Court Issues Fresh Warrant of Arrest of Ojukaye Flag-Amachree on Account of Murder, Others

A high court sitting in Port Harcourt has issued a production warrant to the Port Harcourt prison authority to produce the embattled Former Chairman of Asari -Toru Local Government, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree on the 4^th of July to face a fresh charge of Murder, attempted Murder, conspiracy to Commit Murder and wounding.
Flag-Amachree  who is currently facing a one count charge of Murder of one Smart Soberekon  has been charged with a fresh charge of Murder one Iminabo Dokubo and attempted murder of Ipalibo Jackson.

Rivers Chief Judge Vows to Uphold Justice Under Her Watch

Chief Judge of Rivers state, Justice Iyayi Laminkara has vowed that Justice System under her watch will be free from corruption.

Justice Laminkara who made the vow in her Opening Speech at an in house workshop, organized for Magistrates in the state judiciary maintained there will be zero tolerance for Corruption in the state judiciary.

The state CJ urged Magistrates to be committed in their duties noting that the state Government is doing its best to improve the welfare of Magistrates for effective justice delivery at the Magistrate Court.

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike Grants Automatic Employment to Persons with Disability

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has announced the appointment of Itekena Altraide as his senior special assistant to liaise between the State Government and the physically challenged persons in the state.

Governor Wike issued the appointment when the South-South Physically Challenged Indigenes -SSPCI led by its chairman, Itekena Altraide paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

Governor Wike also directed the Head of Service, Rufus Godwin to immediately issue automatic employment to persons with disabilities in the State while allaying insinuations that people with disabilities cannot contribute towards the development of their State.

Nigerian Army Rescues 3 Kidnapped Persons as Air Police Arrest 11 Alleged Fake Naval Officers in Rivers

The Nigerian Army 2 brigade has rescued 3 kidnap victims in IBa/ Obele in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State during a raid in a kidnappers den in the state.

The Brigade Spokesperson, Eli Lazarus, in a statement made available to newshounds said its troop freed the kidnapped persons after it engaged the kidnappers in a gun duel which left 4 of the abductors dead.

The Victims, according to the statement were taken hostage by their abductors, Monday in Rumuji while travelling along the East-west Road.

Rivers Governor Offers Amnesty to Repentant Cultists in Rivers

Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike said his Administration is
ready to offer Amnesty to repentant cultists in the State who are
willing to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

Governor Wike who revealed this when the National
Administrative Council of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers - NUPENG, led by its President, Achese
Igwe paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Port
Harcourt, also said the State Government will continue to work
with security agencies to deal decisively with recalcitrant cultists
in the State.

Gov Wike Assures Rivers is Safe for Business

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has assured the
International community that Rivers State is safe for visitors and
investors despite what he described as propaganda in some
quarters.

Governor Wike who gave the assurance when the president of
the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Tonye Oliver Braide paid him a
courtesy visit at the Government House in Port Harcourt, said
several national and international events hosted by the State
Government in Port Harcourt and other national conferences
expected to hold this year in the city is a clear indication that Port
Harcourt is safe.

Rivers Govt Embarks on ‘Operation Kill All Rats’ to Curb Lassa Fever

Rivers State Government on Tuesday flagged off “Operation Kill All Rats’ campaign to educate, curb and prevent the spread of lassa fever in the state.

This was made known by the State Commissioner for Environment, Roseline Konya, during a press briefing in her office in Port Harcourt.

Konya said that apart from lassa fever, rats,which are the carriers of the virus were also vectors for other diseases such as urine typhoid, Eboni Plague Fever and others, hence, the need for the killing of all rats from our environments.

Konya said that caretaker committee chairmen of the 23 local government councils have been directed to enforce the ‘Operation Kill All Rats’ campaign in their respective areas.

According to her, the council chairmen have been charged to ensure that all communities are kept clean, while refuse dumpsite are cleared and fumigated to ensure that there are no more breeding grounds for rats and other vectors.She also urged residents of the state to keep their surrounding clean, by clearing all bushes around their homes, while all holes and crevics in individual houses should be properly covered to ensure no hiding place for rats.

The commissioner, who warned against further consumption of rats, also said that people must no longer use bare-hands to remove dead rats, while food must be properly covered by households across the state.

Rivers NMA: Doctors Commence on 3-Day Strike to Protest Kidnapping of Members

Following the incessant kidnapping of medical practitioners across the state as alleged by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Rivers State chapter, the association has embarked on a warning strike beginning Thursday through Sunday.
Chairman of the association, Dr Furo Green, while speaking to newsmen after an emergency general meeting of the association, said NMA was constrained to believe that there was a conspiracy against doctors.

According to the chairman, the association has agreed that if their kidnapped colleagues were released as at 17th January, 2016, another emergency meeting would be convened by Monday to review the situation.

He on behalf of the association pleaded with the government and all relevant agencies to kindly intervene in the issue of the continuous kidnapping of doctors.

Lassa Fever Claims Doctor's Life in Rivers

Lassa fever has claimed the life of a medical doctor in Rivers State, Ehivai Njamala.

Njamala who was until his death a resident doctor with the Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital (BMSH), Port Harcourt, Rivers state capital died on Thursday, January 14, 2016 while treating a patient infected with the virus.

Rivers First Female CJ Retires 10 Days After Oath of Office

Rivers State Chief Judge, Justice Daisy Okocha will be retiring on Thursday, January 14 after ten days of taking the oath of office as the state chief judge.
Okocha who is the state first female chief judge was appointed by the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, after the Appeal Court’s ruling on December 23, 2015.

She took her oath of office as a substantive Chief Judge of the state on Monday, January 4, after serving her two terms in office as the acting Chief Judge of the state from June 1, 2015 to January 4,2016.

A statement from the office of the High Court Registrar said a valedictory church service in honour of the retiring state Chief Judge would hold at St Paul’s Cathedral Church, Garrison in Port Harcourt by 10.am tomorrow and would be preceded by a Special Court Session at the Chief Judge’s Ceremonial Court Hall at the state Judiciary Complex, Port Harcourt.

Two other serving judges of the state High Court, Justice Ben Ugari and C. Uriri, bowed out of the service on Tuesday after attaining the mandatory retirement age.

Army in Rivers Arrests 2 Fake Soldiers, Prophet in Port Harcourt

The Two Brigade Nigerian Army Command in Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, has paraded two fake soldiers who specialise in impersonating army officials to dupe the general public.

The army also paraded a self-confessed fake pastor who specialises in deceiving members of his congregation with fake miracles and testimonies.

The army public relations officer of the two brigade command of the Nigerian Army, Capt. Ely Lazarus, said the fake soldiers were arrested last week while on a military uniform.

He said: “Mr Samual Agaga was arrested at Saipem area of Port Harcourt. He was dressed in full military uniform with a rank as a major, while Fabian was arrested in Ibiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. They have been impersonating our military officers using our military uniform and having dealings with unsuspecting members of the public.

1 Person Missing After Boat Capsizes in Okrika Rivers State

At least one person is still missing and several others injured after a speed boat capsided along the Port Harcourt Okrika waterways. The vice chairman of speed bpat ownerd association  in Okrika Local Government Area, Isaac Nwakama, told our correspondent that the incident occurred last night.

He said that the boat which was carrying over 20 passengers was travelling from Port Harcort to Okrika.

He said many of the passengers were rescued alive.

Nwakama said: “We are facing tow challenges like that. That is, the challenges is too much. I don’t know how the government will assist us because you can see that two or three times I will jack my engine because of those refuse. And the wrecks at Abuloma waterways are part of the challenges we are facing.

Tribunal Nullifies Election Result of 3 Constituencies in Rivers

While the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were yet to recover from the shock of Saturday’s tribunal verdict which annulled the election that brought Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State, Rivers State House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has also nullified elections of three Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers.

Those nullified are Asari Toru Constituency II, Gokana Constituency II and Tai Constituency.

More details to come...

Wike Again Restates Commitment to Clear Backlog of Disbanded TIMARIV Workers

Rivers State Government has again reassured the disbanded workers of the State Transport Management Agency (TIMARIV) of paying them their backlog of salaries.

Special adviser to the governor on media and publicity, Opunabo Inko-Tariah, stated this following appeals by the disbanded TIMARIV workers that their ten month backlog of salaries be paid.

Inko-Tariah said the Governor Nyesom Wike led administration was sensitive to issues concerning people of the state including TIMARIV.

He said: “I understand the rationale behind the demonstration by members of the disbanded TIMARIV. However, it is pertinent to say that this TIMARIV issue is a problem bequeathed to Governor Wike by the immediate past administration of Rotimi Amaechi and created by his physical rascality. However, let me dissolve the fears of the protesters by assuring them that the governor is a very sensitive man and will do something to sort out the nonpayment of their salaries.

Emergency Medical Services In Rivers Threaten to Shut Down Hospital in 14 Days

Workers of the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the ministry of health have issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Government (RSG) to pay them their over 10 months salary arrears or face a shutdown of the health facilities in the state.

This was contained in a statement signed by some of the workers.

The emergency medical service workers also want the RSG to regularise their appointment having worked for four years without formal employment.

A spokesman of the emergency medical services workers, Orwell Wali, said they were facing hard times as a result of nonpayment of their salaries.

He said: “we have been having series of meeting with our director and the permanent secretary Rivers State Ministry of Health and they promised that the governor had already approved the EMS and would work with them. They said that they would meet with us in few months and since then till date we have not heard anything from them. The situation on ground with us is that we have a lot of people working with us married and unmarried with children and no salary. Many of us have been pushed out of our houses and we don’t have where to stay.

Rivers: Army Uncovers Arms Cache, Soldier Training Militants

The Nigerian Army on Sunday, said they have arrested a rogue soldier, who specialised in training Niger Delta militants, during its arms and ammunition mop-up in Kula Community, Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The Commanding Officer of 2 Brigade Garrison of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Timothy Opurum, made this known to newsmen in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital.
Opurum said the soldier, a member of a 13-man -militant gang alleged to have been terrorising many communities in the state, deserted the army in 2002.

He said: “Based on intelligence reports, we carried out a sting operation where we captured the 13man-militant gang including its notorious kingpin leader, simply known as Kenneth.

“We also arrested a soldier, who deserted the army in 2002 and specialised in training of militants in weapons handling and operational tactics.
“The soldier (names withheld), who is a Private, joined the army in 1998 and served in 331 Artillery Regiment, Kalapanzi Barracks in Kaduna before he was declared missing in 2002.
“The soldier, who is related to the kingpin of the militant group, is still in our custody and will be released to prosecuting agencies after formal dismissal from the army,” he said.

NGO Calls on Police to Take Responsibility for Killing of Oldest Man in Rivers Community

A Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), the Society for the Promotion of Better Nigeria has called on police in Rivers State to take responsibility for the death of an elderly man in Mgbuoshimiri community during an invasion of the community by police at the weekend.

The executive director of the NGO, Livingstone Nweche, in his reaction condemned the approach used by men of the Nigerian police in combating cultism which led to the death of a senior citizen.

Nweche said: “I wish to condemn in unmistakable terms the recent spate of community invasion by security agencies in Rivers State in the name of fighting cultism and criminality which is very disturbing. This is particular reference to the uncoordinated and hostile approach leading to colatral damage resulting in the loss f innocent lives and property of community dwellers.

Dakuku Calls for Collective Effort to Tackle Insecurity in Rivers State

The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Dakuku Peterside, has called for a collective effort to tackle issues of insecurity in the state irrespective of police conciliation or religious affiliation of the people of the state.

He made the call in his reaction to recent attacks and killings in oyorokuto fishing settlement in Ndoni Local Govenrment Area of the state while describing the spate of killing of innocent lives in the area as disturbing.

He said: “let me condemn in strong terms the recent attacks and killings at Oyorikoto fishing settlement. You will recall that this is not the first time Oyorikoto is being attacked, but current spate of killing of innocent inhabitants of Oyorikoto is so devastating that one needs to worry. And come to think of it, we have a government in place who whose responsibility is to safeguard lives and properties which is the primary responsibility of any government. So the people of Oyorikoto are nt excuded from the larger Rivers State. It is our responsibility to ensure that we provide them a conducive environment to go about their business.

Pensioners in Rivers Confirm Wike's Directive to Clear off 3-month Arrears

Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Rivers State Chapter, Festus Abibo has confirmed the payment of three months pension arrears by the state Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

Abibo who made this known to newsmen in Port Harcourt said the accountant general of the state has started issuing cheques to different banks for payment.

He said: “As I am talking to you now, work is going on to implement the directives given by the state governor. The entire pensioners of this state welcome this development. And that is an indication that governor Wike understands the plight of pensioners in this state.”

Wike had last week ordered the accountant general of the state to clear three months arrears of pensioners in the state.

Police Arrest Two for Looting Rivers Assembly Property …New Speaker Emerges

Two miscreants and scoundrels, were on Monday, arrested by security operatives at the Rivers State House of Assembly complex as they were about to smuggle some items suspected to be properties of the Assembly out of the premises.

The arrest was made during the proclamation of the 8th Rivers State House of Assembly, by the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The Tide learnt that while the inauguration was going on, some scoundrels broke into offices of some former lawmakers, and started looting properties at the assembly complex.

Sources revealed that items found with the miscreants from the lawmakers’ offices include 2013 diaries, canned drinks, bottled water, computers and flat screen television sets.
It was gathered that while the miscreants were trying to smuggle the computers and flat screen TVs outside the premises, they were arrested by officers of the Assembly Police Command.

When contacted, the Police at the command refused to speak to The Tide, but sources said that the suspects were kept in an excluded place.