Rivers

Group Urges Youths To Shun Electoral Violence, Political Thuggery

Published

4 years ago

March 28, 2022

Ahead of the 2023 general elections in the country, a frontline socio- cultural organisation in the Niger Delta region, Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in Niger Delta (MOSIEND) has called on youths to shun all manner of electoral violence, political thuggery and all forms of criminality in the region, but vote wisely for candidates of their choice.
The group also admonished the youths and the electorate to vote out bad leadership with their Permanent Voter Card (PVC ) come 2023.
This was disclosed by National Director of the group, Alhaji Abubakar Amaigo Brown at Abonnema during the commiseration of over 50 youths that were killed at the community during the 2019 general elections by the military.
Brown said the essence of the exercise was to re-orientate the people of the clan and the youths to refrain from electoral violence, political thuggery, illegal oil bunkering and all manner of anti -social vices in the community come 2023.
The mobilisation officer called on Niger Delta youths to select the leaders to govern them with their votes and not to be used to carry guns and rig elections for the political class.
“We are lacking real leadership in the country, we need good leadership and not those that would ask our youths to carry arms during elections and abandon them.”
Speaking at the event, National President, National Youth Council of Ogoni People, (NYCOP), Comrade Mathew Dighi, called on youths of the region, especially to shun all manner of electoral violence come 2023.
Dighi, who described the death of over 50 youths in Abonnema during the 2019 general elections as a colossal loss to the region and the state, said. “We are here to create awareness and advise the youths not to act violently in the forthcoming elections, but vote wisely and vote leaders of their choice”
He advised the youth to be careful and intelligent during the forthcoming elections as he urged them to use their PVC to vote out bad governance and leadership in the country.
Also speaking, State Chairman, Civil Liberties Organization, (CLO), Clifford Christopher Solomon, decried the loss of lives and property, the wanton massacres that was carried out by the military at Abonnema in 2019 elections
Solomon appealed to the youths not to be used as an instrument for election rigging and thuggery in the 2023 elections.
He admonished the military to refrain from electioneering process and supervision of 2023 general elections in the country
”It is not the sole responsibility of the Nigeria Army, Navy and the Air force to come out during elections to shoot and kill innocent and armless civilians”
“Voting is the franchise of every eligible Nigerian to vote candidate of their choice and not to be killed by armed personnel”. He said
“It is not the duty of the military to come on election days to intimidate, harass, and shoot at civilians, rather it is the duty of the Nigerian police to supervise the processes and not to kill”.
Earlier, Nyemoni Clan Chairman, comrade Emmanuel Selem Romeo, had appealed to the youths of Nyemoni to desist from electoral Violence, kidnapping, oil bunkering and political thuggery in 2023 elections.
Romeo said the aim of the exercise was to commiserate with the families of the youths that were killed in 2019 general elections in Abonnema.
He called on government to provide employment for the teeming youths of the community to better their lives instead of indulging in crimes and criminalities.
Romeo told the youths that the political class has nothing to offer them, than guns and drugs to commit crimes

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

As part of activities marking 16 Days of Activism, A Non-Governmental Organizatio (NGO), OLEGH, has organised a one-day awareness creation workshop on digital violence against women and girls, for civil society and media groups in Rivers State.

OLEGH’s Executive Director, Henry Eferebo, said the programme was intended to draw attention to the theme for the 2025 16 Days of Activism tagged, “Unite To End Digital Violence against all Women and Girls.”

Eferebo said the event is an annual global campaign that focuses on violence against women, affords persons and groups all over the world the opportunity to embark on activities aimed at eliminating all forms of women and gender abuse.

“As individuals, we don’t pay attention to the things we see on the social media. We pay less attention to the abuse on the internet. Today, you can abuse a woman or a man physically, emotionally and otherwise, and go scot-free”, he noted.

According to him, women and girls have suffered the most from online violence and cyber-bullying, particularly on platforms such as TikTok, making them ready victims online and offline.

“So, in line with the United Nations principle on 16 Days of Activism and this year’s theme, there is a need for OLEGH Center to create awareness on issues resulting from the online abuse of women and girls.

“We decided to bring in a resource person who will tell us how to avoid being abused online”, he said.

He urged participants at the event to put hands together, rise up and speak against digital violence online.

The NGO’s arrow head, also explained that OLEGH was working towards creating an online help-desk for victims of online abuse and digital violence.

He urged participants to improve their security awareness while online, and adopt security protocols that would protect them in the digital space.

The Resource Person, Jacob Iniodu, in a paper titled, “Understanding Digital Abuse within the 16 Days of Activism”, listed forms of online violence to include, cyber-bullying, dozing, cyber-stalking, and invasion of privacy.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

Foundation Distribute Bags N5m Worth Christmas Gifts In Bundu Ama

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Armslent Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO), in Rivers State, has distributed Christmas gifts worth over N5million to aged mothers, orphans and less privileged persons in Belema, Bundu Ama (Community) in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).

The Foundation also gave cash gifts of N150,000 to the Community.

Presenting the gift items, comprising 5 bags of rice,10 Cartons of indomie noodles,10 Gallons of groundnut oil, 3 bags of salt and cartons of maggie cubes, to Chairman of the Community, David Oba, and the community leaders, the founder of Armslent Foundation, Comrade Richard Boma Briggs, said the foundation decided to show love and togetherness to the community by providing the gifts.

He noted that the provision was part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the community aimed at alleviating poverty and create a sense of belonging as Christian faithfuls celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Briggs described Bundu Ama as one of its pillars in partnership, stressing that the foundation was inspired by the spirit of love to impact and rejoice with the residents of the community.

“The foundation was moved by the spirit of Christmas to give these gifts and rejoice with the people of community”, Briggs said.

Accompanied by the Managing Director of the Foundation, Richard Osigbo, and other top Executive Members, Briggs called on the leaders of the community to always pray for the foundation, promising that in 2026, it would embark on a tangible project at UPE Modern Primary School Waterfront, Bundu Ama.

Receiving the items, Chairman of Bundu Ama, David Oba, thanked the foundation for empowering the less privileged persons, assisting physically challenged persons, and aged mothers in the past.

“The foundation had done a lot for this community and today we are witnessing these gift items for the Christmas celebration”,he emphasised.

He called on the leaders of the community, women group, youths and residents to emulate the humanitarian gestures of the foundation and pleaded that they also borrow a leaf from the gesture,in order to also give to society whenever they can.

Earlier the leaders of Belema Bundu Ama, led by Oba, former Chairman, Benneth Kalio, and Secretary, Promise Mangibo, presented an Award of Excellence to the Founder of the Foundation for his Humanitarian and selfless service to the community.

Highlight of the event was the offering of a special prayer to the management of the foundation by aged mothers, youths and leadership of the community.

By: Chinedu Wosu

Rivers

Youths Condemn Killings In Andoni

Published

2 days ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Obolo Youth Coalition, Rivers State Chapter, has condemned the recent spate of killings in Andoni Local Government Area, describing the renewed insecurity as alarming and constituting a threat to peace and stability in the area.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Comr. Jonathan J. Eyina, the group expressed deep concern over what it described as brutal and senseless acts of violence, while extending condolences to the families of the victims.

The coalition said the resurgence of insecurity in Andoni has continued to undermine communal harmony and called for urgent steps to halt the trend before it escalates further.

It appealed to youths in the area to shun violence and embrace peace, stressing the need for tolerance, mutual respect and collective responsibility in safeguarding the community.

According to the group, restoring peace in Andoni requires a coordinated approach involving government, security agencies, community leaders and residents to identify and address the root causes of insecurity.

It noted that increased security presence, improved intelligence gathering, and sustained community engagement are critical to preventing further violence, adding that underlying social and economic challenges must also be addressed.

The coalition called on the Andoni Local Government Chairman, Hon. Lucky Promise-Otua, the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Joseph Fubara, and the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju Adewole, to take decisive actions to restore security.

It further demanded that those responsible for the killings be apprehended and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

By: King Onunwor