Police, Air Force Personnel Clash In Delta State

Properties worth several millions of naira have been destroyed as the Police and Airforce personnel clashed in a serious shoot-out in Jeddo Community, Okpe Local Government Area of Delta State.

Many people were reportedly serious injured.

The casualties include personnels of the police and Airforce.

There is already serious tension in the once-troubled peaceful Community.

Trouble started when a personnel of the Counter Terrorism Unit, CTU, of the police got engaged in a hot argument with a lady which resulted in a physical assault as the police personnel reportedly slapped the lady who happened to be an air-force personnel’s daughter.

The lady went back home to relate her experience to her father, who reportedly mobilised his men and stormed the spot where his daughter had been assaulted.

The police official also called his colleagues when he sensed that the situation was about to go out of hand.

Security sources disclosed that the Airforce on arriving the scene, opened fire, which was replied by the Police Special Squad, with people scampering for safety.

The incident scared most residents out of their homes.

Although efforts to get an official reaction from the police was not immediately successful as the police spokesman at the Delta State Police Command, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, said he was driving when reached.

By Matthew Omonigho

JUST IN: Troops Storm Bayelsa, Delta Communities

Reports reaching DAILY POST say Riverine Communities including Endoro, Peretorugbene, Fuotorugbene, Egbema-Angalabiri, Ayama, Ojobo, Torugbene, Ekeremor, Tamigbe and others in Delta and Bayelsa States are currently under military siege. 

Soldiers have allegedly barricaded water ways with gun armoured boats over the recent attack on a military formation as well as killing of two persons including a soldier in Ogbogbagbene Community in Burutu Local Government Area.

People of the areas are said to be trapped in the creeks.

It was gathered that there is food supply to the affected communities as the inhabitants are not allowed to go about their lawful businesses.

The soldiers have blocked the Remos and Forcados section of the river searching for the hoodlums who carried out the criminal acts on its personnel.

Sources say: “The inhabitants cannot come to Bomadi town to buy and sell their goods are there is no vehicular or boat movements to and fro the areas since the soldiers entered the waterways early morning of Sunday July 16.”

“There is also restriction of movements by the military in Bomadi and its environs with people being harassed to the extent of living fear imminent invasion.”

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Human Rights And Anti-Corruption Crusade, FHRACC, has condemned the military for the ongoing operation.

National President, Alaowei Ebikonbowei Cleric Esq, who also condemned the acts of bandits in the Niger Delta region said,” Although we have condemned and will continue to condemn such acts, the trend taken by the military to avenge for the death of its officer is also condemnable.”

“Endangering the peoples lives just to fight some miscreants is not acceptable.

“If the news we are hearing is anything to go by, then there is a humanitarian crisis in the affected communities.”

Cleric called on the Delta and Bayelsa State Governments as well as people of goodwill to prevail on the soldiers before they commit another Odi genocide in the creeks.

“The Governments of Delta and Bayelsa States should rise to the occasion to call the soldiers to other.

“We cannot afford to experience another invasion of an innocent community by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the name of looking for criminals.”

By Matthew Omonigho

Delta To Upgrade Hospitals Within The State

The Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr Nicholas Azinge, has disclosed the state government’s willingness to upgrade and renovate all its hospitals in the state. 

Dr. Azinge disclosed this to journalists recently when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Warri Central Hospital for an on the spot assessment of the hospital facilities based on some rumour on the deplorable state of the facilities on some social media. He said that he deemed it fit to visit the hospital after his ministry received reports and appeals from the hospital management on the need for the Delta State government to upgrade some of the hospital’s facilities.

 Dr. Azinge, in his response, thanked the management and staff for their commitment, charging them to ensure proper usage of the facilities provided by the state government. He assured them that the government of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa will continue to do its best to ensuring Deltans get quality health care services. 

He also disclosed that two dialysis machines will be supplied to Warri Central Hospital as soon as possible, while assuring all of Governor Okowa commitment to ensuring a total upgrade of all health facilities in all government’s hospitals, while saying, a committee will be set up to facilitate the provision of the hospital’s demands.

 The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Ijomoney Ese, who was on hand to welcome the commissioner, conducted him and his team round the hospital. He appreciated the commissioner for the visit to the hospital on what he described as a fact finding mission and disclosed that the hospital is being faced with power challenges because only 12 power generating sets are functional out of the 15 in the hospital.

 He lauded the State Government for provision of a new ambulance and incinerator for the hospital and appealed to the State Government to look into the problems being faced by the hospital with a view to addressing them.

Vanguard