Tag: Crime

Amaechi asks US and UK to reconsider travel advisory to Niger Delta

In order to revive the already existing trade relations between the Rivers state government and the United States of America, the Rivers state governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi on Monday called for the review of the US travel advisory to the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

Governor Amaechi asks US and UK to reconsider travel advisory to Niger Delta

Mr Amaechi was speaking when the deputy commander of civil-military activities of the United States, Africa command (AFRICOM), Sir Anthony Holmes led a delegation on a courtesy visit to him at government house, Port Harcourt.

The governor said the review of the United States’ travel advisory on the Niger Delta would open up huge opportunities of investment and trade for both the rivers state government and the United States of America, at the sub-national level.

Currently, the United States of America and the United Kingdom have travel advisories on the Niger Delta that do not favour the oil-rich region.

Mr Amaechi said that the Niger Delta region have had tremendous improvement in security to warrant the American and UK government to change their position on their travel advisory.

“The American and British travel advisories are currently unfavourable to the Niger Delta, foreign construction firms from Israel, Lebanon, Italy amongst other countries had completed and currently carrying out capital-intensive infrastructural and power projects in Rivers state, without any molestation or security threat to their lives,” he said.

He further said that an American company was bidding to partner with the state government to build a 1000-bed hospital and that during their several visits to the state; the company’s staff did not face any security threat.

The governor therefore urged the United States’ government to reconsider its stance on the nicer Delta so that their citizens can freely come to the region.

Stating the reason for the visit, Mr Holmes said they were in Rivers state as part of the American government efforts to engage with and assist the military in Africa, and to promote and create security for the benefit of all Nigerians, including people in Rivers state and those of other African nations.

He said the significance that Nigeria has on the continent of Africa in terms bilateral relationship and the key role that Rivers state plays in Nigeria in terms of population, resources, and its strategic location has brought them to learn, listen, and to understand the various challenges they face particularly in the area of maritime security

A forth night ago, the United States ambassador to Nigeria, Terrence McCulley was in the state to meet with Mr Amaechi.

Sekibo’s wife rescued from kidnappers

The wife of the Senator representing Rivers East Senatorial District, George Thompson Sekibo who was kidnapped last Thursday in Port Harcourt has been rescued, a family source said on Monday.

Senator George Thompson Sekibo whose wife was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt.

Asime sekibo along with two other ladies was abducted under the Obiri Ikwerre Bridge (still under construction) along the East-West road at about 7:00pm, while returning from the University of Port Harcourt, Choba.

A reliable family source told Channels Television news that Mrs Sekibo was rescued from her abductors by security forces somewhere close to Bayelsa along the East-West road at about 5:30pm on Monday.

The family source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said no ransom was paid to the kidnappers, adding that the Senator’s wife has since been reunited with her family.

The spokesman of the Rivers state police command, Ben Ugwuegbulam (DSP), could not confirm the rescue of Mrs Sekibo. He said “I have heard of the development, but I’m still waiting for the details of how it happened”.

The Kidnappers had reportedly contacted Senator Sekibo to demand for an undisclosed amount of ransom money.

Military ban the use of Army and Airforce car stickers in Lagos

Security authorities in Lagos on Saturday said that the ban on the use of military stickers in cars will henceforth be strictly enforced.

This was disclosed by the Commandant of the Airforce Base, Ikeja, Air Commodore Tony Omenyi who said the ban follows the abuse of Nigeria Airforce stickers.

He said from now on, the Police have been empowered to remove the Airforce car stickers on any car that it is affixed on; adding that all those who have it on their cars should remove them immediately.

“So, I am appealing to Lagosians to avoid confrontation with the Military and remove Airforce stickers from their cars. And this affects Airforce personnel too. Nobody is allowed to have Airforce stickers on their cars”, he added.

Also speaking on the same issue, the Nigerian Army Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Pat Aken gave an update on the ban by the Army on the use of its stickers, saying the ban is not restricted to stickers but anything that creates a false impression of belonging to the force.

“Anything that creates the impression that one belongs to the Army is banned even for serving personnel. Lagosians should note that anybody parading himself with a sticker is a fraud and would be sanctioned accordingly”, he said.

Clamp down on aliens in Lagos

Meanwhile, the Police in Lagos State said it will soon clamp down on illegal aliens in the State in a move to help check the current influx of the aliens into such highbrow areas like Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

The State Police Commissioner, Umar Manko who disclosed this while briefing Government House Correspondents on the outcome of the State Security Council Meeting chaired by the state governor, Babatunde Fashola at Lagos House, Marina said the security agencies are monitoring the influx of the illegal aliens.

Mr Manko added that for those who are not Nigerians the security agencies will take action in accordance with Nigerian laws. He said that the security agencies including the Immigrations are collaborating on this and urged the citizens to continue to remain vigilant and be law abiding, adding that they should also avail themselves of the Emergency toll free numbers of 767 of 112 when in any distress situation and to pass useful information to security agencies.

On how the Police intend to maintain security in the state, despite the banning of checkpoints, the Police Commissioner said what the Inspector General of Police directed was not that there should not be Police presence on the roads but that Police should remove barriers on the road.

He explained that barriers are different from not finding Police on the roads, adding that the barriers which have been removed and remains removed have been replaced by motorized patrols and foot patrols.

On efforts to curb the recklessness of okada riders in the state, Mr Manko said any close observance of the activities of the State Police Command along the Ikeja axis in the last four to five days will show that the Police have been impounding most of the motorcycles that flout the law.

He said the Police Command has discovered of recent that the okada riders have been using them to commit crimes, stressing that this is a situation which the State will not tolerate.

One killed as building collapses in Lagos

A building under construction at the NITEL Training School Cappa, Oshodi in Lagos collapsed today, leading to the tragic death of one individual, reports said.

Lagos state police spokesman, Mr. Joseph Jaiyeoba, confirmed the incident to the press and explained that the victim had been an employee of the Abuja-based company, Bukola Concept Nigeria Ltd., in charge of the reconstruction of the building.

Jaiyeoba said the accident had occurred at about 9:00 a.m. this morning and identified the deceased as a Matthew Adesuji.

He was found dead under the debris, while a second person was pulled out alive, but injured.

Police are on the trail of the lead contractor who had reportedly fled the scene of the accident. Jaiyeoba said the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are now investigating the case.

Crime Control Mechanism in place: G.O.C. 81 Division

Army

General Minimah spoke with newsmen at the pre-retirement training graduation ceremony designed for disengaging service men at the Nigerian Armed Forces resettlement centre;Oshodi Lagos.

The six months training is designed to prepare retiring military men for greater responsibility armed with entreprenuer development for a larger society of civil life.