An Ibom Air passenger from Uyo to Abuja will face prosecution for holding an Uyo-Abuja flight hostage until the flight was cancelled, the Director of Public Affairs and Consumers’ Protection of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Michael Achimugu, has said. It was gathered that the female passenger would have been lynched if not for the intervention of the Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and those of Ibom Air. The incident happened on an Ibom Air flight scheduled to depart Uyo for Abuja at 1730hrs last Wednesday. Prior to the flight, passengers were said to have been informed that due to…
Author: Admin
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into allegations of organ harvesting and human trafficking in Akwa Ibom State and others States across Nigeria, as recently revealed by the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The association, through its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, described the unfolding scandals as a grave national crisis and a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise that must be addressed with the full force of the law. The demand followed shocking revelations by NAPTIP’s Akwa Ibom Zonal Coordinator, Mr Emmanuel Awhen, who disclosed that certain medical centres…
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has made a shocking accusation against some medical centers and personnel in Akwa Ibom State, alleging their involvement in organ harvesting. This disturbing claim suggests that organ harvesting has become a thriving trade in the state. The accusation was made by Mr. Emmanuel Awhen, the State Zonal Coordinator of NAPTIP, on Saturday in Uyo, during the National Human Trafficking Awareness Day 2025. The event’s theme, “Strengthening Communities by Connecting the Dots,” highlights the need for collective action against human trafficking. Awhen, represented by Mr. Eme Inionong Ukpabio, Head, Public Enlightenment…
The police in Akwa Ibom State have confirmed the release of an abducted Chevron oil worker in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Samuel Ekerenam. Mr Ekerenam is a Chevron Nigeria Ltd staff member and the Hephzibah Shopping Mall chief executive officer in Eket. Timfon John, the police spokesperson in Akwa Ibom, disclosed Mr Ekerenam’s release to the News Agency of Nigeria in Eket on Friday. The oil worker was abducted on 23 November 2024 at about 10 p.m. at his business premises along Afaha Uqua Obok-Idim in Eket, after the kidnappers shot dead his personal driver and…
The police in Cross River State have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly killing his mother for ritual purposes. Irene Ugbo, the police spokesperson in Cross River, confirmed the suspect’s arrest and detention to reporters on Friday in Calabar. Mrs Ugbo, a superintendent of police, did not, however, provide details. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the incident occurred on 25 December 2024 in Batriko, Eastern Boki Local Government Area of the state. A source told NAN that the suspect was arrested on Friday by a combined police and security team from the Obudu council area. The suspect…
The Cross River Tourism Bureau says no fewer than 300,000 tourists attended the recently concluded 32-day Calabar Carnival held in Calabar, Cross River. Its Managing Director, Ekpenyong Ojoi, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Saturday. Ojoi said that there was a 42 per cent growth in tourist attendance for the carnival in comparison with 2023 statistics. He said: “Calabar recorded over 300,000 tourists from Nov. 1 to Dec. 31st, 2024, who came in for the Calabar Carnival and seeing of the OMR, Marina Resort and the Kwa falls. “Most of the tourists were from Abuja, Lagos and neighbouring…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to disclose the full details of a recent agreement with the United States concerning $52.88 million in recovered assets linked to former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke. The federal government had earlier announced the receipt of $52.88 million from the United States, classified as “recovered assets” from Alison-Madueke. Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi revealed that $50 million of the funds would be channeled through the World Bank to support rural electrification projects. The remaining $2 million, he added, would be allocated to the International Institute of Justice to…
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently conduct by-elections to fill the vacant seats created by the defection of 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This follows the lawmakers’ controversial decision to override the governor’s veto on three bills despite court rulings affirming the loss of their legislative legitimacy due to their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). In a press statement by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, National Coordinator of HURIWA, the group described these actions as a flagrant…
By Shadrach Okon Governor Umo Eno has warned politicians in Akwa Ibom State to stop inundating his phone lines with recommendations of who should be chosen as Commissioner and Special Adviser as he is would be sending list of new Commissioners and Special Advisers designates to the State House of Assembly for consideration next week. Governor Eno who spoke yesterday during the valedictory dinner in honour of the outgoing members of the dissolved State Executive Council stated that appointing members of the State Executive Council is the exclusive responsibility of the Governor and should not be influenced by politicians. According…
Governor Umo Eno has dissolved the State Executive Council (EXCO) today Friday 10th January, 2025. The dissolution of Akwa Ibom State Executive Council was made know in a Press release signed by the Secretary to the State Government Prince Enobong Uwah The release directs all Commissioners and Special Advisers to handover to the Permanent Secretaries or the most senior Director in various Ministries where there is no Permanent Secretary. Governor Umo Eno in the release expressed delight to the out going Commissioners and Special Advisers for their contributions to the success of his administration and wished them well in their…