Rivers

Police Confirm Killing Of Six Persons In Ahoada West

Published

2 years ago

March 31, 2023

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the killing of six persons in Odiokwu Community, Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state.
Spokesperson of the State Police Command ,Sp Grace Iringe-Koko, while confiriming the incident to our correspondent via telephone in Port Harcourt, described the killing as cult-related reprisal attack.
She, however, said investigation into the matter had begun and that the result would be made known soon.
Meanwhile, she said anti-riot policemen and other combatant operatives of the Command have been deployed to restore peace and security in the affected community.
An eye witness account has it that unknown gunmen, Sunday, invaded Odiokwu Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State and killed at least six persons.
The hoodlums were said to have stormed the community on motorbikes at about 11:00am, and gunned down five persons at different points, including a famous native doctor in the area, Ojukwu Ozor.
Reason for the heinous action was sketchy as at the time of filing this report, but an eye witness account said it was a reprisal attack linked to the manhandling to death of a dreaded cultist in Odiokwu Community recently.
Community source said the invaders opened fire on the unsuspecting youths and any person who attempted to run away on sighting them.
The community source added that many residents who fled the community during the Sunday operation were yet to return home.
Those killed in the attack were John Ikata, Godbless Sunday, Chidom Elems, Martin Augustine, Ozochi Man and Dr. Ojukwu Ozor from Delta State, who had been a resident of Odiokwu Community for over 15years with his family.
It would be recalled that an infamous cultist of Odiokwu Community, late Chidom Iyeumame, popularly known in the area as “Odey” was strangled to death early last month, and the body was thrown alongside Odiokwu–Ula Ehuda Road in the area.
Late Odey was said to have been the leader of a group of cultists terrorising Odiokwu and the surrounding communities.

By: Agimo, Emenike Benson

Rivers

Group Faults Shell In Ogale, Bille Environmental Pollution

Published

42 mins ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

Fridays for Future Nigeria (FFFN), an environmental protection group, has faulted the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) for the environmental pollution in Ogale and Bille communities in Rivers State.

This is contained in a statement by the National Coordinator and Country Representative, FFFN, Mr. Kingsley Odogwu.

Odogwu, who in strong terms condemned Shell’s disregard for human and environmental rights in the region, said, ”The people of the Niger Delta, including Ogale and Bille communities, have an inherent right to a clean and healthy environment, a right that Shell has systematically violated”, he said.

The Ogale and Bille communities in oil rich Nigeria’s Niger Delta are experiencing ongoing and significant environmental pollution, primarily from oil spills.

Residents have claimed severe contamination of their water supply, farmlands, and waterways, preventing them from fishing and farming due to the chronic oil pollution.

This issue is currently the subject of ongoing legal action against Shell in the UK courts by members of these communities.

The FFFN National Coordinator urged the Nigerian government and the international community to support the Ogale and Bille communities in their quest for justice and to hold Shell accountable for its environmental destruction.

He lamented the decades of environmental degradation due to oil spills, gas flaring, and other harmful practices by Shell and other oil companies in the region.

According to him, the ecosystem of the affected communities has been severely damaged, and the health and livelihoods of its inhabitants compromised.

”The affected communities demand that Shell fulfill its legal obligations by cleaning up the pollution to international standards and providing adequate compensation.

”The FFFN stands in solidarity with the Ogale and Bille communities in their pursuit of justice against Shell Petroleum for its egregious environmental destruction in the Niger Delta”, he said.

He called on all citizens of the country to support the move for the actualisation of justice for all the communities and other victims of ecosystem pollution in Nigeria.

Rivers

NGO Targets AI Use To Empower N’Delta Women … Graduates 156 In Tech Business

Published

43 mins ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) has hinted on utilizing the growing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in empowering women entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta.

SDN’s Country Director, Florence Ibok-Abasi, gave the hint during the graduation of the Batch II of the Female in Demand and Women Led Business graduands in Port Harcourt.

Ibok-Abasi said the plan is to further strengthen the programme which has already trained 1600 women in the use of tech to develop their businesses.

She further stated that Artificial Intelligence will build on the already acquired skills and expand their impact in today’s computer driven world.

Urging the graduands to utilize skills learnt, Ibok-Abasi underscored the need for them to be creative, “you need to think out of the box”, she said, “try and focus on what you want to do with your skill”.

She noted that many opportunities abound in ICT, especially for those in Science, technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

On his part, Project Officer of the programme, Promise JohnBull, disclosed that the scheme is aimed at reducing digital gender gap in the Niger Delta.

He stated that already the organisation has trained three cohorts with huge successes.

“We believe that wit the programme done, there will be huge impact and expansion ICT infrastructure”, he said.

He also said in the coming years there will be increase in the female folk to leverage on the growing opportunities in the information technology sector.

Most of the graduands who underwent the compulsory three months programme were trained in Cyper security, Web Building, Cyber Analysis, Social Media and Content Creation among others.

Kevin Nengia

Rivers

Commissioner Advocates For Gender Parity Initiative

Published

43 mins ago

February 14, 2025

The Tide

Commissioner for Women Affairs in Rivers State, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, has emphasized the importance of achieving gender parity across various aspects of life.

She said this would ensure adequate representation and opportunities for women to enable them empower themselves and reduce stereotypes, biases, and Gender Based Violence (GBV).

Dr. Uranta made the call in Port Harcourt recently at a summit organised by Shevolve Summit, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) with the theme, “Dare to Lead”.

She noted that “while gender equality may seem a herculean task given the prevailing cultural prejudices in Africa, gender parity becomes a more viable option as it seeks to achieve a balance between men and women in society”.

According to her, participation of women and girls in decision making positions of trust, education and politics, etc. should be encouraged to enable them maximize their full potentials.

The Commissioner used the opportunity to advise women to build stronger family bonds and values, saying the family is the smallest unit of the larger society.

She insisted that most often, GBV begins at the family level, as such, “women should be on the look out for red flags that signal GBV and report same to relevant authorities if need be, for appropriate actions to be taken”.

She urged the men to render the needed support to women, stressing that the journey of self actualization cannot be done without the encouragement of the menfolk, adding that women are not in competition with the men but aim to complement the efforts of men in the society.

Convener of the Shevolve Summit, Dr. Ezinne Okulehie, revealed that the summit was organised to encourage women evolve into better versions of themselves, live boldly and add value wherever they find themselves.

LDr. Okulehie said the summit gathered over 1000 women from various spheres of life to brainstorm and seek ways of improving themselves in order to improve the society.

She thanked the State Government for the support given to her organisation and expressed optimism towards greater collaboration in the future.