News
“Let’s All Support Tantita, the Game Changer” – Smooth to Niger Deltans
By Divine Perezide
The very stylish Niger Delta music maestro and ‘Padle of Africa’ Chief Barrister Smooth has thrown his weight behind the call for all Niger Deltans especially the Ijaws, Urhobos, and Itsekiris to sand firm in support of arguably one of the best things that have emerged from the highly vilified Niger Delta, Tantita Security Services Limited, which he described as the “Game Changer.”
Smooth said this in a statement during the visit by SAVE THE NIGER DELTA GROUP, comprising members from Edo, Onodo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states, which accorded him the esteemed position as their Patron, which was shared on his Facebook handle.
The post read in part:
“I am deeply honoured to receive the SAVE THE NIGER DELTA GROUP, comprising members from Edo, Onodo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states, as they bestowed upon me the esteemed title of Patron. This collective decision underscores their confidence in Tantita Security Services as the leading security outfit in the Niger Delta. The Group’s Scorecard, which evaluates Tantita’s activities as a Game-Changer is a testament to their commitment to excellence.
“I humbly accept this recognition, not as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of our shared values as patriots who genuinely care for our people. Life is about lending a helping hand, and I’m proud to be part of that journey alongside Chief Dr Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo father of the people, and Engr Kestin Pondi, the great Philanthropist.
“Tantita Security Services has earned an impressive 99% score for their exceptional security delivery, welfare, and charity initiatives in the Niger Delta. I urge the Itsekiri, Urhobo, and Ijaw communities in Delta State to unite behind Tantita, recognizing the positive impact they have on lives beyond tribal and political affiliations.
“Let us strive for peace in the Niger Delta. I extend my gratitude to Chief Dr. Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo and Chief Engr. Kestin Pondi for their visionary leadership and dedication to changing the narrative.”
LATE CHIEF BETHLEHEM INGO,
Bebefiyewei of Grand Iduwini Kingdom,
“A Voice Lost Forever”
It’s been 21 years, yet the name Chief Bethlehem Ingo still echoes with respect and warmth.
We join in remembering a man whose legacy lives on through the voices of those who still say, “He was a good man.”
Iduwini people lost a voice in the demise of the Bebefiyewei that personified Spokesmanship.
Chief Ingo’s memory remains alive in the lives he touched, in the battles he worn, in the legacies he bequited.
🕊️ Rest on, the Great Chief Beth Ingo. You are missed by Odimodi, Iduwini, Ijaw nation — today.. always.
_From all of us at IduwiniVoice_
By Daire Pere-ebi
Things happen everyday, and some are terrifying. Tale of hardship, moshaps, joy, goodwill, etcetera. But what if you’re told that in a tale of extraordinary endurance and resilience, British couple Maurice and Maralyn Baily survived nearly four months adrift in the Pacific Ocean after their yacht was fatally struck by a whale in 1973.
The couple had set out on a dream journey across the Pacific, having sold their home in England to embrace a life of seafaring adventure. Their voyage aboard a 31-foot yacht, Auralyn, took a devastating turn in Mar h 1973 as they sailed westward from Panama, near the Galapagos Islands.
In the early morning hours, a sperms whale collided with yacht, tearing open the hull. Within minutes, the Auralyn was beyond saving. The Baileys escaped into a small inflatable raft and dinghy, managing to retrieve a few essential items – some canned food, fishing gear, a compass, and a solar still. With no radio or emergency beacon, they were cast into one of the most remote parts of the Pacific, with little hope of immediate rescue.
What followed was an unimaginable 118-day survival ordeal. The Baileys battled the searing tropical sun, saltwater scores, dehydration, and hunger. They relied on collected rainwater for hydration and fashioned rudimentary tools from safety pins and yacht remnants to catch fish, turtles, and even birds. Their bodies withered from malnutrition, their clothing deteriorated, and their nights were filed with uncertainty as distant ships passed them by, unaware of their desperate situation.
Despite the hardship, the couple remained committed to surviving together. Climbing to each other through frigid nights and burning days, they pushed through the extremes of isolation and physical suffering.
Salvation finally came on June 30, 1973, when a South Korean fishing vessel spotted them and pulled them aboard. The Baileys, frail and emaciated but alive, were taken to Hawaii for recovery.
Their harrowing experience, later detailed in their memoir 117 Days Adrift, drew international attention and became a symbol of unbreakable human spirit.
Remarkably, the trauma of their ordeal did not deter them from the sea—they returned to sailing, their passion unshaken by the vast ocean that once nearly claimed their lives.
The Baileys’ story remains one of the most compelling sagas of survival ever recorded, a testament to courage, love, and sheer willpower against the unforgiving forces of nature.
Credit: Weired, Wonder, and Amazing Things
By Favour Bibaikefie
Abuja, Nigeria – In a commendable display of appreciation, ‘Gen.’ Dennis Kpaidia, leader of the Tantita Odimodi Unit, has lauded the Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Chief Dr. Dennis Otuaro (PhD.), for his unwavering commitment to peacebuilding and leadership development in the Niger Delta.
This follows the commencement of a three-day day intensive training programme on Peacebuilding, Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation, organised by the PAP in collaboration with the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Abuja.
The training, held in the Federal Capital Territory, brought together selected youth and community leaders from various communities across the Iger Delta. The initiative forms part of the reintegration phase of the Amnesty Programme, aimed at equipping key stakeholders with tools for the effective leadership, dialogue, and nonviolent conflict resolution in order to forestall imminent intercommunity crisis.
Speaking to IduwiniVoice, Kpaidia expressed profound gratitude to Dr. Otuaro over what he described as a “visionary leadership style that prioritizes the growth and peaceful coexistence of the region.”He noted that such training sessions are vital in deepening participants’ understanding of conflict dynamics and in strengthening local structures for sustainable peace.
“This training has opened our eyes to new methods of resolving disputes peacefully and building consensus in our communities. I thank Chief Dr. Otuaro for investing in our future of the Niger Delta youth and for giving us the tolls to lead rightly.” Kaidia State.
The peacebuilding programme is expected to continue over the next two days, with sessions facilitated by security and conflict resolution experts, mediators, and development professionals from both civil and military backgrounds.
As the region continues its journey towards lasting peace and sustainable development, initiatives like this stand out as evidence of the evolving impact of the Presidential Amnesty Programme under Dr. Otuaro’s stewardship.