Connect with us

News

Rape: Group Petitions Rivers CP Over Randy Pastor

Published

on

A civil rights advocacy group has sent a petition to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, complaining against one Pastor Tony Titus Daniel for allegedly raping a 20-year-old girl.
According to reports, Mr. Tony Titus Daniel, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, and claims to be a pastor and General Overseer of Jesus Alive Word Refiners International Church at Elechi/Wokoma Street, Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt, conspired with his Personal Assistant, who is also a Choir member known as Miss Favour, and another lady to rape the victim.
The 20-year-old victim, who explained the reason she openly protested at the front of the church last Sunday, said Daniel and his Personal Assistant, Ms Favour, invited her to a place around Wimpey junction, Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, to resolve issues they were having with the pastor’s wife whose church was located in the compound she resides.
The victim, who is a hairstylist, said she obliged to meet them after Ms Favour, who is also her customer, persuaded her that the pastor’s wife would also be in the meeting.
The victim stated that she noticed the place was a Guest House upon arrival but was not suspicious of anything since Ms Favour was in the place.
The victim alleged that few minutes after she got inside the room, Daniel locked the door and increased the volume of the television set, while Ms Favour and the other lady, whom she does not know her identity, held her down on the floor against her will as the pastor raped her.
She further alleged that the pastor and his accomplices forced her to swear an oath with a substance suspected to be ‘juju’ not to reveal to anybody what transpired in the place or she dies.
Not able to bear the shame, betrayed and trauma arising from the rape, reports have it that she damned the oath, and openly protested at the front of the church after Sunday service to draw the attention of Nigerians to the alleged continuous harassment and threat to her life in the hands of the pastor even after the rape incident.
In the meantime, Counsel with a human rights advocacy group, the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, Festus Bonwin, told newsmen in Port Harcourt, that the group petitioned the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Eboka Friday, upon receiving a report from the 20-year-old girl, to demand a thorough investigation into the allegation made by the victim against the pastor.
Bonwin said the group was also asking that the police to provide adequate security for the alleged victim as feelers indicate that there are threats from some quarters against her.
Daniel was detained at Azikiwe Divisional Police Headquarters, Mile Two, Diobu, Port Harcourt, on March 18, 2020, after one Mr. Ndidi Austin stormed Daniel’s church, alleging that he caught his wife with the pastor in a hotel.
Daniel, however, denied the allegation, stating that the place Austin saw him and his wife was not a hotel.
As at the time of filing this report, it was gathered that the Commissioner of Police, Friday Eboka, had approved the petition filed by the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign, and directed the Human Rights Desk at the State Police Command Headquarters, Moscow Road headed by SP Nnamdi Omoni to carry out proper investigation.

Continue Reading

News

NPF Warn Applicants Ahead Of Constable Recruitment Exam

Published

on

The Katsina State Police Command has cautioned applicants for the upcoming police constable recruitment examination to adhere strictly to laid-down procedures and avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
The Commissioner of Police, Ali Umar-Fage, issued the warning in a statement released on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu.
He disclosed that the nationwide examination is scheduled to take place from April 28 to April 30 in Katsina State and that the exercise will be conducted at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic along Dutsin-Ma Road.
According to the commissioner, only candidates who successfully passed the recently concluded physical and credential screening will be eligible to sit for the examination.
Applicants have been directed to log on to the official recruitment portal from April 24 to print their coloured examination invitation slips, which contain details of their specific date, time, and venue.
Mr Umar-Fage stated that candidates must present a valid National Identification Number (NIN) slip issued by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), bearing a clear photograph, alongside their printed coloured invitation slip and a writing pen at the examination centre.
He added that the approved dress code for the exercise is a white T-shirt, white shorts, and white canvas shoes.
Reiterating that the recruitment process is entirely free of charge, the police chief warned applicants to be wary of individuals or groups seeking to extort money under the guise of facilitating recruitment.

Continue Reading

News

Monarch Pledges Strong Action Against Gender-Based Violence

Published

on

The Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to take decisive action to curb the rising cases of gender-based violence (GBV) across the state, in partnership with ActionAid and other relevant organisations.
The commitment was made during an event organised by ActionAid in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation in Port Harcourt. The programme, titled “Convening of Traditional Rulers for GBV Prevention,” carried the theme, “From Custodians to Champions: Redefining Culture for GBV Prevention and Community Protection.”
Speaking on behalf of the council, the Okilomuibe of Engenni Kingdom, HRM King Moore MacLean Ubuo, said traditional rulers are determined to move beyond mere responses to incidents of violence by adopting proactive strategies.
“We will establish and empower community-led structures, including traditional cabinets and women leaders, to identify early warning signs of violence and intervene before harm occurs,” he said.
King Ubuo added that traditional institutions are committed to enforcing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law within their domains, stressing that the longstanding culture of silence surrounding abuse would no longer be tolerated.
“We will ensure that our subjects understand their rights and that the law is respected as the ultimate standard for justice,” he added.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Government emphasised that tackling GBV requires more than policies and enforcement, noting that a transformation in societal attitudes is essential.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Lauretta Dimkpa, who was represented by the Director of Child Welfare, Mrs. Fumilayo Adebayo, highlighted the critical role of traditional rulers in shaping societal values.
“As traditional rulers, your voices command respect, your decisions influence behaviour, and your institutions are trusted platforms for conflict resolution and social guidance,” she said.
She urged them to promote cultural norms that uphold dignity, respect, and equality, while also encouraging victims to report abuse without fear of stigma.
In his remarks, the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Dr. Andrew Mamedu, described the gathering as timely, noting that GBV remains a widespread violation of human rights and a major obstacle to sustainable development.
Represented by Dr. Adedeji Ademefun, he cited data showing that 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged 15 to 49 have experienced physical violence, with many cases going unreported due to fear, stigma, and cultural silence.
“National surveys indicate that nearly three in ten women have experienced physical or sexual violence, underscoring the scale and urgency of this crisis,” he said.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Rivers State Multi-Stakeholders Action Committee, Barrister Evelyn Asimie Membere, described GBV as one of the most persistent human rights violations, cutting across age, class, and geography.
According to her, traditional rulers are uniquely positioned to influence behaviour and drive meaningful change at the grassroots level.
“In many of our communities, your voice carries more weight than any policy or legislation,” she said.

The event brought together key stakeholders committed to strengthening community-based approaches to preventing GBV and protecting vulnerable groups across Rivers State.

Continue Reading

News

Tinubu Support Group Canvasses Second Term For President Ahead Of 2027

Published

on

A socio-political group, the Tinubu Youths Vanguard Organisation (TYVO), Rivers State chapter, has called on Nigerians to support the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, citing the need to consolidate ongoing economic and infrastructural reforms.
The State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Emmanuel Fubara, made the appeal over the weekend in Port Harcourt on the sidelines of a meeting of the Southern Traditional Rulers Council.
He said granting the Tinubu administration a second term would enable it to fully implement its transformation agenda, particularly under the Renewed Hope initiative.
“It is important that the Tinubu administration is given another opportunity to complete its economic and developmental programmes for the benefit of the country,” he stated.
Fubara disclosed that the group is preparing for its formal inauguration in the State, along with the unveiling of its local government, ward and unit structures, including student and market women wings.
According to him, the organization will be fully mobilised to promote the policies and achievements of the current administration, with a focus on issue-based campaigns aimed at restoring public confidence in the nation’s economy.
He noted that the administration has made strides in revamping the economy and executing key infrastructure projects, including the ongoing coastal road development in parts of the country.
Fubara expressed confidence that the group’s campaign strategies would resonate with Nigerians, adding that opposition voices would be effectively countered through sustained grassroots engagement.
He also urged members of the group to intensify sensitisation efforts across communities, highlighting what he described as visible results of the administration’s reforms.
On security challenges facing the country, Fubara said the situation was inherited from previous administrations but maintained that the current government is taking decisive steps to address it.
He expressed optimism that ongoing efforts, including international collaborations, would significantly curb insecurity in the near future.
When asked whether the group would also campaign for Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the TYVO coordinator said the organisation would take a position at the appropriate time, noting that directives from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would guide its activities.

Continue Reading

Trending