Nation
Police Deny Releasing Three Officers Accused Of Kidnapping, Extortion
The Police Command in Rivers State has denied reports that it released three officers accused of kidnapping and extorting 3,000 dollars from two victims in Rivers State.
The Spokesperson for the Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, clarified the issue in a statement released in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
“The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to a viral publication circulating on social media and online platforms regarding the alleged release of the three officers.
“The report claims that three officers of the Command, who were arrested for abducting and extorting two young men, are now free and have not been prosecuted.
“The information was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Harrison Gwamnishu, the Labour Party candidate for the Delta State House of Assembly (in the 2023 general elections)”, the statement read.
She said in the statement that contrary to the viral publication, the officers were not released and are providing useful information to address the allegations against them.
“We want to state categorically that the allegation of their release is untrue, malicious, and misleading.
“The officers, ASP Doubara Edonyabo; ASP Talent Mungo; and Insp. Odey Michael, are presently detained at the Rivers State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID).
“The officers are currently at the SCID undergoing the standard disciplinary process of the police”, she added.
Iringe-Koko stressed that the officers had recently taken part in an identification parade at the SCID on February 2 about a fresh complaint filed against them.
The command’s spokesperson, therefore, urged residents to ignore the publication and assured them of timely updates on the outcome of a disciplinary committee that has been instituted to investigate the matter.
The statement quoted the State’s Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, of condemining fake news and emphasising the virtue of responsible journalism.
It also quoted him as calling on media organisations to uphold professionalism by delivering accurate information, as the public depends on them for factual news.
“To this end, the person who tweeted should have sought a reaction from the police before publishing the report, as expected of a reasonable reporter” Iringe-Koko stated.
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has commemorated the 15th anniversary of the release of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Assessment Report on Ogoniland, reaffirming its commitment to restoring the environment and improving the livelihoods of affected communities.
In a statement signed by the Project Coordinator, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, to commemorate the anniversary, HYPREP described the anniversary as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts, noting that the project has made remarkable progress in implementing the recommendations of the landmark UNEP report released on August 4, 2011.
The UNEP report had revealed extensive oil pollution across Ogoniland, severe environmental degradation, and serious public health risks resulting from decades of petroleum operations. It also recommended an initial $1 billion fund to commence the cleanup of the affected communities.
According to HYPREP, the Federal Government formally launched the Ogoni clean-up in 2016, while the Project Coordination Office was established in 2017 to drive the implementation of UNEP’s recommendations.
Zabbey said the current administration has continued to prioritise the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Providing an update on the cleanup, the Project Coordinator disclosed that 30 of the 65 contaminated sites identified by UNEP have been fully remediated, while work is ongoing at several medium- and high-risk locations. It also stated that more than 1.5 million mangrove seedlings have been planted as part of what it described as the world’s largest restoration of oil-degraded mangroves, with over 1,000 hectares of shoreline already rehabilitated.
Zabbey further revealed that 49 Ogoni communities have been connected to potable water schemes through multiple water projects and booster stations aimed at providing safe drinking water across the region.
In the health sector, he said the 100-bed Ogoni Specialist Hospital in Kpite and the 43-bed Cottage Hospital in Buan are nearing completion, adding that several existing health facilities have been upgraded with modern medical equipment, while five ambulances have been donated to improve emergency healthcare services. The Project Coordinator also disclosed that a three-year human health biomonitoring study is being conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
On economic empowerment, Zabbey stated that the Project has created more than 8,000 direct jobs and trained thousands of Ogoni youths and women in various vocational and technical skills, including software development, cybersecurity, aviation, commercial diving, seafaring, mechatronics, and creative arts. The project also reported awarding scholarships to more than 1,000 students, providing grants to small businesses, and supporting persons living with special needs through skills acquisition programmes.
The statement further highlighted ongoing legacy projects, including the Ogoni Power Project and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, which it said is about 96 per cent complete. HYPREP also welcomed the recent designation of the Ogoni Wetland as a Ramsar Site of International Importance and pledged to continue promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of the ecosystem.
Marking the anniversary, Zabbey said the progress achieved over the past 15 years demonstrates the collective commitment of government, development partners, stakeholders, and local communities to restoring Ogoniland. He called for renewed collaboration to sustain the cleanup effort, promote environmental sustainability, and support the long-term development of the region. 3