Connect with us

Nation

THE STATES

Published

on

Ekiti
The Ekiti State Coordinator for the National Youth Service Corps  (NYSC), Mrs Nwano Ukagha, has urged rural dwellers to feed more on fresh vegetables and fruits in order to stay healthy.
Ukagha, gave the advice during the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers, held at Ara-Ekiti, a community in Ikole Local Government Area last Tuesday.
She said that consumption of vegetables and fruits, which are readily available and cheaper to the rural people, would help them to naturally build their body system against diseases.
Ukagha said, it had been scientifically proven that human beings get easily attacked by diseases through the kind of food they eat.
She urged rural dwellers, especially mothers, to abstain from eating too much processed foods.

FCT
The Federal Government says it will make a case at the upcoming Africa Union (AU) conference on the need to bar illegal entry of herdsmen from West African countries into Nigeria.
Chief Audu Ogbeh, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this at a town hall meeting in Abuja last Tuesday.
Ogbeh said the move had become necessary as a result of the incessant crisis between farmers and herdsmen across the states of the federation.
He expressed regrets that, most of the violent herdsmen who engaged in different crisis with farmers were foreigners from other neighbouring West African countries.

Kogi
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Ibrahim Idris, said last Tuesday that policemen would soon be deployed to their communities of origin to enhance community policing.
The IGP told a security stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja that the bulk of the 150,000 policemen to be recruited over the next five years would serve in their respective communities.
Idris, who was represented by Shaibu Gambo, Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, said that the move was to take the police closer to the people.
He said that the police, was faced with shortage of manpower but promised more policemen and equipment for Kogi to further secure the people against rampaging armed robbers and kidnappers.

Lagos
A former Chief Accountant of Vanguard Newspaper, Bhadmus Abiodun, was last Tuesday sentenced to 14-years in prison by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court for forgery and stealing N3.1million.
The money belongs to the media house.
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to seven years in prison on count one.
“He is sentenced to seven years in prison each for counts two to eight.
“The prison terms for counts two to eight are to run concurrently,” Ipaye said.
Abiodun, a middle-aged man and a resident of No. 5, Tijani Ashogbon St., Bariga, Lagos was convicted of an eight-count charge of conspiracy.

Nasarawa
A Masaka Chief Magistrates’ Court in Nasarawa State, has ordered the release of 21-year-old Emmanuel Edeh, from Keffi prison, after spending one week there.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Victor Manga, had ordered that Edeh be remanded in prison for beating up his mother and insulting his father as well.
Manga, ordered the release of the youth after hearing from his father that his wife (Emmanuel’s mother) had not been herself since their son was sent to prison.
“My Lord, my wife has been sick since I told her that our son has been taken to prison, in order for him to learn his lesson.

Niger
Farmers in Niger State have advised the state government to decentralise the distribution of fertiliser so as to minimise diversion by middlemen.
“We want government to decentralise the distribution pattern, we suggest that the commodity be distributed through the 274 wards,”Chairman of their umbrella body, the All farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Alhaji Shehu Galadima, said last Tuesday in Minna.
He said that the ward structures were the closest to farmers in the rural areas and would be the best selling points.
Galadima, also advised government to route the sales through farmers cooperative societies to ease the delivery of the commodity to the consumers.
“Currently, farming inputs are delivered to the wrong people. We must check that.

Ogun
An Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court last Tuesday sentenced a 35- year- old man, Gbenga Adekanbi, to two years imprisonment for stealing a Bajaj motorcycle valued at N260,000.
Adekanbi, who lives at Ita- Oshin Bayinbo, Ijemo, Abeokuta, was arraigned on a charge of stealing.
He, however, pleaded guilty to the charge.
The Magistrate, Mr Idowu Olayinka, sentenced him to two years imprisonment with an option of N60,000 fine.
The prosecutor, Inspector Olakunle Shonibare, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on May 2 at about 11:44p.m. at No. 11, Bodunde compound, Saje in Abeokuta.

Osun
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has promoted the immediate Jaaran of Ife, High Chief Adekola Adeyeye, as the Second- in-Command.
The Director, Media and Public Affairs, Mr Moses Olafare, Ooni’s Palace, said Adeyeye is now the third on the order of the hierarchy of Ife traditional council, (Ooni-in-Council).
Olafare, in a statement issued last Tuesday in Ile-Ife, said that the new position was the reward for loyalty, commitment to service and dedication to Ife Kingdom.
According to Olafare, the monarch described Adeyeye as a patriotic Ife indigene and great loyalist of the throne of Oonirisa, which he had served meritoriously for 30 years in various capacities.
He said that, the new Lowa of Ife started his full service at the palace in 1987 when he was seconded to the palace as an Emese (Traditional emissary) of Ooni.

Plateau
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Plateau State  chapter, last Tuesday in Jos organised a memorial lecture for its members who died while on duty.
The lecture was mainly dedicated to the Plateau State Government’s press crew members who lost their lives on May 16, 2007 while on official duty.
The lecturer, Mr Joseph Ari, Director-General of the Industrial Trust Fund, spoke on “Journalism: Responsibility, Risk and Resilience in a Changing World’’.
According to Ari, a veteran journalist, journalists are the watchdogs of the society and may have enemies in the course of their duty.
“This lecture is dedicated mainly to eight of the Plateau State Government press crew who lost their lives on May 16, 2007 while on official duty in Shendam Local Government Area.

Sokoto
The Sokoto State Government says it will construct 1, 000 units of one-bedroom houses for low-income earners in the state.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal disclosed this last Tuesday in Sokoto, when he received the Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Malam Mustaph Shehure, who paid a courtesy visit.
He said,” the aim was to improve the welfare of the people as well as provide opportunity to more citizens of the state to own houses.
“ Already, my administration has completed the 500 housing units it inherited from the last administration and have been inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari when he visited Sokoto in November, 2016.
“We hope to complete another 500 housing units at Gidan Man Ada, before the end of this year.

Taraba
The Taraba Police Command, on Tuesday confirmed the death of three persons in fresh herdsmen and farmers conflict in Bali Local Government Area.
The command’s spokesman, ASP David Misal told newsmen in Jalingo that the police had deployed additional personnel to Gazabu, Kungana, Tukun Ruwa, Utsua Daa and Kpenkpen villages, where the crisis occurred.
“Yes we received reports that since on Sunday, there has being series of attacks in the remote communities in Bali local government area of the state, but the command is on top of the situation.
“Due to the remoteness of the affected areas, we can confirm three deaths for now, but we will get back to you as soon as we get more updates,” he said.
Zaki David-Gbaa, the Chairman, Council of Tiv Traditional Rulers Forum in Taraba, claimed that 11 farmers had died since the crisis started.

Continue Reading

Nation

Rumuaholu Community Denies Land Grabbing Allegations, Accuses Obio/Akpor Chairman of Interference in Land Dispute

Published

on

The Ekeanyanwu family of Rumuaholu Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State has strongly refuted allegations of land grabbing levelled against it, describing recent media reports as false, misleading, and deliberately fabricated.
The family made its position known during a press briefing held on Wednesday at the residence of Dr. Colonel Ogwumerum Eke in Rumuaholu. The briefing was attended by community leaders, stakeholders, and family representatives.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Eke dismissed claims attributed to the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Gift Worlu, which allegedly labelled the family as land grabbers. He described the allegations as baseless, frivolous, and lacking any factual foundation.
According to Dr. Eke, the Ekeanyanwu family remains the legitimate owner of the parcel of land known as Ohia Agbada, comprising approximately 6,000 plots situated along the Obiri-Ikwerre Airport Road corridor. He further maintained that Victory Estate, located within the disputed area, belongs exclusively to the Ekeanyanwu family and not to the Rumuosi Community as claimed by the council chairman.
Dr. Eke stated that ownership of the land had been affirmed by the courts, citing Case No. CCC/22/2015 at the Choba Customary Court. He explained that while the suit was instituted against another family in Rumuaholu, the Rumuosi Community sought to be joined in the matter but their application was rejected by the court.
He further disclosed that the family currently holds 15 subsisting court judgments in its favour relating to the disputed land, including judgments from the Customary Court, High Court, and Court of Appeal.
The family spokesman alleged that the Obio/Akpor council chairman, in collaboration with the local Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, was attempting to undermine the court decisions and dispossess the family of its land through what he described as “backdoor means.”
Dr. Eke accused the chairman of assuming the role of an appellate authority over matters that had already been conclusively determined by competent courts.
Expressing concern over recent developments, he alleged that individuals acting under the influence of the council chairman had destroyed properties worth millions of naira within Victory Estate. He described the action as a direct affront to existing court judgments and the rule of law.
Displaying copies of court judgments during the briefing, Dr. Eke questioned the rationale behind branding judgment creditors as land grabbers, insisting that those challenging the court rulings were the real offenders.
He called on members of the public to disregard what he termed misleading radio announcements purportedly made by the council chairman and urged government institutions and security agencies to uphold the sanctity of court judgments.
Also speaking at the briefing, Elder Prince Ndaokani, Principal Oji Owhor of Rumuaholu Community, supported the Ekeanyanwu family’s claims. He maintained that the disputed land originally belonged to Dr. Eke’s late father, who, according to Ikwerre native customary law, acquired ownership through the clearing and development of the land.
However, the allegations were dismissed by the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Anti-Land Grabbing Committee, Chief Alex Wali, who responded on behalf of the local government council.
Chief Wali declined to engage directly with the claims made by Dr. Eke, stating: “That man cannot be gifted with our valued response to his tirades. People like that should not be in public but should be rotting in jail for heinous crimes against humanity.”
He maintained that nothing would prevent the council chairman from carrying out his constitutional responsibilities as the chief executive and chief security officer of the local government area.
According to him, the protection of lives and property remains a fundamental responsibility of government at all levels, and the council would continue to discharge its duties in that regard.
The dispute is the latest chapter in a long-running land ownership controversy in the area, with both sides maintaining opposing claims over the disputed property.
By Akujobi Amadi
Continue Reading

Nation

Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

Published

on

The Asarama General Assembly in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State has condemned the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some identified criminal elements in the community.
It would be recalled that on Thursday the 28th of May  2026, the kingdom was thrown into mourning, following the gruesome murder of a commercial vehicle driver by some criminal elements
The Assembly which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt also called for the establishment of a Mobile police and police anti cultism departments  at the Asarama Police Division.
The Okangh Ama /Paramount Ruler of Asarama kingdom HRM king Appolus J Nteijaewaye who read the text for the briefing onbehalf of The Asarama General Assembly at the briefing said the community condemned in totality the gruesome incident.
He said the kingdom also extends its condolences to the bereaved family of the murdered driver, stressing that as a kingdom it would leave no stone unturned to ensure that such an incident never occur within it’s territorial space again.
The General Assembly also commended the prompt intervention of the Nigerian police Force which led to the arrest of some members of the criminal gang, adding that even though the crime was committed at Asarama, some of those allegedly involved were not indigenes of Asarama kingdom.
“As a kingdom we use the sober moment of this unfortunate incident to further commend the prompt reaction of the leadership and men of the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers state that led to their effective results aimed at eliminating criminality and deterring the evil ones in our society “
The Community also described the incident as a pointer to the level of vulnerability of not only Asarama kingdom but the entire society, against the background that the sanctity of life ought to be sacred and protected by individuals, groups, communities and governmental institutions”
Meanwhile ,The Asarama General Assembly has called for the establishment of a Mobile Police  as well as police anti cultism departments at the Asarama Police Division
It said this has become necessary inview of the strategic location of the kingdom as a gateway to the rest of Andoni communities and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Area.
“Owing to the peculiarity of our geographical location especially the amphibious nature of Asarama kingdom, intricately linked with its neighbouring inter ethnic Ogoni and Opobo -Nkoro Local Government Areas in general and intra Andoni communities in particular, the relevant authorities should urgently approved special mobile police force,Anti cultism and Marin units to be attached to the Asarama Divisional headquarters”
The kingdom also decried the continuous neglect of the Asarama police Division, since it’s establishment adding that the division up till date,does not have a single firearm as well as enough personnel
It said this situation has exposed the community to activities of criminal elements.
“The sordid state of the only security outfit that ought to police our territory and beyond now seems to complicate the delicate insecurity that we are already exposed to, first as a nation and second as a people inhabiting an intricate amphibious gateway kingdom
“Consequently we hereby cry to the appropriate authorities to urgently equip the Asarama Divisional Police headquarters with adequate men arms and ammunition “the Community said.
John Bibor
Continue Reading

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

on

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation on Tuesday during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process.

Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

Continue Reading

Trending