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Hoodlums kidnap six women, four children, impose levy on Rivers community

Published

1 year ago

August 12, 2023

Grace Iringe-Koko, Rivers State PPRO

Hoodlums kidnap six women, four children, impose levy on Rivers community

Hoodlums believed to be Creek dwellers have reportedly abducted 10 persons including four children in Isua, JK2 community in Engenni, Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The victims, six women and four children with them were taken when the former had gone to their farms to harvest crops to avoid destruction from the impending floods.

A source in the local government simply identified as Ezuwa told newsmen that the hoodlums came from a nearby community called Oshobele, after crossing the River.

He stated that the development has left villagers and residents terrified, describing the kidnap as one, out of the many security issues confronting the community.

Ezuwa stated, “These women went to their farms to harvest crops because of the floods coming. And these boys (abductors) have to cross from the neighbouring Oshobele areas to the farm and kidnap them and their children.

“This is just one out of the many that have been going on in the local government. The people have raised concerns to the local government chairman and the Police Division in Akinima, but nothing has been done so far.”

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He disclosed that the latest incident was capable of igniting a communal crisis, ” Because it is now seen as an Ekpeye and Engenni thing.”

Ezuwa also said the hoodlums had hitherto demanded N450,000 from the community which they term a security vote and was paid by the community last Sunday.

He decried the absence of policemen in the community, which he said was why the miscreants operate with audacity.

While noting that many persons have fled the community, Ezuwa said, “The few one’s at home they ask them to pay a kind of living allowance, N450, 000 or else they are going to kill everybody in the community.

“Out of fear, they paid the money. They now brought new guidelines for each household to be paying N1,500 every week which will be remitted to the criminals.

“And because of fear, nobody can even go outside. So this is what is going on. We can’t really tell the community they hail from, but they came through Oshobele community, kidnapped these people at Isua and cross back to Oshobele community again which is their hideout.”

While calling on the Rivers State Government to ensure the release of the women and their children, he said i not properly handled, it could spark a communal crisis between Isua and their neighbouring Oshobele community.

“My call is for the Rivers State Government to come in because it is obvious that the Division (Police) in Ahoada West, even the local government authorities too can’t handle it.

“The people have written several to the Local Government Council, yet nothing has been done. So, our call is for the Rivers State Government to come and help us. That is the only hope we have.”

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident.

Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said, “Yes, and efforts are on to ensure the release of the women and the children, and as you know the command is not sleeping.

“We are after the kidnappers. As we speak, the Commissioner of Police has deployed the tactical team to ensure they are arrested and made to face the law for their actions.”

Hoodlums kidnap six women, four children, impose levy on Rivers community

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Related Topics:HOODLUMS Kidnap levy Rivers

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BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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5 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

The federal government has unveiled a proposed budget of N47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, disclosed this to journalists on Thursday following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

Bagudu revealed that the council had approved the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2025-2027.

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According to the minister, the government has pegged the crude oil benchmark at $75 per barrel, with an oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day (bpd).

The budget also sets the exchange rate at N1,400 per dollar and aims for a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.4%.

BREAKING: FEC proposes N47.9 trillion budget for 2025 fiscal year

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EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

Published

6 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) told FIJ that they have arrested Timber Wabote, the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCMB), on the grounds of a failed $35 million Bayelsa refinery project fraud.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, confirmed this to FIJ on Thursday.

“It is true,” Oyewale responded to FIJ’s inquiries.

Wabote is accused of misappropriating public funds for a refinery project that should have improved local energy production.

Vanguard reported that the NCDMB under Wabote paid $35 million to support the development of energy infrastructure in the Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa, yet there was nothing to show for it.

The EFCC picked Wabote up following the arrest of Akintoye Adeoye Akindele, the Managing Director of Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, for alleged misappropriation, money laundering and diversion of $35 million in public funds.

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“NCDMB under the watch of Wabote allegedly paid the $35 million to Akindele to build a 2,000 barrel per day (BPD), refinery, jetty, gas plant, power plant, data centre and tank farm at Brass free trade zone (FTZ), Okpoama Community in Brass LGA of Bayelsa State,” a source with the EFCC had explained.

Since December 2020 when the payments were made, Akindele abandoned the project with little or nothing to show for the huge sum he received.

Preliminary investigations showed that Wabote’s NCDMB financed 17 different projects, including the 2,000 BPD refinery in Brass LGA.

There has been a series of public fund misappropriation cases in the energy sector in recent times.

FIJ earlier reported that members of the House of Representatives summoned three ministers to defend how over $2 billion was spent on renewable energy with not much to show for it.

A recent FIJ report also recently detailed how residents of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa, have not had power in their homes since July due to the vandalisation of the Ahoada-Yenagoa transmission towers caused by unidentified persons.

The Bayelsa state government told FIJ it was the federal government’s responsibility to provide electricity for residents. The state has no renewable energy options reliable enough to power its capital despite the multi-million-dollar NCMB energy project.

Transparency in the energy sector has become necessary at a time when Nigerians have suffered power instability due to frequent grid collapses.

EFCC arrests ex-NCMB boss over $35m energy project fraud

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Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

Published

6 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

Court adjourns Yahaya Bello’s trial till Nov 27

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested an adjournment in the new case against the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, stating that the 30-day window for the previously issued summons is still active.

The commission has granted administrative bail to his co-defendants, Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, and asked the court for an extension of time for Bello to appear.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, EFCC Counsel Jamiu Agoro noted that the court’s order from October 3rd had not yet expired.

“In that wise, we feel it will not be appropriate for us to take proceedings while that 30 days is still running. So we have discussed and agreed to come back on the 27th day of November, 2024, my lord,” he told the court.

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He also mentioned that the previously set date of November 20th was not convenient for the prosecution counsels.

Counsel to the second defendant, Aliyu Saiki, SAN, confirmed that his client had been granted administrative bail by the prosecution and had no objection to the adjournment request. The third defendant’s counsel, ZE Abass, concurred.

The prosecution counsel also requested the court to allow the notice of hearing to be pasted on the last known address of the first defendant.

After hearing from all counsels, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and the issuance of the hearing notice.

“I have considered the application for adjournment by the complainant and issuance of hearing notice and the submission by the second and third defendants. The application is granted,” she said.

Justice Anenih then adjourned the case to November 27th for arraignment.

The former governor, alongside Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu, are being prosecuted as 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, in a fresh 16-count charge instituted against them by the EFCC.