AljaziralPress

Editor-aljaziralreporters

beware-sex-trafficking

ASABA – Sex and Child trafficking is a global phenomenon that is occuring all around the world. Sex trafficking is a modern form of slavery through abducting and illegally recruiting victims for the purpose of sexual exploitation. It is an industry that earns $150 billion dollars a year. However, what many people fail to realize is the detrimental effects it has on the victims mental and physical health. Sex trafficking causes critical health issues that needs to be recognized by healthcare providers.

According to the Chairman, Delta State Taskforce on Human trafficking, Barr.Peter Mrakpor Spoke extensively on the mental health problems of victims who managed to escaped sex trafficking typically experience mental disorders and psychological illnesses such as, anxiety, depression, panic disorder, substance abuse, suicidal tendancies, Stockholm Sydrome, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Stockholm Syndrome is a very common illness sex trafficking victims endure. Stockholm Syndrome, also known as traumatic bonding is where victims find it challenging to leave their abusers. This is because victims use their Stockholm Syndrome as a survival mechanism. They are petrified to leave their abusers in fear of being physically harmed or killed. Sometimes, victims become contingent towards their abusers for a sense of security, food, shelter, and clothes. Furthermore, hostages also portray their abusers demeaning behavior as receptive. This is because they develop a mindset that involves thinking like, “they could have done worse” or “they did not mean to.

Many of the victims sex trafficking often experience extreme emotional trauma due to separation from their families, friends, and local communities. In terms of emotional health, victims often report feeling hopelessness, guilt, reoccurring nightmares, lack of confidence, denial, distrust, and low self-esteem . Due to these mental health issues, victims use drugs to cope. This leads to substance abuse that can impact their physical health. These drugs include weeds, ( populalar known as Igboo) , Tramadol, cocaine, etc

Victims physical health deems to be just as severe as their mental health. While undergoing barbaric living conditions, victims may experience an improper diet or starvation. Medically, this is known as malnutrition. Food deprevation is often times used as a tactic to manipulate and scare victims. Another technique used to control victims is the use of physical force and torture. Injuries such as broken bones, burns, scars, broken teeth are very common. Moreover, these injuries usually go untreated leading to ongoing health affects. Consistent beatings can also result in concussions and tramatic brain injuries. Consequently, victims experience headaches, migraines, dizziness, and memory loss .

According to Aljaziral reporters interviews hosted by the Delta State Taskforce on Human Trafficking they discussed the experience various sex trafficking victims faced. At the age of 17, a young woman named Laura was sexually trafficked. She reported that her abuser would, “beat me until he was absolutely tired. I was covered in bruises, my face was completely disfigured and it’s causing me issue with my back to this day because of the way he was beating me and torturing me”.

Sex trafficking victims commonly live in an unhygienic and unsanitary home enviroment. This is proven to be harmful to their health. Infectious diseases that could be easily avoided are predominant in the sex traffic industry. These transmittable diseases include, malaria, tuberculosis (TB), hepatitis, and pneumonia (Deshpande 24).

In addition, long lasting health problems is a major consequence due to obvious neglect and physical abuse. HIV/AIDS is extremely prevalent among sex trafficking victims. In a study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health, they found that in underdeveloped countries, 56% of victims were HIV postive,In an unprotected enviromented, victims of sex slavery are forced to practice unsafe sex. Unfortunately, this increases the risk of unwanted pregnancies, reproductive complications, and sexually transmitted diseases. These STD’s consist of syphellis, gonorrhea, pubic lice, and urinary track infections (UTI’s). 73.4% survivors of sex slavery reported to have some form of STI/STD’s. On top of these negative health impacts, women and child are prone to rectal damage, vaginal tearing and bleeding, and acute pelvic pain. In regards to reproductive health, women face menstrual issues, frequent miscarriages, female, genital mutilation (FGM), and forced abortions .

In order to sucessfully help and stop these ugly trend and make Delta State Zero tolerence of Child trafficking all hands must be on deck and report any suspected scene of Child trafficking in your area to the appropriate authorities

Editor : aljaziralreporters

That we as a people vehemently rejects the continuous threat to life, intimidation and harassment on our illustrious son Mr Nyore Akpobi by Prof Victor Peretemode over a lingering suit in court – that right to associate is nonnegotiable and sacrosanct to all but a situation where our son exercise his God’s given inalienable right in supporting whoever of his choice in a tussle over Vice-Chancellorship is not and can never amount to a crime. Prof. Victor Peretomode who is an ijaw man has severely invaded the resident of Mr Nyore Akpobi with some ijaw thugs carrying dangerous weapons to possibly assasinate him. We the Urhobo youths will not seat helpless for our son to be maimed or killed

That Prof. Victor Peretemode continuous lawlessness against our own illustrious son is becoming unbearable. – that we swallowed alright provocation on us with the unlawful termination of our son appointment by Prof. Victor Peretemode which is a subject of litigation in a competence court of jurisdiction, in other for peaceful substantiality does not make us fools.

Hundreds of families are dully affected with the act of inhumanity and unlawful termination of appointment on our illustrious son, still we are longanimously waiting on the lawful outcome in court, but for Prof. V. Peretemode to trend in the path of lawlessness as a means, will never be tolerated further by us as Urhobo people.

There must be a limit to deluding ourselves because metamorphosis is real. The process moves from egg – larva – pupa and finally the adult insect emerges to do good or unleash evil. Prof. Victor Peretemode is at the point of evolving to the adult stage of destruction of innocent lives – having gone through the pupa stage of relative inaction until it began a campaign of violence in recent time and continuous threat to life of our son Mr Nyore Akpobi by him and his ijaw thugs.

We as a people believes that there cannot be meaningful development and growth in any given crises-ridden environment. Nigeria as a nation is undergoing a horrific experience in the hands of boko haram already – hence this World press briefing as an avenue to call on the Federal and Delta State government, Religious Leaders, All Security Heads, Leaders and Stakeholders in Nigeria and Niger-Delta and all Nigerians both home and abroad to as a matter of urgency, call on Prof. victor Peretemode and his agents to desist further on the threat to life, intimidation and harassment of any kind on our illustrious son, as we are not to be deuced for any reactions otherwise.

By Sunday Apah

Nigeria is made up of several ethnic groups, within these ethnic groups, are several tribes numbering over 371, each with its unique culture, dialect and monarch controlling her affairs as it relates to deities and way of life.

In order for peace and proper traditional administration, major states in Nigeria like Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Ondo, Kano, Lagos, Benue and others in the six geopolitical zones gave staff of offices to monarchs in their various kingdoms.

In Delta for example, Isoko South and Isoko North Local Government Areas have over 20 kings just like Ughelli North and Ughelli South Local Government Areas but Okpe and Sapele Local Government Areas have one monarch because both local government areas belong to one Urhobo kingdom and the monthly entitlements to monarchs from the above Local Government Areas is been shared according to the number of kings in the council area.

But the case is different for the Egbema towns in Ovia Local Government Area of Edo state as they are been deprived of all government entitlements on allegation that they are strangers in their own land.

For clarity, Egbema Kingdom is a true Izon (Ijaw) Kingdom and is politically split into the present day Edo and Delta States of Nigeria. Egbema Kingdom is bounded on the north by the Olodiama of Edo State and the Itsekiri of Delta State, west by the Arogbo Kingdom of Ondo State, east by Gbaramatu Kingdom and the Itsekiri of Delta State and South by the Ilaje of Ondo State and the Atlantic Ocean.

There are nine traditional towns in Egbema kingdom known as Egbema Isenabiri, namely: Ofunama, Ajakurama, Abere, Gbeuba, Jamagie/Abadigbene, Opuama/Polobubo, Ogbinbiri, Ogbudu-Gbudu and Jamagie. In addition there are over one hundred and fifty villages and hamlets. The people are fishermen, hunters, canoe builders, distillers of local gin and farmers. Egbema Kingdom is very rich in crude oil production as such play host to many multinational oil companies like Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and a host of others.

Despite the huge contribution of Egbema kingdom to the economy of Nigeria, the Edo State Government has continued to oppress and marginalize them by refusing to recognize Egbema as a Kingdom in the state, hence the monarch of Egbema Kingdom, HRM King Gold Oro Tiemo, Bini Pete III, the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom who is fully recognized by the Delta state government through the presence of some Egbema communities in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta state, recently called on the Federal Government to merge towns and villages of Egbema Kingdom in Edo state with their other towns and villages in Delta State to enable them enjoy benefits of government at all levels.

The monarch in his address at a ceremony in Ajakurama ancient community said the plea to the Federal Government to merge their towns in Edo state with their Delta state sister communities was necessitated by the position of the Edo State Government and the Ovia Local Government Area that they (Egbema Kingdom) cannot have a king of their own.

He said, “Our Bini neighbours are claiming that we do not exist based on the A. F Marshall Intelligence report which states that they the Binis fought against the Bini River Ijaws at about 1234 and 1334 and defeated us. Though this is not true that we were defeated, it quite established the fact we were a force to reckon with at that time, and it further confirms that we have been in existence for centuries”.

According to him, there is no historical record even up till date which shows that the Bini River Ijaws have ever been defeated in battle by any force. Although, the Bini River Ijaws are not warlords but have never been captured and made slaves by any group or tribe in the Nigerian Federation, rather, like all other Ijaw City-States, towns and villages across the Niger Delta.

“The Egbema people dealt in slave trade in those days and in such cases, our hinterland neighbours were our material for trade with the slave buyers. In some cases, some slaves were left behind for domestic purposes and were isolated from our main towns, hence we have habitats as Isorbema, Okonga, etc but when I became king in 1988, I abolished the old method and freed the slaves. Some of them even been made chiefs in the kingdom”, he added.

The monarch noted that they have always regarded their neighbours in the hinterland as friends and never as their masters. “When our trade with the Portuguese was booming, we had three seaports; Bini Dodogha (Boedoe), Arbo and Uloli (Ulogi) seaports. If our relationship with our Bini neighbours was that of masters and servants/slaves, could we have had the power to stop the Portuguese from passing through our territory to trade with the Binis in the early14th, 15th, and 16th centuries which we did successfully. Could we have had a district council of our own known as Ofunama District Council and a Local Council known as Egbema Local Council without question by our so called masters?

He explained that his predecessor, Bini Pere II, the Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom was installed and crowned in Ajakurama town in 1955 and he reigned for over 30 years before he joined his ancestors. And it’s pertinent to note some of the landmark transactions to show that he was duly recognized not only by the Oba of Beni, the Benin Traditional Council and the Local Government Council.

To further buttress his point, he said, “Letters were written to Bini Pere II, Agadagba of Egbema Kingdom from Iyekovia District Council Iguobazuwa, Benin City on 7th May, 1966 on Tax Collection, on 28th January 1971 on eradication of an epidemic in Ofunama Court area, on 29th August 1973 on appeal for donation towards reception of Midwestern State Athletes, on 4th September 1972 on meeting of clan heads, on 25th April 1975 from Military Governor’s Office, on 26th September, 1977, from Warri Local Government on issue of traditional rulers council, on 14th May 1982 from Benin Traditional Council for a meeting with the Oba of Benin, in 1982/1983 from Benin Council to all traditional rulers in Bendel State on revision of voters register, on 13th April, 1983 from the Oba of Benin to all traditional rulers in Bendel state on issue of non-deduction of 10% of their stipends”.

He stated that the splitting of Egbema Kingdom into Edo and Delta states was done without consultation, but as law abiding people, they accepted things as done by the Federal Government with questions but with recent ugly developments coming from their neighbours, the sleeping dog has awakened and it is aggrieved. But as peaceful people, we are appealing to the Federal Government of Nigeria to please put our people together preferably by merging us with other kin in Delta state, to avoid our neighbours from consuming us silently, politically, economically, culturally and otherwise.

Following a recent report in some of the national dailies that court restrained National Union of Road Transport Workers of the 25 Local Government Areas from collecting illegal daily duties/levies from members of Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association in Delta state, the Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association, yesterday refuted the report, saying it was 18 Local Government Areas and Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Delta state that were restrained by the court.

Counsel to the Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association, J. S Sini Esq., told journalists that in suit No. OUHC/171/2017, the Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association as claimants, prayed for the court to grant order of interlocutory injunction restraining the (Defendants) 18 Local Government Areas and Delta State Ministry of Commerce and Industries from collecting illegal daily duties, taxes and levies from members of the claimants’ drivers and persons in charge of vehicles in any part of the state when carrying out their lawful duties of delivering of sand and cement to or out of their block molding industries.

According to Sini, “the claimants prayed further that block molders are private limited liabilities companies operating under individual business names registered under the laws of Nigeria, and came together as an Association known as Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association, and registered it with Corporate Affair Commission.

It added, “having come this far, the defendants cannot regard members of the Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association as members of the public that put their delivers’ vehicles in the councils motor parks for hire and whose vehicles can be impounded or made to pay taxes or levies in the state”.

Judge of the Otor-Udu High Court, Justice C. E Achilefu, in granting the application as prayed above, restrained the defendants from collecting illegal daily duties, taxes and levies from members of the Otor-Udu and Otu-Jeremi Block Industries Association drivers and persons in charge of vehicles in the state pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Editor

The Federal High Court, Warri has delivered Judgement in the case of Darlington Ugo Ehirim v. Federal Road Safety Commission Suit No. FHC/W/CS/90/2017.

The Plaintiff in an affidavit in support of his originating summons stated that he was stopped by FRSC officials while driving along Ajamimogha Road, Warri on his way to court. The Plaintiff had challenged the authority of the FRSC officials to be creating a long queue early in the morning while checking vehicle particulars. Plaintiff further stated that the FRSC officials, out of annoyance told him to park, which he obeyed. They seized his vehicle particulars and charged him to court on a purported charge of not wearing seat belt. The charge against the plaintiff was withdrawn upon the intervention of Kunle Edun, the then Vice Chairman of NBA, Warri (now the National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association).

Mr. Kunle Edun, acting as the Plaintiff’s counsel and Chairman NBA Warri Human Right Committee subsequently filed an action against the FRSC at the Federal High Court, Warri, seeking multiple issues for resolution by the learned high court Justice in line provisions enshrined in the 1999 constitution, as amended.

The trial Judge upon considering depositions from counsels to the plaintiff, Darlington Ugo Ehirim, and the defendant, FRSC, granted reliefs in judgement to the parties inter alia:

1) A declaration that the stoppage of the Plaintiff’s vehicle Reg. No. KJA 502 and the seizure of his driver’s licence by the Defendant on the 15th day of June, 2017 along the Ajamimogha Road, by Herismor House, Warri (not being a federal trunk road) is unlawful and a violation of Plaintiff’s right to freedom of movement as guaranteed by the provisions of section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended.

2) An order of injunction restraining the Defendant by itself and/or through it’s privies, agents, officials, subordinates or under any other guise from further harassing, arresting, detaining and/or prosecute the Plaintiff or any motorist in respect of anything done in connection with vehicular traffic and/or the use of State’s and Local Government roads.

3) The sum of N10, 000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira)as exemplary and general damages.

The trial court agreed with all the issues raised by Kunle Edun, the Plaintiff’s counsel and accordingly granted all the reliefs sought.

The court also awarded cost of N200,000 00 against the Defendant.

Residents of Oghara community of Delta State, would not have expected the event which shook the town yesterday.

According to reports, a middle-aged man was retrieved, dead, from a well which he had jumped into in an obvious attempt to take his life.

From the story shared, there was no justification for the action as many were left in shock and dismay over the sad incident, being that the victim was a well-known member of the community.

The body of the young man was retrieved from the well by various youths, and it was also reported that he could not be buried, but rather disposed off, mainly because the manner of his death was seen as a taboo in the community.

ASABA – Hon. Engr. Lucky Oyivwi, former (MRDD) Delta State governorship Candidate has said,he read with upmost dismay of a protest by APC women and youths against the Delta State Gubernatorial results in Abraka as published on Sunday Vanguard, March 17, 2019, Page 31. This is not only laughable, but cruel and very unpleasant.

“Elections have come and gone! INEC has declared Governor Okowa the winner of the just concluded governorship election and many people that meant well for our beloved Delta State have been congratulating Okowa, who won 23 LGAs out of the 25 LGAs in Delta State. Okowa has also said he is willing to work with political opponents towards making Delta State greater. All we need do is to support and pray for him (Okowa) as the Chief Executive Governor to achieve even better performances in his second tenure for the good of all Deltans.

You and I know that with Governor Okowa, Delta State has been enjoying peace and has become arguably the most peaceful state of the Federation. Why create unnecessary chaos knowing that without peace investors will not come to our state? The Gubernatorial result clearly shows that the larger population of Deltans wanted Okowa to continue as governor based on Equity, Peace and Unity. Besides, Okowa’s Commitment and Passion to see a greater Delta State led to his accomplishment that spurred the people to vote for his re-election. And as such, everyone must respect the wish of the people. I therefore frown at these chaotic activities that can break the peace in the state.

Few days ago, the Delta State Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Chairman Mr. Fred Obi had said “IPAC would set up a committee to reconcile aggrieved persons who participated in the elections”. So, why create such protests? I therefore call on those behind the protest to put a stop to it and think of productive ways of moving Delta State forward.

SAPELE – It was recently gathered that Ms Stephenie Idolor who claimed that she is behind the viral video of Success, alleged threatening the family of Ms Success lately over what she called wickedness, that the family of success could not acknowledged the fact that she is the one behind the success story and progress of that family.

According to Ms Success mother, we have had enough of Stephanie Idolor lies to the general public. Let me set the records straight! “We are tired of Stephanie Idolor and her sister coming to fight us demanding we open a joint account with success, but we the Success parents refused, saying things they get was to take care of Sucess and not to be shared after giving you so much, that Chairman of sapele LOCAL Government advised her against it and promised to give Stephanie a job. Now my question is, Stephanie has been collecting so much from individuals, she has not given a dime to Success, but wants to share everything that comes to success. She even went further to make a video to the world complaining, that she had not received any appreciation from us.

Mama Success said and i quote with whatsapp chat evidence, we have so far Given Stephanie #570,000, Stephanie only made the video to mock my daughter and myself, she wasn’t even the one that sent to instablog, it was her friend that resides in Asaba a Certain “Joyce Imofen” whom she sent it to, was the person responsible for the viral video.

First, when Joyce posted the video on instagram ” Stephanie’s Friend in asaba” concerned Nigerians showed interest in supporting Little Success, and some requested Joyce account number, she gave, and the total money she received almost immediately was 70K, not knowing success parents, she called her friend, Stephanie to send her account number, which she did, she transferred the money so Stephenie account and she refused to give the money to Success mother, to our greatest Surprise! Stephanie ate the money and gave success mother nothing. So, Joyce opted to speak with Sucess mother, because she had become the center of all eyes on instagram. She got the account number from her friend and established relationship with Mama Success.

Now, when Nigerians started appreciating success financially, Stephanie became angry and jealous, immediately she started coursing issues and making videos telling the world how she is been neglected in the scheme of success progress.

Stephanie began making outrageous demands that she had to ask Mama success to take her to ECO BANK BOYO ROAD, sapele where her account “Mama Success” is domiciled to go and check the account balance so they could give her her share. Sucess mother being an ignorant woman took her there and discovered that about 700K had been paid, she withdrew 400K and gave to Stephanie, reason being that, steph had said the people involved were so much and she had had to settle everyone person involved. This time, she took the 400K and didn’t give the girl “Joyce” who blew the video a KOBO.

She kept making demands, that at a point, she went to ECO BANK to demand the statment of account of mama success but the bank refused; when she discovered that the bank wouldn’t oblige, she went to mama success took her to the bank and almost forced her to open a JOINT ACCOUNT with baby Success so she could control EVERYTHING that comes therein. When this didn’t work, she granted an interview with Punch accusing Success mother of not being appreciative.

By Ese Adagbra

The Executive Director of Projects, Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC Dr Engr Samuel Adjogbe has said that he knew right from day one the very day President Mohammadu Buhari stepped into the Presidential race he would win , according to him that based on his performance and his integrity he had never doubted the success of Mr President in the poll.

Dr Adjogbe immediately after casting his vote in his unit,at Ewreni, in an interactive session with media men who monitored the Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections in Ewreni Ughelli North Local Government Area added that Mr President has done o lot for Ewreni,Niger Deltans and Nigerians most especially through the NDDC by attracting much development to Ewreni vis a vis the Niger Delta Region ” So it is time to say Thank You, to Mr President, Today is to write the final exam,our people are going to answer the question as the question is suppose to be answered”

The EDP, NDDC said Ewreni people are Politically peaceful and sophisticated therefore nobody can push them around since they are following the guidelines and prospect set out by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in the conduct of Election.

Dr Adjogbe disclosed that he prophecised the victory of President Buhari when some group of people from the other Party came to him and asked him to throw his weight behind their party.He said he told them point blank that he is strong a Chieftain of APC and Buhari die hard and can never ” spread my legs.”
He added he know that based on the instrument of NDDC which Mr President has use to fix Ewreni and Niger Delta Region in general ” The people are saying thank you by voting APC.That is what everybody is doing”

On the Victory of Mr President Dr Adjogbe has this to say ” I know Buhari will win.I m Buhari die hard.So when some people came to me and said that I should give them money to work for the other party, I told them I don’t have, that if I have money I will use it to work for President Buhari and my party the APC.”

” So when the result was out I told them we have won! They said Yes! You are a prophet”

Dr Adjogbe said he is not INEC monitoring Officer so ,he cannot response or know if the electoral body is facing any challenges as regard Card Reader working properly.
while responding to questions from journalists whether there was Card Reader challenges like it happened during the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.He responded and said in his Ewreni ward there is no Card Reader challenge during the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections.

” I want to be honest with you,we don’t have such problem in my ward.I do not know what is happening in elsewhere, because I’m not an INEC monitoring Officer.So I believe whatever complain people made in the past I believe there is an improvement”

The Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections were generally peaceful in the entire Ewreni wards except for some Youths who wanted to ferment trouble but we’re later check mated by combined team of police and Army on electoral monitoring patrol exercise.

The president of the association Comr. Obaro Egagifo sympathizes with affected students, as he calls on the Management of Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Security Agencies and host community to fish out those behind the attacks on the students and beef up security around the environs.

Inline with this call, he sensitizes the students on security consciousness within and outside the university community. While the leadership of the association wishes them success in their forth coming examinations.

SIGNED

Comr Olanrewaju Nurudeen Adesina

National Publicity Secretary FUPRE ALUMNI