News
Okuama 17: Bayelsa monarch raises alarm over alleged torture, arrest of returning residents
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Acting Amananaowei (King) of Igbomotoru 1 Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, His Royal Highness Goodluck Alagodei has raised the alarm over alleged attacks, torture and arrest of returning indigenes and residents alike who fled the community following military invasion over the killings of Army 17 in Okuama, Delta State.
The distraught monarch called on Governor Douye Diri to intervene urgently to avoid the matter snowballing into another major crisis in his domain.
He accused a dethroned former monarch and some operatives of anti-oil theft security company of working in concert with some military operatives stationed in the community to carry out the atrocity.
Alagodei said: “I make this distress call to Governor Douye Diri following attacks on innocent people who have been displaced and returning home from hideouts since the military invasion of Igbomotoru community on 17th March, 2024 relying on the Governor’s call to return home.
“The former King is working hand in glove with operatives of security surveillance company to thwart the good intentions of Governor Diri to ensure peace in Igbomotoru as demonstrated in his recent visit to the community.
“The perpetrators are currently ransacking the community, dragging out people, flogging them and arresting innocent people on trumped up charges. Thereafter, they hand them over to soldiers for torture. The situation has heightened tension in the community.”
He appealed to Diri to intervene and douse the rising tension from further escalating to loss of innocent lives due to the vendetta driven attacks on innocent people by the perpetrators who had concluded plans to dethrone chiefs in the community and install their ‘own’ to run the affairs of the community.
He thanked the Governor for donating relief materials to the communities which he stated would bring succour to the people and pledged their unalloyed loyalty and support to the renewed prosperity administration.
King Alagodei further called on the high command of the military to charge their personnel to keep within permissible framework while carrying out their search for suspected perpetrators of Okuama killings.
King Alagodei emphasised that the dethroned monarch had lost touch with reality and did not know the situation of things in the community, adding that he is still reeling from his rejection by the people and is intentionally fabricating unfounded stories to implicate an ex-militant leader Endurance Amagbein into the Okuama killings.
The monarch described Amagbein as a man of proven integrity, with peaceful disposition, touching the lives of people through his philanthropic gestures of payment of school fees, provision of educational materials to schools, various employment programmes for the youths, support for the elderly, provision of 500 KVA generators and diesel among other life transforming programmes that have endeared him to the people.
The Acting Amananaowei noted that Amagbein worked assiduously to stop pipeline vandalism and sea piracy in Igbomotoru axis and wondered what the dethroned monarch intended to achieve by employing deliberate falsehood to cast aspersions on the ex-agitator.
He advised the general public to discountenance the press conference held by the former king, describing his statement that soldiers mobilised to Igbomotoru in pursuit of Amagbein as false, baseless, misleading and a deliberate attempt to portray the ex-militant leader as being responsible for the gruesome murder of the soldiers in Okuama. (The Nation: Text, Excluding Headline)
President Bola Tinubu has departed Galeao Air force Basa (SBGL) Airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday, for Abuja after attending the 19th G20 Leaders Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The President is due to arrive at the Presidential Wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 10.00 p.m. (Nigerian time).
President Tinubu had attended the G20 Leaders summit where he endorsed the global alliance against hunger and poverty, which he said was pivotal.
The President also held bilateral talks with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who commended his administration’s economic reforms and their positive indicators.
He also presided over the signing of a 2.5 billion dollar Letter of Intent between the Nigerian government and the JBS S.A., a Brazilian company and one of the top three largest meat processing companies in the World.
The president was accompanied in the trip by senior government officials including the minister of foreign affairs yusuf Tuggar, the national security adviser, Nuhu RIBADU and many others.
In commemoration of this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the House of Representatives will lead a landmark march on Monday, November 25, 2024, along with other strategic activities as part of its unwavering commitment to eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement issued by the HoR spokesperson, Rotimi Akin, Jr on Saturday.
According to him the march, which starts at 8:00 AM, will bring together over 1,000 participants – including Representatives and members of the public – on a symbolic walk from the National Assembly to the Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force.
This demonstration of solidarity will culminate in the submission of a petition to the Inspector General of Police, demanding decisive action to safeguard vulnerable populations and ensure accountability for perpetrators of GBV.
“This march and the associated activities are not just symbolic gestures, they reflect our resolve and call to action against gender-based violence head-on,” said Hon. Abbas Tajudeen,, Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“We stand united in the fight to protect the rights and dignity of all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable. Together, through collective action and legislative reforms, we can build a society where safety, justice, and equality prevail.”
Beyond the march, the 10th House of Representatives in alignment with its Legislative Agenda (2023 – 2027) has outlined *key activities to sustain awareness and action throughout the 16 Days of Activism:*
1. *Sash Demonstration Ceremony* – Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Members of the House will don orange sashes, symbolising solidarity with the fight against GBV, during plenary sessions throughout the campaign period.
2. *Convergence of State Assembly Speakers* – Monday, December 9, 2024
A strategic meeting at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, will bring together Speakers of State Houses of Assembly to discuss legislative strategies for combating GBV nationwide.
3. *National Citizens’ Summit and GBV Conference 2024 -* Tuesday, December 10, 2024
This summit will conclude the 16 Days of Activism with discussions on constitutional reforms and securing endorsements for gender equality initiatives championed by the House.
The House of Representatives invites all Nigerians to *participate in this historic march on Monday, November 25, 2024.* Participants will receive orange T-shirts—the official colour of the United Nations campaign to end violence against women—symbolising hope for a future free of violence.
*Details of the March:*
• *Date:* Monday, November 25, 2024
• *Time:* 8:00 AM
• *Starting Point:* Speaker’s Car Park, National Assembly
• *End Point:* Nigeria Police Force (NPF) Headquarters
Gender-based violence continues to devastate families and communities across Nigeria. The 10th House of Representatives however, remains steadfast in driving systemic reforms, fostering collaboration, and championing accountability to address this pervasive issue.
Together, let us take a decisive stand for justice, equality, and the protection of human rights, paving the way for a safer, more equitable Nigeria.
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