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Rivers: We’ll have to defend ourselves if the Police cant defend us – Briggs

Published

1 year ago

October 8, 2024

255 Views

Rivers-based environmentalist and human rights activist, Ann-Kio Briggs, has slammed the Nigeria Police Force for its operations in the state.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, on Monday, Briggs said if nobody would defend Rivers people, they would definitely defend themselves.

According to her, the police cherry-pick court orders to obey even after the election of 23 local government chairmen in the state.

She lambasted the police for withdrawing officers from the local council secretariats despite the warning of Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Sunday evening that some political actors displeased with the outcome of the poll have plans to perpetrate mayhem.

“If nobody will defend us, we are very likely going to be left to have to defend ourselves.

We’ve been crying out since last October since this political madness started.

The witch cried in the night and the child died in the morning and we are looking for the cause of the death? No. We know exactly what is going on.

“We know that the specific local governments that are on fire are the specific local governments that have refused to accept that their tenures have been over three months ago.

The specific local governments are the same local governments that their leaders have called the governor all sorts of names since last year.

“We have a police force that for the past three months have had the 23 local government offices of Rivers State under lock and key after the tenure of the local government chairmen had expired.

“And this morning, all of them were ordered to leave the local government areas knowing well that there was going to be trouble, leaving the newly elected local government chairmen in danger,” she said.

The right activist stated that the people of the state had called on President Bola Tinubu for over a year to intervene but he chose to stay away.

Related Topics:Annkio Briggs Featured Police Rivers Crisis

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I’m Proudly Nigerian, says Fashola

Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his keynote address at the Nigeria Reputation Summit 2026, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, where he spoke extensively on national identity, migration, patriotism and Nigeria’s global image.

Published

10 hours ago

January 20, 2026

OCHEFA

10 Views

” I remain firmly Nigerian by choice, conviction and identity.”

He stressed the need for Nigerians, at home and abroad, to take collective ownership of the country and its problems.

“I don’t think we own Nigeria enough. So, I heard some of our colleagues and our compatriots who, by virtue of the 1999 Constitution, have dual citizenships. But I have only one,” said Fashola.

“And when they talk to me, they say, your country. I say, stop. It’s our country. Your problem is our problem. There must be a common ownership on every platform. If we have common ownership, we will solve it. So, from my childhood experience, I tell people I’m not just a proud Nigerian, I’m an arrogant one. I’m arrogant about my country.“I tell people that I have not received one day’s education outside this country.

All my education was here. So, proudly made in Nigeria. Arrogantly, too. So everything, every inch that we think that we have lost, we can get back if we decide to,” he stated.

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Opral Benson is alive, safe and not missing – AREF , Family

AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2026

OCHEFA

12 Views

The African Refugees Foundation (AREF) and family source said that its president, Opral Benson, popularly known as the Iya Oge of Lagos, is alive, safe and not missing.

Her family earlier said that the 90-year-old was last seen on January 13 and had not returned home since then.

However, a statement , titled, Dear Friends, RE: My Mum, signed by her daughter, Bimbo, confirmed that Benson was in Liberia.

Also, the chief executive officer of AREF, Olujimi Olusola III, Said that Benson is hale and hearty, and there is no cause for concern.“

AREF confirms that Mrs. Benson is currently in Liberia, her presence there is voluntary and known.

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Lagos urges residents to prepare for 64 days traffic from Lekki Phase 1–Ajah Bridge as reconstruction begins

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Olufemi Daramola, said that the rehabilitation works on Sections 2 and 3 of the expressway will commence on Sunday, 25 January 2026, and last for an estimated 64 days.

Published

14 hours ago

January 20, 2026

OCHEFA

24 Views

• Sangotedo – Bogije section of Lekki -Epe expressway / Ohibaba.com

The Lagos State Government on Tuesday announced a 64-day traffic diversion for the reconstruction of the Ajah Bridge to Admiralty section (inbound Lagos) of the Lekki–Epe Expressway.

Daramola said that the project will follow a traffic management plan, with work carried out intersection by intersection rather than along the entire corridor at once.

Construction will be carried out both day and night to accelerate completion.

He explained that though a stakeholder meeting had been held late last year with plans to begin work, the project was postponed due to the yuletide festivities.

The festivities are over, and the state government has instructed the contractor to move to site to commence work on Sunday,” he said.

Intersections will be worked on at night to maintain better traffic flow.