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Communal Conciliation: DELGA Boss Sets The Pace …Brokers Peace Amongst Belligerent Gang Members In Bakana

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Peace remains the highest achievement of any society, as no meaningful development can take place in a rancorous and hostile environment.
This perhaps, is one of the greatest achievements of the administration of the projects-oriented Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Michael John Williams, amongst his trail of achievements.
The administration on Monday, November 15, 2021, made history, as it in an unprecedented manner, brokered peace amongst the various warring gang members in Bakana, which had been at daggers drawn for several years.
Speaking during the historic occasion at the Bakana Town Square, the council boss stated that the peace parley was aimed at reconciling brothers.
He noted that Bakana is a land of strength, unity and love as exemplified by the founding fathers of the community, adding that the people of Bakana should not be seen, showing that strength against one another, but unite as one against external aggressions.
Hon. Williams stated that the days where people come in, commit crime and flee the community was over, warning that the Council administration and the community will go hard against anyone who breaks the peace accord.
While thanking the peace initiators and leaders of the various cult groups for embracing the peace, the Chairman urged them to return from their exile and contribute positively towards the development of the community, just like his administration is doing.
“If you are a Bakana son and you truly love Bakana, this is the time to show it.
“The reason we are here is to make sure that our brothers see one another as brothers. It is to make sure that if you are a Bakana son, you will never kill a Bakana son again, because if you do, Bakana and the authority will come for you.
“If you are a strong man, take your power outside, don’t bring it here because Bakana is a peaceful community and that peace has been restored.
“I am happy that today our brothers that have not seen each other for a very long time are seeing one another eyeball to eyeball. This means that peace has come to stay,” the LGA Boss stated.
In their solidarity speeches, initiators of the peace parley all thanked the Council Chairman for his magnanimity, courage and determination in restoring peace to the community after so many years of gang rivalry.
Amb. Marvin Thompson in his solidarity speech particularly thanked the Council Chairman for being a great leader, whom his people can trust, noting that it was a thing of joy to see everyone come together as brothers in reconciliation.
While also thanking the various groups for embracing the peace accord, Marvin Thompson, who went on his knees on behalf of the repentant groups, appealed to members of the community, who might have lost loved ones, to forgive them and move on, adding that; “we are doing this peace for the good of Bakana.”
On his part, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Friday Eboka, thanked the Council Chairman for uniting the community through the peace accord.
The CP, who was represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Lawal Adamu Shinkafi, urged genuine reconciliation and patriotism amongst the various groups, stressing that only a peaceful environment can attract development.
ACP Shinkafi, who is the Area Commander in Degema, noted that Bakana is a blessed island, which could be developed to a tourist centre, urging them to shun violence, in order to maximize the vast potentials of the community.
The police boss however warned that any renegade, who violates the peace accord is “on his own,” as the law will catch up with him.
Highpoint of the parley was signing of the peace accord by leaders of the various groups.
The groups which participated in the peace parley include; Icelanders, Greenlanders, Deybam, Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).
The Peace Accord was facilitated by Emmanuel Martyns (Babangida), Marvin Thompson, Amb. Dennis Teneilabe and Prince SobrasuaOdum in conjunction with the Degema Local Government Council.
In attendance were the Executive Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Hon. Michael John Williams, personnel of the 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army, officers of the Police Area Command and the Divisional Police Command, top functionaries of the Council, amongst others.

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Police Investigate Officer’s Suicide In PH

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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.

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Perm Sec Tasks NUJ Leadership On Unity

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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

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Rivers Judiciary Denies Reports On SOLAD’s Sack

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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”.

Akujobi Amadi

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