Rivers
18 Rights Groups Urge FG To Release #EndSARS Detainees
Eighteen human rights groups under the aegis of Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS) have called on the Federal Government to effect the unconditional release of all detained #EndSARS protesters in various detentions across the country.
The group in a press conference organised in Port Harcourt, to commemorate one year anniversary of the October 20, 2020 protest at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos resulting in alleged killing of some protesters by soldiers, said it was important for the government to appease the Nigerian youths.
This is even as the group described Nigeria as “surveillance state judging from its misuse of digital laws, technologies and importation of sophisticated hacking tools to arbitrarily intercept communications of targeted civic actors, illegal monitoring of opposition voices, among others.
The rights groups called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the ongoing oppression on dissenting voices such as the media, rights activists, among others, whose constitutional right is to advocate for accountability from government.
“Government must release all #EndSARS protesters still unlawfully imprisoned for daring to challenge an oppressive status quo. Government must also lift the suspension on twitter in Nigeria and commit to opening up the space for citizens to participate in governance and engage in constructive dialogue”.
Speaking at the conference, the South-South Coordinator of the AGFCS, Mr Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface said the Nigerian government must restore confidence in the victims of police brutality by fully implementing the recommendations for compensation submitted by all panels of inquiry set up by various states to look into the cruel activities of the disbanded Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS).
Fyneface wondered why the reports of the panels had been ignored while the victims of the police brutality continue to wriggle in pains of losing loved ones or those who sustained life-threatening injuries.
The coordinator of the group also called on the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike to investigate the activities of members of the local vigilante group, ONELGA Security, Peace and Advisory Council (OSPAC).
He alleged that members of the group had deviated from their assigned responsibility to maiming, killing and extortion of innocent citizens, adding that failure to heed this call, the rights groups would stage a peaceful protest in the state.
“We call on the Rivers State Government and the local councils to investigate some members of the group as they have now deviated to killing and extorting money from innocent people. Failure to heed this complaint, we will not hesitate to storm the streets of Port Harcourt on a peaceful protest”, Fyneface said.
On her part, a member of Kebetkache Women Development Resource Centre, Patience Ekong stated that the #EndSARS protest didn’t yield any result, adding that none of the five-point agenda demanded by the youths had been implemented one year after.
She called on the Federal Government to give everyone a free space to ventilate their grievances, noting that shutting down means of communication such as twitter and the social media space was uncalled for.
On her part, the Chairman, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Rivers State Chapter, Susan Serekara-Nwikhana stated that the #EndSARS protest had not made any change.
According to her, last year’s protest, named after the social media hastag #EndSARS, was intended to end the atrocities of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) unit, notorious for extortion, torture and extrajudicial killings, which later snowballed into wider protest against bad governance that led to the suspension of the unit and promised reforms, but regretted that there had been no change in police brutality, extortion and extrajudicial killings a year after.
She also called for proper welfare package for the police in order to curb extortion excesses.
By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC’s Director-General, disclosed this during the exercise held at Iriebe, Rivers State last Friday.
Adeyeye, represented by Dr Martins Iluyomade, an investigative and destruction officer, said the products included expired tomato paste, medicines, chemicals and other regulated items.
She said the products were either seized by the agency or voluntarily surrendered by their owners for destruction.
Adeyeye commended the Nigeria Customs Service for facilitating the handover of the seized products, describing inter-agency collaboration as crucial to preventing harmful goods from reaching consumers.
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She said the partnership was strengthened by an existing Memorandum of Understanding between both agencies.
Iluyomade, who is also Chairman of the Federal Taskforce on Fake and Unwholesome Regulated Products, said the displayed items represented only part of the consignment.
He said other containers were still being processed for release from the port, urging the Customs Service to expedite the process.
According to him, the process leading to the destruction exercise took almost two weeks and increased operational costs.
Iluyomade called for stronger cooperation among security agencies, stressing that intelligence sharing and public support were essential to combating counterfeit medicines and unsafe food products.
He urged Nigerians to report suspected fake products through NAFDAC’s established channels rather than publicising them prematurely, which could alert suspects and frustrate investigations. prematurely, which could alert suspects and frustrate investigations.
He said the agency had offices in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that it was intensifying nationwide operations against illegal factories and counterfeit products.
Mr Chukwuma Oligbu, NAFDAC Zonal Director, South-South said the exercise was part of the agency’s responsibility to ensure that food, drugs, cosmetics, water and other regulated products met safety standards.
Oligbu, represented by Mrs Rita Chukwuma, Deputy Director in the zone, said destroying the products would prevent expired and substandard goods from entering markets.
He commended security agencies for supporting efforts to remove unsafe products from circulation.
Also, Comptroller Aliyu Alkali, the Customs Area Controller, Port Harcourt Area II Command, Onne, reaffirmed the service’s support for NAFDAC’s campaign.NAFDAC’s campaign.
Alkali, represented by Mrs Abosede Elizabeth, Superintendent of Customs in the command’s enforcement unit, said harmful products exposed Nigerians to serious health risks.
He urged relevant agencies to sustain collaboration to prevent dangerous goods from reaching communities.
Similarly, Mr Ahmed Zaccah, representing the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), also commended NAFDAC for destroying counterfeit and substandard products seized at the ports.
Zaccah said the exercise would help prevent Nigerian ports from becoming dumping grounds for harmful goods while restoring confidence in legitimate businesses.
He pledged the association’s continued collaboration with NAFDAC and urged importers and clearing agents to comply with regulations and uphold professional standards.
The incident, which occurred around 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 15, destroyed several residential buildings and vehicles while leaving multiple residents with varying degrees of injuries.
Expressing deep frustration over the ordeal, the traditional ruler lamented that despite host communities in Eleme serving as home to critical national economic assets, such as oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and fertilizer factories, the people continue to bear the brunt of severe environmental degradation and neglect..
King Obele noted that prior warnings were repeatedly raised regarding unusual sounds emanating from the aging pipeline infrastructure before the eventual explosion occurred.
The royal father strongly urged the energy company and relevant authorities to immediately initiate cleanup efforts, assist affected families, and replace deteriorating pipelines to avert recurring disasters.
He warned that if NGC fails to take concrete action within the 24-hour window, community members will embark on massive peaceful protests to register their grievances before the Federal Government and the global community.
While an official technical investigation is yet to determine the exact cause and financial value of the destruction, the monarch emphasized that the safety and welfare of his people must no longer be compromised for economic exploitation.
By: Enoch Epelle
The Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Rivers State University, Prof. Barigbon G. Nsereka, disclosed this recently in a statement to the Press in Port Harcourt.
He described Whyte as a scholar, administrator and communication practitioner whose career has combined academic scholarship with practical experience in strategic communication and institutional public relations.
According to the statement, Professor Whyte teaches in the Department of Public Relations and Advertising, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, where he has taught and supervised students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
The statement said Whyte obtained his first degree in Communication Arts from the University of Uyo and later earned his master’s degree and doctorate in Business and Organisational Communication from the same university.
It further stated that he had served as Head of the Department of Cinematography and Broadcast Studies and Head of the Department of Public Relations and Advertising at Rivers State University.
According to the statement, Whyte also served as the university’s Public Relations Officer from 2019 to 2022, during which he managed the institution’s communication and relations with the media and other stakeholders.
It added that he had served as President of the university’s Senior Staff Club and in several other capacities within the institution.
The statement said Professor Whyte, who publishes as H. W. Dike, has more than 70 scholarly publications to his credit, including Strategic Communication in a Developing Economy, Communication in Africa: Theories, Systems, and Practices, Strategic Silence and Foundations of Film and Broadcast Studies.
According to the statement, his scholarly interests centre on strategic and virtual communication, with emphasis on communication practices and challenges within Nigerian and African environments.
The statement further disclosed that Whyte chaired the Local Organising Committee of the 13th All Nigeria Universities Debate Championship hosted by Rivers State University from September 6 to 13, 2026.
It said the championship brought together student debaters from universities across the country for intellectual engagement, public speaking, critical reasoning and effective communication.
Beyond the university, the statement said Professor Whyte is the Chief Consultant of McLuhan Consulting Limited, a communication consultancy where he applies his academic expertise to practical communication challenges.
The statement quoted Professor Whyte as saying that a professorship was “not a destination” but “a larger classroom”, adding that his task was to raise communicators capable of telling Africa’s story with skill, evidence and integrity.
By: King Onunwor
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