News

Fresh Violence Claims 20 Lives In Taraba

Published

7 years ago

March 5, 2018

About 20 persons have been reportedly killed and 300 cows stolen following a fresh outbreak of ethnic violence on the Mambilla Plateau in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State, local officials and residents told our correspondent, yesterday.
A fleeing resident, Saadu Mogoggo, who said his house was attacked at Leme suburb of Gembu, said two of his brothers were killed last Saturday evening and their cattle rustled by a group he identified as the Mambilla militia.
“As I am talking to you, we are yet to bury their corpses,” he said toour correspondent, yesterday.
‘’The ethnic militias attacked our residence in Leme where they killed our father last month. During this attack, the Mambillas took away our over 100 cows.
‘’My two younger brothers reported the matter to a nearby military base and a soldier was attached as escort to retrieve the stolen cows. Unfortunately, in the process, my younger brothers were both killed while the soldier fled with injury,’’ he said.
Abdu Gagarau, another resident of the area who said he was speaking from hiding, said, “The burning and killing of the Fulani continued till early this morning. As I am talking to you now, from last Thursday they have been attacking our settlements and over 20 people killed. Some were buried and over 300 cattle stolen by the militias.
“The Mambila ethnic group are known for attacking other tribes. They attacked the Pansos in 1982, The Fulanis in 2002 and in 2017, when eventually we retaliate then the normal shouts of herdsmen will start. Let government be proactive and come to our rescue,’’ he said.
A Fulani community leader in the area, Ahmadu Nguroje , called for government and security intervention.
‘’At least 20 people are feared killed, looting of houses, shops and burning down to ashes by the Mambilla militias along Tapare and Yerimaru axis have been recorded here in Sardauna LGA of Taraba State,” he said.
‘’About 12 others were also wounded and are on admission at a hospital in Gembu,’’ Mr. Nguroje said.
The lawmaker representing Nguroje and Gembu constituency in the state House of Assembly, Bashir Muhammad, confirmed the latest disturbances.
“There have been silent and systematic killings of Fulani nomadic herdsmen in the remote areas in Mambilla Plateau,” Mr. Muhammad said.
‘’It is unfortunate that while efforts are being made to restore peace, the killings continued unabated and many people feared killed between Thursday to Sunday, just as dozens of livestock were killed or injured. I was even told that over 200 cows were rustled.
“Security is grossly in adequate because some of the affected villages are remote and in hinterlands that can take one or two hours to be reached. We want presence of more security, particularly soldiers to ensure peace,’’ the lawmaker pleaded.
Reacting to the report of the attacks, the state governor, Darius Ishaku, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Emmanuel Bello, called for an end to the violence.
‘’Anyone who takes any life, irrespective of religion or tribe, is a criminal, whether it is on the summits of Mambilla or the plains of southern Taraba and anywhere in this state. And we shall deal with them as criminals.”
Mr. Bello said the governor, ‘’was committed to an amicable resolution of the crisis in the state and peaceful co-existence of all ethnic nationalities,” attributing the renewed crisis to “disagreement between two ethnic groups.”
The police spokesperson in the state, David Misal, told our reporter that four people were confirmed killed from both sides of the ethnic groups in the conflict. He added that security officials had been dispatched to the area to restore peace, but that no arrest had been made.
Investigations revealed that the crisis started last Thursday over a land dispute between nomadic Fulani and Mambilla in Yerimaru village and later snowballed into neighbouring villages.
Meanwhile, Police in Taraba have confirmed that five people were killed and several others injured in fresh attacks on communities in Sardauna local government area of the state.
The state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), David Misal, told newsmen last Saturday that the crisis erupted in Nyiwa and Yerimaru areas last Thursday as a result of a misunderstanding between a farmer and a herder.
He said units of mobile policemen and soldiers from the 20 battalion in Serti have been deployed to the area to maintain law and order.
Mr. Misal added that the situation, which led to the burning of several homes and killing of many cows, has been brought under control.
A victim of the attack, Abubakar Ardo, who escaped with his family, toldin Gembu that the attacks started at midday last Thursday and most of the killings occurred in the night.

News

Court Arraigns Rivers Traditional Ruler Over Impersonation, Other Charges

Published

52 mins ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

A traditional ruler in Rivers State, Eze Victor Prince Worluchem, has been docked at a State Senior Magistrate Court on six-count charges bordering on impersonation, misrepresentation, and false pretence.

The charges, marked PMC/2/12026, alleged that Worluchem falsely paraded himself as the paramount ruler of Port Harcourt City and Majesty of Rebisi Kingdom, despite a court order restraining him from doing so.

The six-count charges against Worluchem include disobeying a court order in Suit No PHC/18/8/2013, which restrained him from parading himself as Eze Ebar Rebisi III of Rebisi Kingdom, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace by falsely and fraudulently presenting himself as Majesty of Rebisi Kingdom.

These offences are punishable under Section 133 and Section 2 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

During the court proceedings, Worluchem pleaded not guilty to all six charges.

His counsel, U.G. Wokocha, applied for bail, arguing that the offences were bailable and that his client had reliable sureties.

However, Senior Magistrate, Kingsley Briggs, refused to grant him bail on self-recognition, but granted him bail with two sureties in the sum of N500,000.

The sureties are required to be blood relatives or recognized persons in society with a reliable source of livelihood, not above 55 years old.

The court adjourned the matter to July 21, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

After the proceedings, Lawrence Ufomba, counsel for the complainant and Port Harcourt Council of Chiefs, briefed journalists on the court’s decision, while Worluchem’s counsel declined to comment.

News

Immigration Plays Strategic Role In Nation Building -Worika

Published

52 mins ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, has emphasised that the Nigerian Immigration Service plays pivotal role in nation building.

Prof. Worika made this observation when the new Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Rivers State Command, CIS Shehu Umar, led the management of the Nigerian Immigration Training School Ahoada (NITSA), on a courtesy visit to his office in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

According to him, the strategic position of the Immigration Service in ensuring the safety of our borders is important for the peace and security of the nation.

This was contained in a statement by the Head of the Press Unit.

Office of Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Juliana Masi, yesterday.

Worika assured the Immigration of the State Government’s determination to support security and para-military agencies and ensure the security of the State.

He acknowledged their services and collaboration with sister agencies to enhance law and order, and encouraged them to hold up the positive impact in state building.

In response to ongoing recruitment into the immigration and sister agencies, he maintained that the State will continue to encourage her citizens to join the service.

In his remarks, the Comptroller of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Rivers State Command and Commandant NITSA, CIS Shehu Umar, thanked the State Government for the consistent support to the state command and NITSA.

He noted that NITSA is the only immigration institution located within the entire South-South geopolitical zone to address manpower training needs of junior cadet since 2001.

News

Senate Confirms Chibudom Nwuche S’South Dev. Commission Chair

Published

52 mins ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Senate yesterday confirmed Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, as Chairman of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).

Also confirmed was Usoro Offiong Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State as the Managing Director of the commission.

However, Tijani Yahaya Kaura, the nominee representing the North-West, was not cleared after failing to submit necessary documents and refusing to appear before the screening committee.

The committee noted that the window remains open should he eventually present himself for the process.

The Senate also confirmed the following nominees as members of the SSDC board: Rt. Hon. Larry Odey – Member, Cross River; Charles Zuofa – Member, Bayelsa; Dr. Nkereuwem Ebong – Member, Akwa Ibom; Engr. Chika Chinedu – Member, Rivers; Barr. Femi Oise – Member, Edo; and Dr. Charles Sylvester Enukhowhate – Member, Delta.

The Senate also confirmed Tabitha Iliya Sallah as Member for the North-East; Alh. Yusuf Rasaq Amao – Member, North-Central; Joseph Mmamal – Member, South-East; and Hon. Bukonola Braimoh – Member, South-West

Confirmed executive directors include: Hon. Marcus Nie Eji – Executive Director, Projects (Rivers); Engr. Aganaba Preye Steven – Executive Director, Social and Human Capital Development (Bayelsa); Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye – Executive Director, Corporate Services (Delta); Hon. Joseph Ugheoke – Executive Director, Commercial and Environmental Development (Edo); and Amb. Sony Abang – Executive Director, Finance (Cross River).

The confirmations followed the presentation of the report of the Senate Committee on South-South Development Commission, chaired by Senator Benson Konbowei (PDP, Bayelsa Central).

Presenting the report, Senator Konbowei stated: “That the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on South-South Development Commission on the confirmation of the nomination for appointment as Chairman, Managing Director, and Members of the Board of the South-South Development Commission (SSDC).”

It will be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, last month, submitted the list of nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s request during plenary and referred it to the appropriate committee, which was tasked to report back within one week.