News
BREAKING! Rivers boils as CSO sh0t d3ad by 5 gunmen with his 23-year-old son
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen have killed the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Richard Timothy, and his 23-year-old son, Silas, at their residence in Igwuruta-Ali, near Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Timothy’s widow, Grace, said about five gunmen dressed in black attire attacked her husband as they drove into their residence.
She explained tthat her son, a new graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, waiting for the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) was also shot dead by the assailants.
Grace said: “Around 9pm on 31th January, we went to get some things. As we were coming and about entering the house, we called my son to open the gate.
“As he opened the gate we were about to enter, we saw people in black, fully armed entering with us in their car.
” They started shooting and immediately my husband opened the door, they shot him in the head, not once, not twice. They saw his son with him.
“I was able to escape but by the time I entered the house, I met my son who just graduated from UNIPORT ready to go for NYSC, his corpse on the floor.
“The police came and took his corpse and deposited at the morgue,”
The woman said the gunmen later took her into a nearby bush after shooting her husband and her son dead and requested she gave them money.
She said: “I was able to escape to the backyard. They came there, saw me and took me out of the compound towards the bush, like 50 meters from the house. At that time I knew there was no hope for me again.
“Then I tried to find out from them what the problem was and who sent them. They said they didn’t come for me but my husband. They now asked me to bring money. I told them I don’t have any money.
“Along the line they shot one of their members. So for them to be able to escape with the one with a gunshot, they left me and asked me to go back.”
She said her husband had hitherto received multiple threats from some individuals, who opposed his stance against the looting of properties at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium.
She said: “The DPO (Divisional Police Officer) took me to the House and tried to find out a few things from me and said they will get back to me.
“They have been threatening him. If they go to the Igwuruta Police Station, I think they will have many files of those that have been threatening him, those that have been stealing from that stadium.
“If they (police) go there at least they will know where and how the case will look like. That will even help them because he has been going there to register all these threats in the police station because he didn’t want them to empty the Stadium.
“I think on one or two occasions around June, July he arrested two people, one from the Stadium, the other from his yard. Nigerians should help me, I don’t want my husband to die in vain because he fought for the truth.”
The Spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the incident saying investigation to ensure those behind the killings are apprehended and brought to book.
Iringe-Koko, in a statement said the police “received a distress call from late Timothy’s daughter about the attack and immediately dispatched its men who raced down and recovered three expended AK-47 ammunition.”
She said Timothy and his son were rushed to the hospital but were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, adding Commissioner of Police had deployed necessary intelligence to ensure the arrest of the fleeing suspects and make them face the law.
The statement said: “The Rivers State Police Command is aware of a tragic incident which occurred on 31st, January, 2025, at about 2340hrs in Rivers State, where one Timothy, ‘m’ a 59-year-old Chief Security Officer of Adokiye Amieseimeka International Stadium, Omagwa, Port Harcourt and his first son were brutally murdered by unknown gunmen.
“The Igwuruta Division of the Rivers State Police Command received a report from Omolara, Timothy’s daughter, stating that four unknown gunmen ambushed her father and son, shooting them severely on the head, resulting in their death.
“The police swiftly responded to the scene, recovering three expended AK-47 ammunition. The victims were rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, they succumbed to their injuries and were confirmed dead by the Doctor on duty.
“The Commissioner of Police, Rivers State, has directed the deployment of all necessary intelligence to apprehend the fleeing suspects and bring them to justice
By Gloria Ikibah
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a revised documentation requirement for transactions conducted through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) in Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the apex bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali
The CBN said the new initiative is part of its ongoing commitment to foster seamless intra-African trade, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency for Nigerians engaging in cross-border payments within Africa.
Launched by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat in January 2022, PAPSS serves as a centralized payment and settlement platform that enables instant, secure, and efficient cross-border transactions throughout Africa.
By facilitating payments in local currencies, PAPSS minimizes reliance on third-party currencies, reduces transaction costs, and supports the rapid expansion of trade under the AfCFTA.
In a recent circular referenced TED/FEM/PUB/FPC/001/006 issued on April 28, 2025, CBN outlined the key changes to the documentation requirements associated with PAPSS transactions.
The key changes it added take effect immediately and include simplified documentation for low-value transactions, which allows customers to now use basic KYC and AML documents provided to their authorized dealer banks for low-value transactions of up to $2,000 and $5,000 equivalent in naira for individuals and corporate bodies, respectively.
“For transactions above the thresholds, all documentation as stipulated in the CBN foreign exchange manual and related circulars remains mandatory,” the bank said.
Also, the CBN added that applicants are responsible for ensuring all regulatory documents are available to facilitate the clearance of goods, as required by relevant government agencies.
“Authorized dealer banks may now source foreign exchange for PAPSS settlements through the Nigerian foreign exchange market, without recourse to the CBN.
“All export proceeds repatriated via PAPSS shall be certified by the relevant processing banks.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria urges all banks to adopt PAPSS and commence originating transactions in line with this new policy.
“In addition, CBN encourages exporters, importers, and individuals to familiarize themselves with the new requirements and leverage PAPSS for cross-border transactions within Africa,” the statement said.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives is set to host the country’s first National Legislative Conference on Renewable Energy, aimed at driving new laws, attracting investment, and pushing Nigeria further along its energy transition journey.
This was revealed during a press briefing by the Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Rep. Afam Victor Ogene, who described the event as a turning point for energy legislation in Nigeria.
He said: “The conference aims at bringing together key stakeholders and industry players to discuss renewable energy legislations, energy transition, renewable energy financing, investment opportunities and related matters.
“It’s about developing a national legislative framework on renewable energy”.
The conference, which is being organised by the House Committee on Renewable Energy in partnership with the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will take place under the UNDP Parliamentary Development Program.
Rep. Ogene noted that recent legal reforms have created space for state governments to play a more active role in Nigeria’s power sector. He pointed to the Fifth Alteration Bill 2022 (No.33), now signed into law, which allows states to legislate on electricity matters within the national grid. Before now, states could only act on off-grid power.
In addition, he highlighted the Electricity Act of 2023, which came into effect in February 2024.
“It permits states to issue licenses for all electricity activities – generation, transmission and distribution across the entire power sector value chain,” he said.
The Committee Chairman further stated that the new National Integrated Electricity Policy, expected in 2025, will guide states in forming new electricity markets, where solar power and other renewable sources will be key to reaching underserved communities.
Ogene explained, “The conference has three clear objectives:
“To promote dialogue among legislators, experts and stakeholders on critical legislative priorities.
“To establish a coordinated platform for federal and state lawmakers, and to produce a clear, time-bound legislative action plan.
“International partners are also on board. The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) will participate, and parliaments from South Africa, Ghana and Gambia have confirmed attendance. Ghana is sending a three-man delegation led by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alban Kingsford Bagbin”.
In another major highlight, the Netherlands-based platform INCLUDE will host a Pan-African Legislative Dialogue session on renewable energy, to be chaired by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
“The session will focus on how to establish a unified legislative framework on renewable energy development, investment and financing.
“The time has come for us to act. This is not just another conference – it is the foundation of Nigeria’s renewable energy future”, Ogene added.
Expected outcomes from the conference include new policy and legislative reform proposals to boost renewable energy use, as well as draft laws that will encourage public and private sector investment.
Other goals are to enhance collaboration between federal and state lawmakers, raise public awareness, and roll out a practical roadmap for implementation and progress tracking.
The event will also feature a technology showcase of renewable energy innovations and business opportunities.
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