News

Ex-lawmaker, Rivers CP Bicker Over Alleged Gunmen Attack

Published

3 years ago

December 16, 2022

A former senator representing the Rivers South-East district in the National Assembly, Lee Maeba, and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, are on a collision course over an alleged attack on the former’s residence by suspected political thugs in GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

While the CP Effiong expressed doubts that the said attack happened from preliminary investigations carried out by the police, Maeba, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council in Rivers State, insisted that it happened.

Maeba said he was prepared to go to court to prove that thugs invaded his compound, destroyed property, injured his elder brother and wanted to gain entrance into his house, but retreated when they couldn’t.

Speaking to newsmen at his office, Effiong wondered why Maeba had yet to come forward to give his statement concerning the attack on his compound.

The CP said, “I called him that we need to see you for your statement. And he said he was waiting for his lawyer.”

On Maeba’s allegations that the CP did not respond to several calls he put across to him over the attack on his compound, the CP, denying, said though he was in an operation and not with is mobile telephone, someone in a distress situation would have called more than once.

“I was somewhere in Bodo in Gokana local government in an operation. I am going to show you my call log so that you will be able to tell me how many times the senator called me.

“I want to believe that when somebody is in distress, he will call one, two, three. He called me. I didn’t have his number. I was in an operation.

“When somebody else called later, quickly I detailed a team led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police. He saw the team and interacted with them,” he said.

The CP wondered the claim of the PDP campaigner that the suspected thugs had planned to kill him, yet none of his buildings was damaged.

“We have pictures of the cars that were allegedly destroyed. We are talking about a senator who has a fleet of cars.

“How come that that day only 1990, 2000 Camry and Corollas that were damaged.

“Was it a coincidence that all the expensive cars, none was touched (by the) thugs; the people only touched the rickety cars?

“Was it a coincidence that only rickety cars were packed in his garage?”

But when contacted on Thursday, Maeba debunked claims that he stage-managed the attack and expressed shock at the CP’s comments, saying it showed that the Effiong did not investigate even though it was reported to him.

He said, “The CP has lied against me and has brought down my reputation. I will challenge him in a court of law to prove that I was attacked. How did the CP reach that conclusion without an investigation?

“Does it mean there was no investigation when people came to attack me and destroyed my property?

“You came to my house and said the only thing that would have made you believe that people attacked my house was that they destroyed old cars.

“My escalade 2015 is not an old car. My Camry is 2017. How is it an old car? I never knew that the CP had been compromised. The same thing the state Commissioner for Information and Communications said was what the CP stood on.

“If the CP said I have not given a statement, yes I told him I was waiting for my lawyer. My lawyer returned yesterday and I have made a statement.”

Continuing, Maeba said, “The CP has not even seen my statement and he concluded that I attacked myself. That is completely unprofessional, bogus and unimaginable. He lied against me that I organised thugs to attack my home.

“He even said there is no evidence that thugs attacked my home. So who attacked my home and broke those cars? The CP has a case to answer before the human rights commission.

“My rights have been trampled upon and the CP has brought my reputation to ridicule. I give the CP 24 hours to tender an unreserved apology and retract his lies against me or I will drag him to court or before the human rights commission.

“He has displayed the attitude of a compromised police officer and it is very unfortunate.”

News

NAF Launches Attack On Terrorists In Borno

Published

1 hour ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force, NAF, operating as part of the joint task force of Operation Hadin Kai, has carried out a coordinated air interdiction at AbbagaJiri in the Timbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

According to Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations and Information of NAF, the air strikes successfully paved the way for ground troops.

He explained that the operation was based on actionable intelligence from multiple sources, which confirmed the presence of terrorists, their structures, and concealed logistics facilities in the area.

Ejodame stated that NAF air assets were deployed in integrated surveillance and precision strike roles to target identified threats.

The operation aimed to degrade terrorist capabilities, deny them sanctuary, and shape the battlefield for ground forces, all while strictly adhering to rules of engagement and protecting civilians.

He added, “The Identified terrorist structures were decisively engaged and destroyed, denying the terrorists freedom of action, while a follow-up engagement neutralised armed elements observed converging on the location.”

“Subsequent advances by ground troops into the area confirmed the effectiveness of the air strikes and validated the success of the joint air–land operation.”

Speaking on the mission, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, said, “The success of the mission reflects the NAF’s resolve to dominate the air domain in support of joint operations.”

Aneke further emphasized that the operation highlighted the service’s commitment to providing precise and decisive air power in support of ground forces.

In his words, “We will continue to deny terrorists freedom of movement, sanctuary, and logistics wherever they seek to hide. Air operations will remain relentless and intelligence-driven.”

“Our operations are carefully planned and intelligence-led, ensuring maximum effect on hostile elements while safeguarding innocent civilians.”

“The Nigerian Air Force will sustain pressure until terrorist networks are completely dismantled.”

He further noted that the operation showcased NAF’s aggressive stance, precision employment of airpower, and dedication to sustained joint operations.

Aneke added that such missions play a crucial role in enabling ground troops to maintain momentum and deliver decisive outcomes against terrorist networks threatening lives, property, and Nigeria’s national security.

News

Lagos Parks To Close For Maintenance – State Govt

Published

2 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Editor

The Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency, LASPARK, has announced that all public parks under its management across the state will be temporarily closed for routine maintenance and upgrades.

In a statement released on January 9 and shared via its official platforms early Saturday, LASPARK said, “All parks under our management will be closed to the public from January 12 to January 31, 2026.

“This follows increased visitor activity during the recent festive season.”

The agency listed several popular recreational spots that will be affected, including “Ndubisi Kanu Park, Alausa JJT Park, Dr. Finnih Abayomi Park in Oregun, and all other LASPARK-managed parks across Lagos State.”

News

PAP Sends Additional 34 Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship Beneficiaries To UK Varsities

Published

16 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Editor

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) has deployed an additional 34 foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to various universities in the United Kingdom for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri by Mr Igoniko Oduma, Special Assistant on Media to Dr. Dennis Otuaro, the Administrator, PAP.

According to the statement, the scholars’ programmes include data science, fintech analytics, cyber security, international energy law and policy, construction project management, public health, agri-food technology, electrical and petroleum engineering, among others.

The statement added that more foreign post-graduate scholars will be sent to UK universities in the current academic session.

“In December 2025, nine students, who were the first set of offshore post-graduate scholarship developments by the PAP Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, for the 2024-2025 academic year, graduated from their various programmes in UK universities.

“Otuaro has deployed over 9000 students to universities within and outside Nigeria for different industry-relevant programmes since he assumed office in March 2024,” the statement partly reads.

Speaking at the pre-departure orientation programme for the scholars at the PAP headquarters in Abuja, on Thursday, Otuaro said that the large-scale deployment was aimed at making the Niger Delta a knowledge-driven region.

He said that his leadership reinvigorated the programme to give it a new momentum in service delivery to the people of the region based on the mandate of President Bola Tinubu.

Otuaro said, “We are sending all of you for post-graduate studies in various universities in the United Kingdom.

“The PAP now has a new momentum and direction because of the repositioning and broad reforms that we carried out in line with the mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

“The objective behind the huge scholarships deployment is to ensure that we develop the needed human capital to transform the Niger Delta and generate knowledge-wealth.

“We want to develop relevant manpower in critical disciplines for our region and by extension, the country, because you are expected to contribute your quota to national development after successful graduation.”

The PAP boss, who was represented at the event by his Technical Assistant, Mr Edgar Biu, advised the scholars to study hard to achieve academic excellence in their various fields of research.

According to him, the scholars have an obligation to justify the Federal Government’s investment in their education and future.

He reiterated his warning that beneficiaries should not take for granted the opportunity to further their academic pursuits in the interest of the Niger Delta and indeed the country.

Otuaro expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for his “enormous interest and support for the Programme”, particularly the approval of an upward review of the programme’s budget from N65billion to N150billion.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his impeccable guidance and supervision of the programme’s initiatives.

Otuaro, therefore, cautioned the scholars to obey their host country’s laws and the rules and regulations of their various institutions, stressing that they are ambassadors of Nigeria, the Niger Delta and their communities and families.

Highpoint of the orientation programme was the presentation of laptops to the scholars to help them in their studies.