Law & Crime
Rivers Crisis: Two Policemen Feared Dead As Youths, Police takeover Council headquarters

There is an uneasy calm across the 21 out of 23 local government areas of Rivers State following the expiration of the tenure of the council chairmen in the state.
Eye-witness account revealed that tension is building up across the 21 LGAs of the State as Rivers youths and fully armed policemen have taken over the council secretariat.
The tensed atmosphere and demonstrations by the youths and other Rivers men followed the declaration by the council chairmen that they will not vacate office when their tenure elapse on Monday June 17, 2024.
The situation has sparked fears of possible outbreak of violence among residents of the state.
Our Correspondent gathered that in some local government headquarters in the state shows that Police vans have taken over the entrance gates of Port Harcourt City LGA, Ikwerre LGA and Obio/Akpor Local government councils.
At Degema LGA, Asari Toru LGA, Akuku-Toru LGA, Emohua LGA, Ahoada West LGA, Ogu/Bolo LGA and Eleme LGA, mammoth crowd of youths were seen taking over the council and blocking the secretariat gates, chanting songs in solidarity and demanding the departure of the Chairmen whose tenure has elapsed.
The youths vowed to remain at the gates till Wednesday to stop now ex-elected council officials from gaining access their offices.
They insisted that their three-year tenure ended on June 17 and that they should not be seen around the secretariat after the Sallah holiday.
The youths were heard chanting “Chairman must go”, as others arrived the gate to join them.
At Omuma local government, the youths did not only takeover the secretariat, it was reported that two police officers have been feared killed as violence broke out at the council headquarters.
Meanwhile, in Obio-Akpor local government area, home town of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, some youths were seen destroying a statue of the former Rivers governor, built by the out-gone Chairman, Barr. George Ariolu to honour the minister.
The youths were heard chanting “There is no more Wike, no more no more, for many thousand years.”
Though the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara in a state broadcast this morning, directed Head of Administrations of the local government areas to take over leadership of the council, but there were indications that he (Fubara), had sent a list of caretaker committees to the lawmakers led by factional Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo.
In the meantime, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Olatunji Disu has warned residents of the state against taking laws into their own hands, emphasising that anyone found breaking the law would face the full wrath of the law.
CP Disu while addressing newsmen at the State Police Command headquarter assured the public that the Police is committed to maintaining law and order, even as he declared his readiness to protect lives and properties in the face of ongoing tensions.
The Commissioner however, urged parents to caution their children against getting involved in the crisis, warning that they should not be used as “cannon fodder.”
He also vowed to protect all government property and human lives in the community, ensuring a safe and secure environment for all.
He said: “My job as a police policeman protect lives and property. And that is what we have gone out to do since morning.
“We are aware of the crisis that has to do with the tenure of the Local Government Chairmen and we have gotten one court order or the other, and the court of Appeal has given an order for everybody to exercise restraints till the 20th of this month, just three days.
“So we expect everybody to respect it and not take laws into their hands and allow peace to continue as it is.”
Disu further assured that his officers are working round the clock to safeguard the property and lives of residents of the State.
He added: “Sincerely you know our officers have been out for the past three days.
“I just finished addressing them and I thank them for the good job they have done and because they have been out since 4 Am, and they just came back, we are not taking it lightly, we are ready to go, our officers have been on a show of force and we have had additional men given to us from the Headquarters, the equipment has been serviced and we are ready to go.
“This is just to assure members of the public that so far as we are concerned we are ready to do our jobs of protecting lives and property.
“We have warned anybody who would want to take laws into their own hands. I want to use this opportunity to talk to parents to call their children to order and talk to them so that their children will not be used as cannon folds in this crisis.
“Everything that has to do with government property and every human being in this community would be protected.”
Editorial
Pro-Wike group appaulds judiciary as member regains freedom

By David Owei, Yenagoa.
The pro-Wike political group, the New Associates in Bayelsa, has applauded the Judiciary for not yielding to intimidation in the case involving its member, Ms Awudumu Reigneth.

Judicial logo
Reacting to Reigneth’s release after meeting her bail conditions, the convener and lead of New Associates, Georger Turnah, commended the Judiciary for demonstrating its strong independence in the face of intimidation.
Turnah, in a press statement signed by his media assistant, Kevin Loveday-Egbo, stated that Chief Magistrate Baitmizimo demonstrated exceptional courage.
‘’We would also like to commend Chief Magistrate Obiri Baitimizimo for her courage and boldness in ensuring justice, even in the face of obvious intimidation. The Bayelsa State Judiciary has once again demonstrated its independence and integrity by not yielding to the grand plan of Diri’s administration to keep Reigneth incarcerated as punishment for exercising her rights to free speech and expression. The courageous decision made by the magistrate to grant bail in the most liberal terms underscores the importance of a functional judiciary in safeguarding democracy, which is an exemplary high for the State Judiciary.’’
Turnah, while also commending Reigneth for ‘’unwavering courage and determination in the face of oppression’’ also applauded the professionalism and commitment of the legal team.
He however, expressed disappointment that” oppressive tactics and intimidation have become the hallmarks of the Diri-led prosperity administration’’ and implored the government to face serious issues of governance.
‘’As we celebrate Reigneth’s freedom, let us remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, equality, and democracy for all Bayelsans. Together, we will overcome the challenges posed by this current administration and build a state that reflects the hopes and aspirations of its people.
” We call on Governor Diri to focus on serious issues of governance, particularly the insecurity that is ravaging our State, rather than dissipating energy on targeting perceived enemies and wasting public funds on political battles. It is time to put the best interests of Bayelsans first.’’
Editorial
DSS pledges to partner with FIDA in Niger state to combat child abuse

Law & Crime
Fear,tension grip kashikoko Community in Niger state as bandits threaten to kill Eye-witness to arm- piteted Police officr

By Naseer Uthman-Baba
Fear and palpable tension is now brewing in Kashikoko Community in Lavun Local government area of Niger State as some suspects from Washe village who attacked a Mobile Police Officer Sergeant Aliyu Ndako and cut off his hand, robbed him of his money and other valuables are now targeting the eyewitness who was there with a view of killing him to errase the evidence against them.
It should be noted that the Police Area Commander in Bida, ACP Bakare Abiodun had earlier released the prime suspect arrested by vigilante group and handed over to him for investigation without any reasonable justification.
The District head of Kashikoko Saidu Minin Nagya whom the suspect claimed to have send them to assassinate the Police Sergeant Aliyu Ndako,has also been released on bail by men of the state Criminal investigation and intelligence Department ( SCIID) of the Niger State Police Command.
The Operatives of the SCIID in Minna, have put the investigation on hold on premise that the case has been transferred to Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone AIG Zone seven while the other suspects kept terrorising Kashikoko Community Threatened to wreck another harvok on them.
A Minna based legal practitioner Barrister Ebuka Egbunike Charles has earlier petitioned the Commissioner of Police Niger State Command on the attack of the Police Sergeant by some suspects from Washe
The district head of Kashikoko Saidu Minin Nagya was alleged to have ordered the attack on the victim Aliyu Ndako which led to the cutting off the hand of the Police Sergeant Aliyu Ndako who is attached to the Palace of the Etsu Nupe Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
The Legal practitioner, decried that ” If people who are alleged in the commission of crime of these nature are left uninvestigated despite repeated Petition to the police,the society will not be safe for the descent and the Police as an institution of security to protect lives and properties will be reduced to Public servants whom merely received salaries without corresponding justification”
He then called on the Commissioner of Police in Niger State to promptly act within the ambit of section 214 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and section four of the police Act. 2020Already, tension and apprehension is now brewing in the Community as they are now threatened to launch an attack on an eyewitness who was there during the attack on the Police Sergeant with the intention to kill him so as to erase the evidence against hi
At this point Barrister Ebuka Charlces has called on the Inspector General of Police IGP Kayode Egbetokun to as a matter of urgency to order for the arrest of the District head to explain his roles in heinous crimes of attempted murder, causing grievous hurt without provocation,armed robbery,and joint acts.
The Commissioner of Police in Niger State, was earlier Petitioned ” yet these people are still going about threatening the Community. The IGP should for the interest of security and safety of the Kashikoko Community order for the arrest and the Prosecution of these and people and summon the Area Commander in Bida ACP Bakare Abiodun “
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