Metro

Rivers PDP Supporters Protest With Charms, Local Pots

Published

1 year ago

April 5, 2023

The Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party supporters have continued their protest by adopting fetish materials in front of the Independent National Electoral Commission Port Harcourt office in their demands to see the electoral materials used for the March 18 governorship election that was held in the state.

Recall that the PDP protest began on Monday and turned violent when the governorship candidate of the APC, Tonye Cole, and some members of the party executive arrived at the GRA junction to proceed to the INEC office, just a few metres away along Aba Road in Port Harcourt.

Cole had insisted that he and his team would visit the INEC office on Tuesday to continue their demand.

However, it was learnt that they decided to stay back to avoid the fisticuffs and pandemonium that led to him being injured during the protest on Monday.

The PUNCH correspondent, who was at the scene of the day two protest, observed that the protesters placed several fetish materials in the middle of the road with a man dressed like a ‘juju priest’ adorned in red cloth with his head and waist wrapped with palm fronds, presiding over affairs, pouring libations, and making incantations in a local dialect.

He added that the barricades that were erected by security operatives on both the Waterlines axis and the GRA junction leading to the INEC office remained, as motorists and commuters are barred from accessing the hitherto busy express road.

The protest, which had since been led by the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Edison Ehie, and the Ikwerre Local Government Area Chairman, was joined by more lawmakers on Tuesday, including the 32-member House leader, Martins Amaewhule.

“The police must arrest him (Cole) today because we don’t know what to tell the family of the dead PDP supporter. The wife and children are crying at the hospital. Why must we continue to fold our hands and allow criminals to steal our money because they are using thugs?

“The Nigeria Police must rise to the occasion. We are ready to die for our rights. We are ready to die to defend our mandate. Enough is enough,” Ehie stated.

The protesters later presented an acknowledged copy of the PDP’s petition dated March 24, 2023, in which the ruling party demanded that the INEC release Certified True Copies of electoral materials.

Reacting to Tuesday’s protest, Beke, however, said the APC will do everything within the law to get what it needs to file its case at the election petition tribunal.

He said, “They blocked the INEC office with juju, are you not aware? Didn’t you see what they tied there? That tells you what they are up to. Do they have the right to block INEC’s office? You can see what they are doing.

“For us, the world has known our demands, and we are going to get what we are asking for within the law. We never said they (INEC) should not give any other person what they are asking for.

“No, we asked that they give CTC documents, and we have done that petition to the Inspector General of Police because we feel we won’t get justice from the police in Rivers State.”

Meanwhile, Governor Nyesom Wike has faulted the demands of the state’s APC governorship candidate, Cole, to inspect election materials at the INEC office in Port Harcourt.

Wike expressed surprise that a candidate, (making a veiled reference to Cole) personally went to the INEC office to inspect CTC documents of election materials.

He spoke at the commissioning of the Government Secondary School in Kpor, the headquarters of the Gokana Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday.

He stated, “Have you seen where a candidate is going to INEC to say that he wants to collect CTC? What are his lawyers doing? What are his agents doing?

“Those are the duties of lawyers. What CTC do you want to collect? Let people see the truth of the matter. You lost the election; you lost the election.”

In separate news, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Johnson Sinikiem, in a statement, has urged all political parties that applied to inspect election materials to visit their local government offices for such purposes.

The statement partly read, “The commission has received nearly fifty (50) of these applications since the conclusion of the presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state Assembly elections in Rivers State.

“And a good number of these applications have been processed in accordance with the date of receipt of such applications and payment of certification fees. This process is still ongoing.

“The commission has also advised all applicants to visit our local government offices where these documents are domiciled for inspection while we work out modalities for inspection of other documents domiciled at the state office in accordance with available spaces.

“The Management of INEC Rivers State, therefore, wishes to assure all applicants and the general public that the Commission is committed to discharging its constitutional and lawful duties without preference or bias.”

Meanwhile, the state Commissioner of Police, Okon Effiong, has warned politicians to stop dragging the police into politics.

While noting that “the police remain neutral and focused on their constitutional duties,” CP Effiong warned that “unnecessary protesters hindering vehicular and commercial activities will not be tolerated.”
PUNCH

Metro

Travellers Beat Rivers Policewoman To Death

Published

6 hours ago

April 29, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command said its men have arrested 16 suspects in connection with the murder of a female inspector in front of Taabaa Police Station in Khana local government area of the state.

The incident occurred on April 25th while the policewoman identified as Christiana Erekere was on duty at the Bori Police Division,

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, who disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday and sent to newsmen, said trouble started when some men in a private vehicle were stopped by policemen for a routine search.

Iringe-Koko, said all of a sudden an argument ensued and the occupants became angry and blocked the road, adding that even after completing the checks and asked to leave, they refused, alleging that the female Inspector had recorded their behaviour with her phone and attacked her with stones when their attempt to seize the phone failed.

The statement reads, “The Rivers State Police Command announces the arrest of sixteen persons in connection with the tragic death of Inspector Christiana Erekere, who was murdered in the line of duty on April 25, 2024, at approximately 4 pm.

“According to preliminary investigations, the incident occurred when a group of individuals traveling in a Lexus salon car was stopped for routine checks at the checkpoint in front of Taabaa Police Station.

“However, the occupants became agitated and proceeded to barricade the road, obstructing the movement of other vehicles.

The statement furthered that after completing the necessary checks, the police officers requested that the individuals leave the scene. Unfortunately, they refused, alleging that Inspector Erekere had recorded a video of their disruptive behaviour using her mobile phone.

Hence, in their attempt to seize Inspector Erekere’s phone forcefully, they launched a violent attack against her, striking her with stones.

“The severity of the assault caused Inspector Erekere to lose consciousness, and she was immediately transported to Nnadum Hospital in Bori. Regrettably, she succumbed to the injuries sustained during the attack,” the statement said.

“The Rivers State Police Command has initiated a thorough investigation into this abhorrent incident, and all individuals involved will be apprehended and brought to justice.”

The command extended its condolences to the family of the deceased and her colleagues during this difficult time. Consequently, Inspector Erekere’s remains have been transferred to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

“The Rivers State Police Command deeply regrets this unfortunate incident and reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators of this heinous crime are swiftly apprehended and held accountable for their actions.”

Metro

Delta Police Kill Suspected Kidnapper, Rescue Victims, Arrest Armed Robber Cultist

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command in collaboration with vigilante and hunter groups, have neutralized a suspected kidnapper during a fierce gun duel and rescued two abducted victims in Ughelli Local Government Area of the state.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Bright Edafe, who made this known in a statement on Sunday, April 28, 2024, said the suspect sustained gunshot injuries when he and members of his gang engaged the security operatives in a shootout in their hideout.

The suspect was rushed to a hospital where he died while receiving medical treatment. Other members of the gang escaped from the scene.

“On 26/4/2024, at about 0900hours, the command received an intelligence report that some suspected kidnappers were hibernating in Okuno, Orogun, where they were hiding alongside some kidnapped victims, the Commissioner of Police Delta State CP Abaniwonda Olufemi directed the DPO Abraka Division SP Fabian Ayameh to lead police operatives to their hideout,” the statement read.

“The DPO swiftly mobilized police operatives alongside members of the Abraka vigilante, and hunters group, stormed the bush, and engaged the suspected kidnappers in a fierce gun duel during which one of the suspects sustained serious gunshot injuries while others escaped. One AK-47 rifle and eleven (11) rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.

“The two kidnapped victims (name withheld) were rescued unhurt and have been reunited with their families, while the injured suspect was taken to the hospital where he gave up the ghost while receiving treatment. Manhunt for the other fleeing suspects is ongoing,” the statement added.

The PPRO further disclosed that police arrested a motorcycle rider, Orji Timothy with illicit drugs, two cutlasses and a locally made double barrel pistol with two live cartridges along Ovirigor Road in Ughelli.

“On 24/04/2024, at about 1445hrs, Eagle Net Special Squad Surveillance team while on routine patrol along Ovirigor Road Ughelli, flagged down a motorcycle. Upon search, a sizeable quantity of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp was recovered. This necessitated the arrest of the 38-year-old motorcycle rider, Orji Timothy of No. 21 Olotu Street Ughelli,” the statement read.

“The operatives further extended their search to the suspect’s residence, where a Locally Made Double Barrel Pistol with Two Live Cartridges, Twenty Sachets of 100mg Tramadol, One Sachet of Swinol, and two Cutlasses were recovered. The investigation is ongoing.”

Meanwhile, police in the Ovwian-Aladja Division arrested a suspected armed robber and recovered an English Berretta pistol from him.

“On 22/4/24 at about 0300 hrs, a distress call was received at the Ovwian/Aladja Divisional Police Headquarters, that one Anthony Odumegwu, a 44 yrs male indigene of Ihiala, Anambra State, was arrested in an attempt to steal a Daylong Motorcycle with from one Mohammed Yusuf of Ekete Inland Waterside. Upon receipt of the information, the DPO Ovwian/Aladja, CSP Bulus Musa swiftly mobilized to the scene of the crime, and on a thorough search of the suspect and scene of the crime, an English Berreta Pistol without a magazine was recovered. The investigation is ongoing.”

CP Abaniwonda Olufemi noted that the swift and decisive action of officers of the command serves as a testament to the commitment to curbing criminal activities in the state and ensuring the safety of the state.

The commissioner further encourages the public to never hesitate to call the Control Room Numbers: 08036684974; 08125958005; and 09053872287; to report criminal activities or assist the police by giving credible information.

Metro

Gunmen Assassinate Governor Aiyedatiwa’s Campaign Coordinator In Ondo

Published

1 day ago

April 28, 2024

Editor

Unknown gunmen have killed Alaba Excel Abbey, one of the campaign coordinators of the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the incumbent governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

It was gathered that Abbey was also the Returning Officer for Ward 10 in Supare Akoko, Akoko South West Local Government Area of Ondo State in the recently concluded All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary election.

The deceased who served as a ward coordinator for the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot-Soldiers (LACO-SF), was shot dead in front of his house.

The deceased’s elder brother, Samuel Abbey, who confirmed the incident to Leadership, said Alaba was assassinated around 9 pm on Saturday, April 27, 2024, shortly after returning home.

In a statement released by its State Information Director, Mr Kayode Fasua, the group revealed that the late Abbey was actively involved in campaigning for the election of Governor Aiyedatiwa until his untimely demise.

Spokesperson for the State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya said an investigation has begun into the case.

“In brief, the command is aware of the incident at Supare, and the investigation is ongoing to unravel all that happened,” she added.