Rivers
Council Plans Revival Of Womanhood Culture
The Okrika Local Government Council in Rivers State says it is reviving the ‘Iria’ culture in order to stop the prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and discourage sexual promiscuity in the area.
Chairman of the council, Mr. Tamuno Williams, disclosed this in an interview with our source in Okrika, recently.
Iria, transition to womanhood is part of the culture of the people whereby young women of between the ages of 15 and 20 and thought to be ripe for marriage are paraded at a ceremony.
The parade is usually intended to attract prospective male suitors who might be interested in taking the young women as wives.
Williams described the practice as one of the best values in the land, saying that the council was working together with some Italian firms to project the virtues of the culture abroad.
He explained that the return to the practice was informed by the need to help the girl-child keep her virginity intact until marriage.
He added that the practice was necessary in order to safeguard the health of the girl-child and attract tourism to the state.
Williams said the council was reviving the old custom because of its importance in the life of the girl-child.
“The basic qualification is that the celebrant, the woman must be a virgin. In those days, we had an elderly wise woman who would ascertain the woman’s status whether she is a virgin or not.
“But in modern times, those who want to take part must show us the medical proof of being virgins.
“There are some arguments that such issues may infringe on fundamental human rights. Now fundamental human right only arises when a person is compelled to be part of it.”
Williams said the council would pay in N100, 000 into the bank accounts of each of the participants in the parade.
He explained that the council would be responsible for opening the bank accounts for the young women and that the sum lodged into the account would be withdrawn when the girl-child attained a particular age to be stipulated by the council.
The sum, he said, would then serve as seed money that would be invested in the education and other important aspects of the lives of the young women.
“When the issue of a girl being a virgin becomes topical and rewarding, it will create hunger for abstinence. And that hunger for abstinence will help reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other STDs.
Rivers
Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH
The Police Command in Rivers State has confirmed the commencement of an investigation into the death of a police officer who allegedly took his own life in Port Harcourt.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
“We received a report about an officer who allegedly killed himself.
“However, we are currently investigating the report to ascertain what transpired”, she stated.
Iringe-Koko reported that the Commissioner of Police in the Sstate, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) for a thorough investigation.
According to viral reports Monday, Insp. Maxwell Zabu, formerly a security detail to Victor Ihunwo, a former Chairman of Port Harcourt City Council, allegedly shot himself at Ihunwo’s residence in Eagle Island, Port Harcourt.
A source familiar with the incident said the matter was reported to the Azikiwe Police Division in the area.
“Following the report, detectives from the division visited the scene as part of preliminary investigation procedures”, the source added.
Rivers
Perm Sec Tasks NUJ Leadership On Unity
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Rivers State, Mr. Emmanuel Ndah, has charged the leadership of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure that all factions of the union are collapsed, especially now that the election is over.
Ndah gave the charge when the newly elected executives of the council and some of its members led by the Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, paid him a courtesy visit in his office at the State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Permanent Secretary said he will do everything within his reach to ensure that the union is put in the front burner as far as their demands are achievable within the directives of the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd).
He also promised to ensure that the demands of the union get to the appropriate quarters.
According to him, the effort of the State Sole Administrator is to carry out programmes that can be achieved in six months and urged the NUJ to make demands that can be achieved within the period.
“The (Sole) Administrator has put so much effort to not only carry out achievable programmes, but also ensure peace and security in the State”, he said.
He, therefore,instructed the new executives to carry every member of the union along in the scheme of things.
“After the election, the union is now one. Carry everybody along so that the union will move forward”, he said.
The Chairman of NUJ, Bazia, had earlier assured the Permanent Secretary that the new executive was ready to work with the government to change the negative narratives and move the State forward.
Bazia further emphasised that the union will ensure factual reportage that will bring about the development of the State.
He also said the essence of the visit was to introduce the new executives to their host and lamented the deplorable condition of the NUJ Secretariat and urged the Permanent Secretary to help push the demands of the union to the state government, while highlighting some of the challenges faced in the Council.
“In terms of mobility, we have no vehicle, the one we have is in a bad shape. Most of the facilities are bad, so we need you to help push our issues to the Administrator pending when our Governor will be restored”, he said.
He thanked the Permanent Secretary for receiving members of the union within a short notice.
King Onunwor
Rivers
Rivers Judiciary Denies Reports On SOLAD’s Sack
The Rivers State Judiciary has denied claims of media reports online that a judge of its High Court issued a ruling in favour of Governor Siminalayi Fubara against former Governor Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu allegedly sacking the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
A statement signed by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, David Ihua-Maduenyi, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, described the purported report as false and misleading, particularly for linking a judge of the State High Court, Justice Boma Diepiri, to a ruling that reportedly came from a Federal High Court.
According to the statement, Justice Diepiri is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court and not of the Federal High Court and currently on Easter vacation, which commenced on Monday, 14th April.
The Chief Registrar further clarified that the Federal High Court and the State High Court are separate entities, stressing that “the inclusion of Justice Diepiri’s name in the fabricated report underscores the crass ignorance of the author”.
The statement, signed by Ihua-Maduenyi, reads in part, “The attention of the Rivers State Judiciary has been drawn to a fake news report alleging that His Lordship, Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri, delivered a judgment sacking the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. This is false in its entirety.
“Justice Diepiri is a judge of the High Court of Rivers State, not of the Federal High Court as was falsely reported.
“Additionally, His Lordship is currently on Easter vacation which began on Monday, April 14, 2025”.
It advised the general public and members of the media to always cross checked information concerning the judiciary before publishing, and disregard the said report in its entirety, saying “its an embodiment of falsehood and fabricated story”.
Akujobi Amadi
-
News5 days ago
Edo Councils Restrict Movement Of Motorbike Riders
-
Maritime4 days ago
Twenty-Four-Hour Port Operations Achievable, If -Nweke
-
Niger Delta18 hours ago
Engage Intellectually On Ijaw Struggle, Dep Gov Urges IYC
-
Niger Delta5 days ago
AfDB President Pledges Investment In C’River’s Health, Agric Sectors
-
Opinion5 days ago
Nigeria Police And The “Miscreants” Theory
-
Business19 hours ago
Include Adolescent Nutrition In National Policy – Nutritionist
-
Politics17 hours ago
Oborevwori, Okowa Dump PDP For APC
-
News5 days ago
unpaid salaries: Abia teachers to begin strike Thursday