News
Rukpokwu Residents Send SOS To Wike, IGP Over Looming Crisis
Residents of Royal Estate Phase 2 on SARS Road, Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State have called on the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to urgently wade in to forestall the possible breakdown of law and order as well as the breach of public peace by hoodlums in the area.
The residents, who made the call while speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt, last Monday, expressed regrets over what they described as horrifying brutalisation of legitimate land owners by a notorious gang of land grabbers operating in Rukpokwu axis.
The residents and legitimate purchasers also warned that if nothing was done to halt the violence, there may be a resort to self-help.
“There is no way that someone can be forced out of his land after he has spent four to N10million”, the residents said.
A resident, who identified himself as Eric Jackson, alleged that the head of the grabbers’ gang was one, Mr. Douglas Tenko, fondly referred to as ‘The Don’.
He alleged that ‘The Don’, who heads the land grabbers’ gang, also has more than 50 goons who help him to achieve his purpose.
Jackson said ‘The Don’ was working in connivance with some chiefs, elders and community development committee members to wreak mayhem and grab people’s property.
He explained that top police officers in Port Harcourt, Zone 16, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and Force Headquarters, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, were in league with ‘The Don’ and his goons.
Jackson also expressed regrets over what he described as terrifying brutalisation of bonafide purchasers and the framing of phantom charges against them in effort to dispossess them of their parcels of land.
He said that the Royal Estate Phase2 had been overrun by the grabbers who extort money from landowners in the area.
Jackson accused one Mr. Jacob Samuel from Delta State of being the mastermind of the land grabbing scheme in the area.
He said that Samuel had been hired by the real owner of Eliokpokwu marshy area, Rukpokwu, Mr. Nnanta Chinedu.
He alleged that because of greed, Samuel elicited the support of ‘The Don’ and his goons to dispossess Nnanta permanently of his property.
He said most purchasers who bought their parcels of land from the beneficial owner were often marooned and framed up with phantom charges to cower them into the abandonment of their legal ownership of the land they purchased.
He said that a picture of a corpse lying in a canal was used to slam phantom charge of murder to purchasers who bought directly from the beneficial owner and dispossess them.
Jackson also said Chinedu was remanded in prison custody over a phantom charge of murder with the intention of compelling him to back out of his heritage.
He said the police officers who caused Chinedu to be remanded in custody were working for ‘The Don’.
He said some of the police accomplices in the scheme claim to be working on the order of IGP.
A Port Harcourt-based lawyer and counsel to Mr. Chinedu Nnanta said that the marshes in dispute belonged to his client who inherited same from his father according to Ikwerre native laws and customs as applicable in Eliokpokwu-Odu, Rukpokwu.
He remarked that the ownership of the land in dispute was already pending in the High Court but noted that Mr. Douglas Tenko and Elder Prince Sunny Okpara were defendants in the matter but would not come to court to defend their matter.
He pointed out that ownership of land was civil matter and not criminal.
Also speaking, the acting head of Eliokpokwu-Odu community, Chief Achineke Mecha, accused Rumuagholu community of using hoodlums and certain police officers to dispossess them of their land.
He also called on the IGP to wade into the matter.
Mecha claimed that the land they sold to a certain estate developer was being challenged by a privileged police officer and his tugs.
He warned the police to stay away from Eliokpokwu-Odu community land.
Mecha said Rumuagholu was using the matter they won in 1961 to claim adjoining lands not captured in the survey plan.
Also speaking, a principal member of Eliokpokwu-Odu community, Elder Sunny Okpara, expressed regret that Rumuagholu was trespassing into their exclusive possession.
The Tide investigation revealed that Tenko was selling land he retrieved from legitimate purchasers to an estate development company whose owner has clout all over the Nigerian federation.
The Tidealso gathered that the owner of the estate, who worked behind the scenes, made it difficult for ‘The Don’ and his goons to be prosecuted for the plethora of heinous crimes they have allegedly committed by reportedly dispossessing legitimate owners of their lands
By: Chidi Enyie
News
Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf
Two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in Rivers State have been honoured by separate groups for their contributions to security, crime prevention and improved community-police relations in their respective areas of responsibility.
The beneficiaries are the DPO of Afam Police Division, CSP Endurance Worgu and his counterpart at Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf.
CSP Worgu was honoured by a group of students under the aegis of Rivers State Graduate Students Associations for what they described as his commitment and outstanding performance in the discharge of his duties.
The students, led by Chidi John Enyie, Esq. said CSP Worgu was selected based on his track record and status as one of the longest-serving young DPOs of Rivers State origin.
According to the group, CSP Worgu has made significant contributions to the protection of lives and property in the area since assuming office following the #EndSARS period.
The students said they were particularly impressed by the improvement in community-police relations under his leadership, noting that professionalism had remained a key feature of his service.
Enyie represented by Comrade Briggs Soku, said the students community was pleased to identify with a Rivers indigene who had distinguished himself in the police force.
He said the students considered it necessary to encourage and celebrate CSP Worgu because of his achievements as a young Rivers man excelling in a profession that many people from the state were often reluctant to join.
Receiving the award at his office in Afam, CSP Worgu expressed gratitude to God and the students for finding him worthy of the honour.
The DPO said the recognition had boosted his morale and encouraged him to sustain his efforts towards maintaining peace and security in the area.
He said he least expected the honour, particularly because it came from the students, adding that the recognition would further motivate him to serve the people better.
CSP Worgu assured residents of Afam that the police would sustain the existing peace in the area.
He appealed to members of the public to support the police by providing credible and timely information, stressing that useful information from residents would make the job of security personnel easier.
Meanwhile, the Ikwerre/Etche Media Association has also honoured the DPO of Oyigbo Police Division, CSP Bello Yusuf, for his efforts in tackling criminal activities in the area.
The media group presented the award following the swift tracking and arrest of five suspected kidnappers who had allegedly terrorised residents of the Kom-Kom axis and other parts of Oyigbo.
The group commended CSP Bello for what it described as his determined efforts to restore confidence and security in the affected communities, particularly Kom-Kom and Obeama.
According to the group, the arrest of the suspects demonstrated the DPO’s commitment to tackling criminality and safeguarding residents.
The media association said residents had received the development with relief, noting that the police action had sent a strong message to criminal elements operating in the area.
Responding, CSP Yusuf appreciated the group for the recognition and reaffirmed that there would be no room for criminality in Oyigbo.
He also commended the media for its role in disseminating credible information to the public, saying the media had remained supportive of the police in the fight against crime.
CSP Yusuf warned criminal elements operating in Oyigbo to leave the area or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
He assured residents that the police would continue to pursue criminals and work to dismantle their hideouts, regardless of where they might be operating.
News
College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates For 2027 Polls
The 5000 Achievers Christian Forum and Colleges of Bishops, Archbishops and Apostles, a Christian interdenominational organisation, has endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State for the 2027 general elections.
International President of the forum, Archbishop Lucky Aroh, disclosed this during the ordination and consecration of three new Bishops, as well as an award ceremony held in Port Harcourt.
Aroh said the performance of the APC-led Federal Government had endeared the party to the organisation, prompting the forum to declare its support for President Tinubu and other APC candidates in Rivers State.
He said the forum would support all APC candidates in the state during the 2027 elections and urged Nigerians to vote for the party.
Aroh, who is also the General Overseer of Caring Peoples Church, Port Harcourt, charged the newly consecrated Bishops to see their new positions as a great responsibility and dedicate themselves to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
He cautioned them against conduct capable of bringing their offices into disrepute, stressing that their activities would be closely watched by members of the public.
“As Bishops, the eyes of the public are on your activities. You must therefore conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of your calling,” he said.
Also speaking, the International Coordinator of the forum, Bishop Saint Robinson, urged the newly consecrated Bishops to work diligently towards winning souls for the kingdom of God.
Robinson, who was the guest speaker at the event, stressed that the activities of Bishops must at all times be guided by godly principles.
He also called on members of the church to support and cooperate with the newly consecrated Bishops in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The Secretary of the College, Apostle Elizabeth Ayadi Abaye, said the organisation was established to advance the kingdom of God and promote spiritual development.
According to her, the forum has organised several crusades, conferences, prayer meetings, ordinations, consecrations, enthronements, empowerment programmes and other spiritual development activities across the country as part of efforts to win souls for Christ.
Abaye said the organisation has members across the world and disclosed that more programmes had been scheduled to promote the spiritual development and wellbeing of humanity.
The three Bishops consecrated at the ceremony were Prince Alban Chike, Testimony Omenihu Shedrach and Prince Ifemena.
Among those honoured at the event were the Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Abali Community, Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Manuchimso Prince Lemmy Wopara, and Clifford Oko Jaja, Coordinator of the 5,000 House-to-House for President Tinubu.
By: John Bibor
News
Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 49-year-old suspected fake soldier, Andrew Atausi, and several other suspects in connection with various criminal activities, including kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, one-chance robbery and the alleged murder of police officers.
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently during a press briefing at the Command Headquarters, where he said the arrests formed part of the operational achievements recorded by the Command between June and August 2026.
Adepoju said Atausi was arrested on August 10 by police operatives along Ada George, Port Harcourt, while dressed in military uniform and driving a Toyota Hilux painted in Army colours.
The Commissioner said investigation revealed that Atausi was not a member of the Armed Forces, adding that he was suspected to be a serial car snatcher, with three suspected stolen vehicles recovered from him.
He said the recovered vehicles included three Toyota Hilux vehicles without registration numbers and a Toyota Corona Premio with registration number BNY 380 ES, noting that the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles had allegedly been tampered with.
Adepoju added that an axe and military accoutrements were also recovered from Atausi, as investigation continued into the circumstances surrounding the vehicles and other items recovered from him.
On the June 29 attack on police officers at Aluu Division, the Commissioner said three members of the gang allegedly responsible for the incident had been arrested by operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit, VCRU-AKU.
The suspects, identified as Maduabuchi Emeka, 34, alleged gang leader; Doctor Chinedu Owhor, 42, and Kamachi Joe, 28, alleged armourer, reportedly led operatives to their hideout at Omagwa where two AK-47 rifles stolen during the attack were recovered.
Adepoju recalled that two police officers were killed during the Aluu attack, while others were wounded and one officer had his leg amputated, stressing that efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fourth suspect.
On kidnapping, the Commissioner said five members of a suspected kidnapping syndicate were arrested in Oyigbo Local Government Area, adding that they allegedly confessed to operations in Kom-Kom, Railway, Obeama and Afam communities.
He said two other suspects from the same network, Anele Ogbogu, 35, alleged to be the gang’s armourer, and Kenneth Eke, 38, were arrested on July 27, with one AK-47 rifle and one SMG rifle recovered.
The Commissioner further disclosed the arrest of suspects in connection with alleged firearm offences, armed robbery, cultism and one-chance robbery, with firearms, ammunition and other exhibits recovered during the operations.
Adepoju assured residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led, proactive and community-oriented policing in collaboration with other security agencies, while urging members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist the police in combating crime across Rivers State.
By; King Onunwor
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