Category: South East

A middle-aged woman who sells ‘banga’ rice at Dederu Street, Okumagba Avenue in Warri South council area of Delta State accused of witchcraft has escaped public lynching.

The woman, popularly known as ‘Madam banga rice’ was said to have been stuck on a street barricade within the neighborhood, in early hours of yesterday.

Banga is a local parlance for palm fruit, from which the special rice delicacy is made.

A video seen by our reporter saw the alleged “witch”, struggling to wiggle through a narrow portion of the barricade.

Residents who gathered to watch her, claimed she confessed to be “flying back” from a “witch coven,” when she crashed into the barricade.

Several voices could be heard chanting “Holy Ghost fire! God caught you today! Witch!”

A police van later appeared when it was day break to whisk her from the scene, before the gathering crowd beat her up.

When contacted by The Nation, Delta police spokesman, DSP Bright Edafe said he had no information on the incident, but promised to call back once he is briefed.

The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has pledged his administration’s support to all the various security agencies in the state in the discharge of their duties.

According to Ikpeazu while commissioning the newly built operational headquarters of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Aba North Local Government Area, the desire of his administration is to ensure that residents and visitors to the state carry out their business without fear and crime is reduced.

Commissioner for Homeland Security, Sopuruchi Bekee, who represented the governor, commended the RRS for the important role it is playing to ensure that crime is reduced to the barest minimum in the state.

“I must commend the Commissioner of Police, the ACP in Aba and other senior police officers for the good work that they are doing in Aba and Abia State. Security is everybody’s business. Intelligence comes from the public and that is the most essential way you can support the Nigeria Police because they are the frontline security agency and therefore needs our massive support.”

In her speech, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Janet Agbede who was elated with the achievement of the RRS commander, promised the Command’s commitment to rid the state of criminal elements.

Earlier in his address, the RRS Commander, SP Johnbull Obioguru disclosed that the edifice was actualized through a joint efforts of members of the public.

The RRS Commander while assuring that the tactical outfit were committed to combating and preventing crime in all its forms in the state, stating that the project stands as a reflection of the resolve and promise of the RRS command to overrun crime in the state under his watch.

A member of the Agbarho Task Force vigilante has shot dead a local football player, identified simply as Ogaga, in Agbarho, Ughelli North council area of Delta state.

Unconfirmed reports claim that Ogaga, 25, who was among other young men playing football close to the palace, was shot for trespassing into the palace of the Agbarho monarch.

Though details of the incident were sketchy, it was learnt that in the course of the football match, the ball was mistakenly played into the palace premises.

The victim reportedly went to get the ball, but ended up been shot with a pump action rifle by the suspect.

However, other reports claim that there was an altercation between the victim (a regular face at the palace) and the suspect, before the ugly incident.

The Nation understands that there is a lingering kingship battle, that led to a protest, barely two weeks ago by traditional chiefs of Agbarho Kingdom, against an alleged imposition of a traditional ruler on the people.

Whether Friday’s killing is connected to the kingship tussle could not be ascertained.

Spokesman of the Delta State Police Command, DSP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident, but noted that there was no football in the picture.

“They all stay in the palace. I think they know themselves. There is nothing like ball. They were around the palace and they had little disagreement. That was what led to the shooting,” Edafe said.

He added that the suspect is in police custody.

Police personnel are now facing disciplinary action in an orderly room trial at the Imo State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID)  for allegedly extorting N60,000 from a traveller.

The personnel were alleged to have extorted N60,000 from one Victor Aguwah travelling from the Sam Mbakwe Airport to his home town in Mbaise last Tuesday.

Aguwah who has left Lagos for Owerri en-route to his village in Mbaise to attend a burial narrated how police in Imo State extorted N60,000 from him and forced him to withdraw the money from a POS.

Aguwah did not only lose his money to the cops, he also sustained spine injury as a result of heavy knocks he received from one of the police officers who hit him with butt of his rifle repeatedly on the spinal cord.

He told the Nation yesterday that he landed at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri at about 1.50 pm on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 and was picked up by two of his relatives.

They were on their way driving to Mbaise when a team of police officers flagged them down around Enyiogugu Mbaise and ordered them out of their vehicle for search.

Although they found nothing on them that was incriminating, they accused them of being fraudsters and drove them away, pretending to be taking them to their station but ended up diverting them to a corner around the Dan Anyiam Stadium Owerri, demanded the sum of N500,000, but ended up extorting the sum of N60,000 sixty from him.

The cops confiscated their phones and only released the phones after they had extorted them of their money.

Imo State Police Commissioner, Rabiu Hussain while condemning the incident, confirmed that the police officers have been identified, arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department (SCIID), where they will be made to face disciplinary action in an orderly room trial (Police Internal Disciplinary Action).

A faction of the Delta All Progressives Congress (APC) has put a 36 member parallel executive council in place to pilot the affairs of the party.

Recall that the October 16 Congress of the party which held in Asaba, elected  a former  chieftain of People Democratic Party (PDP), Omeni Sobotie  and other members  unopposed   through voice votes.

That Congress was supervised by Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; Senate Committee chairman on Niger Delta, Peter Nwaoboshi; and founding leader of the party in the state, O’tega Emerhor among others

But yesterday, the party’s council of leaders  in the state through a press release announced  the authentic harmonized  executive at all levels to run the affairs of the party in the state.

According to the release , the state executive officers include Barr.Silas Buowe, chairman; Engr Elvis O. Ayomanor, deputy chairman; Comrade Chidi Okonji as secretary among others positions.

The release was  signed by Chairman of the Leaders’ Council and  Minister of state (labour), Chief Festus Keyamo, SAN, Dr. Alex Ideh, co-Chairman; Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Secretary,  and former executive director, NDDC; Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru, the party’s former governorship candidate,   Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei , former speaker, of the State House of Assembly and Executive Director, NIMASA and Dr. (Mrs) Mariam Ali, woman leader of the party .

Others who endorsed the document are Barr. George Timinimi, Leader Ijaw Nation, Chief  Richard Odibo, Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, AVM. Terry Okorodudu (Rtd) Leader Delta South ; Dr. Eugene Okolocha, Leader Ndokwa Nation and  Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, leader  Isoko Nation.

The release said in line with the constitution of the party and the guidelines for the 2021 Congresses  which stipulates consensus amongst stakeholders of the Party,  the  Council of Leaders resolved to release a harmonised list of state executive members who shall be recognised by all APC faithful in the state and will run the affairs of the Party henceforth.

The member representing Aba South State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly,  Obinna Ichita has raised alarm over plot by the state government to try him secretly in court.

Ichita who was elected under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), in a statement claimed that the suit before a High Court in the state with suit no. A/182/2021 was instituted against him by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Charles Esonu while he (Esonu) was the Special Assistant to the Governor of the state on Special Duties at the time the suit was instituted against him.

Ichita in a chat with our correspondent stated that his crime was his continued outcry on the deplorable nature of roads in his constituency which he said the state government has used every means to stop him from, but have hit brick walls.

“We received strong and credible intelligence information that there was a secret suit filed against me by the Abia State Commissioner For Youths Development, Barr. Charles Esonu in a suit no. A/182/2021 and his statement of claim, he said that he was the Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties.

“He is praying the court to make an order for me not to talk about the state of roads in my constituency and for me to pay him N200m for the damages that he incurred as a result of my talking about the state of roads in my constituency.

“The main thing is that I was not served. My office is known in the House of Assembly and my constituency office is also known, but I wasn’t served.

“They went and told the judge that they made application for substituted service; that they were going to serve me at the constituency office which the court granted.

“But instead of serving me at the address, they went and hid the document elsewhere, where somebody discovered it and notified us. Our lawyers have confirmed that and have taken the necessary steps in that regards.

“They also want the court to order me to pay them 200 Million Naira as damages for talking about bad roads in Aba south, the constituency I was elected to represent.

“The suit was filed by Charles Esonu, Abia State Commissioner for Youths, he listed the Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment as one of his witnesses.

“It is interesting that instead of utilizing the money (over 56 Million US dollars ) that Abia State government received from the World Bank for flood mitigation project in Aba, Abia State government officials are secretly asking the High Court of Abia State to order me to stop talking about abandoned and dilapidated roads in my constituency.”

On whether the suit against him will affect his legislative duties, Hon. Ichita said that would not be possible. “My duty (as a lawmaker) is provided for by the constitution which I know is superior to other laws in Nigeria.

“This cannot deter me because when we talk about the state of our roads, it is not politics, but reality. You cannot access any of those road projects that made the World Bank release $56million intervention to the state.

“There is no single road in my constituency that is accessible; from Port Harcourt to Ohanku, Obohia, Omuma, Ihieorji, Uratta.”

Reacting to the claims by the APGA lawmaker, the Chief Press Secretary to the Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu; Mr. Onyebuchi Ememanka said “I am not aware of any such plans by the State Government.

“I speak for the Governor of Abia State and I know for sure that no such thing is on his mind. It even sounds ridiculous to try a member of the House of Assembly for some so called outspokenness?

“Try him under what law? I am a lawyer and the whole thing sounds extremely outlandish and nonsensical.”