Rivers

Rivers Police Arrest One Of Five-Man Car Snatching Syndicate

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2023

The Rivers State Police Command says its operatives have arrested a member of a five-man car snatching gang who specialised in snatching cars from Rumuibekwe and its nebouring towns within the State.
The Commissioner of Police in the State, CP Emeka Nwonyi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the command’s Headquarters in Port Harcourt, on what he called “the latest modest achievements” recorded by the command in the ongoing onslaught against crimes and criminality across the state.
Cp Nwonyi said following a discreet investigation, a team of Police operatives trailed and arrested one Elvis Okirika of Bomadi, Delta State, but a resident in Abuja Town, Port Harcourt, in his hideout along Niger Street, Port Harcourt.
According to him, the suspect, a member of a five-man gang of notorious armed robbery and car snatching syndicate, recently terrorising residents of Port Harcourt, attacked some residents of Rumuibekwe Housing Estate, Port Harcourt, at Artillery Flyover and snatched a green colour Toyota Corolla salon car, collected gold necklace valued at N350,000 three smartphones valued at N390,000 and a cash sum of N300,000.
He further said the gang also attacked one victim at Elitor Road, Woji, Port Harcourt, and snatched a green color Toyota Highlander with eight smartphones, and Nokia Touch GSM phone, both valued at one hundred and fifty-two thousand naira, His Access and First Bank ATM cards, and stole a total of two million, one hundred and fifty thousand naira from his two bank accounts.
“The suspect and members of his gang also attacked one victim at Rumuodara, Port Harcourt, last Saturday along Obagi Street, GRA, Port Harcourt, and snatched a red colour Toyota Corolla salon car with Reg. No. LND 969 DJ, Samsung S21, and Samsung Note 10 lite smartphones, both valued at six hundred and twelve thousand naira, Samsung ear pod valued at N180,000 and a wallet containing bank ATM cards.
“Investigation is in progress as efforts are intensified in order to arrest other members of the gang who are still at large, to recover other stolen property and their operational weapons. Some of the suspects are in Police net”, he stated.
The State Commissioner of Police, while giving a breakdown of the achievements, also said, sequel to frequent attacks by cultists along Ahoada East/West Local Government Areas, one General Worldwide of the Greenlanders cult group residing at Ugbulugbu Community, Ahoada East, based on pressure on him in his criminal hideout, surrendered to the Police operatives.
Nwonyi told journalists that the cultist surrendered one AK-47 rifle with breach number 1968 TH8150, with three rounds of calibre 7.62 x 39mm live ammunition and four empty magazines, adding that the onslaught on other cultists is seriously ongoing to mop up arms and ammunition in their possessions.
The CP stated that one paramount ruler of JK2 Community reported that one fisherman from Bayelsa State was macheted to death by one Double Chief/Dangerboy on a reprisal attack.
He said 10 persons were abducted, adding that the Command put more pressure on the kidnappers, from whom the victims were rescued and reunited with their families.

By: Amadi Akujobi

Rivers

NGO Builds Awareness On Digital Violence Against Women, Girls

Published

3 days 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

3 days 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

3 days 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