Niger Delta

CP Orders DPOs To Demolish Illegal OSPAC, Vigilante Groups’ Detention Camps

Published

4 years ago

November 17, 2021

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka has given a matching order to Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), Area Commanders to demolish all illegal detention camp facilities run by vigilante groups in their various domains across the local government areas of the state
The Police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni in an interview with our correspondent said the CP gave this directive based on the management meeting he held with DPOs, Area Commanders, over the weekend in Port Harcourt.
He ordered the senior crime fighters of the state to unravel and destroy all camps operated by the vigilante groups and failure to do so would be an indictment on the DPO’s
He urged members of the public to report any illegal camp sighted anywhere in the state for prompt and adequate actions.
The CP said one of the major reasons it destroyed the illegal camp operated by OSPAC in Elele, was because of several human rights infractions. “The day police stormed his camp, on sighting the police, they (OSPAC) took to flights, as we speak, they have been declared wanted by the police,” we are appealing to the public to assist police with information that could lead to the arrest of Elele OSPAC Commander and his gang members”
The Rivers State Police image maker averred that some mobile phone numbers have been made available by the police authorities for discrete report, with a promise to shield the identity of those who come forward with such report that could lead to the arrest of the wanted OSPAC Commander identified as Fucking Naira.
“On that day when we got to the camp, we saw some persons who were unlawfully detained by the OSPAC at the illegal detention camp. he noted that the last time the police boss, Eboka Friday held meetings with leaders of OSPAC and vigilante groups in the state, he specifically told them that on no account should they operate illegal detention camps, but to work in harmony with the police.
“What they have done now is an affront to that directive”.
‘ As we speak now that Elele camp has been destroyed, and four persons detained for wondering or trespassing and other minor offences were freed having spent over one week in the illegal facility”
“Police is doing everything within its powers to uncover where the 17 Years Old boy, Chibuike Victor, a student of Jesus The Saviour International Secondary School, Elele, allegedly went missing while in OSPAC detention” .
A viral video on social media showed a young man expressing fear that the boy may have been killed, while his mother identified only as Anastasia, and called on the public to join in the search for her son.
The voice in the video said, “This young man is missing and may have been killed. His mother, Anastasia, needs our help to get his story out.” “He is 17-year-old Chibuike Nwokedi, an SS1 student of Jesus the Saviour International Secondary School, Elele in Rivers State. “It was said that he was expelled from school because he went home before the closing time around the Easter holiday period, and has been missing since then.
Omoni said the police was prosecuting two security guards of the school who handed the boy over to OSPAC and that one Alumeta Nnenna who linked the school security guards to the group, and one George Udom, were also facing prosecution.
he said the Arrest of the OSPAC commander at Elele Identified as Fucking Naira would help Police to solve the mysterious disappearance of the 17 year old.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Niger Delta

Eno Recommits To Private Sector Investments

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, says his administration will continue to promote private sector investments in order to enhance economic prosperity.

Eno, who stated this recently at the inauguration of a new Zenith Bank branch in Uyo, said private sector growth was critical to employment generation and the overall development of the State.

He said his long-standing business relationship with Zenith Bank exposed him to the critical roles that banks could play in supporting private sector growth.

“The bank played a laudable role in the growth of Royalty Hotels, a brand I pioneered and led until I joined public service.

“It is my hope that the bank will accord the same support to other private sector investments in the state, be it micro, small or medium-scale enterprise”, he said.

Earlier, the Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank PLC, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, described the new business office as a significant milestone in the life of the bank.

She thanked successful administrations in the state for their support to the bank over the years, saying, ”We thank the Governor for creating a conducive environment for business to thrive.

“We opened our first branch in Akwa Ibom about 25 years ago, we have enjoyed a very good relationship with the government and people of the state.

“Akwa Ibom stands out as a major business friendly state. The state is clean, accommodating, and fast developing, we commend the government for this”, she said.

The Zenith Bank chief reiterated the bank’s commitment to sustain its partnership with the government and people of Akwa Ibom in order to make mutually impactful and meaningful progress.

She urged business owners in the state, especially women, to leverage the initiatives being offered by the bank to grow their businesses.

Niger Delta

Delta Prioritises Primary Healthcare Over Flyover Projects

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Delta Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening primary healthcare services across the state, dismissing claims that it was focusing more on visible infrastructure projects than grassroots healthcare delivery.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, made the clarification while reacting to comments by health influencer, Aproko Doctor.

Aproko Doctor recently suggested on social media that political leaders often prioritised flyovers and modern hospitals while neglecting primary healthcare centres.

Onojaeme said the claim did not reflect the situation in Delta, noting that healthcare remained a central pillar of the Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori administration’s development agenda.

According to him, although road projects and flyovers are visible across the state, deliberate investments have also been made in healthcare infrastructure and services.

He said that within two years, the state government had renovated 150 primary healthcare centres across the three senatorial districts out of the 441 public health facilities in the state.

According to him, another 150 centres are already undergoing planning and preparation for renovation.

“The effort will bring the number of upgraded primary healthcare centres to 300, thereby improving access to quality healthcare at the community level and reducing pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals,” he said.

The commissioner said that the state’s free maternal and under-five healthcare programme continued to yield positive results, including reductions in maternal and infant mortality, while easing financial burdens on families.

“Gov. Oborevwori recently approved the release of N2 billion to sustain the programme, alongside regular funding to strengthen Universal Health Coverage in the state,” he said.

Onojaeme also said that state-owned hospitals were granted autonomy to retain and utilise their internally generated revenue, enabling them to procure drugs, maintain equipment and respond more efficiently to patient needs.

“In specialised healthcare delivery, dialysis machines have been installed in state hospitals, helping to reduce waiting time for treatment while lowering dialysis costs from about N70,000 to N45,000 per session,” he said.

He said that CT scan machines installed at Warri Central Hospital and Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, were already improving diagnosis of conditions such as stroke and internal injuries.

“While newly procured echocardiography machines are strengthening early detection of heart-related conditions.”

The commissioner said the government had ordered three Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines for installation at Asaba Specialist Hospital, Central Hospital Warri and DELSUTH, Oghara, ensuring coverage across the three senatorial districts.

“While some states do not have a single MRI machine, Delta State is procuring three at once, with delivery expected by April as site preparations are ongoing,” he said.

Onojaeme said the government was establishing a new College of Health Sciences in Ovrode, Isoko North Local Government Area, to complement the existing institution in Ofuoma and boost the training of middle-level health manpower.

“The long-abandoned Mother and Child Hospital in Ekpan was nearing completion, while another Specialist Hospital was being developed in Osubi, Okpe Local Government Area, modelled after the Asaba Specialist Hospital.

According to him, Delta remains the only state in the country with more than 60 functional government-owned hospitals, adding that the current administration is determined to further expand healthcare access.

On health insurance, Onojaeme said enrollment under the Delta State Contributory Health Scheme had surpassed 2.78 million residents as of January 2026, making it one of the leading state-supported health insurance programmes in the country.

He explained that the scheme covered both formal and informal sector workers, while prioritising vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, children under five and the elderly, through the Equity Health Plan.

The commissioner added that the scheme recently enrolled 10,000 widows and continues to register indigent residents across the state.

He also disclosed that the Delta State Contributory Health Commission had introduced facial recognition technology at accredited facilities to improve efficiency and transparency in service delivery.

Onojaeme reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to achieving Universal Health Coverage and delivering affordable and accessible healthcare services to residents across the state.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly Seeks Crackdown On Drug Abuse

Published

3 days ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has urged the State Government to urgently enforce drug laws to curb the rising menace of substance abuse.

The resolution followed a matter of urgent public importance raised by Yakurr I lawmaker, Mr. Cyril Omini, during plenary in Calabar.

Omini cited a tragic incident in Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area, involving a 23-year-old man allegedly under the influence of drugs.

He said the suspect, Ubi Bassey, allegedly beheaded his father, Bassey Okoi, on February 2.

“Drug abuse has become widespread among youths, with alcohol, cannabis, cocaine and tramadol commonly abused.

“In spite of warnings by health and government agencies, illicit drug trading and consumption persist across many communities”, Omini said.

According to him, the trend has led to early deaths and, in extreme cases, violent crimes against innocent persons.

Omini warned the incident had caused fear in Ugep, cautioning that failure to act decisively could worsen social decay.

He, however, commended the State Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Okoi Obono (rtd), for efforts to restore peace in the area.

Lawmakers called for sustained drug sensitisation, youth-focused campaigns, stronger partnerships with non-governmental organisations, and stricter enforcement against drug peddlers and users.

The Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, expressed sadness over the incident and urged prompt prosecution of the suspect to deter other youths.