General News
Warri Peace Drive: CEPEJ Unites Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Sets Up 20-Member Committee
The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has intensified efforts to address recurring ethnic tensions in Warri Federal Constituency by convening a high-level dialogue aimed at strengthening peaceful coexistence among Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities in Delta State.
The multi-stakeholder roundtable, held at King George Hall in Warri South Local Government Area, drew participation from traditional rulers, security agencies, civil society organisations, market leaders and representatives of various ethnic nationalities resident in Warri.
Among the communities represented were Okere Urhobo Kingdom, Agbarha-Warri Kingdom, Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdom and several Itsekiri communities. Non-indigene groups including Igbo, Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Kogi-Igala and Isoko residents also participated in the dialogue.
Speaking at the event, CEPEJ National Coordinator and Ibe-Sorimowei of the ancient Gbaramatu Kingdom, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, said the initiative aligns with the organisation’s long-standing commitment to fostering peace and stability in Warri and its environs.
Mulade identified “conflict investors” and “conflict beneficiaries” as the two major drivers of violence in contemporary society. He noted that although disagreements may arise, stakeholders must work collectively to reduce tensions and make violence an unattractive option.
He emphasised the need to build on the existing harmony within Warri Federal Constituency, commending the active involvement of women and leaders from both indigene and non-indigene communities.
“Warri Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo are one. We have lived together peacefully before, and we can strengthen that bond. Warri belongs to all of us,” he said.
The dialogue also featured a keynote address by Dr. Austin Onuoha, Adjunct Faculty at the National Peace Academy, Abuja, who called on all ethnic nationalities to prioritise unity and shared responsibility as the foundation for sustainable peace.
Security officials present included SP Musa Yau-Kangiwa, DPO ‘A’ Division, Warri; ASP Hezekiah Okpabi of ‘B’ Division; and ASP Obehi Idiake, Station Officer, ‘A’ Division. Civil society leaders in attendance were Prof. Andrew Agboro, Chairman of Delta State Civil Society Organisations, and Sylvester Okoh, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Warri Peace Community Support Initiative.
A unity drama performance underscoring the importance of coexistence among Warri’s diverse ethnic groups was one of the highlights of the programme.
The event concluded with the inauguration of a 20-member Warri Indigenes and Residents Peacebuilding Committee (WIRPC), comprising representatives from Ijaw, Itsekiri, Urhobo and non-indigene communities.
Mulade explained that the committee has been mandated to deepen engagement among stakeholders, de-escalate emerging tensions and sustain dialogue across communities over the next year, with the goal of achieving measurable progress in peacebuilding efforts.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has formally forwarded a list of nine commissioner nominees to the Rivers State House of Assembly for screening and confirmation.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, directed the nominees to submit their credentials for legislative review as part of the confirmation process.
The nominees are Datonye Alasia, Tonye Bellgam, Temple Nwofor, Peters Nwagor, Charity Deemua, Tamuno Williams, Lekue Kenneth, Otonye Amachree, and Amairigha Edward Hart.
According to the statement, the nominees are required to submit forty copies of their curriculum vitae (CV), along with photocopies of their academic and professional credentials. They are also expected to provide evidence of compliance with their tax obligations.
“All documents should be forwarded to the Office of the Clerk of the House at the Rivers State House of Assembly Quarters,” the statement read.
The move comes nearly a month after President Bola Tinubu held a meeting with Governor Fubara and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja, amid ongoing political tensions in Rivers State.
The submission of the commissioner nominees is seen as a significant step in strengthening the state’s executive council following recent political developments.
General News
US-Israeli Airstrikes Reportedly Kill Iran’s Acting Defence Minister Hours After Appointment
Iran’s newly appointed acting Defence Minister, Seyed Majid Eb Al-Reza, has reportedly been killed in fresh U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, less than 48 hours after assuming office.
According to emerging reports on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, Al-Reza was targeted in strikes carried out in Tehran. Iranian authorities have yet to issue a detailed official statement confirming the circumstances of his death, but multiple sources indicate he was among the latest high-profile casualties in the escalating conflict.
Al-Reza was appointed on March 2, 2026, by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian as interim defence minister. His appointment followed the killing of his predecessor, Aziz Nasirzadeh, who died in earlier U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28.
Those earlier attacks also reportedly claimed the lives of senior Iranian figures, including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour, Army Chief Abdol Rahim Mousavi, and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
If confirmed, the killing of two successive defence ministers within days would mark an unprecedented blow to Iran’s military leadership and signal a dramatic intensification of hostilities between Tehran and the U.S.-Israel alliance.
The reported strikes come amid widening regional tensions, with both sides trading accusations over targeted attacks on strategic installations and leadership structures.
Analysts warn that the continued decapitation of Iran’s top command could provoke further retaliation and deepen instability across the Middle East.
The investigation panel of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has suspended the medical director of Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital and two other doctors following preliminary findings linked to the death of Nkanu Adichie-Esege, son of renowned writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The panel established a prima facie case of medical negligence in the management of the deceased, who died on January 7, 2026, after complications arising from preparatory medical procedures.
Based on its findings, the council suspended Tunde Majekodunmi, medical director of Euracare; Titus Ogundare, an anaesthesiologist; and Atinuke Uwajeg, chief medical officer of Atlantis Hospital.
The affected practitioners have been barred from medical practice in Nigeria pending the outcome of proceedings before the Medical and Dental Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal.
The panel’s secretary, Enejo Abdu, disclosed that evidence of professional misconduct was also found against 10 other doctors at Atlantis Hospital after reviewing complaints, written responses, and sworn testimonies.
However, the council clarified that the report remains preliminary and does not represent a final judgment. All affected medical personnel will undergo a full hearing before a tribunal, which will deliver the final decision.
Eight doctors were cleared of wrongdoing during the review of the 21 medical practitioners involved in the case.
The investigation concluded during the panel’s 25th session held on February 17 and 18 in Abuja, while a coroner’s inquest into the incident is scheduled to commence on April 14, 2026.