Niger Delta

‘500,000 Persons To Partake In Irepa/Aba Drum Festival’

Published

3 years ago

August 16, 2023

About 500,000 persons are expected to participate at the 39th edition of the Irepa/Aba Drum Festival scheduled for August 18.
The Otaru of Igarra, HRH, Emmanuel Adeche Saiki 11, disclosed this at a news conference, held in Igarra, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State on Monday.
Adeche said the festival is celebrated every seven years of lunar calendar and six years of gregorian calendar.
He added that the festival is to foster peace, love, harmony, preservation of the cultural heritage of the people and to nurture the values they uphold.
“It brings me immense joy to witness our united celebration of this day filled with peace, love and happiness as we collectively uphold our shared strength and cultural heritage.
“I am aware of the meticulous preparations that have gone into making the day extraordinary and memorable for each individuals.
“The revered custodians of Aba drum, an integral part of Irepa/Aba rituals, hold a sacred place I tapestry of the drum festival’s legacy”, he said.
He continued that, “the 39th edition of the Irepa/Aba festival is a grand culmination of tradition and cultural observances deeply rooted in the history of Igarra people.
“As it is customary, this media briefing serves to extend our warm embrace to our sons, daughters, visitors, tourists and well wishers who have chosen to join us in this celebration.
“We extend our heartfelt wishes for an experience filled with joy festivities, shared love and a convivial atmosphere”.
The traditional ruler congratulated the Opozes (Opa Osiewundo) who are graduating to Opirepa (Council of Elders) and urged them to continue to thrive in good health and serve the community with dedication.
“I hope that we shall persist in coexisting harmoniously and forging ahead as a united community destined for greater accomplishments and the elevation of our values and heritage for the generation to come”, he said.
He thanked the Edo State Government for its readiness to provide adequate security during the festival and solicit the cooperation of the community with security agencies during the period.
“It is important to mention that security agencies with collaborations from our people are working round the clock to ensure a safer society, especially during this festival.
“To this end, I reiterate that all hands must be on deck to ensure our community is a safe haven during the festival”, he said.An Elder of the Onubeji Household of Igarra, Mr Daniel Ojo, said the Eziakuta Opoporiku family is the custodian of the Aba drum festival.
Ojo said the beating of Aba drum is a pivotal moment of the Irepa festival activities, adding that the celebration upholds a sacred legacy of the Igarra Kingdom.
“We are the real owners of the Aba drum and its custody has been a reflection of our family’s ingenuity, strength and relevance from time immemorial.
“We didn’t come by this heritage by our making but by sheer dignity which has been a sacred endowment by God and our ancestors.
“We are here together to join the paramount ruler of Igarra/Akuku clan in celebration of the 39th edition of Irepa/Aba festival”, Ojo said.

Niger Delta

CSOs, Bille Community Urge Solution To Persistent Underwater Gas Eruption

Published

13 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the people of Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area (LGA) of Rivers State have called for government’s urgent intervention to end the suspected underwater gas eruption in the community.

The groups, under the aegis of the Environmental Rights Action and Social Action, made the call during their advocacy visit to the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), in Port Harcourt.

The Programme Manager of Environmental Rights Action, Mr. Kentebe Ebiaridor, said the visit was to seek clarity on the response efforts of the regulators to the development in the community.

Ebiaridor expressed concern over what he described as “inadequate response from regulatory agencies and the government concerning the incident”.

He said discussions with some officials revealed that there was still no clear timeline for action to address the situation.

According to him, in the absence of clear ownership of the facility linked to the incident, companies operating within Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18 should be held accountable.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had in a statement issued on March 20 by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the commission had commenced an investigation into a gas bubbling incident in Bille Community.

Eyesan said the commission expressed concern over the development and assured residents of its ongoing efforts to address the situation.

Also, the Resource Justice Manager of Social Action, Dr. Prince Edegbuo, warned that the situation could escalate into a public health emergency, if urgent steps were not taken.

Edegbuo called on relevant authorities to release the results of the tests reportedly conducted in the area, stressing that residents had the right to know the condition of their environment.

He also said CSOs were prepared to intensify advocacy on the matter, urging the development of emergency response measures, including possible evacuation plans.

A legal practitioner and community stakeholder, Mr. Commission Deinbo, had, on March 20, said residents had continued to witness unusual signs on the waterways in the area.

Deinbo said the signs included boiling and bubbling from the ground and river, sometimes within residential areas, as well as fire outbreaks, which the residents had always managed to contain.

He appealed to relevant authorities to come to their aid and find a lasting solution to the problem.

In a response, the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of NOSDRA, Mr. Bello Augustin, assured the community that he would relate its concerns to the appropriate quarters.

Augustin also commended the CSOs for their advocacy and concerns to community development in the state.

By: Wokoma Emmanuel & Theresa Frederick

Niger Delta

Police Detain 7, Recover Arms In A’Ibom

Published

17 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State has detained seven suspects and recovered firearms after raiding a criminal hideout in Ndiya Mfia, Ikono Local Government Area.of the State.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, made the disclosure in a statement in Uyo on Wednesday.

John said that the breakthrough which occurred at about 6.00a.m on Wednesday, followed credible intelligence from members of the public.

“We reliably gathered that criminal suspects were hibernating in a compound disguised as worshippers.

“In a decisive operation, our personnel conducted a thorough search of the premises which led to the detention and recovery of arms,” she said.

According to her, the operation was in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police to decisively combat crime in the country.

The police spokesman further said that two locally made double-barrel guns, five expended cartridges, four motorcycles and three generators were recovered during the operation.

She also listed 10 mobile phones, one police crest, four jungle boots, one peak cap, saw blade, spanner, number plates, machetes, a special force vest as other items recovered.

“We also found bottles of suspected spiritual oil and one enlarged photograph linked to an ongoing investigation,” she said.

John said that preliminary investigation suggested that the location was being used as cover for criminal operations.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Azare, has directed a comprehensive investigation on the matter in order to apprehend the principal suspect.

John expressed the commitment of the Command to rid the state of crime, and urged members of the public to always support the police with timely and credible information.

Niger Delta

Otu Launches Grassroot Security Network In C’River

Published

17 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has launched a grassroots security intelligence network, named, ”Homeland Safety and Security Agency,” to strengthen community-based surveillance and enhance safety across the state.

Otu, who inaugurated the agency’s office in the Southern Senatorial District of the state on Monday, in Calabar, said similar offices were being inaugurated in the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts.

The Governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Emmanuel Ironbar, said the officials of the agency would serve as first point of call before matters would be escalated to main security architecture in the state.

He described Homeland Security as an intelligence-driven structure focused on neighbourhood monitoring and early threat detection through coordinated local efforts.

He said the initiative constituted the directors and field operatives, tasked with gathering and forwarding intelligence to relevant security agencies for prompt action.

Otu noted that the network would serve as a first point of contact before intervention by conventional security agencies.

“It is important that we enhance monitoring of movements across our communities, border areas, and riverine zones to identify suspicious activities and enhance security response.

“The state government will provide necessary gadgets and communication tools to improve efficiency and real-time intelligence sharing,” he said.

Otu called for public cooperation, stressing that ‘’security is a collective responsibility requiring timely information from residents.’’

He said, ‘’to ensure that the security outfit works like a model unit, proper screening would be conducted on the volunteers to weed out undesirable elements from the system.’’

The Tide’s source reports that the Governor handed over 14 motor bikes to the agency’s southern Senatorial district office to enhance their efficiency.

On his part, the Director-General, South of the agency, Mr. Michael Nsan, said the volunteers had played key roles in reducing crime through coordinated patrols and intelligence sharing.

Nsan said over 1,300 volunteers currently supported the operations with additional informants providing critical information across communities.

“Crime rates dropped significantly during the last festive period due to our collaboration with law enforcement agencies in the state,” he said.

The Director-General said volunteers would undergo training and screening, with plans underway for formal recruitment through a government employment portal.

According to him, communication tools, including walkie-talkies, and patrol motorcycles had improved rapid response to security incidents.

He commended the governor’s commitment, noting that the initiative would further strengthen security architecture and community safety across the state.

The source reports that some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion were traditional rulers and government officials.