Metro

Rivers Women Walk Out On Ibas’ Wife, Chant ‘We Want Fubara’

Published

2 months ago

May 2, 2025

Hundreds of women in Rivers State on Friday staged a walkout during an empowerment programme in Port Harcourt, demanding to be addressed by either the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, or the wife of the state governor, Lady Valerie Sim-Fubara.

The event, held at the EUI Event Centre in GRA, Port Harcourt, was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme organised by the office of the First Lady of Nigeria.

It was meant to benefit 500 women in the state with various empowerment items.

Expecting the physical presence of the First Lady, the women — many dressed in traditional double wrappers—gathered in anticipation.

However, tension rose when Dr Theresa Ibas, wife of the State Sole Administrator, was invited to address the crowd in place of Tinubu.

The women began chanting, “We want SIM!” and “We want Valerie Fubara!” in reference to Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his wife, whom they identified as the legitimate First Lady of the state.

They added, “We don’t know Ibas. Tinunu is our President, and our governor is Sim Fubara.”

Some of the protesting women at the empowerment programme in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 2, 2025, before the walkout.

Speaking to newsmen, one of the women said, “We were told the First Lady of Nigeria would be here. If not her, then the wife of our governor, Lady Valerie Sim-Fubara, should speak to us.

“Not someone representing someone who doesn’t represent us.”

Another protester, Favour Ekpeye, clarified that the women’s action was not a rejection of the President’s wife but rather a protest against the substitution.

She explained that they staged a walkout because they were expecting the wife of the President to address them and not the wife of the sole administrator.

Ekpeye stated, “The propaganda that we rejected the wife of the president is not true.

“We were told to come and welcome Her Excellency Senator Remi Tinubu, and we dressed up. See me with my double wrapper.

“We were so happy to welcome Her Excellency because we appreciate her good deeds to us with the empowerment programmes.

“So we stood up and left because Rivers women, we are not fragile. We have a governor that we love, and we support our governor.”

Some of the protesting women at the empowerment programme in Port Harcourt on Friday, May 2, 2025, before the walkout.
She added, “We have a President that we support and we have our mummy of the nation that we support for empowering women in the nation that we so love that we support.”

Efforts by the organisers to pacify the agitated crowd were unsuccessful, as the women continued chanting and gradually exited the venue.

Metro

Police Arrests Three Masterminds Of Abuja Kidnappings

Published

14 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have arrested three notorious kidnap suspects linked to a spate of deadly abductions in Abuja and neighbouring states.

According to a statement signed by the Force PPRO, Abuja Command, SP Josephine Adeh, on Thursday, the suspects, 27 years old Ya’u Shittu from Kaduna State; 30 years old Sale Usman from Niger State; and 28 years old Ibrahim Abdullahi from Abuja, were captured during sting operations carried out between June 13 and 18, 2025, in Kaduna, Niger, and Nasarawa states by the Command’s elite Scorpion Squad.

The suspects, who have been on the Command’s wanted list, reportedly confessed to multiple kidnappings and murders, including the 2024 killing of a pastor in Mpape and the abduction of children in the same area where their father was shot dead. Police also tied them to the kidnapping of a woman for whom N10 million was paid in ransom, with each gang member pocketing N500,000.

Adeh said the breakthrough followed “credible digital reconstructive intelligence” and was led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey.

According to the police, Ibrahim Abdullahi, who also doubled as the gang’s arms supplier, led officers to a hideout in Bukuru, Nasarawa State on June 18. Upon arrival, the police team was met with gunfire from other gang members, prompting a shootout.

“Abdullahi attempted to flee but was shot and rearrested. Other gang members escaped and are currently being pursued,” the statement added.

Exhibits recovered from the scene included a long knife and various charms.

FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao S. Adewale, commended the bravery of the Scorpion Squad and reassured residents of the Command’s commitment to public safety. He urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to security operatives.

“This is a major blow to violent crime in the FCT. We are determined to rid our communities of criminal elements,” he said.

The suspects remain in custody as investigations continue. Meanwhile, police have intensified efforts to track and arrest the fleeing members of the gang.
(PUNCH)

Metro

FG Closes Case In Alleged Terrorism Trial Against Nnamdi Kanu

Published

16 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government, on Thursday, closed its case in the ongoing trial of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), in the allegations bordering on terrorism and treason.

The FG’s lawyer, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, announced this after the 5th prosecution witness (PW-5), identified as EEE for security reasons, was led in evidence and cross-examined by Kanu’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Awomolo told the court that after calling five witnesses in the trial, the prosecution was satisfied that from the avalanche of evidence tendered, including the broadcast of activities of the leader of the IPOB, the government had sufficiently satisfied the need to close its case.

“I therefore close the case,” the senior lawyer said.

After the announcement, the lead defence counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, informed the court that they would be opting for a no-case submission, which would be filed in due course.
(NAN)

Metro

NAF Air Strikes Destroy IED Factory, Terrorists’ Gun Trucks In Borno

Published

16 hours ago

June 19, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said on Thursday that its fighter aircraft operating under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) has destroyed an IED factory and terrorist gun trucks and eliminated dozens of fighters in Kwaltiri, within the Tumbuktu Triangle, Borno State.

Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, Director of Public Relations, said, “The 18 June 2025 airstrike followed intelligence reports of terrorist activity in the area.

“Surveillance confirmed the presence of an IED-making site and vehicles, which were struck in precision passes by NAF aircraft.

“The operation is a major blow to terrorists’ fighting capabilities, as the successful strikes not only disrupted their command and control as well as logistics chains but also sent shockwaves through their ranks, significantly degrading their morale and operational momentum.

“It reinforces NAF’s resolve to degrade terrorist capabilities and enhance security in the North East.”