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Security: PCRC Holds Street Walk For Fubara, Lauds Gov @50
The Rivers State chapter of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) on Tuesday marched through major roads and streets of Port Harcourt to celebrate peace and stability in Rivers State.
The PCRC commended the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara’s commitment to peace.
The peace walk by PCRC was part of the activities to commemorate its 2025 Annual Peace Walk.
The PCRC members who converged at Isaac Boro Park as early as 7am, marched through Asarama Street to Old GRA, Forces Avenue, Azikiwe Road and terminated at the Government House Port Harcourt where they reiterated their commitment to serve humanity, and promote peace and security in the State.
Speaking at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the State Chairman of PCRC, Mr.Voke Emore, commended the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for prioritising peace and wellbeing of Rivers people.
He said the peace walk was to sensitise the public of the existence of PCRC and its role in the society.
Emore congratulated the governor on his 50th birthday anniversary and prayed to God to grant him more wisdom in handling the affairs of the state.
He called on Rivers people, especially the stakeholders in the state, to join in ensuring sustainable peace in the State.
He said, “We are here today for our 2025 annual peace walk. We want peace in Rivers State and Nigeria in extension. We have had a lot of issues, but we have enjoyed peace in Rivers State, and the PCRC has made it a point of call to ensure that peace remains in Rivers State, so we decided to take a match annually to tell Rivers people that peace is priceless and terror is senseless.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the State, we felt it was only proper that we stop by to receive your blessings before we start our regular activities for the year, and to also tell the government too of what we stand for. And that we are happy with what they are doing in keeping peace, how they have empowered the security, the police, the army and other sister agencies, among others.
“We also wish to assure you of our continued partnership and support to you and your government.
“And today happens to be the governor’s birthday which is a good coincidence for us, we also want to use this opportunity to wish the governor a happy birthday.”
He said further that, “The work of policing cannot be left to the Nigeria Police alone, hence the partnership between the Police and the PCRC, whose membership is made up of people drawn form every section of the society, covering every religious, political, regional divide and more.
“We advice all Rivers people especially the stakeholders maintain peace, no matter the political divide, Rivers State has been very peaceful thus far, which is quite amazing because when political tension stirs up you usually hear of killings left right and centre, but there is nothing like that so we applaud every party here, what we are asking for is that that peace is sustained. PCRC is ready to work with everybody to achieve this.
“This partnership is aimed at bridging the gap between the Police and the host communities, thereby engendering trust and mutual respect,” he said.
In his response, Governor Fubara, represented by the State Head of Service, George Nwaeke, thanked members of the PCRC for their role in promoting peace in the state through their partnership with the police and other security agencies.
He reiterated the State Government’s commitment to sustainable peace in the State.
While commending the PCRC for their services to humanity, he stated that, “the governor is highly committed to serving humanity. Everything he does had at it’s back, humanity.
“You are aware of what he has done for Rivers people, starting from the civil servants, where he has raised the hope of many hopeless people.
“Because of the governor’s love for humanity, people that were denied promotion for years were promoted, and he has given promotion up to date, he has also paid their arrears. The governor has paid salaries of workers and other entitlements regularly. For two years now, Civil Servants also recieved N100.000 as Christmas bonus. This year he added retirees and public servants.”
Nwaeke noted that the PCRC’s Annual Peace Walk Day coincided with the governor’s birthday, saying, “28th of January is actually the governor’s birthday. Setting out that day for your peace walk means you are immortalising his name, I want to thank you for that kind gesture.”
He added, “Every Community in Rivers State should be able to assist the police by imbibing the spirit of community policing.”
Akujobi Amadi
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.