Author: Emmanuel Obe

The planned protest against the prolonged power outage in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State has been suspended following appeals by security agencies and the local government authorities. The protest, initiated by Chief JP Ngochindo, was scheduled to take place on Friday, September 11, 2026, to demand urgent restoration of electricity supply to communities in the oil and industrial-rich local government. Announcing the suspension, Ngochindo said he had held discussions with the Divisional Police Officer of Eleme, SP Ifeanyi Nwafor; the Director of the Department of State Services in the area, Mrs Umbeh; and a representative of the Eleme…

The Horsfall family has announced the death of Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall, a prominent elder statesman and one of the founding fathers of Rivers State. Chief Horsfall, who was described by his family as a distinguished public servant, administrator and statesman, died peacefully after what the family described as a fulfilled and impactful life dedicated to God, his family, community, Rivers State and Nigeria. In a statement signed by his son, Chief Donald Albert Horsfall, on behalf of the family, the deceased was described as “an illustrious son of the Niger Delta” who made significant contributions to the development of…

…seeks government intervention to maintain peace, order The people of Udo Autonomous Community in Ezinihitte-Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State have raised the alarm over what they described as incessant disruption of legitimate community activities and alleged harassment and brutalisation of law-abiding residents by security agencies. President-General of the Udo Peoples Assembly (UPA), Sir Collins Onyewuchi, who raised the concerns while speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, appealed to the Imo State Government, police authorities and other security agencies to investigate the alleged abuse of residents and exercise restraint in handling disputes in the community. Onyewuchi said the situation…

A resident of Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State, JP Ngochindo, has notified the police of his intention to lead a protest against the prolonged power outage in the area. Ngochindo, who described himself as a representative of the “very oppressed,” said the protest would be joined by other members of the public and is scheduled to commence on Friday, September 11, 2026. In a letter addressed to the Divisional Police Officer, Eleme Police Division, Ogale, and copied to the Commissioner of Police, Moscow Road; the Director of the Department of State Services, Ogale; and the traditional ruler of…

Hope has risen for about 5,000 applicants awaiting recruitment as teachers in Rivers State, following an indication by the State Government that the prospective teachers will soon be posted to public schools across the state. The Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, disclosed this on Monday while monitoring the resumption of academic activities in some public schools in the state. Nwagor said the deployment of the additional teachers, expected to take place in the coming weeks, was part of measures by the government to strengthen teaching and learning in public schools. He also said the government was revamping facilities in…

As Nigeria begins preparations for the 2027 general elections, the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) is seeking to deepen community participation in the country’s emerging security architecture through a multi-layered security workshop. The committee is preparing to hold its second Collective Security and Community Synergy Workshop, which will focus on the evolving security architecture and possible security challenges that could accompany the 2027 elections. The workshop, being organised by the PCRC Monitoring Unit (PMU), is expected to bring together security stakeholders, government representatives and community leaders to deliberate on strengthening cooperation at the grassroots and developing more effective responses to…

The Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Malam Nasiru Marafa Gusau, who was reportedly shot dead by suspected bandits while travelling from Zamfara State to Abuja, will be honoured with a Janaza Ga’ib prayer on Monday, September 7, 2026. The prayer, according to the university, will be held immediately after the 1:30 p.m. Zuhr prayer at the NOUN Jumaat Mosque, Jabi, Abuja, opposite the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Gusau was reportedly killed by suspected bandits during his journey from Gusau, Zamfara State to Abuja, in another incident highlighting the growing security challenges…

The Rivers State House of Assembly has constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the disbursement and utilisation of funds released by the state government to PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) since the institution commenced operations in 2017. The probe follows the controversy surrounding the removal of a N6 billion budgetary provision for PAMO Medical University from the Rivers State Government’s 2026 Appropriation Bill. The Assembly had earlier explained that the funding was removed because the university allegedly failed to account for previous funds received from the state government under a scholarship arrangement for Rivers State indigenes studying at the…

The Southern Nigeria People’s Mandate (SNPM), a pan-socio-political and human rights organisation, has raised the alarm over what it described as the worsening insecurity, cultism and youth involvement in criminal activities across Nigeria. The group accused the Federal Government of failing to do enough to protect citizens and address the social and economic conditions it said were driving young Nigerians into crime and cult-related activities. In a statement signed by its Chairman and Founder, Augustine Chukwudum, and Secretary-General, Segun Diya, the organisation said the frequency of killings and other violent crimes across the country had become a source of grave…

Controversy has continued to trail the removal of a proposed N6 billion allocation for Rivers State indigenes studying at PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, from the state’s 2026 budget, with parents and stakeholders appealing to the Rivers State House of Assembly to reconsider the decision. The development has also taken a legal dimension, as PAMO University has threatened to sue the Speaker of the House, Martin Chike Amaewhule, over what it described as false and defamatory statements concerning the institution’s management of funds provided under the state government’s scholarship programme. The controversy followed comments by Amaewhule during the…