Dorothy, Mother Of 6 Strangled To Death
On Thursday, November 19, 2006, at about 2.00am, at Omoku town Located in the
Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government Area of Rivers State, Mrs. Dorathy Wenibewei
was strangled to death by persons believed to be hired assassins.
The suspected hired killers gained entrance into Mrs. Dorothy's house by shattering
her door with bullets which also hit the chest of the deceased. They later forced
themselves into her house and forced the victim's two children around to close their eyes
before strangling the poor woman to death amidst her whimpering cries.
CEHRD's monitor gathered that one of the children of the victim during the
assassin's strike quietly opened his eyes and recognized one of them and had disclosed
the identity of one of the killers of his mother to the divisional police officer (DPO) at
Omoku. Further investigations revealed that prior to Dorothy's murder; there was a sharp
disagreement between her and her husband Mr. Sunny Enyadike whom we gathered has a
second wife. Mr. Sunday Enyadike has been on the run since the woman was killed.
Soldiers Kill One Over Berret Cap
...Corpse Dumped In Gas Plant's Dinning Hall
A trigger-happy soldier has thrown Otughievwen community in the Ughelli South
Local Government Area of Delta State into an endless agony following the killing of a
youth, Andrew Ighodayen over a beret cap belonging to the deceased youth.
Another member of the community, Mr Bright Bogare also received a gunshot
wound on the leg when soldiers opened fire at the people who were peacefully protesting
the killing of their brother, Andrew.
According to findings by CEHRD monitor, the trigger-happy soldier was among the
members of the Nigerian soldiers guarding the gas plant, the Utorogu gas plant,
belonging to Shell within the Otughievwen community.
The problem started when, on Sunday, November 19, 2006 at about 10am, the
soldier, who, according to community members, was fond of harassing and terrorizing
people in the community at gunpoint, left his duty post and went into the community in
the company of some other members of the Shell security soldiers. When the soldiers saw
the youth with the beret cap on his head, they captured him, and accused him of wearing
a military cap.
The soldiers, after seizing the cap, started manhandling the youth and were
dragging him to their location, the gas plant, when one of them cocked his gun and shot
him on the head, blowing away his life instantly.
The cap, according to the President General of the community, Chief Eric Sajini,
was not a military cap as its colour was ash and had no green spot or mix on it.
Angered by the killing of Andrew, youths of the community quickly mobilized and
embarked on a peaceful demonstration carrying the remains of their late brother, Andrew,
along with them. When the soldiers at the gas plant saw the protesting youths coming
towards the company, they opened fire, and in the process, one of the youths, Mr Bright
Bugare was hit on the leg by a bullet. Several others were also said to have sustained
some injuries as they scampered for safety following the sporadic shootings by the
soldiers during the peaceful protest.
The youths managed to gain entrance into the gas plant yard where they deposited
the corpse of Andrew in the dinning hall of the gas plant.
The gas plant was shut down as a result of the ugly incident, and has remained shut
as at the time of this report.
Community sources have alleged that the soldiers guarding the gas plant have
become terror to the community, saying that they have been using their military might to
harass poor residents with impunity. A woman was said to have been raped by the
soldiers few months ago when she went to farm, while a police officer attached to the
Otughievwen Divisional Police Headquarters was stabbed by one of the soldiers
sometime last month.
The peace-loving community has urged the Nigerian government to withdraw the
soldiers from their community to avoid total breakdown of law and order.
As at the time of this report, the soldiers were yet to be withdrawn from the
community while Shell was making frantic moves to re-open the gas plant.
Otuasega Women Cry Out For Justice
The women of Otuasega in Ogba Local Government Area of Bayelsa State have
cried out over the refusal of Shell to compensate their community for the great damage
done to their farmlands and creeks by a massive oil spillage which occurred in Shell's
pipeline at Oruma, their neighbouring community last year. According to the women, the
oil spillage, by destroying their crops, economic trees, aquatic lives and the fertility of
their affected farmlands, has brought untold hardship to the community which sources of
livelihood are mainly fishing and farming.
They urged the human rights community and the government to prevail on Shell to
pay compensation to the community in order to ameliorate their suffering.
The women bared their minds during a 2-day training workshop on practical nonviolent struggle in the Niger Delta organized on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th
November, 2006 by CEHRD in conjunction with A.J. Muste Memorial Institute, New
York, USA at the Otuasega Town Hall. Over 100 women drawn from women groups in
the community participated in the workshop which was part of the contributions of the
organizers to the global non-violent movement to discourage violent struggles. Some
youth groups, chiefs and elders of the community also participated.
The women listed several instances of human and environmental rights abuses
which they have been suffering in their community and resolved not to relent in agitating
for their rights non-violently using the strategies they learned during the workshop until
they obtain justice. Such strategies and forms of non-violent struggles to which they were
exposed during the workshop include petitions, public speeches, declarations, press
statements, leaflets, slogans, banners, posters, boycott of activities, withdrawals, sit-athome, peaceful processions, hunger strikes, civil disobedience, etc.
Fedelis Allen, a University of Port Harcourt lecturer, and an associate of the centre
for global non-violence, Haawai USA presented a lecture on non-killing perspective to
the Niger Delta struggle while Emem J. Okon, of Kabetkache Women Development
Centre, Port Harcourt, presented a lecture on strategies and tactics of non-violent
struggle.
Final Year Student Killed By Police
A final year Geology student of University of Port Harcourt, Nnamdi Ajikere, 25,
was on Sunday, September 17, 2006, shot dead by a trigger-happy mobile policeman said
to be newly posted to the Rivers State Police Command from the Northern part of the
country.
The sad incident occurred at the intersection of Evo Crescent and Tombia Streets,
GRA, near the LeMeridan Hotel, Port Harcourt at about 9pm. Nnamdi, in the company of
his brother, Ugochukwu, and two other ladies were said to have boarded a taxi cab from
Olu-Obasanjo Road, to Tombia Street when the tragedy occurred.
However, before boarding the taxi cab, Nnamdi and his colleagues had had
squabbles with another taxi driver over taxi fare. Angered by the rift, the taxi driver
dashed out, and reported to two armed mobile policemen who followed him and trailed to
late Nnamdi and his company up to the scene of the tragedy where they were doublecrossed as they slowed down as a result of a bump used as speedbreaker.
As they were double crossed, Nnamdi, who thought that they were armed robbers as
he did not know that they were being trailed by the policemen and the taxi driver was
said to have opened the door of the taxi cab and took to his heels. He was given a hot
chase by one of the armed policemen before he was shot down. The bullet hit him on the
head. Even when he slumped down, the policeman shot him again two times to ensure he
was dead.
The brother to the late Nnamdi, Ugochukwu who witnessed the tragedy said that the
policeman would have killed him and the other two girls but for the intervention of
another set of mobile policemen attached to the hotel as guards, who were attracted to the
scene by the gunshots.
The intervening mobile policemen arrested the killer cops, the two drivers and the
two girls and took them to the state CID, Port Harcourt where they were detained.
Ugochukwu managed to escape and went to their family home at Oromeruezimgbu
community in the Rebisi kingdom, close to the scene of the incident where he broke the
sad news. The news generated tension in the community.
One of the girls sustained injuries as a result of beatings she received from the other
policeman and the taxi driver who procured their services.
Court Grants Relief To Victim of Police Bullet
A Federal High Court Sitting in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Presided
over by Hon. Justice I.N. Buba, has granted leave to Tombari Martins Berebon, a 27year-old student of the Rivers State Polytechnic, Bori, who recently lost one of his
Kidneys to Police bullet.
On September 1, 2006, at about 8.00pm a taxicab carrying passengers from the
Isaac Boro Park to Lagos Bus stop in the Port Harcourt township was intercepted at a
checkpoint mounted by a team of six (6) mobile Police Officers wielding assault rifles
and extorting bribes from mostly commercial vehicle drivers. One of the policemen
opened fire at the taxi cap, and the bullets hit Berebor, damaging his kidney (see The
Human Rights News, Vol. No. 1, October, 2006, Page 5) for full details.
Recently, CEHRD donated money to the family of the victim and another major
surgery was carried out to extract the Police bullet from Berebon's body. CEHRD's
Human Rights Program also hired a lawyer for the poor family to sue the Police over the
shooting.
Berebon is seeking for a declaration that “the gun-shot deliberately discharged on
target by Mr. Goodluck Nwiube - a mobile Policeman attached to the Rivers State Police
Command - at the applicant from the back of a stationary Cab, thereby hitting the
applicant from his back side into one of his kidneys is aimed by the respondents at
deliberately taking the life of the applicant and depriving him of the dignity of his person
and therefore illegal and same constitutes a violation of the applicant's fundamental
human rights as guaranteed under section 33, 34, 41 and 46 of the constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999”
The victim is also Praying the court to compel the respondents to take over the
medical treatment of the applicant abroad, and that a sum of N5, 000, 000.00 (Five
Million Naira only) be paid to the victim as general and exemplary damages against the
respondents jointly and severally for the unlawful and illegal violation of the applicant's
fundamental rights.
Ken. A. Atsuwete, a Port Harcourt based human rights attorney is the counsel to
Mr. Martins Tombari Berebon.
On November 28, 2006 when the matter came up for hearing, the police moved a
motion for the matter to be struck out as a result of the lawyer’s absence from the court
(the lawyer was attending to other matters in another court). Based on the police
application, the matter was struck out. However, Ken A. Atsuwete the lawyer, has
disclosed that he has concluded arrangements to apply for the matter to be re-listed on the
cause list.
FROM US TO YOU
In the month of November 2006, Niger Delta region of Nigeria witnessed the same
pattern of human rights problems that have become entrenched in the system since the
emergence of the country's civilian regime in 1999.
Thus, extra-judicial killing, detention without trials, arbitrary arrests, voilence by
political thugs, threat to life, sexual harassment/rape, environmental degradation,
brutalities by agents of the state, etc were witnessed in the region in the month of
November.
Politically induced human rights problems featured more prominently as a result of
primary elections organized by the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the
country to select its delegates and flagbearer for State and National Assemblies ahead of
the forthcoming 2007 elections. In their characteristic manner, politicians in their
desperate quest for power, have continued to make mockery of electoral process and
trampled on the political rights of their opponents with impunity.
In our determination to keep faith with our mission, we tried to capture some of
these mindless abuses of what ought to be people's inalienable rights.
Our Mission Remains:
To monitor and expose human rights abuses in the area; alert the world on human
rights situation in 3 core states of the Niger Delta, namely: Rivers, Delta and Bayelsa
States, act as watch dog of the society on the issue of Human Rights as well as provide
voice to voiceless people whose rights, inalienable as they ought to be are being trampled
upon on daily basis.
Gunmen Kill 4, Destroy Houses At Oloibiri
Four persons were killed on October 31, 2006 when gunmen armed with
sophisticated weapons, including explosives, stormed Oloibiri in Ogbia Local
Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The gunmen invaded Iregite's compound at about 2.00am and as soon as they
gained entrance into the compound, they started shooting sporadically. Dynamites were
also said to have been detonated.
Mr and Mrs Sunday Amachree lost three children during the mayhem. They
include: Otonboja Amachree, 22, Master Stephen Nyingifa, 16 and Miss Rose Jonny, 15.
Two suspects, Michael Victor and James Moneygo have been arrested in
connection with the mayhem and were held at the state's Criminal Investigation Dept.
(CID) of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Yenagoa.
Although initial reports indicate that the attack was a clash between two rival cult
groups notably Dee-well and Dee-bam, or Chelsea and Squadron groups, the bereaved
family members have dismissed the cultism theory, saying that it was an assassination
plot. In a petition to the Inspector General of Police, the family expressed the fear that the
arrested suspects may be let off the hook, saying that higher authorities in the state have
been making clandestine moves to free the suspects.
They pleaded for justice to be meted out to those involved in the mayhem. In
addition to the people killed, six houses were also reportedly set ablaze by the assailants.
Human Parts Market Discovered In Warri
A human parts sales outlet under a bridge along the Edjeba Expressway near the
Delta State Broadcasting Station, Warri Delta State, was discovered on Wednesday,
November 22, 2006. The discovery was made by some commercial motorcyclists,
popularly known as okada riders, who were responding to a distress cry from a captive, a
female, of the human parts merchants.
According to information available to CEHRD, an Okada rider heard the distress
cry and alerted some of his colleagues. They also drew the attention of soldiers guarding
the Television station, and quickly, they headed towards the direction of the distress cry,
which turned out to be under a bridge (flyover) along the Edjebe Expressway. When the
rescue team stormed the under bridge, they saw the woman tied with ropes and three
other men suspected to be her captors. They were arrested by the rescue team.
The place was littered with ladies wigs, pictures, ladies wears, uniforms of school
children, human parts, and other items. In a frantic search around the area, two men were
caught with substances believed to be human parts. Two of the 5 persons suspected to be
human parts merchants were set ablaze immediately by the angry okada people, while
policemen attracted to the scene by the commotion following the discovery, succeeded in
rescuing the other 3 from being lynched. The police took them away.
Political Thugs Kill Policeman
On Saturday, November 4, 2006 a mobile police sergeant was shot dead at
Opokuma in Kolokuma-Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State during the
PDP ward congress which was marred by violence in many parts of the country. The
police sergeant, Mr Bamugha Ashidi was said to have been killed by a gunshot on his
thigh fired by a political thug working for one of the politicians contesting for an elective
office in the state.
The mobile policeman with force number, 163878, who died at about 12.45pm was
attached to a member of the State House of Assembly representing Constituency II, Mr
Waripamowei Dudafa. The shooting took place at Ward 8 at Tamuabuwari, near the Nun
Rivers, venue of the PDP Ward congress. When he slumped down, his colleagues who
were also escorting the lawmaker, reportedly abandoned him in a Toyata Hiace bus with
Reg. No. XB 202 SPR and disappeared with his riffle. The policemen were said to have
been involved in a gunbattle with the thugs when the thugs wanted to stop them from
going away with the materials meant for the congress.
Gunmen Storm Conference Venue, Kill 2, Injured Others
At about 1.45pm, on Monday, November 20, 2006, a group of Youngmen fully
armed with AK47s, Pistols and dynamite invaded one of the Offices of the Academic
Associates Peace Works (AAPW) in the Government Reserve Area, Port Harcourt, the
Capital of Rivers State and shot dead Mr. Wariboko Ngeribara (a.k.a. “Yellowman”), a
father of one and Mr. Bertram Ogbonna, an ex-banker and a final year student of Law at
the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), Nkpolu, Port Harcourt.
Eyewitnesses told CEHRD investigator that when the gunmen who numbered six
arrived AAPW's Office on motorcycles, popularly called Okada in Nigeria, where a
forum was going on, they gained access into the conference hall of the non-governmental
organization and shot the above victims. While, the operation of the armed group lasted,
a major access road to the office was blocked by them. They were said to have detonated
dynamite in the sprawling compound of the AAPW before carrying out their operators.
Ngeribara, was a member of the Icelander a cult group (gang) responsible for a lot
of violence around the Rivers enclave. He was, in the Icelander terminology, a German,
meaning a Senior Officer.
The late Wariboko Ngeriabara, popularly called Yellowman was said to have
defected from the Icelander and joined The Outlaws, a splinter group of the Icelander.
The Outlaws is led by Soboma George, Tom Ateke's estranged second-in-command. The
Icelander and The Outlaws are always engaged in gun battles for supremacy and territory
control.
The case of Bertram Ogbonna was the most tragic; his case was that of mistaken
identity or accidental death. He was not a member of any cult or gang. According to a
press release issued by AAPW in the wake of the cult violence “…Ogbonna was not a
member of any cult and was simply working with AAPW on nonviolent elections. He
was a family man and a law student”.
Other injuries sustained during the attack include the broken leg of AAPW's
Godwin Egbulefi, a bullet wound to the leg of volunteer prince Zuweigha Andabai, and a
blow to the face of AAPW's Wesley Okpara (aka Smokey), all of whom are recuperating
from their wounds”.
During the attack, Yellowman died instantly while, Ogbonna died later of bullet
injuries at the trauma unit of Tema Hospital in Port Harcourt run by medicines San
Frontiers (MSF), an International Humanitarian Medical organization.
AAPW, which has been working on peace options in Nigeria, was trying to
rehabilitate some members of the cult group or gangs.
AAPW further stated in their release “It is important to emphasize that the attack
occurred as 18 members of the joint Niger Delta Leaders forum, were making final
preparations for a voter education/nonviolence rally which was scheduled to take place in
Port Harcourt today. We have embarked upon a Niger Delta Wide Campaign for
nonviolent and fair elections in 2007, which include rallies; voter and Civil education;
promotion of issue based campaign; election conflict monitoring and response;
establishment of Nonviolent Election Committees in 20 of the most conflict - prone Local
Governments in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers States to monitor both elections and
Performance of election Officials”.
Elder Statesman Cry Foul Over Assault, Exploitation By Council Agents
An elder statesman in Delta State and a Warri-based legal practitioner, Dr.
Emmanuel Urhobo has cried out over subhuman treatment meted out to him by agents of
Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State.
In a petition to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,
Delta State, the elder statesman alleged that the officials of the council harassed and
manhandled him on Saturday, November 18, 2006 and forcefully extorted the sum of
N7500 from him. Dr Urhobo was rounded up by the agents of the council said to be
taskforce on revenue collection, at the Hausa quarters along Warri-Sapele Road where
they carried out the act of extortion and assault. He said that the act was perpetrated in
front of traffic warders who did not do anything to rescue him.
He noted that the brutalities by these council agents on law-abiding citizens have
become a regular occurrence at the area, urging the Commissioner to call these agents of
the council to order.
He further stated that these agents of the Council do not issue any receipt to the
people from whom they forcefully collect money.
Many, according to him, may have suffered various forms of injuries in the hands
of violent thugs being used by the Warri South Local Government as revenue taskforce.
He suggested that appropriate measures should be taken to discipline them.
Rape Of Little Girls Rampant In Bayelsa
Among the various forms of Human Rights abuses in Bayelsa is the defilement of
little girls of ages below 10 years old. This problem is of course not peculiar to Bayelsa,
as it occurs in all parts of the country, but it is very rampant here.
A human rights lawyer attached to Legal Aids Council, a government human rights
body that offer free legal services to less-privileged people in Bayelsa told CEHRD
monitor under anonymity that in their course of pursuing the rights of underprivileged
residents of Bayelsa, they encounter cases of rape of girls aged between 4 and 10 years
old on daily basis.
These wicked defilement of these children are being perpetrated by adults,
including some security operatives. The lawyer told CEHRD that the increasing number
of incidence of child rape is worrisome, especially as most of the perpetrators of the
heinous crime often go scot free. Although she refused to mention specific cases of child
defilement she had encountered saying that it is against the ethic of their profession to
expose any minor involved in any form of legal matter, the lawyer said that urgent steps
have to be taken to arrest the dangerous trend.
Most of these atrocities are completely kept out of public knowledge as parents
prefer keeping them secret to avoid stigmatizing their children and their families to
seeking redress. Even where the perpetrators are caught and are being prosecuted, the
parents, out of ignorance, sometimes seek to withdraw the matters from court when they
are offered small amount of money. “When such matter is settled out of court, the rapist
is let loose on the society to continue with the same act”, she lamented, suggesting that
counseling and serious campaigns should be embarked upon to discourage these
atrocious crimes, and that stiff penalties should be imposed on anybody involved in
child defilement.
Jungle Justice: Angry Mobs Lynch Suspected Kidnappers, Ritualists
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 was judgment day for about 4 suspected ritual killers
and kidnappers captured at different areas in Warri, the commercial centre of Delta State
by irate mobs. The suspected ritualists, most of whom caught in the act of stealing
children, were condemned instantly and executed extra-judicially by angry mobs who set
them ablaze.
In the harvest of jungle justice, a middle-aged man was lynched at the Ajamimogha
Road, Warri, at about 11am when he allegedly attempted to steal a toddler. Luck ran out
on him, and he was set ablaze.
While his remains were still smouldering, another suspected kidnapper was
captured by youths at Ekurede Urhobo, few metres away from the scene of the first
incident. He was alleged to have attempted to kidnap a 10-year old child but was caught
in the act. He was set ablaze immediately.
An okada rider was also caught while he attempted to kidnap three school children
in Warri. The “okada man” was said to have taken the children from the school in the
heart of Warri when they were waiting for their parents after school hour. He told the
children that he was sent to carry them by their parents. But luck ran out on the ritualist
when the children started shouting while they were being taken away, saying that they
did not know him. The cry of the children attracted an irate crowd which succeeded in
rescuing the children. As the okada man attempted to run, they captured him and meted
out the jungle justice on him.
At another place near Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government Area, it was
reported that a youngman in his late 20s was also set ablaze on allegation of ritual
activities.
A Divisional Police Officer, Mr Segun Faburumi was able to rescue another ritual
suspect, one Mr Godwin Ovurume from being lynched by irate youths at Ekurede Urhobo
area of Warri. The irate youths alleged that Ovureme was caught while trying to steal a
little child. He was already beaten mercilessly and was bleeding from several parts of his
body when the DPO in charge of the B Division Police Station with his team arrived the
scene and rescued the man.
The irate youths were said to have descended on the DPO and his team, pelting
them with stones and sticks and nearly lynched him for obstructing the execution of the
jungle justice preferred on the accused.
The activities of ritual killers and kidnappers are on increase in Delta State and
other parts of the country as a result of the forthcoming 2007 elections and Christmas
celebration. It is believed that human parts are being used by ritualists and occultists to
prepare charms for power and money making.
15 Shot As Armed Gang Strike At A Burial Ceremony
Dangerous small arms and light weapons (SALW) are indeed, out of control in the
Niger Delta region of Nigeria, and a state of insecurity is generating a serious concern to
small arms researchers, anti-gun activists and human rights campaigners like the Centre
for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD).
On Friday, November 22, 2006, at the burial ceremony of Elder Ewubugu
Womineke in Ogbunabali community in the Port Harcourt Local Government of Rivers
State, violence was unleashed. Eyewitnesses told CEHRD monitors that about 2.00am on
that fateful day, when the event of the night had attained its peak, one Mr. Gabriel, a man
who hail from Rumuokpokolusi in the Rumuokoro community in the Obio/Akpor Local
Government of Rivers State, drove in his private car to the burial event at the late
Womineke's compound. On arrival, he brought out his pump action gun said to be
licensed and shot into the air twice.
The shots from Gabriel's gun drew the ire of Mr. Nwzereth Omodu, a 30-year-old
man, a native of Ogbunabali community who is popularly called NAS. NAS is said to be
a German (Senior member) of the Icelander confraternity, a cult group led by Tom Ateke.
Eyewitnesses told CEHRD that NAS and few Icelanders dared Mr. Gabriel and seized the
pump action gun from him and disappeared.
Shortly after, NAS and over 10 other members of the Icelander stormed the place
and started shooting indiscriminately. CEHRD confirmed that 10 persons were seriously
injured. Mr Ejike Chikere, a 24-year-old furniture maker was among those shot. He had
fatal bullet wounds like other victims. CEHRD cannot confirm whether Gabriel is a
member of rival cult group. Gabriel was invited to the ceremony like NAS and others
were invited.
Some of the injured persons received free treatment at Teme Hospital.
Newspaper Publisher Raises Alarm Over Assassination Plot
The Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of an Asaba-based tabloid, the Zion Nationale,
Chris Obiemenyego has raised an alarm over a sinister plot to assassinate him.
The Publisher alleges that those behind the plot are some members of the Delta
State House of Assembly, saying that they are after his life because of a publication in the
November 2006 edition of the newspaper, which exposed some fraudulent acts of the
lawmakers. He disclosed that a meeting where the plot to eliminate him was perfected
was held in a popular Hotel in Asaba, the state capital. According to information
available to CEHRD, the relationship between the tabloid and the state government has
remained a cat and mouse affair as a result of consistent criticism of the government by
the newspaper.
The state government, like other governments in Nigeria, is known to treat criticism
with contempt, which does not augur well with the tenet of free press as required under
democracy.
Shell's Spill Destroys Idu-Ekpeye Community Again
Idu-Ekpeye Community is a rural Community in the Ahoada-West Local
Government Area of Rivers State. The Community is a fairly large one. Its people are
rural farmers and fisher folks.
On October 21, 2006, a major Spill Occurred on Ubie Flow Station a Shell facility
in the agrarian community and devastated farmlands with crops, rivers and streams that
adorn the area.
On March 15, 2005, at same Ubie flow station belonging to the Shell Petroleum
Development Company (SPDC), a huge Oil blowout occurred and destroyed the
community's source of livelihood. Shell Started Oil Production in the area since 1966.
Local residents who spoke to CEHRD monitor in the area lamented that inspite of the
incessant oil incidents Shell has never remedied the environment; nor paid any
compensation to the community rather they have continued their operations without
regard to the environment of the Local people.
Angered by Shell's failure to do a clean up and carry out a bio-remediation to the
damaged environment of the Local Population, Mr. Ken O. Atsuwete, Solicitor to the
affected families in the Idu-Ekpeye community, has written a letter on their behalf to
Shell, seeking a meting to resolve the issue. In a letter dated November 3, 2006, Shell
was told to provide relief materials urgently and to put in place modalities for a standard
mop up of the affected area. The community also demanded compensations.
Characteristically, Shell did not respond to the letter.
Members of the House of Representatives Sub Committee on Oil and gas
Population Control have also visited the pollution site and called on the giant Royal
Dutch Company to remedy the situation and redress the ill treatment meted to the People;
but Shell as usual has not done anything.
British Oil Worker, Others Killed in Oil Violence
Mr. David Hunt, a 58-year-old British national and father of 2 children and 5
grandchildren who hailed from Middlesborough in Britain, was killed in an intense gun
battle between the armed Youths and members of the Nigerian Navy off the Bony Island
in the Bony Local Government Area of Rivers State.
About 10 Youths armed with assault riffles and explosives had stormed an oil
vessel-Floating Production Storage and off loading (FPSO)-mystras, a crude oil floating
production system with storage and loading capacities. The facility is jointly managed by
SBM and SAIPEM (a subsidiary of ENI), and stationed on the Okono field. The facility
was said to have had 83 crew members, 25 of them were non Nigerians.
The armed Youths had taken seven foreign oil workers hostage and was about
leaving when a gun battle ensued between them and the Navy. In the process, David Hunt
was killed in the Cross fire, a solder and two youths were also reportedly killed in the
violence. One of the hostages, Caputa Pitro, an Italian, sustained serious gun injuries. He
was flown abroad for medical treatment. The hostages were later released by their
captors.
CEHRD learnt that the armed youths are not part of the mainstream militant
formation in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, The Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC)
and its affiliates, the Martyrs Brigade, the reformed Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force
(NDPVF) and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), calling
for the release of Dokubo-Asari, the detained leader of the Niger Delta People's
Volunteer Force (NDPVF).
Rather the Youths who struck at the facility recently belong to the fringe groups
which kidnap foreign oil workers and collect ransoms to set them free.
Thugs Kill Police Officer, Shoot Wife Of PDP Chieftain
A group of suspected political thugs numbering over twenty (20) armed with Ak47
assault riffles and machetes scaled the fence of Chief John Oguma, a Chieftain of the
People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta State in order to gain entrance into the
premises. The thugs on gaining access into Oguma's house at Ovwor in the Ughelli North
Local Government Area of the State, shot dead a police orderly attached to Oguma.
When the invading squad could not locate Chief John Oguma, their target, they shot
his wife in the leg and later destroyed some cars Parked in the sprawling compound. Cars
destroyed include a Toyota Land Cruiser Sport Utility Van (SUV) and other cars in the
place. When CEHRD monitor visited the scene few days after, cars, walls and glasses
riddled with several bullet shots and deep machete cuts were seen all over the compound.
Further investigations indicate that Chief Oguma is a very close friend of Chief
James Ibori, the executive Governor of Delta State, and that Oguma's support for a
particular gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Emmanuel Agwuriavwodo, the Managing
director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), who is to contest for
Delta State governorship position in 2007, must have angered other contestants. Such
pattern of violence is sweeping through the Niger Delta and other places in Nigeria as
2007 elections draw closer.
Police Shot PDP Chieftain During Congress
Mr. Paul Apii, a 38-year-old, father of 3 children and chairman of the Ward 4 of the
People's Democratic Party (PDP), in the B-Dere, an Ogoni Community in the Gokana
Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria, was shot dead by a mobile policeman
deployed to the area during the PDP congress which was held throughout Nigeria.
On Saturday, November 18, 2006, at about 1.00pm, the voting materials for the
PDP congress had arrived at the Divisional Police headquarters at Kpor, the headquarters
of Gokana Local Government Area, amidst very tight security provided by the Nigerian
Police Force (NPF). Shortly after, just at the back of the Police gate, a mobile Police
Officer, a Corporal called CPL. Tijani Ahmed, with number; F/No 196707, from 41
mobile barracks at Damaturu, Yobe state with his riffle
No. 531337 shot at Paul Apii
at close range.
The victim, Apii who was an adviser to the Gokana Local Council on Youth
Affairs had his abdomen shattered by the Police bullet. He was first taken to Tuadoh
Clinic and maternity at Lewe community in the area. When the private Clinic wanted a
Police order to commence treatment on the victim, and that could not be produced
immediately, he was transferred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital
(UPTH) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State where he later died.
Some medical experts at the UPTH told CEHRD that but for the delays due to
request for Police permit, the victim would have survived.
In Nigeria, when some one is taken to a clinic or hospital with bullet wounds, a
Police permit is always requested before any treatment of the injury can be carried out.
This has led to the death of several persons in the country. A Police permit is a written
standing order given after police investigation into the incident and duly confirms that the
victim is not an armed robber.
But doctors associations in Nigeria like The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA)
and others have been at the fore front of agitations against the police order that it
infringes on their professional rights.
At the UPTH relatives and friends of Paul Apii produced the police report which
was given by the divisional police headquarters in Kpor. Eye witnesses told CEHRD
investigator that there was no problem between Paul Apii and the police officer, Tijani
Ahmed who shot him dead. The police officer after the shorting was arrested and
detained at Kpor, where he is still being held as at the time of this report.
During the Saturday, November 18, 2006, PDP Primaries over 8 persons were
killed and vehicles burnt in various parts of Rivers State. The congress, which elected
State Houses of Assembly Candidates for the PDP in 2007 election throughout the
country, was marred by violence as heavily armed gangs loyal to various factions of the
party engaged one another in violent confrontations in Tai, Eleme, Ogu-Bolo, Gokana,
Khana, Port Harcourt and Obio-Akpor Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
The PDP Primaries was marked by protests over doctored lists of delegates for the
state House of Assembly Primary election. There were also reports of bribing of security
officials, Party chieftains etc. This portends bad omen for the future of Nigerian
democracy.
Critical Press Still Under Fire
- Reporter Detained In A Commissioner's Office
The section of Bayelsa press that is critical to the government of Gov. Goodluck
Jonathan of Bayelsa State has been operating under hostile atmosphere which is
antithetical to press freedom as expected under democracy. In the December 6 edition of
Izon Link, a Bayelsa-based local tabloid, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the tabloid,
Alfred Egbegi, raised an alarm over a plot to kill him or kill the tabloid by agents of the
state.
The plot to get rid of the tabloid or its publisher is not unconnected with the critical
stance of the tabloid against the government. As a result of this critical stance, reporters
and other members of staff of the tabloid have become targets for constant harassment
even as an order banning the tabloid from being sold anywhere within the state capital,
Yenagoa, is yet to be revoked.
Recently, Ebiowei Lawal, one of the Izon Links reporters, was held hostage in the
office of the Land and Housing Commissioner on the orders of the Commissioner. It took
the intervention of some women to end the hostage, which lasted more than 3 hours. The
reporter was in the Commissioner's office to confirm an allegation leveled against him,
the Commissioner, by Izon Transport Service, accusing the Commissioner of trying to
take over the premises of the Transport service.
Unfortunately, instead of confirming or denying the allegation, the Commissioner,
on hearing that the reporter was from Izon Link, threatened to arrest him and hand him
over to the police. He was held hostage in the office for about 3 hours until some women
intervened. When eventually the reporter regained his freedom, he was warned never to
step into the office again.