Awajis George News

The Rivers State Police command has called on the public to disregard the rumours making rounds on social media that the remains of the Chairman of Asari Toru Local Government Area , Princewill Odiari was exhumed by unknown Gunmen who stormed PortHarcourt Cemetery yesterday. Police Public Relations Officer ,PPRO Mr.Nnamdi Omoni who took media men to the cemetery confirmed that the grave of the late chairman is still intact. Mr. Omoni said the rumours was the handiwork of some mischievous individuals who want to score cheap publicity. The police spokesman stated that security will be beefed up around the area. Meanwhile, the secretary of the PortHarcourt cemetery Mr. Tamunotonye John said the rumours came to them as a shock as nothing of such happened. Mr. John appealed to security Agencies to secure the area as they are not armed to resist any attempt by any group of people who might have the intention of invading the place. Our Correspondent who was at the PortHarcourt cemet

GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT The Rivers State Government wish to state that the rumour making the rounds that the body of the late Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Area, Odiari Princewill has been exhumed from the Port Harcourt cemetery is baseless and untrue. The grave where the deceased was interred is still intact as no one has tampered with it. Government hereby warns families, friends and relations who may want to desecrate the grave of the deceased that the full weight of the law will be visited on them. Security agencies have therefore been placed on red alert to ensure that only authorized persons come near the cemetery. Any unauthorized person found around the cemetery will be arrested and prosecuted. Paulinus Nsirim Commissioner for Information and Communications May 30, 2020

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), after the expiration of the term of the board members appointed in 2016. Members of the new Board are: Mohammed Lawal (North West), Tajudeen Umar (North East), Adamu Mahmood Attah (North Central), Senator Magnus Abe (South South), Dr Stephen Dike (South East), Chief Pius Akinyelure (South West). The new board will be in place for three years. Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) May 30, 2020

The remains of the late Executive Chairman of Asari-Toru Local government area of Rivers State, Odiari Princewill who died of recent, have been exhumed. Late Princewill’s body was exhumed by gunmen suspected to be native of Buguma, his hometown. Eyewitnesses say that some gunmen stormed Port Harcourt cemetery, shot sporadically in the air, headed for the site where the late LGA Chairman was buried and dug-out the coffin. It was gathered that they escaped with the coffin through the Bille waterside jetty in Port Harcourt. An eyewitness, who pleaded anonymity, told DAILY POST that the gunmen were heard grumbling about the lackadaisical burial of Odiari Princewill. “I think they are system men. The way they came to the cemetery everyone just slowly walked away. Sometimes, we use to have people come like that especially when the person that died belong to a group. “But this one is different. They just came and went straight to the burial ground and started digging out the sand. They

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan has paid a courtesy visit to the palace of the State Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Co-Chairman, State Community Policing Advisory Committee,Amayanabo of Opobo Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, King Dandison Douglas Jaja . The Commissioner of Police who led his Management Team on a visit to the Royal father, seized the opportunity to thank him on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar Adamu, for making himself available for the Inauguration in Government House last week. Mr. Mukan further sought the full support of the Traditional Institution to realise the Objectives of the Community Policing Initiative of the IGP, noting that it is an interventionist approach that will bridge the seeming gap between the Police and the Communities. Responding, His Royal Majesty thanked the CP for finding time to be in his Kingdom and promised to bring his wealth of experience to b

A STATEWIDE BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY NYESOM EZENWO WIKE, CON, GSSRS, POS, TO MARK THE FIRST YEAR OF HIS SECOND TERM IN OFFICE My dear good people of Rivers State Today marks the 1st year anniversary of our 2nd term in office. Normally, we should be celebrating this important milestone with the commissioning of completed projects and correlated social activities. 2. But these are abnormal times and moments like this call for subdued feelings and thankful prayers to God for His abundant grace and mercy upon our State and on our lives. 3. As at today, we’ve painfully lost twelve persons, and probably more, to the death pangs of the coronavirus. For us, every life matters; and every life lost is a monumental tragedy, not only to the immediate families, but also, to all of humanity. 4. While we therefore pray for the peaceful repose of these innocent souls whose lives and dreams were cut short by this vicious enemy, our hearts and sympathies go to their families, dependants, frien

Operatives of the Marine Division of the Rivers State Police Command, in a follow up on the attack of the Men of the Special Protection Unit ,SPU;Base 5, Benin that were attacked by Sea Pirates on 24/5/2020 at Egelegele River in Degema Local Government Area . In a well coordinated Operation late last night arrested one Destiny Ubani male and 16 others who allegedly carried out the dastardly act, where the men lost their Arms and Ammunition. Police Public Relations Officer Mr.Nnamdi Omoni in a press statement said the suspects are currently helping the Police and making useful confessions, while efforts have been intensified to arrest the remnants of the criminal gang, said to be responsible for the attacks on passengers along the Degema, Asari Toru and Akuku Toru Waterways. Mr. Omoni stated that the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mukan is appealing to residents of Asari Toru, Akuku Toru and Degema Local Government Areas and other Coastal Communities to increase their secur

The Nigeria Police has arrested a woman identified as Chineye, for allegedly stealing a 2 year old Child of her neighbour. An eyewitness who was a resident of the compound the said Chineye was living told our Correspondent that neigbours saw the woman moving out with the child about 7pm on Monday night. After an hour the parents of the child became agitated and started looking for the child. The neighbours interrogated Chineye's Sister who told them Chinenye was already at Waterlines to board a vehicle going outside the state. The eyewitness disclosed that they all moved to waterlines and on getting there they saw Chinenye and,she confessed that the child was drugged and put inside a box. The neighbours Drew attention of a Police patrol van of Elekahia Police station that was on routine patrol and the Policemen opened the box and brought out the child. The said Chinenye was arrested alongside two men who were with her and taken to Elekahia Police station. Meanwhil

Our attention has been drawn to a recent misleading petition, signed by one Mr. Needam Promise Gogorobari, Owner, Prodest Hotel and dated 24th May 2020, to the effect that the convicted Manager of Prodest Hotel, Mr. Bariledum Job Azoroh, who recently tested positive for Covid-19 disease amongst 27 others, in a result released by the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, may have allegedly been infected on the instructions of the Rivers State Government. Much as we had restrained ourselves from responding to previous similar publications by this same person, since the subject matter was still before a court of competent jurisdiction, we are now compelled to reply this obviously spurious, deliberately misleading and intentionally provocative petition with a proper response, to set the records straight and caution the sponsors of this action from further peddling such falsehoods in the public space. For the avoidance of doubt and for the information of the general public, let us s

A STATE-WIDE BROADCAST BY HIS EXCELLENCY, NYESOM EZENWO WIKE, GOVERNOR OF RIVERS STATE ON TUESDAY MAY 26, 2020. My Dear Good People of Rivers State, 2. In the last two months we have implemented several calculated measures in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus in our State. 3. Some of these measures were severe, but necessary, including the total lockdown of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas, which are, without doubt, the social and economic never-centres of our State. 4. Arguably, these measures and your sacrifices have enabled us so far, to contain and limit the spread of this virus to 4 out of the 23 local government areas of the State. 5. Also, the pattern of infection remains predictable, as there is yet, any evidence of serious community transmission, although this cannot be ruled out with the increasing number of positive cases; the majority of which, are connected with contacts with oil company workers who imported the disease into the State. 6.

Retired Supreme Court Justice and erudite Professor of Law, the Honourable Justice Adolphus Godwin Karibi-Whyte, CON, CFR, has died at the age of 88, friends and family sources said Friday. The retired Justice died in a Port Harcourt, Rivers State hospital following a heart failure, his eldest son and Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Dagogo Karibi-Whyte later confirmed in a phone chat, describing his dad as “A good man, very upright, dedicated and very meticulous professional and a dutiful father and family man. Not many are built like that.” The deceased hailed from Abonnema in Rivers State. According to a citation posted on the Hallmarks of Labour Foundation website, his professional career took him through the Nigerian and international judicial systems. Appointed Legal Draftsman in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice in 1973, the legal luminary successively attained the ranks of Solicitor-General, in that Ministry and Associate Professor of Law, University of Lagos. In 1976, he was a

The Rivers state police command has confirmed the arrest of Inspector Christian Ike who allegedly killed one Mike Oforji Ejire at Aleto community in Eleme Local Government Area of the state. Police Public Relations Officer,PPRO; Mr. Nnamdi Omoni who spoke with our Correspondent said the late Mike died as a result of a punch in the stomach by the inspector while trying to settle a fight between the deceased, and a petty trader. Mr.Omoni said trouble ensued when the deceased asked the woman to vacate the front of the compound where she trades considering the fact that it was late and there was curfew. In the process of packing her goods, the items fell on the ground, and the woman demanded the late Mike paid eight hundred naira for the damaged goods, and the deceased agreed to pay four hundred naira, which escalated into much debate. The Rivers State Police Spokesman said the noise attracted the police officers, who were attached to a private premises near the compound of the

A suspected rapist one Nanso Ene has been arrested by the Nkpolu Divisional Police Station ,Mile 3 Diobu in PortHarcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State .Ene was alleged to have repeatedly raped a 10 year old girl who is his neigbour. The suspect who was caught by a neighbour claims that he never forced the girl,but that the 10years old girl consented to it. He also claimed he only robbed his manhood on the surface of the private part of his victim,but never penetrate. Details shortly...

Rivers State Government has suspended the total lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas for 6 (six) days, with effect from Thursday, 21st May 2020. Governor Nyesom Wike stated this today in a State-wide broadcast. "Residents and visitors of these local government areas can therefore go out of their homes for their lawful businesses from tomorrow morning, that is, Thursday May 21 until 8.00 p.m., Tuesday 26th of May 2020, when the lockdown will be restored and maintained until further notice. "It is important to emphasized that the relaxation only allows for free human and vehicular movements and the opening of limited businesses, such as banks, supermarkets, shopping malls and grocery shops. "All land, sea and air exit and entry borders and routes into Rivers State shall remain closed. "Similarly, all open markets, motor parks, hotels, bars, night clubs, in-service restaurants and barbers’ shops must rem

The Rivers State Government has uncovered plans by some citizens of the State who reside in Abuja to cause a breakdown of law and order in order to declare a State of Emergency. These persons whose attempts to declare State of Emergency in the State since 2015 have never succeeded because of God's intervention. They did everything within their powers to ensure that the 2019 Governorship Election results were not announced but also failed. As the build up for the 2023 elections and jostle for Presidential and Vice-Presidential tickets is gathering momentum, they want to use COVID-19 to create a crisis as if the State is at war with the Federal Government. They have decided to create unnecessary tension as if indigenes of Ahoada, Eleme and Port Harcourt are fighting with Northerners not to carry out their legitimate businesses. People forget history quickly. Since 2015, there have farmers/herdsmen clashes in Nasarrawa, Plateau, Taraba, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kaduna, Yobe and Bor

The Rivers State Ministry of Health Emergency Ambulance this afternoon promptly picked up a young man who claimed to have Corona Virus. The young man who was stopped by men of the Nigeria Legion Taskforce at the Rukpokwu area of Rivers state said he was experiencing some symptoms and needed to see a man of God whom according to him will heal him. "I have Corona Virus and I need help my spirit is telling me so ,I feel a little bit feverish ,then I am restless and headache, but no cough." The young man who said he was coming from Imo state, when asked how he was able to pass through the security details at the borders had this to say. " I am coming from Imo State ,mbaise every one cross , the way is open and some people cross,I am not the only one that cross." Speaking to our Correspondent, Nigeria Legion Taskforce chairman in the state, ACC Kelvin Ohakwe commended the promptness of the Medics immediately they were contacted. Ohakwe commended the people of the a

Chairman Eleme Local Government Area, Philip Okparaji and the people of Eleme mourns the sudden and untimely death of the S.A. Electronic Media to , the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike. The council boss said the death of the S.A. Electronic Media Simeon Nwakaudu has created a big vacuum having worked so tirelessly to project the New Rivers Vision of Governor Wike. "His Professionalism, humility and commitment to duty was immeasurable. A seasoned journalist whose pen has finally gone dry but the signature of his ink lives on. " "We pray the Almighty God to grant his soul eternal rest as we console with His Excellency and the family he has left behind. "

Diobu Vigilante Group in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State in a routine patrol yesterday, chased a four-man robbery gang to D line where the gang flee and left a golf car used in its operations. Secretary Diobu Vigilante Group, Prince Amatari Bipeledei who confirmed the incident to our Correspondent said the red golf Robbery gang is well known in the Diobu community as many have fallen victim of their operation . Prince Bipeledei said the gang lost control at the D-line area where it met a blockade and that the car has been towed to the Eagle Crack Squad office for further investigation. Prince Bipeledei added that the Diobu Vigilante group will not relent in fighting crimes and criminality, urging the public to give them useful information for effective community policing. It listed Items found in the car to include military wears, iron cutter, bars, different MTN SIM packs and different car particulars.

GOVERNOR WIKE CONDOLES LATE NWAKAUDU'S FAMILY Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has expressed shock over the sudden death of his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu. He described late Nwakaudu as a loyal and dedicated professional who contributed immensely to the implementation of the The NEW Rivers Vision. The governor on behalf of his family, the government and good people of the State condoled with the bereaved family. He prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the great loss. Late Nwakaudu died today at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) after a brief illness. Paulinus Nsirim Commissioner for Information and Communications May 17,2020

Chief Security officer,CSO,Diobu Vigilante Group Rumu-Elechi community unit ,Comrade Godstime Ihunwo has alleged that Deygbam cult members attacked him and his men before the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Nkpolu Division . Comrade Ihunwo stated that while they were trying to contain the situation that led to the killing of a vegetable seller at mile 3 market , the suspected Deygbam boys who were on rampage attacked and injured them in the present of the police and non of them were arrested. The CSO explained that the suspected degbam boys left ,issuing a direct threat that they must kill him and his men for the death of their member. Comrade Ihunwo noted that it has been a reoccuring decimal as he sensed there is a back up which is giving the hoodlums courage and boldness to perpetrate crimes and the government of the day most worrisome is not even assisting the vigilante in any way and it will be worst if nothing is done.

Rivers State Police command has confirmed the killing of a suspected Deygbam member one Henry Leo said to be selling tomatoes at the Mile 3 market in Diobu PortHarcourt city Local Government Area of Rivers State. Police Public Relations Officer Mr.Nnamdi Omoni who confirmed the incident to our Correspondent said that Henry Leo was shot by unknown gunmen . Mr. Omoni said some of the hoodlums who shot Leo were identified during the incident, and investigation is ongoing to arrest and bring the culprits to book. The police Image Maker stated that policemen have taken over the area to forestall breakdown of order. Mr. Omoni while stating that the deceased have been deposited in the mortuary , appealed to residents to report suspicious movement of persons around the area to the police . We brought you a report earlier that a suspected Deygbam cult member one Henry Leo was shot dead by suspected Iceland cult members at Bishop Okoye street,Mile 3 Diobu in Port Harcourt City Local Go

Civil Rights Council,Rivers State Condemns the reported cult related killing in Mile 3 Diobu,PortHarcourt .In a statement,the Secretary of Civil Rights Council,Miss Uzuoma Kelechi expressed worry over the safety of persons, in particular women and children living in the area.She said reports available to the council indicates that women and children are now living in fear. She called on security agencies to live up to responsibility of protecting lives and property.

A suspected Deygbam cult member simply identified as Leo has been shot death by suspected Iceland cult members today at Bishop Okoye street,Mile 3 Diobu,in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State . Report reaching us said that four men driving in a Toyota saloon vehicle on getting to where the Leo was, opened fire on him and speed off. We gathered that persons suspected to be his gang members put him in a wheelbarrow and wheel him to a compound in Chigbu street where some of his friends reside. Confirming the incident, Police Public Relations Officer Mr.Nnamdi Omoni said that the report is sketchy as his office is yet to be briefed on the matter, promise to get the full details and get back to our Correspondent.

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police,Mr. Joseph Mukan has inaugurated a Joint Technical Task Team on Emergency Response to COVID 19 on challenges of movement of food and Agricultural inputs in the Country. Speaking during the Inauguration the Commissioner of Police Mr.Mukan charged the committee to discharge their duties with consummate professionalism and justified the confidence reposed in them by the Federal Government. The Commissioner of Police tasked the team to hit the ground running and deliver on their mandates. He further charged them to stick strictly to their Terms of Reference and ensure that their Task is realized by ensuring that, there is an unhindered movement of foodstuffs, livestocks and other Agricultural inputs to all parts of the Country. In his response, the State Coordinator of the Task Team, Mr. Ebimini Tobin, thanked the Federal Government for the intervention and promised to work assiduously, to realize the objective of the Task Team.

Governor Wike declares that Total Lockdown on Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor LGAs will now resume on Sunday, 17th May, 2020 Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the total lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas will resume from 8.00 p.m. Sunday 17th May 2020 until further notice. In a State Broadcast on Wednesday, the total lockdown will no longer resume on Thursday because the State Security Council took into consideration the suffering of the people over the last two days. He said: "In consideration of the foregoing, the concerns of our people, and the need for residents to replenish their supplies, especially, the State Security Council has decided to impose a night-time curfew and review the effective date of the complete lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City Local Government Areas from the 14th of May 2020 to Sunday 17th May 2020 by 8.00 p.m. "Consequently, there will be: (i) a night-time curfew from

A High Court sitting in PortHarcourt has sentenced Ifeanyi Dike and Ugochukwu Nwamairo to death by hanging for the murder of Victory Chikamso, the eight years old girl who was killed in Eliozu Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state in 2017. Delivering the judgement Justice Adolphus Enebeli convicted the 1st, and 2nd defendants to death by hanging without option of fine, while the 3rd defendants John Bosco the dismissed police officer who was accused of aiding the escape of Ifeanyi Dike from the state CID after he was apprehended, was also sentenced to one year imprisonment considering the years he had earlier spent in prison. Speaking to Journalists outside the court room, the State prosecuting counsel Chidi Ekeh applauded the judgement , stressing that it will served as a warning to people who take delight in killing others . On his part, Counsel to the second defendant Sonye Ndah argued that the judgement delivered is an aberration of the law . Mr. Ndah explained tha

The General Overseer of the Omega Power Ministry,OPM; Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, has donated two hundred pieces of Police Branded Facemasks to the Rivers State Police Command, as part of his modest contributions in the fight against COVID-19 Pandemic. Making the presentation, the General Overseer Chibuzor Chinyere seized the opportunity to welcome the Commissioner of Police to the State and promised to sustain the bonding between the Command and his Ministry. Receiving the items, Rivers State Commissioner of Police Mr. Joseph Mukan on behalf of the Officers and Men of the Command thanked the General Overseer for his show of love to the Command . Mr. Mukan urged him not to relent in his efforts in giving back to the Society, adding that such exemplified the Life of Christ.

Diobu Vigilante Group in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State has apprehended one Michael from Akwa Ibom a member of three man robbery gang specialized in breaking into people's homes. The said Michael and his gang members broke into Stanley Okwudiri room at Urualla water front in Diobu and stole his generator set and fifteen thousand naira. The alleged suspect narrates how they robbed their victim. Stanley Okwudiri said the hoodlums broke into his room around 4am and stole his money and a generator set. Cue in...OKWUDIRI Cue out. Secretary Diobu vigilante group Prince Amatari Bipeledei has assured residents that the fleeing members will equally be apprehended. There had been several issues of robbery at the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt since the lockdown order by the state government. Meanwhile, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer Mr. Nnamdi Omoni told our correspondent that the report is sketchy and promised to get back t

The owner of the demolished Prodest Home services in Eleme Local Government Area of the state Mr. Needam Gogorobari says he has no connection with any Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart in the state as being alleged from some quarters. Mr. Gogorobari who spoke with our correspondent said the Hotel was shut down immediately the Governor directed that all hotels operating in the state be shut to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Mr. Gogorobari stressed that the fight that broke out with members of the Rivers state Taskforce and some persons did not happen close to the Hotel and wondered why the governor will demolish his Hotel. The Khana local government born businessman said he is yet to decide what to do as he is seeking for advice from relevant authorities. Meanwhile,Civil Rights Council has condemned the demolition of Prodest Home Services Hotel and Etemeteh Hotel in Rivers State by Governor Nyesom Wike . In a statement signed by the state Chairman Prince Wiro and the s

Governor Wike announces temporary lifting of lockdown for residents to restock foodstuffs and medicines Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has announced the temporary lifting of the total lockdown on Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas for two days only, with effect from Tuesday 12th May 2020. Governor Wike made the announcement in a State-Wide broadcast on Sunday night. He said that the total lockdown will be lifted on Tuesday 12th May, 2020 and Wednesday, 13th May, 2020. Governor Wike said that the lockdown will be reinstated on Thursday, 14th May, 2020. He said: "Consequently, we have given due consideration to the propositions on the way forward by well-meaning citizens of the State, and after a cautious review of the situation, decided to implement a partial relaxation of the lockdown measures, to enable residents to have some fresh air and replenish their foodstuffs and medicines. "To this end, I hereby announce the temporary lifting of t

Press Release Demolition of hotels by governor Wike is in direct contravention of the Constitution Civil Rights Council utterly condemns the demolition of Prudent Hotel and Etemeteh Hotel in Rivers State by Gov. Wike. The demolition is in direct contravention of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and all the laws that protect the fundamental human rights and the democratic principles that Nigeria upholds. According to Gov. Wike, the demolition was to enforce Executive Order No. 6 which banned the operation of hotels in Rivers State and stipulated demolition as the penalty for disobedience. This Executive Order is void under Nigerian Law for several reasons.  1. No governor has the powers to make any order infringing human rights. Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested on the National Assembly the power to make laws. However by the provision of Section 5 and 315 of the Constitution, a state governor can pass an executive order subject to the provis