The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate allegedly terrorising communities in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the State.

The State Police Command disclosed this in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, ASP Blessing Agabe, in Port Harcourt,  recently.

The suspects were arrested during a coordinated operation at Oyigbo, following directives by the Commissioner of Police, Rivers State Command, CP Olugbenga Adewole Adepoju.

Those arrested were Ezekiel Emmanuel, 44, from Benue State; Chukwuma Mbanefor, 51, from Anambra State; Nicholas Diala, 65, from Imo State; Ndubuisi Uwakwe, 49, from Abia State; and Ifeanyi Nwakwo, 51, from Imo State.

The Command said the arrest represented another significant operational success in its ongoing efforts to dismantle criminal networks operating in the State.

According to the Police, preliminary investigation indicated that the suspects were allegedly involved in kidnapping operations within Rivers State.

The suspects, during interrogation, allegedly confessed to their involvement in kidnapping and further admitted participating in several operations carried out in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.

The Command said investigation was ongoing, with efforts intensified to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected syndicate who may be connected with the criminal activities.

The Police boss said the operation reflected the implementation of operational directives and the intelligence-driven policing strategy of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc, NPM.

Adepoju reaffirmed the Command’s determination to sustain aggressive intelligence-led operations against kidnapping, cultism, armed robbery and other violent crimes across Rivers State.

He warned kidnappers and other criminal elements operating in the State that there would be no safe haven for them, stressing that the Command would relentlessly pursue, arrest and ensure that those found culpable were brought to justice.

The Commissioner further assured residents of the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, urging members of the public to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in the fight against crime.

He appealed to residents to provide the Police with credible and timely information capable of assisting security operatives in preventing criminal activities and apprehending suspected criminals.

The Command urged members of the public who may have useful information on the activities of the suspected kidnapping syndicate or other criminal elements to contact the Police through its emergency lines, assuring that such information would assist ongoing investigations.

King Onunwor

The Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB) has announced plans to rehabilitate the Ogu and Bolo Primary Health Centres in Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of the State.

The board also announced plans to furnish and equip the new Primary Health Centre under construction at Ele upon completion.

The Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Chituru Adele, made the announcement while delivering his address at the State flag-off of the 2026 World Breastfeeding Week celebration held at the Council Secretariat, l Friday.

Adele noted that the annual celebration, observed from August 1 to 7, provides an opportunity to reflect on society’s collective responsibility to support mothers and newborns.

Speaking on the theme, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works,” the Executive Secretary said the focus should no longer be on discovering new solutions but on consistently implementing proven breastfeeding interventions.

“The challenge is not ignorance about breastfeeding but the failure to consistently provide mothers with the information, counselling and support they need during pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care . All our  Primary Health Centres across the state have been providng these services ” he emphasized.

He noted that the campaign encourages governments, health workers, communities and families to strengthen proven interventions that support breastfeeding and ensure every child receives the healthiest possible start in life.

The Executive Chairman of Ogu Bolo LGA, Chief Vincent Nemieboka, commended the Board’s decision to  commemorate the WBD in  Ogu Bolo.

“We acknowledge the efforts of the RSPHCMB in strengthening primary healthcare in Ogubolo and in Rivers State at large”, he remarked.

In his remarks, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health,  represented by Dr Hope Avunda, enjoined stakeholders to give the state adequate support needed for the success of the ongoing breastfeeding campaign.

Avunda urged participants to share the breastfeeding knowledge gained with their families and communities.

He encouraged all stakeholders to remain committed to “strengthening what works” so that every mother receives the support she needs and every child enjoys a healthy start in life.

Breastfeeding mothers who benefited from the Baby Shower held at the event expressed their gratitude to the government for the gesture.

A High Court of Rivers State sitting in Port Harcourt will today hear an interlocutory application in the leadership dispute involving the Association of Traditional Rulers of Oil Mineral Producing Communities of Nigeria (ATROMPCON).

This followed an earlier order directing all parties in the dispute to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the application.

The matter comes up tomorrow before Hon. Justice E. Teetito at the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, after the court, at its previous sitting, had adjourned proceedings and ordered that the subject matter of the suit be preserved pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.

The suit, marked PHC/2819/CS/2026, was instituted by HRH Eze Alwell Okwudiwa Owhonda, JP, Nye-Nwe-Eli and Paramount Ruler of Rumuokoro Clan; HRH King Stephen J. Tobins, Akee X Nwamo-Ema of Bukuma (Agum); HRH Mene Daniel F. Nwidag Mene Bean, Secretary of the Khana Traditional Rulers Council; and HRH King Taalor Tornwen Mene Bua Boue, a member of ATROMPCON in Rivers State.

The defendants are HRM Major General F.A. Mujekperuo (Rtd.); HRH Dr. Obafemi Ogbaro; HRH Emmanuel U.N. Assor; and HRH Ndubisi Ogbuji Ehie II, who were sued for themselves and as representatives of other members of the National Executive Council elected at the association’s 2021 National Conference held in Asaba, Delta State.

Also joined in the suit are HRM Eze Akuwueze Raphael Ikegwuruka and HRH Eze O.E. Nwagbara, who were sued as the remaining trustees of the association.

The claimants are asking the court to determine whether the National Executive Council elected in 2021 can lawfully continue to administer the affairs of the association after the expiration of its constitutional tenure.

They are equally seeking the court’s interpretation of provisions of the ATROMPCON Constitution relating to the tenure and powers of the National Executive Council, the legality of convening an Expanded Executive Council meeting, the proposed establishment of a caretaker committee, the composition of the Board of Trustees and the association’s rotational leadership arrangement.

According to the claimants, the tenure of the National Executive Council elected in 2021 has elapsed and the executive can no longer lawfully administer the affairs of the association or convene meetings for the purpose of appointing another leadership outside a National Conference.

The claimants further contend that the ATROMPCON Constitution recognises National Executive Council meetings, National Conferences and emergency meetings, but does not provide for an Expanded Executive Council meeting or the appointment of a caretaker committee.

They are, therefore, asking the court to declare any attempt to constitute such a caretaker committee unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Another issue before the court is the claimants’ assertion that, in line with the association’s rotational leadership arrangement, Rivers State is next entitled to produce the National Chairman of ATROMPCON, arguing that any proposed caretaker arrangement would deny the state that constitutional opportunity.

The claimants also challenged the composition of the association’s Board of Trustees, maintaining that the constitution requires not fewer than three trustees, whereas only two trustees are currently serving, and are seeking declarations that the board, as presently constituted, is invalid until it is properly reconstituted.

Counsel to the claimants is led by A.S. Abdulkadir, SAN, with O.T. West, D.N. Adangor, G.U. Otamiri, Z.N. Nalley and C.E. Adoki, while the defendants are represented by J.N. Onyebuchi for the first defendant, Femi Bobade with O.B. Wokeh for the second defendant, and B.C. Ezenwere for the third to sixth defendants.

The outcome of today’s proceedings is expected to determine the next phase of the legal contest over the interpretation of the ATROMPCON Constitution, the tenure of its executive officers, the composition of its Board of Trustees and the process for the emergence of the association’s next national leadership.

King Onunwor