News
FG, Boko Haram Hold Talks …As Presidential Committee Recommends Police Ministry’s Scrap
A man, who claims to be the Deputy Leader of the Boko Haram,
says the sect is in negotiation with the Federal Government.
The continuous violence in the Northern part of Nigeria,
carried out by the Jama’atu ahlis sunnah lil da’awati wal wal jihad, otherwise
known as Boko Haram, may cease, according to reports by the Voice of America
(VOA), Hausa.
The VOA, in a report yesterday, quoted one Abu Mohammed, who
claims to be the second in command of the sect, saying that negotiations have
already commenced with the government, with a view to restoring peace in the
northern part of the country.
Mr Mohammed contacted a VOA reporter in Mecca, via the
telephone, where he said the sect is ready to stop all attacks during the
period of negotiations, as long as the Federal government is “serious and
sincere.”
The self proclaimed Boko Haram Deputy Leader said the sect
decided to enter into the negotiations with government, based on calls by
prominent Northern leaders on the need to restore peace to the nation.
Sources close to the Federal Government also told the news
agency that talks had begun with the sect.
Mr Mohammed also warned those he referred to as “politicians
and armed robbers,” who hide under the name of the sect to perpetrate various
crimes.
He said the group would focus its attention on “those
persons who are giving them bad image.”
Mr. Mohammed’s statement on impersonators appears a
confirmation of what the Presidency believes.
The Presidency, through the Senior Special Assistant on
Public Affairs to President Goodluck Jonathan, had Monday, confirmed that there
were three categories of the Boko Haram sect: the religious (official Boko
Haram), the criminal one, and the political group.
Though, The Tide could not independently confirm Mr
Mohammed’s membership of the group, or whether negotiations are in existence,
sources close to the group said that the leadership of the sect usually goes to
Mecca for the Umrah (lesser hajj) and Hajj activities.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Committee on the Re-organisation
of the Nigeria Police has recommended the scrapping of the Ministry of Police
Affairs and merging of parallel organisations carved out of the Force.
The Chairman of the Committee, retired DIG Parry Osayande,
disclosed this on yesterday after submitting the committee’s report to
President Goodlcuk Jonathan at the State House.
In his speech at the presentation of the report, Osayande
said the committee observed that the ministry had no particular role assigned
to it in the 1999 Constitution.
He said the ministry was neither in charge of operations and
appointments nor discipline and promotion of Police personnel, “yet, the budgeted
funds are unjustly domiciled with it’’.
“The Ministry determines Police projects and awards its
contracts, including organising and running training programmes involving
billions of naira with no input from the Police who are the end users.
“The result is that some of the projects being executed are
not of priority to the Police.
“This is an aberration, which has led to abuse,
misapplication and hemorrhage of the limited resources made available to the
Police,’’ Osayande said.
“The Committee recommended that the Police be empowered to
determine its priorities, draw its budget based on its needs and be held
accountable for the use of funds disbursed to it.
“It faulted the ‘envelop system’ of budgeting for the Police
whereby the Ministry of Finance provided a budget template rather than vesting
the fiscal and financial responsibility of the Force on the Inspector-General
of Police.’’
Osayande said the Committee also noted that the carving out
of integral units of the Police as autonomous entities was an aberration and a
violation of Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that there
should be only one Police Force for the country.
He noted that successive governments had been decimating the
Police by tinkering with its structure in the guise of responding to its
failures and inadequacies.
He said that the intelligence arm of the Police was carved
out to create the State Security Services (SSS), while the Highway Patrol of
the Force was also carved out to create the Federal Road Safety Commission
(FRSC).
Other agencies identified in the category are ICPC and EFCC
carved out from the Criminal Investigation Departments (CID) of the Police and
the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
“The committee, therefore, recommends that some of the
duties taken away from the Police be returned as they are an integral part and
still remain the constitutional duties of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Consequently, the ICPC, FRSC and NSCDC should be
immediately merged with the Nigeria Police Force,’’ he said
“The Committee also recommended the revision of the salaries
and overall welfare and condition of service of the Police.
“It noted that the poverty of the Police coupled with weak
institutional governance, predisposed it to engaging in criminal and anti-social
schemes for self help and survival.’’
Osayande said the committee noted that the staff members of
the parallel organisations carved out of the Police were better remunerated and
motivated than their Police counterparts.
“While the IGP earns N711,498 per month, the DG, SSS earns
N1.336 million per month and the Executive Chairman of EFCC earns N1.5 million
per month.
“This disparity in salary does not reflect the higher
responsibility attached to the Office of the IGP,’’ he said.
Osayande said the committee was opposed to the creation of
State Police but recommended that the Nigeria Police Council, to which all
State Governors are members, should be made fully operational.
He said it recommended that the council extends its function
beyond mere appointment of the IGP and have in place, all the mechanisms to
support the effective governance of the Police.
Osayande urged government to establish an implementation
framework for accepted recommendations of the report to ensure that “they are
not swept under the carpet’’
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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