PORT HARCOURT— TOXICOLOGISTS have advised residents of oil-bearing communities in the Niger-Delta to live with caution to ward off strange deaths and sicknesses caused by dangerous toxins deposited in their environment by oil companies in the course of oil exploration activities. Some of the toxicologists, who spoke to Niger-Delta Voice at the 4th International Conference of the West African Society of Toxicology, said many Niger Delta communities were prone to unsafe toxins.

Mummy, Festus is likely to be among them,’’ Promise Okorodion casually told her mother upon learning about the migrant shipwreck in the coast of Italy.
Seeing that her statement prompted a worried change on her mother’s countenance, Promise added: ‘’ Mummy, you are wasting your time over that senseless boy. It would even be good if he is one of them; that should at least be the reward for his stubbornness.’’

IKOT EKWERE ITAM—THE people of Ikot Ekwere Itam, an agrarian and business community in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa-Ibom State have cried out over the lack of access road and appalling road network in the community. Community leader, Chief Enang Udo, who spoke with the Niger Delta Voice, lamented that during the rains, the community was always waterlogged, thereby impairing mobility.

In recognition of their services to the country through sports, the federal government, Tuesday honoured some Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in the sector by naming streets in some areas of the Federal Capital Territory after them.

Manchester City’s teenage sensation Kelechi Iheanacho silenced his critics following his immaculate display against Chelsea’s Under 18 squad in the final of the FA Youth Cup.

WARRI—OIL communities in Delta State are at “war” over a bill by the governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, to the Delta State House of Assembly, to streamline the operations of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC. The bill for a law to provide for the establishment of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Commission, Five Ethnic Nationalities Oil Producing Development Agencies, Five Ethnic Nationalities Producing Areas Investment Corporations and Other Matters Connected Therewith, will go for a second reading today.

Nigerian players commenced their campaign in the ongoing Tombim Abuja Open on a bright note, as no fewer than five of them defeated some highly rated foreign opponents to advance to the second round of the competition holding at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

OGHARA—PATIENTS at various stages of dialysis and kidney transplant in Delta State are finding it difficult to hold back their emotions, as their chief source of hope and sponsor, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, prepares to vacate office next month. The cause of their expression of grief is not far-fetched. Uduaghan, a medical doctor, has been subsidizing whatever amount it was costing them in their battle for survival from kidney failure by 75 percent. They have actually been undergoing dialysis every two or three days or weekly, depending on the gravity of the deadly ailment because of the governor’s support.

In a daring and precise operation the Nigerian troops have stormed the Sambisa Forest and rescued about 300 women and girls.
Also at least 17 people and five others were killed by suspected members of dreaded Boko Haram in Marguba community and other surrounding villages of Beneshiekh, the headquarters of Kaga local government area of Borno state.

IKOT EDEM UDO—THE people of Ikot Edem Odo community, comprising 11 villages in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, Cross River State, routinely cut off from other parts of the state by flood and bad road, during the rainy season, are sad that Governor Liyel Imoke failed to construct a link road to the agricultural area, a month to his exit from power.

Troops rescue 200 girls, 93 women from Sambisa Forest

A deadline for foreign invited professionals of the Nigeria under-20 team will be set on Friday according to the team secretary Ibrahim Aliyu Auwal.

IWUOKPOM—FOR seven months running, sea bandits have been on the prowl in the waterways of Ibeno Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, attacking fishermen, impounding their equipment, including speedboats and collecting huge ransoms for the release of the confiscated items with Police and Navy unable to come to their rescue. While the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Gabriel Achong, said there was a limit policemen could go on the high sea, a top Navy official said the personnel were not equipped to fight sea robbers.

The US Supreme Court appeared divided Tuesday on whether gay couples have a constitutional right to wed — as it weighs a decision that could see same-sex marriage recognized nationwide.

BURUTU— YAYOROGBENE, an Ijaw community in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, has petitioned the Commissioner of Police in the state over a purported plan by some leaders from a neighbouring community to murder its community leader, Comrade Austin Ozobo, over a land dispute.