The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Police arrest six armed robbers, six suspected kidnappers in Edo, Delta

    Police arrest six armed robbers, six suspected kidnappers in Edo, Delta

    The long arm of the law caught up with six armed robbers and six suspected kidnappers in Delta and Edo states at the weekend.

    Specifically, in Edo State police arrested six male suspected kidnappers and also recovered arms and ammunition from them.

    The suspects included: Christopher Aiyegbeni, 29; Matthew Osayande, 32; Uyi Destiny, 27; Bankole Faz, 35; and Ayemen Okojie, 32.

    Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Chidi Nwabuzor, a Superintendent of Police (SP), yesterday disclosed that a double-barrel gun, single-barrel gun, and two pump-action guns with their cartridges were recovered from the hoodlums by operatives of Ekiadolor Divisional Police Headquarters, Benin.

    He said: “The arrest of the kidnappers was made possible, following a complaint made by a patriotic citizen of Edo State, that at about 0600hrs, some group of five men suspected to be kidnappers, heavily armed with guns and other dangerous weapons, invaded Ogoja Camp, also known as, Ford Oga Camp, with the intention to kidnap one of the heads of the camp.

    “They shot sporadically into the air, but were unfortunate, as they were arrested by the police, with the help of community members and the vigilance group members from Kamafua- ii community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State.

    “Edo Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, while commending the bravery of the operatives, the community and the vigilance group members in arresting the kidnappers, reiterates the command’s readiness to respond to distress calls in bringing situations to a halt.”

    Edo commissioner of police encouraged residents of the state to imbibe the attitude of seeing something, and saying something, in order to expose and bring the activities of criminals in the state to an end.

    According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in Delta State, DSP Bright Edafe, the six-man gang were arrested about 8pm, Thursday, along Jakpa Road in Uvwie council area of the state.

    Parts of the statement read, “On 15/12/2022 at about 2000hrs, Police operatives attached to Ekpan Police station deployed on patrol along Jakpa Road, intercepted a Toyota Sienna space bus, ash in colour without registration number conveying six male occupants.

    “The suspects, Aaron Okorigwe ‘m’ aged 27yrs and five others could not give a reasonable account of themselves, were taken into custody.

    “Investigation later revealed that they were hoodlums, who operate under the guise of being members of hunters group from Ovwian Aladja, but sneak into Ekpan Community in a Sienna vehicle, rob and kidnap unsuspecting persons, after robbing them, they run to hibernate in Ovwian Aladja.

    “Following these findings, on 16/12/2022, the DPO invited three victims (names withheld), all of whom were at various times victims of armed robberies, and kidnappings in the area, and placed the suspects on identification parade, the victims identified the suspects as the syndicate that robbed and kidnapped them.”

  • Ugwuanyi names new Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse after Justice Agbo

    Ugwuanyi names new Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse after Justice Agbo

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has inaugurated the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse building newly constructed by his administration in furtherance of its unprecedented interventions in the state judiciary for efficient dispensation of justice.

    Inaugurating the befitting Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse building, located at the 3 Arm Zone, Independence Layout, Enugu, Governor Ugwuanyi named it after Hon. Justice Raphael Chikwe Agbo, Justice of the Court of Appeal, and congratulated the Jurist, who is an indigene of the state, for the “honour well-deserved.”

    In his speech during the grand opening and naming of the building, the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Afojulu Raymond Ozoemena, expressed gratitude to Governor Ugwuanyi for his administration’s immense support to the judiciary of Enugu State, stressing that the governor has been “very supportive.”

    The Chief Judge, therefore, thanked Governor Ugwuanyi “for your unwavering support for the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse and the Enugu State Judiciary.”

    Justice Ozoemena also congratulated Hon. Justice Agbo and lauded him for his continued support to the judiciary of Enugu State disclosing that it was in recognition of his unwavering support that the building was named after him.

    The Chief Judge equally paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Hon. Justice Priscilla Ngozi Emehelu (retired) for being the brain behind the project, expressing delight that her initiative has come to fruition.

    In her remarks, the Director of the Enugu State Multi-Door Courthouse, Mrs. Caroline Etuk, said that Governor Ugwuanyi was “God’s great workmanship to achieve this awesome feat,” adding: “Had you not believed that it was necessary for this young organisation to have a domicile of its own, today will never have happened. It was your support and dedication to this project that was the spark that ignited the fire. We thank you immensely, Your Excellency.”

  • Gunmen set ablaze Imo High Court, destroy documents

    Gunmen set ablaze Imo High Court, destroy documents

    Gunmen on Saturday set ablaze the Imo State High Court in the Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

    The hoodlums were said to have also burnt sensitive documents including proceedings in the court complex housing both the high court and a magistrates’ court.

    Although no life was lost, the building was significantly destroyed by the inferno.

    This development makes it the second time the court will be burnt. In 2018, the high court was razed and on Saturday, the court was again torched by assailants.

    According to one of the staff of the court, who spoke on anonymous condition, “All the sensitive files in the building were burnt.”

    Speaking on the development, Orlu Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Barnabas Munonye, confirmed the incident, describing it as “unfortunate.”

    He told The Nation that “we woke up to see significant parts of the court gutted by fire. The fire destroyed several sensitive documents which include court records. We were able to salvage some.

    “We condemn the act in its entirety and advise those who are behind all these to drop it and turn a new leaf. We plead with whoever engages in all these acts to stop because it doesn’t help any cause. We also plead with security agencies to beef up security in all these areas.”

    The spokesperson for the Imo State Police Command, CSP Mike Abattam, also confirmed the incident, adding that the police had launched an investigation into the incident.

  • Uzodimma proposes N474b budget for 2023

    Uzodimma proposes N474b budget for 2023

    Imo State Executive Council (Exco) has approved an estimated N474billion appropriation for the 2023 fiscal year.

    Governor Hope Uzodimma, who disclosed this after the weekly executive meeting, said the budget proposal would be presented to the House of Assembly.

    Briefing reporters on the outcome of the Exco deliberations, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Declan Emelumba said the Council also approved a proposal by the governor to empower 25,000 indigenes today, an activity that would be followed by another empowerment of 27,000 people next week.

    He said the government was making efforts to ensure that the night landing facilities at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport were installed before Christmas.

    The idea, Emelumba added, was to enable the citizens coming from outside the country to land at the state’s airport, instead of going through the Port Harcourt airport.

    He said the Exco noted with satisfaction that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved that the expenses incurred on Imo Airport by the state government in terms of infrastructure provision and renovation be refunded, including the amount the government expended on the ongoing dualisation of roads to ease movement from Ngor Okpala to the airport.

    However, Emelumba said the government noted with regret the attack on expatriates handling construction on the Owerri/Okigwe road and Owerri/Mbaise/ Umuahia road.

    He said the kidnappers were detractors, who didn’t want the progress of the state.

    He said the government had assured contractors of security.

  • I will not hand over Abia to political neophyte

    I will not hand over Abia to political neophyte

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said he would not hand over power to a successor with no political and administrative experience.

    He said those aspiring to lead after him should not be persons, who wanted to use political power to learn on the job.

    Dr. Ikpeazu spoke at the 2022 Enugu State Cultural held in Aba.

    He said power should be entrusted to experienced administrators, who were prepared by learning, character, life experience and knowledge of the local environment.

    The governor said only such leaders could be said to have proven capacity to continue wherever he would stop, adding that they would be able to continue the progress and delivery of dividends of democracy to the people.

    Ikpeazu, represented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief John Kalu, lauded the good relationship between Enugu indigenes living in Abia State and the government and people of the state, describing them as “model and integral members of Abia community, who have contributed to the development of the state.”

    He said it was time to consolidate on his legacy projects and urged Enugu indigenes living in the state to support Prof Uche Ikonne, who had a track record of excellence to emerge as the next governor.

    Ikpeazu stressed government’s commitment to hand over the completed section of the remodelled A-line of Ariaria International Market to the original shop owners next month.

    Also speaking at the event chaired by the former Minister of Power, Prof Bartholomew Nnaji, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Ikonne, thanked Enugu State people for giving him a loving wife and a life partner, who, according to him, represented the attributes of a virtuous woman.

    He urged them to vote for him and other PDP candidates, to further cement the partnership between him and the people of Enugu State.

    Ikonne, represented by his running mate, Okey Igwe, enjoined the people to key into his ‘TIGER’ economy and participatory governance initiatives, to create more wealth and eliminate impediments to rapid growth and prosperity of the state.

  • Buhari advised to name Delta NDDC representative

    Buhari advised to name Delta NDDC representative

    A group, the Voice of Niger Delta for Equity and Justice (VONDEJ), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate a representative from Delta State for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.

    VONDEJ gave the advice yesterday in a statement made available to reporters in Warri, Delta State.

    It was signed by the group’s Director General, Chief Williams Onohwakpor and Secretary General, Mr. Abdulhazeez Amedu.

    The body hailed Buhari for the nominees of the substantive board of the NDDC, describing them as “careful and well-considered choices, which reflect deep concern for experience, competence and integrity.”

    The President forwarded a list of nominees of the substantive board of the NDDC to the National Assembly last month, after three years of interim management.

    Although the move by Buhari was welcomed, the choice of chairperson nominee, Ms Lauretta Onochie, caused an outcry in the Niger Delta, with groups demanding her withdrawal from the list.

    VONDEJ in its statement promised to occupy the region in protest should the nominated Chairman, Onochie and Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, be ousted.

    The group described the protests against the duo as a plot by “self-styled” leaders of the Niger Delta “that never mean well for the good and betterment of our people” to manipulate the process for their selfish gains.

  • Group hails security agencies for foiling attack on Imo INEC office

    Group hails security agencies for foiling attack on Imo INEC office

    A group, Global Association of Concerned Imo Youths (GACIY), has hailed security agencies for foiling Monday morning’s attack on the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri.

    It slammed former Minister of State for Education Prof. Anthony Anwuka for blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma for the insecurity in some parts of the state, particularly in Orlu.

    The body in a statement by its Chairman, Collins Ugbala, said the feat by the police and other sister security agencies in foiling the attack on INEC office had destroyed the myth of invincibility around gunmen.

    The statement said: “We praise our gallant officers of the Nigeria Police and sister agencies for foiling Monday morning’s attack on the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri.

    “This feat destroys the myth of invincibility around gunmen, who put their trust in voodoo, amulets and cannibalism. We believe that had this attack succeeded, citizens’, not to mention voters’ confidence would have been badly tempered. Thanks to our heroic officers, it did not.

    While we expect bandits and their collaborators to continue to pay a heavy price for their recalcitrance, we ask our youths to resist negative peer pressure and gang culture, no matter the temptation.”

    The group also chided the former minister for trying to blame Governor Uzodimma over the killings in Orlu Local Government.

    Anwuka had in an interview granted a national newspaper (not The Nation), accused the governor of depopulating “Orlu by inviting soldiers to allegedly come and shoot people there.”

    He wondered how a professor could attribute killings in a state to the governor, who swore on oath to protect his people.

    “Anwuka should know better that it is impossible for any governor to invite soldiers against his people to depopulate his state or zone. All the talk about his son being shot and how he was flown to the U.S were just conjectures meant to incite hatred against the governor and thereby curry unmerited sympathy for himself.”

    He noted that several people including monarchs had been killed and houses burnt by the hoodlums, who paraded themselves as gunmen, yet Prof. Anwuka could not condemn such ugly acts even those that took place in his council area.

    “Countless people from Orlu have been sent to the early grave by the hoodlums. Some people were beheaded and human heads displayed at market places. There were reports and evidence of cannibalism by the hoodlums, but Anwuka sees nothing, says nothing.”

    He recalled that “On Easter Monday, April 5, 2021, the custodial centre in Owerri and the State Police Command were attacked and set ablaze by hoodlums in daredevil operation, setting loose about 1,844 inmates against the society.

    In a short while the country home of the Governor, that of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo – a real Professor – George Obiozor; that of the Commissioner for Information & Strategy,  Declan Emelumba, that of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, C.O.C Akaolisa, that of the Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Prince Ford Ozumba, among others, were attacked by hoodlums

    “Recently, a prominent traditional ruler, HRH Eze Dr. I.O. Asor, and others in Anwuka’s Oguta Local Government – where he reigned as a fief for years – were gunned down right in the palace. Izombe and other communities in Anwuka’s Oguta Local Government are almost being overcome by hoodlums as police stations and markets have been attacked and police officers killed in their prime, yet Anwuka is not perturbed and has no word for the hoodlums. Is it not time we asked Anwuka to explain his true intentions?”

  • Ugwuanyi presents N166.6b budget estimate to Assembly

    Ugwuanyi presents N166.6b budget estimate to Assembly

    Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi yesterday presented to the House of Assembly, the 2023 budget estimate of N166.62 billion for consideration and approval.

    Presenting the budget proposal tagged: “Budget of Consolidation and Transition”, Ugwuanyi said the budget is 10.73 per cent (N20.02 billion) lower than the 2022 budget, which was N183.64 billion.

    He said of the total budget size, N81.9 billion representing 49 per cent of the total budget was for recurrent expenditure, while N84.6 billion was for capital expenditure, representing 51 per cent of the budget size.

    The governor said the key deliverables of the 2023 Budget included construction of projects, completion of ongoing rural and urban projects, rehabilitation of Oji Water Scheme as well as urban reform water project.

    Other key deliveries of budget, he added, included procurement of learning materials in basic education, among other projects.

    Ugwuanyi described the budget as a relay budget in the sense that it would be operated by two administrations, his government and the incoming administration.

    Speaker Edward Ubosi hailed Governor Ugwuanyi for providing developmental projects since he assumed office.

  • Army officers urged on discipline

    Army officers urged on discipline

    The Commander 63 Brigade, Brig.-Gen. David Saraso, has urged officers and men of the Army to imbibe discipline and eschew distractions, to enable them discharge their duties.

    He spoke at the 2022 West Africa Social Activities (WASA), organised by officers and men of 3 Battalion, Effurun Barracks.

    Saraso, represented by the Chief of Staff, HQ 63 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Col. Emmanuel Azenda, stressed the need for focus, considering the operational tasks the Army had been saddled with, to ensure security of the country.

    The commander, who was the special guest of honour, hailed the officers and men for upholding the old tradition of WASA, which he said was aimed at promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and values, as well as sustaining peaceful coexistence at barracks.

    He said the annual event was meant to create a forum for informal and social interaction among officers, their families and other residents, while preparing for the year ahead.

    He praised the Commanding Officer (Rear) 3 Battalion, Effurun, Maj. Ibrahim Liman, and his team for their efforts, hard work, discipline and excellence maintained at the barracks, urging them to remain focused in maintaining and improving on the standards they had set, in the new year.

    Liman gave a historical background of the annual WASA event and how it had helped in maintaining peace at barracks across the country.

    He said the significance of the event could not be overemphasised, as it provided a platform to showcase the culture of every tribe in the country, Highlights of the occasion were cultural dances, inspection of the companies that showcased the native food and notable art works of some tribes, as well as the decorations of 10 soldiers, who distinguished themselves in fields at the barracks this year.

  • Edo NCS boss: better days ahead

    Edo NCS boss: better days ahead

    The Controller of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Edo State Command, Mr. Charles Ogwude, has said better days are ahead, with the Service moving forward with giant strides.

    He spoke yesterday in Benin while carrying out the last quarterly inspection of the custodial facilities in Edo command, including four medium security custodial centres, a female custodial facility and two farm centres, among others.

    Ogwude hailed officers and men of the command for maintaining peace and order.

    He informed the workers of the giant strides made by the Service, led by the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, which he noted were geared towards the implementation of the NCoS Act, 2019.

    Edo controller of corrections said the achievements included the inauguration of the new Service uniforms, provision of more operational vehicles and activation of the correctional officers reward fund, in which 25 officers were duly rewarded by Nababa.

    He said with the laudable efforts by the controller-general of corrections, officers and men should rest assured of better days ahead and must be ready to continue to contribute their quota.

    Edo Deputy Controller of Corrections in charge of Medium Security Custodial Centre in Benin, Ahmed Ejekhine, responding on behalf of the officers and men of the command, said they would put in their best, thereby justifying the confidence reposed in them.