Crime

Man Shot Dead in Suspected Cultist Attack

By Web News 830

A yet-to-be-identified man was on Thursday night shot dead by gunmen suspected to be cultists along the Nanka/Lumumba Diobu axis between Mile 2 and Mile 3 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

It was gathered that about three gunmen had trailed the deceased to a location where he went to buy noodles and shot him in the head.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter said, “It was around past 8 pm. Some people were still outside receiving fresh air because of the heat wave when it happened.

“Some boys, I believe they are cult members, followed this man, and as soon as he bought noodles and was returning home, they shot him at a close range.

“The boys disappeared immediately, and people living within the area started running for their lives. Many people ran into their houses, and some shop owners closed and hid themselves until it was safe to leave the area. It was later policemen came to remove the man’s corpse. There was blood all over the floor because he was shot in the head,”

Another source linked the shooting to a cult war between two factions of the Deygbam gang.

When contacted on Saturday, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident but dismissed the claim of cult war.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

INEC Reschedules Election in Parts of Lagos, Plateau, Rivers

By Web News 818

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has rescheduled voting for Sunday in 10 polling units at Victoria Garden City, VGC, Lagos, following disagreements over the relocation of the polling units.

Voting has also been rescheduled for today in Butura Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State as well as Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA) and parts of Degema LGA in Rivers State.

The Commission had moved the 10 polling units to locations outside the gate of the VGC as against their original designated spots.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, told newsmen after speaking with the residents that voting would now be held today, Sunday between 8.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m.

He said the residents had earlier been informed of the relocation of the polling units to spots outside the VGC gate following an alleged hostage-taking of INEC officials during the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

”Most of them were hesitant to come here today”.

“Consequently, we sent a message to the estate leadership to inform them that today’s elections would be held in front of the gate.

“We mobilised and our officials were here before 8 a.m., but the estate’s leadership claimed that non-resident hoodlums might destabilise the process outside the gate. So, they did not feel secure.”

Agbaje added that statistics show that VGC has eight polling units at the VGC Park and two others outside the park, all designated by INEC.

He said also that statistics showed that there were 6,024 registered voters in the city, 5,624 of whom collected their Permanent Voter Cards.

“When we got here, we saw a different situation where it was even difficult for security operatives to contain.

“I had to inform INEC National headquarters about the situation and it was agreed that we should mobilise here tomorrow morning at 8.30 to conduct the election”.

“We are still appealing to the corps members to come on Sunday. But if they don’t come, we shall mobilise our regular staff because they will be free after today’s exercise,” Agbaje said.

Similarly, in Plateau State, INEC rescheduled voting in Butura Ward in Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State to today, owning to logistics problem.

The state INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Oliver Agundu, said that election materials such as ballot papers meant for the ward were taken to another LGA in error.

He noted that in order not to disenfranchise members of the community, the election in the area would now hold on Sunday, March 19.

He regretted any inconveniences caused by the delay and eventual shift of the election.

He urged members of the community to come out in their numbers to exercise their franchise.

In the case of Rivers State, rescheduled voting will take place in Asari-Toru Local Government Area (LGA) and parts of Degema LGA.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Rivers State, Dr. Johnson Sinikiem, said elections were not conducted in the affected places yesterday “as a result of the voters resisting deployment of election officials and materials for Governorship and State.”

He added: “House of Assembly election. Voters and other stakeholders demanded seeing the Ward Collation Officers before they would allow election to commence.

“At Ward 14 of Degema LGA, voters equally demanded that the SPO must come to the RAC with collation sheet which is the responsibility of Collation Officers, thereby not allowing election to hold.

“Standing on this premise and relying on section 24 of the Electoral Act 2022, the INEC has decided to conduct the election of Asari-Toru local Government Area and Ward 14 of Degema Local Government Area on the 19 of March, 2023.”

Nation/Adebukola Aluko
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Security

Okon Takes over as Rivers New CP

By Web News 1134

The new Commissioner of Police in Rivers State, Okon Effiong Okon, says he is an advocate of human rights, saying under his watch the rights of persons would be respected.

Mr Okon vowed to ensure violent free campaigns in the build-up to the 2023 general elections.

He stated this at his maiden media press briefing at the Police Command’s headquarters along Moscow road, Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

CP Okon assumed office as the 43rd Commissioner of Police in the state, succeeding Friday Eboka who has been promoted to Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 16, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Okon who is the immediate past Commandant, Police College, Oji River, Enugu State hails from Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

The new CP also promised to place a premium on the protection and respect for human rights, especially for the civilian populace across the state.

Okon explained that the police owe it as a responsibility to the good people of Rivers State to ensure a conducive environment.

“Environment where human rights are respected, an environment where people are free to conduct their businesses freely and an environment where people are able to go to sleep with their eyes closed.  It is an arduous task and I think it is achievable.

“Rivers State has been relatively peaceful compared with a lot of other states. We will try the best we can to maintain the level of safety and peace existing in the state. Rivers State has paid its dues, and so deserves peace,” he said.

Okon said he would the command under his watch would be proactive, saying, “We will take the battle to them.

“So those who desire that the people of Rivers State will not have peace, themselves will not have peace. We will take the battle to them and smoke them out of their hideouts.

“Now is the best time to come out of crime and other social vices, because Rivers State will not provide a place for you to do what you want to do. We must engage in meaningful activities that will contribute to the growth and development of Rivers State.”

Continuing, he said, “You are quite aware that we are already in the season of elections, campaigns have started. The new electoral law does not give room for thuggery and violence.

“Therefore we will do everything possible to ensure that right from the time of campaigns violence and thuggery are eliminated. People should be able to come out freely to discharge their responsibilities as it portends to electing those to govern them.

“And therefore the processes that are geared towards ensuring elections in this place must be well guided. I call on parents to ensure that they don’t allow their children to be used for thuggery.

“For those who will be caught in this act, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure their prosecution.

“In the same manner we are saying people should stay out of crime, it is the same manner we are saying people should stay out of political thuggery and violence.”

Culled / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Health

FCT, 6 States On Red Alert Over COVID-19 Delta Variant

By Web News 703

The Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, PSC, has put six States and the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Kaduna, Kano, Plateau and the FCT, on red alert as part of preventive measures against a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic following the confirmation of the Delta Variant and the rising number of infections and hospitalization in the country.

Chairman of the PSC and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, in a statement urges States to heighten preparedness and continue to enforce safety protocols, “given the renowned greater ease of spread of the Delta variant”.

The PSC also notes its plan to continue to minimize the risk of importation of Variants of Concern into the country by strengthening Surveillance at all Points of Entry, enforcing extant quarantine protocols and sustaining the current restrictive measures against travelers arriving from India, Brazil, Turkey and South Africa.

While felicitating with the Muslim Ummah on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the statement stresses the need for Religious Leaders to be mindful of the potential for the wider spread of the virus during large gatherings.

The statement recommends decentralization of Eid prayer to neighborhood Friday prayer mosques, suspension of durbar activities and limitations on indoor gatherings, as preventive measures for a safe Eid-el-Kabir celebration

Emmanuel Kutara