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Army, Gunmen’s Clash Claims Three In Ogoni …Return Home, Wike Tells Fleeing Residents
Acting General Manager/Head of Operations, Intels, Mr Hazko Hisuovic (left), explaining a point to President General, Senior Staff Association of Communication, Transport and Corporation, Muhammad Yunusa, during a meeting of the union with management of Intels in Port Harcourt, on Monday. Photo: Ibioye Diama
A detachment of operatives of the Nigerian Army and gunmen said to be loyal to an ex-militant leader in Ogoni, Solomon Ndigbara (alias Osama bin Laden), were yesterday entangled in a protracted gun duel in Yeghe, a community in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, following an authorised operation to flush out criminal elements in the area.
Also, following a suspected bomb attack on the Bori Liaison Office of Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the March 19 rerun election for the Rivers South East Senatorial District, on Monday, operatives of the Nigerian Army have intensified search for the miscreants who carried out the attack and continued to terrorise residents of Bori, Khana Local Government Council headquarters.
Unconfirmed reports put the death toll in the gun exchanges at three.
Residents of Yeghe community are said to have fled their homes after a clash between soldiers and suspected cultists.
Eyewitnesses said the clash between the suspected cultists and the military led to sporadic shooting in Yeghe and Bori, which lasted till late yesterday, causing residents to either restrict their movements or completely stay indoors, while the authorities of the Kenule Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, have directed students to remain within the campus to avoid being hit by stray bullets.
Some of the eyewitnesses, who spoke with The Tide at Kpite Tai, yesterday, noted that residents of Yeghe in Gokana Local Government Area and neighbouring Bori, in Khana Local Government Area of the state have fled their homes following the fierce battle between soldiers and the gunmen.
Ladi Henry, an indigene of Bori, who is also a student of state-owned Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, told The Tide that her parents, who reside in Bori, had taken refuge in the forest while she was allowed to travel to Port Harcourt for safety.
According to her, “in the course of the battle, some soldiers were wounded which made them to call for reinforcement”.
She explained that suspected militants might have torched the liaison office of the senatorial district, which Senator Magnus Abe had erected following suspicion that the invasion of soldiers might have been at the instance of All Progressives Congress (APC) bugwigs.
Another eyewitness, who gave her name as Miss Favour from Kpite Tai, said that the burning of Magnus Abe’s liaison office in Bori might have been a reprisal attack as a result of the invasion of Ndigbara’s residence by soldiers.
She identified one of the dead in the gun duel as Saturday Igbarasia.
Some students of the state-owned Kenule Beeson Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori, who spoke to our correspondent, in Bori, said they were trapped in their rooms, and could not find vehicles at the motor park in Bori to convey them to their various destinations.
The students, who did not want their names in print, said they went for lectures but were told “it was a lecture-free day”.
“We were told by the authorities that it was lecture-free day from yesterday (Tuesday) till further notice. We are sure they don’t want to announce closure for now, they are studying the situation”, the students said.
Our correspondent, who visited Bori and Yeghe, yesterday, reports that motor parks, the market, major stores and streets in the area were shut down because of the tension already in the towns.
Yeghe, for instance, looked like a ghost town yesterday, when The Tide visited the community.
In Bori, eyewitnesses said they saw five corpses on Taabaa Street, stressing that people were living in fear, and could not move freely due to the heavy presence of soldiers.
According to the sources, supporters of the ex-militant leader were chased to Bori by soldiers, yesterday morning, where they began to engage the military in exchange of fire.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Gokana Local Government Area, Austin Sor, told newsmen yesterday that three persons are feared dead following the clash between soldiers and suspected cultists, adding that the whole Yeghe area was tense.
Sor accused the military of invading the home of Ndigbara, burning the house and destroying his property.
“As I speak with you, three persons have been confirmed dead and three others injured are in the hospital. I am on my way to the hospital for the treatment of a pregnant woman who, while running away from the shooting, fell, and it has been confirmed that she lost the unborn baby.
“I am going to the private hospital in Sogho where the doctors are to operate on her to evacuate the baby. The other three have been confirmed dead, and have been taken to the mortuary,” Sor said.
In a press conference in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Brigade Commander, 2 Amphibious Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier-General Stevenson Olabanji, stated that the soldiers responded to a distress call by someone in Yeghe, and dismissed insinuations that the action of the Army was politically-motivated.
He said that nobody could use the military to achieve his own selfish motives, and did not give the death toll or victims of the cross fire.
Olabanji explained that the soldiers were in pursuit of the ex-militant leader, Solomon Ndigbara, who had been declared wanted by the Federal Government, when they were attacked.
In a statement, the spokesperson for the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), Bari’ala Kpalap, said that soldiers would not provide any solution to the problem in the area, and called for dialogue.
However, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyeson Wike, has called on the fleeing residents of Bori and Yeghe to return home as peace had been restored to the area.
The governor said in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Simeon Nwakaudu, that the heavy military presence in the area is aimed at promoting security of lives and property, and not to harm law-abiding residents.
Wike said that his administration will always enhance the security of all residents of the state, urging the people of Khana and Gokana to cooperate with the security agencies to maintain law and order.
While the military operation is on-going, the ex-Niger Delta militant, Solomon Ndigbara, who has been declared wanted by the military for suspected gunrunning, kidnapping and other sundry offences, has approached a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
The legal representative to the ex-agitator, Barrister Eugene Odey, told correspondent shortly after filing the court process, that the military invaded the residence of his client and destroyed property as well as assaulted his wife without any warrant order.
He said the act by the military amounted to gross violation of the fundamental rights of his client, who was granted amnesty by the Federal Government.
Odey also explained that the suit is seeking an order restraining the military from further invasion, harassment, intimidation and violation of the fundamental rights of his client.
He condemned the alleged re-invasion of the residence of his client by the military in Yeghe.
Odey said that the heavily armed soldiers stormed the residence of his client few hours after filing a suit at the Federal High Court seeking the enforcement of his fundamental rights.
He said the residence of his client was completely razed by the military.
The lawyer called on the Rivers State Government and well-meaning individuals to condemn the action of the military.
Meanwhile, the liaison office built by Senator Magnus Abe for the APC, Rivers South East located in Bori, traditional headquarters of Ogoni people, was yesterday set ablaze by youth wielding dangerous weapons.
Eyewitnesses said that the office was in flames for more than four hours.
Confirming the incident, an aide to the senator, Kennedy Friday, in a Facebook post said: “The South-East senatorial liaison office built by Senator Magnus Abe, the first of its kind in the history of Rivers South-East has been set on fire.
“The office is located in Bori, traditional headquarters of Ogoni people and headquarters of Rivers South-East Senatorial District. It employs more than 20 people who offer services in the complex. It’s the most architecturally imposing edifice in the area. It gave facelift to Bori.
According to Friday, “As I type these words, the office complex has been set on fire by gun-wielding youth barely two days after Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State charged PDP supporters in Ogoni to stop Magnus Abe from being re-elected into the Senate. The governor made the comment at Luuwa community in Nyokhana, Ogoni, on Saturday, the 20th of February, 2016, while addressing PDP supporters at the birthday ceremony of Sen. Lee Maeba.
“As I type these words, Bori is tensed. Wherever you are, please pray for Rivers State, pray for Ogoni,” Friday said.
It would be recalled that Senator Abe had accused Governor Nyesom Wike of instigating the violence in Gokana LGA and Khana by the provocative speech he made against his candidacy in the rerun election, where he urged Ogoni people not to vote for him, and should do everything to stop him from going to the Senate.
Abe also alleged that Wike had accused him of working against his administration so that a state of emergency would be declared in the state.
On the burning of his liaison office in Bori, Abe said: “If that is one of the sacrifices I have to make for peace to reign in Ogoni and the state, I am prepared to make it. But those who are perpetrating impunity should be held accountable.”
Earlier yesterday, the ex-militant leader, Osama bin Laden’, attributed his travails to an unnamed top politician of the APC.
Ndigbara, who is now at large, called into a Port Harcourt-based radio station to plead innocence of crimes levelled against him, which warranted the military action on his residence.
The ex-agitator, in a telephone interview, said since embracing the presidential amnesty in 2009 by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, he has never indulged in crime and criminality, and called on the international community to come to his rescue.
Ndigbara accused chieftains of the All Progressives Congress in Ogoni of being responsible for his current ordeal in the hands of the military.
But while reacting to Ndigbara’s allegation, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress for Tai/Eleme/Oyigbo Federal Constituency rerun election, Hon Barry Mpigi, denied that he is responsible for the invasion of the ex-militant’s residence by the military.
Mpigi, in his reaction, said he has no hand in the current ordeal of Ndigbara, but urged the ex-militant leader to face his problem, and leave him out of it.
The APC House of Representatives candidate also denied conniving with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to rig the March 19 elections.
Similarly.Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has called on residents of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas not to panic while urging those who fleed their homes as a result of military presence in their areas to return
The governor explained that the heavy military presence in the areas was aimed at ensuring security of lives and property and not to harm law-abiding residents.
In a statement issued by Special Assistant to the state Governor on Electronic Media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike assured the people of their safety.
The governor said that his administration will always enhance the security of all residents of the state, urging the people of Khana and Gokana Local Government Areas to cooperate with the security agencies to maintain law and order.
Chidi Enyie, Brighten Chukwu & Kellen Okwu
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.