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Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

Published

1 year ago

April 5, 2025

Nyesom Wike and Siminalayi Fubara

Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

More than two weeks after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, attempts to broker peace between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike remain stalled, with no visible progress in reconciliation efforts.

Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state legislature were suspended for six months following the political crisis that gripped the state. The National Assembly swiftly approved the President’s emergency declaration and proposed a reconciliation committee, yet no substantial steps have been taken since.

Sources within the state have indicated that the inaction stems partly from the role played by some key leaders during the crisis. According to a political insider from the Ijaw community, many of these figures failed to remain impartial and instead aligned themselves with either Wike or Fubara.

“Those that should have led us out of the woods this time around took sides in the crisis. They lack the credibility to call the two parties to a roundtable,” the source said.

He added: “Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who should have led the peace talks at this time, was pushed to side with Governor Fubara in the crisis. The Ijaw National Congress (INC), led by Prof. Benjamin Okaba, disappointed the Ijaw through its obvious partiality in the matter. Prof. Okaba did not help matters at all. The body can no longer be deployed to ensure genuine reconciliation. The leadership of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) also took a position in the crisis.”

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He further lamented the political polarization: “You remember that all the elders in Rivers are already divided into Wike’s or Fubara’s elders. These are people that should have risen to the occasion at this point, but they no longer command the respect that can foster genuine reconciliation. As it stands, there is nothing visible being done to kick-start any reconciliation.”

As the political uncertainty deepens, Governor Fubara has reportedly returned to his private residence in Port Harcourt, while several lawmakers are said to be abroad.

In a strongly worded critique, President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Jonathan Lokpobiri, faulted the Ijaw community for mishandling the situation.

“Permit me to reflect on the state we are as Ijaw nation regarding the state of emergency in Rivers,” he said. “I can, with all sense of responsibility and conviction, state that if we had applied wisdom in the management of this crisis in Rivers, we would not be where we are today. Instead of using wisdom in matters we can nip in the bud, we chose to threaten war that we were not prepared for. I have seen over times that emotion has never won a war. But planning and strategic consultations do.”

Lokpobiri added: “People in the name of struggle, even in the matters we can nip in the bud and caution ourselves internally, rush to the media and threaten war and give the enemies an opportunity to fortify themselves for it, and when the war comes, we no longer speak.”

He emphasized that careless rhetoric from some leaders derailed potential peace efforts. “People speak carelessly in an attempt to put an ethnic group into a war that is avoidable. For those who threatened fire and brimstone, the war came but I didn’t hear their voices anymore. We must be wise in prosecuting the struggles of the Niger Delta.”

“If this was how our leaders went about their struggle, I am not sure anybody would have respected the Ijaw nation. Most of those making unguarded statements are people we clap for without cautioning them. There is no war between Ijaw and Ikwerre and any other ethnic group. If the Ikwerre ethnic group had responded to our unguarded statements, there would be war already in Rivers,” he added.

While backing a return to governance for Fubara, Lokpobiri called for caution. “Sometimes wisdom is stronger than the arms we think we have gathered. If we had solved this problem internally as we advised earlier, we wouldn’t get to this embarrassing moment of a state of emergency. I expected missiles to flow when this state of emergency was declared, but those who threatened the war never said anything anymore.”

Meanwhile, President of the Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND), Kennedy Tonjo-West, said he has initiated consultations aimed at launching the reconciliation process.

“I am already undertaking some consultations so that the process of reconciliation can start on time. We want Rivers to return to a process of reconciliation without any delay,” he stated.

Vice-Admiral Ibok Ibas (rtd), appointed as Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, officially took office on March 20 following the emergency declaration.

Rivers: Wike, Fubara reconciliation suffers setback

Related Topics:Featured Fubara reconciliation Wike

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Bandits Kill Two Abducted Women in Kaduna After Ransom Payment

Published

49 minutes ago

April 6, 2026

Trends Admin

Bandits Kill Two Abducted Women in Kaduna After Ransom Payment

Armed bandits have killed two women among 14 people abducted from Janjala community in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, in a development that has sparked outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity in the region.

The victims were part of a group kidnapped during a March 1, 2026 attack on the community, which included a vigilante member, his wife, and 12 other residents. The incident is the latest in a string of violent kidnappings affecting rural communities across northern Nigeria.

According to local sources, the kidnappers initially demanded a ₦14 million ransom, which families struggled to raise amid economic hardship. After weeks of appeals and negotiations, relatives were able to gather ₦13 million, which was delivered to the abductors at a location near the Hayin Dam forest in neighbouring Kaduna State’s Kachia Local Government Area.

Following the payment, the bandits released the female captives but held back the male victims, insisting that the remaining ₦1 million balance and additional food supplies must be provided before their release.

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However, shortly after the ransom exchange, the kidnappers reportedly disclosed that two of the women had already been killed while in captivity. Community and security sources confirmed the deaths, describing the incident as deeply disturbing.

According to multiple accounts, the victims were allegedly shot after resisting attempts by some of the bandits to sexually assault them. The act has drawn condemnation from residents, who say such brutality reflects the growing desperation and lawlessness among criminal groups operating in the region.

A community leader confirmed the development, saying families were informed of the killings after the ransom had been delivered. A security source also corroborated the incident but declined to provide further operational details.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach the Kaduna State Police Command spokesperson, DSP Hassan Mansur, were unsuccessful, and no official statement had been issued regarding the killings or ongoing rescue efforts.

The incident underscores the worsening security situation in parts of northern Nigeria, where bandit groups frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom, targeting vulnerable rural communities. Despite ongoing military operations, attacks continue to disrupt livelihoods, heighten fear, and place financial strain on affected families.

Security analysts warn that the persistence of such attacks highlights gaps in intelligence, response coordination, and community protection. They have called for intensified operations, improved surveillance of forest enclaves, and stronger support systems for victims.

Residents of Janjala and surrounding communities have also urged authorities to take decisive action to secure the area and ensure the safe release of the remaining captives.

Bandits Kill Two Abducted Women in Kaduna After Ransom Payment

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Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter

Published

17 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter

Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have killed at least four police officers and a local hunter in coordinated attacks on security posts in Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat of insurgency in the region.

The attacks occurred in the early hours of Saturday, April 4, 2026, targeting the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters and a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)/Hunters duty post at the Malam Fatori IDP Camp in Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area.

According to ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, the Nganzai police station came under fire at about 1:00 a.m., with terrorists deploying Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other sophisticated weapons in an attempt to overrun the town. Police officers, supported by the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Crack Squad, military personnel, CJTF members, and local hunters, engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, ultimately repelling the attack and restoring normalcy.

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Despite the successful defense, four police personnel “paid the supreme price”, while a section of the police station was damaged, and an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was partially burnt.

Almost two hours later, at around 2:40 a.m., insurgents attacked the CJTF/hunters’ post at the entrance of the Malam Fatori IDP camp. One hunter, Atom Abua, 40, was killed, and about 20 thatched houses and properties were destroyed. Combined security teams prevented further loss of life and property.

Following the attacks, Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid deployed additional personnel and operational assets to the affected areas to strengthen security and prevent further incidents. He commended the bravery of officers and local defenders, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, and reassured the public of the command’s commitment to bringing the attackers to justice.

Security experts note that the attacks highlight the enduring insurgency threat in Borno State, where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to target security installations and vulnerable communities despite ongoing counterterrorism operations. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.

Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter

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NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis

Published

17 hours ago

April 5, 2026

Trends Admin

Pastor Afolabi Hodonu and his wife, Mrs. Success Hodonu

NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lagos-based pastor and his wife after discovering 11 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis concealed in specially modified compartments of their vehicle.

The suspects, Pastor Afolabi Hodonu, 45, in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Sakpo area of Seme border, Badagry, and his 35-year-old wife, Mrs. Success Hodonu, were apprehended on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border, Lagos.

According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the couple was intercepted during a search of their Honda Pilot SUV, where officers recovered blocks of highly potent skunk cannabis hidden in secret compartments. Babafemi revealed that the arrest was linked to a previous seizure on March 30, 2026, when a suspected fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, was caught transporting 24.5 kilogrammes of skunk through the same checkpoint. Subsequent investigations led to the pastor and his wife.

“The arrest of Pastor Hodonu and his wife is part of our ongoing intelligence-driven operations against drug traffickers hiding behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or elaborate concealment methods,” Babafemi said.

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The NDLEA has also conducted several other operations across Nigeria, leading to:

Seizure of 3.10 kilogrammes of cocaine at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, hidden in tins of palm kernel extract bound for the UK, leading to multiple arrests, including syndicate leaders in Lagos.
Arrest of a female drug supplier in Borno State, 28-year-old Aisha Adamu, with 4.3 kilograms of Colorado cannabis linked to bandit groups operating in the North East.
Recovery of 48,000 tramadol pills in Adamawa State and 1,378 kilograms of skunk in a warehouse in Edo State.
Arrest of a suspected drug dealer in Ibadan using her 11-year-old daughter to distribute drugs.

NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers for the successful operations, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks nationwide regardless of the traffickers’ status.

The pastor and his wife are currently in NDLEA custody and will face prosecution as investigations continue. Authorities have warned that drug trafficking in Nigeria carries severe legal penalties and that no individual is above the law.