The Nation Newspaper

Category: South East

  • Gunmen kidnap Bayelsa commissioner Otokito

    Gunmen kidnap Bayelsa commissioner Otokito

    Gunmen, suspected to be kidnappers, have abducted the Bayelsa State Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr Federal Oparmiola Otokito.

    Otokito was reportedly abducted by heavily armed men from his residence at Otuokpoti in Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.

    It was gathered that his captors invaded his Otuokpoti community at midnight yesterday and fired several shots to scare people away before they proceeded to Otokito’s residence where he was whisked away to an unknown destination.

    The Bayelsa State Police Command confirmed the abduction of the commissioner.

    Spokesman for the command, Mr Asinim Butswat, said the police had intensified efforts to arrest the suspects and rescue the kidnapped victim.

    He also confirmed that the commissioner’s captors abducted him at his residence in Otuokpoti, a riverine community in Ogbia LGA.

    The police spokesman said: “Preliminary investigation revealed that the kidnappers stormed the residence of Hon Federal Otokito on 20th January, 2022 at about 2300hours and whisked him away in a waiting speedboat to an unknown destination.”

  • Okowa dissolves Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council

    Okowa dissolves Delta State Traditional Rulers’ Council

    Delta Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has dissolved the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council following agitation by some prominent monarchs in the State.

    Until its dissolution, the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council was led by Obi of Owa, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, who was appointed following the demise of Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse 11, in 2015.

    The dissolution was contained in a statement signed, yesterday, by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Patrick Ukah.

    According to the SSG, the dissolution was sequel to the expiration of the tenure of the Council.

    The part of the statement reads, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public, particularly the highly esteemed traditional rulers of Delta State and Deltans in general that the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has approved the dissolution of the Delta State Traditional Rulers Council.”

    It would be recalled that a war of words had ensued between the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi 1 Ika South LGA and the Obi of Owa kingdom, Dr. Emmanuel Efeizomor II, Ika North East LGA over the fact that the tenure of the incumbent had lapsed.

    A statement trending on social media signed by one Basil Okoh, the Dein of Agbor accused Dr. Efeizomor, of perpetrating himself in office as Chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers of Delta State.

  • Okorocha to Uzodimma: don’t use Somotochukwu’s death to justify killings

    Okorocha to Uzodimma: don’t use Somotochukwu’s death to justify killings

    Former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha on Friday accused Governor Hope Uzodimma of using the death of an 11 year old boy, Somotochukwu killed by stray bullet during relocation of Ekeukwu market in Owerri to justify killings in Imo.

    Somotochukwu was shot death by stray bullet in the course of Okorocha’s administration during a face-off between the indigenes and security personnel who came to enforce the relocation of the indigenous market located in the heart of the capital city, Owerri.

    Imo State Government on Thursday alleged that, Okorocha ordered for the killing of the 11-year old boy during the relocation of Ekeukwu market in Owerri.

    But Okorocha in a statement by his Media Adviser Sam Onwuemeodo on Friday accused Governor Uzodimma of using the death of the boy to justify the carnage going on in Imo.

    “Using the death of the innocent boy to justify the carnage or massacre in lmo, under Governor Uzodimma only showed the pitiable level the government in lmo has degenerated.”

    He said Okorocha did not go after those strongly opposed to his government for the eight years he was governor and wondered why he should go after the late Somotochukwu.

    “If he didn’t go after the politicians behind the resistance to the relocation of Ekeukwu market.  Then why should he have gone against an innocent boy 11- year old boy.”

  • Okowa consoles Tambuwal over brother’s death

    Okowa consoles Tambuwal over brother’s death

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has condoled with Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal over the death of his elder brother, Alhaji Muhammadu Bello.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika in Asaba, Okowa said he had joined the Tambuwal family, community and people of Sokoto State in mourning the departed octogenarian and community leader.

    Okowa urged the family to take solace in the fact that he lived to witness the outstanding successes achieved by his brother, who was Speaker of House of Representatives and now, Governor of Sokoto State.

    “We share in your sorrow and pains at this period and we pray that God will grant you the courage to bear the loss, as we pray for the repose of the soul of the departed Wazirin Tambuwal.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I mourn with you, my brother Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on the unfortunate demise of your beloved brother.

    “It is my prayer that God will comfort you and the entire family and Sokoto people and give all of you the fortitude to bear the loss,” the governor said.

  • IPOB urged to expose sit-at-home enforcers

    IPOB urged to expose sit-at-home enforcers

    A group, the Igbo for Progressives and United Nationhood (IPAN), has asked leaders of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to fish out members causing mayhem in the Southeast in the name of enforcing sit-at-home order.

    It expressed dismay that those who claimed to be IPOB members had not only succeeded in inflicting pains on the people, but had also deflated the region’s economy.

    The body’s National Leader, Lawrence Onuzulike, in a chat with The Nation, regretted that despite efforts by their leaders to call them to order, members still engaged in violence, capable of igniting war.

    He said: “It’s no longer news that Nnamdi Kanu has called off sit-at-home in the Southeast through his lawyers. He has repeatedly condemned those destroying the lives and property of Ndigbo in the name of enforcing sit-at-home order.

    “IPOB leadership has threatened on numerous occasions to fish out those involved in killings and destructions. Kanu has also called on his followers to maintain law and order each day he appears in court.

    “IPAN wonders why the continued intimidation and killings of Igbo people if their leader has urged them to stop.”

    IPOB has refuted alleged ownership of any criminal camp at Lilu in Ihiala Local Government of Anambra State or any other part of Nigeria.

    The Army had in a statement on Tuesday said it dislodged a notorious stronghold of IPOB and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), at Lilu forest in a joint operation conducted with other security agencies.

    But IPOB through its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, said it did not need any camp in the area, as its members were not militants and criminals.

  • Retrieve Southeast from hoodlums’ grip, says group

    Retrieve Southeast from hoodlums’ grip, says group

    An Enugu-based rights group, the Centre for Victims of Extrajudicial Killing and Torture (CVEKT AFRICA), has urged Southeast governors to retrieve the region from the grip of hoodlums claiming to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to prevent anarchy.

    It said its call followed the continued Mondays’ sit-at-home and three days consecutive forceful sit-at-home in the region from Monday to Wednesday with violent enforcement of the exercise by hoodlums in most parts of the Southeast.

    The body said the region lost more than N100 billion any day it was forced to lock down.

    It said the hoodlums comprising Igbo young men had taken over from the activities of killer-herdsmen in their senseless and criminal forceful disruption of social and economic activities in the Southeast, in the name of enforcing purported IPOB’s sit-at-home order.

    CVEKT AFRICA Director Rev. Fr. Tony Amarube said in a statement yesterday in Enugu that the action was tantamount to waging a war against their people, a development, he added, must be stopped by the government.

    “CVEKT considers it ironical and insidious that after herdsmen, who have been terrorising the people of Southeast, destroying crops and preventing our people from engaging in economic activities by way of farming, have been forced out of our forests and farmlands, some Igbo young men have taken over from them to wage economic war against their own people by preventing them from doing their legitimate businesses on Mondays. This open declaration of war by these hoodlums must not be allowed to stand,” he said.

    The Nation reports that it is public knowledge that IPOB had long announced an end to the Monday sit-at-home in the Southeast in view of its negative effect on the socio-economic well-being of the Igbo.

  • INC demands inclusion in suit seeking Southeast exit from Nigeria

    INC demands inclusion in suit seeking Southeast exit from Nigeria

    The umbrella body of Ijaw leaders and elders, the Ijaw National Congress (INC), has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to join it as a defendant in the suit filed by four Northern elders seeking the exit of the Southeast from Nigeria.

    The joinder application was filed on behalf of the INC and its incorporated trustees by two lawyers, Dickson Sofiyegha and Temedie Peter-Great.

    The four plaintiffs, Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’i, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam, in the originating suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021, had urged the court to grant their prayers to avoid a repeat of the unfortunate incidents of the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War.

    The Attorney-General of the Federation, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly were listed as defendants.

    The court presided over by Justice Ekwo Ekwo, yesterday adjourned till March 4, when the joinder application of the INC would be heard.

    Among those present in court were the National President of the INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, the National Legal Adviser, Bomo Tom-Fetepigi, National Secretary, Ebipamowei Wodu, Chairman of the INC, Abuja chapter, Ebizimo Okolo and other prominent Ijaw sons and daughters.

    In October 2021, some Igbo lawyers filed their application for joinder to enable them state the true position of the people of the region, whom they argued were not represented in the suit.

    Okaba, in a statement after filing the joinder, said that the legal action was in line with the resolutions taken by Ijaw people at the All Ijaw Summit held on December 4, 2021 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to decisively pursue and defend their right to self-determination through peaceful, lawful and non-violent means.

  • Okorocha’s blackmail will no longer work in Imo, says Uzodimma

    Okorocha’s blackmail will no longer work in Imo, says Uzodimma

    Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said former governor Rochas Okorocha’s penchant to use old-fashioned method of blackmail, deceit, lies and profaning of God’s name against his political opponents has become dead on arrival and will no longer work

    Uzodimma, reacting yesterday to a video clip on the social media showing the ex-governor asking his audience not to vote for him (Uzodimma) because “he went to the church to shoot God”, said such methods deployed by Okorocha, now a senator representing Imo West, to cajole his political opponents, would no longer work in Imo.

    “Such methods deployed by Okorocha today in the name of politics  to have undue advantage over his opponents will no longer work in Imo because the people now know who he is, what he is and every of his intentions.”

    The governor, who reacted in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, described as “laughable, the poorly recorded video Okorocha circulated on social media where he was profaning God’s name, thinking he was blackmailing the governor.”

  • Delta NLC to protest planned petrol subsidy removal on January 27

    Delta NLC to protest planned petrol subsidy removal on January 27

    Delta State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) has said its affiliates will be mobilised to a rally on January 27 to protest plans by the Federal Government to increase the pump price of premium motor spirit (petrol) in the second quarter of this year.

    This was contained in a communiqué at the end of the state Executive Council meeting in Asaba, signed by the Chairman, Goodluck Ofobruku and Secretary, Innocent Ofuonyeadi.

    The statement said the resolution was in compliance with a directive by the national headquarters of the NLC, and urged the leadership of the affiliated unions and civil society partners in the state to mobilise members to partake in the protest.

    Ofuonyeadi said upward review of petrol pump price would impoverish Nigerians.

    He said: “Sometime last October, the Minister of State for Petroleum told us that in February 2022 they would remove subsidy. In November, the Minister of Finance addressed reporters and told the country that in June 2022, the subsidy components would be removed. Taking out subsidy at this point is a recipe for mass disobedience. It’s like shutting down a nuclear reactor without prior notice.”

    The state Executive Council of the NLC urged law enforcement agencies to cooperate with the union towards ensuring a peaceful rally to press home their demands.

  • ‘Abia court ruling has vindicated Kanu’

    ‘Abia court ruling has vindicated Kanu’

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has said Abia State High Court Wednesday’s judgment has vindicated its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, over “jump bail” and other sundry allegations levelled against him.

    It said the ruling also exposed the truth about the alleged plot to eliminate those seen as supporters and sympathisers of Biafra agitation.

    In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB praised the courage of the presiding judge in delivering the judgment, which it said had redeemed the image of the nation’s judiciary.