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Kidnap: Security Agents Comb Bayelsa Creeks For Dutch Nationals …As Abductors Demand N500m Ransom
Security agents comprising police, navy and members of newly inaugurated Bayelsa Volunteers have launched a massive search and rescue operation to secure the release of the three abducted Ducth nationals along the creeks of Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
This is coming on the heels of the demand by the abductors of the three Dutch nationals, for the payment of N500million ransom.
The abducted Dutch nationals have been identified as Mr. Erhard Leffers, Mrs. Marianne Vos and Mr. Jan Andre Groenendijk.
The rescue operation, which is being managed by a special security team of Ijaw youth and policemen is expected to deploy necessary tact and intelligence gathering among indigenes of coastal communities in Delta and Bayelsa states.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hillary Okpara while speaking to journalists Wednesday in Yenagoa, denied the reported arrest of the two Nigerian-born Dutch nationals, Mr. Femi Soewu and Mr Sunny Ofehe.
Okpara simply said they were invited by the police for an interview to get more information about the mood and utterances of the kidnappers.
According to Okpara, four persons were invited by the police for interrogation, including the organizer of the ill-fated trip and founder of an indigenous non-governmental organization known as Dodo Rovers Regional Development Association, Hon. Barry Legrise, and an indigene of Letugbene community, Chief Benson Dodoru.
Okpara said that out of the four persons invited, the duo of Femi Soewu and Sunny Ofehe were released alongside Barry Legrise, “but 42-year old Benson Dodoru is yet to be released due to the role he played.”
The police commissioner, however, frowned at the failure of the organizer of the trip and the Dutch nationals to inform the police in Delta and Bayelsa states about the ill-fated trip.
“I want you to know that they came without alerting the security agencies. We would have provided adequate security. We warn individuals and organisations against embarking on such trip without informing the police and other security agencies,” the police chief said.
Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Government, has in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Col. Bernard Kenebai, condemned the abduction of the Dutch nationals, describing it as unfortunate.
According to Kenebai, though the decision of the organizer of the ill-fated trip and the Dutch nationals not to inform the security agencies was wrong and irresponsible, the state government, in partnership with security agencies, will secure their release.
“We consider the ill-fated trip as unfortunate due to the fact that the state has not experienced it for a while.
“We also want to place on record that the expatriates embarked on the journey without proper security arrangement. We feel strongly against it due to the fact that Bayelsa is a safe place. We have said if anyone or visitors are going to an isolated area, they should inform security agencies, and get adequate protection. It is not fair that they embarked on a dangerous adventure without informing the security agencies. It is an avoidable security breach, if the right security measure had been taken,” he said.
In another development, Bayelsa State Government has noted with regret, the unfortunate incident of the kidnap of three Dutch nationals at Letugbene community in Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.
The government stated that the three Dutch nationals were escorted into the Niger Delta, through Warri in Delta State, by a non—government organisation (NGO), without any prior notice to the governments and security agencies of both Bayelsa and Delta states, not until they were abducted by the gunmen.
However, the Bayesla State Governor, Seriake Dickson, has assured the Dutch Ambassador to Nigeria, John Groffen that, everything humanly possible was being done to secure the release of the three Dutch nationals.
The governor, who gave the assurance when the ambassador visited him at the Bayelsa House in Abuja, expressed regret over the incident, adding that, the government in collaboration with security agencies is working round the clock to ensure the safe release of the victims.
Meanwhile, fishermen have recovered the corpse of the former chairman of Amatu 2 Community Development Committee (CDC) in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Paul Esebele, who was allegedly shot dead by pirates.
The corpse, which was already decomposing, was discovered along river routes to Bilabiri Community in the same local government area, three days after he was killed.
Esebele, reports said, was shot in the groin by pirates during the last Sunday’s abduction of three Dutch nationals and two Nigerians along the Letugbene axis of the coastline local government area.
The 34-year old former CDC chairman, who is married with children, said alleged to be among the team in a back-up boat to the one conveying the Dutch nationals and Nigerian journalists, before he was hit by a bullet fired the pirates.
It was alleged that the pirates had, after abducting their victims, began shooting sporadically, and a bullet hit him at the groin while in the boat. The boat capsized shortly after he had plunged into the water.
An eyewitness said: “while many of the occupants of the ill-fated boat swam to safety, the former CDC boss was nowhere to be found.”
However, fishermen from Bilabiri community found the decomposing body floating.
When contacted on the development, the spokesman of the state Police Command, Mr.Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the report, saying that the corpse has been removed to the morgue, while police investigations are ongoing.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.