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148 Killed By Floods -Red Cross …Mass Exodus, As Gunmen Kill 40 In Mubi
President Goodluck Jonathan (middle) flanked by Vice President Namadi Sambo (4th left), Senate President David (2nd Mark(2nd right), former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme (right) and others as he cuts the anniversary cake in Abuja, on Monday
The Head, Disaster Management, Nigerian Red Cross Society
(NRCS), Mr Umar Mairiga, said yesterday
that 148 people had died as a result of flooding in 21 states of the
federation.
Mairiga told a news briefing in Abuja that 64,000 others had
been rendered homeless by the floods, adding that about 10,000 victims had been
targeted for assistance.
He said that heavy rains in recent weeks had caused
widespread destruction and forced many families into makeshift camps.
According to him, an estimated 134,000 people had now been
affected by the floods and that concern was growing about the spread of
waterborne diseases such as cholera.
“We are targeting 10,000 people in 10 locations of Adamawa,
Taraba, Kogi, Plateau, Katsina, Cross River, Jigawa, Kogi, Benue and Edo,” he
said.
Mairiga explained that in response to the worsening crisis,
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) had
launched an emergency appeal for funds.
The decision, he said, was to aid the Nigerian Red Cross
Society to assist 10,000 victims.
According to him, a Field Assessment and Coordination Team
(FACT) and a Regional Disaster Response Team (RDRT) have been deployed to
support the relief effort.
He said that N33.5 million had been provided from the IFRC’s
Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to start the operation.
“The NRCS, with support from the IFRC and other partners,
has been distributing food and non-food items, including mosquito nets, shelter
tool kits, tarpaulins, hygiene kits and kitchen sets to affected families.
“Volunteers from the organisation are also carrying out
awareness-raising campaigns for people at risk from water borne diseases,’’ he
said.
Mairiga explained that one of the major concerns was the
development of a serious health situation due to the spread of water borne
diseases such as gastro-enteritis..
He also commended the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) for its “untiring’’ efforts in handling flood issues.
Meanwhile, three persons were feared dead and several others
injured in a heavy flooding which ravaged parts of Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local
Government Area.
Among the dead are, seven year old boy who was swept away by
the flood into the River Niger and two elderly women from Obrikom and Ndoni,
respectively who drowned while returning from farm.
Apart from the deaths the floods also destroyed farmlands.
Worst affected communities include, Ebocha, Ndoni, Okwuzi, Obrikom, Idu and
parts of Omoku communities.
At Ebocha, residents told The Tide that, reptiles such as
snakes and crocodiles are now occupying their houses.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has described the
flood which ravaged parts of
OgbaEgbema/Ndoni Local Government Area as one of the worst disasters in the
state.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Engr Emeka Nworgu who
said this during an inspection of the affected communities said that the
government is touched by the devastating effects of the flooding.
Engr Nworgu said that the
state government would work out modalities towards assisting the flood
victims.
The commissioner, however said that the level of devastation
has underscored the need for the federal government to come to the aid of the
victims.
“At this point, the state can do very little, we asked that
the federal government should come to our aid here’ he said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local
Government Area, Hon Raymond Nwokacho said that the counsel will take inventory
of those affected by the flooding with a view to assisting them.
Hon Nwokocha also said that the level of disaster is beyond
the capacity of the local government
council and urged for the support of the federal and state government.
In a related development, at least 40 people, mostly
students, have been killed by unknown gunmen in Mubi, Adamawa State officials
say.
Most of the dead are said to be students of Federal
Polytechnic, Mubi.
A college spokesman said 40 students had been killed, while
a local resident said that more than 40 people had been shot dead or stabbed.
A lecturer, who spoke to newsmen confirmed seeing about 40
dead bodies after the shooting
The killings came days after a major operation against the
Boko Haram militant group in the town.
National Emergency Management Agency spokesman Yushua Shuaib
told our correspondent that it was not
clear whether the attack was the work of Boko Haram, or the result of a dispute
between rival political groups at the university.
A Red Cross official who gave a conservative estimate, said
at least, 10 people had died.
Our correspondent recalls that mobile phone masts in the
area were recently attacked by unidentified militants, so getting information
from Mubi is difficult.
A resident, who did not want his name to be used, said that
men in military uniform went to a hall of residence away from the campus just
before midnight, got the students out of their rooms and ordered them to say
their names.
Some were then shot dead and others stabbed with knives, and
their bodies left in lines outside the buildings.
He said it was not clear why some were killed and others
spared – some of the dead were Muslims and others Christians.
He added that students and lecturers were now leaving the
town, many with tree branches over their cars – a traditional sign of
neutrality in Nigeria.
Other Mubi residents say they heard gunfire for about two
hours during the night and that those living near the hostel were also
targeted.
The authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew in the
town and ordered residents to stay indoors.
The university has been temporarily closed.
Meanwhile, the Adamawa State Police Public Relations
Officers, Mohammed Ibrahim, who confirmed the killings, said 25 people were
killed by the gunmen, 19 of them, polytechnic students.
Similarly, the killing of students of Federal Polytechnic
Mubi at Yelwan Tsamiya (an off-campus accommodation area) in Wuro Patuji area
of Mubi North Local Government of Adamawa state has caused an exodus from the
town by both students and staff of the institution.
Some of the fleeing lecturers of the polytechnic, said they
saw at least 10 truckloads of soldiers and mobile police men moving into the
troubled North-Eastern town.
After the killings, which were said to have been carried out
around 10pm by gunmen that stormed the students’ village in Sports Utility
Vehicles (SUVs), angry students stormed the school carrying leaves and branches
in protest, stopping the second semester exams that were scheduled to take
place today.
As a result of the mass movement of people from the town,
the vehicles in the town’s motor park have been exhausted, with those not lucky
to board the polytechnic’s buses ferrying people to Mararaba area, trekking the
15-20 kilometres distance to get vehicles that will move them out of the town.
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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.