Niger Delta

Women Empowerment, Our Way Of Fighting GBV -Ministry

Published

3 years ago

November 8, 2022

The Director, Women Department, Ministry of Women Affairs, Cross River State, Mrs Nancy Nsor, says empowering women is one of the ways the Ministry is using to tackle Gender-Based Violence (GBV).
Nsor made the remark in an interview with The Tide’s source in Calabar, while reacting to the empowerment of 45 GBV survivors in five different skills between October and November to boost their livelihood.
The Director, therefore, said the empowerment programme, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) through the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, was concluded with the women receiving starter kits to begin their own businesses.
She added that “we decided to embark on training, which lasted for a month and two weeks because after offering psychosocial support at the GBV Centre in the Ministry, some women still found it difficult to decide what they want due to lack of economic empowerment.
“In fact, after counselling most women and asking them to distance themselves from the dangerous environment they found themselves, they would refuse because they cannot sustain themselves and their children alone.
“So, we organised training for GBV survivors in aluminum frame fabrication, hair dressing, shoe and beads making and solar panel installation to empower them”, she said.
She explained that the Ministry always checked on the women to see how they were faring in the skills they learnt and in March 2022, officials of the Ministry took some facilitators of the Spotlight Initiative to the shops of some of the women that benefitted from the training.
She thanked the UNFPA for the support in establishing a GBV Centre in the state, saying that from 2021 till date, the Ministry received over 1000 reports.
“Our partnership with Girls Power Initiative (GPI) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), with support from UNFPA has encouraged people to confidently come out to report GBV cases and seek help.
“We have been able to handle the cases we could handle and refer others to CSOs, the police and the Ministry of Justice”, she enthused.
The source reports that GBV is any violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.
The different types of violence are: Physical, Psychological, Sexual, Socio-economic and Verbal, including hate speech.

Niger Delta

Edo CP Vows Justice For Slain NSCDC Operatives

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Commissioner of Police in Edo State, Mr. Monday Agbonika, has vowed to hunt down and bring to justice those behind the killing of eight NSCDC operatives in the State.

Agbonika gave the assurance on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the attack scene, which also involved the abduction of a Chinese national.

Describing the incident as “a dastardly act that will not go unpunished”, the Commissioner expressed condolences to the Edo State Command of the NSCDC.

He paid tribute to the fallen operatives, describing them as “gallant personnel who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.”

“We stand in solidarity with the NSCDC in this grief. Their sacrifice will not be in vain, and Edo people should expect justice”, Agbonika said.

In a separate meeting with Chinese community members at BUA Cement, Okpella, the police chief assured that efforts were ongoing to rescue the abducted expatriate alive.

“Our men are on the ground, and operations have been intensified. We are determined to rescue the kidnapped victim and prevent further incidents in the area”, he said.

Agbonika appealed for calm among residents, urging cooperation through timely and credible intelligence to aid ongoing security operations.

“Security is a collective responsibility. We call on residents to support us with information. Together, we will defeat criminals threatening Edo’s peace”, he added.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, stressing that it would not relent until the attackers were arrested and justice delivered.

The Tide’s source reports that the Okpella attack occurred on Friday.

Niger Delta

Police Nab Suspected Illicit Drugs Dealer In Delta

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Police Command in Delta State has arrested a suspected female illicit drugs dealer in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

The command’s Spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri on Wednesday.

Edafe said the suspect was nabbed alongside her three apprentices on August 29 by the police operatives attached to the Ughelli Area Command.

He said the operatives carried out the raid following credible information on the activities of some individuals that indulged in the sale of illicit drugs within Afisere/Ughelli town.

“The operatives trailed and arrested a drug baron who operates a chemist store in Afisere Community alongside three of her apprentices.

“The suspect led the operatives to her house at Afisere and a search warrant was executed.

“Exhibits recovered from the suspects included: 355 bottles of CSC codeine, 57 rolls of 50MG tramadol capsules, 335 rolls of 100mg tramadol capsules.

“Others were: 33 rolls of 200mg super royal, seven backwoods, 540 sachets of swinol capsules and 16 cups of Canadian liquid cannabis”, he said.

The police spokesman said investigation further revealed that the suspect was a major dealer in illicit drugs in Ughelli and its environs.

Edafe added that investigation in the matter was ongoing.

Niger Delta

C’River Assembly extends Bekwarra LG Chairman’s Suspension By 3 Months

Published

2 weeks ago

September 12, 2025

The Tide

The Cross River State House of Assembly has extended the suspension of the Bekwarra Council Chairman, Ms. Theresa Ushie, to 90 days.

Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Elvert Ayambem, made the remark on Wednesday during plenary.

The Tide’s source recalls that Ushie was suspended on June 10 for three months on allegations of corruption, misconduct and abuse of power.

The suspension followed a petition from the Bekwarra Local Government Legislative Council, signed by eight of its members, who also attempted to impeach her.

Ayambem explained that the extension was to allow the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution more time to investigate the petition written against the chairman by the Bekwarra Legislature.

The House had earlier deliberated on a motion calling for the extension of the office of the LGA Acting Chairman, Mr. Egbung Obama, before agreeing to extend Ushie’s suspension.

In his remarks, Chairman of the Investigative Committee and member, representing Abi State Constituency, Mr. Davies Etta, said the committee needed more time to carry out a thorough investigation.

Ushie was elected as Bekwarra Local Government Council Chairman and sworn-in in November 2024.