Three year old twins kidnapped at ekeki Motor Park in Yenagoa

A set  of male twin toddlers  have been kidnapped by a middle-aged man at the Ekeki Motor Park area of Yenagoa, the state capital.

It was gathered that the kidnapper, who drove in a black jeep, had parked near the corner where Mrs Modupe Joseph, the mother of the victims, Taiwo and Kehinde roasts corn with her five children, one girl and four boys.

Modupe was away to buy some ingredients for her business when the incident happened. She was said to have kept the children in the custody of one Aisha Ahmed, a female adult, while she left to get the items.

Former Security Adviser to Ex-Gov Sylva rearranged for alleged rape collapses in court.

 Chief  Perekeme Richard Kpodo, a former Security Adviser to Ex-Gov. Timipre Sylva, on Tuesday collapsed while being rearranged for alleged rape at State High Court 7 in Yenagoa..

It would be recalled  that Kpodo was on Friday arraigned before a Magistrate court in Yenagoa for the same offence and was remanded in prison custody till August 10 for ruling on his bail application.

Kpodo was charged on a two counts of unlawful detention and rape of one Teke Blessing on June 20, 2018.

Rape: Don’t involve us in your travails – Bayelsa Govt. tells Kpodo

The Bayelsa government on Monday distanced itself from the travails of a former Security Adviser to Ex-Gov Timipre Sylva, Richard Kpodo, who was arraigned for rape on Friday.

Kpodo, was on Friday arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Yenagoa, on a two-counts of unlawfully detaining one Teke Blessing on June 20 at Etegwe, Yenagoa, and subsequent rape of the victim.

However, Counsel to Kpodo , Mr Julius Iyekoroghe, had dismissed the allegations as a ploy by the Bayelsa government to silence his client, who is a vocal critic of the Gov Seriake Dickson-led government.

Defection: Bayelsa APC disowns former chairman says he was expelled a year ago

The Bayelsa chapter of  All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday said the reported defection of Mr Tiwei  Orunimighe was of no effect as he was no longer in its fold.

The APC in Bayelsa faulted a claim by Orunimighe, a former Chairman of the party in the state that he is an APC member defecting with his followers to the Peoples Democratic Party.

Bayelsa APC in a statement by its State Publicity Secretary, Doifie Buokoribo, noted that  Orunimighe ceased to be a member of APC when he was expelled in August 2017.

League of African University Students honour JTF Commander in N/Delta

African university students on Wednesday applauded the leadership of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta for providing security for increased oil production.

The students under the auspices of League of African Development Students (LEADS Africa) bestowed its African Patriotic Personalities Award on Commander of the JTF, Rear Admiral Apochi Suleiman.

Speaking at the brief investiture ceremony in Yenagoa, leader of the group, Mr Morgan Gabriel noted that the operations of the JTF was crucial to the economic growth and development of Nigeria and the African continent.

N90bn Cargo Airport project reaches 95 % completion — Bayelsa Govt.

Bayelsa Government says it is putting finishing touches to its N90 billion

Cargo International Airport project which has reached 95 per cent completion.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson, told nesmen in Yenagoa of Friday that the airport would be inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 27, 2018.

Iworiso-Markson said that the airport was one of the legacy projects that would change the economic fortunes of the state and bring about prosperity for the people.

Automation of tax collection boosted our IGR above N1bn mark – Bayelsa BIR

The Executive Chairman, Bayelsa Board of Internal Revenue (BIR), Dr Nimibofa Ayawei, has attributed the rise in Bayelsa’s monthly internally generated revenue above N1billion mark to deployment of  electronic collection system.

Ayawei, who spoke while receiving a 14-seater Toyota bus from the management of Access Bank, said the government of Bayelsa had abolished the cash based tax payment system and subsequently blocked revenue leakages which boosted the state’s revenue.

He said that the progressive rise in monthly revenue from about N300 million monthly before the reforms in 2017 to the N1 billion mark was a fallout of the automation of the revenue collection process.

“We are reaping the rewards of the recent re-engineering of the revenue collection process and deployment of electronic payment plattforms that captures the funds accruing to the state.

MR KAKIRI FLINT, THE RELATIONSHIP MANAGER, PUBLIC SECTOR IN ACCESS BANK, YENAGOA SPEAKING SORTLY AFTER PRSENTING A 14 SEAT TOYOTA BUS TO DR NIMIBOFA AYAWEI THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, BAYELSA BOARD OF INTERNAL REVENUE

Security firm denies allegations of extra-judicial killings, says it created over 4,000 jobs in Bayelsa

The management of Darlon Security and Guards says its operations has created more than 4,000 youths hitherto engaged in oil theft and sundry crimes  in the creeks of Bayelsa.

The security firm in a statement issued in Yenagoa by the outfit's Public Relations and Security Coordinator, Mr Preye Oseke on Monday said the firm has curtailed vandalism of pipelines in its areas of operations.

The firm noted that resulting from its clampdown on oil theft, oil firms in the state were recording increased production and hence the corresponding oil derivation revenue accruing to the state in the past two years.

Ijaw group seeks to enthrone accountable leadership in Bayelsa

An Ijaw leadership group on Wednesday called for a review of the leadership process to ensure that those who occupy public offices are answerable and accountable to the people.

The group, G24 Embasara Foundation unveiled its plan at a one day summit on Visionary Leadership, Good Governance and Sustainable Development in Bayelsa held in Yenagoa.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the group, Chief Amba Ambaiowei said that the organisation was made up of Ijaw people who are concerned about the under development in Ijaw land who believe that the people deserved improved social amenities.

NLC in Bayelsa pickets MTN as part of National protest against casualisation

The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has picketed the MTN Service Centre along Sani Abacha Way, Ovom, Yenagoa over issues bordering on unionism and staff casualisation.

The placard carrying protesters numbering over 50 drawn from all affiliate unions were at the centre as early as 7.30am on Monday and sang solidarity songs.

Some of the placards read: "Stop the intimidation of NIGERIAN workers MTN"; "Unionisation is the right of all workers private/public"; "NLC say no to victimisation of workers in MTN" and "ABASEBENZI Ba Vuka Futhi Balive".

Ohaneze in Bayelsa dissociates self from purported endorsement of Atiku

The leadership of Ohanaeze in Bayelsa on Sunday dissociated itself from the purported endorsement of former vice President Atiku Abubarka who visited the state in June to canvass support.

Ohanaeze noted that it was against the objectives of the pan Igbo Socio cultural group to delve into partisan politics and described the alleged endorsement as a disgrace to Igbos..

Cartaker Chairman of the group in Bayelsa, Chief Nlem Mark made the clarifications on Sunday at Imiringi Bayelsa during a reconciliatory meeting with local chapters of Ohaneze in Ogbia Local Government Area.

He said those who purportedly endorsed Atiku when the Peoples Democratic Party was yet to pick its presidential candidate were imposters and political jobbers whose sole aim remained monetary gains.

Bayelsa Govt. to settle medical bills of NYSC members involved in auto crash

Bayelsa Government on Friday pledged to settle the medical bills of four National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members involved in an auto crash on Monday in which two of them died.

Mr Suoyo Appah, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Seriake Dickson on NYSC Matters, made the pledge in Yenagoa during the issuance of NYSC discharge certificates to the outgoing corps members.

Shareholder group calls on international oil firms to adopt best practices in N/Delta

Stakeholders Alliance for Corporate Accountability, (SACA) has called on multi-national oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to adopt best global practices in their operations.

SACA, a Yenagoa based nongovernmental organisation seeks to protect the interest of shareholders of International Oil Companies (IOCs) listed on international stock exchanges.

FRSC confirms death of 4 corps members in Bayelsa

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday confirmed the death of four Corps members in an auto crash in Bayelsa.

Mr Ikechukwu Igwe, State Sector Commissioner told our correspondent that two died on the spot while two other corps members who were injured in the incident have died.

“Yes, the incident occurred on Monday at Swali Bridge in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa; the Tricycle the Corps Members boarded was hit by a Tipper.

JTF’s clampdown on illegal refineries triggers kerosene scarcity in Bayelsa

The renewed operations of the Joint Task Force (JTF) deployed to protect oil facilities in the Niger Delta against illegal refineries has resulted to shortages of kerosene to residents in Bayelsa.

Kerosene scarcity was sequel to a raid by the joint military force, Operation Delta Safe to illegal refinery sites in Okaki, Rivers and Nembe in Bayelsa.

Checks  in Yenagoa at the weekend indicated that the bulk of kerosene and diesel used by residents in Bayelsa were sourced from the two sites which were destroyed by troops.