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Job creation, not rehabilitation centre is best means of tackling crimes in Rivers – Group tells Wike
The Network for the Defense of Democracy and Good Governance – NDDGG notes plans by the Rivers State Government to set up a rehabilitation centre in the state as a way to stem the tide in drug related crimes in the state as a welcome development.
Recall that Governor Nyesom Wike recently made the pronouncement when a delegation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency – NDLEA led by its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd) paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt.
In a statement which was signed by Hon. Williams Igweh, and made available to CAPITAL POST on Friday, the group recalls the visit, which Governor Wike had admitted that the increase in crime rate in the state and across the country is mostly carried out under the influence of hard drugs.
In the light of the above, therefore, the Network for the Defense of Democracy and Good Governance – NDDGG is however worried that the intended gesture of the governor to set up a rehabilitation centre in the state, will not in any way address the issue of the increase in crime rate witnessed on daily basis in the state such as kidnapping, armed robbery, rape and others.
This is not to say that we are against the move, but suffice to note that setting up a rehabilitation centre will not address the issues that mostly lead to crime. As we are all aware, crime is mostly committed by youths whose minds are idle.
The NDDGG therefore calls on Governor Wike to prioritize job creation for the teaming unemployed youths of the state while he goes about with concluding plans for setting up the rehab.
Beyond engaging our youths for task force jobs in the past five years of this administration, and plans to employ five thousand youths in the state civil service, the Rivers State government should consider reviving the Sungai and Buguma Fish Farms which has the capacity to create thousands of job opportunities for our youths if activated to function in full capacity, as well as contribute to the increase in our Gross Domestic Product – GDP.
The Rivers State Government must be able to set up and effectively run a scheme to assist small businesses get access to soft loans and start ups, as well as create enabling environment for businesses to thrive in the state.
“Everything must be done to bridge the employment gap in the state, because it is a bad publicity for Rivers State to rank number one in the nation’s unemployment index, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. An idle mind they say, is the devil’s workshop.
“Another worrisome trend as observed by the NDDGG has been the fact that the issue of welfare of our senior citizens, that is, pensioners and retirees of the state government has been unfortunately considered as less important, while the state government has in his usual nature gone about donating brand new SUVs to commissioners of the State Independent Electoral Commission – RSIEC; this we view as totally insensitive.
Governor Wike had earlier claimed that the state government pays pensioners and retirees in the state their monthly pension and gratuities to the tune of nothing less than 1.8Billion Naira.
“However, when we put a call across to the chairman of pensioners in the state, Lucky Atti to confirm the governor’s claim, he clarified that there are four kinds of payment the pensioners are entitled to.
“He listed them to include monthly pension, (which he acknowledged has been the only payment received by the pensioners in the state in the past five years of this administration).
“Others are gratuities, pension arrears and third party beneficiary payment in cases of deceased members. He said non of these monies has been paid them since 2015.
“This has been the actual position of things, and it is unfortunate that the governor prefers to score a cheap political point with half truth and playing with the sensibility of these respected class of individuals and the generality of the state.
“As a lawyer and one who is well armed with the law and the nitty gritty of governance, Governor Wike can not claim to be unaware that monthly pension is not the only payment retirees and pensioners are entitled to.
“If the claim by the governor is anything to go by, why then has there been a sustained public outcry of non payment of the said pension and gratuities since 2015 till date by these senior citizens who had given up the better part of their lives rendering meritorious service to the state?
“As a matter of fact, gifting brand new SUVs to electoral umpires in the state two months to the conduct of local government elections is somewhat suspicious, because the tendency to influence the outcome of the elections in favour of the PDP in the state as a way to return the governor’s favour, cannot be farfetched.
The NDDGG hereby calls on the Rivers State Government to retrace its steps and consider our suggestions as the way forward to ensure the overall peace and development of the state.
By Sunday James
The gruesome killing of 16 innocent northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, over false accusations of kidnapping is yet another damning indictment of the failure of law and order in Nigeria.
Time and again, innocent lives have been lost to the mindless brutality of mob justice, a savage and inexcusable act that has become far too common across the country.
This is not an isolated incident. Nigeria has witnessed several tragic cases of jungle justice where angry mobs, fueled by misinformation and misplaced aggression, have taken the law into their own hands.
The Aluu Four incident in 2012, where four young university students in Rivers State were falsely accused of robbery, beaten, and burned to death in a horrific public spectacle, remains one of the most chilling examples.
In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a young student in Sokoto State, was lynched by fellow students over alleged blasphemy, an incident that sparked outrage but yielded little justice. In Lagos, several suspected petty thieves were set ablaze by mobs in broad daylight without any fair trial.
Across the country, from Anambra to Kano, Port Harcourt to Abuja, numerous cases of public executions by mobs continue to surface, often with little to no legal consequences for perpetrators.
The rise of mob justice is fueled by a cocktail of systemic failures that have left Nigerians disillusioned with formal justice mechanisms.
The breakdown of law and order, where the Nigerian police fail to deliver swift and transparent justice, has led to public distrust, encouraging citizens to take matters into their own hands. Rising insecurity, including the surge in kidnappings, banditry, and violent crimes, has left many communities in perpetual fear, triggering knee-jerk reactions to perceived threats. Ethnic and religious tensions have also played a major role, with deep-seated biases making certain groups more vulnerable to targeted attacks.
The proliferation of unregulated local vigilante groups and security outfits has further emboldened extrajudicial actions against innocent civilians. Additionally, the slow pace of criminal trials and the failure to punish perpetrators of jungle justice have normalized impunity.The Edo killings, like many before them, must not be swept under the rug.
The government must ensure immediate arrest, prosecution, and conviction of all those involved in this heinous act. Strengthening law enforcement agencies to curb vigilante excesses and restore public trust is paramount.
There must be massive public enlightenment campaigns to educate citizens on legal redress rather than mob action. Strict penalties must be enforced against communities and groups involved in jungle justice to deter future occurrences.The Nigerian government must wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and ensuring justice for all.
If mob justice continues unchecked, no one is truly safe. This latest atrocity in Edo should be the final warning: justice delayed is justice denied. The killers must be held accountable, and a nationwide crackdown on jungle justice must begin immediately. Enough is enough. The rule of law must prevail.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has congratulated the Muslim Ummah across the country on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr.
The celebration marks the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje rejoiced with Muslims for the spiritual renewal and discipline attained during the sacred month of fasting, prayer and devotion to Almighty Allah.
He urged the faithful to uphold the virtues of piety, selflessness, and compassion that Ramadan represents while also extending love and kindness to one another, especially to the less privileged in society.
The APC National Chairman further called on Muslims and all citizens to remain steadfast in promoting unity, peace, and national progress in the country.
He emphasized that the lessons of Ramadan—patience, sacrifice, and perseverance—are essential in fostering harmony and strengthening the nation’s democratic institutions.
The two-term Kano State Governor also urged the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians to pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed in his efforts to lift the country from economic doldrums and resolve lingering security challenges.
He assured Nigerians of the APC-led government’s commitment to improving the welfare and well-being of all citizens, noting that Nigerians will not regret voting for President Tinubu after his first tenure.
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Abia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support
The Chairman of Aba North Local Government Council, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke has been accused of excesses and high-handedness in revenue collection at the popular Ariaria International Market.
In a statement issued on Monday by Ariaria Stakeholders Forum and signed by its Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Chukwudi and Secretary, Chief Boniface Kalu on Sunday, the Forum lamented the excesses of the Local Government where he used the soldiers to detain the Managing Director of Star Nkey Ventures, Mr Benedict Elias who is a law abiding citizen.
The statement made available to CAPITAL POST pointed out that Mr Elias was duely appointed as agent to Abia Stat3 Board of Internal Revenue Service (ABIRS), hence, he wasn’t carrying out illegality.
The LG however claimed to have the backing of Governor Alex Otti, but further findings revealed that the Governor would never support illegality to the extent that a law abiding citizen was arrested and detained.
A source told CAPITAL POST in Umuahia that Governor Otti believes in the rule of law and will not support any intimidation whatsoever.
Partof the statement read: “The attention of Ariaria Stakeholders Forum (ASF) have been formally drawn to the unlawful and improper action taken by the Local Government Chairman of Aba North Local Government, Mr Timothy Kalu Iheke who used soldiers to illegally arrest and detain the Managing Director of Star Nkey Ventures Nig, Mr Benedict Elias, a duely appointed Revenue Agent of Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), regarding the revenue collection at Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State.
“The Local Government Chairman of Aba North, Mr Timothy Iheke had attempted to unlawfully assume control over the revenue collection operations at the Ariaria Market, which is under the jurisdiction and authority of the Abia State Government wherein the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) is saddled with the responsibility of revenue collection in the said market.
“The Local Government Chairman has no legal authority to interfere with or take control of the revenue collection process that falls under the remit of the State Government market.
“However, despite this, the LG Chairman Mr Iheke had unlawfully and wrongfully used soldiers who before now have been banned by the appreciate authorities from engaging in such illicit activities to unlawfully arrest without any warrant of arrest and illegally detain Mr. Benedict Elias without any detention order at Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia for two days over false and baseless allegations.
“Mr Benedict Elias the Managing Director of Star Nkey Ventures Nig. a duly appointed and authorized Revenue Agent of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service was falsely accused of impersonation and of being a fake revenue agent, charges that are entirely unfounded and baseless.
“We would like to emphasize that Mr. Benedict Elias was legally and duely appointed on 13 September 2024 to 31 January 2025 by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, and was fully authorized to carry out revenue collection and enforcement duties at the Ariaria market which he stopped collection of any revenue at the expiration of the said contract with the state government.
“His appointment letter and identification as a state revenue agent, were in full compliance with the law and can be verified by the relevant authorities.
“The actions taken by the Local Government Chairman Mr Iheke and his unauthorized use of soldiers to arrest a legitimate state revenue agent are highly concerning and represent an overstep of authority.
“This interference not only disrupts the lawful revenue collection process but also undermines the authority of the State Executive Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti on which Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service is working for.
“The Board Chairman of BIRS had on many occasions warned Mr Timothy iheke to desist from harassing a Mr Benedict Elias and his team who are bonafide Abia State revenue agent in Ariaria market which is state owned but Iheke blatantly refused but rather threatened to deal with the Board Chairman for telling him to desist from working against the interest of the state government.
“As Stakeholders of Ariaria International Market which most of our members have been doing business in the market for over 40 years, we know Mr. Benedict Elias and he has never been involved in any form of illegality or any questionable acts. He is a man of integrity and uprightness.
“We respectfully request that an immediate investigation be initiated into the actions of the Local Government Chairman, Mr Timothy Iheke, and the use of soldiers in this unlawful arrest. Additionally, we ask that Mr. Benedict’s name be cleared and any wrongful actions against him be rectified.
“The relevant authorities at the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service should be consulted to verify Mr. Benedict’s legitimate position and the legal framework governing revenue collection at the Ariaria market.
“We trust that a thorough investigation will be conducted and appropriate action taken to ensure that the Aba North Chairman, Mr Timothy Iheke is brought to book to account for the use of soldiers on an unarmed and law-abiding civilian Mr Benedict Elias.”
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Abia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support
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