News
Police Parade Rev Sister, Others For Various Crimes In Rivers
A 44-year old Reverend Sister, Maureen Wechinwu, was among the 21 alleged criminal suspects that were paraded by the Rivers State Police Command for alleged roles in various criminal activities committed across parts of the state.
The self-acclaimed reverend sister was arrested for alleged abduction and child trafficking on September 3, by a team of ‘Operation Restore Peace’ of the command, who were acting on credible information regarding the hideout of child traffickers.
The Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, disclosed this while parading the suspects at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Eboka said that the police crack team trailing the suspects stormed Omuigwe, Abuja Phase II, Aluu, in Ikwerre Local Government Area, where a lady who claimed to be Rev. Sister Maureen Wechinwu ‘f’ aged 44yrs, was arrested and 15 children were rescued.
The CP said the case has been transferred to Monitoring Unit for discrete investigation, and gave names of the rescued children as Prosper Godwin‘m’ 9yr; Queen Harry ‘f’ 7yrs; Miracle John Ohiri ‘f’ 8yrs; Peculiar Michael ‘f’ 8yrs; Chimobi Mattew ‘m’ 7yrs; Justice Peter Wechinwu ‘m’ 4yrs; Chukwuemeka Wechinwu ‘m’ 4yrs; and Favour Edeze‘f’ 9yrs.
Others include Onyebuchi Wechinwu ‘m’ 7yrs; Peculiar Michael ‘f’ 8yrs; Madubochi Wechinwu ‘m’ 10yrs; Francisca Wechinwu ‘f’ 12yrs; Emmanuel Wechinwu ‘m’ 6yrs; Prosper Godwin ‘m’ 8yrs; Queen Harry ‘f’ 7yrs; Chinwendu Wechinwu ‘f’ 15yrs; and Ogadinma Destiny Wechinwu ‘m’ 5yrs.
The commissioner further disclosed that investigation revealed that Prosper Godwin ‘m’was abducted at Ikpazasia market in Bayelsa State on October 31, 2020, together with two others, whom, he said, they do not know their whereabouts, and was taken to the suspects.
“Later, he was sold to a woman at Lagos, and subsequently returned to the suspect”,adding that the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Godwin Ododor, have been contacted, and they corroborated the statement of the child.
On Queen Harry ‘f’, the CP said, “She was abducted at Ojukwu Field, Mile 1, Diobu, Port Harcourt, at about 1900hrs, while on an errand with the elder sister. The mother, Mrs. Florence has been contacted, and she corroborated the facts.
“Miracle John Ohiri‘f’: She was abducted on November 19, 2021 at Ada-George Road, Port Harcourt, opposite Holy Rock Church, along with her mother and two siblings, who have not been seen till date. The father, John Ohiri, has been contacted for identification of the child, who corroborated her statement that he reported the incident at Rumuokpakani Police Station.
“Favour Edeze‘F’: She was abducted at Creek Road Market, Port Harcourt on April 29, 2022, at about 1000hrs, while on errand. The father, one Emeka Edeze, has been contacted and identified his child, and also confirmed the incident.
“Chimele Obinna ‘f’: She was abducted on April 24, 2022, at Rumuodara culvet, Oroigwe, Port Harcourt, while seated in front of their house with her sister. The mother, Glory Obinna was contacted, and she stated that the incident was reported at Okporo Police Station.
“We are yet to locate the parents of the remaining 10 children for identification. Investigation isongoing with a view of arresting other suspects linked in the case.”
The CP also told journalists that on August 10, 2022, operatives of C4i Intelligence Unit, based on credible information, arrested one Obinna Dike ‘m’ aged 39yrs, of No. 72,IbetoRoad, Port Harcourt, a Bolt driver who specialises in robbing his passengers at gun point.
According to him, one of his recent operations is at EvoRoad, G.R.A, where he robbed one BomaAdolphus ‘f’ of the sum of N150,000 .00,adding that he has confessed to the crime,while investigation is ongoing.
Speaking on Obinna Dike ‘m’ age 39yrs, he said that exhibit recovered from him include, one Infinix Phone 6816, and one Toyota Matrix Blue in colour with Reg. No PHC 577 ALA.
He said, “On July 3, 2022, operatives of Elelenwo Division, arrested one Sadiq David ‘m’ aged 23yrs in possession of one locally made double barrel Pistol with three live cartridges. After preliminary investigation, the case was transferred to C4i Intelligence Unit for discrete investigation, which led to the arrest of one Hamisu Hassam ‘m’ aged 30yrs, and Babangida Ibrahim ‘m’ aged 26yrs at Yam Zone, in Oyigbo Local Government Area. They both confessed to the crime of robbing dispatch riders after their services. Investigation is still in progress”.
The CP listed the suspects to include, Sadiq David ‘m’ aged 25yrs; Hamisu Hassan ‘m’ aged 30yrs; Babangida Ibrahim ‘m’ aged 26yrs; and AmadiGodswill ‘m’ aged 30yrs.
He also gave a breakdown of items recovered from the suspects, saying that exhibits recovered include “one locally made double barrel Pistol; three live cartridges; three motorcycles: (i one-day long motorcycle with Reg. No AFR 918 ON; one Feiyan Carter Pen Motorcycles without Reg/No; Lifian Motorcycle without Reg/No”.
He also added that the six vehicles recovered from the suspects include, Toyota Corolla LE with Reg No. Rivers NCH 85 AE; Toyota Camry big light with Reg No.Rivers KNM 851 FU; Toyota Corolla LE with Reg No Abuja GWA 605 C; Toyota Camry big light with Reg/No Rivers BGM 880 SE; Toyota Corolla with Reg. No Lagos JJJ 472 DC; .Toyota Corolla without Registration Number.
“Again, operatives of this command on August 10, 2022, through Intelligence-led policing, arrested one IfeanyiNneji ‘m’ aged 29yrs and one Idowu Peter ‘m’ aged 32yrs at Oil Mill Junction, in the process of selling a locally made pistol to one Bariduanem Dim Justice ‘m’ aged 34yrs, a native of Baroko in Gokana Local Government Area”, the CP said, and added that “they are helping us in our investigation”.
The CP while giving the summary of the command’s achievementswithin the period under review said, 21suspects were arrested, six arms recovered; three live cartridges; nine numbers of recovered vehicles; 15children rescued.
He used the opportunity to appreciate the good people of the state for the working synergy existing between them and the police.
“All the recorded achievements wouldn’t have been possible without your timely information most of which are through phone calls”, Eboka said.
“I also thank everyone, including corporate bodies who commiserated with us in our time of grief following the death of our erstwhile spokesperson, SP OmoniNnamdi, who was the DPO Elimgbu until his death. We pray that God grants him peaceful rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss”, he added.
By: Amadi Akujobi
Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
-
Rivers3 days ago
Four Internet Fraudstars Get Different Jail Terms In PH
-
Business3 days ago
Food Security: NDDC Pays Counterpart Fund For LIFE-ND Project
-
Business3 days ago
PH Women Plan Alternative Stew, Shun Tomato High Prices
-
Sports4 days ago
Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans
-
Niger Delta3 days agoEx-IYC President Lampoons Atiku’s Presidential Ambition … Declares It Negative Impact On N’Delta
-
News3 days ago
Tinubu Never Stopped 5-year Visa For U S. Citizens – Presidency ?
-
Featured3 days agoINEC To Unveil New Party Registration Portal As Applications Hit 129
-
Business3 days ago
Industry Leaders Defend Local Content, … Rally Behind NCDMB