A truck loaded with food items, including oil and sugar, intended for the Muslim community’s Iftar distribution in northern Nigeria, was hijacked in Gombe State.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Gombe Police Command, DSP Buhari Abdullahi, the hijacking took place after the initial offloading of the items, leading to public panic about the whereabouts of the remaining supplies.

In an interview with Punch on Monday, Abdullahi explained that the truck, which was carrying foodstuffs donated by Seyi Tinubu for distribution during the Ramadan fasting period, had already delivered around 90% of the goods at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat. The remaining items were being transported to another location when the hijacking occurred.

“The truck was carrying Seyi Tinubu’s foodstuffs meant for Iftar. “Unfortunately, there wasn’t any security involvement until the situation escalated, and we realized something was wrong,” Abdullahi said.

The police responded to the situation promptly and invited the truck driver for questioning. The driver confirmed that the supplies were meant for Gombe State and explained that he had already delivered the bulk of the items before the hijacking.

Abdullahi emphasized the need for proper security measures when distributing such items, noting that crowd management should involve police personnel to prevent incidents like this from occurring.

“The ideal situation is that whenever you want to distribute items, security personnel should be engaged for crowd control.

“Unfortunately, we were not informed about the distribution until the truck was hijacked, and by then, people had begun to panic, leading to the situation,” Abdullahi said.

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has made his first appointments, top among them being Prof. Ibibia Worika, a legal expert and administrator, who is the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

In a statement, the Sole Administrator said the appointment, which takes immediate effect, followed a rigorous selection process in which Worika’s extensive experience, academic credentials, and policy expertise stood out.

In a related development, the ex-naval chief appointed Iyingi Brown as the Permanent Secretary for Welfare in the Office of the Head of Service to act as the Head of Service pending a substantive appointment.

The appointment followed the resignation of the substantive Head of Service, George Nwaeke.

In a statement, the government expressed gratitude for Nwaeke’s contributions during his tenure and wished him success in his future endeavors.

While congratulating Brown on her new role, the administrator reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining peace and stability in Rivers State.

The statement further said Worika’s distinguished career spanned academia, international legal practice, and high-level policy advisory roles, making him well-suited to support the administrator in achieving the mandate set by President Bola Tinubu for the state.

“Professor Worika’s wealth of experience in legal scholarship, public policy, and governance will be instrumental in driving the administration’s agenda. His appointment underscores our dedication to excellence in public service,” the statement read.

The Sole Administrator emphasized his commitment to utiliing the rich human capital of Rivers State to foster peace, stability, and security.

Profile of Prof Worika

Hailing from Okrika in Rivers State, Professor Worika is a globally recognized scholar, legal expert, and administrator with a strong background in environmental and petroleum law.

He holds a Ph.D. in International Environmental and Comparative Petroleum Law & Policy from the University of Dundee, United Kingdom.

Currently serving as the Director of the Centre for Advanced Law Research at Rivers State University, he previously held the position of Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Port Harcourt.

His tenure in academia has been marked by significant contributions to legal education, curriculum development, and institutional collaborations.

Beyond academia, Professor Worika has played key roles in shaping global and national policy frameworks.

As a Senior Legal Adviser at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, he provided strategic counsel on energy policy, regulatory frameworks, and governance.

His tenure as General Legal Counsel for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna further cemented his reputation as a leading authority in international law, energy diplomacy, and resource management.

He has also served as a consultant for various governments, including Namibia, Malawi, and Guyana, helping to draft legislation and design legal frameworks for sustainable development.

His contributions to public administration have earned him several recognitions, including the OPEC Secretariat Award for Distinguished Service and an honorary title from the Ogu Council of Chiefs in Rivers State.

Air strike by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fighter jets killed scores of terrorists and destroyed three of their gun trucks, north of Chiralia in Borno State.

Deputy Director of Public Relations and Information,Group Captain, Kabiru Ali, announced this in a statement on Monday.

He said strikes were initiated following “actionable intelligence” from ground troops, which tracked three terrorist gun trucks moving from Sabon Gari toward Chiralia.

“Responding swiftly, the Air Component deployed fighter jets for an Air Interdiction (AI) mission. Upon arrival at the target location, NAF pilots identified multiple terrorists and their 3 gun trucks concealed under trees,” Ali said.

“With precision and lethality, the NAF aircraft engaged the targets, unleashing rockets and cannons that obliterated 2 of the vehicles. As the insurgents attempted to reposition the third gun truck, a follow-up strike was executed, destroying it completely.

“The overwhelming firepower set all targeted vehicles ablaze, while scores of terrorists attempting to flee were neutralized in the aftermath.”