Awajis George News

A magistrate court sitting in PortHarcourt has adjourned hearing till 26th of May 2020 on a two count charges bordering on conspiracy and murder of one Mrs. Nmaku Irioegbu a pregnant woman,brought before it by the Nigeria Police against one Evangelist Celen Nwakwo and Faith Ugochukwu an auxiliary nurse who was said to be operating an illegal maternity. Chief Magistrate Ipalibo Iyiabo after hearing on the matter noted that the court does not have the jurisdiction to try the suspects considering the nature of the offense. The chief magistrate order that the suspects been remanded at the state CID and the case file be transfer to the Department of Public Prosecution,DPP; for advice. Speaking to Journalists outside the court room, the prosecuting counsel OC legal, Gladys Imegu said one of the suspect an auxiliary nurse Faith Ugochukwu administered Dazipan and Norvas injection on Mrs. Irioegbu a pregnant woman,who died after. Meanwhile,the defense counsel Jerome Okere who spoke wit

Member Representing Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Federal Constituency, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante has moved a motion for the investigation of the dead fishes across the brackish water shoreline which includes Andoni and Bonny Rivers. Speaking while moving the motion, the Federal lawmaker explained to the House that the incidents of dead fishes washing ashore has continued from March to April along these coastline thereby militating against the smooth operations of fishermen and women. He therefore appealed for the House to mandate the National Emergency Management Agency,NEMA; and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to immediately provide palliatives to the affected Niger Delta Communities especially Andoni and Bonny LGA'S of Rivers State. He further appealed to the House to mandate the Committees on Environment, Agricultural Production and Services, Health Care Services and Maritime to carry out comprehensive investigation. Ruling on the motion Speaker

Some residents in Diobu PortHarcourt city local government area of Rivers State have lamented the lockdown by the state government in an effort to curb the spread of Corona virus . The residents who would not want their names mentioned told our correspondent that the lockdown will bring untold hardship on them because they were not prepared for it. Another resident whose mother was sick, said the mother was unable to access medical facility as a result of the lockdown. In a contrary opinion Mr. King Marshall Said he does not believed the virus exist in the country , as some selfish individuals want to use it to enriched themselves. He appealed to the government to relax the restrictions order to ease the plights of the people.

The Rivers State Civil Society Organisation has paid a Courtesy visit to the new Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan at the Command Headquarter in PortHarcourt. Delivering his speech, Chairman Rivers State Civil Society Organisation Mr. Enefaa Georgewill on behalf of his team, welcomed the Commissioner of Police , pledged the support and cooperation of his organisation . Mr. Georgewill appealed to the new Commissioner of police to revisit Ikoku matter,among others issues. On his part, the commissioner of police Mr.Joseph Mukan thanked the organisation for the visit and promised to work with all relevant stakeholders in the State including the Civil Society Groups . Mr. Mukan reiterated his commitment to serve with humility ,integrity and to uphold the tenets of democratic policing, with special attention to the protection of Citizens' rights. He assured that all manner of infractions will be addressed and appealed for calm, as he settles to deliver quality Policing

The Nigeria Police Force has arraigned former Sergeant Bitrus Osaiah, before a magistrate court sitting in PortHarcourt for the murder of Lovender Elekwachi a woman sergeant who was shot while on traffic duty at Eneka Obio Akpor local government area of Rivers State. Chief magistrate Ipalibo Iyiabo after hearing the matter , said the court lacks jurisdiction to try the suspect, looking at the nature of the crime. The Chief magistrate instructed that the case file be transfer to the department of Public Prosecution for legal advice, and adjourned the matter to the 26th of may 2020 for further hearing ordering that the suspect be remanded at SCID . Speaking outside the court room to Journalists ,OC legal Rivers State Police command, Gladys Imegu said the crime was a capital offence and the case file will be transfer to the Department of Public prosecution for legal advice as instructed by the magistrate Lawyer to the family ,Mr. Jerome Okere who spoke with our corresponde

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr.Joseph Mukan with top officers of the command today paid a condolence visit to the family of late woman Sergeant Lovender Elekwachi who was shot dead while on duty at Eneka in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state. Addressing the immediate family of the late police officer and traditional rulers in Ozuzu Clan Etche Local Government Area of the state, CP Mukan noted that investigation has been concluded against Sergeant Bitrus Osaiah who pull out the trigger, and he has been dismissed from service. CP Mukan while stating that sergeant Osaiah will be arraigned in court tomorrow said although investigations are ongoing on the members of taskforce who were at the scene of the incident assured that Justice must be done on the sergeant Osaiah. The Commissioner of police assured the family that the Inspector General of Police has been briefed about the incident and has promised that all the entitlement meant for the slain police officer, Se

ADDRESS BY H.E. MUHAMMADU BUHARI, PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA ON THE CUMULATIVE LOCKDOWN ORDER OF LAGOS AND OGUN STATES AS WELL AS THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY ON COVID- 19 PANDEMIC AT THE STATE HOUSE, ABUJA MONDAY, 27th APRIL, 2020 1. Fellow Nigerians 2. I will start by commending you all for the resilience and patriotism that you have shown in our collective fight against the biggest health challenge of our generation. 3. As at yesterday, 26th April 2020, some three million confirmed cases of COVID nineteen have been recorded globally with about nine hundred thousand recoveries. Unfortunately, some two hundred thousand people have passed away as a result of this pandemic. 4. The health systems and economies of many nations continue to struggle as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. 5. Nigeria continues to adapt to these new global realities on a daily basis. This evening, I will present the facts as they are and explain our plans for the coming mont

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has announced a lockdown of parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas in view of the failure of residents of the affected areas to comply with the regulations of the State Government to check the spread of coronavirus. In a State Broadcast on Monday, Governor Wike stated that the complete lockdown starts from Tuesday 28 April 2020, till further notice. He said: "In view of the non or passive compliance with these measures, it has become compelling to also place the following parts of Port Harcourt and Obio/AkporLocal Government Areas on 24 hours complete lockdown, beginning from Tuesday 28 April 2020, till further notice: "(i) Elekahia, including the entire stretch of Rumukalagbor-Elekahia link road; (ii) Rumuomasi, including Stadium road; and (iii) Rumuobiokani. "(iv) All residents in these areas must stay at home. All shops, mini-m

Rivers State Police command has arrested eight members of Diobu OSPAC in PortHarcourt City Local Government Area of the state, for allegedly abducting a 21 years old woman, Miss precious and two of her brothers following a report by their father to the group that the children stole his money. Police Public Relations Officer Mr.Nnamdi Omoni in an interview with our correspondent said it is unlawful for vigilante groups to arrest and detain suspects , but can provide information to the police for effective community policing. Mr. Omoni stressed that the commissioner of police Mr. Joseph Mukan has order for investigation into the matter and the transfer of the case to State CID . Speaking to our Correspondent, the victim Miss Precious alleged that the vigilante members stripped her naked while in their office,and inserted fingers in her private part and also took video of her. Miss Precious who said that the vigilante members detained she and her brothers from 8pm on Saturday,11t

The Rivers State Police Command has confirmed the death of a woman sergeant Lovender Elekwachi who was shot by an officer, Bitrus Osaiah attached to the Rivers State Taskforce on decongestion . Lovender until her death was serving at Eneka Division of the Nigeria police in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state and was posted to the Eneka roundabout on traffic duties. Confirming the ugly incident, Police Public Relations Officer Mr.Nnamdi Omoni said the suspect,Sergeant Bitrus Osaiah has been arrested, disarmed and undergoing Orderly Room Trial. The Command spokesman while stating that two other members of the Task Force have also been arrested and are being questioned, noted that the Hilux vehicle belonging to the Task Force has been impounded and the corpse of the Woman Sergeant deposited in the mortuary. Mr. Omoni explained that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan,has ordered investigation into the matter with a view to unraveling the circumstances that led to h

The new Rivers State commissioner of police Mr. Joseph Mukan said he will have zero tolerance for corruption and respect for Human Rights. Briefing journalists at the command headquarter in PortHarcourt , Mr. Mukan said he will ensure that Innocent persons are not detained unlawfully and denied liberties. He noted that the command under his watch will embark on visibility policing as the presence of the police must be felt by the people of the state. Mr. Mukan stressed that the command will continue to involve citizens partnership for effective community policing as initiated by the Inspector General of Police ,IGP; . The commissioner while promising to consolidate effort of the outgone commissioner of police , warned hoodlums to turned new leaf or leave the state as he will not tolerate criminality . The Rivers State commissioner of police also promised to served the state diligently.

Children of former Inspector General of Police Mr. Mike Okiro in collaboration with the Spanish kingdom Apartments and Suites, have donated four thousand Pieces of Face-masks as part of their contributions in the fight against Community spread of COVID-19 to the Rivers State Command. Mr. Onyeka Ogbatu who presented the items to the New Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan noted that the donation was part of their contribution to the Command to boost the morale of officers and protect them against the Pandemic. Rivers State commissioner of police Mr. Joseph Mukan who accept the donation on behalf of the Command, thanked the former Inspector General of Police and his children for finding the Command worthy of the donation, and promised to utilize the items judiciously by deploying them to officers at the Border Posts.

The Andoni Practicing Journalists Association, APJA condemns in strong terms the unwarranted and unprovoked assault on one of its members by a soldier of the Nigerian Army at the Ikoku area of Port Harcourt during the enforcement of the coronavirus lockdown order. We view the attack on Nkan-nkpo Johnson, a videographer with Rhythm/Silverbird Television as the height of unprofessional misconduct by a supposedly trained security personnel. We are deeply disturbed that a journalist carrying out his constitutional responsibility as enshrined in sections 35 and 45 of our constitution could be attacked by a soldier. The relationship between the Nigerian Army and a journalist is as cordial as that between the eyes and the nose. This further called to question the calibre of personnel recruited into the revered Nigerian Army. The importance of a journalist, the world over, at this time of global threat to the human race cannot be overemphasized. With all modesty, we are the foot soldiers in

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has condemned the unwarranted assault and flogging of a staff of Rhythm/Silverbird Television, Nkan-kpo Johnson, by a soldier deployed to enforce the lockdown order by the Rivers State Government, at the Ikoku area of Port Harcourt. The lockdown was part of efforts by the state government to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the State. The Union, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Stanley Job Stanley and Ike Wigodo respectively, described the flogging of Nkan-kpo Johnson, a videographer attached to Silverbird Television as a barbaric act unexpected of any well-trained and well-behaved soldier. "The flogging of any person let alone a journalist, by a law enforcement agent is not only condemnable and inhumane, but also a barbaric act unexpected of a well-trained, well-behaved officer, especially in view of the existing cordial relationship between the NUJ and the Nigerian Army in t

The Rivers State Police Command is pleased to inform the general public and indeed residents of the State, that a new Commissioner of Police has been deployed to the State. CP Joseph Gobum Mukan psc (+) today assumed Duties and Responsibilities of the Command, as the 41st Commissioner of Police. He succeeds CP Mustapha Dandaura who has been redeployed to the Force Headquarters, as CP Provost. The new Commissioner of Police was appointed on the 15th day of March, 1988 as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police. He hails from Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A HONS) in History, from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. CP Joseph G. Mukan psc (+) has attended various Professional Courses both home and abroad. He is an Alumnus of the American International Law Enforcement Academy, Washington DC USA, with a Certificate in Diplomatic Protection. He has served the Force in various capacities, among which include:- Divisiona

The Rivers State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Igbiks Tamuno has advised people living along the rivers of Finima in Bonny Local Government Area and Oyorokoto in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State not to consume fish allegedly said to be floating along the sea shores. Dr. Tamuno gave the advice today after the King of Unyengala Doni Town in Andoni Local Government Area, Moses Dic-Isotu brought to the knowledge of the ministry the news of the death fishes along the rivers. He noted that the ministry will carry out full scale investigation to unravel the actual cause of the death of the fish, saying people should avoid the temptation of consuming them to safeguard their health. Earlier, King Moses Dic-Isotu said he was in the ministry to intimate the Commissioner about the massive death of fish along the rivers of Finima in Bonny Local Government Area and Oyorokoto in Andoni Local Government Area.

The Rivers State Police command has killed a suspected kidnapper one Samuel Nakpoo who was said to be among hoodlums responsible for all the criminal activities along the Ogoni Uyo axis of the East West road. Samuel Nakpoo who had earlier been arrested and have confessed to the crime led the officers to their camp in a forest at Ogu/ Bolo local government area of Rivers State and attempted to escaped but was shot on the leg, and confirmed dead at the University of PortHarcourt Teaching Hospital In a joint operation by officers and men of Operation Sting and Anti cultism unit led by CSP Ahijo Lawson stormed the kidnappers den , the hoodlums on sighting the police took to their hills. Police public Relations Officer Mr. Nnamdi Omoni said items recovered from the camp includes; one GPMG, G-3rifles ,one SMG rifle,one rocked launcher ,five pump action guns ,933 rounds of 7.62mm Live ammunition etc. Mr. Omoni while noting that efforts are on to arrest the fleeing members of the gang,

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike today announced that his administration has set in motion the platform for the distribution of food palliatives to Rivers people following the sit-at-home directive to check the spread of coronavirus. Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt after inspecting the State Food Bank established for the distribution of the food palliatives, Governor Wike informed that a State Committee will be set up to implement the distribution of the foodstuffs. Governor Wike was accompanied by Service Commanders who are members of the State Task Force on Enforcement of the Ban on Public and Religious Gatherings . He said: "We inspected where we kept the relief materials for our palliative programme. Our intention is to ensure that we mitigate the impact of the sit-at-home directive. "We are going to set up a committee for the distribution of the foodstuffs meant to serve as palliative for Rivers people. " At the State Food Bank , the

The NIGERIA Union of Journalists National Secretariat is alarmed by the decision of the Federal Government to bring Chinese Medical doctors to Nigeria to fight Covid 19, despite the fact that Nigerian doctors are doing exceptionally well in fighting the outbreak. We caution that it will be counter productive to bring in Chinese doctors. While some have applauded the way and manner China contained the virus in Wuhan- the only Chinese city to be so affected, we hasten to note that there is more to this charade than is being let out by the Chinese authorities, and we reject a situation where Nigeria will be used as a Guinea pig for any experiment. It is pertinent to plead with the Federal Government to stop this Medical team from coming to Nigeria because of the Italian example where there was an inexplicable spike in Covid 19 related deaths when the Chinese doctors arrived the country. The FG should as a matter of urgent concern investigate the allegation that what is happ

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Dandaura has warned his men to carry out the Restriction Orders, with a modicum of civility and at all times, to be professional and avoid acts that will compromise the process, or that will pitch the public against the Police. The CP gave this charge while addressing DPOs/HODs in a pre-deployment Briefing today at the State Headquarters Moscow Road Port Harcourt. The CP’s charge is coming on the heels of the IGP’s Directive against trampling on Citizens’ Rights. The CP while addressing his men, charged them to be professional and police within the ambit of the law. He also appealed to the public and indeed residents of the State to show understanding and put up with the temporary inconveniences they may suffer, as a result of this all important assignment, noting that the present situation requires sacrifices from all and sundry, and the need to stay alive. The CP, who had earlier constituted a Monitoring Team, noted th

Residents of PortHarcourt were charged to court over violation of the directive of the state government on 24 hours restriction of movement in some parts of the state. The residents numbering about 200 were arraigned at the Magistrate court sitting in Port Harcourt . The suspects who were arrested by police in different areas since on Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday and today were charged with three count charge of conspiracy, disobedient to Governors’ directive, street trading which has cause a breach of public peace and thereby committed an offence. Our correspondent reports that three magistrates who presided over the cases, Mrs.Rita Oguguo, Chief Magistrate DD Ihua-Maduenyi and senior Magistrate V E Nweke in their various court granted bail to the suspects. The suspects who pleaded guilty were granted bail with ten thousand naira fine while those who pleaded not guilty were granted bail with one hundred thousand naira with two Suretees and their addresses to be verified by the pros

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has lifted the curfew imposed on Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction along Ikwerre Road and Obiri Ikwerre Junction to Ozuoba, Rumualogu and Choba. This takes effect from Friday, April 3, 2020. Governor Wike also lifted the suspension of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. He announced the decisions during a state Broadcast today. He said: "With effect from Tomorrow, April 3, 2020, the 24 hours curfew imposed from Education Bus Stop to Agip Junction along Ikwerre Road and Obiri Ikwerre Junction to Ozuoba, Rumualogu and Choba has been lifted. "All Borders and Markets in the state remain closed. "Following the interventions of some well-meaning citizens of the state, the suspension of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area has been lifted. However, this should serve as a warning to Local Government Chairmen and Traditional Rulers who will allow markets to b