a8df8ff2b14062db95f54dacf20b7e3f
Connect with us

News

Ogoni Land: Supremacy Tussle Responsible for Killings, Issued Cultists, Others Ultimatum to Disarm – Stakeholders

Published

on

Ogoni Land in Niger Delta
Spread the love

Killings in Ogoni land, especially in Khana Local Government area have been attributed to supremacy tussle, cultism, and armed banditry among others.

This was revealed by Chief Baridam and other stakeholders on Monday, April 22, 2019 during a multi-stakeholders’ meeting under the auspices of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers of Ogoni “to discuss security and other important issues affecting Ogoni as an ethnic nationality”.

ALSO READ  PDP Responsible for Insurgency, Insecurity - Mani

His Royal Highness, Mene Suanu Baridam said, “traditional rulers have not failed in their responsibility to ensure peace in their domains as being insinuated by some speakers but “what we have is followership failures”.

Chief Baridam tasked stakeholders to find out why the killings in Ogoniland is concentrated in Khana local government area. push({}); He said that “who wants to take control” of the local government area such that supremacy is being demonstrated leading to the killings.

Speaking on behalf of the Bari-ara Kpalap-led Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), Chief Prince Biira advocated for committees to be set up to handle issues bordering on reconciliation, working with traditional rulers to achieve peace in their domain.

In his speech, Chief Bebe Okpabi decried divisions among Ogoni leaders, and warned against commercial activism in Ogoniland. He thereby called for unity and respect for traditional institutions so as to enable them perform their roles as traditional leaders effectively.

The stakeholders at the end of the meeting resolved among others to issue a two weeks ultimatum from the date of the conference, to cultists and other armed group all over Ogoniland to disarm.

The statement that was widely circulated and received by the Informavores said “The stakeholders resolved among many others that two weeks from the date of conference, those who are cultists and perpetrating violence and killings all over Ogoniland should submit their fire arms to their traditional rulers for onward submit to security operatives and failure to do so, the person or group of persons would be declared persona non-grata in Ogoniland.”

Resolution also include setting up committees to address issues among the Ogoni people such as forming a joint task force that would police Ogoniland and ensure that there is peace and security in the area, sending a high-powered delegation to the Federal Government and the Police high authorities on security in Ogoniland, and for the need to establish more Police Stations in Ogoniland, especially in Khana local government area that has just one Police.

The meeting is expected to be a continuous process to assess the progress and challenges for a way forward in Ogoniland till a holistic peace and security returns.

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.

News

Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu, Wife, Doctor Sentenced To Various Prison Terms

Published

on

By

Spread the love

The duo of Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and Doctor Obinna Obeta has been senenced to various jail terms for bringing a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

A judge at The Central Criminal Court, [ Old Bailey], announced the sentence friday.

At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Obeta received a 10-year prison term.

The sentencing follows their conviction in March for organ trafficking, The Ekweremadus’sick daughter, Sonia was cleared of any wrongdoing.

1rem;">The three were found guilty after arranging or facilitating a young Nigerian man’s travel into the United Kingdom in a bid to obtain his kidney on behalf of Sonia.
ALSO READ  Kogi State Government Hands Over 9 Roads Construction Sites to Contractor

The jury said Ekweremadu, his wife and their doctor criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

The conviction is the first under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The sentencing comes after pleas from multiple prominent personalities and institutions, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

ALSO READ  One Year After, Family Cries For Justice Over Slain NSCDC Officer In FCT

Other petitioners included both chambers of the National Assembly, the Chairman/CEO, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Erewa Dabiri, and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

The charges were preferred on the Ekweremadus on June 23, 2022, when their arrest was announced. Obeta was later arraigned on July 13, 2022. While his wife was granted bail, the senator was refused.

After months of a pre-trial, the trial commenced on January 31, 2023 and lasted about six weeks, culminating in a guilty verdict against Ekweremadu, Beatrice, and Obeta.

Continue Reading

News

Reps Seek UK Government Clemency for Ekweremadu

Published

on

Tension in Debt Management Office as DG allegedly schemes for third
Spread the love

The House of Representatives  has write to the government of the United Kingdom seeking mercy in sentencing the embattled Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.

This is contained in a resolution reached following a motion moved by Toby Okechukwu, a lawmaker from Enugu State.

A UK court found the duo guilty of conspiracy of organ harvesting of another Nigerian. The Ekweremadu couple will be sentenced in the coming days.

Moving the motion, Okechukwu said diplomatic intervention in this kind of case is normal.

ALSO READ  Idumuje -Ugboko: Leave Ned Nwoko Out Of Your Misfortune, Community Elders Tells Mischief makers

“It is a common practice in international relations for nations, including the UK, to seek relief for their citizens involved in situations such as that of the Ekweremadus,” he said.

Speaking on the motion, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House, said intervention by the House is not a justification for the charges against the Ekweremadus. He urged the UK government to consider Ekweremadu’s years of public service.

Consequently, the House resolved to urge the UK government and the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing Ekweremadu, his wife and the doctor.

ALSO READ  Prophet T. B Joshua: Akoko will not remain the same — BTO

Also, they urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to take all diplomatic steps and other necessary interventions regarding the travails of the Ekweremadu family.

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
Continue Reading

News

HYPPDEC Donates Food Stuff, Clothing to Locals in Kogi to Tackle Cashless Policy Effect

Published

on

Spread the love

By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPDEC), on Tuesday, donated 400 bags of rice, 250 gallons of vegetable oil and some packaged women rappers to ten Local Government Areas in Kogi State under the agency to cushion the effect associated with the new cashless policy.

Making the presentation to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the Lugard House, Lokoja on Tuesday, a Board Member of HYPPDEC, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, said that the gesture is part of the agency’s intervention in times of natural disaster or any hardship situation on citizens.

ALSO READ  Profile: 9th Assembly Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila

Salami expressed the commitment of HYPPDEC in tackling the prevailing economic hardship on Nigerians as a result of the Cashless Policy.

“We owe it as a duty to take adquate care of the people in the 10 Local Government Areas belonging to HYPPDEC communities in Kogi

“Our concern under the present economic hardship is to alleviate the sufferings of the people within HYPPDEC communities in Kogi” Ozi Salami told Governor Bello.

He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the provision of logistic supports that have facilitated smooth operation of the agency in Kogi.

He also told the Governor that HYPPDEC will soon begin the construction of 50 housing units in Kogi for resettlement of last year’s flood victims in riverine communities.

ALSO READ  PMB: Peace Must Return To Plateau, As Stakeholders Interrogate The FG Over Nation’s Maladies

“I appreciate Governor Bello’s magnanimity in providing land for the housing project. The Governor is expected to perform the foundation laying ceremony of the project” Ozi Salami disclosed.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Bello, Jamiu Asuku who received the food stuff on behalf of his boss, hinted that Kogi will key into HYPPDEC’s intervention initiative in the areas of provision of food and security of lives and property for citizens.

Governor Yahaya Bello appealed to HYPPDEC to focus more on Ibaji Local Government Area in its intervention programme as a result of the bad terrain of the area.

Continue Reading

Recent Posts

Copyright © 2021 Informavores Nigeria Communication Enterprises | Powered by ObajeSoft Inc