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Tag: Warri

  • Buhari’s minister condemns killing of Joseph Pessu, says act is barbaric

    Buhari’s minister condemns killing of Joseph Pessu, says act is barbaric

    Festus Keyamo, Minister of State for Labour and Employment has condemned the killing of Joseph Pessu, describing the incident as a barbaric act.

    In a statement personally signed, the Minister said he would be forwarding a petition to the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder.

    The statement reads: “I have received disturbing reports and images of the high-handedness and shooting of innocent citizens by men of the armed forces deployed to enforce the COVID-19 lockdown in my State, Delta State.

    “Specifically, I have received reports of the killing of an innocent young man, Mr. Joseph Pessu in Warri. I unreservedly condemn this barbaric act by men of the armed forces who should exercise restraint when dealing with the civilian populace. I will be forwarding a petition to the relevant authorities to thoroughly investigate this murder and bring the officer(s) to book. In the interim, let us not take the laws into our hands, please.

    “I will also use this medium to sincerely appeal to my brothers and sisters in Delta State to be law-abiding and obey the orders of restrictions imposed by both the Delta State Government and the Federal Government.

    “They are lawful orders and they are for our own good. Images and reports of attack on law-enforcement agents by the civilian populace do not help our cause. I call on all and sundry in the entire country too to exercise the utmost restraint at this point”.

  • Itsekiri youths blow hot over killing of Joseph Pessu

    Itsekiri youths blow hot over killing of Joseph Pessu

    The Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) has expressed sadness over the killing of Joseph Pessu, and has called on the government to make sure the killer is brought to book.

    In a statement jointly signed by Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, President, INYC and Comr. Appearance Afejuku, Secretary General, INYC, the Itsekiri youths narrated how Joseph was killed.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) and its President Comr. Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, have been drawn to the gruesome killing of one of his members by men of the Nigerian Army at Ada Val Arenyenka Street, Ugbuwangue earlier this morning in Warri.

    “The Council gathered that Late Mr. Joseph Pessu, a law abiding citizen and committed member of the INYC was racing through NPA Express Way to go pick his sick father to the hospital when men of the Nigerian Army flagged him down. Before he could apply his breaks, one of his tyres was deflated. He managed to negotiate into the nearby Ada Val Arenyenka Street. As he alighted his car to query why he was shot at, one of the gun wielding officer shot him at close range. Mr. Joseph died on the spot.

    “The INYC is using this medium to call on the Delta State Government and the Nigerian Army to fish out the recalcitrant and blood thirsty Army officer who used the excuse of the Covid 19 Lockdown enforcement to murder a defenseless citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The INYC queries the deployment of men of the Nigerian Army to enforce a Lockdown against a virus that is yet to claim any life in Warri and Delta State but instead it is the bullet of the Nigerian Army Officer that has claimed a precious life.

    “We demand justice for late Joseph Pessu. We want the murderous officer to be apprehended and punished according to the dictates of the law. Otherwise, we may not be able to manage the events that will happen hereinafter especially in this period of Lockdown”.

  • Warri Boys Association demands justice for Joseph Pessu

    Warri Boys Association demands justice for Joseph Pessu

    The Lagos State chapter of Warri Boys Association (WBA) has called for calm and demanded justice for Joseph Pessu, who was killed allegedly by an officer in the Nigerian Army.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports WBA made the demand in a statement signed by Mr Harrison Jalla, urging the government to ensure that the erring security agents are fished out immediately and justice done to the soul of Joseph Pessu.

    The statement reads: “President of the Warri Boys Association (WBA), Lagos, Mr Harrison Jalla has expressed shock over the gruesome murder of Mr. Joseph Pessu, allegedly killed by men of the Nigerian Army, who were reported to have shot Pessu for initially refusing to stop when he was flagged down.

    “Mr. Joseph Pessu according to reports was said to be driving through the NPA express way in Warri to pick his sick father to the hospital when men of the Nigerian Army were said to have flagged him to stop before his tyres were shot at by the security agents. Mr Joseph Pessu was however able to pull over at Ada Val Arenyenka Street, Ugbuwangue on the same express way, where he was allegedly shot at close range and subsequently died on the spot.

    “The WBA President, Mr. Jalla, expressed his association’s sadness over the way and manner the security agents handled the situation which unfortunately resulted to the untimely death of Joseph Pessu. Mr Jalla is therefore using this medium to call on the Delta State government, the Nigeria Army high command and Mr. President to ensure the erring and blood thirsty security agents involved in this dastardly act are fished out immediately and justice done to the soul of Joseph Pessu.

    “The Warri Boys Association President would also like to advice that the COVID-19 lockdown enforcement by security agencies should be done with ultimate decorum and extreme civility in accordance with global best practices so that the citizens are not further subjected to mental torture and undue harrassment by overzealous security personnel.

    “In the same vein, Mr. Jalla also urged the Delta State vigilante security outfit popularly called ‘Okowa Police’ to refrain from further harrassments of citizens in the state going by the unpleasant and unsightly behavior of some of their personnel in different video footages circulating online.

    “In conclusion, Mr Harrison Jalla, on behalf of the Warri Boys, Lagos; most passionately appealed to youths in Warri not to take the laws into their hands by attacking or assaulting security agents, even as he further urged them to restrain themselves from any wanton destruction or any retaliatory or reprisals attacks on the security operatives.

    “Mr. Jalla specifically condemned any acts of jungle justice on the side of the youths as being circulated online where some persons were seen attacking and assaulting security operatives and advised strongly that the appropriate authorities be allowed to intervene for justice to be done on the gruesome murder of Mr. Joseph Pessu”.

  • COVID-19: Govt calls for investigation into killing of Joseph Pessu in Warri

    COVID-19: Govt calls for investigation into killing of Joseph Pessu in Warri

    Delta State Government has called for an investigation into the alleged killing of a 28 year old Joseph Pessu in Warri on Thursday.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu in a statement in Asaba said the government was worried about the report of Joseph allegedly by security agencies on regular patrol duty.

    The Commissioner said the State government has sent a delegation to the deceased family to condole with them over the loss of their son.

    He stated that the military authorities have been contacted to carry out an investigation into what led to the killing of the deceased.

    He, however, called on the people to remain calm and not to take laws into their hands while the government conducts an investigation into the killing.

    Mr Aniagwu thanked Deltans for their cooperation so far by remaining indoors and called for further cooperation with the State Government in the best interest of Deltans.

  • Lockdown goes wrong in Delta, residents attack army officers after soldier kills Warri boy

    Lockdown goes wrong in Delta, residents attack army officers after soldier kills Warri boy

    The Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown seemingly has gone wrong in Delta State after an army officer reportedly killed a young man for allegedly driving on the road instead of staying at home.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the incident, which occurred at Ugbuwangue in Warri South Local Government Area of the State, resulted to a violent protest.

    According to an eyewitness, who revealed the name of the victim as Joseph Pessu, the victim was on his way to his sick father’s house to take him to the hospital before he met his waterloo.

    The eyewitness narrated that haste did not allow Joseph to stop when he was flagged down by some army officers, who were on patrol along the NPA expressway. An army officer in the patrol team then shot at one of the tires of the car Joseph was in.

    “One of his tyres was first blasted by one of the army officers. He quickly parked in a nearby street off the NPA Expressway to explain why he refused to be flagged down but the temper of one of the soldiers couldn’t make him wait for any explanations. He was then shot at close range by the trigger-happy army officer who refused to listen to any explanation.

    “Everybody around the murdered Joseph say good things about him. He had no history of criminality or violence. So sad that it wasn’t the Coronavirus that cut short this young life but a bullet from those who are enforcing the lockdown against the invisible virus,” the eyewitness said.

    When an army officer at the Effurun Barracks of the Nigerian Army was contacted, he simply said, “I am not in the position to talk about this. The issue filtered in, but I cannot ascertain the veracity of it.

    Also, the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Mohammed Inuwa Hafiz did not take his calls when contacted, and at the time of filing in this report, no words have been received from him.

    TNG, however, gathered from a reliable source that the army officer responsible for the killing of Joseph has been apprehended and that the matter is being investigated to unravel what really happened.

  • COVID-19: Agency charges residents of Warri, Uvwie to clean up surroundings

    COVID-19: Agency charges residents of Warri, Uvwie to clean up surroundings

    As part of measures to enhance personal hygiene and curb the spread of diseases including the ravaging Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Warri/Uvwie and Environs Development Agency (WUEDA) has charged communities and residents of the area to immediately embark on a cleaning exercise of their surroundings.

    The Agency said that it was pertinent for the people to instantly tidy up their environment not just to promote a healthy living but particularly to ensure that the circumstance that could stimulate the growth and spread of the corona virus was avoided.

    In a statement issued by the Director General (DG) of WUEDA, Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay, the Agency said that due to the seriousness and urgency of the issue at stake, the people have to commence the cleaning exercise straightaway and not wait for a government declared environmental sanitation day.

    “Given the devastating effect of the corona virus (covid-19) worldwide and the increasing rate of its spread in Nigeria, we have no other option now than to clean up our surroundings, on individual and house to house basis.

    “Besides keeping our environment neat, it will help us to live healthy, checkmate the spread of infectious diseases like the corona virus.

    “So we plead with you all in the Warri and Uvwie axis to go clean up that gutter in your front, that heap of dirt in front of your kitchen and that refuse in your office, shop and market place. Above all, maintain a clean attitude inside your residence,” the DG said in the statement.

    Macaulay who is a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) reiterated the government’s commitment to the integrated development of the entire Warri and Uvwie axis through the master drainage project and facelift of the area.

    According to him, the charge for the people to clean up their surroundings did not mean that the government was running away from its responsibilities.

  • Osinbajo, Lawan, El-Rufai, Wike storm Warri for Omo-Agege’s thanksgiving [Photos]

    Osinbajo, Lawan, El-Rufai, Wike storm Warri for Omo-Agege’s thanksgiving [Photos]

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Governors Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State have arrived in Warri for thanksgiving by Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly (NASS), is thanking God today at Mother of Redeemer Catholic Church, Airport Junction, Effurun.

    Omo-Agege is returning to the Almighty God with thanksgiving for his electoral victory, elevation to the post of Deputy President of the Senate, and other innumerable blessings and great deeds of God.

    Reception had been billed to hold at Jubilee Centre, inside Holy Martyrs of Uganda Seminary, Enerhen Road, Effurun, after the church service.

    Also arriving the township of Warri is the State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who received Vice President Osinbajo at the Osubi Airport in company of Senator Omo-Agege, Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodima and his Jigawa State counterpart, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar.

    See photos below:

    Meanwhile, Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria, Mr. Boss Mustapha has also arrived in Warri through the Osubi Airport.

    Attending the thanksgiving are the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Silva, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senate George Akume and former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State.

    Others are Senators Ibikunle Amosun, James Manager, Senator Rochas Okorocha, Delta State House of Assembly, Chief Sheriff Oborevwori, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh (NDDC, EDP), Rev. Francis Waive, Olorogun Ovie Omo-Agege and many others.

    Also attending are traditional rulers from Delta State including 103-year-old Chairman of the Forum of Urhobo Traditional Rulers and Ohworode of Olomu Kingdom, HRM Ovie Ogbon, Ogoni 1, Orodje of Okpe, Olu of Warri, Ovie of Uvwie, Ovie of Agbon, Ovie of Agbarha-Otor and others.

  • DTSG set to tackle flooding in Warri, environs as master drainage system commences

    Communities in Warri, Uvwie and environs have been charged to embrace peace to enable the commencement of the drainage project conceived to end the perennial flooding and the attendant consequences in the economic nerve center of the state.

    The director general (DG) of Warri/Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency (WUEDA), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay gave this charge Thursday at a meeting with the representatives of the communities at his office in Warri.

    He stressed that the state government has resolved to stop the flooding challenge being faced in the area, and that it was in the interest of the people affected to cooperate with the contractors to accomplish the work smoothly.

    “Peace is indispensable in achieving development, you must collaborate with the government and the contractor to ensure that the target of stopping this flooding menace is realized once and for all.

    “Please go back to the elders and youths and advise everyone to be peaceful, and not disrupt the activities of the contractor. The contractor has the next 18 months to deliver but I know that if we cooperate with them, the job will be delivered before that period”, Macaulay stated.

    According to him, the contracting firm has been urged not to employ outsiders for jobs that the community youths can easily be engaged to do, stressing that as the project progresses, more communities would be engaged while those that had been used will be disengaged.

    “Communities whose areas have been handled do not need to interfere with others when it gets to their turn, to avoid dispute,” he added.

    The Chairman Ekurede Itsekiri Community Mr. Olugbo Ese Abel stated that his community will support the Agency to deliver on the project because they have been suffering from flood for the past eight years.

    Also the Secretary, Okere Community, Dr. Uku I. Godwin expressed optimism that things will turn out well for the communities when the project is achieved, and assured the Agency that there would be no disturbances from the youths.

    Furthermore, the Ugbori Community Secretary, Mr. Abel Beji said that the youths of Ugbori Community are solidly behind the Government to do what they propose to do for the good of the people.

    On his part, the Superintendent Manager, Levante Construction Limited, Mr. William Tayor stated that the study for the project is perfect, and that they will start by clearing up the waterways in the affected areas.

  • Man loses savings as unchecked waste fire ravages Delta community [Photos]

    Man loses savings as unchecked waste fire ravages Delta community [Photos]

    An unchecked waste fire consisting of sawdust on Saturday ravaged a community in Delta state.

    The incident occurred at Sand Field 1 and 2, popularly known as Warri Corner, Warri South-West Local Government Area, Delta State.

    According to an eye witness account, “The fire set in one of the sawmills to burn sawdust accidentally crossed the Warri river and two houses were torched in the process”.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that one of the victims, a man lost his savings to the fire incident.

    A community source told TNG, that a woman whom her husband gave an undisclosed sum of money to keep before he set for a journey to Lagos State said the fire burnt the naira notes beyond recognition.

    “A woman whom her husband gave an undisclosed sum of money to keep before he set for a journey to Lagos State lost the monies to the fire. When she called the man on the fire incident, he had rushed back home (Warri) only to see that all his household properties razed by the inferno.”

     

  • ‘Enormous’ economic potentials in Sapele, Warri other ports revival – Omo-Agege

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has described as “enormous,” the economic gains to be derived from reviving the Sapele, Warri, Burutu, and other ports in Delta state.

    He also harped on the need for oneness in Urhobo nation, urging its leaders to prioritize the interest of the ethnic nationality in their different dispositions.

    The DSP spoke at the inaugural public lecture of the Urhobo Renaissance Movement (URM), held Tuesday, at the PTI Conference Centre, Effurun.

    URM, a group of professionals of Urhobo extraction, seeks to “rekindle the spirit of unity” and promote development across Urhobo nation.

    Represented by an aide, Chuks Erhire, Senator Omo-Agege said rebirthing the culture of Urhobo people will include developing the economic and social sectors of the land.

    “Your task in cultural renaissance, as you know, has to take into account the totality of our ‘Urhoboness’. It is in this context that I understand your earlier call on the federal authorities to resuscitate the six sea ports in Urhobo and adjourning lands that have since been abandoned or closed to commercial traffic. These include Sapele, Warri, Koko, Forcados, Burutu and Escravos ports.

    “There’s need for a concise, constructive and sustained follow-up on this until the desired results are obtained as we are aware of the enormous economic potential this holds. This is in terms of job creation, as well as the creation of ancillary industries, complete with the multiplier trails they leave in their wake.”

    Omo-Agege while recalling the efforts of the founding father of the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Chief Mukoro Mowoe, to ensuring unity across Urhobo land, posited that the establishment of the renowned Urhobo College, Effurun (UCE), in 1946 “is a reconciling symbol”.

    He further urged the organisation to use its various capacities to forge the much needed “unity of purpose and interest within the Urhobo leadership, and nation in general. We cannot be tired of calling for unity of purpose among our people since our nominal strength translates to divisions and clashes”.

    Meanwhile, in his lecture, Professor of Commercial and Industrial Law, Prof. Joseph Abugu, opined that keys to reviving the fortunes of Urhobo nation should be directed towards cultural, economic and political “resurgence”.

    Calling for Urhobo leaders to be “vocal” in the agitation for Nigeria’s restructuring, he said, “the clamour for restructuring of this country will continue and only equity will cure it. Our independence will come when our leaders recognize there is inequality in the system.”

    Former Minister of Information, who chaired the occasion, Prof. Sam Oyovbaire, had earlier commended the organization for remaining steadfast in its vision to ensuring the development of Urhoboland, urging those with “access to where decisions are being taken” to use it as an “asset”.

    Dignitaries at the ceremony include member representing UghelliSouth North/South/Udu Federal constituency Hon. Francis Waive, Convener of URM, Professor Hope Eghagha, traditional rulers, among others.