Rivers

FG To Increase Police Funding – NHRC

Published

4 years ago

June 20, 2022

The National Human Rights Commission has assured the Nigeria Police Force that the Federal Government will continue to provide the necessary budgetary allocations to enhance the welfare of Police personnel across the country.
Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, gave the assurance, while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt during a two-day training organised for Police personnel in the South-South geo-political zone.
The training, which was themed ‘mainstreaming Human Rights into law enforcement in Nigeria,’ was supported by the Macarthur Foundation.
Ojukwu, represented by the Director, Civil and Political Rights, Abdulrahman Yakubu, said the training was to ensure that policemen respected the rights of members of the public while carrying out their duties.
“So, we are all aware of public agitations of human rights violations by Police personnel. And, the Police are very important to law enforcement because there is no local government in Nigeria that doesn’t have the presence of Police personnel.
“The constitution and many other laws have given the Police the power to maintain peace, law, and order. Therefore, they cannot be left alone to carry out these huge and enormous responsibilities without complying with the constitution and various laws that guide the criminal justice system in the country”, he stated.
On the persistent challenge of funding the police, he said, “I’m sure we all know that the Federal Government, over the years, has been increasing the funding level of the police.
“And, that is why the FG established what they call the Police Trust Fund.
“This Police Trust Fund is also to assist, apart from the budgetary allocations given to the Nigerian Police. This is also an alternative means of assisting the police in procuring special communication gadgets and other facilities that will help them in carrying out their duties.
“And, I’m also sure that we will start to see an increase in the level of budget appropriation to the Nigerian Police, and also, in providing certain welfare to motivate them. So, I think, over the years, we will start to see the benefits of all these means of funding the Nigerian Police,” he stated.
According to him, one of the objectives of the training was to keep enlightening the policemen to know that there was no hiding place, saying, “So, whenever there is violation or corruption, they (operatives) will be held accountable”.
Earlier, the Project Coordinator for the event, Ifeoma Wakama, said the training was to ensure that operatives uphold human rights standards when they are doing their normal work, saying, “When that is done, we will have improved performance by the police”.
In his goodwill message, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, thanked the Commission for contributing to human rights in the country and building the capacity of policemen.
Eboka, who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Ajeigbe, urged the personnel to replicate the knowledge gained in the training, in their respective states, in order to improve public perception of the police.

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

16 hours 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

16 hours 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

16 hours 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