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Tag: bayelsa

  • Dickson’s statement on PIB will plunge Niger Delta region into crisis – Bayelsa APC senator

    Dickson’s statement on PIB will plunge Niger Delta region into crisis – Bayelsa APC senator

    Lawmaker representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo has urged Niger Delta senators not to instigate violence in the region by making malicious and unfounded statements over the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    The lawmaker made the call at a news conference on Friday in Abuja while reacting to a recent statement credited to Sen. Seriake Dickson.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa, was alleged to have recently accused the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, of reducing the host communities’ development funds in the PIB to three per cent.

    Degi-Eremienyo said such statement by the former governor was capable of instigating violence and could lead to civil unrest in the Niger Delta region.

    He said Dickson`s statement was highly regrettable, considering efforts put in by the minister in actualising the long awaited PIB.

    “The true story was that the PIB as an executive bill was represented to the National Assembly, proposing 2.5 per cent of the total operational cost as host communities’ development trust funds.

    “The lead debate was hot and protracted in both chambers. Lawmakers from the Niger Delta region including myself spoke.

    “We argued for upward increase commensurate to our contributions and sacrifices; during the public hearing at various centres, host communities canvassed same position, “ Degi-Eremienyo said.

    He explained that after rigorous and painstaking processes from plenary to conference committee, the national assembly put the host community funds at three per cent.

    This, he said, was the national assembly’s decision not that of Sylva, wondering why he should be dragged into the issue.

    He noted that while other governors from the region rallied round their people and lobbied lawmakers from other regions to support increase in the host community development fund, Dickson did nothing while he was governor.

    According to him, Dickson was content with spending 13 per cent derivation on developing his own villages, not host communities, leaving the oil and gas producing host communities to suffer their fate.

    “It`s ridiculous to see him fighting pretentiously for host communities because he lacks moral grounds to criticise and attack Sylva,” Degi-Eremienyo said.

    TNG reports that the PIB sought to provide legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry and development of host communities.

    The key objective was ensuring good governance and accountability, creation of a commercially-oriented national petroleum company and fostering a conducive business environment for petroleum operations in the country.

  • Bayelsa police launch ”discreet” investigation into killing of undergraduate by jealous lover

    Bayelsa police launch ”discreet” investigation into killing of undergraduate by jealous lover

    The police in Bayelsa on Wednesday launched a ”discreet” investigation into the alleged killing of an undergraduate of the Niger Delta University (NDU), murdered by her soldier boyfriend.

    SP Asinmin Butswait, Police Public Relations’ Officer in Bayelsa in a statement said that Mr Mike Okoli, the Commissioner of Police, gave the order in Yenogoa.

    The police have recovered the decomposing corpse of the 23-year-old victim, Jennifer Ugadu, a second year student in the faculty of Education.

    ”The corpse was discovered on July 13. Preliminary investigation reveals that the deceased was shot in her apartment by her boyfriend, James Matol, who is allegedly a member of the Nigerian Army.

    “Investigations also reveal that the deceased was last seen with the boyfriend on July 11,” the police said.

  • Bayelsa Judicial Panel awards N21bn against Police

    Bayelsa Judicial Panel awards N21bn against Police

    The Bayelsa Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality and other Related Offence has awarded N21 billion to victims of extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the police and other security operatives.
    Chairman of the Panel, rtd. Justice Young Ogola, disclosed this while submitting the report to Gov. Douye Diri in Yenagoa.
    Justice Ogola said the panel received and determined 50 petitions and made recommendations based on their findings.
    Out of the 50 cases, he said 11 police officers were recommended for prosecution, one for dismissal, four for demotion, while eight cases were struck out and two adjourned.
    The chairman, explained that the N21 billion was awarded in damages out of the 40 cases fully determined, adding that the amount included compensation to communities razed down by the Nigerian Army.
    Receiving the report, Gov. Diri thanked the panel for doing a thorough job and promised to set up a government White paper committee to look into the report with a view to implementing its recommendations.
    The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, noted that government would look for ways to bring relief to the victims and families within available resources.
    ”Although no amount of compensation can bring back some of the deceased, the compensation will ameliorate the suffering of the victims and families caused by the excesses of misguided security agents,” he said.
    While acknowledging the enormous task of the security agencies to secure lives and property, Diri, called on security personnel to enforce the law within the confines of the law.
    “The panel was set up to get to the root of injustice, violation of human rights and the best way with which police and other security agencies in the country will discharge their duties professionally with human face.
    “The issues you have raised will be looked into. The N21 billion awarded is appropriate, but for the security agencies to pay is another thing.
    “We will within the limits of available resources and procedures see how these victims will get reprieve.
    “While the law enforcement agencies have everyday to protect lives and property, they also have a duty to do that within the confines of responsibility and protection of human rights of all citizens,” he said.
    The panel was inaugurated on Oct. 28, 2020 after the #EndSars# nationwide protest.

    Other members of the panel are Mr Y.B. Ogola, Mr Alaowei Opokuma as Secretary, A.T. Ambaowei, Mr Fortune Alfred Godson, Miss Perelade Demanche both representing civil society and Russell Newman representing the National Human Rights Commission.

  • Police uncover plan by IPOB to set up cells in Bayelsa

    Police uncover plan by IPOB to set up cells in Bayelsa

    The Bayelsa State Police Command says it has uncovered plans by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (lPOB), to set up cells in the state.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mike Okoli, made the revelation in a statement released in Yenagoa on Thursday.

    He also warned members of the public in the state to steer clear of any form of association with the outlawed group, as the command would not tolerate their activities in the state.

    Okoli said available intelligence before the command revealed the plans by some misguided elements, but assured that police operatives in the state were on their trail and monitoring their activities.

    The Police Commissioner maintained that the command would deal decisively with any person or group of persons that attempted to disrupt the prevailing peaceful security situation in the state.

    Meanwhile, the Youth Council (IYC), has sent a strong warning to members of IPOB to desist from holding any planned meeting in the state.

    The warning is coming on the heels of a statement by the State Police Command that it has uncovered plans by members of the proscribed IPOB to set up cells in the state.

    In swift reaction,the Chairman of the Central Zone of the IYC, Clever Inodu in a statement, said the activities of IPOB is capable of breaching peace in the state if left unchecked.

    He noted that the IYC would not permit any meeting of IPOB in the state even if they formally apply, stressing that Bayelsa would not be the place for them to push their secessionist agenda.

    He said: “The attention of the leadership of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Central Zone has been drawn to alleged gathering of the IPOB in the State.

    “Bayelsa State is among the states enjoying relative peace in the country, the activities of this group, if not checked, is capable of breaching the peace especially in view of the present fragile state of security in the nation”.

    He warned leaders of IPOB not to test their resolve to keep the state peaceful and called on all hotel owners and event centres not to rent their halls or premises to members of the group or the property would be shut down.

    Inodu said: “Ijaw nationality has been in existence even before the so called IPOB, I therefore, call on leaders of the IPOB to desist from any planned meeting in the state with the intent of spreading message of secessionist that is capable of breaching the existing peace and security in the state.”

  • You’re on your own, Bayelsa Governor tells aide who allegedly insulted Buhari

    You’re on your own, Bayelsa Governor tells aide who allegedly insulted Buhari

    The Bayelsa Government on Tuesday dissociated Gov Douye Diri from alleged inciting comments by one Bodmas Kemepadei, a social media aide to the governor saying the views expressed were his personal opinion.

    Mr Kola Oredipe, Director, New Media, Bayelsa State Government refuted the comments in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Yenagoa.

    Oredipe noted that Kemepadei lacked the powers and authority to speak for Diri.

    According to reports that Kemepadei is being interrogated by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly making unpalatable comments on the social media.

    Oredipe noted that the author acted on his own violation as the views he expressed had nothing to do with the Bayelsa government or the governor.

  • Pirates assassinate five-year-old girl, shoot speedboat driver in Bayelsa

    Pirates assassinate five-year-old girl, shoot speedboat driver in Bayelsa

    Gunmen alleged to be sea robbers have attacked a speedboat and murdered a five-year-old girl in Bayelsa State.

    The deceased, identified as Comfort, her sibling and their mother, Lovina Isegu, were allegedly aboard the speedboat with six other passengers.

    They were traveling from the Swali Market Waterfront in Yenagoa, the state capital, to Koluama 1 and 2 in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state when the incident happened around 5pm on Wednesday.

    It was gathered that the pirates opened fire on the speedboat while the driver was trying to abscond after sighting them as they approached Koluama.

    The state Chairman, Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria, Mr Ogoniba Ipigansi, confirmed the attack, adding that the boat driver, Mr Okilo Orubiko, was also shot.

    According to him, Orubiko had serious gunshot wounds but managed to steer the boat and the passengers to Koluama 1, where he was taken for medical treatment.

    Ipigansi said, “We are calling on the state and federal governments to pay serious attention to the security of lives and property of drivers and passengers travelling on the waterways.

    “We particularly urge the government to immediately do something to address the porous security in these areas as lives and property are no longer safe on the waterways.” ,,

     

  • TRENDING VIDEO! Angry youths attack Bayelsa’s King Diete-Spiff’s palace, set cars on fire

    TRENDING VIDEO! Angry youths attack Bayelsa’s King Diete-Spiff’s palace, set cars on fire

    A video has emerged on the internet, which captured how angry youths attacked the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff and destroyed properties in his palace in Bayelsa State.

    According to reports, started on the 16th of May, 2020 but snowballed into chaos on 18th, May when some youths hijacked a supposed peaceful protest and attacked the Amayanabo of Twon Brass, HRM Alfred Diete-Spiff, while he was in a meeting with the protesters to calm frayed nerves.

    Watch Videos:


    The host community has been protesting since last week and disrupted activities at the office premises of the oil firm on the Brass Island where members of the community comprising women, youths, and elders occupied and blocked access to Agip’s operational office demanding immediate restoration of power after two months of outage.

    It was gathered that the monarch had tried to persuade the settlement to discontinue their protest while talks with the multinational continue in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but the protesters rebuffed entreaties from the monarch, attacked him, and sack his palace.

    The people alleged that the monarch was complicit in several efforts by Agip to shortchange the community saying they no longer have confidence in his representation in talks with the oil firm.

  • Man kills roommate, sells body parts to Pastor in Bayelsa

    Man kills roommate, sells body parts to Pastor in Bayelsa

    4-year-old Okpegboro Avwerosuo who hails from Ughelli North, Delta State, has allegedly killed his roommate in Sagbama Town, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. He was also said to have sold the vital organs of the deceased to a pastor who is currently at large for ritual purposes.

    According to a neighbor who pleaded anonymity, the suspect invited the deceased to come to Sagbama to join the motorcycling business and assured him that the business is flourishing because of the Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro College of Education (IJBCOE) sited in the area.

    It was further learnt that when the deceased arrived in the town, he hadn’t stayed for more than two weeks when Okpegboro struck him with a mortar pestle in the middle of the night, crushing his skull and killing him in the process.

    The anonymous neighbour further explained that “after killing him, he dismembered the body, preserved the vital organs and put the other parts in separate sacks which he disposed of in the early hours of the following day. While he was disposing of the sacks, another neighbour who saw him and suspected his movements confronted him later in the afternoon about the whereabouts of his roommate.

    “The suspect claimed that the deceased has travelled back to Delta State for an urgent business. Not satisfied with his response, the neighbour forced his way into the room and saw bloodstains everywhere. The neighbour held him down and alerted the local vigilante which eventually called the police in to arrest the suspect.

    “Upon interrogation, before he was handed over to the police, the suspect confessed that he had sold the vital organs of his friend to a pastor in Port Harcourt who is currently at large for ritual purposes.”

    Also commenting on the incident, the President of Salga Federated Youth Council Worldwide, Comr. Preye Keku Casey, in a statement, condemned the gruesome killing of the young man, saying that the youth of Sagbama should be on alert to checkmate the activities of non-indigenes in the town as security tension continues to rise across the country.

    Parts of the statement read “just yesterday, the decomposing body of a young man was discovered in the bush by well-meaning Salgarians with several parts of the body already butchered into pieces and placed in sacks. The Nigerian Police, Sagbama Division, was alerted and it led to the arrest of a young man resident in Sagbama Federated Community, suspected to have been the perpetrator of the ungodly act.

    “The president, while condemning the act, calls on Sagbama youths to be very careful and vigilant as they go about their normal activities, especially in the wake of the rising insecurity level in the country. He urged Salgarians to be careful of the places they visit, those they associate with and keep as friends, and as well limit the time at which they keep late nights.

    “He, therefore, charged the security agencies to ensure that proper investigations be made in order to unmask those behind the murder of the young man, and ensure the arrest and prosecution of everyone involved in the act, and as well, ensure that the people of Sagbama LGA are protected from heartless blood-seekers, so as to avert such ugly incidence anywhere around Sagbama Local Government Area.”

    Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Nigeria Police Force, Bayelsa State Command, SP Asinim Butswat, said: “The suspect one Okpegboro Avwerosuo ‘M’ Age 34 Years from Ughelli North, Delta State. He is detained at SCID for further investigation. The name of the victim is yet unknown.”
    https://tribuneonlineng.com/man-kills-roommate-sells-body-parts-to-pastor-for-rituals-in-bayelsa/

  • [BREAKING] COVID-19: Bayelsa imposes dusk to dawn curfew

    [BREAKING] COVID-19: Bayelsa imposes dusk to dawn curfew

    The Bayelsa State Government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the state from 8pm to 6am daily.

    The Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Mr Ayibaina Duba, in a statement on Friday, said the curfew was part of the measures to prevent the spread of the surging trait of the new variants of COVID-19.

    He said the curfew takes effect from Sunday, May 16, 2021 until further notice.

    Duba said: “In view of this development, movements within as well as in and out of the state through the major entry points including Bayelsa/Delta states’ boundary at Adagbabiri, Gloryland Drive at Igbogene and Bayelsa/Rivers states’ boundary at Mbiama are prohibited during the hours of the curfew.

    “Relevant security agencies have been mobilised to enforce the curfew. Commuters and members of the general public are advised to take note of this development.”

     

    More details later…

  • Bayelsa primary school teachers lament that April salaries did not reflect new promotions

    Primary school teachers in Bayelsa have expressed disappointment that their April salaries did not reflect increases following promotions, despite the pledge by Gov Douye Diri.

    According to official sources, the state government made available about N200 million and had promised to commence the implementation of salary increases following the promotion of primary school teachers who are in the services of local governments.

    But the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the payment of promotion increment for primary school teachers stalled since 2013.

    Mr Igelege Samuel, who spoke on behalf of the teachers in Ogbia Local Government Area (LGA), told NAN on Tuesday in Yenagoa that primary school teachers felt disappointed when the increments were not reflected in their April salaries.

    He said that the approval granted by the state governor to commence the implementation of salary increments had boosted the morale of teachers whose incomes had remained stagnant for more than eight years.

    “The governor of Bayelsa had listened to our cry and shown his compassion by making funds available to assist the local governments to pay but we were disappointed that just a handful out of over 400 teachers got the increment.

    “Those of us who were left out happened to be in the majority and we are worried and demand to know what led to this.

    “We remain grateful to the governor who intervened to end our stagnation, the primary teachers in Bayelsa have been earning the same salary since 2013 even though they are promoted as and when due.

    “So the promotions in the past eight years have been merely cosmetic and have no financial implication on the monthly take-home pay and that is what this governor has addressed but we have not seen the money,” Samuel said.

    NAN reports that more than 100 of the affected teachers had gathered at the residence of the Account Supervisor for Ogbia LGA, Mr Yague James, to submit their promotion letters to facilitate the implementation.

    James had addressed the aggrieved workers and urged them to submit their documents to ensure that those who were omitted would be captured in the implementation of the promotion increment.

    He explained that the updated records, including promotion records, were required to compute the new salary scale of the teachers. (NAN)