Niger Delta
CP Orders DPOs To Demolish Illegal OSPAC, Vigilante Groups’ Detention Camps
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
By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Michael Abraham
The Natural Ruler and Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Edward I, Perekule XI, has hailed the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, for recognising indigenes of his community through conferment of honours.
He also congratulated Bonny indigenes who were conferred with the Distinguished Service Star of Rivers State (DSSRS) award by the Rivers State Government.
The awardees are Chairman of Bonny Local Government Council, Alabota Anengi Dagogo Claude-Wilcox; Amaopusenibo Rodaford Longjohn; Amaopusenibo Kingsley Fubara Hart; Hon. George Fubara Tolofari; Hon. Aye Atamah Pepple; Hon. Christopher Green; and Hon. Abinye Blessing Pepple.
The monarch also expressed gratitude to Wike and the state government for finding Bonny indigenes worthy of such recognition.
In a statement, the monarch, who had also been honoured by the Rivers State Government for his contributions to the development of Nigeria and Rivers State, said the award would motivate the recipients and others to put more efforts towards making Rivers State the cynosure of all eyes. He used the opportunity to appreciate the former governor, for his outstanding achievements, while praying that the present Governor, Amaopusenibo Siminialayi Fubara, who is an Ibani son, would surpass his accomplishments.
The Paramount Ruler, who was present at the presentation of the awards, prayed for more successes in their political careers and other endeavours, and hoped that they would continue to be good ambassadors of Bonny Kingdom.
Residents of Cross River State have appealed to the new governor of the state, Sen. Bassey Otu, to enthrone good governance in the state as he assumes office.
The residents who spoke with The Tide source during the inauguration of Otu said with the present situation in the state, it was important for the new governor to hit the ground running.
Former Commissioner for Health in the state, Mrs Janet Ekpenyong said the residents are very hopeful that the governor would perform and succeed in his endeavour.
“I hope that as Otu assumes office, he will bring on some people who will give him the necessary and explicit support that he requires to move the state forward.
“There is a huge gap of human resources in the state’s health sector; although, the former governor started the process of recruiting more hands, we expect the governor to bring in more competent hands to bridge the gap.
“He should also focus on the the renovation of our health facilities especially those at the secondary level and also ensure that there is enough commodities and drugs to cater for residents of the state,” she said.
Ekpenyong added that there was also need to invest and expand the state’s health insurance scheme as it was a low hanging fruit and would bridge healthcare gap in the state.
Similarly Mr Jackson Bassey said although the new governor might have a good heart but he needed to stand his ground with the will power to do the right thing.
Mrs Ikaete Anang said the people were tired of long speeches without action from their elected officials assign that what they wanted was performance.
Anang called on the new governor of the state to try his best in assuaging the suffering of the people of the state, especially the women.
“We need to make Cross River viable, clean and green again so that the people can rejoice; it has been a painful last four years and we must tell ourselves the truth,” she maintained.
The source reports that the inauguration of the the governor of Cross River took place at a packed UJ Esuene Stadium with colourful cultural troupes and many dignitaries in attendance.
A delegation of Global South scholars and activists are embarking on a lobbying and advocacy tour of European capitals to discuss the urgent issue of an ecosocial energy transition.
The seven participants are following up on a global manifesto published this year decrying a new Green colonialism and urging more equitable approaches to achieving a fossil-free future.
Miss Kome Odhomor, Media/Communications Lead at Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), said this in a statement on Monday in Yenagoa.
HOMEF, a Nigeria based environmental group is a participating member of the coalition of groups making up the delegation.
The delegation will hold public events, meet with policymakers and NGOs, and engage with members of the media in Berlin, Brussels, and London from May 29 to June 2.
According to her, the mission of the delegation is to inject Global South perspectives into current European policy discussions around energy and environment.
“The delegation will include the Right Livelihood award winner, a Nigerian activist Nnimmo Bassey, widely published Argentine sociologist and philosopher Maristella Svampa, the Fijian international human rights lawyer Kavita Naidu and Indian activist-researcher Madhuresh Kumar.
“Others are Brazilian-Spanish activist-scholar Breno Bringel, Venezuelan linguist and ecofeminist Liliana Buitrago, and South African-Swedish scholar-activist Vasna Ramasar.
“The tour is organized by the Ecosocial and Intercultural Pact of the South, the Global Just Transition project of the Institute for Policy Studies, and the Global Tapestry of Alternatives,” she said.
She said that while in Germany, the delegation would in Berlin, meet the press in the morning of Tuesday and hold a public event co-sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung at 5 pm (Str. der Pariser Kommune.)
She said that in Brussels, Maristella Svampa would participate in a public event “The Green Transition and Critical Minerals” on May 30 at 12:30 at CCND.
“Also in Brussels, on May 31, the delegation will meet with NGOs at Mundo-madou at noon co-sponsored by Oikos.
“The itinerary further shows that in the evening of May 31 in Brussels, the delegation will hold a public event at 6 pm co-sponsored by Broederlijk Delen at GEC in Ghent (Kon. Maria Hendrikaplein.
“In London, the delegation will meet with NGOs on June 1 beginning at 1 pm at Kairos House,The Bookroom, Essex Hall, 1-6 Essex Street.
“While on June 2, in London, there will be a public event at Pelican House at 6 pm (144 Cambridge Heath Rd, Bethnal Green).”