were eventually overpowered, and rushed to UPTH for medical attention. The doctor confirmed them dead, and they were deposited in the UPTH morgue for autopsy. The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded,” he said.
The state police commissioner disclosed that the arm and ammunition recovered during the operations include two AK-47 rifles; one Assault rifle; two SMG rifles; one Shotgun rifle; 10 magazines; 150 rounds of live ammunition and one pistol.
He averred that efforts are in top gear to apprehend more suspects in connection with the killing of Daddy Chukwu.

Akujobi Amadi