Plateau Police Arrest Buhari, other Suspects in connection of 2023 Christmas massacre

The police in Plateau State have arrested another person involved in the December 24, 2023 attack on communities in Bokkos local government area which left scores dead and property worth millions of Naira destroyed.

The suspect, who was paraded with other suspects at the police headquarters in Jos, was apprehended in connection with another attack where one person lost his life.

The plateau state police commissioner, Emmanuel Adeshina, said the suspect, who has been at large, leads a group that specializes in attacks on villages and farmers.

Other criminal suspects paraded were caught for various crimes, ranging from cultism to kidnapping and robbery.

Emmanuel Adeshina said the state police will continue to rid the state of criminal elements who are out to cause pains to citizens and equally called for information from members of the public to help the police perform better.

The state police also had in their custody an elderly woman known as Ijeoma, who was seen wandering in Bassa local government area and seemed to be suffering from dementia.

Oborevwori tasks Delsu graduands on effective entrepreneurship as he offers automatic employment to best student

Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, Saturday April 27, 2024, approved automatic employment for the overall best graduating student of the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Ilebe Joshua of the Faculty of Pharmacy with 4.83 CGPA.

Governor Oborevwori who approved the automatic employment at the 16th Convocation for 2022/2023 academic session of the University, challenged graduands of the University not to think only of getting paid jobs but to be entrepreneurial in their approach to life.

While congratulating the graduands who had been found worthy in learning and character for the award of various degrees of the great citadel of learning, Governor Oborevwori said; “as you launch out into the world today, it is my earnest expectation that you will put to good use the academic knowledge and life lessons you have garnered during your sojourn here.

“Do not think only of getting a paid job; I challenge you to be entrepreneurial in your approach to life. Money is a reward for creating value. One of the things a quality university education does for you is that it makes you see challenges as part of life.

Governor Oborevwori commended the University’s Governing Council and management for the impressive growth recorded by the institution over the years, saying; “this administration is also committed to sustaining timely and predictable delivery of academic programmes in the state’s tertiary institutions.

Governor Oborevwori had on arrival inaugurated the faculty of Science Extension and Microbiology Laboratory Complex executed by the university.

Welcoming guests earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, said that a total of 4,776 students were graduated from the 2022/2023 academic session, with total of 730 postgraduate degrees, comprising 99 Doctor of Philosophy, 522 Masters Degrees and 109 Postgraduate Diploma.

The graduands, according to him, includes; a total of 3,611 first degrees, comprising 54 first class, 1,207 second class honours (upper division), 380 second class honours (lower division) and 380 third class honours.

He said the university had attained 100 per cent accreditation of all its programmes, adding that it was recently ranked 22nd position out of 133 Nigerian universities with presence in Scopus, 10th position among the best state- owned universities in the country and best university in the South-South Region by the 2024SciVal Ranking of Nigerian Universities.

The Vice-Chancellor commended Governor Oborevwori, who is the Visitor to the university, for his commitment to the growth and development of the citadel of higher academic learning.

At the ceremony, Professor Chukwuemeke Peter Aloamaka was decorated as a Professor Emeritus of the university in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments as an academic scholar and administrator, while former Minister of Information, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, was formally conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Letters of the university.

The valedictorian, Ilebe Joshua of the Faculty of Pharmacy with a 4.83 CGPA score, thanked God for their success and appreciated the Vice-Chancellor, management and staff of the university for instituting the Students’ Work and Scholarship Schemes, which enabled indigent students to sustain their academic pursuits.

DTHA want AG /Justice Commissioner to commence prosecution of land grabbers in Okpanam

Syndicated report

Delta State House of Assembly has asked the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state to commence prosecution of an alleged notorious land grabber, Mr Friday Okonkwor and his cohorts in Okpanam Community, Oshimili North local government area of the state.

The call was part of a four point resolution of the House following adoption of recommendations of its Public Petition Committee that investigated an alleged forceful takeover of landed properties belonging to Civil Service Commission Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society situated at Amachai community, Okpanam.

The Lawmakers at Wednesday’s session presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, received a 15 paged detailed and well researched report on the matter from the Chairman of the Public Petition Committee, Hon Mathew Omanade, who represents Ughelli North Constituency in the House.

The House in a unanimous voice vote called “on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Delta State to ensure Mr Friday Okonkwor, Mr Felix Okeleke, Mr Austin Okolie and other youths operating under the Okpanam Land Recovery Committee involved in the use of force and threat of violence in taking over 38 plots of land belonging to the petitioner and its members, are prosecuted in accordance with the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018 to serve as a deterrent to other members of the public to desist from such obnoxious acts and actions”.

The Lawmakers condemned in a very strong term the unjust use of force and threat of violence by Mr Friday Okonkwor, Felix Okeleke, Austin Okolie and other youths operating under the Okpanam Land Recovery Committee in taking over the 38 plots of 50 feet by 100 feet out of the 80 plots belonging to the petitioner and it members.

The Assembly also directed that Mr Friday Okonkwor, Felix Okeleke, Austin Okolie and other youths operating under the Okpanam Land Recovery Committee, their agents, servants or privies, should desist from entering or further interfering with the peaceful possession and enjoyment of the petitioner and its members on any part of the 38 plots of 50 by 100 feet, belonging to the petitioner and it members.

The Legislators directed the Committee on Information and Legislative Compliance to liaise with the relevant government agencies for the sensitization of Deltans and persons residing in Delta State on the existence of the Delta State Public and Private properties Protection Law, 2018 and its content.

The Chairman, Public Petitions Committee, Hon Mathew Omonade, had disclosed that during investigative hearing, the Petitioner provided all available evidences to prove the legality of the acquisition of the said property but the respondents failed to appear before the committee after several notices were made to them.

Hon Omonade further asserted that after thorough investigation of the petition, the committee came up with several findings, one of which is the fact that the Civil Service Commission Staff Multi-purpose Co-operative Society having allotted the property to members in 2012 without any harassment from anyone, became threatened by Mr Friday Okonkwor who was part of the transaction as then Youth Leader of the Community and now leads the supposed Land Recovery Committee.

During debates on the recommendations of the Committee, Lawmakers who spoke, decried the activities of land grabbers in the state, particularly in Okpanam and called for full implementation of the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Law.

They condemned the actions of the the respondents to the alleged forceful takeover of landed properties belonging to Civil Service Commission Staff Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society situated at Amachai community, Okpanam and stressed the need for their prosecution to serve as strong warning to others in the business of land grabbing.

Sequel to the adoption of the recommendations, Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, directed the Acting Clerk of the house, Mr Otto Aghoghophia to communicate the resolution to the relevant authorities.

He also urged the house committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance to the resolution.

Ignore Destructive Elements, April 22 Communique Ilegal – SWAN urges Bayelsa Sports Journalists, Others

The National leadership of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has declared purported Monday April 22, 2024 communique by some destructive elements in its Bayelsa state Chapter, as illegal and non-existent.

SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, in a press statement through the Association’s Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, on Thursday enjoined Sports Writers to remain focused and forge ahead with the Bayelsa SWAN Congress decision on April 17, 2024.

President Benjamin reckoned that since few persons who lack the prerequisite to operate as professional sports writers, have compounded their issues, by plotting against SWAN Bayelsa chapter, in connivance with some rejected external elements outside the state, no effort should be spared to resist any attempt to infiltrate the Chapter.

Giving account of how the National Secretariat of SWAN deployed a top National official, Mr. China Acheru, to supervise the earlier scheduled election, the number one sports writer in Nigeria said, “The National Ex-Officio who was officially deployed for the SWAN election in Bayelsa arrived Yenogoa fully ready but most of the SWAN members including contestants frowned at some abnormalities.

“After due consultations the congress members on the elective congress day, the National Officer who also briefed the National Secretariat in Abuja decided to listen to the majority of SWAN members’ plea to postpone the election in order to address the issues raised and ensure everyone is carried along in the process.

“The record of all that transpired is well documented. I could vividly recall how one of the Chairmanship aspirants, Mr. George Ameli, immediately called and commended the national SWAN leadership for allowing the wish of the majority in the Congress to prevail by postponing the election.

“So, anyone who allows himself or herself to be now used to cause confusion in the system is doing so at his own peril. As a leadership, we urge every sports writer in Bayelsa to remain calm and that within the shortest period which the interim caretaker committee led by Mr. Loveday Herbert has, election will take place and usher in substantive SWAN leaders in Bayelsa State.

“Just like other states in Nigeria have stood their ground, I urge Bayelsa Chapter not to loose focus or be swayed by those who don’t mean well for the growth and overall development of the Association.

“It’s your SWAN, own it, don’t leave it for miscreants. Together, we will continue to chart a positive way forward.”

The SWAN President also expressed delight with the robust sports development drive in Bayelsa State, anchored by Governor Duoye Diri who has reappointed the workaholic, fit and energetic man, Mr. Daniel Igali, to once again lead the state’s Sports sector, adding, “it’s a thoughtful and commendable decision, which will continuously set the State on high human development pedestal.”

Akugbene-Mein Kingdom:
Delta Monarch kicks against attempt to create kingdom out of Domain

**Says Court has affirmed the power of creation of Clans in Delta State to vests exclusively in DTHA 

Pere of Akugbene-Mein kingdom in Bomadi Local Government Area of Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Stanley Luke, has warned individuals seeking to create a breakaway Kerebiri-Mein clan to desist.

Luke, in a statement, said the power of creation of clans in Delta State was vested exclusively in the Delta State House of Assembly.

According to him, the unity of Akugbene-Mein kingdom cannot be sacrificed for anyone’s personal ambition.

The statement reads: “For some time now, some disgruntled elements within the peace-loving Akugbene-Mein Kingdom of Delta State have sought to unlawfully create for themselves a breakaway Kerebiri-Mein clan from the Kingdom.

“While the matter, including the criminal trial of the ringleader of the elements is pending in various Courts, they sought to drag the revered Ijaw National Congress into their illegality by applying for the recognition of a non-existent Kerebiri-Mein as a clan under the ljaw National Congress, INC.

“However, the Delta State High Court sitting in Bomadi has delivered a landmark judgment in Suit No: HCB/3/2023 between HIS ROYAL MAJESTY, S.P LUKE, KALANAMA VIII (The Pere of Akugbene-Mein) v. THE INCORPORATED TRUSTEES OF THE IJAW NATIONAL CONGRESS and PROF BENJAMIN OKABA (For himself and on behalf of the National Executive Committee of the Ijaw National Congress)

“In the judgment delivered on March 21, 2024, the Court after affirming that the power of creation of Clans in Delta State vests exclusively in the Delta State House of Assembly, went on to hold that the Defendants being ljaw National Congress, INC, and Prof Benjamin Okaba lack the power to create any clan in Delta State or recognise any clan not recognized by the Laws of Delta State of Nigeria and perpetually restrained them, their agents, officers and any other person however described from creating or recognizing Kerebiri- Mein as a cian in Delta State of Nigeria.

“By this judgment, the High Court of Delta State has affirmed the unity of the Akugbene-Mein Kingdon and such unity cannot be sacrificed at the altar of anyone’s inordinate ambition or an act of illegality.

“I therefore call on all sons and daughters of the great Akugbene Mein Kingdom to continue to be law-abiding, peaceful and join hands with me in moving the Kingdom to its ordained enviable heights.”