By Uthman Baba -Naseer,Minna

For the first time after the death of suspected illegal miners in the custody of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps,the embattled Commandant of the Corps Siaka Zubeiru Anirive has openly tendered an apology to the bereaved parents and the people and government of Niger State.

He stated that the incident that led to the unfortunate death of the Miners in the custody could have be avoided “but I regretted that the Miners died during my tenure as the Commandant of the Corps in Niger State

“ I want to use this opportunity to tender my apology to the parents of the deceased ,the people and government of Niger State. I regretted that the incident happened in my time as Commandant”

“ A mistake has been made but a costly one. My Apology to the parents of the deceased and to the people and government of Niger State” he told the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry

The suspended Commandant gave the apology when he appeared before the Justice Mohammed Mohammed Commission of Inquiry in Minna on Thursday.

He disclosed that he assumed duty as the Commandant of the Niger State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on the 25th of August 2025 to 18th September,2026.

He stated that there was an ongoing operations carried out within the mining site along M.I Wushishi Housing Estate,through a written and oral petition forwarded to his office by some communities around M.I Wushishi Housing Estate.

He disclosed that the residents alleged that the miners are disturbing them and they have no option than to forward their petition to his office for necessary action.

Adding that on the 15th of September, he personally visited the M.I Wushishi Mining site to see what is happening,he then put a call to the Command head of operation, ACC Joha Achagwa

He stated that upon the receipt of the petition,he dispatched his men of the Mining Marshal to carry out operation in the mining site which led to the arrest of the illegal miners from the mining site.

According to him the operation was carried out in the evening of the 16th,of September,2026 on the 17th of September, “ unortunately,we lost some suspects I in our custody”

Testifying further,Siyaka Zubeiru,while preparing to office,he received a call informing him of some casualty in the command,that some numbers of suspects have died in custody.

He said he immediately rushed down to the office on arrival he went straight to the cell and discovered some dead bodies seen lying down on the floor of the cell.

“ I then put a call to the governor what I met on ground. Then the governor directed me to take them to the mortuary. I then called on the medical department to take them to the hospital” he stated.

He testified further that he called his other Colleaques in the security forces the state Commissioner of Police and Director Department of State Service (DSS) to inform them about the incident.

“ The Director of DSS said he is on his coming with his me,and he came immediately,he was with me through out until they were evacuated to the hospital” he added

Responding to a question from the lead counsel of the Commission who is also the Director of Public Prosecutor in the of the Attorney General in Niger State,Usman Nuraini Baba,Esq, the suspended Commandant,told the Commission that there was a move to arraign them in Court on the 17th September before their death.

Also testifying, the suspended head of the Legal unit of the Command,ACC Stephen Tsado,told the Commission that his duty as the legal officer of the Command is to prepare case files of suspects, charge cases to court for prosecution and give legal advice to the Commandant.

He told the Commission that when he saw some minors among the suspects, he advised the Commandant to release them to their parents on bail to avoid their right.

He said he personally met the Commandant on the need to grant the minors bail “as a legal officer to the Command and also as a lawyer their right should not be infringe upon I advice him to grant them bail to their parents”

He said he didn’t know what happened along the line that he refused to yield to his legal advice.

In her testimonies,a nurse in the medical unit of the Command, Nurse Maryam Etang on the 16th and 17th of September, as part of her routine duty she visited the cell to see to the well-beings of the suspects

She said, “ I met three of our staff and checked them they were all okay. In the evening of the 16th September,I went back to. check them,one of suspect was seriously coughing on the 17th while they were bringing the bodies out from the cell,one of the named Emeka Emmanuel who not among the arrested miner was among the corpse that was brought out. I was shocked to see the body of Emeka” she told the Commission.

By George Mgbeleke

Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has rewarded the student -players and coaches of Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, with the sum of N50 million for making the State proud during their recent football tour of the United Kingdom.

Governor Fubara announced the reward on Friday while receiving the management and students of the Football Academy at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Governor commended the team for their discipline and exemplary conduct throughout the tour, noting that despite the challenges encountered on the trip, they returned victorious without any case of misconduct or embarrassment to the State.

He said the Academy, initiated by his predecessor, was designed to groom young talents for whom football could become a lucrative full-time career, stressing that the football economy is even bigger than many conventional corporate organisations.

Fubara said the purpose of sponsoring the UK tour was to expose the students to football at the international level, and expressed delight that some of them were already attracting the attention of foreign football clubs who have reportedly started poaching them for greater opportunities abroad.

While emphasizing that intelligence without character amounts to nothing, the Governor said his administration is not only committed to building their football skills but also moulding their character to become responsible citizens and the pride of Rivers State.

He assured that the State Government will address the complaints of poor facilities, insufficient accommodation and all other challenges confronting the Academy, to ensure they study and conduct their trainings in a conducive environment

Governor Fubara also thanked the local and foreign consultants who led the tour for their efforts, and charged the students to take their academics seriously alongside their football career.

He noted that for many of the students who had never travelled beyond Port Harcourt Local Government Area, the UK tour was a life-changing exposure, making them true ambassadors of Rivers State.
“What we just did here is to give you the opportunity to see what is in football beyond the walls of Real Madrid Academy, Port Harcourt. It is meant for you to see football at the international level.
“You have made us very proud. On our own part, we will ensure that we give you every support needed for you to excel. I am really proud of you all, not just because of the trophy that you won but your conduct throughout the tour,” Governor Fubara said.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma lauded the Governor for sponsoring the tour, describing it as historic and a pacesetter in the country.

Earlier, the Principal of Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt, Dr (Mrs) Prudence Isaac -Harry, had expressed profound appreciation to Governor Fubara for his vision and “unparalleled magnanimity” in sponsoring the 61 students -athletes and 12 officials on the football tour to the United Kingdom.

The Principal noted that the trip provided the students with their very first taste of international football exposure. According to her, the students did not just participate in soccer duels but displayed tremendous skills that left a great impression on the entire community of Southampton, London.

“We were given a silver trophy for our students’ performances. Thank you Sir, for showcasing Rivers State’s raw talents to the global stage. This landmark trip has successfully opened windows for further international tournaments, as several top-tier clubs are already extending invitations to the Real Madrid Football Academy, Port Harcourt,” Isaac- Harry said.
She pledged that the management and students of the Real Madrid Football Academy will continue to bring honour and glory to Rivers State to justify the massive investment the State Government has made on the soccer academy.

By David Owei
Former President Goodluck Jonathan, and Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State have underscored the need for true fiscal federalism as the key to resolving the national question of sustainable unity and development in the country.

The two leaders made the assertion during the public presentation of Elder Braeyi Ekiye’s book titled, “Redefining Nigeria: Essays on State, Nation, Leadership and Democracy,” at the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Government House, Yenagoa on Thursday.

Governor Diri, who spoke at the event through his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe, stressed that Brayi Ekiye’s book asked questions every serious-minded citizen should ask, noting that the questions of state, nation, leadership and democracy were fundamental to building a just, equitable and progressive nation every patriotic Nigerian deeply yearns for.

According to the Bayelsa helmsman, the issues raised by the book resonated in the findings of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission, which stands as a reference point for justice for the Niger Delta that continues to carry much of the nation’s economic burden.

While describing the evolution of the book as quite timely, Governor Diri maintained that engagements which strengthens democracy, good governance and nation-building are always encouraged by his administration.

His words: “Redefining Nigeria asks questions that every serious-minded citizen must confront. What binds us together as a nation? How should power and resources be shared among the various units of our federation? What does a citizen owe the state and what do leaders owe the people who entrust them with power?

“These are the questions of state, nation, leadership and democracy that the subtitle promises, and the author approaches them not as an outsider but as one who has watched our national journey closely and cared about where it leads.

“For us in the Niger Delta, these are not idle questions. Our region has carried much of the nation’s economic weight while bearing its heaviest environmental cost. Our creeks, farmlands and fishing waters tell that story more eloquently than any statistic.

“We have insisted that the restoration of our environment and the dignity of our communities must be at the centre of any honest conversation about the future of Nigeria, and why the findings of the Bayelsa State Oil and Environmental Commission remain a reference point for justice in our region. Our people have earned a voice in shaping the federation, and books such as this one help to make that voice heard.”

On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan described the book as a bold and timely contribution to the national discourse, emphasizing that the work was a testimony of a life dedicated to service and the development of the nation.

Jonathan, who was represented by the former Governor of Adamawa State, Hon. Boni Haruna, remarked that Elder Braeyi Ekiye had served Bayelsa and the country in various capacities with integrity, humility, wisdom, diligence and distinction, noting that the book was a product of experience, and pivotal to national discourse.

According to the former President of Nigeria, since independence, the nation has been in search of a true definition of “who we are and what we want to be and how we want to live together as a people.”

He said the footprints of the book, which revolves around state, nation, leadership and democracy, were the exact issues Nigeria has been grappling with today as a nation, maintaining that no nation could grow beyond the quality of the conversations it has about itself.

He said, “This book represents a bold and timely contribution to our national discourse. At his age, if Elder Braeyi Ekiye could still find the energy and clarity to write and publish a book such as this, it is a testimony of a life dedicated to service and national development.

“He has served this state and this nation in various capacities with integrity, humility, wisdom and distinction. This book, therefore,is a product of experience and not just theory.

“The title, Redefining Nigeria, is profound and timely. We are gathered here to discuss how to redefine the Nigerian state. Of course, since independence, Nigeria has been in search of a definition – who we are, what we want to be and how we want to live together as a people.

“The state we have is not yet the nation we desire, and the nation we desire cannot emerge without a purposeful leadership, and a purposeful leadership cannot thrive without deepening our democracy.”

In his presentation, the book Reviewer, Prof. Godini Darah, described Elder Ekiye’s 413-page work as encyclopedic and thought-provoking and emphasized the need for people to document their experiences and knowledge to guide others.

According to him, the 45-page book which has three sections, highlight issues arising from petroleum resources in the Niger Delta, examines Nigeria’s democracy and managing the polity in the interest of the people.

Making reference to a comparison drawn by the author between political elites of the South East Asian countries and those of Nigeria, Prof. Darah opined that the nation has failed to make appreciable progress due to lack of real patriots and nationalistic leaders.

He said: “The Asian elites are developing their countries to meet up the standard of America, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Italy and so on. So, their politics is concerned about how their own multinational companies can match Julius Berger, Coca-Cola.

“In contrast, the Nigerian political elites are not struggling to put our products in the world market. They are rather struggling to be agents of Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, and they are ready to sell this country for nothing.”

In his welcome address, the Chairman of Pan Niger Delta Forum, Amb. Godknows Igali, praised the author for translating his reflections about the country into a book which will outlive him and benefit posterity.

While underscoring the deprivations the Niger Delta region has suffered despite its huge contributions to the national coffers over the years, Amb. Igali expressed hope that Nigeria could be built as a united and prosperity country on the basis of equity, fairness and justice.

The Chairman of the Bayelsa Elders Forum, who doubled as Chairman of the occasion, also congratulated the Elder Ekiye on his efforts and stressed the importance of books towards the development of individuals and nation-building.

In his remarks, the author of the book, Elder Braeyi Ekiye, described his work as part of ongoing efforts to chart a progressive course of the evolution of a new Nigeria that could proudly stand as a united, secured and prosperous nation in the world.

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Dr Fred Agbedi, represented by Chief Kelvin Tawari, the Pere of Kabowei Kingdom, His Majesty Peremobowei Erebulu, the Special Adviser to Governor Diri on Political Matters, High Chief Collins Cocodia, were among notable figures that launched the book.