Rivers
Death Of Woji Youth: Royal Family Calls For Justice
The Eke Royal Family of Woji Town in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has called for thorough investigation into the circumstances sorrounding the death of Kenneth Nyebuchi Eke by the police at the Woji Police Division.
It would be recalled that the late Nyebuchi Eke was allegedly beaten to death by the OC Surveillance attached to the Woji Police Division .
According to the family, the deceased body was later discovered at an uncompleted building at Chokocho Etche in Etche Local Government Area.
Addressing newsmen at Woji, elder brother to the deceased and former Chairman of Obio/Akpor, Local Government Council, Hon Solomon Abel Eke, said the family is calling for thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the death of his brother, and the discovery of his body at Chokocho Etche.
According to him, his brother was arrested by the surveillance team of Woji Police Division as a result of a minor issue between him and his tenant.
“Nyebuchi Kenneth Eke was arrested illegally by the Surveillance team of Woji Police Division and then the only offence was that he had issues with his tenant who had refused to pay him his rent over the years which he had tolerated”, he stated.
He alleged that police men, led by the Woji Police Division surveillance team, arrested him.
In his words, “Not only arresting him, but started beating him and just beat him to the level that the man passed out”.
He said after the death of his brother, the OC Surveillance refused to report the matter to the Divisional Police Officer of the Woji Police Division.
Eke also wondered how and why his brother’s remains had to be carried to Chokocho Etche from Woji, where the incident occurred, adding that from Woji to Chokocho Etche was about 25 kilometres.
“For him to drive this long to Chokocho to drop the body there at a particular place, how did he come about knowing the area?”
He said the Surveillance team at Woji should be properly interrogated with a view to unravelling the mystery behind the discovery of the uncompleted building where the body of Kenneth Nyebuchi Eke was dumped.
The former Obio/Akpor boss said the family will get to the root of the matter with a view to ensuring that justice is done on the matter.
He said the family and the Ikwerre Ethnic nationality has no problem with the Ogonis despite the fact that the tenant involved in the matter was from Ogoni.
Also speaking, the Ojiowhor Oro Eke Royal Family of Woji Town, Dr Las Eke, said the family is embarrassed by the incident, adding that the family will not rest until justice is done on the matter.
Dr Eke wondered why a police officer meant to protect the citizens would turn out to kill the very people that he is meant to protect.
He said the police officer concerned must be properly investigated and disciplined to serve as deterrent to others.
On his part, Chief Clement Eke expressed regrets over the incident, saying the death of the deceased “has dealt a big blow to the entire family”.
He urged the police not to sweep the incident under the carpet and vowed that the family will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion.
Another Elder of the family, Chike Eke urged the youths not to take the laws into their hands as the family is on top of the matter.
By: John Bibor & Mercy Olu Igbanibo
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.