News
RSG Plans Against Impending Floods
The Rivers State Government says it has put in proactive measures to avert an impending flooding in the state.
The Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Barr. Kenneth Kobani disclosed this in Port Harcourt shortly after a stakeholders meeting on flooding in the state, which was attended by Chairmen of Local government Areas, LGAs and Permanent Secretaries of Ministries incharge of natural disaster emergency management among others.
The SSG said the meeting was to evolve strategies of managing the disaster and avert untold consequences, adding that sensitization campaign would be carried out across the state on the issue.
Kobani, warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in water ways and canals which affect free flow of water in the drainages and other outlets.
He further disclosed that flood control committees would be set up in the flood-prone LGAs, as well as state Emergency Management Authority, which would supervise directly, matters relating to natural disasters.
He pointed out that the bodies would work in conjunction with relevant Ministries and agencies charged with the responsibility of managing flood disaster.
The SSG, also disclosed that the Rivers State Government will monitor the distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to avoid theft and diversion of the materials. He added that the Government will also check illegal dredging activities noting that defaulters will face the full wrath of the law.
Kobani restated the commitment of the state government to partner with relevant donor agencies such as Unital in the management of flood disasters.
The flood prone LGAs include; Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor, Abua/Odual, Degema, Asari Toru, Akuku Toru, Ahoada West, Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema/Ndoni LGAs.
It would be recalled that residents of most of these LGAs were displaced by a devastating flood few years ago.
Meanwhile, following imminent flood alert by the Nigerian Meterogical Agency (NiMET) the Rivers State government and local council authorities are currently synergizing and collaborating on how best to combat the devastating effects of the impending flood on lives, properties and farms.
While the state government team is headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Kobani, the councils have their chairmen in the attendance with a view to averting the pitfalls witnessed during the 2006, 2007 and 2012 floods which devastated several communities with attendant hardship on the people.
The interface between the second and third tiers of government in the state, The Tide gathered was occasioned by the complaints by the councils that they did not have the financial capacity to handle such natural disasters.
Our Correspondents who visited Abua/Odual, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada East and West councils interviewed the council chairmen and a cross-section of the people and the lamentations were virtually the same: lack of funds and infrastructural facilities to cater for the victims of the impending flood.
Issues bordering on relief materials such as food stuff, medicals, (drugs and personnel) shelter, security, water-borne diseases and financial constraints topped the agenda of the councils, most of which are relying on schools, churches and other public buildings to accommodate the victims of the impending flood.
The Tide investigations revealed that most councils have inaugurated flood management committees to oversee matters relating to the flood when it eventually surfaces.
In the four flood-prone local government areas of ONELGA, ABOLGA, AWELGA and AELGA, the committees have set out for work, sensitizing the locals on the imminent flood and the need to go for early harvest of crops to avoid total destruction.
ONELGA Chairman, Augustine Ahiamadu told The Tide that the council has commenced full sensitization of communities in the area to create awareness but appealed to the state government to bail out the council from the impending disaster as it does not have the financial muscle to battle the menace.
Ahiamadu explained that the three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) centres located at Omoku, Egbema and Eerema will be used as camps for refugees of flood victims but appealed to the state government to release funds from the State Ecological fund to battle the menace. He also called for the dredging of Orashi and Sombriero Rivers to avert over-flow of the rivers to communities and farmlands.
The council boss contended that the way to avert the mistakes of the 2012 flood disaster was to ensure that adequate food items, security, medicals and shelter were in place to ameliorate the effect on the people.
His counterpart and Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Oyiekuoto Isaac Ukwe said the council has braced up for the flood as the issues of shelter, poor sanitary condition of camps, insecurity, personnel, which were hallmarks of the 2012 flood had been addressed.
On sensitization of the people and communities prone to flood, the Chairmen stated that the council held several meetings with traditional rulers, chiefs, farmers, community leaders and the youth of 27 communities to create awareness and also set up a 12-member flood management committee to address the flood issue.
He said over 12 camps will be used to shelter victims of the flood in Abua/Odual noting that evacuation of victims will commence as soon as the council witnesses the flood.
The Tide visited the Ahoada East Local government area, and observed that construction work was on-going at a permanent site for Internally Displaced Persons which will also be used for flood victims.
Goodluck Ukwe/Taneh Beemene
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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