Author: Eileen Peters

EDO State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has issued a blunt warning to Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, stating that his security cannot be guaranteed if he visits the state without prior notice to the government. Speaking in Uromi, headquarters of Esan North-East Local Government Area, during a political reception for Hon. Marcus Onobun, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Okpebholo made it clear that he would no longer tolerate unsanctioned visits by opposition figures. “The man we say he no get shi shi, I am sending a…

IN what can be described as a case of justice delayed but not denied, the Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, on Thursday, flagged off the state’s jail delivery exercise with the release of 21 inmates from the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre among them, a man who had spent 18 years behind bars without trial. The freed inmate, Gospel Nwibari, was reportedly arrested in 2007 at the age of 14 and had remained in detention ever since, with no formal trial or access to legal representation. His story stood out during the launch of the exercise, which was…

TROOPS of the 6 Division, Nigerian Army, have dismantled multiple illegal refining sites and arrested 50 suspected oil thieves in the Niger Delta Region, with a major focus on Rivers State. The operations, carried out between June 30 and July 13, 2025, also led to the confiscation of over 25,000 litres of stolen petroleum products and the discovery of numerous illegal connection points designed to compromise pipelines. This was disclosed in a statement on Monday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah. In Rivers State, troops sustained the clampdown on attempts…

AN Air Peace aircraft veered off the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Rivers State, on Sunday after landing. Air Peace spokesman, Osifo-Whiskey Efe, confirmed this in a statement on Sunday but said all passengers disembarked safely. “Air Peace confirms that its Flight P47190, operating from Lagos to Port Harcourt this morning, had a runway excursion after landing safely at the Port Harcourt International Airport,” the statement read. “The aircraft veered slightly off the runway without any damage. All passengers disembarked safely and calmly, and no injuries were reported.” The airline reassured the public of its “unflinching commitment to…

FRESH from his legal victory at the Supreme Court, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Friday announced plans to establish a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the administration of his predecessor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, alleging widespread misuse of public funds and over-reliance on costly consultants. Okpebholo made the announcement while addressing a jubilant crowd at the Government House in Benin City, where a victory parade was held in his honour. The celebration marked his return to the state following the Supreme Court’s judgment that upheld his victory in the September 21, 2024, governorship election. Accompanied by his deputy, Rt.…

THE Supreme Court has affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo State, upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja. A five-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal held that the appellants – the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 2024 election, Asue Ighodalo –  could not establish their claims of election non-compliance, unlawful votes, and that Okpebholo was not duly elected. The appeal was dismissed for lacking merit. Thursday’s verdict came about 11 months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared…

TRAGEDY struck at the Choba axis of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, over the weekend as a pregnant 300-level student of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), identified as Cynthia Chukwundah, allegedly burnt her boyfriend, a 32-years-old Sunny Amadi, to death. Though the actual circumstances that led to the Cynthia’s action is uncertain, but some people in the neighborhood told this newspaper that it could be as a result of minor argument between the two lovers. It was gathered that the deceased is the father of the child Cynthia is carrying. Residents told Cynthia who had fled the scene immediately after…

THE Rivers State Police Command has declared two senior officials of the Ahoada-East Local Government Area wanted for their alleged involvement in the violent assault on the Administrator of the council, Goodluck Iheanachor. The suspects — Hector Ekeakita, who serves as Chief Security Officer, and Aloni Olodi, the Chief of Staff — are accused of criminal conspiracy, stealing, assault occasioning harm, and attempted murder. According to a statement released by the spokesperson of the Rivers Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, the incident occurred on June 20, 2025, at the council’s secretariat, where the administrator was reportedly beaten by a gang of…

THE Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the legal tussle on Edo State Governorship Election Petition. The apex court adjourned the judgment sine die after taking arguments for and against the election that produced Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected governor. Justice Garba Lawal who presided over hearing of the appeal filed by Asue Ighodalo and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said that the date for delivery of the judgment would be communicated to parties involved. Ighodalo, whose appeal was argued by Ken Mosia, SAN, prayed the Supreme Court to remove Okpebholo and pronounced him as winner of the…

THE House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Rivers has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Sole Administration of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eke Ibas (retd.), to submit a breakdown of major items in the 2025 N1.48 trillion Appropriation Bill. Advertisement The Chairman of the committee, Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo), issued the ultimatum on Monday at a budget defence session in Abuja. He said that the committee had gone through the budget as presented by the sole administrator and had raised several issues. He said that the administrator should submit the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is a legal document…

IN a continued crackdown on oil theft and pipeline vandalism, troops of the Nigerian Army, working in synergy with other security agencies, have arrested 46 suspected oil thieves, deactivated 23 illegal refining sites, and recovered over 30,000 litres of stolen crude and refined products across the Niger Delta region. The operations were disclosed in a statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, who described the effort as part of sustained pressure to deny criminal elements freedom of action in the region. In Rivers State, six illegal refining sites were uncovered…

THE Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that there is no sacrifice too big for the peace, stability, and progress of the state. Addressing his supporters in Port Harcourt on Saturday, Governor Fubara reassured them that every step he has taken, including the recent reconciliation with his predecessor and Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, was done with their collective interest in mind. The governor acknowledged the anxiety and disappointment felt by many of his loyalists following the peace deal, but insisted that difficult times call for difficult decisions and concessions. He revealed that the reconciliation process was…

BARELY two days after a fresh round of peace talks at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, suspended Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Martin Amaewhule, again appeared in public together. The fresh appearance was this time at a funeral service in Rumueprikom, Wike’s hometown in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. The three key political figures have been locked in a political crisis for nearly two years. Their appearance follows Thursday’s peace meeting brokered by President Bola Tinubu, which sought to…

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of Vanguard newspaper, Charles Eze Anaba, has been re-elected as the National President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) during the Guild’s Biennial National Convention, currently ongoing at the International Conference Centre, Enugu. Anaba, who was the incumbent, was returned unopposed, a development attributed to his widely acknowledged record of administrative excellence. Also elected at the convention was the Managing Director of The Sun newspaper, Onuoha Ukoh, who clinched the position of General Secretary with 218 votes. He defeated his closest rivals, Wole Sogunle and Qasim Akinreti, who polled 45 and 30 votes respectively. Other elected officers include:…

TENSION gripped Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State late Monday night as gunmen launched a deadly assault on the office of a vigilante outfit, Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) office, killing an operative of the State Intelligence Service (SIS) in the process. The attack, which occurred just behind the Local Government Council Secretariat in Ahoada, sent shockwaves through the community. Residents reported hearing a barrage of gunshots around 9 p.m., prompting panic and forcing many to flee indoors for safety. The victim, identified as Corporal Friday Francis, an operative of the Special Intervention Squad, was said…

THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, on Monday, embarked on a symbolic court boycott across Bayelsa State to protest the abduction of Justice Ebiyerin Omukoro, a serving judge of the Bayelsa State High Court. The association described the action as a “solemn yet powerful demonstration of solidarity with the abducted jurist” and a clarion call on security agencies to intensify efforts towards securing his safe and immediate release. Justice Omukoro was kidnapped on Saturday evening, 21st June 2025, by masked gunmen at Kilimanjaro Eatery, located opposite the bustling Ekeki Park in Yenagoa. He had reportedly just returned from an…

The Edo State Government on Wednesday said it has placed hospitals across the state on “high alert” over the recent outbreak of diphtheria, a bacterial infection that affects the upper respiratory tract. The government, in a state by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, said that Governor Monday Okpebholo had activated an emergency public health response, deploying all necessary resources and expertise to arrest the situation and safeguard the health of residents. The statement read in part, “Governor Okpebholo, demonstrating decisive leadership, is personally coordinating surveillance and monitoring efforts, working closely with the State Ministry of Health…

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has joined Nigerians in celebrating one of its senior members and Publisher of Vanguard Media Group, Prince Sam Amuka-Pemu, on his remarkable 90th birthday. In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the Guild described Uncle Sam’s birthday as a testament to his enduring wisdom, legacy, and commitment to the journalism profession. The Guild explained that as the Founder of Vanguard Newspapers Group, Prince Amuka-Pemu has played a pivotal role in shaping the media landscape. According to editors, “Uncle Sam’s commitment to excellence and robust journalism has inspired generations of journalists…

YOUTHS from Ikot Abasi Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State are preparing for a three-day protest against Ibom Power Company, alleging the firm has systematically excluded them from employment opportunities, subcontracts, and other elements of its social contract with the host community. A statement issued by the Forum of Clan Youth Leaders, Ikot Abasi, claims the company has persistently disregarded its social contract obligations with the host community—a situation that has compelled the youths to consider shutting down operations at the power plant as their only recourse. According to the Forum’s Chairman, Ambassador Patrick Udoetoh, who also serves as…

THE University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) has called for a thorough investigation into the killing of one of its students, Godwin Akpakpan, a 300-level Computer Science undergraduate, who was allegedly shot dead by a security operative in an off-campus incident. In an official statement released on Sunday, the institution through its Head, Information, Publications and Public Relations, Dr. Sam Kpenu, expressed deep sorrow over the death of the student. Although the tragic incident occurred outside the university premises, Uniport stressed its concern and commitment to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the event. “The University is actively engaging with relevant security…