By George Mgbeleke

Senate on Tuesday urged the Federal Government to urgently tackle erosion in Obogoro community, Bayelsa State, through shoreline protection.

The resolution followed a motion titled “Urgent need to save Obogoro community from extinction” sponsored by Senator Benson Kombowei (APC Bayelsa Central).

Presenting the motion, Kombowei said possession of land is essential for any community to preserve identity, livelihood, culture and communal life.

He warned that Obogoro people “are in serious danger of losing their ancestral land and their communal life as a result of an aggressive erosion that has persisted for decades.”

According to him, the erosion has caused loss of lives, property and livelihoods over the years.

He listed recent losses to include about 300 people rendered homeless, public primary school buildings and field washed away, youth corps lodge and community playground destroyed, and several persons drowned.

Kombowei said the community has persistently sought help from government, including petitions to the National Assembly and oil companies operating in the area, without solution.

“The people of Obogoro community feel neglected and abandoned, and left to confront their life-threatening challenge,” he said.

He noted that erosion worsens during annual floods when river levels rise and flow faster, eating up land and shrinking the homeland.

Adopting the motion, the Senate called on the Federal Government to urgently provide shoreline protection to save Obogoro from extinction.

It also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to victims of flooding and erosion in the community while asking the leadership of the Red Chamber to ensure compliance with the resolution by the government.

By our correspondent

The Department of State Services (DSS) on tuesday, october, 20, 2026, arraigned five suspects who allegedly kidnapped the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members along the Owerri-Onitsha road Imo state

According to the charge sheet, the three primary suspects, were Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu, and Mohammed Alli

These prime suspects, however pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge of abduction and hostage-taking, collection of a N48 million ransom and dollars, and illegal possession of firearms.

The other two suspects, Aminu Haliru and Ibrahim Jiji, were charged with conspiracy and hostage-taking, as well as illegal possession of firearms.

The charge sheet also said that these suspects were accused of abducting Winner Ogidi, Opara Timothy, Ogechi Henrietta, and one other person on October 4, 2026. They also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution counsel, Ekezie Nwauzo, filed a motion seeking to keep the suspects in DSS custody, which was granted by Hon. Justice Emeka Orafu, who presided over the court.

Nnaemeka Adipuo represented the first and second defendants in the corps members’ abduction case, while Paschal Ofoma appeared for the third defendant.

The cases were adjourned to Thursday, October 22, and Tuesday through Thursday, October 27–29, for hearing.

Recall that about 20 corps members were reportedly abducted on October 1 along the Owerri-Onitsha road while traveling to NYSC orientation camps in Akwa Ibom and Abia States. They were released after about six days in captivity and subsequently reunited with their families.

Speaking to journalists after the court session, defence counsel Nnamdi Adipuo and Paschal Ofoma noted that the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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By Our Correspondent

A high Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Monday, dismissed a N120 million fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El’Rufai, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Attorney General of the Federation,and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In dismissing the suit for lacking in merit, the court awarded N200,000 each in favour of the DSS, EFCC and ICPC.

The presiding judge,Justice Sylvanus Orji, held that the letters of invitation by the EFCC and ICPC to the former governor met constitutional requirement, so did not infringe on his rights;
On El’Rufai ‘s argument that there was no warrant for his attempted arrest by the DSS at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, Abuja, the judge ruled that Service had inherent powers of the police pursuant to the SSS instrument and NSA Act.

The court further held that the DSS had the mandate to maintain watchlist action and arrest persons of interest, stressing that El’Rufai cannot use the court to stop the agencies from performing their duties.

On the question of whether the seizure of the ex-governor’s international passport by the DSS was a violation of his fundamental human rights, the court held that it was satisfied that the seizure was lawful and pursuant to the powers of the DSS and thus, the applicant failed to show that the seizure was continuous, permanent and unlawful.