News
Rukpokwu Residents Send SOS To Wike, IGP Over Looming Crisis
Residents of Royal Estate Phase 2 on SARS Road, Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to urgently wade in to forestall the possible breakdown of law and order as well as the breach of public peace by hoodlums in the area.
The residents, who made the call while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, last Monday, expressed regrets over what they described as horrifying brutalisation of legitimate land owners by a notorious gang of land grabbers operating in Rukpokwu axis.
The residents and legitimate purchasers also warned that if nothing was done to halt the violence, there may be a resort to self-help.
“There is no way that someone can be forced out of his land after he has spent four to N10million”, the residents said.
A resident, who identified himself as Eric Jackson, alleged that the head of the grabbers’ gang was one, Mr. Douglas Tenko, fondly referred to as ‘The Don’.
He alleged that ‘The Don’, who heads the land grabbers’ gang, also has more than 50 goons who help him to achieve his purpose.
Jackson said ‘The Don’ was working in connivance with some chiefs, elders and community development committee members to wreak mayhem and grab people’s property.
He explained that top police officers in Port Harcourt, Zone 16, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Force Headquarters, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, were in league with ‘The Don’ and his goons.
Jackson also expressed regrets over what he described as terrifying brutalisation of bonafide purchasers and the framing of phantom charges against them in effort to dispossess them of their parcels of land.
He said that the Royal Estate Phase2 had been overrun by the grabbers who extort money from landowners in the area.
Jackson accused one Mr. Jacob Samuel from Delta State of being the mastermind of the land grabbing scheme in the area.
He said that Samuel had been hired by the real owner of Eliokpokwu marshy area, Rukpokwu, Mr. Nnanta Chinedu.
He alleged that because of greed, Samuel elicited the support of ‘The Don’ and his goons to dispossess Nnanta permanently of his property.
He said most purchasers who bought their parcels of land from the beneficial owner were often marooned and framed up with phantom charges to cower them into the abandonment of their legal ownership of the land they purchased.
He said that a picture of a corpse lying in a canal was used to slam phantom charge of murder to purchasers who bought directly from the beneficial owner and dispossess them.
Jackson also said Chinedu was remanded in prison custody over a phantom charge of murder with the intention of compelling him to back out of his heritage.
He said the police officers who caused Chinedu to be remanded in custody were working for ‘The Don’.
He said some of the police accomplices in the scheme claim to be working on the order of IGP.
A Port Harcourt-based lawyer and counsel to Mr. Chinedu Nnanta said that the marshes in dispute belonged to his client who inherited same from his father according to Ikwerre native laws and customs as applicable in Eliokpokwu-Odu, Rukpokwu.
He remarked that the ownership of the land in dispute was already pending in the High Court but noted that Mr. Douglas Tenko and Elder Prince Sunny Okpara were defendants in the matter but would not come to court to defend their matter.
He pointed out that ownership of land was civil matter and not criminal.
Also speaking, the acting head of Eliokpokwu-Odu community, Chief Achineke Mecha, accused Rumuagholu community of using hoodlums and certain police officers to dispossess them of their land.
He also called on the IGP to wade into the matter.
Mecha claimed that the land they sold to a certain estate developer was being challenged by a privileged police officer and his tugs.
He warned the police to stay away from Eliokpokwu-Odu community land.
Mecha said Rumuagholu was using the matter they won in 1961 to claim adjoining lands not captured in the survey plan.
Also speaking, a principal member of Eliokpokwu-Odu community, Elder Sunny Okpara, expressed regret that Rumuagholu was trespassing into their exclusive possession.
The Tide investigation revealed that Tenko was selling land he retrieved from legitimate purchasers to an estate development company whose owner has clout all over the Nigerian federation.
The Tidealso gathered that the owner of the estate, who worked behind the scenes, made it difficult for ‘The Don’ and his goons to be prosecuted for the plethora of heinous crimes they have allegedly committed by reportedly dispossessing legitimate owners of their lands
By: Chidi Enyie
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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