Niger Delta

Police Arrest Eight Robbery Suspects In Cross River

Published

13 years ago

July 12, 2012

The Cross River Police Command has arrested eight armed robbery suspects and recovered N2 million from them, the Police Commissioner, Osita Ezechukwu, said.

Ezechukwu said in Calabar at a press briefing to mark his 100 days in office that the police also recovered some arms and ammunition from the suspects.

According to him, the gang had robbed one Mrs Ekpo-Anwan Toyo after she withdrew the money from a commercial banks in Calabar.

He said that the suspects’ attempt to escape was not successful as they were caught up in a gridlock. “Their frantic efforts to escape the traffic hold-up aroused the suspicion of undercover policemen who got them arrested.

“When the vehicle was searched, a Ghana must go bag full of clothes, charms and the sum of N2,000,000 cash was recovered”, he said.

Ezechukwu said that six of the suspects were arrested at their hideouts in Calabar South, adding that three vehicles were recovered during the operation.

The commissioner said that another gang of five robbery suspects from Gbedue village in Logo Local Government Area of Benue were also arrested on May 20, 2012.

He said the gang was arrested at Bendeghe in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River.

According to him, items recovered from them include three locally made pistols, 22 live cartridges, three 7.62 live ammunition and 13 cell phones.

Others were three motorcycles, one expended cartridge and N46,340.

Similarly, Ezechukwu stated that five suspected cultists, including a woman, who had escaped from police custody in Calabar South had been re-arrested at new Netim in Odukpani Local Government Area.

He said that the police recovered six vehicles during the operation.

Ezechukwu said the command was committed to reducing the activities of criminals in the state, pledging to engage in “visible” community policing.

He called on members of the public to assist the police by exposing criminals in their neighbourhood.

Niger Delta

LG Chairman visits Obololi Community, Laments Oil Spill Impact

Published

30 seconds ago

February 26, 2025

The Tide

Chairman of Southern Ijaw Local Government Area (LGA) of Bayelsa State, Target Segibo, has bemoaned the adverse impact of an oil leak at Obololi axis in his domain.

Segibo, who said that the spill emanated from an oil asset operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), noted that the pollution was massive.

He expressed regret that SPDC has not been forthcoming in addressing challenges faced by its host communities in the area.

The Chairman addressed chiefs and people of the Community after an on-the -spot assessment of the oil spill from the company’s facility at Obololi,

Segibo expressed shock at the level of devastation on the Obololi Community, stating that the only source from which the people get water for drinking, cooking and washing has been heavily polluted.

He explained that the oil leakage, which occured last Sunday, was traced to rupture of the over-aged underwater pipeline laid in 1973.

The Chairman lamented neglect of the people by SPDC since the company laid its pipes and commenced operations there in 1973.

He noted that the people of Obololi have been exposed to environmental degradation, economic hardship, several health problems, including cholera, loss of biodiversity, soil and water contamination, air pollution, reduced tourism, displaced residents.

Segibo said Southern Ijaw LGA will urgently provide alternative water supply to the area to assuage their plights.

He called on the people of Obololi to avoid drinking and cooking with water fetched from the creek there to avoid water-borne diseases.

The chairman urged the people, particularly the adults, to sensitize the youths to heed to the caution to save lives.

In his response, Deputy Paramount Ruler of Obololi, His Highness Wilfred Kueke, intimated the Council Chairman on the age-long devastations the community has suffered since SPDC started its operations there in 1973.

The Community leader decried the refusal of SPDC and its contractors to provide social amenities in the community, including healthcare services, water as well as Community-Company relationship.

Also speaking, a representative of the women, Ebiware Ikuromo, while narrating her deep feelings, lamented the loss of aquatic life and what she describe as the recalcitrant attitude of SPDC concerning its relationship with the host community.

She noted that several people, particularly children who had been infested with ailments through drinking from the contaminated creek since there was no alternative, were on admission in various health facilities outside Obololi.

The people called on the State Governor, Douye Diri, and Segibo, to swing into actions by sending health personnel, drugs, relief materials and water to reduce their hardship.

A spokesman for SPDC, who pleaded anonymity when contacted for a response on the reported leak and pollution incident, promised to revert soon but was yet to do so at the time of filing this report.

Niger Delta

Bayelsa Housing Authority Partners Publishers … Promises Facelift For Yenagoa, LGA Hqrts

Published

1 min ago

February 26, 2025

The Tide

The Bayelsa State Housing and Property Development Authority (BSHPDA) has said it was recommited to developing the real estate sector of the state.

General Manager of the Authority, Rt. Hon. Tonye Isenah, stated this recently when the Chairman and members of the Bayelsa State Independent Publishers Association (BIPA) paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Yenagoa, the State capital.

Isenah said already plans were underway for the Authority to commence the construction of a 1000 housing units which would be shared amongst the eight Local Government Areas of the state, saying the project will begin in Ogbia Local Government and thereafter go on in others.

He noted that the reason for the 1000 housing unit in the local government areas was to create comfortable, affordable housing in those places, noting that another reason for taking that project to the Local Government headquarters was to deliberately develop other cities and towns within the state to curb the menace of royal-urban drift.

The Authority’s helmsman revealed that upon assumption of office the State Governor approved for the Authority the construction of about a hundred housing units at the Okaka Housing estate, saying the first 50 units have been completed and construction of others soon to start.

“Yes, I was appointed about six months ago, but those houses were actually built by the Authority in about three months.

“Upon my appointment, I discovered there were unused funds in the Authority’s purse, and so I approached the governor that he release it for us so that we can start-up something, and so he graciously released it to us, hence we commenced the building of the first 50units of the Housing estate at the old existing Okaka Housing estate.

“But that’s not all. The Governor has approved others for us. We’ve acquired 13 hectares of land at the gateway road, Igbogene in Yenagoa where we’ll be building another 1000 housing unit. Though we’ve not actually commenced that project, but plans have reached advanced stages”, he said.

The Authority’s boss promised to collaborate with the veteran publishers to educate and inform the public about activities of the agency, noting that the Media is a veritable tool for mutual partnership, hence he intends to work on a robust engagement with them.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of BIPA, Mr Francis Dufugha said the association opted to pay the BSHPDA helmsman the visit due to his outstanding performance just few months in the saddle.

Dufugha, who is the Publisher of Nigeria’s foremost regional tabloid, ‘Niger Delta Herald’, commended the Authority’s boss for his forthrightness and preparedness in executing the mandate of his office.

Similarly, the association has appealed to the Authority to facilitate the release of plots of land allocated members of the association during the late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s administration.

The group noted that they have done all necessary documentations, yet the lands have not still been given to members of the association by successive administrations of the state.

“We came to felicitate with you on your achievements just six months in the office. In just six months in office, you’ve build about 50 units of housing estate at the Okaka Housing estate, and so we felt we should come for this visit and commend you on your stewardship of the BSHPDA”, the Association said.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Niger Delta

Bipi Celebrates Gen Asabuja On Birthday

Published

7 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Rt Hon Evans Bipi, has eulogised Gen Gabriel Asabuja over his recent birthday celebration in Port Harcourt.
Bipi said Asabuja is worth celebrating following his numerous contributions and support to the administration of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
He described Asabuja as a strong pillar of governance in Rivers State, adding that the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning is happy working with him.
He noted that Asabuja’s position as a team leader of the Ministry’s taskforce has been amazing, saying the Ministry is proud associating with him.
The former lawmaker hinted that since Asabuja assumed office as leader of the taskforce, the Ministry has witnessed tremendous improvement.
Bipi said the Ministry will always stand by him to ensure that the dreams of the Governor Fubara-led government are achieved.
On his part, the celebrant, Gen Gabriel Asabuja expressed gratitude to God and the Commissioner for the honour done him.
Gen Asabuja also commended Governor Fubara for his tremendous and good leadership in the State, saying his group will continue to give the Governor maximum support in order to achieve more for Rivers people.
Gen Asabuja described Rt Hon Evans Bipi as one of the best brains working with the Governor, saying under Bipi, the Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning has shown capacity to leverage on the Governor’s mantra of Rivers First.
He said both the personnel of the Ministry, the Directors and adhoc staff are happy with his style of leadership.