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‘Call Rivers CP To Order’

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Member representing Ahoada-West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency, Honourable Asita has lambasted the police in Rivers State for attempting to stop supporters of Governor Chibuike Amaechi from Orashi region from paying a solidarity visit to the governor in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

A similar call has also been made by four local government chairmen from  Orashi namely- Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Abua/Odual, Ahoada-West and Ahoada-East following yesterday’s alleged failed attempt by the police to bar supporters of the governor, while recalling the maltreatment some of the people suffered in the hands of the police.

They  have, therefore called on the Federal Government to call the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mbu Joseph Mbu to order and also post him out of the state for  the sake of peace.

Asita who condemned the police action remarked, “ for us, we have shown today that if the police say, stay at home we will not stay at home. It is against the law; the police does not have the right to give orders contrary to law. How can it be said that all these chiefs here are coming to Port Harcourt to protest. It’s an insult to our integrity as a people that all these chiefs, all these people will leave their homes to come and demonstrate’’.

Addressing the press over the development, Chairman of Ahoada-West, Awori Miller said he had received a phone call from the Area Commander on Monday evening warning him of the consequences of leading people from the area on protest, which he explained was not true.

He stated that the situation got worse yesterday morning when some police men stopped the vehicles conveying some of the supporters to Port Harcourt at Rumuji ordering them to go back, but said the people resisted.

Miller described police action as unnecessary and infringement on their fundamental human rights and urged the federal authorities to investigate the matter.

Chairman of Ahoada-East Local Government, Cassidy Ikegbidi who corroborated Miller’s story stated that buses conveying the people from his area were vandalised by some hoodlums who invaded the council premises early in the morning, noting that some of the people were wounded in the brawl.

“ This thing is getting too much, the state government should intervene’’ Ikegbidi lamented, and blamed the state commissioner of police for the problem.

He accused the Commissioner of Police of withdrawing the security details in the council, adding “ he is not the first Commissioner of Police in Rivers State. Last month they kidnapped two corps members and as it stands now in Ahoada-East we don’t have corps members again’’.

Chairman of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Augustine Ahiamadu disclosed that four drivers conveying the people were arrested by the police yesterday morning.

Ahiamadu while lamenting the activities of the police since Mr. Mbu assumed office said there have been several security lapses in the area, a situation which had stopped some months before.

His words, “Rivers State has been peaceful for sometime. When I resumed office,  there was no kidnapping, but these few days some cases of kidnapping have taken place in ONELGA. Just recently mother of a serving judge in the state, Mrs Okirie was kidnapped

“ There have been restrictions in this place (ONELGA) has been a focal point but we have been able to resist few things. But why I am making this open is because I don’t know the role of the police. I have told them I will not pay them their security fees this month because they are not assisting me’’.

For Chairman of Abua/Odual, Udi Udum the police cannot stop the people from exercising their rights and lamented the partisan activities of the Commissioner of Police, stating that cases of kidnap had risen in the area most especially, in border areas with Bayelsa.

He posited that the people will not fold their arms but will rather protect themselves, insisting that, “ if the police are ready to work with us we are ready to work with them’’.

Meanwhile, state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari had hinted that the state government will petition formally, “to notify Nigerians that Rivers people are under siege’’.

She said for now the state will show restraint but will not allow its people to be oppressed, adding, “we do not want a situation where the state is turned into a theatre of war’’.

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Rivers DPOs Receive Awards For Outstanding Performance In Crime Prevention …As Students, Media Group Honour CSP Worgu, CSP Yusuf

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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.

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College Of Bishops Endorses Tinubu, APC Candidates  For 2027 Polls

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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

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Police Arrest Fake Soldier, Others For Armed Robbery, Kidnapping

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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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