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  • Elections: Police nab suspect who led attack on DCP in Bayelsa

    Elections: Police nab suspect who led attack on DCP in Bayelsa

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The Police on Friday said that they have arrested Hon. Sunny Adi, the mastermind and ringleader of the irresponsible, unprovoked and unwarranted attack on a Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Kola Okunola in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State, on Sunday, February 24, 2019.

    They also said that two other persons arrested in connection with the incident are: (i) Tamarapreye Victor, ‘m’ 34yrs and Azi Newton ‘m’ 34yrs.

    Hon. Sunny Adi, a candidate of one of the major political parties in the House of Representatives Elections in Brass Constituency, Bayelsa State, was arrested in his hideout somewhere in Abuja this morning, 1st March, 2019 in a well-coordinated covert operation.

    The arrest according to Police Spokesman ACP Frank Mba is in line with the directive of the Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni for the immediate arrest, comprehensive investigation and diligent prosecution of all persons involved in the Sunday, 24th February, 2019 attack on the DCP in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State.

    The Police image maker in a statement alleged that while leading the team providing protection for INEC officials, voters and materials, DCP Kola Okunola was brutally attacked and molested by thugs led by Hon. Sunny Adi.

    Meanwhile, effort is ongoing by the Police to apprehend other members of the gang involved in the unwholesome attack on the officer.

    As we go into the Governorship/House of Assembly Elections slated for Saturday, 9thMarch, 2019, the IGP reiterates his earlier warning that the Nigeria Police Force under his watch will not condone any act of assault against any member of the Public, including the personnel of the Force legitimately assigned to protect the sanctity of the ballot.

     

  • Hoodlums strip, abduct police boss in Bayelsa [Photo]

    Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal SARS, Kola Okunola, has been taken hostage by thugs allegedly loyal to a former governor and the member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Kemela Okara, said that the thugs led by Sunny Goli and backed by the military are mounting pressure on the Deputy Commissioner of Police to accept fake results from Brass.

    He added that the Deputy Commissioner of police refusal to sign the fake result caused a disagreement between the police officer and a Major of the Nigerian Army and his men.

    According to him, the DCP who insisted on submitting the right results to INEC was token hostage in the waters and stripped naked by the thugs.

    The situation has caused serious tension in Brass. He lamented that the Nigerian Army seemed to have taken charge of collation of the election results in Brass.

  • Election Violence: Army arrests 15, recovers arms in Bayelsa

    The 16 Brigade of Nigerian Army in Yenagoa has arrested 15 armed thugs during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa and Ex-Gov. Timipre Sylva had earlier accused each other of masterminding violence that trailed the polls in the state.

    Major Jonah Danjuma, spokesman of the 16 Brigade told NAN on Saturday that several arms and ammunition, among others, were recovered from the armed hoodlum suspected to be political thugs.

    “Trops of 5 Battalion, 16 Brigade Nigerian Army today arrested 15 armed men suspected to be political thugs at Ikebiri 1 in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

    “It was a successful operation that led to the recovery of large cache of arms, ammunition and other items.

    “This feat was achieved as a direct response by vigilant troops in Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2019 in 16 Brigade Area of Responsibility.

    “There are indications that the armed men are highly suspected to be political thugs who planned to disrupt the presidential and national assembly elections in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area in Bayelsa,” Danjuma said.

    According to the Brigade Spokesman, items recovered from them include
    one General Purpose Machine Gun, two 200 horse powered speedboats, large quantity of ammunition, 16 mobile phones and seven Motorola radio.

    Also recovered are five Motorola battery charger, three wrist watches, five torch light, four identify cards, and the sum of sixteen thousand naira.

    The Brigade restated her resolve to ensure a seamless conduct of the general election in support of the lead security agencies.

    The Brigade, however, called on the people of the state to provide credible information on the activities of criminal elements in the society.

  • Police dismiss man who shot undergraduate in Bayelsa

    The Police Command in Bayelsa State has dismissed a sergeant Timadi Emmanuel, who allegedly shot and killed Tariela Nikadae, a 20-year-old undergraduate of Petro-Chemical Engineering, Niger Delta University, Yenagoa.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that on Nov. 23, Sgt. Emmanuel, attached to a patrol team in Akenfa Division, while on patrol on Tenacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa, allegedly shot Nikadae dead.

    DSP Asinim Butswat, Spokesman for the command, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Yenagoa on Wednesday that the policeman would be charged to court as soon as investigations were concluded.

    “The Bayelsa Police Command regrets the unfortunate incident involving a police officer and a resident of Tenacious Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.

    “The policeman has been dismissed after preliminary investigations into the incident as he would be prosecuted as soon as investigations were concluded,” he said.

    Meanwhile, residents of Tenacious Road area have continued to allege harassment and violent assault of innocent members of the public by some policemen in the area.

    Some of the residents have complained of indiscriminate arrests by the law enforcement agents who allegedly made no efforts to screen them, nor listen to their defences during the arrests.

    Mr Prosper Jacobs said that he was assaulted and bruised for daring to tell the police team that he was innocent and committed no crime.

    “I and many others were then taken away in the van and detained overnight.

    Another victim, Michael Gibson, a civil servant said that he was arrested when he went to buy recharge cards in Amarata area of Yenagoa and forced into the patrol van.

    “They never cared to listen to any explanations. I told them that I am a teacher and they could verify my claim from my neigbours but they took me and others and locked us up,” he said.

    The Bayelsa Government had in a statement by the Information Commissioner, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, alleged that the deployment of Police Commissioners to Bayelsa was being politicised.

     

  • Cultists kill 16-year old undergraduate in Bayelsa

    Suspected cultists yesterday killed a teenager in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, in a bid to snatch her mobile phone.

    The 16-year-old girl, Siefa Fred, a 100 level student of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) was shot dead while running an errand for her mother in the state capital.

    Fred, who was at home following the strike action declared by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was said to have gone out at about 8pm to buy roasted meat popularly known as suya for her mother.

    She was said to be close to her residence when the hoodlums opened fire on her in a bid to snatch her phone.

    Her mother was said to have rushed to the scene following the gunshots only to see her daughter in a pool of her blood.

    The helpless mother raised the alarm that attracted sympathizers, who rushed the girl to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    Investigations showed that the incident was one too many as innocent residents in Yenagoa are constantly attacked and killed by cultists, in a bid to rob them of their mobile phones.

    “The incident happened at about 8pm beside Zenith Bank in Amarata area. The suspected street cultists, who were on the prowl, shot her and ran away with her phone leaving her dead on the ground.

    “Resident of the area came out and rushed her to the hospital, but she later died. Her is currently at the mortuary,’’ said a source.

    The killing of the girl sparked outrage as residents condemned security agencies, especially the police for failing to contain cultists in the state.

    One of the residents identified simply as Moses said: “It is as if Bayelsa is a lawless state. These boys are everywhere with arms killing and maiming people just to snatch their valuables especially phones. They operate at night and in daytime without hinderances. We are not safe. Imagine the cruel way the life of young and vibrant Seifa Fred was snuffed out by them(cultists).

    “The government must rise to the occasion. They should partner with security agencies to stop this killing. The government should not allow cultists to form their own government”, he added.

    Recall that suspected cultists had been terrorising Obele, Abor Road, Saint Peters area, Amarata, Kpansia, Opolo and Tombia areas, described as red spots in Yenagoa.

    Friends of the deceased she was chatting with them on the social media, a few minutes before her death.

    One of her friends, Gideon Owili said: “Bayelsa state is really not safe. Seifa Fred was online a few minutes ago. She was shot dead because of her smart phone. She gave them the phone, but they still shot her. I am in tears and deep sorrow.’’

    The leader of the Egbesu Brotherhood, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei, described the killing as unfortunate and called on the youth to stop the violence.

    “Cultism and abuse of drugs is on the increase, there is no day that passes in Yenagoa, that gunshots are not heard. People are being killed like chickens, yet no reports of arrests made.

    “We should join hands together to restore peace in our state, cultism affects us all, if you are not a cultist then you are a victim, don’t wait for this government, security is everybody’s business”.

    The state government condemned the killing of Seifa Fred and called for collective efforts to stop agents of death.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson appealed to the security agencies to be alive to their duties.

    He said: “We need to get the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities. This is no time to apportion blames. We all need to take responsibility for our collective security.

    “We must all collectively condemn this and rise up to confront these criminal gangs terrorizing our neighborhoods. The perpetrators are not spirit. They live among us. Let us not be silent. Let’s not be afraid or shy away from reporting them because it could be anybody next”.

    The police in a statement signed by its spokesman in the state, Mr Asinim Butswat, confirmed the killing and promised to arrest the culprits.

    Butswat said: “On 8 November, 2018, at about 2030 hours, unknown suspected cultists at Amarata, Yenagoa, shot one Seiyefa Fred ‘f’ 16 years, while trying to dispossess her of her mobile phone. The victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

    “The Police have swung into action and are working on a promising lead on the identity of the suspects and efforts have been intensified to arrest them.

    “The command has embarked on community engagement meetings with relevant youth bodies in a bid to stem the tide of cult related activities. Members of the public should continue to assist the Police with useful information to combat crime in Bayelsa State”.

  • Why I can’t order opening of Bayelsa schools now – Dickson

    The Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the weekend ruled out immediate reopening of schools, which were closed by the government following the flood disaster.
     
    Dickson, who spoke in a media chat in Yenagoa, said there was a need to protect children from water borne diseases.
     
    But the governor assured the people of the state that the schools would not be closed for too long following the flood assessment reports by a committee led by the Commissioner for Education, Jonathan Obuebite.
     
    He said the Ministry of Education was working to mitigate the negative impact of the closure on the overall performance of students in the forthcoming West African Examination Council (WAEC).
     
    The governor noted that while the flood started to recede, government was more concerned about the health and safety of the children.
     
    He said that the government was taking steps to ensure proper sanitation of all the schools including the ones that were converted to camps for displaced persons before children were allowed into them.
     
    He said: “We ordered a forced closure of all schools about a month ago to ensure the safety of the children. But now that the flood is receding, we will do everything possible to make our schools habitable before announcing the resumption of schools.
     
    “But let me assure you that, that will not be too long from now. The State Ministry of Education is monitoring the water level and making daily reports to me. We are not in a hurry to push children who are vulnerable to harm’s way.
     
    “On the issue of the performance of our students in national examinations, I want to assure you that government will encourage all schools to make some adjustments to enable them to make up for lost time”.
     
    The governor, who commended the flood victims for their resilience said the government would do its best to ameliorate the plight of displaced persons and ensure their resettlement into their communities
     
    He called for collaboration in proffering long term solutions to address the flood issue through the dredging of the major rivers, tributaries, shore protection as well as construction of sea walls and shelters.
     
    Dickson also offered automatic employment to all indigenes of the state,mwho graduated with first class in their respective areas of studies.
     
    He called on such graduates, who did not pick the employment forms for the 1000 vacancies announced earlier by the government, to approach the civil service commission for enrollment into the service.
     
    He explained that the automatic employment of first class graduates would be in addition to the 1000 graduates awaiting oral interview to be conducted by the Civil Service Commission.
     
    He explained that his desire to bequeathed a vibrant and productive civil servant inspired the decision to engage all first class graduates in the state.

  • 2019: Former Bayelsa Gov, Sylva speaks on alleged plans to dump APC

    Former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva has debunked insinuations that he was on his way out of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
     
    Sylva in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Julius Bokoru, also described as inconsequential, the recent defection of his former Campaign Director, Media and Publicity, Chief Nathan Egba, to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
     
    Bokoru in the statement on Thursday clarified that the reported defection was a sponsored rumour, describing the PDP as a floundering party.
     
    “Ordinarily, Chief Sylva would have stepped over this most mundane rumour cooked by the basest of minds but for his teeming supporters, members of the All Progressives Congress and the good people of Bayelsa State who this rumour is aimed at
     
    “Let it be established that Chief Timipre Sylva is firmly of the APC and nurses no plan to leave the party to any other party, least of all the PDP which is floundering and churning in the throes of its last days.
     
    “Chief Sylva cannot leave the APC, a party he has joined in building, in both state and national, to the very top of political and governmental efficiency”, Bokoru said.
     
    He attributed the rumour to the agents of the state government saying they kept recycling the report on the social media to achieve some evil intentions.
     
    He said: “The purported defection of Sylva which they announced through their Facebook hirelings in August had to be recycled in October, just like the ridiculously untrue story of the 48 houses they keep recycling every year.
     
    “The fact is not lost to Chief Sylva that this latest defection story coincides with the so called defection of a certain Nathan Egba who was neither a member of the APC nor a man with any bit of political relevance.
     
    “Chief Sylva urges his supporters, members of the APC and the good people of Bayelsa State to remain steadfast as this current darkness will soon give way for light”.
     
     

  • Ex-Bayelsa governor Sylva denies dumping APC for PDP

    Former Governor of Bayelsa and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, has denied defecting from the party to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sylva governed Bayelsa between 2008 and 2012 under the platform of the PDP, but joined the APC since 2014 upon the formation of the party.
    His media assistant, Mr Julius Bokoru, in a statement in Yenagoa on Thursday, said contrary to some rumours, his boss remained a loyal and committed member of the APC, and had never contemplated moving to PDP.
    “Members of the All Progressives Congress and the good people of Bayelsa whom this rumour is aimed at, let it be established that Sylva is firmly of the APC and nurses no plan to leave the party to any other party,” Bokoru said.
    He said Chief Sylva would not leave the APC, a party he joined in building at both state and national levels.
    He said the former governor had urged his supporters, members of the APC and the people of Bayelsa to remain steadfast, as APC meant well for the state.
    NAN

  • Flood: Osinbajo visits Bayelsa, reinstates FG’s support for victims

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday flew over some parts of Bayelsa State to asses the flood situation, describing it as a major disaster.
    Osinbajo made the assertion when he, Governor Seriake Dickson and some Federal Government officials visited internally displaced persons camps in the state on Friday.
    The VP was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Maihaja, Senator Magnus Abe and former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.
    Osinbajo said they were in the state for an assessment of the impact of the flood in Bayelsa.
    The Vice President, who explained that they were in the state at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed shock and pledged the Federal Government’s support in the area of resettling the IDPs who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
    He said, “You are obviously going through a lot of stress but despite that, you are still able to smile. On our way here, we flew over some of the communities affected by the flood. We saw so many areas affected by the flood, many homes, farmlands are under water.
    “We saw clearly that it is a major disaster indeed. We were able to see that there is a major disaster in Bayelsa, especially in Yenagoa. We express our sincere sympathies to you. It is a sad development. We are glad we were able to respond as quickly as possible.
    “We will support as much as possible with the National Emergency Management Agency which is working hard to ensure that we give as much succour and provision of tents, mattresses, food, mosquito nets and all that are required.
    “In the next few weeks, many will be returning home where many have lost their homes, farmlands, and livelihoods. We will support Bayelsa state government in the resettlement efforts which is more important.

  • Four abdructed oil workers in Bayelsa regain freedom

    Abducted four members of a Joint Investigation Team probing the cause of an oil spill at Agip’s facility in Azuzuama, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have regained their freedom.
    Major Ibrahim Abdullah, Spokesman of the Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, said on Wednesday in Yenagoa that they were freed following pressure from the troops in search of the kidnappers.
    Suspected kidnappers abducted the four persons, including two employees of Nigerian Agip Oil Company in Azuzuama, along the waterways on Oct. 4.
    Also, Mr Peter Idabor, Director-General, National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), whose employee was a victim, confirmed the release to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
    “The incident happened last week and the four people held hostage were freed yesterday. Our staff member who was among the victims has reunited with his family.
    “He was abducted along with a staff member of Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and two Agip staff members. They were all released together,” Idabor said.
    NAN