Non-indigenes Council in Bayelsa honours 2 former leaders, applauds state government

The Supreme Council of Non-indegenes in Bayelsa has bestowed its merit award on two former President-Generals of the organisations as part of its end of year activities and festivities for the outgoing 2017.

The group, a coalition of non indegenes community associations from other states of the federation held the occasion with award of certificates of merit and presentation of plaques to the leaders at Ididi hotel, Ekeki in Yenagoa.

Mr Douglas Koko, pioneer leader of the group and Mr Adeshina Sanusi were the award recipients.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Chief Ade Bakare, President-General of the Council, noted that the two former leaders were selected due to their outstanding efforts in building the organisation to earn the respect and recognition by their hosts.

Police visit scene of armed atttack on Oronto Douglas’s residence two days after several distress calls

The Bayelsa Police Command has visited the scene of crime following armed attack by unidentified gunmen on Oronto Douglas' residence and Okoroba in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa on December 26, 2017, two clear days after the crime.

There had been claims by some persons in the community that the police did not respond to distress calls during the attack on some residences including that of the late Oronto Douglas, a former Commissioner for Information in the state.

The Command had lied and feigned ignorance of the crime when contacted for update on the siruation and later recanted, visited the crime scene albeit belatedly  as evidence of reports to Assistant Commisioner of Police in charge of operations and Nembe Police Division became public.

Abductor of Paramount ruler’s wife, Principal in Bayelsa demand N100 m ransom

 The abductors of Mrs Tina Inegbagha, wife of Paramount ruler in Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have demanded a ransom of N100 million to free their captive.

It would be recalled that yet to be identified gunmen had on December 16, 2017 invaded the coastal settlement abducting the monarch’s wife and Mr Egele Jack, the Principal of Government Craft Development Centre, Ayakoro.                         .

Mr Majesty Inegbagha, a member of the monarch’s family said in Yenagoa on Friday that the abductors have contacted the family with the demand.

"The paramaount ruler, who is my elder brother confirmed to me this morning that the kidnappers have called him and demanded for the sum of N100 million and it was a relief to the tension that has buit up since all these days.

"Although the family is pleased to know that the woman is alive, the thought of raising that sum of money has created additional challenge to the family and we appeal to them to free her on humanitarian grounds as wemlack the means to pay," Inegbagha said.

He expressed optimism that the abducted paramount ruler’s wife and the school principal would regain their freedom following fervent prayers by family members and well meaning members of the public as well as efforts of the security agencies.

The Police Commissioner in the state, Mr Asuquo Amba, had in a response to a question on the incident during an interactive session with newsmen on the crime situation on Monday said that the incident was being investigated.

Amba said that following the recent upsurge in violent crimes in Bayelsa, the Inspector General of Police (I-G), Ibrahim Idris, had sent a special squad to compliment the efforts of the Police Command in combating crime.

Tax evasion: Firm reopens sealed dredging site in Bayelsa

The abductors of Mrs Tina Inegbagha, wife of Paramount ruler in Ayakoro Community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa, have demanded a ransom of N100 million to free their captive.

It would be recalled that yet to be identified gunmen had on December 16, 2017 invaded the coastal settlement abducting the monarch’s wife and Mr Egele Jack, the Principal of Government Craft Development Centre, Ayakoro.                         .

Mr Majesty Inegbagha, a member of the monarch’s family said in Yenagoa on Friday that the abductors have contacted the family with the demand.

Azikel, a sand dredging firm in Bayelsa denies allegation of tax evasion, heads to court

The Azikel Group, an indigenous sand dredging firm, has denied allegation against it by Bayelsa State Government that it owed the state N30 million due to non-remittance of taxes.

Dr Azibapu Eruani, the President of Azikel Group, on Thursday in Yenagoa said that the allegation was false and had no substance of truth in it.

Eruani, according to political observers an ally of former President Jonathan has been penciled down for persecution by Dickson's camp to reduce his chances of being fielded in the 2019 governorship poll , the choice of Dickson's successor has pitched the governor agajnst his political godfather.

Ongoing public service reforms in Bayelsa to check payroll fraud- Commissioner

The Baylesa government on Monday said the ongoing public service reforms in the state was to completely eliminate endemic employment racketeering and pay roll fraud in its public sector.

The state Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Dr Agatha Goma, said this when he paid an unscheduled visits to venues for staff identification and assessment of local government workers, including primary teachers and non-teaching staff.

While expressing satisfaction over the pace of the exercise, Goma noted that the scheme was aimed at eliminating endemic employment racketeering and pay roll fraud among other vises in the public sector.

Bayelsla Internal Revenue board seals Federal Polutechnic Ekeowe liason , Dredging firm over

The Bayelsa Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), on Friday sealed off the Yenagoa liason office of Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowe and the operations of a Sand Dredging firm, Azikel Group in efforts to shore up the revenue profile of the state.

The two establishments were shut down over alleged non-remittance Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax deducted from their employees for several years.

The BIR enforcement team led by its Head of Enforcement, Mr Reuben Lugard served a court order on the staff of the two organisations before they ordered them to leave their offices.

Bayelsa Assembly moves to outlaw open grazing

Bayelsa House of Assembly on Tuesday held a Public Hearing on a bill seeking to prohibit open grazing of cattle in the state.

Shooting of Bayelsa female journalist: NUJ urges Govt., Police to check proliferation of arms

The Bayelsa State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Tuesday urged the Bayelsa government and Police to check the proliferation of arms and resultant upsurge in crime rate.

Mr John Angese, Chairman of Bayelsa Council of NUJ regretted that the culprits in the murder of a Journalist in April 2017 were yet to be apprehended when another journalist fell victim in another incident.

Bayelsa Council of NUJ made the call in reaction to Saturday's shooting of Miss Patience Owei a female journalist with the African Independent Television (AIT) by unknown gunmen.

Gunmen shoot female journalist in Yenagoa

Barely on week after gunmen assasinate a leader of cattle dealers in Bayelsa, Unknown gunmen have shot a reporter with the African Independent Television (AIT), Miss Owe Patience, in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The victim was reportedly shot at close range along Edepie area by her assailants, who dispossessed her of her mobile phones, cash and other valuables.

Owei, who covers the state Government House, was attacked at about 10.30pm on Saturday while returning home from a church service organised by the Living Faith church also known as Winners Chapel, Shilloh 2017.

It was learnt that the suspected armed robbers shot her in the back after collecting her phones and handbag, leaving her in the pool of her blood.

Don decries wide knowledge gap among Nigerians in oil & gas industry

A university lecturer, Prof. Benjamin Nduku has lamented the wide knowledge gap amongst and shortage of high level capacities among Nigerians in the oil and gas sector making expatriates to dominate the sector.

Nduku, a Director at the Institute of Natural Resources, Environment and Sustainable Development (INRES), University of Port Harcourt regretted that the situation had remained despite efforts by government to improve the participation of Nigerians in the sector.

The don made the observation on Sunday in Yenagoa at the award presentation for the first Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Annual Oil and Gas Undergraduate Essay Competition in the Niger Delta.

The lecturer who was a guest of honour at the occasion noted that while the age average of key players in the global economy is dropping, the reverse is the case in Nigeria.

Indegenous firm concludes study on Ocean Terminal at Ibeno, A/Ibom

Port Notel, an indegenous port development firm on Monday said its proposed ocean terminal project in the Atlantic Ocean off, Ibeno coastline is technically and economically feasible.

Mr Victor Akpanika, Managing Director, Port Notel Ltd  (PNL) told newsmen in Yenagoa that the firm had succesfully concluded a report it commisioned in 2014.

He explained that following the submission of the reports, the process of field development would take off as soon as all regulatory compliance formalities and approvals are got from relevant government agencies.

NDDC MD wants politicians to allow NDDC mangement focus on development of Niger Delta

Chief Nsima Ekere, Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commision (NDDC) says political interferance by interest groups in the region is a distraction and obstacle to speedy development of the region.

Ekere who spoke in Nembe on Sunday, shortly after inspecting ongoing projects in Bayelsa noted that the region was in dire need of development, and that any distraction was undesirable.

He therefore appealed to politicians to refrain from distracting the board and management of the Commision to achieve its mandate.

Bayelsa Police Commisioner bemoans poor state of police detention facilities

The Bayelsa Police Command at the weekend bemoaned the dearth of proper detention facilities to hold suspects apprehended in its efforts at combating crime.

Mr Asuquo Amba, Bayelsa Police Commissioner said in an interview that the police was making do with overcrowded makeshift cells adding that he had even deployed his personal resources to provide an armoury for the command.

Amba explained that the pace of prosecuting suspects in the state was too slow and hence compelles the limited police detention facilities for holding suspected criminals to be overstretched.

Gunmen kill Fulani cattle dealers leader three others in Bayelsa

Unidentified gunmen on Saturday shot and killed a prominent cattle dealer in Bayelsa popularly  known as Alhaji Jubril Abdukareem along with three of his workers.

The slain cattle dealer is also the leader of the cattle dealers union known as Myetti Allah  in the cattle market in Bayelsa Palm area of Yenagoa , Bayelsa capital.

Military elevates 4 officers at the Joint Task Force HQ Yenagoa

Military elevates 4 officers at the Joint Task Force HQ Yenagoa

The Commander of Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to the Niger Delta Operation Delta Safe, Rear Admiral Suleiman Apochi on Friday decorated four newly promoted officers under his command with their new ranks.

At the ceremony which took place at the headquarters of JTF in Yenagoa, three officers, namely, Thomas Otuji, Roy Nweke and Obiora Anyikwe were decorated with the rank of Commander, from the rank of Lt Commander.

Otuji, is Deputy Spokesman at the Joint Media Campaign Cordinating unit of the Operation Delta Safe.

Also the Commander of Sector 4 of JTF Col. M.U. Muktar was decorated with the rank of Brigadier General.

Addressing the officers Apochi congratulated them for their elevation, pointing out that their new positions call for greater service to the father land.

He urged them to do all within their powers to attain at least a position higher than a Brigadier General in the service so that they could go home in retirement happy and fulfilled.

The Commander, however, charged them not to rely on their connection among the higher ranks for promotion and other favors, but work hard to earn all promotions and placements.

He used the occasion to admonish those who could not make it to be among the decorated officers to continue to work hard and pray to be listed in the next batch.

Responding on behalf of the decorated officers, Muktar, thanked the military high command for recognizing and rewarding them with the new ranks.

He pledged that the new ranks will spur them to work harder in their areas of responsibilities.

The ceremony attracted spouses and relatives of the decorated officers.