Rivers

Sexual Assault: Police Set Up Probe Panel

Published

2 years ago

September 7, 2022

The Rivers State Police Commissioner, CP Eboka Friday, has ordered a discreet investigation into an alleged sexual abuse case involving a 17-year-old girl and an officer.
The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this while reacting to the allegation, said the outcome of the findings will be made public.
She said: “The Commissioner of Rivers State Police Command, has called both parties over the alleged offence for discreet investigation. The outcome will be made known to the public.”
It learnt that a teenager, simply identified as Binla, had alleged that a police officer known as Salihu Kazeem, alongside his boys stripped the teenager and her friend naked, took video of them and abused them sexually after accusing them of stealing his money.
Binla, in a telephone interview, narrated that the incident happened in March.
She said: “It was in March this year, I was discussing with my friend about getting a job. She told me that she was going to visit her friend and that I should come with her, that maybe I could ask the man to get me a job. So when I saw the man I spoke to him, He asked me my age, I told him, I am 17 years old.
“He told me that since I am 17 there are jobs that I cannot do. That he will see what he can do and get back to me.
“After that, he asked if we had eaten, and we said no. He gave us his ATM card that we should go and get anything we want to eat. We went and bought food and came back with the ATM card and gave him the ATM card.
“So he later claimed that he had debit alerts on his phone, we asked him the amount, but he refused to tell us.
“So, he discharged my friend that brought me and kept me with the other girl I met there.
“He called his boys and told them we were thieves. They ordered us to pull our clothes. After pulling our clothes, he recorded our nakedness. He told us that if we didn’t cooperate with him, he was going to spread the nude videos. He took us to a room and poured us teargas and slept with us till the next morning before discharging us.
“Then, like one month after he has been coming, like three times now. Any time he comes, if we refused to go with him, he will threaten to share our nude videos, then I will go with him and he will sleep with me.
“This last time he came, I was not around. He told my friend they should tell me to come, but when they told me, I refused to go. Then on the following Monday when I was going to repair my slippers, he met me on the road and asked if my friend did not tell me to come, I said they told me. He asked why I did not come, I said nothing, then he dragged my phone from my hand that I should come with him.
“That when I am ready to pay him the N500, 000 he lost in his account, I should come and collect the phone.
“Today, I went to Rumupakani (Ada George) Police station to make a complaint. So, the police went with me to the man’s house, but we did not see him.
“After I got home, people told me some boys came to look for me and I do not know the boys.
“My life is under threat. I don’t know if he is the one that sent the boys. I am calling on the public because my life is under threat”.
When contacted, the officer, Salihu Kazeem claimed the girls did not come back the night he gave the ATM card but sent one of their friends to return his ATM card.
He alleged that he has been receiving debit alerts ever since he gave the girls his ATM card even as of Saturday, August 27, 2022.
He denied taking nude videos of the girls, insisting that they stole N500, 000 from his account.
The policeman however agreed that the three times he slept with the girls were with their consent, and he paid for their service.
He admitted seizing the girl’s phone.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability Campaign has called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
A lawyer with the rights group, Fetus Bonwin advised the officer to submit himself for investigation.

Bonwin called on police authorities to thoroughly investigate the girl and the officer and if anyone is found culpable, he/she should be charged to court.

Rivers

Experts Urge Fubara On Youth Marine Safety Training

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

A Maritime Security Expert, Captain Ifeanyi Eke Lawrence, has called for the training of youths as marine Safety officers in order to improve and regulate safety among boat operators and passengers.

He said the programme, if carried out, will create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the state and drastically reduce the rate of death and loss of properties along the state’s water ways.

According to him, Rivers inland waterways can create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs if properly harnessed.

Lawrence said the timely training of youths and positively engaging them as safety officers on all the jetties where waterborne transportation system is operated was necessary to solve the state’s unemployment challenge and end incessant boat mishap in the State.

The Expert, who is the Chairman, El-Bravo Maritime Safety Training Services Limited, said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after their monthly safety exercise in Port Harcourt.

He said the Government can do this through educating reasonable number of youths who will carry the responsibility of educating boat operators and regulate safety on all the jetties and state’s waterways, adding that the improvement in safety along the state’s waterways will restore the confidence of boat passengers and speed boat operators who operate along the state’s waterways.

According to him, the situation will check incessant boat mishaps which result to loss of lives and goods worth millions whenever there’s a boat accident, hence the need to save lives and property along the state’s inland waterways.

Captain Lawrence said Government can also achieve this feat through constant engagement and training of youths on Maritime safety in the state.

“Governor Fubara needs to critically tackle the dangerous threat of boat mishaps and unemployment rate among Rivers youths whose population is on the Increase

“Rivers State inland waterways have the capacity to create over 50,000 direct and indirect Jobs for the ciitizens if properly and professionally harnessed.

“This can be achieved through training and constant engagement and monitoring of the boat operators all over the State”, he said.

Lawrence continued that the state stands to benefit maximally from its God-given maritime potentials if properly harnessed.

“Rivers State with its enormous God-given natural resources, especially the amazing creeks, channels, rivers , lagoons and others, should be able to harness and tap from it to benefit the people.

“Rivers State is the second largest maritime environment in Nigeria after Lagos State, and has the largest fishing Community in West Africa at Oyorokorto, in Andoni LGA of the state.

“The community environment is a tourist site of international reputes that needs to be developed by the State Government.

“There are several tourist sites along the State’s waterways, but tourist are skeptical to visit them for their relaxation due to lack of state safety organs, to educate, regulate and enforce safety on boat drivers, passengers and everyone who does business on the state’s maritime environment.

“I’m calling on Governor Fubara to use his executive mandate and create a State civil maritime unit and sanitize all the jetties and the entire waterways.

“It’s necessary as 80 percent of Rivers people earn their living from the jetties, channels, rivers, creeks and lagoons that surround them.

“The major means of transportation in Rivers State is Waterborne transportation system, therefore it’s pertinent the State Government act as a matter of urgency, make hay while the sun shines”, he advised.

He also decried the incessant boat mishaps and loss of lives and property along waterways in the state.

John Bibor

Rivers

Association Boss Urges For Professionalism, Efficiency Among Memebers

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

The new National President of the “Noble Association of Nigeria”, Sir Emenike Nwokeoji, has called for professionalism and efficiency among members in carrying out their duties and relating to other agencies in course of their work.

Sir Nwokeoji, who was part of a Thanksgiving service organized by members of the Association of Nigeria Customs Licensed Agents (ANCLA), weekend, said this during the Service at the Christ Inter-Denominational Church, near Government House, Port Harcourt.

Speaking at the occasion, he said the past year (2024) has been full of challenges, but they have cause to thank God for His guidance and protection of their members in the course of the duties.

He however, urged members to always exhibit high degree of professionalism in carrying out their jobs and ready to co-operate with all the relevant agencies for efficiency.

“We work in synergy and amicably with other relevant agencies for effective result. We do not work in isolation”, in he said.

The service was organized to appreciate God for His grace and also to express happiness and gratitude over the emergence of Sir Nwokeoji as the National President of the Noble Association.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Association, Rivers State Chapter, Sir, Mike Egwuatu, expressed confidence on the ability of the new National President to pilot the affairs of the association to higher level.

According to him, Chief Nwokeoji is a loveable and friendly administrator who grew up within the system. He therefore urged the members to give him all necessary support for him to succeed in office.

Dignitaries from government circle, Heads of Churches, Academia, and Nigerian Customs Services attended the occasion.

Rivers

Redeem Your Financial Pledges, Oxfam Urges Nations

Published

5 days ago

February 19, 2025

The Tide

Oxfam, an international organisation, has called on nations to honour their financial commitments made during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) convention on climate change.

The Oxfam Programme Manager for Accountable Governance in Nigeria, Mr Henry Ushe, made the call at a two-day workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), with the support of Oxfam in Port Harcourt.

The Tide’s source recalls that some developed countries had pledged $100 billion annually to support the low and middle income countries in their climate action efforts.

Oxfam said the actual amount already delivered was low with much of the finance provided as loans which aggravating debt burdens in vulnerable countries.

Ushe, however, stated that Nigeria had developed the gas master plan following its commitment to COP27 to transit energy to net zero by 2060 and to the Paris agreement of accelerating climate action.

He explained that Nigeria had also passed the Climate Justice Act and established its secretariat to work with CSOs and other stakeholders to ensure the total implementation of the policy framework.

“But what we haven’t seen since then is the financial commitment to be able to drive through with all of this policy; what we need is the financing of all these plans”, he said.

He said that was why they were calling on those who made financial pledges at COP27 to redeem them, ‘’while we hold our government to account, ensuring that the support is used judiciously.

“We are very optimistic about the safe transition because the country has put in place all the mechanism that is needed, including a very robust gas master plan”.

In his remarks, the Head, Community, Environmental Legal Desk of Natural Justice in Nigeria, Mr. Lawrence Dube, urged the regulatory agencies to structure and enforce global energy security.

Dube, who spoke on the “Aligning Gas Plans with Climate Goals”, urged government to put the policy framework into use, bringing investors to the round table discussion for investment and partnership.

On hosoart, the Chairman, Civil Society National Regulation Council of Nigeria, Mr. Harry Udoh, decried the slow pace of the implementation of the plans since 2007 till date.

Udoh urged government to accelerate gas infrastructure development, invest in pipeline networks, processing plants and storage facilities to improve market access.

He recommended that there should be expansion of virtual gas pipelines like the CNG and LNG trucking system to reach under served areas.

He called for the strengthening of partnership within the West Africa Gas Pipeline (WAGP) to enhance regional energy security among others.

Earlier, the Programme Lead, Department of Tax Justice, Environment, and Conservation of Nature in CISLAC, Mr. Ayo Omowu, urged the country to implement the policy framework for the renewable energy and its sustainable development goals for 2060.