Niger Delta

Edo Indigenes Decry Insecurity

Published

4 years ago

May 18, 2022

Indigenes of Edo State within Nigeria and in the Diaspora, have expressed concern about the worsening security situation in the State.
They urged the State Government to take adequate measures to address the menace.
This is contained in a statement issued by Dr Celey Okogun, the Publicity Secretary of UNUEDO Renaissance in Benin.
The statement said the indigenes spoke at a webinar, the first in the series organised by the group held at the weekend.
It focused on issues and challenges bedeviling the State, and discussed workable immediate, medium or long-term solutions.
The event drew participation of more than 100 Edo sons and daughters from across the globe.
The theme of the webinar was “Edo State Security: Progress and Challenges”.
The Tide’s source reports that UNUEDO Renaissance is an organisation which comprises professionals of Edo extraction cutting across diverse fields of endeavor, with the common goal to unify all Edo people.
The webinar had as panelists, Mrs Omololu Ojehomon, the State Commissioner for Public Security and Safety; Mr William Waba, a Chief Superintendent of Police and Chief Security Officer to the Edo Governor, Obaseki; and the Coordinator of the Vigilance Network, Mr Oboh Emmanuel Otoide.
The indigenes said the call had become necessary, following the incessant kidnappings, robbery, and random killings across the State.
They also urged the State Government to enhance its partnership with the various communities and security agencies for protection of lives and property.
“Addressing the insecurity challenge in the State is a critical element for attracting investment”, the indigenes stated.
They, however, commended Governor Godwin Obaseki on the establishment of a Ministry of Public Security and Safety.
They also stressed the need for synergy among the government, security agencies and the volunteers in the Edo State Vigilante Network, adding that members of the vigilance group should be profiled, monitored and ensure that a standard operating procedure was established.
“This will guide their operations and reduce discretion in operation matters to the barest minimum. Stipends should also be given to encourage members of the vigilance groups.
“Such stipends should be paid electronically to the bank accounts of beneficiaries”, they said.
The indigenes also charged the Commissioner, Ojehomon, to quickly develop the necessary policy and legislative framework to govern vigilance security operations through an Executive Bill to the Edo State House of Assembly.
They urged her to ensure proper management and co-ordination of security fund raising efforts, equipment donations, and other support at all levels.
The statement quoted Waba as saying “the Governor has continued to partner with security chiefs in the State to provide the needed support to enable them fight such violent crimes’’.
Waba said that the Governor distributed operational vehicles to the Nigerian Police and other military and para-military organisations and the vigilance network to enhance their operations.
He said that gunboats and speed boats were also given to them to help the marine unit of the Police curb criminality and make the waterways safe.
According to him, the Governor has also created the Edo Security Network across the 1,293 communities in the 18 local governments across the State.
Waba said other measures were put in place to secure the Benin-Auchi road, following the incessant attacks along the road.

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

8 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

12 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

13 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.