News
Militants, JTF Clash Over Gen Bello
Unrepentant militants on the platform of the Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC),said last Friday that they want the Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF), a special security outfit that is containing acts of terrorism and insurgency in the Niger Delta, Sarkin Yarkin Bello, an Army General, releaved of his post for alleged unwholesome deals.
But the JTF Spokesperson, Timothy Antigha, an Army Lt. Col, in a swift reaction on telephone said those calling for the removal of Bello are ”common criminals” and not
militants. According to him, “the real militants are in Obubra, Cross River State, undergoing trainings”.
Continuing, he dared the JRC to avail the relevant authorities with whatever evidence they have instead of splashing mud on an officer who has refused to be compromised.
“For the three years Gen. Bello has been serving as the Commander of the JTF, I can assure you that he has not collected a dime from any body”, Antigha added.
In an on-line statement to our correspondent Spokesperson for the JRC, Cynthia Whyte, said the insurgents are demanding the immediate removal of Bello as JTF Commander in the Niger Delta.
According to them, ”since his appointment as JTF Commander, Sarkin Yarkin Bello has
continued to deploy the instruments of his office and the resources at his disposal to create an unbelievable extortionist and profiteering enterprise that thrives by extorting, blackmailing, intimidating and undermining legitimate businesses”.
Continuing, they added, “protection fees are then coerced from legitimate businesses and
channeled into private accounts in a manner that questions the capacity of government to
secure its people and its resources.
‘General Bello’s racketeering empire in the Niger Delta, now worth more than three billion naira (N3bn) was aided and abetted by key aides of former president Musa Yar’Adua.
“Bello with the endorsement of then President Yar’Adua, was responsible for the
Gbaramatu genocide where men, women and children were massacred in cold blood. Family houses were razed down, women were raped, abandoned in swamps while young men were tortured and killed by blood thirty soldiers of Northern extraction”.
For the insurgents, “the attack on Gbaramatu community was a culmination of a series of
machinations driven by General Bello to extort monies from owners of vessels in the guise of ‘protection fees’.
“In the past two years, we have continued to call for a probe of Bello but our demands have fallen on deaf ears. The recent confiscation of a vessel belonging to Tim Afrique Services in spite of a court order and the demand that Tim Afrique must pay fifty million naira is a clear indicator what of Sarkin Yarkin Bello is and what he represents, the decay that is the Nigerian State.
“Not too long a JTF officer Colonel Victor Ezugwu was reported for involvement in Oil Bunkering and nothing was done about it. Is illegal bunkering a part of their mandate in the Niger Delta?
“If Bello is not removed immediately, we would have no choice but to visit his family with the treatment that he gave to the women and children of Gbaramatu. No one has the monopoly of murderous violence.”
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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