Metro

Flood: We’re Facing Humanitarian Crisis, Bayelsa Govt Cries Out

Published

3 years ago

October 15, 2022

Editor

The Bayelsa State Government has expressed concern that the impact of the rampaging flood might result in a humanitarian crisis.

The Commissioner for Environment and chairman of the state’s Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management, Mr. Iselema Gbaranbiri, raised the concern on Saturday while giving an update on the committee’s activities.

He said the flood in the state has totally or partially submerged no fewer than 300 communities and villages.

Gbaranbiri also disclosed that about 700,000 persons have been displaced or affected by the flood.

He said virtually all the communities and streets in Yenagoa Local Government Area have also been submerged or partially flooded.

Communities in five other local government areas, namely Sagbama, Ekeremor, Ogbia, Kolokuma/Opokuma, and Southern Ijaw were equally seriously affected by the flood.

The Environment Commissioner said there had been reported cases of corpses being washed up at the cemetery in Asokoro, raising concerns of an impending health crisis.

He, however, assured that the government would do its best to bring relief to the flood victims as the committee was working round the clock to address the challenge of the current crisis.

On Friday, Governor Diri restated his proposal for a post-flood management roundtable between worst-hit states and the federal government.

The Bayelsa governor said such discourse had become necessary due to the infrastructure damage and the amount of state resources deployed in tackling the flood menace.

He spoke as he continued his on-the-spot assessment tour to Southern Ijaw Local Government Area and other Yenagoa Local Government Area communities.

Areas visited included the Amassoma road leading to the Niger Delta University (NDU), which has been cut off at three points along the road and left commuters stranded.

Governor Diri said the unfortunate incident would prevent the resumption of lectures at the university now that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has called off its eight-month-old strike.

While lamenting the huge cost of fixing the damaged roads by his government, Diri stressed that individual losses of property and deaths would be minimal if a permanent solution was immediately adopted.

His words: “I have already thought out a line of action. Post-flood mitigation is very important to us at this time. The post-flood period will be about our destroyed infrastructure, particularly roads.

“On Thursday, we saw the road leading to Sagbama from Ekeremor had been badly damaged by the flood. Now, the road from Yenagoa to Amassoma, where you have the Niger Delta University, has collapsed in three areas. So, even with the ASUU calling off its strike, the university cannot resume. That is what I have been talking about the peculiarity of Bayelsa State and our Niger Delta environment.

“It will cost the state billions of naira before those roads would be repaired. Also, there are individual losses in terms of houses that have collapsed as a result of the flood and the deaths we have witnessed.

“In the post-flood management, the federal government has to sit with the states to look for a lasting and permanent solution. One of such solutions is the construction of a dam so when water is released from wherever, we should be able to contain it in Nigeria.”

The governor equally inspected the state-owned airport and expressed delight that despite the magnitude of the flood, the airport was not submerged, contrary to speculations by opposition elements.

He also visited the School of Nursing and Basic Midwifery in Tombia, Alamieyeseigha Road, Opolo, the Oxbow Lake Pavilion, and the State Assembly Quarters, Azikoro.

Metro

Imo To Arraign Lawyer Over Anti-Uzodimma Articles

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The police in Imo State have charged an Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, with cyberstalking and defamation of character following two opinion articles written by the lawyer criticising the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma.

Agu was scheduled to be arraigned before the magistrates’ court in Owerri on Wednesday but the case was stalled as chief magistrates in the court were away for an official function.

The spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, DSP Henry Okoye, confirmed that Agu would be arraigned for cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civil disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

“Yes, Mr. Chinedu Agu, Esq., will be arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court in Owerri on allegations bordering on cyberstalking, defamation of character, inciting civic disturbances, and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace. The arraignment is in accordance with the rule of law and with due respect for his fundamental human rights,” Okoye said.

Agu, a known critic of Governor Uzodimma’s administration, was arrested on Tuesday after honouring a fresh police invitation.

His arrest followed a petition by the Imo Democratic Alliance, signed by Umukoro Marvis Udochukwu, accusing the lawyer of publishing inciting articles.

Several lawyers thronged the court on Wednesday, including the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Owerri branch, Chief Chris Ihentuge; Chairman of the Eastern Bar Forum, Damian Nosike; and a former NBA Owerri Chairman, Chief Stanley Imo (SAN).

However, after waiting for hours without proceedings, Nosike informed them that no chief magistrate was available.

“We have just been informed that there is no chief magistrate available for the charges to be preferred against our colleague, Barr. Chinedu Agu. The police said they will take him back to their office and return him to court tomorrow. The matter cannot be heard today,” Nosike told his colleagues.

Agu has recently gained attention through a series of opinion pieces critical of the Uzodimma administration.

On August 30, 2025, he published an article titled,“Tears from Enugu: A lawyer’s heartbreaking diary from a state that works to a state in ruins,” followed the next day by another one titled,“Imo State — where justice is on vacation during court vacation”.

In response, Imo State Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, wrote a rebuttal titled, “Lawyer Agu’s satanic verses against Imo State”.

Meanwhile, Agu has insisted Imo Democratic Alliance, which wrote a petition leading to his arrest, is a fictitious organisation, claiming it is neither registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission nor traceable to any physical address.

He alleged that the petition against him was sponsored by Emelumba.

Agu’s arraignment is now expected to hold today (Thursday).

Metro

Police Declare Man Wanted For Attempted Murder, Fraud

Published

2 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Police Force has declared one Okoro Prince Nkemakolam wanted for alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, assault, threat to life, and criminal breach of trust.

The Force made this known in a Special Police Gazette Bulletin released via its official X handle on Thursday.

The Force stated that Nkemakolam is wanted by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Nigeria Police Force (INTERPOL), and the Head National Central Bureau, Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The bulletin stated, “The above-named person is hereby declared wanted by the Nigeria Police Force. A warrant of arrest was issued against him by the High Court of Abuja.

“He is wanted for the offence of criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, fraud, threat to life, criminal breach of trust, and attempted murder by attacking the complainant with a machete and knife to the extent that he was admitted and stitched all over his head and his body, escaping death by the whiskers.”

The police described Nkemakolam as a 38-year-old man of medium height and build, with copper complexion and a square-shaped face.

According to the police, the suspect dresses in western clothes and speaks Igbo fluently, and was last seen in Benin/Abakaliki in Umobo community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The Force urged members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to report to the nearest police station or contact the Interpol, Force Headquarters, Abuja, through 080622129151.

Metro

JSS 3 Student Hacks Man To Death In Cross River

Published

3 hours ago

September 25, 2025

Editor

A Junior Secondary School student in Ugboro Secondary School in Bekwara Local Government Area of Cross River State, identified as Ogbeche, has hacked a 23-year old man to death.

The incident was said to have occurred in Ugboro at the close of school on Tuesday, when Ogbeche and another student whose name was given as Nicholas were engaged in a fight and the deceased known as Oshen went to separate them.

Speaking to Vanguard, an eyewitness simply identified as Lizzy, said while Oshen was separating the fight, Ogbeche took offence that Oshen was siding his opponent and left the fight to pick a pestle used in pounding food and struck Oshen on the head causing him to collapse.

“When he picked up the pestle, people were shouting, asking him to drop it but he did not listen. He went ahead to hit Oshen on the head with it.

“You know the pestles we use here are very heavy not like the ones you people use in the town, that was why it could inflict severe damage to the head with just one strike,” Lizzy said.

According to her, Oshen did not die on the spot but was rushed to a hospital at Ogoja, where he died same Tuesday night.

“Oshen’s father, known as Oshen Ushaka, was one of the early rich men we had here in Bekwara. He passed on some years back and his children are the ones occupying his compound,” she added.

The eyewitness further explained that Ogbeche has a record of regular fights and, some times, he attacked his fellow students with machete but there had been no casualty until the Tuesday incident.

It was gathered that the assailant was arrested by the police and is currently at the Ogoja prison.