Rivers
Residents Fetch, Eat Dead Fish After Rivers Jetty Explosion
Residents are reportedly fetching dead fish that littered the environment and eating them after an explosion rocked a fuel dump in Okari Jetty in Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The explosion, it was reported, affected aquatic life and resulted in the deaths of many fishes.
An eyewitness who disclosed this to newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday said the incident which left two fishermen dead has affected aquatic life in the area, with many fishes seen floating lifeless on the river.
Recall that the explosion occurred last Monday after a hose used in offloading Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at a Port Harcourt Refining Company depot was poorly handled by workers, resulting in a spill on July 31st.
Following the explosion, many residents scooped and stored the product at different locations, even as the spill found its way into the river.
It was gathered that two fishermen who had gone fishing later that evening with lanterns set off the explosion.
The eyewitness said, “It happened close to NAFCON (moribund fertiliser company) bridge. Two people died and two fishermen went fishing, one of them carried a light (lantern), so the fire sparked.
“There was large sound and fire everywhere, even the river and boat were burnt.
“The following morning, even me when I passed the place, people were catching fish on the river. Some picked up to 20, 30, and so on, dried it, and started selling them.”
The initial report has it that 16 people died in the explosion, but the Chairman of Okrika LGA, Hon Akuro Tobin, while confirming the incident to our reporter on the telephone, said only four fatalities were recorded.
Tobin said the incident happened when the victims tried to scoop petrol and described it as unfortunate.
He stated, “It is very unfortunate and I don’t like discussing this issue. They went there to steal oil (petrol) and the government has been warning against this.
“None of their parents sent them to go and steal oil. They went there on their own. The Government has been telling people every day to stop stealing oil, that oil theft is bad.
“Now four people have died. I am not happy and I don’t like talking about it.”
Aside from the Okrika Council Chairman, relevant government agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have maintained a studied silence over the incident.
Meanwhile, an environmental rights advocate, Fyneface Dumnamene, has expressed sadness over the loss of lives and called for an investigation into the explosion
Dumnamene, who is the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocate Centre stated, “We are more concerned about the people that died and the environmental impact of the incident.
“If there was a spillage of PMS into the environment, it has damaged the aquatic system. It has affected fish in the river. It has affected the sources of livelihood of the farmers in the area.
“It is important for the authorities, the NNPC, and the Refining Company to come forward and speak about what has happened so that they can carry out environmental cleanup, and be able to determine what has caused the incident and then prevent future occurrences.”
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”.
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