The Etche Area Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs has declared seven days of mourning across Etche Nation following the demise of late Eze E.M.B Opurum, the Ochie of Etche land.
Chairman of the Council, His Royal Majesty, King Samuel Ndiwe Amechi, made the declaration during a condolence visit by a delegation of traditional rulers and chiefs to the family of the late Ochie.
King Amaechi, who is the Onye Ishi-Ala, Igbo Kingdom, while leading the delegations, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the traditional ruler and commiserated with the bereaved family.
He acknowledged the late monarch’s contributions to peace, unity, culture and development in Etche Land.
The monarch described the death of late Opurum as a loss to the traditional institution and the wider Etche Community, and prayed for the peaceful repose of the late Ochie of Etche .
He also prayed for divine strength and comfort for members of the bereaved family as they mourn their departed patriarch.
In honour of the late Etche revered monarch, the Council announced the immediate suspension of the Central Etche Wrestling Festival, and directed that the cultural event should not proceed during the mourning period.
It further ordered that flags should fly at half-mast across Etche Land as a mark of respect for the deceased Ochie of Etche, and in recognition of his position within the traditional institution.
The seven-day mourning period, according to the Council, is intended to enable the various clans of Etche Nation to collectively mourn the late monarch and honour his memory.
Meanwhile, the Council has warned members of the public against relying on any statement purportedly issued on the letterhead of the late Ochie and attributed to Eze Kenwala.
The Council said such a statement was not authorised, and urged the public to disregard it and rely on official communications from the recognised traditional authority concerning matters relating to the late Ochie of Etche.
The warning was contained in an official announcement signed by King Samuel Ndiwe Amechi, Chairman of the Echei Area Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs.
The Council stated its commitment to ensuring that the mourning period is observed with dignity and respect, while urging the people of Etche Nation to remain united as they honour the memory of their departed traditional ruler.

By: Amadi Akujobi

The Rivers State Police Command has distanced the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, from allegations that he grabbed or facilitated the grabbing of land belonging to residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
The Command, in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, said the allegation circulating in a social media video was false and misleading, adding that the facts surrounding the matter showed that the Commissioner’s involvement was limited to providing security for the execution of a court judgment.
According to the statement, on March 6, 2025, the Commissioner received an application from O. S. Obior, Esq., on behalf of Kirigust Global Resources Nig. Ltd., requesting police protection for a court bailiff to execute a judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015, between Col. Ogwumerum Eke and another and Chief Friday Ibeabuchi Anya and others.
The Command said the application was referred to the Department of Operations and subsequently to the Police Legal Section for verification, adding that the Customary Court, Choba, confirmed on March 21, 2025, that the judgment was valid and that there was no pending appeal or stay of execution.
It stated that, based on the legal advice received, police personnel were deployed on April 7 and 8, 2025, solely to provide security for the court bailiff, stressing that the Commissioner expressly directed the officers not to participate physically in the execution.
The Command, however, said that during the execution, residents of Victory Estate, Rumuosi, objected to the exercise, explaining that while they did not dispute the validity of the judgment, they maintained that the judgment concerned land in Rumuagholu Community and did not cover their property at Victory Estate, Rumuosi.
It said the Commissioner immediately halted the execution and directed the Police Legal Section to investigate the conflicting claims, following which all relevant parties were invited to state their positions and the disputed location visited, while photographs of damaged properties were also obtained.
As part of the investigation, the Police obtained the Certified True Copy of the judgment and the dispute survey/site plan from the Customary Court, Choba, and forwarded the documents to the Surveyor-General of Rivers State for charting and geo-location.
The Command said the Surveyor-General subsequently confirmed that the area covered by the survey/site plan was within Rumuagholu Community and did not cover Victory Estate, Rumuosi Community.
It explained that the investigation therefore established that although the judgment in Suit No. CCC/22/2015 was valid and had no pending appeal or stay of execution, it did not extend to Victory Estate, Rumuosi, making the execution of the judgment on the property wrongful.
The Police further disclosed that the investigation revealed alleged criminal offences arising from the wrongful execution, with persons including Col. Ogwumerum Eke, Chief Mike Oyakire, Prince Chima Kelechi and Samuel Chike, among others, recommended for prosecution.
It added that Force Headquarters, Abuja, also investigated the matter and reportedly arrived at similar findings.
The Command said a nine-count charge, No. PHC/3683/CR/2025, was subsequently filed before the High Court of Rivers State against Col. Ogwumerum Eke and others at large.

It stressed that CP Adepoju neither grabbed, acquired nor took possession of any land belonging to Victory Estate, Rumuosi, stated that his involvement was restricted to granting police protection to a court bailiff after the judgment had been duly verified.
The Command also noted that Suit No. PHC/1467/FHR/2026, instituted by Col. Ogwumerum Eke and three others against the Nigeria Police Force and other defendants, is currently before the Rivers State High Court, adding that the Police would allow the court to determine the issues before it.
The Police Command further warned its officers against engaging in unauthorised land-related activities, stating that officers in Rivers State had been directed not to go to any land to guard, enforce or execute land-related matters without proper authorisation and legal backing, as land disputes are civil matters for which aggrieved parties should seek redress in court.
Members of the public were urged to report any police officer found engaging in unauthorised land-related activities to the nearest police station or the Complaint Response Unit, while the Command reaffirmed its commitment to the rule of law, professionalism, impartiality and respect for human rights.

By: King Onunwor

The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Professor Okechuku Onuchuku, has called on the Federal Government to review the N15,000 allowance paid to students on the Industrial Training Fund’s Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES).
He made the call recently, while declaring open the 2026 SIWES Orientation Programme for Students at the University Auditorium.
Represented by the Head of Ndele Campus, Professor Isaac Ogundu, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the current stipend is not commensurate with present economic realities.
A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Dr. Ngozi Okiridu, quoted the Acting VC as saying that, “SIWES students perform real field work and provide free labour services that save companies huge amounts of money that would have been spent if they had engaged other workers.

and provide free labour services that save companies huge amounts of money that would have been spent if they had engaged other workers.
“It is only reasonable to recognize the value of these students by paying them better allowances.”
Professor Onuchuku explained that an upward review of their allowances would motivate the students, encourage better attitude and professionalism at work, reduce distractions, and ease the burden of meals and transportation.
This, he said, “would help justify the purpose of gaining industrial experience.”He also said the five thousand naira paid to supervisors is no longer tenable, and suggested that the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) should collaborate with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to provide funds for both students and supervisors through their universities.
Onuchuku lauded the SIWES Director, Dr. Silverline Igweagbara, for organizing the orientation programme and assured that the university would continue to provide the necessary support for the SIWES Unit.

He also urged the students to represent the university as a brand and be good ambassadors, and also advised them to subject themselves to “mentorship, be honest, build bridges, turn disadvantages into advantages, convert problems and challenges into prospects and opportunities, and keep moving, no matter what.”
In her remarks, the Director of the SIWES at IAUE, Dr. Silverline Igweagbara, thanked the students for turning up and for comporting themselves well.
She explained that the orientation was designed to provide training that would expand their horizons and equip them with knowledge and skills to and self-reliant.

become self-sufficient and self-reliant.
Also speaking, the Area Manager of the ITF, Rumuokwuta, Mr. Oladimeji Ebenezer, the SIWES Officer, Mr. Obinna Ojuahanu, and the Head of Finance and SIWES Accountant, Mrs. Opeyemi Adejare, said the programme is aimed at bridging the gap between academic theories and industrial practices and operations.
They stressed the need for students to have active personal bank accounts, not third-party accounts, and to obtain their National Identification Number (NIN)/Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other required codes.
The team encouraged the students to protect the properties of their employers entrusted to them during their transition from academics into the corporate world.
They noted that the operations, management, and success of the scheme depend largely on effective collaboration, and expressed hope that the students would become assets to their employers.
The SIWES is a skills training programme in Nigeria set up by the ITF in 1973. It is designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real workplace practice for students in Tertiary institutions. It is a graduation requirement and without completing it and submitting a logbook, Report, students may not graduate.
The objective of the scheme is to provide students with practical exposures to tools, equipment and work environment, and to also help students apply academic knowledge to real industrial problems, develop professional work habits communication and teamwork skills.
In addition, the scheme prepare graduates to be more employable and self reliant and help industries assess and monitor potential future employees.

By: Sogbeba Dokubo