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Rivers HoS resigns, new SSG named

Published

9 months ago

March 25, 2025

River State Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas

Rivers HoS resigns, new SSG named

Rivers Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice-Admiral (rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has announced the resignation of the Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, describing the development as sad.

The Administrator appreciated the immense contributions of Nwaeke in the short period he served the administration and wished him well in his future endeavors.

Ibas said in the interim, Dr Iyingi Brown, Permanent Secretary Welfare, Office of the Head of Service had been appointed in acting capacity until the emergence of a new Head of Service.

While congratulating her on her appointment, Ibas assured the people of Rivers of his commitment to neutrality, peace and stability.

Ibas also announced the appointment of Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika as the new Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG).

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He said his appointment followed careful consideration of his credentials, extensive experience, and performance during rigorous selection process.

“Prof. Worika’s distinguished career spans academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory roles, making him uniquely qualified to support the Administrator in the onerous task of achieving Mr President’s mandate. His appointment takes immediate effect,” Ibas said.

He added that Worika’s appointment reflected his commitment to harnessing the great human capital of the Rivers’ people to work with him to achieve the much-needed peace, stability and security.

Worika, who hails from Okirika, Rivers State, is a globally recognised scholar, legal expert and administrator with a track record in public service and institutional leadership.

He holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental and Comparative Petroleum Law & Policy from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom, and has performed roles across academia, international organizations, and government advisory capacities.

He is the Director of the Centre for Advanced Law Research at Rivers State University and served as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Port Harcourt.

Rivers HoS resigns, new SSG named

Related Topics:Head of Service Rivers SSG

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Nigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen

Published

2 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Nigerian army special forces

Nigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen

Troops of the 8 Division Nigerian Army have thwarted an attempted invasion by heavily armed terrorists in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, preventing what security sources described as a planned mass kidnapping attack.

According to military insiders, the operation unfolded in the early hours of Monday, 8 December 2025, when Special Forces stormed a major bandits’ hideout around Kurawa village. A fierce gun battle ensued, leading to the neutralisation of eleven terrorists, while several others escaped with gunshot wounds, as indicated by heavy blood trails at the scene.

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Sources revealed that the attackers were preparing to invade Tara village—also in Sabon Birni LGA—before troops launched the pre-emptive strike that halted the planned assault.

During the raid, soldiers recovered eight AK-47 rifles, five magazines, and 26 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, further degrading the firepower of the non-state armed group.

The military described the success as part of ongoing, intensified operations aimed at denying terrorists and bandit groups freedom of movement and operational space in the North-West.

Nigerian Army Foils Terrorist Attack in Sokoto, Neutralises 11 Gunmen

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Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Published

2 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Nnamdi Kanu

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

Leading Igbo diaspora organisations have sharply criticised the United Kingdom for maintaining what they describe as “disturbing silence” over the conviction and life imprisonment of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Kanu, a British citizen and head of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted on terrorism-related charges weeks ago and subsequently transferred to Sokoto prison, drawing outrage from diaspora groups who insist the UK has abandoned one of its nationals.

In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, the American Veterans of Igbo Descent (AVID), the Ambassadors for Self-Determination (ASD) and the Rising Sun Foundation (RSF) accused the British government of failing in its human rights obligations.

“The UK government has failed to uphold its duty to protect one of its own citizens,” AVID president Dr. Sylvester Onyia said. “A British passport holder was abducted from Kenya without legal extradition, subjected to a sham trial under a repealed law, yet London remains silent. This silence undermines the UK’s credibility as a human rights champion.”

ASD president Evans Nwankwo described Britain’s inaction as hypocritical, noting that London is vocal on abuses in Russia, Myanmar, Hong Kong and other regions. “When it is a British citizen facing unlawful detention and a life sentence, the government’s indifference becomes deafening. Silence here reads as complicity,” he stated.

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RSF director Maxwell Dede linked the UK’s posture to historic grievances, arguing that the silence reinforces perceptions of ethnic bias rooted in Britain’s role during the 1967–1970 Biafran War. “By ignoring Kanu’s case, the UK risks signalling that geopolitical interests outweigh justice for the Igbo people,” he said.

The diaspora groups demanded immediate UK intervention, including:

A public statement condemning Kanu’s alleged rendition from Kenya
Enforcement of the 2022 Appeal Court judgment that discharged him
Full consular access
A parliamentary inquiry into the UK’s handling of the case
Possible sanctions under the UK Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations targeting Nigerian officials allegedly involved in the rendition or torture

They emphasised that IPOB is legally registered in the UK, and Kanu’s broadcasts from London fall under British free speech protections. The organisations argued that £6.5bn UK–Nigeria trade relations cannot supersede the government’s duty to protect its citizens.

“This is no longer a purely Nigerian matter,” Onyia added. “When a British citizen is abducted, tortured, tried under a repealed law and denied the benefit of a binding judgment, it becomes an international issue. The UK must act.”

The groups vowed to intensify international advocacy, engaging the United States, the United Nations, and global media to ensure monitoring of Kanu’s health and detention conditions.

“The world is watching,” Dede said. “Human rights, due process, and the protection of citizens are non-negotiable. Silence is complicity.”

Igbo Diaspora Groups Slam UK Govt Over Silence on Kanu’s Life Sentence

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Nigerian Air Force Clarifies C-130 Aircraft Made Safe Precautionary Landing in Burkina Faso

Published

5 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Trends Admin

Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame

Nigerian Air Force Clarifies C-130 Aircraft Made Safe Precautionary Landing in Burkina Faso

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified that its C-130 military aircraft, previously reported detained in Burkina Faso over an alleged airspace violation, made a safe precautionary landing due to technical concerns.

In a statement on Tuesday, Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, said the aircraft was on a ferry mission to Portugal when the crew detected a technical issue shortly after departing Lagos. Following international aviation safety protocols, the plane diverted to Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, as the nearest available airfield.

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The NAF confirmed that all crew members and passengers are safe and were cordially received by Burkinabe authorities. Plans are already underway to resume the mission as scheduled.

“The Nigerian Air Force remains professionally committed to strict compliance with operational procedures and safety standards, and to the protection of its personnel while fulfilling its constitutional mandate,” the statement added.