Nation

THE STATES

Published

15 years ago

September 2, 2011

Bauchi

Unidentified gunmen have attacked the home of Alhaji Yakubu Lame, former Minister of Police Affairs in the late President Umaru Yar‘Adua’s administration, with explosives.

Lame was said to have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj at the time of the attack.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammed Barau, said on Monday in Bauchi that it occurred at about 7 p.m. on Sunday.

He said the suspects entered the former minister’s house on a motorcycle, dropped a bomb and ran off.

FCT

Minister of State for Defence Olusola Obada says the ministry and the U.S. Department of Defence are collaborating to establish more research sites on vaccines for the treatment of HIV and AIDS.

Obada disclosed this when she visited the ministry’s Emergency Plan Implementation Committee and Reference Laboratory in Mogadishu Barracks, Abuja.

She said the Federal Government would provide the required programmes that would improve the health of the masses.

Obada said the committee had 20 HIV and AIDS research sites and wanted to build some more depending on availability of funds.

Gombe

The Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr David Albashi, who survived a fatal accident last Sunday, may be flown abroad for treatment.

A credible source at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Gombe, where he is on admission, said on Monday that Albashi would have been flown abroad last Sunday, but for the fact that he was still under a ventilator, which was removed in the early hours of the day.

Many relatives, supporters, politicians and other public servants have been trooping to the centre to sympathise with him.

Kano

The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, has called on the people of the state to continue to live in peace with one another.

Bayero made the call while addressing thousands of Muslim faithfuls who gathered at his palace after the Eid-Fitr prayer in Kano last Tuesday.

He noted that no country could achieve any meaningful development in an atmosphere of chaos and uncertainty, stressing that what the nation needed most at this time was peace.

The Emir who also prayed for continued peace and development in the country, advised his subjects against rumour mongering and engaging in any act capable of breaching the peace.

Kebbi

The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Bashar has called for unity and understanding among Muslims in the country.

Alhaji Bashar, who is also the chairman of the State Council of Chiefs, made the appeal in his Sallah message to thousands of Muslims at the Eid-el Fitr praying ground in Birnin Kebbi.

He pointed out that peaceful coexistence was necessary for the rapid development of the country.

Gwandu emirate in Kebbi celebrated Sallah on Monday following the reported sighting of the moon at Bunza town and some local government areas in the state.

Lagos

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has urged residents of state not to panic against the background of the flood disaster in Ibadan last Friday.

Mr Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, the General Manager of LASEMA, told newsmen in Ikeja, that the fear expressed by some residents over the incident was unnecessary.

He said that the state government was on the alert and was well equipped to manage any spillover effect from Ibadan.

“Some residents have been expressing fears that what happened in Ibadan is a warning that Lagos might soon experience that kind of disaster, as on July 10.

“They are saying that the Ibadan flooding signals an imminent one in Lagos, especially as the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had predicted another heavy rain in the state.

Niger

Former Military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida has urged Nigerians to shun violence and support governments at all levels.

In a Sallah message last Monday in Minna signed by his spokesman, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Babangida also urged Nigerians to live within the dictates of the law.

He said the Ramadan fast was a period of total commitment to the will of Allah and offering of supplications to the most high, noting that “this month has been most challenging to us as a country and as a people with one destiny“.

“As we celebrate the completion of the month of Ramadan, I wish to salute all Muslim faithful worldwide for their sense of tolerance, perseverance, understanding and commitment to the ideals of Allah during the period.

Ondo

Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State has restated his administration’s commitment to the health needs and general well-being of the citizens.

The governor said this in Akure while declaring open the 2011 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the state chapter of Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).

“We want a sound mind in a sound body; In pursuance of this, our administration adopted a multi-pronged approach to develop the healthcare delivery system that is comparable to any in the developed world.

“Today, health care delivery has been brought to the doorstep of the people; Each of the 203 wards in the state has a basic health centre while each of the 18 Local Government Areas has at least a comprehensive health centre and a general hospital.

Oyo

The Wife of the Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has assured the people of Ibadan that the government will find lasting solutions to the problem of flood in the city.

Florence, who was accompanied by the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, gave the assurance while distributing relief materials to some flood victims in Ibadan last Monday.

She said that the government was taking necessary measures to ameliorate the sufferings of victims.

“Our visit today is to reassure the people that the government is on top of the situation.

“Though, the damage is too much, we will get over it with the support of everybody.”

“The state government officials, NEMA, SEMA and all other relevant agencies are working round the clock to ensure that we find lasting solution to the incident urgently,“ she said.

Plateau

As calm returns to Jos after Monday’s violence that claimed 10 lives, security has been beefed up in and around the city.

Our correspondent who went round some parts of the city last Tuesday, observed that fierce-looking personnel of the military Special Task Force (STF) were stationed in areas considered as flash points.

Mobile policemen were also in many other flash points while mobile vans coveying armed soldiers, policemen and officers of the local security outfit, “Operation Rainbow’’ were patrolling the city.

Encouraged by the tight security, residents appeared to move about freely, though many kept hoping that the peace in the morning would last throughout the day.

Sokoto

Friday’s explosion at the UN Secretariat in Abuja is an abominable act in Islam, especially in the blessed month of Ramadan, according to the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

The Sultan said this in Sokoto last Tuesday in his Sallah message to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria.

“We, therefore, seriously condemn this act while commiserating with those who lost their property and condoling the families of those who lost their lives.

“We hereby call on the Muslims not to allow themselves to be used by our enemies in achieving their desired goals.

“We should not allow them to cause us to commit acts prohibited by our religion. We, therefore, call upon all those involved in this nefarious act, to fear God and desist from committing this grievous act,” he added.

Nation

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

Published

1 week ago

June 12, 2026

The Tide

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

Nation

Asarama Kingdom Condemns Gruesome Murder of A Commercial Vehicle Driver

Published

1 week ago

June 12, 2026

The Tide

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

Nation

Rivers Commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

3 weeks ago

June 2, 2026

The Tide

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.