City Crime

Rivers VGN Appeals To Wike For Assistance

Published

6 years ago

March 10, 2021

The Rivers State Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), has passionately appealed to the Executive Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike to come to the aid of the command to enhance its operations and performance. The command has also thanked the Governor for being supportive of other security agencies in the state.
The Acting Commander of VGN in Rivers State, Commander Chukwuka Osumah, who made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt said the command is in dire need of logistic support from the Governor to make it one of the most effective in the country, adding that Hilux vans and other security equipment and facilities which the para-military outfit in the state is currently lacking would go a long way to enhance its operations if provided by the State government.
He reiterated that the outfit has been assisting other security agencies in the state to fight criminality in the state, particularly in the areas of intelligence and information gathering as well as dissemination of same to other security agencies, and assured that if the Governor extends his usual magnanimity to the command, the security outfit would do more in promoting peace and security in the state.
While thanking Governor Wike for supporting the police and other security agencies in the State, Osumah said VGN in the state would be most grateful to him if it is remembered in a similar manner, stressing that there is only one VGN in the state under his leadership.
The VGN Commander said it would be a thing of joy if Governor Wike follows the footsteps of his counterparts in Delta and Abia States, who he said had fabulously assisted the outfit in those states in various ways, contending that both in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones, Rivers State prominently stands out as Governor Wike’s name rings a bell across the country, going by the good works of his administration.
He said states in the North have also been supportive of VGN, stressing that states like Kano, Jigawa, Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina and Niger, among others, for example, had donated Hilux vehicles and motorcycles to the security outfit.
According to him, the Commander General of VGN, Dr Usman Mohammed Jahun recently visited Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who also supported the outfit.
Osumah used the medium to appeal to members of the outfit to close ranks and assist the state government to fight crime and criminality in order to make the state, which he said the Wike administration has transformed into a destination of choice to be safer for all residents.
He thanked Governor Wike for ensuring that the Rivers State Neighbourhood Watch takes off in the state.
Also lending his voice, the Deputy Commander of VGN in Rivers State, Commander Elijah Okere said Governor Wike is a man of projects, who is making the state proud, and pleaded with him to extend his good works to VGN in the state by providing vehicles and other security gadgets to the outfit to enable its operatives do their work more effectively.
According to him, VGN in the state needs adequate support, as its operatives are the frontiers in the fight against insurgency and criminality in the country.
On his part, the Assistant Commander of VGN in charge of Training, Com-mander Joseph Har said the request for Governor Wike to come to the aid of VGN in the state is timely and necessary, as he (the Governor) does not take the issue of security for granted having demonstrated this by giving full support to other security agencies in the state.

He appealed to the Governor to extend his magnanimity to VGN, which he described as a grassroots security outfit by providing its operatives with Hilux vans as well as security boats to patrol the riverine areas.

City Crime

Dakar 2026: Nigeria Records Best-Ever Appearance At Youth Olympic Games

Published

22 hours ago

November 13, 2026

The Tide

Team Nigeria recorded its best-ever appearance at the Youth Olympic Games, winning three gold medals at Dakar 2026 in Senegal to surpass the country’s previous best performance at the competition since its debut.

It was a remarkable campaign defined by historic victories, record-breaking performances and the emergence of a new generation of Nigerian sporting talents, with three athletes etching their names into the country’s sporting history.

According to a press statement from the Special Assistant, SA to the Director -General of the National Sports Commission, Kola Daniel, Nigeria’s gold-medal haul came through Bright Gift, Rosemary Nwankwo and Praise Ugoh, whose outstanding performances in athletics delivered an unprecedented sprint double and a landmark victory in the women’s 400m.

Bright Gift made history by becoming the first Nigerian to win the men’s 100m title at the Youth Olympic Games, clocking an impressive 10.28 seconds to claim gold and set a new Games record.

Rosemary Nwankwo’s victory in the women’s 100m, completing Nigeria’s historic sprint double. Her 11.16-second performance made Nigeria the first country to win both the men’s and women’s 100m titles at the same edition of the Youth Olympic Games.

Praise Ugoh completed Nigeria’s golden campaign by winning the women’s 400m in a personal best of 52.76 seconds, becoming the first Nigerian to claim the event’s title at the Youth Olympic Games.

The three victories represent a new high for Nigeria at the competition, surpassing the two gold medals won at the inaugural edition in Singapore in 2010.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has attributed the progress of Nigerian youth sports to sustained efforts in grassroots development, talent identification and the creation of competitive platforms through which young athletes can be discovered, nurtured and prepared for international competition.

The two technocrats, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Hon. Bukola Olopade’s commitment to grassroots sports development has continued to drive initiatives aimed at building a strong pipeline of future champions.

A major component of this strategy is the Commission’s Invited Junior Athletes Initiative, alongside the National Sports Festival and the hosting of the CAA Africa U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta. These platforms have provided opportunities for emerging talents to compete, gain exposure and progress towards representing Nigeria on the international stage.

The Director of Grassroots Sports Development at the Commission, Prince Niyi Beyeku, and other key players including Lekan Alabi epitomize the dedicated team behind implementing programmes and initiatives that strengthen talent discovery and development across the country.

The Nigeria Olympic Committee, under the leadership of its President, Engr. Habu Gumel, remained consistent in its support and leadership in coordinating Nigeria’s participation at the Games.

The Commission applauds all athletes’ coaches, technical officials, medical personnel and backroom staff whose hard work, preparation and dedication contributed to the team’s historic outing.

Beyond the medals, Nigeria’s performance in Dakar represents a significant statement about the country’s sporting future. The emergence of these young champions reinforces the importance of sustained grassroots investment and provides renewed optimism about Nigeria’s capacity to produce world-class athletes.

City Crime

Tinubu Rewards Flamingos players With 100m Bonds

Published

22 hours ago

November 13, 2026

The Tide

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday announced the award of a ?100 million Federal Government Savings Bond to each player on Nigeria’s victorious U-17 women’s football team, the Flamingos.

The bonds attract an annual interest rate of 14 per cent. The investment by the government for the players is for five years.

President Tinubu also announced a cash gift of ?100 million for the coach and ?50 million for each member of the technical crew.

The President announced the rewards during a reception at the Presidential Villa in Abuja for the Flamingos, who reportedly won the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The Flamingos defeated Japan to become the first African team to win the tournament.

President Tinubu was represented at the reception by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

City Crime

When Custody Becomes a Death Sentence

Published

2 months ago

September 25, 2026

The Tide

Quote: “The moment the state takes a citizen into custody, it assumes a sacred duty to protect that life. Suspicion may justify arrest, but it can never justify neglect, abuse or death.”

There are deaths that shock the conscience not merely because lives have been lost, but because of the circumstances in which those lives were entrusted to the state. The reported deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Minna, Niger State, an incident which occurred on September 17, 2026, belongs to this troubling category. The victims were reportedly arrested during enforcement operations against suspected illegal mining activities. Whatever offence they may have been suspected of committing, they remained citizens entitled to the protection of the law. They were suspects, not condemned criminals. Their detention therefore placed a corresponding responsibility on the authorities to safeguard their lives and dignity.

The Federal Government has since ordered a comprehensive investigation, while the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, constituted a 10-member independent committee to establish what happened, including the circumstances of the arrests, detention and deaths. Twenty NSCDC officers, in addition to the Niger State Commandant, have been suspended pending the investigation. Initially, the NSCDC indicated that a suspected disease outbreak might have been responsible for the deaths. However, survivors and relatives have made disturbing allegations concerning overcrowding, poor ventilation and the treatment of detainees. Reuters reported survivor accounts alleging that nearly 70 people were held in a very small cell and that an unidentified substance was sprayed inside. These accounts remain allegations and must be tested against medical and forensic evidence.

That is precisely why the investigation must be independent, transparent and exhaustive. Nigeria cannot afford a situation in which a tragedy of this magnitude is explained away by speculation, administrative statements or convenient assumptions. The families of the deceased deserve the truth, not conjecture. There is also a fundamental legal principle at stake. The fight against illegal mining is legitimate and necessary. Illegal mining can damage the environment, threaten communities, undermine public revenue and expose workers to dangerous conditions. Government therefore, has every right to enforce mining laws and apprehend those suspected of violating them. But enforcement must itself remain within the ambit of the law. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has correctly stated that the fact that the detainees were suspected of illegal mining did not remove their right to life, dignity and humane treatment.

He directed investigators to examine the conditions of detention, the number of people held in the facility, medical attention provided and the events preceding the deaths. He also stated that if evidence establishes that officials contributed to the deaths through abuse or negligence, those responsible should face prosecution. This is the proper standard. Government cannot fight illegality by creating another form of illegality. The tragedy also raises questions about detention management in our security institutions. If dozens of detainees were indeed confined in conditions incapable of providing adequate ventilation, sanitation, water, food and medical attention, then the matter goes beyond one unfortunate incident. It would point to institutional weaknesses requiring urgent correction.

Every security agency entrusted with human beings must have clear procedures for intake, identification, medical screening, monitoring, separation of vulnerable detainees, emergency response and access to medical care. These are not luxuries. They are basic requirements of responsible custody. The alleged presence of teenagers among the detainees makes the matter even more sensitive. Reports have indicated that some of those arrested were between 14 and 18 years old. If confirmed, their treatment should receive particular scrutiny because children and adolescents in state custody require special safeguards. The government has already taken an important administrative step by suspending officers and establishing an independent panel. But suspension is not justice. Nor should public anger substitute for due process. The investigation must identify exactly who was arrested, why they were arrested, where they were detained, how many people were held together, what happened inside the facility, what medical intervention was provided and what caused each death.

The investigation must also preserve evidence and give surviving detainees an opportunity to speak without intimidation. The Federal Government has directed that records and material evidence be preserved and made available to investigators. The committee has two weeks to complete its work and submit its report. Beyond determining individual responsibility, government should use the tragedy to strengthen custodial standards across all security agencies. A citizen should not disappear into government custody and emerge only as a corpse requiring explanations. The lesson is simple but profound: the power to arrest is not the power to destroy. The state may restrain a person’s liberty according to law, but it cannot suspend that person’s humanity. Nigeria must continue to confront illegal mining. It must also confront every abuse of official power that undermines public confidence in the institutions established to protect citizens.

More importantly, this tragedy should provoke a serious national conversation about what happens after an arrest. Too often, public attention focuses on the moment suspects are paraded before cameras, while little is said about what happens to them afterwards. Arrest is only the beginning of a legal process, not the end of it. Detainees must be properly documented, medically examined and held in facilities that meet acceptable standards. Their families should not have to search desperately for information about their whereabouts, while officers entrusted with their custody remain the only source of information. Where death occurs in custody, the burden of explanation cannot be shifted to grieving relatives. The state must account for the circumstances surrounding every death and demonstrate that reasonable measures were taken to preserve life.

Let it be told that accountability should not begin only when a tragedy attracts national outrage; it should be built into the daily operations of every security agency. Regular inspection of detention facilities, independent monitoring, proper staffing, functional medical arrangements, accurate custody registers and prompt reporting of emergencies can prevent avoidable deaths. Officers must equally understand that lawful enforcement and humane treatment are not opposing principles. Indeed, the credibility of government is strengthened when those who enforce the law are themselves demonstrably bound by it. If the investigation establishes wrongdoing, negligence or abuse, appropriate sanctions should follow; if alternative causes are established, those findings should also be made public. What Nigerians need is not a predetermined narrative, but credible facts, transparent accountability and reforms capable of ensuring that no family again loses a loved one under circumstances that remain unexplained.

The 37 deaths should therefore not become another statistic that fades from public memory after investigations and official statements. Their deaths should compel reforms that make every detention facility safer, every arrest more accountable and every public officer more conscious of the precious lives placed in government custody. For when the state takes custody of a citizen, it assumes responsibility for that citizen’s life. Custody must never become a death sentence.

By: Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi