The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • 17–year-old girl rescues three siblings in Anambra inferno

    Three children narrowly escaped death when fire razed a 4-bedroom apartment in Ebe, Umuokpu Awka in Awka South local government area of Anambra state.

    The kids, who were fast asleep when the incident occurred, were reportedly rescued by a 17-year old girl, Chinenye Igwedimma, said to be a cousin to the family.

    The building located at No. 1 Ezingwu Street belonging to the family of staff of the Anambra Broadcasting Service, Awka, Blessing Uchendu, reportedly went up in flames while the occupants were away.

    The Nation gathered that property worth millions of naira, including academic certificates, were completely razed by the fire which engulfed the entire building.

    Residents and sympathisers said the fire was caused by electrical malfunction as it started shortly after electricity was restored.

    Read Also: Twin building razed in Anambra explosion

    Narrating her ordeal, the rescuer, Igwedimma, said she had returned to the house to perform some chores when she met the roof of the building in flames.

    She said: “My first action was to pull out three kids who were sleeping in the already burning house.

    “I quickly raised alarm for help as I was overwhelmed while trying to salvage few other items.”

    On her part, Blessing Uchendu, said she was at the ABS Corporate Headquarters when she got a call that the house was on flames.

    “I quickly rushed home only to find out that everything, including my academic certificate from primary school to university levels had been destroyed in the inferno,” she lamented.

    The eldest daughter of the family, Mrs. Uchenna Mmuo, said she was busy at her shop when she was alerted.

    She appealed to government and spirited individuals to assist the family.

    The Nation further learnt that the fire was put off by a combined team of the Anambra State Fire Service, and good-hearted residents of the area.

    Deputy President General, Umuokpu Town Union, Mr Chika Nwuzor and Principal Fire Superintendent of the State Fire Service, Mr Emmanuel Nze, said it was difficult to trace the cause of the fire as no adult was at home when it began.

  • Xenophobic attacks: Irate youths attack MTN office in Akwa Ibom

    Scores of youths on Tuesday afternoon launched an attack on the MTN office in Uyo located along Ikot Ekpene road.

    The office is few metres from the the town campus of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

    The surprise attack, our correspondent learnt, may not be unconnected with the Xenophobic attacks and killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

    Some private radio stations had aired phone in programmes on the killings and attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    Many callers had called to express their anger over the unfortunate plight of Nigerians in the former apartheid enclave and called on Nigeria to take drastic actions to stop the onslaught.

    The Nation gathered that the attack on the MTN building started at about 2.30pm with the rampaging youths destroying glass doors and windows of the facility.

    Read Also: Xenophobic attacks: Youths protest at Shoprite, Stanbic IBTC Bank Ibadan

    A sales lady at the shop, who narrowly escaped being lynched, told our correspondent other valuable items were destroyed, phones and cash stolen by the attackers

    She said: “They ordered people out, destroyed computers and took away cash and customers’ phones. We ran away through the backdoor to safety.”

    It was also confirmed at news time that no casualty was recorded in the incident.

    It is not yet clear if the attack was an isolated incident in city, as local authorities and the police are yet to speak on the incident.

    The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, did not immediately respond to calls and text messages put across to him.

    However an eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named said, “The attack on the MTN shop in Uyo is most unfortunate because neither the building nor the computers belong to the South African people or government.

    “Even the people working there are our brothers and sisters.”

  • NANS vows to deal with South Africans over xenophobic attacks

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) said it has concluded plans to deal with South Africans in Nigeria and their saboteurs against the resurgent xenophobic attacks on Nigerian businesses in South Africa.

    The NANS National President, Danielson Akpan, in an interview, said the students’ body would “hit them (South Africans) like tsunami.”

    He urged the country to expect the reaction of NANS in the “coming days.”

    There had been another round of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians since last Wednesday when some South African nationals burnt down foreign-owned shops in the Pretoria Central Business District.

    It had been reported that there was violent shooting and burning of foreign-owned shops and offices which were targeted by angry taxi driver rioters.

    The President of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, in a release, had later noted that two Nigerian-owned businesses were identified to be affected which were a furniture and electronics shop and a Gold Exchange business.

    Read Also: Xenophobic attacks: Irate youths attack MTN office in Akwa Ibom

    The marked foreign-owned businesses included a Nigerian-owned private clinic, a motor spares shop and a Nigerian church among others.

    The NANS President said: “We are finalising our plans and we will hit them like tsunami. We will also deal with saboteurs. Just expect our reactions in the coming days.”

    NANS had last month picketed South African businesses in various locations including Ilorin, Kwara State, to protest against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

    The students’ body had on July 15 announced the start of a nationwide protest over Xenophobia, saying it was disappointed in the way the Federal Government dragged on the attacks.

    The President had added that its nationwide protests were to demand the intervention of the international community on the killings.

  • Xenophobic attacks: Youths protest at Shoprite, Stanbic IBTC Bank Ibadan

    Some youths have staged peaceful protest at the Dugbe, Ibadan branches of Shoprite and Stanbic IBTC Bank over killing of Nigerians in South Africa during xenophobic attacks.

    The two are among the popular companies owned by South Africans in Nigeria.

    An eye witness told The Nation that the youths, numbering about 50, stormed Shoprite around 5:00 pm to register their displeasure over the rising killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

    He said they did not disturb operations of the company though they caused a stir in the entire shopping mall, which houses several other retailers and the historic Cocoa House.

    On sighting the protesters, the management of Odu’a Investments Limited, which owns the property, was said to have alerted the State Police Command, which quickly drafted its men to the premises.

    Policemen were said to be at the mall as at press time.

    The eye witness further disclosed that the youths moved over to the nearby branch of Stanbic IBTC Bank after their short protest at Shoprite.

    Their stay at the latter was said to have lasted for only about 15 minutes before moving over to the bank.

  • Xenophobic attacks: Nigeria should go beyond diplomatic rhetorics, says Abaribe

    Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, has urged the Federal Government to go beyond diplomatic rhetorics and compel the South African government to immediately stop the attacks and killing of Nigerians living in that country.

    In a statement released in Abuja, Tuesday, Abaribe described the unwarranted attacks killings of Nigerians by South Africans as barbaric the declaring that the seeming cold approach of the South African government to the vexed issue, cast it as being complicit.

    “That being the case, our government must go beyond diplomatic niceties and ensure the protection of our people living in that country henceforth. The Presidency, must stamp its feet on the ground and call that government to order.

    Read Also: Xenophobic attacks: We live every day in fear—Nigerians in South Africa

    “We have an emergency, this is not the time to play ‘good guy’ international diplomacy. The gory picture of our people being slaughtered on the streets of South Africa in recent times lowers our collective spirit, even as it tends to diminish Nigeria’s prestige in the committee of nations. The presidency must stop the dripping,” Abaribe said.

    The lawmaker added that it’s inconceivable that South Africans will go this deplorable route against Nigerians, who committed huge human and material resources during their very dark hours in the ignoble days of apartheid in that country.

    “It is very unfortunate, inhumane and runs against the grains of our African brotherhood”, he added.

    The Minority leader however acknowledged efforts by the Federal Government to build international consensus on the matter, but advised that the government should do more considering the rising frustration among Nigerians.

  • Photos: Youths vandalise MTN office in Uyo

  • VIDEO: Looters invade Shoprite Lekki

    Looters invade Shoprite Lekki

    Watch Video Below

  • How to end xenophobic attacks, by FG

    The federal government has put forward proposals that may likely end the incessant attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, disclosed this on Tuesday during a joint briefing with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Moroe.

    The meeting, which held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja was at the instance of the Minister.

    Briefing journalists shortly after a closed door meeting, Onyeama said Nigeria has put forward very serious proposals, which if implemented would end the incessant attacks on Nigeria.

    The proposal, according to him, include a security collaboration between the two countries, which will see Nigerian security agencies in the embassy working closely with their South African counterparts to help address issues that concerns Nigerians.

    Nigeria also proposed the payment of compensation by the South African government to Nigerians who are victims of attacks.

    Read Also: South Africa President condemns xenophobic attacks

    He said: “We feel that very definitive measures have to be taken to stop once and for all this act of aggression and criminality against Nigerians in South Africa.

    “For us, Nigerian government, we are determined that we should not have any reoccurrence of this going forward. So we have to put in place, we must put in place and we would put in place mechanism to ensure that this do not occur.

    “We made very concrete proposals to South African government today, and we believe if those measures are implemented, we will have a very good chance of ensuring that this does not occur.

    “In the first place we must address the issue of compensation. There has to be accountability and there has to be responsibility for compensating all those Nigerians that have suffered lose and we are going to absolutely push forward.

    “Secondly, we believe that the two security forces, South Africa and Nigeria, we can have an arrangement where there will be cooperation on the ground in South Africa to arrest such events and occurrences and this is obvious something we have to work out details with the South African government and hopefully, see us addressing at the field level the challenges caused by this incessant attacks so we have put that forward to the South Africa government.

    “Very clear proposals and we will be discussing that and hopefully the South African government will support us in that initiative as we believe it will make all the difference.”

    Moroe noted that his country cherished the long- term relationship it shared with Nigeria.

    He also revealed that 90 arrest have been made so far across the cities.

    He stressed that the recent attacks was not xenophobic attacks but acts of criminality.

    He condemned the attacks on Nigerian businesses, stating that his country was doing all possible to address the ugly situation.

  • BREAKING: Court sets aside order stopping APC primaries

    The Sagbama High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has set aside an interim order stopping the All Progressives Congress(APC) from conducting its governorship primaries in the state using direct method.
    Details later…

  • BREAKING: Thugs detonate explosive, engage police in shootout at Bayelsa PDP primaries

    Thugs wearing campaign vests of an aspirant have engaged security operatives in a shootout at the accreditation venue of the ongoing governorship primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The miscreants, chanting the name of the aspirant, were said to have attempted in vain to breach the security at Ijaw House

    They detonated an explosive close to the venue and shot continually at the Ijaw House.

    An innocent teenager, who was said to be running errands, was reportedly hit by a bullet and seen bleeding from his private parts.

    It was gathered that the shooting caused heightened tension around the venue, where a large number of security operatives were deployed to prevent breakdown of law and order.

    Journalists and other observers including some policemen were said to have run to safety as the sound of the gunshots fired by thugs rented the air.

    There were fears of a plot by some aspirants to disrupt the internal election and forced the relocation of the primaries’ to another state.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Voters begin accreditation in Bayelsa PDP primaries

    Security operatives were said to have received intelligence a few days ago that some aspirants hatched a sinister motive to stop the internal poll.

    Sources said the thugs were brought from Rivers, Delta and other neighbouring states to ferment violence.

    It was gathered that the thugs reinforced and made a second attempt to take over the venue by detonating the explosive but they were repelled by security operatives.

    The explosive was reportedly detonated at the old assembly quarters close to the venue of the primaries.

    The Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku is the Returning Officer for the primaries.

    Ishaku assured all aspirants of level-playing ground saying the process would be transparent and credible.

    One of the 21 aspirants from the Restoraton Caucus of the PDP, Mr. Talford Onglo, was said to have stepped down to support the caucus’ adopted aspirant, Senator Douye Diri.

     

    Details shortly…