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Saro-Wiwa: Ogoni Groups Threaten FG Over Seized Bus …Plan Protest ’Morrow

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Two Ogoni  groups have threatened a showdown with the Federal Government if it fails to release the Kenule Saro-Wiwa memorial bus allegedly impounded by the Nigeria Customs Service.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, at the weekend, the Social Action and the Ogoni Solidarity Forum said, they had exhausted “all peaceful avenues” to secure the release of the bus.
The bus, a memorabilia donated by a UK group to the Ogoni people to mark the 20th anniversary of Saro-Wiwa’s death, was allegedly seized by the Nigeria Customs on September 8th.
It would be recalled that Saro-Wiwa was executed by a military tribunal set up by the Sani Abacha-led junta on November 10, 1995.
The current Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs, Hameed Ali, was a member of the tribunal which ordered the hanging of Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni environmental activists.
“For us, it’s just more tha n  a make-shift steel bus, and we demand to have that bus back. We have exhausted every peaceful avenue we have got, and that’s why we are calling this meeting and telling you, that come the 9th of November, 2015, if the government does not release the property of the Ogoni people to the Ogoni people, the Ogoni people will take action,” the Senior Programme Manager, Social Action, Ken Henshaw, said.
“And we dare to say that economic activity around the area of the Ogoni nation, which includes the NNPC, and so on and so forth, will be stopped. The Ogoni people are fully mobilized. We have been the ones holding them back, that you don’t need to take  this kind of action at this time. There is visible anger. We are being seen as traitors over this and we have made up our mind.
“We will take whatever action on   the 9th of November. And this is our last attempt at appeal to the government – release what belongs to the Ogoni people to the Ogoni people. We are tired of this posture of belligerence with the Ogoni people, which the government of Nigeria ha s  continued environmentally and physically since the 90s. And for us this is the last straw and it has broken the camel’s back.”
The groups’ threat came a day after the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) also threatened a protest if the Nigeria Customs fails to release the bus.
However, when our correspondent contacted the Nigeria Customs, the agency denied knowledge of the bus.
“A s I speak with you, I still don’t know in which Customs command this thing was done,” Spokesperson, Nigeria Customs, Wale Adeniyi, said over the phone.
“They just said Lagos port and I have called the two major ports in Lagos and they don’t seem to know about it.  The Area Comptroller should know if such a thing exists.”
There are three major ports in Lagos – APMT at the Apapa port and TICT and Grimaldi at the Tin Can Island port.
When Adeniyi was told that the bus was being held at Grimaldi, he promised to call back in ten minutes, but he never called back.
Subsequent phone calls and a text message to his line were never responded to.
There is still no official reason why the bus, which had an inscription by Ken Saro-Wiwa during his trial – “I accuse the oil companies of genocide in Ogoniland” – on its side , is still being held at the Lagos port two months after its arrival from the UK.
Henshaw  said his group and the Ogoni Solidarity Forum had written a petition weeks ago to Ali, the Customs boss, demanding the release of the bus.
“We have received no official response from Customs to our petition,” said Henshaw.
“So, as far as we know, our bus has been seized by the Nigerian government for many reasons one of which is an intentional aggression against the Ogoni people, second of which is an attempt to eliminate every memory  of the struggle of Ken Saro-Wiwa from the history of this country.
After the bus arrived in Lagos, Henshaw, accompanied by another Niger Delta activist and National Coordinator, Ogoni Solidarity Forum, Nigeria, Celestine Akbobari, and Aremu Abiodun, a clearing agent, went to the Grimaldi terminal to clear the bus.
“We were taken to the office of the Valuation Officer, the Customs officer in charge of valuation, Aina Moyo,” Akpobari, said.
“And he told us right there in his office that ‘the shadow of Ken Saro-Wiwa can kill somebody. I don’t want to get myself involved in the release of this one, especially now that Buhari is on seat. If it were before I can just release this bus now. You will have to go to Abuja. You, you know that the shadow of Ken Saro-Wiwa can even sack somebody from work. My work is important to me.’
“We went to Abuja and stayed in Abuja for over two weeks, meeting with people. The same thing happened. Important people, great people that we respect that we thought would have helped us , they were afraid.   Even Ogoni people that are senior Customs officers ran away.
“And this is just an art work. Non-motorized. So, the question here is why are they afraid of an artwork? And if they can waive billions of dollars for people like Dangote, is it an artwork donated for struggle that people are beginning to play drama with?
“We feel that the world should begin to know because we had been handling this matter with kid gloves. “
Akpobari said that the bus is important for the 20th anniversary commemoration of Saro-Wiwa’s death, which holds on November 10th.
“The bus is a living memorial that was donated in honour of Ken by some activists in the UK,” he said.
“That bus has been in the UK moving from one city to another and during our visit to the UK two years ago, we pleaded with the owners that this thing was not meant to be in London forever. That it was planned that at some point it will move to its permanent abode in Nigeria which is Ogoni. And they agreed that ok the 20th anniversary will be the best time to move it.”
Henshaw said that a place – an erected pavement – had already been created for the bus at the Ken Saro-Wiwa Memorial Centre in Bori, an Ogoni community in Rivers State.
“We are trying to use this bus as a bridge, as a point of solidarity, as a point of commitment that whatever ills was committed, that we can fix this,” Henshaw added.
“The bus is more than just an artifact. It’s a symbol of brotherhood, an edifice that represents the global solidarity with the people of Ogoniland.
“We intend to make the inside of that bus a resource centre that will inspire different people who intend to carry out  struggles for human and environmental justice just the way Ken Saro-Wiwa did,” he added.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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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.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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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

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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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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