Rivers
Police Parade Eight Officers For Extortion, Assault In Rivers
The Rivers State police command has paraded eight officers for an alleged extortion and assault in the state.
Four of them were among the eight police officers paraded by the State Commissioner of Police at the Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Monday, while the other four were among the operatives who allegedly assaulted three men and extorted N6.5million from them.
The policemen who are not serving in the command but from a neighbouring Delta State command were said to have arrested some men from Omoluwabi in the Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area of the state “The men were tagged Internet fraudsters and were arrested by the police men ferried them to Delta State where they reportedly collected the money from them after detaining them for two days.
It was also learnt that the cops arrested the men on July 31, 2023, and laterv released them on August 1, 2023 after they had paid a whooping sum of money for their release.
The state Commissioner of Police, Emeka Nwonyi, while parading the police officers said he was working hard to rid the command of bad eggs,adding that consequences of crime are the same whether committed by civilians or security personnel.
Nwonyi said, “You can see some police officers. they have been in detention for more than two weeks now for an offence. They are not from this command, but we arrested them to show that we are here to purge ourselves.
I don’t think any other organisation has been more stringent in discipline like the police in cleaning up the bad eggs in their system and I want to be challenged on that.
The police boss however,did not reveal the identities of the alleged policemen from the Delta command who were paraded.
In a related development, the CP also paraded another set of four policemen serving in the command. They included three Inspectors and one Sergeant who were arrested for allegedly assaulting a female commuter which the video clips went viral on social media over the weekend.
He gave the names of the arrested police suspects as Inspector“Agba Emmanuel, and three others namely, Inspector Abgani Peter, Inspector Ozenewa Amadi and Sargeant Akuigbo Bartholomew. Nwonyi averred that the policemen were on a stop-and-search operation when they allegedly assaulted the lady around Arcania Junction, Ada George Road in Port Harcourt on Sunday.
According to him, “Upon receipt of the complaint, the commander of the CP Monitoring Unit swung into action and identified the officers as men of an Anti-Cultism Unit on a stop-and-search led by Inspector Agba Emmanuel.
They have all been arrested and in custody undergoing interrogation.
“We want to inform our esteemed friends that the police officers allegedly involved in the incident from the video have been identified and are now in custody as part of our ongoing investigation. We are committed to ensuring a fair and thorough examination of this matter.
However, to ensure transparency and gather all perspectives, we urgently request the lady seen in the video to please come forward and share her side of the story. Your input is crucial in helping us understand the situation fully. Your safety and well-being are our top priorities. “Also, I am appealing to the lady who was assaulted to come to my office and give us her side of the incident for proper investigation to be carried out.
The commissioner of police also told journalists that as a follow-up to the kidnapping and release of one victim (name withheld), on 29/08/2023 at about 1830hrs, the Operatives of the Command arrested one Henry Thomas ‘m’, aged 40yrs, a native of Akinima in Ahoada-West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to him, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and later led operatives to Akinima Community on 30/08/2023 at about 0400hrs where their operational vehicle, a Toyota Sienna car with Reg. No. MUS 606 AR, two pump action guns with breaches No. 23-0411 and 2h21yt-28, respectively, 20 rounds of LAR ammunition, 25 rounds of AK47 ammunition, and six cartridges were recovered from him.
An effort is ongoing to arrest other members of the dreaded syndicate and recover more of their operational weapons.
The CP said in a follow-up to the death of a cultists/kidnappers, police operatives of the command on 30/08/2023 arrested one Godspower Salete ‘m’ at Rumodogo at about 1424hrs and one Temple Emmanuel Woke ‘M’ of Rumuodogo-1 in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State were also arrested in connection to the case.
The two suspects led a team of Policemen to Rumuodogo Forest for the recovery of their arms. During the process, their gang members engaged the police in a gun battle, and in the process, the two suspects were fatally wounded while others escaped with bullet wounds.
One AK49 rifle with breach no. Ek3911 and six magazines with twenty rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.
The corpses have been deposited at De-light Mortuary, Ogbakiri, for autopsy, while intensive efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects and recover more of their operational weapons.
By: Akujobi Amadi
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has charged youths across the nine states of the commission to be ambassadors of peace building initiatives .
This move is to sustain the existing peace to propel development across the region.
The NDDC managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Samuel Ogbuku,gave the directive while declaring open a capacity building program for Niger Delta stakeholders on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and inclusive peace for sustainable development organised by the department of dispute and conflict resolution ( DCR) of the commission held in port Harcourt, Tuesday.
The program which is part of activities to mark the silver jubilee celebration of the birth of the commission has the theme: fostering lasting peace through ADR : lessons from the past, building future opportunities to advance the renewed hope agenda.
The NDDC managing Director/chief executive officer represented by his chief of staff,Rev Omeya Oworibo advised the youths of Niger Delta region to be vanguards of peace and avoid actions that could jeopardize the existing peace achieved in the region.
He emphasised that sustainable development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace devoid of rancour and acrimony, stressing that as critical stakeholders in the region, they are to seen themselves as agents of development and to build frontiers with the commission to advance the developmental needs of the people of Niger Delta region.
He averred that the various developmental achieved by the commission was associated to the prevailing peace and stability noticed in the region.
He opined that the essence of the workshop is to brainstorm with the various stakeholders in the region ,especially the youths, on how best to ensure that the existing peace in region is sustained and how we can best manage ourselves without being confrontational.
According to him,the commission is open for positive and constructive engagement , adding that dialogue and meditation remains the key to finding a lasting peace in the society.
” I am excited on the level of people in this workshop and our core mandate is how to build and sustain the existing peace in the region.How do we keep and maintain this peace already achieved.”he stated.
The NDDC managing Director and chief executive officer urged them to carry the message of peace and stability to their various communities and villages so as to assist the commission achieve it’s core mandate of development in the Region.
Earlier in his welcome of address, the acting director, Dispute & Conflict Resolution (DCR),Ogedegbe Ayewumi Godwin(Esq), said the gathering is with shared commitment to harness the power of alternative dispute resolution ( ADR)as a critical instrument for sustaining peace, unlocking development and advancing the renewed Hope Agenda across the Niger Delta and beyond.
He stated that we stand at a consequential moment in our national journey, noting that the theme for the workshop “fostering lasting peace through ADR: lessons from the past, Building future opportunities to advance the renewed Hope Agenda”calls us to reflect deeply on what has worked, what must be reinforced and how we can leverage ADR to translate policy intentions into tangible, peaceful, and prosperous outcome for communities that have borne the brunt of conflict for too long.
Akujobi Amadi
The Chief Judge of Rivers state, justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has charged neutral arbitrators participating in the median edition of the first free settlement Alternative Dispute Resolution initiative organised by the state multi _Door Courthouse to be neutral and unbiased in adjudicating cases brought before them for determination.
Justice Amadi stated this while declaring open a one _week free settlement initiative program held at the chief judge ceremonial court complex held on Monday,in port Harcourt.
The state chief judge represented on the event by justice I.R.Minakiri said the essence of the initiative is to provide faster and lesser means of conflict resolution in the state.
According to him,ADR is the oldest practice in dispute resolution as its foundation is traceable to the bible ,using the moses model of dispute resolution and settlement approach,noting that conflicts can not be ruled out in human activities
He urged them to be intentional and have clear vision on cases brought before them and avoid ethnic and cultural colouration while discharging their sacred responsibility, nothing that those involved in peace making are regarded as true sons of God as recorded in the scripture.
The number one judiciary worker in the state use the opportunity to thank the neutrals for responding to call of duty and dispensing justice free of charge, noting that there huge contributions to peace building and conflict resolution in the state can not be overemphasized.
“You must be open minded and avoid being stereotype so that you can have a clear vision on the cases brought before you”
Earlier in his welcome address,the director, State multi _Door Court House, (RSMDC),victor Nweke,Esq said the
one-week free settlement initiative through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) was part of efforts to ease congestion in conventional courts.
Nweke encouraged the public to utilize the platform, particularly for commercial and family-related disputes and explained that the law establishing the institution empowers it to undertake such functions, adding that cases not concluded within the free settlement week would still be finalized under the same privilege.
He posisted that the hallmark of the conduct of the session is the neutrality and confidentiality and commended the arbitrators for the volunteering there time to dispense free justice and intermediate in conflict resolution in the state free of charge
The Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Professor Okechukwu Onuchukwu, has revealed valuable insights on how scholars can thrive in an Artificial Intelligence ( AI) in the Country .
Speaking at the 40th Conference of English Scholars Association of Nigeria ( ESAN) in conjunction with the English and Literary Studies tagged “Advancing the Frontiers of Digital Humanities Research In English and Literary Studies” with the theme – Teaching English and Literary Studies In Nigeria Tertiary Institutions In The Era of AI. Prof Onuchukwu said the theme of the conference provides a roadmap for navigating the challenges as well as opportunities being presented by Artificial Intelligence.
The VC who was represented by the Director, Quality Assurance, Prof Levi Kalagbor hinted that the conference shouldn’t end at identifying social ,academic problems facing humanity but proffer solutions to better human existence.
Prof Onuchukwu insisted that Artificial Intelligence should be followed with the aim of averting problems for human race .
He noted that collaboration among the pillars of the Institution will be extended to research, teaching and community service, stressing that the essence of it cannot be over- emphasised.
According to him, the core values of the Institution anchored on excellence ,integrity and service will also not to be compromised.
“I encourage the organisers to embrace AI and use it for the advancement of humanity.
English scholars should implore AI tools that can enhance research, teaching and learning process, such as AI- driven content generation”, he said.
In his remarks, the President English Scholars Association of Nigeria(ESAN) Prof. Tajudeen Surakat stressed the importance of training and re- training of English scholars for greater contribution towards educational advancement of the society.
The ESAN President said it was part of their responsibilities by engaging in academic exercise as to become more prepared to impact knowledge on humanity.
In her speech the Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee ( LOC) of the conference Prof Ibiere Ken- Maduako said the theme of this year’ s conference is apt considering the role AI is playing in the society.
Prof Maduako, Dean Faculty of Humanities, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education called on participants to use the opportunity to contribute towards the enhancement of knowledge .
” As I speak members of my faculty and the Institution are happy for the successful hosting of the conference. It was made possible based on support the VC, staff and students had given.
Highlights of the event includes ; induction of new members
Presentation of papers by scholars from different higher institutions in Nigeria , revealing benefits of AI.
” I am optimistic that the conference will achieve its set goals. Students are expected to participate actively as to gain more academic skills” She stated.
