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Tag: Bayelsa State

  • See faces of young girls who beat, stripped friend naked over man in Bayelsa

    See faces of young girls who beat, stripped friend naked over man in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State Police Command has revealed the identities of three young women who assaulted and stripped their friend over a dispute involving a man.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the suspects have been identified as Kadi (22), Blessing (21), and Miracle (20). The trio allegedly tortured and humiliated their friend, Nancy, for reportedly being involved with one of their boyfriends.

    Investigations show that the suspects lured Nancy into a room, locked the door, and began interrogating her. When she denied the accusation, they violently attacked her, punching her repeatedly in the head. They went on to strip her and record the assault, later uploading the video on social media.

    During police questioning, Kadi blamed her actions on alcohol and peer pressure. She claimed she became remorseful after sobering up, saying: “With my normal eyes, I wouldn’t do this.”

  • How we kidnapped Bayelsa High Court Judge – Suspects

    How we kidnapped Bayelsa High Court Judge – Suspects

    Suspected kidnappers of Bayelsa High Court Judge, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro on Thursday narrated how they committed the crime.

    Eight suspects, including six males and two females, were paraded by the Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa, Francis Idu.

    The Director, Department of State Services, Adedapo Amao, in Yenagoa, was also present.

    The suspects are currently in the custody of the DSS, which coordinated the rescue of the victim and arrest of the abductors.

    Gov Douye Diri, of Bayelsa had, during the state executive council meeting on Wednesday, disclosed that all the suspects involved in the kidnap of the judge had been apprehended.

    He, however, said that the gang leader was still at large.

    One of the suspects, Justice Brodrick, who spoke to journalists during the parade, said he is an indigene of Ozobo community in Delta State.

    He confessed that he was part of the kidnap operation after a man he referred to as his boss informed him about it.

    The suspect narrated that upon arrival in Yenagoa, they were given uniforms and vehicles for the operation and that they immediately swung into action.

    He said that Justice Omukoro was taken from the premises of an eatery at the Ekeki area of Yenagoa and moved to a location in a neighbouring state.

    Brodrick, however, claimed that they had no particular target but stumbled on the Judge.

    He said that the victim was immediately moved to their camp, and when he told them that he was an Ijaw from Ekeremor Local Government, they decided to “treat him well.”

    According to him, the man who they call “General” insisted  that the victim should be kept in handcuffs but as a fellow Ijaw , be treated with care.

    “So, he called me on June 21 that I should come to Yenagoa. He also called John Uzi, the person that is beside me. And I called Kelvin Olu, my younger brother, to come with me to Bayelsa.

    “We mobilised the vehicle for the movement and uniforms were provided. We moved from our camp, and it was not a fixed target.

    “We were just patrolling before we met the Judge at Kilimanjaro. So we approached him and kidnapped him from there to our camp,” he said.

    Another suspect, who identified himself simply as John, said he was contacted but did not join in the operation as he was not feeling well and that he was in the camp when the victim was brought in.

    The Commissioner of Police said that the arrest of the suspects was a testimony to the success of the security governance measures of Gov. Diri.

    He said that the governor always insisted that security agencies should work together to ensure that Bayelsa was free of crime and criminality.

    Idu stated that the DSS sent a special team from Abuja for the operation, which led to the arrest of the suspects, including the two females that were their accomplices.

    The police chief lauded the governor for providing the necessary logistics for the operation.

    He said that the CCTV cameras mounted by the government in parts of the state were useful  throughout the rescue operation and their eventual arrest.

    Idu warned those with criminal intentions to have a rethink as Bayelsa was no longer a safe haven for criminals.

  • Bayelsa: Police nab judge’s abductors, officer rewarded for rejecting $17,000 bribe

    Bayelsa: Police nab judge’s abductors, officer rewarded for rejecting $17,000 bribe

    Abductors of a judge of the Bayelsa State High Court, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, have been arrested by the state command of the Nigerian Police.

    Gov. Douye Diri disclosed the arrest on Wednesday, during the state executive council meeting in Government House, Yenagoa, while honouring an officer, Superintendent of Police, Sentome Obi, who rejected a $17,000 bribe offered by a suspect.

    Recall that Justice Omukoro, was kidnapped on June 21 in Yenagoa and was held in captivity for 12 days before he was rescued through the joint effort of security agencies in Bayelsa.

    Also, recall that Justice Omukoro was abducted in front of a popular eatery, Kilimanjaro on the fateful day.

    The governor said everyone involved in the kidnap had been picked up by the police except the gang leader that was on the run.

    Diri restated his warning to criminally-minded individuals to steer clear of Bayelsa, and stressed his administration’s commitment to its zero tolerance policy for crime and criminality.

    He said the government had improved security architecture in the state with the acquisition of drones for the police to fight crime in addition to the installation of CCTV cameras in different parts of the state capital.

    According to him: “We have greatly improved our crime fighting efforts using technology. In the recent kidnap of a serving judge in the state, we were able to get him released unhurt.

    “We summoned the security agencies and gave them the necessary logistics. At the end of the day.

    “All those who committed the crime were apprehended except one that is still on the run. Bayelsa has zero tolerance to crime and criminality,” he said.

    Diri commended the security agencies for their efforts in ensuring that the state was safe and peaceful.

    While honouring SP Obi, the Bayelsa governor praised his gallantry, honesty and devotion to duty.

    He said the officer, who is an indigene of the state, brought dignity and pride to the Force and  Bayelsa.

    The governor recommended Obi to the Inspector General of Police for promotion in recognition of his gallant effort in crime fighting.

    Diri announced a reward of three-bedroom flat and a car as a mark of honour for his exemplary integrity.

    He said at a time the Nigerian Police was grappling with image issues, Bayelsa had produced a police officer with commendable character and proved that a good name was better than riches.

    According to him: “SP Obi did not only make the state proud, he also bolstered the image of the Nigerian Police and I urge other officers to emulate his shining example.

    In his remarks, Mr Francis Idu, Bayelsa police command Commissioner congratulated the government and people of the state for producing one of the most dedicated and well-groomed officers in Obi.

    The police chief stressed the need for government to invest more in boosting security towards the protection of lives and property.

  • Strike paralyses activities at Bayelsa polytechnic

    Strike paralyses activities at Bayelsa polytechnic

    The shutdown of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe in Bayelsa by Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) has persisted for nine days following a face-off between workers and management of the institution over deductions of union dues.

    Union leaders said that the institution would remain under lock until the Rector and Governing Council Chairman are removed to pave way for the face-off to be resolved.

    NASU had on July 11 shut down the institution over withheld June salary and non-remmittance of four months union dues of its members.

    The aggrieved workers locked up the institution’s liaison office in Yenagoa, the main campus at Ekowe and the residence of the Rector in Yenagoa.

    The management of the polytechnic on Thursday released the withheld June salary of NASU members but failed to remit outstanding union dues.

    The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe chapter of NASU vowed that the institution would remain under locks until the check-off dues dispute is resolved.

    Mr Etebu Ebifiye, NASU Chairman, in the polytechnic told NAN that the non-remmittance of union dues by the management was a breach of labour laws and a threat to industrial harmony.

    According to him, the non deduction and remittance of union dues from members’ salaries was an existential threat to NASU at the polytechnic located on the bank of River Nun in Southern Ijaws Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    Ebifiye said that the rector directed the payment of the withheld salary without remitting check-off dues for June in addition to January, February, March ænd April 2025 which triggered an industrial action in the institution.

    He explained that although the Rector had called for truce to end the industrial action, only a reversal of the four months check-off dues and removal of the Rector will make the workers shift grounds and unlock the institution.

    “We have been occupying the polytechnic’s liaison office in Yenagoa since July 11. The Rector had tried in vain to use force to disperse us by making a false report that we are vandalising the Polythecnic’s facilities.

    “Armed security men in four vans came to forcefully open the gates but when they saw no sign of vandalism, they left. We cannot resort to vandalising property left in our care. It is our property and we are poised to protect and not vandalise.

    “We have occupied this place and kept vigil here and until the check-off dues is restored, we go nowhere. The Rector has called me and I told him our stand. We are waiting for him to act and we unlock the gates,” the labour leader said.

    Ebifiye noted that NASU members were tacitly denied promotion as their appraisal forms were not endorsed.

    He said: “The rector is not worker-friendly, he has demonstrated that he lacks capacity to run the institution, what he did is an attempt to kill the union and we will not succumb to his whims and caprices, we shall ensure that we fight till he is removed from office.

    “He directed all the Heads of Departments and the Deans that NASU members should not be appraised, a decision that affects the career progress of hundreds of our members

    “As long as NASU members are excluded from the promotion , we will make sure that the promotion exercise doesn’t hold here,” Ebifiye said. .

    However, in his reaction, Mr Nimizuo Pereseigha, Public Relations Officer of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe said that the management remains committed to peaceful resolution of the dispute through dialogue.

    He explained that NASU leadership has been rebuffing moves by management to discuss and resolve the labour crisis.

    “The management got reports from the workforce that some workers have their union dues remitted to unions they do not belong to. Some workers also got upgraded for instance from non academic to academic cadre and their union dues still go to NASU whereas they now belong to Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ASUP).

    “To resolve this the management asked the three unions we have here to have their members update their membership status and endorse consent forms.

    “Out of three unions, ASUP, NASU and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), ASUP and SSANIP complied and submitted consent forms to validate their memberships but NASU refused to comply.

    “Consequently, management deducted union dues for the two unions that regularised the status of their members and for NASU members, 100 per cent of their salaries were paid without deduction of the two per cent union dues,” Pereseigha said.

    On the alleged exclusion of NASU members from promotion, Pereseigha said that while the NASU members were on strike, the members of other unions completed and submitted their performance assessment forms only to turn back to blame the Rector, Dr Lukman Adegoke for a process concluded while they were on strike.

    Pereseigha noted that the management as part of efforts to resolve the dispute has asked NASU members to fill and submit their appraisal forms to participate in the promotion exercise but they have yet to respond.

    The Public Relations Officer said that a reconciliation meeting has been scheduled to hold on Sunday evening to chart a way out of the crisis.

  • Kidnapped Bayelsa High Court Judge regains freedom after 12 days in captivity

    Kidnapped Bayelsa High Court Judge regains freedom after 12 days in captivity

    The abducted Judge of the Bayelsa High Court, Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, kidnapped on June 21, has regained his freedom.

    Omukoro who was abducted by armed gunmen in front of an eatery in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa, was released on Thursday evening.

    The rescued judge, had already been debriefed at the Department of State Services (DSS) by operatives at their Command headquarters in Yenagoa.

    The State Director of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi and the State Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, in their various remarks, said that the abducted judge was released unhurt without any ramsom payment.

    Omukoro speaking to journalists at the DSS premises said he was grateful to everyone who participated in his rescue efforts, describing the last 12 days as “confusing”

    “I was confused in the kidnappers’ den. I still cannot come to terms with the fact that I was kidnapped and kept in the forest and exposed to cold. I thank God I was rescued alive.

    “I can’t thank God enough; it will always be an unforgettable experience for me. I thank God I came out alive,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Daniel Ayah, said that the rescue of Omukoro was a collective effort between the security agencies, the Judiciary and the state government.

    Ayah noted that the Chief Judge of the State was seriously disturbed by the incident, adding that three suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime, while three others were still at large, according to the police.

    Similarly, the state Commissioner of Police, Idu, said that the joint efforts of the security agencies brought about the rescue of the abducted judge.

  • Bayelsa Police releases fresh details on abducted judge

    Bayelsa Police releases fresh details on abducted judge

    The Police Command in Bayelsa on Sunday, assured that efforts are underway to rescue Justice E.G. Umokoro, abducted by gunmen alleged to be dressed in Police uniforms.

    Gunmen had on Saturday evening opposite Ekeki Motor Park, shot sporadically to scare people and  whisked away Umokoro to an unknown destination.

    Mr Francis Alonyenu, Commissioner of Police (CP) in Bayelsa gave the assurance in an update statement on Sunday in Yenagoa.

    The CP clarified that the armed gunmen who abducted the judge were not policemen as perceived by members of the public.

    Alonyenu explained that Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa, had directed all security agencies to redouble efforts to locate, rescue the Judge and deal decisively with the hoodlums behind the abduction.

    “The Bayelsa Police Command is fussing efforts with other security agencies and reviewing video clips, with other digital footages, related to the event.

    “We have well formatted crime mapping sketches that is aiding ongoing law enforcement efforts being mustered in the rescue efforts.

    “Guarantees are herewith given that this singular incident, should not orchestrate any mistrust between the Bayelsa Public and security forces within the state.

    “The support of Sen. Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State and the good people of the state, have enhanced our capacity and determination to ensure that the Justice is rescued unhurt,” the CP stated.

    Alonyenu assured that security measures were being upscaled, to drive the command’s law and order management strategies, to find foreclosure to the incident.

    “At this point, it is also important to appeal to members of the public to desist from any attempt to obstruct or hinder ongoing measures put in place for the rescue of the Hon. Justice.

    “We call on your support and understanding in this regard, please,” he added.

  • Tension as gunmen shoot sporadically, abduct High Court Judge in Yenagoa

    Tension as gunmen shoot sporadically, abduct High Court Judge in Yenagoa

    There was tension in the Ekeki area of Yenagoa in Bayelsa State on Saturday as some gunmen stormed the area, shooting sporadically.

    The Bayelsa Police Command thereafter confirmed on Sunday that Justice E. J. Umokoro was abducted in the aftermath of the shooting.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed confirmed the alleged kidnap of the Judge.

    “Umokoro, a judge at Bayelsa State High Court was on Saturday evening abducted from his car at a fast food outlet at Ekeki area of Yenagoa.

    “The command has deployed tactical teams and drones to trail and arrest the hoodlums,” DSP Mohammed said.

    It was gathered that the gunmen fired sporadically at the car park of the eatery before forcing the judge out of his vehicle and whisking him away in a waiting Toyota Hilux.

    The judge had been waiting for his daughter, who had gone into the outlet to make some purchases.

  • Bayelsa APC women decry non-inclusion in Tinubu’s govt

    Bayelsa APC women decry non-inclusion in Tinubu’s govt

    Bayelsa All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Forum has called for inclusion of its members in political appointments by the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.

    Chairperson of the forum, Dame Julie Donli, made the call in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.

    Donli, a former director-general of NAPTIP, said that the forum had enough technocrats and professionals who could add much value in the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu-led government, if given the opportunity.

    She appealed to the party’s leadership to consider its members for political appointments at all levels.

    Donli said that the demand for inclusion by Bayelsa APC Women in Tinubu’s government also reflected a broader call for greater representation of women in governance.

    She said that the movement was driven by the promises made during Tinubu’s campaign, where he vowed to increase women’s participation in government to at least 35 per cent.

    Donli expressed concerns about lack of women’s representation in political appointments from the state in spite of the critical role that they played in Tinubu’s electoral victory.

    She stated that many women in the state who actively supported APC and Tinubu had been left out of key appointments, saying that this had dampened their spirits.

    Donli noted that the women gave everything, including their time, energy and resources, adding that some even paid the ultimate price toward the success of Tinubu’s campaign.

    “Now, we are two years into the administration’s victory we helped to deliver, yet not a single one of us has been appointed or acknowledged.

    “Our women have not been compensated for all their pains and sacrifices, and we feel neglected.

    “As Bayelsa APC women, we want to advocate that we should be carried along in all the party’s affairs, not just in the state, but at the federal level.

    “We are closer to the party women at the grassroots, the largest voting bloc in the state, and so our demography should not be neglected,” she said.

    The chairperson recalled that Bayelsa APC women were part and parcel of the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s campaign train, who traversed the length and breadth of the country and took the message to the grassroots.

    She stressed that the current situation had broken the spirit of many women from the state who stood boldly for the APC and the president at a time when others were undecided and nonchalant.

    “We campaigned vigorously and tirelessly in the riverine communities which others couldn’t reach.

    “But today, our dedication and hardwork have been undervalued, while others who didn’t contribute as much are being rewarded,” she said.

    The woman leader emphasised the urgency for Tinubu and party leadership to address the concerns of their supporters in order to rebuild trust, boost morale and maintain the enthusiasm of its support base.

    According to her, prolonged silence and exclusion can have severe consequences for the party’s future prospects in the state.

  • SAD: Bolt driver shot dead in Bayelsa

    SAD: Bolt driver shot dead in Bayelsa

    Police operatives from the Bayelsa State Command have evacuated the remains of a bolt driver, who was shot dead on Friday morning at Samphino Road Junction, Yenagoa.

    The lifeless body of the middle-aged yet-to-be-identified driver was discovered early Friday morning inside his vehicle at the Samphino Road Junction in the Kpansia suburb of Yenagoa.

    Residents, who discovered the scene raised the alarm which prompted a swift response from police operatives, who quickly cordoned off the area.

    It was gathered that the body of the commercial driver has been deposited at the mortuary for possible autopsy.

    Residents, who got to the scene early suggested that the victim might have been shot at close range by suspected armed robbers.

    Reacting to the incident, a senior police officer, who spoke on anonymity at the crime scene, said that a full-scale investigation was underway.

    “We are working to gather all necessary intelligence.

    “Forensic teams have been deployed to the scene and we are also liaising with the bolt company to retrieve trip data that may help in tracking down the culprits,” he said.

    The Police Spokesman in Bayelsa, ASP Musa Mohammed confirmed the incident to NAN and said that investigation was already in progress.

  • NUJ condemns attack on Bayelsa radio station

    NUJ condemns attack on Bayelsa radio station

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists, Bayelsa Council, has condemned the recent attack by gunmen on a private radio station, Rhythm 94.7Fm in Yenagoa.

    The NUJ Bayelsa Council Chairman, Comrade Tonye Yemoleigha, and the Secretary of Council, Comrade Stanley Imgbi, made their feelings known in a statement to newsmen on Monday in Bayelsa.

    They described the attack as a rape on the entire media family in Bayelsa and on press freedom.

    “The state council was informed that the gunmen on two separate days, Saturday, May 17, at about 2: 10p.m and on Sunday, May 18, at 4: 40p.m attacked the station and carted away valuables.

    “Some of the valuables collected include mobile phones, recorders and operational gadgets belonging to staff on duty,” Yemoleigha said.

    He enjoined the security apparatus, especially the Commissioner of Police, to fish out the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to book.

    He further urged that a police patrol van be stationed around the media house, as is the case in several strategic points in Yenagoa because of the isolated location of the radio station.

    The NUJ Bayelsa boss, however, expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost during the attack.