Security
Use King Princewill’s Burial To Unite All – Stakeholders Tell Kalabari Chiefs
Stakeholders in the Kalabari Kingdom in Rivers State, have called on the kings and chiefs in the kingdom to use the burial of the late Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, King Professor Theophilus Princewill, to unite the people of the area.
The stakeholders made the call during a public lecture as part of month-long activities lined up for the burial of the late King, which was held at the King Amachree memorial Hall, Buguma City, in Asari-Toru local government area of the state.
Delivering the lecture titled: “Identity Constructs and Social Formations: Their Implications For The Unity In The Evolution Of Kalabari History,” Professor Waibinte Wariboko, stated that the competing identities of Bakana, Buguma and Abonnema communities, led to the disappearence of the Elem-Kalabari identity.
Wariboko said: “Before the out migration from the city state of Elem-Kalabari, the competing identities of Bakana, Buguma and Abonnema never existed. So, there was no Bakana man, there was no Buguma man and there was no Abonnema man.
“Have we asked ourselves this question? At what point did we become self-identifying as an Abonnema man against being a Kalabari man? At what point, with my growing up experience, was it not more proper for me to say that I am a Kalabari man than an Abonnema man? At what point did I become an Abonnema man than a Kalabari man? These questions are for all of you here.
“How do you self-identify and what conditions make you self-identify in the way you do? If you answer this question, more of the problems we are talking about can be easily resolved.
“Admittedly, these competing identities called Abonnema, Bakana and Buguma, have contributed to the growth and development of Kalabari speaking group, generally speaking per say. But, equally admittedly, it has also exerbeted the frontline of divisibility among the Kalabari people because it jettison the Elem-Kalabari identity.”
In his remarks, the Regent of Kalabari Kingdom, Chief Charles Numbere, said there was the need for kings and chiefs in Kalabari to unite and foster the much needed Kalabari agenda.
Numbere said: “The good news is that from the lecture delivered, we have a solution, it is not a panacea, but we have seen the way to go. One is that the old canoe house is dead. That is what I have found very difficult to accept. But today, I am convinced and you should be convinced that our main problem was that were tied to the canoe house system.
“The canoe house system is dead and the onus is that Professor, in trying to go our ways, we are further divided. When you go to Abonnema, they are divided, if you do to Buguma, it is divided. So, if we don’t hurriedly come together again, we will find that every house will bring a builder.
“Our son, Professor Wariboko has told us, since the fish starts getting rotten from the head, the problem with those of us who are kings and those of us who are chiefs, you come here and try to impose your ideas on the people; it can’t work. You cannot do it now because there is freedom. I think it is incumbent on us the leaders of today to unite and foster a Kalabari agenda.”
The Takum Renaissance Forum(TRF)has condemned a press release issue by STYCOP headed by Rikwensi Muri associating’s increasing surge in insecurity and unrest in Southern Taraba to former Takum local government chairman Shiban Tikari.
In a statement issue by the group secretary Emmanuel Joro, it says for the avoidance of doubt, they wouldn’t have dabbled into the issue, but for the sake of records, they’ve chosen to react.
In Muri’s press release which states that “We must also remember the actions of Hon. Shiban Tikari, former chairman of Takum Local Government Council, who similarly exploited the “Tiv Militias,” “Kuteb Militias,” and “Fulani Militias” narrative to destabilize the region”.
The Group responded by saying “It is on records that Hon. Shiban stabilized the atmosphere of Takum and environs during his tenure. His administration was not marred by state-sponsored kidnappings, murders and sacking of more than 100 communities by mercenary bandits brought against the Kuteb communities as claimed by Rikwensi Muri, in his usual false accusations. Muri and his co-travellers are the same ones who were bent on throwing Takum and Ussa communities into the pool of crisis. Everybody knew it. Fulani herdsmen were said to have paid millions to their kuteb Chiefs before being given permission to bring their cows to graze in ussa LGA. Muri is quiet about it.”
The group further stated that the former Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku agreed to compensate the herders on the lost of their cows to stop attacking Kuteb communities, but instead after the money had come to their possession for compensation to be paid to the Fulani, it was diverted. They instead opted for the money to be used for arms procurement to fight the Fulani herdsmen.
“Why are the likes of Muri and their cohorts, who wanted war with Fulani and called for it, still turning around to blame Gov DDI led administration alongside the then chairmen of Takum and Wukari for their woes”?
“It’s good to note that we are above media trials and other sensational lies to curry public sympathy. Muri has been attacking the image of the Governor of Taraba state, Dr Agbu Kefas and other notable personalities in the state like our fathers, Gen TY Danjuma and the Aku Uka, The Chief of Takum and other notable personalities, but we are not beginning to take this as an exception. Muri’s height of media rascality is a charade taken far”.
“Of all these, none of us or even the authority have chosen to arrest him for defamation. Why? Because of his lunatic approaches and the cheap relevance he is looking for, we can’t give him. The public is always aware of his sponsors and where he is driving. But we repeat, with exception, if he decides to take this further because at hand, we are beginning to gather his incisive and inflammatory posts for litigation against him in court” the statement reads.
The group further highlights that Muri press Release is to incite the gullible public against Hon. Shiban over lies and fabrication of falsehood and also maliciously attacking the present chairman of Wukari local government, Hon Agbu Samaila “having known that the attackers of those innocent KYK members of CRCN in Jootar were Tiv militia, those he has been calling for coalition with”.
The group defend that Hon. Shiban Tikari has never been on the run, but in his hometown in Takum. And the media trial being stage-managed by Muri to demean his image has long fallen.
“We are therefore calling on the general public to be wary with the activities of the so-called STYCOP being handled by Muri. It is not a peace building organization as being peddled but an organization aimed at stirring chaos in the southern part of Taraba state. It is a potential terrorist breeding camp”.
President Bola Tinubu has given marching orders to security agencies to fish out those behind the killing of some travellers in Edo State.
The victims, who were said to be travelling from Port Harcourt to the northern part of Nigeria, were allegedly killed by a mob in Uromi, Edo State, on Thursday.
While reacting to the incident, President Bola Tinubu described it as dastardly.
“The President, who expressed shock at the dastardly act on Thursday, directed Police and other security agencies to conduct swift and thorough investigations and punish the suspected culprits,” presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said in a statement on Friday.
The President noted that jungle justice has no place in Nigeria, and all Nigerians have the freedom to move freely in any part of the country.
Tinubu condoled with the families of the affected people and assured them “that criminals would not be allowed to shed the blood of innocent Nigerians in vain”.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has visited the community, condemning the killing of the travellers.
The governor described the incident as barbaric, according to a statement from his spokesman Fred Itua, and ordered a full-scale investigation into the killing.
“The Governor directed the State Police Command and other security agencies to conduct thorough and speedy investigations into the matter and bring those found culpable to book. He also charged the community to work with the security agencies to fish out the culprits,” Itua said in a statement on Friday
“Governor Okpebholo also commended community leaders, especially the leadership of Arewa community in the area, for deescalating tensions and handling the situation with restrain.”
The governor promised justice for the victims and maintained that there is “no excuse for the vigilante members to take the law into their hands without recourse to statutory law enforcement agencies”.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested Sirajo Jaja, the Accountant General of Bauchi State for alleged N70 billion fraud.
He was arrested in Abuja on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 alongside Aliyu Abubakar of Jasfad Resources Enterprise, an unlicensed bureau de change (BDC) operator and Sunusi Ibrahim Sambo, a Point of Sale (PoS) operator.
They were arrested in connection with investigations of money laundering, diversion of public funds and missapropriation to the tune of N70 billion.
The Commission is investigating the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, regarding the matter.
The EFCC said investigations showed that cash withdrawal of N59billion had been made through various bank accounts opened and operated by the Accountant General on behalf of the state government.
The money was allegedly moved to Abubakar and Sambo, who in turn made cash payments to party agents and associates of the governor.
The BDC operator, Abubakar, earlier jumped bail and has now been rearrested.