The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • EEDC disconnects erring subscribers

    In compliance with the directive issued by the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to Distribution Companies (DISCOs), instructing them to disconnect power supply to all structures, buildings and premises that are in violation of the Power line Right-of-way (ROW), the Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC) has commenced disconnection of erring properties within its network.

    This development was made known to newsmen in Enugu by the Head, Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh.

    Ezeh said that EEDC is in full liaison with relevant government agencies to ensure this directive is carried out effectively. “We have been disconnecting properties identified within our network to be in violation, and working closely with relevant government agencies, some of these structures have been demolished”.

    The power line right-of-way is the mapped out corridor for distribution and transmission power lines. As a precautionary safety measure, these mandatory clearance levels are to be observed and adhered to by members of the public when putting up structures.

    Sometime last year, EEDC issued a release advising her customers and the general public against putting up structures and carrying out business activities within power line right-of-way.

    The distribution company equally enumerated the various power lines and their respective clearance levels. For instance, 11 meters is to be observed on 11KV and 33KV lines (that is 5.5 meters on both sides); while 30 meters is observed on 132 KV line (that is 15 meters on both sides) and 50 meters observed on 330KV line (that is 25 meters on both sides).

    Ezeh also said that EEDC has applied various communication medium in sensitising its customers on the need to be safety conscious by observing these clearance levels.

    “We frown at the indiscriminate manner structures are erected within electricity right-of-way and warn our customers to desist from this hazardous behaviour”.

    “Also, we have situations where ornamental and economic trees are planted under or very close to our High and Low Tension lines, thereby interfering with the electricity network, causing intermittent tripping. These trees also pose high risk of electrocution.”

    Ezeh went ahead to  mention that there are situations where electricity lines sag or snap, and if the specified clearance level is not observed, lives of people living within the area will be exposed to possible electrocution.

    Adherence to power line Right-of-way as well as these clearance levels will go a long way in safe guarding not only lives of the citizens, but also their property.

  • ‘My ordeal in kidnappers’ den’

    On January 28, just hours before President Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, visited Abia State to mobilise for the election, chairman of the party in the state, Donatus Nwankpa was kidnapped. He was freed four days later. In this exclusive interview with SUNNY NWANKWO, he relived his encounter with his abductors, saying, among other things, that he had wild animals for company while his kidnap lasted, and that the authorities should engage kidnappers and get the best out of them. Excerpts:

    While everybody was expecting to see you at the Enyimba Stadium in Aba during the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari, the news of your kidnap by gunmen broke. What really happened?

    It was just one of those unfortunate situations. We finished giving people responsibilities in Umuahia and I felt that it was necessary that I should know the state of preparation at the arena,

    Enyimba Stadium, where the President would be hosted. We agreed that we will be visiting the arena to see things for ourselves and make some adjustments where necessary to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

    Unfortunately, as we were driving down, we ran into hoodlums immediately after the Aro-Ngwa Setraco security checkpoints. The funniest part of it is that the police were not up to 30 meters from the scene of the incident, because it was the police checkpoint that slowed us down.

    When we saw these other people, we were querying why another police checkpoint within sightt and before we knew what was happening, they were hitting at us and when we tried maneuvering the situation, they shot into the car through the headlamp and started shooting sporadically which forced our vehicle to a halt.

    It was at that moment that they came to our vehicle and started shooting severally on the vehicle and when they couldn’t get through, they started hitting it with iron. It is still funny when I remembered how we managed to come out of the car without much injury. It is only God that will take that glory.

    Initially, we thought that they were armed robbers. They took us into the bush where they ransacked and took everything that they could find on us and later blindfolded us. While one of us escaped, they took me and the other person to a location where we later learnt that they were about seven-man gang.

    They allowed the other person go to enable him treat his injury because he was badly injured. They knew that I am the APC chairman and that I was going to receive Mr. President the next day.

    From there, they took me on a long motorbike ride with three heavily armed men to a heavy thick forest where I was kept under the rain and without shelter for four days. Mosquitoes and wild animals became the closest friends that I had.

    I didn’t even know the location because we drove for a long time with my eyes being blindfolded. It was not until I was released that I found myself at the boundary between Abia and Rivers State, after they took me on a long ride with motorcycle. When I started asking questions, I discovered that it was a village that I know already.

    The villagers assisted me with slippers and later brought me down with their motorcycle after I was released at about 9:15pm.

    It was alleged that you withdrew a huge amount of money on the day of your kidnap which was supposed to be used for the hosting of Mr. President?

    Let me tell you journalists, I don’t want you to give credence to idiots. Whoever that is saying that is a cursed idiot. Poverty, stupidity, mischief has led a lot of people to unintelligent analysis. I said that it is unintelligent analysis because we withdrew money donated by one of our chieftains for the rally to host the President.

    The monies were disbursed for buses, welfare, protocol, security and among other miscellaneous expenses. Do I have the magical powers to turn around the money to N50 million after disbursing them?

    The bank didn’t even give us the money at a go and none of the money entered my car. The money wasn’t even disbursed in my house and the one that was taken to my office was the one that was handed over to local government chairmen and support groups.

    The central thing was done in the house of the rally committee chairman. The only money I had in my vehicle was just N250, 000 and when my bag was retrieved, the money was intact.

    Who donated the N50 million, if there was such an amount of money? The people saying that I had N50 million in my car, who made such donation, anyone saying that I was with N50 million on the day of that ugly incident is mentally imbecile. Did I carry the money with a Ghana Must Go or a trunk bag? Like I said, none of the monies withdrawn ever entered my vehicle and bank didn’t give it to us at once.

    I was part of the appropriation of the funds, but I wasn’t even in the disbursement of the funds. So why is it that people talk about money more than life?

    Even with N10billion, do you think that that I would agree to subject myself to such inhuman condition. If anyone says that my abduction is a scam, they will have such a scam this year. It is insulting to me to hear that.

    People claimed that your abduction could have been engineered by the opposition or as a result of the leadership squabble in your party. What is your take?

    I refuse to accept that. I am not a student of frivolities and triviality. I am a product of Federal Government College when Federal Government College was Federal Government College. I am also a product of Federal University who has gone through so many leadership training.

    I have been a Commissioner and Special Adviser. So, I should be mature enough to separate politics from juvenile delinquency.

    I said so because we ran into hoodlums and the hoodlums, as far as I am concerned were not there for me. They were there for one thing or the other. If anybody gave them information that I am coming, it is a matter of coincidence.

    I am not unaware that some negative and positive calls later came when I was there. Good a thing is that I am a student of International Relations. I engaged them in positive dialogue and there were things that they told me which are personal, anyway.

    For those who are clapping their chest, what Donatus Nwankpa went through is something that can happen to anybody. I have nobody to accuse. I only have one person to accuse, and that is myself, for going out in the night.

    The truth is that if I even had two policemen, they would have shot them. There was police checkpoint not too far from the scene of the incident, but because of the fire power of those people, police couldn’t do anything.

    For people querying why I didn’t move that night with any policeman, ask them if they have seen me as one that parades policemen just to show off because I am the chairman of APC

    Have they equally asked whether the party at the national level has provided any allowances or funds for the security of their state chairmen? Am I the first state chairman to be kidnapped? Am I the first state chairman to be attacked? Am I the first state chairman to be embarrassed? They should go and find out what the allocation for the upkeep of the state chairmen is.

    How many of those making such remarks have paid their dues? It is when you make provision that you request for explanation. If you do not appropriate, you cannot query misappropriation.

    What was the relationship between you and your abductors?

    Initially, they were confused; whether to follow those negative calls. But you know, there are people who are given grace. And I am one of those who keep telling God that the grace He gave King David, He has always given to me. Never in that thick forest did I think that I wasn’t going to come out safely. But what I didn’t want is any crossfire, so that I will not be a victim of crossfire.

    I was blindfolded like every other person that they usually catch. I was chained like every other person that they usually catch. I was subjected to no food. My companions were mosquitoes, tsetse flies and other things in the bush.

    Imagine someone being under the rain and being with one cloth for four days. How would you feel when people come to talk rubbish and vomit the idiocy?

    I engaged them in what I called constructive and positive dialogue and queried why they should be involved in such thing. Some of them accused us, politicians; that they are products of political adventurism. They mentioned one or two governors who at one point or the other armed them.

    They even asked if I will buy them guns, but I told them that if I can’t buy guns for my children, that I won’t buy guns for them. Some of them are undergraduates. They are ready to go to school.

    We have to look for a way, not just the operational or punitive aspects; we should also look for a way to positively engage them in order to give them some sense of belonging. We need to reassure them that their lives are not yet over. To some of them, they have already given up; they don’t believe that they have hope again.

    In the course of being there, I discovered that they have their off moment. In that off moment, you don’t talk to them, you allow them and in their sober moment, you can engage them. All we need to do is to create social programme that will recover our stray and erring youths.

    Do you think that they will abandon the illicit ways if they are provided with jobs?

    Some of them will. Our leaders should not do election as a do or die affair. You don’t think about whom will carry ballot box for you when you are thinking about going in for an election. When you buy them the weapons and either you win or lose, they will go away with the weapons.

    When you get into government, you don’t think of how you can better their lives, but rather, you abandon them at that level that you use them as thugs, attack dogs or killers.

    What is happening to the ex-militants should be extended to them. Amnesty is positive engagements in dialogue where you discover somebody’s talent. Some of them can be sent outside this country because some of them cannot do the N30,000 minimum wage job.

    They need psychologists and counselors to talk to them. One of the areas that we are failing in this country is that the counseling department of various institutions is failing. We should improve the quality of counseling. Every undergraduate whether he or she likes it or not should have an appointment with a counselor. Every student in secondary schools should have time with the counselors. That is going to help us.

    There were speculations that ransom was paid for your release. How true is it?

    (Laughs) That is not meant for public consumption.

  • EEDC to customers: we need your support

    To sustain and further improve on the feat attained in the year 2018, the Enugu Electricity Distribution (EEDC) has called on its customers for more support and partnership as the year 2019 advances.

    The call was contained in a release issued by the Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh during the week.

    Ezeh expressed appreciation to customers for their support, understanding and overall partnership with the company in the course of the year, despite the numerous challenges that adversely impacted on the quality of service delivery to customers.

    Some of the recurring challenges which the company grappled with were: vandalism, energy theft, accidental destruction of power facilities, meter bypass, illegal connections and reconnections.

    Others include: non-payment of electricity bills, attack on EEDC field officers and illegal tampering with electrical installations which interfere with the network and in most cases lead to destruction of electrical facilities.

    “Following series of engagements with customers, EEDC identified areas of focus and mapped out strategic plans to address them;  such as upgrade of some transformers and relieving overloaded ones; installation of entirely new substations; overhauling some weak networks for quality electricity supply.

    There are also plans to deload some feeders and construct more injection substations to boost electricity supply in identified locations within the network.

    As a matter of fact, contract has been awarded for the construction of a 7.5MVA Injection Substation at ABS, Awka, which will cater for customers within ABS environs, Okpuno, Enugu Agidi, Awka Urban, Zik Avenue and parts of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka,” the statement disclosed.

    Also approved was the upgrade of Agu Awka Injection Substation from 7.5MVA to 15MVA. Order has been placed for the power transformer which is expected to be delivered hopefully before the end of the month. This will improve supply to customers at Agu Awka, industrial Area, Amansea, Nkwere Awka, Ifite Awka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University permanent site and its environs.

    The management of the company has equally engaged the services of some private contractors to facilitate repair of faulty transformers, thereby shortening the downtime periods experienced in the network.

    Ezeh equally said that the asset registration and customer enumeration exercise was still ongoing and appealed for maximum cooperation with enumerators, as the exercise is aimed at making EEDC more efficient in providing quality service to customers.

    “All these efforts cannot be effectively actualised without the support and cooperation of our esteemed customers.

    Improved electricity supply in the Southeast will translate to improved business and socio economic activities; and to achieve this, EEDC is soliciting continued support of her stakeholders and customers,” Eze added.

  • ‘Poor funding crippling Open Defecation Free’

    Officials of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Committee in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have identified paucity of funds as major impediment towards attaining an Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in all the 96 communities in the area.

    They also said the presence of strangers without a habitable accommodation have further compounded their problem as they battle with their regular defecation in unothorised places.

    Speaking with The Nation in Ojoto, during the formation of WASHCOM federation by the Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), the WASH Coordinator, Ndibe Simeon lamented the frustrations encountered by his team while carrying out their assignments due to poor funding.

    He said the local government authorities always complained of paucity of funds anytime they were approached for assistance.

    He said, “Here, we pursue deadly animals with bare hands, no stick, no knife. Anytime you approach the local government, they say they don’t have money of their own, that everything comes from the state.

    “UNICEF gave us a Hilux bus and three motorcycles, but maintaining them has always been a serious challenge because of the same issue of money.

    “Some other council areas assist their officials, and also participate in their activities. But here, the story is different. It is those that use these bikes that maintain them from their pockets.

    “We’ve severally gone for advocacy visits with some international representatives to sensitise them on the need to support the work, but none of such visits have yielded results.”

    Ndibe noted that the committee had received assistance from the federal and state government apart from UNICEF and the EU.

    Highlighting the numerous achievements recorded by the committee over the years, amidst enormous challenges, the Coordinator said the results would have been a mirage if not for the interventions of donor agencies.

    “When I came here, I met several boreholes drilled that were not functional. WASH activities were being neglected. But through our persistent appeals, the state government intervened.

    “By 2017, precisely May, our local government was able to be rated with two other focal local governments of Anambra East and Aguata.

    “We’ve drilled 16 boreholes, all solar in this local government. We constructed 10 toilets in ten different schools in the area. Some are two units of five compartments, others are two units of three.

    “We’ve also executed so many other projects including Water Safety Plan (WSP), hygiene Promotion. We’ve also trained WASH committee members in all the 96 communities.

    “Besides, we’ve created WASHCOM federation in the area. We elected chairmen and secretaries from the 13 wards in the community,” he added.

    Ndibe, however, noted that he was not deterred by the enormous challenges they were battling with.

    He said, “My passion for the job is what has kept me despite the challenges. My job is to protect lives. Most of things that kill people is from the water they drink and poor sanitary hygiene.

    “I don’t want my people to die. I’m satisfied saving lives with or without money. The Federal Government recently declared state of emergency on WASH related issues due to the seriousness it attaches to it.”

    On his part, Chairman, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) committee, Oba Ward 1, Godwin Uche regretted steady influx of foreigners in the communities without proper habitation.

    “We’ve had influx of strangers due to urbanisation. People from various states are moving into our communities.

    “Uncompleted buildings are being occupied by these strangers. Some of the buildings lack toilet facilities,” he decried.

    He said the committee had to come up with a penalty fine of N5,000 for those found defecating openly in the area as a way of checkmating the ugly trend.

    Uche further attributed the inability of some communities to attain the open defecation free status on those he regarded at illiterates.

    He said, “We have so many illiterates in the community who hardly understand what we are saying.

    “Traditionally, our people like defecating in the open. It has been a culture. Eradicating it has not been easy, though it is reducing gradually.”

    The chairman also confessed that what had kept him in the job amidst paucity of funds and other myriad of challenges was essentially the love for his community.

    He said, “My passions for community development have been my driving force. I am very passionate about developing my community.

    “I work with health, precisely water and sanitation department. I’m doing this not because of money, but because I want my people to be liberated.”

    “I’ve been an activist since the water issue started in the local government since 2006. We’re just lucky to be mentioned among those that have water.

    “WASH has achieved a lot, including capacity building where members of the community are taught the importance of open defecation free status.”

  • Aba residents worried about corpses on streets

    Residents and shop owners at SAMECK Junction and Uche Street in Aba North Local Government Area of Abia State have raised concerns over possible outbreak of airborne diseases from decomposing bodies in their residential areas and business premises.

    Some of the residents, who spoke at the scenes of the decomposing corpses, lamented the negative effect the decomposing bodies were having on their businesses and health, stressing that all efforts to get the attention of the Aba North Health team have failed.

    They urged the authorities to do something urgently.

    Some shop owners at SAMECK said they could no longer transact their businesses around the places affected because of the stench from the corpses.

    A resident who gave his name as Ikedi Onyejiaka said that the body of a suspected robber lynched at SAMECK Junction left them gasping for breath, hence they have shut down their shops since Saturday when the body of the armed robber started decomposing..

    Health experts in Aba have cautioned residents over the health implications of burning suspected armed robbers and leaving their corpses on the streets.

    The health experts drawn from the offices of the environmental health departments of Aba North and Aba  South Local Government Areas advised residents to hand over suspected criminals to the police and avoid polluting the streets with burnt corpses.

    In a telephone chat, Head of Department (HOD) of Environmental Health in Aba North Local Government Area, Mrs. Ngozi Ochor disclosed that leaving corpses in the streets to decompose is hazardous to the health of road users and residents living in the area.

    “The terrible health implementations of this act cannot be over emphasised. When our air and our environment are polluted the reality is that our health is at risk.

    “If corpses are not disposed away from our streets, our environment becomes uninhabitable and extremely hazardous.

    “It contaminates almost everything around us and expose both the young and the old to danger because disease carriers like flies will perch on them and move to contaminate everything around including food,” she said.

    On the two corpses found in Eziama and SAMECK Junction which falls under Aba North, Ochor disclosed that steps have been taken to evacuate the corpse in order to avoid people from contracting disease.

    Speaking on the solutions and preventive measures necessary to be taken, Mrs. Ochor said, “I’m telling Aba residents to allow the police take care of certain things.

    “I don’t encourage criminality, but the health implementations of keeping corpse in our streets are too many.

    “They can hand over criminals to police and that will save us all from contracting diseases. Our health is at risk whenever they do things like this. Let the law do the justice.”

    Also, the HOD of Aba South LGA, Mrs. Chinyere Nwaigwe also said that the health implications of leaving corpses in the streets of Aba are better imagined than experienced.

    She said that the health implications of such situations led to creation of a unit that takes care of unidentified corpse in her office.

    Nwaigwe said that getting information on such makes their job easier as it helps them dispose such corpses easily and save the public from impending diseases that follow such acts.

  • Community elects new executive

    History was made after seven years of court cases. The people of Alor commuity in Idemilli South Local Government Area of Anambra State have finally elected officers to run the affairs of the community.

    The officers were voted into office for a period four years, with Chief Uzoma Igbonwa as President-General and Dan Nwankwo vice president.

    The elected officers were sworn in by a Notary Public, Chief Emeka Ngige, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    In his acceptance speech, Igbonwa said, “I want to use this medium to appreciate the Almighty God for all that has happened; it helped to mould us into what we are today.

    “I want to thank the good people of Alor for their maturity and patience in the face of deliberate provocations all this while.

    “I want to thank the good people of Alor for the confidence reposed in me by electing me to serve and pilot the affairs of our beloved community Alor as the President-General of Alor People’s Convention.

    “I promise the good people of Alor that I will serve them as their servant-leader to the best of my ability, standing consistently on the truth no matter whose ox is gored, respect everybody’s views.

    “I will deploy my resources and everything at my disposal to make Alor great again, the Alor of our dreams where a brother will remain his brother’s keeper and a sister her sister’s keeper, Alor where we will tolerate one another’s shortcomings and so on and so forth.

    “The election has come and gone, I therefore appeal to all of you, the good people of Alor, for your support so that together we shall take Alor to greater heights.”

  • Old Students plan alma mater’s rehab

    From all walks of life around the world, old students of Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu have responded to a clarion call by the alumni association for a historic reunion of its old boys and girls.

    It was a day hundreds of old students of the college came together to raise funds, to rebuild their alma mater, in an effort to restore its past glory.

    They equally attracted friends of the college that share their passion for quality education, which the college in its heyday provided kids who have now become important personalities.

    Starting with a novelty football match of the oldies on December 28, a road show followed, with the old girls donning customized T-shirts and their trademark college skirt, leading to a special dinner session hosted by an alumnus, Sir Chikwendu Udensi. The exercise served to sensitise the communities of the unfolding epochal event.

    The celebrations climaxed on December 29 during an electrifying Gala Nite, where the essence of the gathering was drummed home at the Arochukwu Civic Centre.

    In her address, chairperson of the organizing committee, Mrs. Grace C. Okaro, welcomed the old students to where she described as “your former place of sojourn,” thus igniting their feeling of nostalgia.

    President of the Alumni Association, Mazi Emmanuel Okoro Egbukwu, traced the historical trajectory of the college, which was founded in 1932 by a foremost educator, Dr. Alvan Ikoku. Appealing to the old students and their friends that indeed Aggrey Memorial College Arochukwu needs help, Egbukwu regretted that its infrastructure had decayed due to years of neglect.

    He, however, said that “a new era for our alma mater is here, and I urge you all to be steadfast and firm in your belief in a renewed Aggrey for posterity.”

    According to him, urgent attention of the Alumni is required in identifying areas of intervention for sustainable development and improvement of the institution, and to liaise with relevant authorities with the aim of restoring the school’s decayed infrastructure.

    Specifically to the old students, Egbukwu said: “I am pleased to report that many of you have keyed selflessly and generously into these objectives. And because of your time, financial, intellectual, moral, and sweat equity, we have already made great strides towards the actualisation of some of the objectives within the short span of time we have been in office.”

    For their achievements, and to the credit of the college, some notable old students were accorded official recognition denoted by presentation of plaques.

    Also, some influential persons in the catchment communities earned the recognition of college for their contributions to development.

    Notable personalities that graced the occasion included Prof Okoro Ijoma, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Dr.O.J Nnanna, Prof Solo Umeham, Mazi Dave Imoko, Dr. Uche Orji, Sir Chikwe Udensi, Dr Emma Nwadeyi, Elder Ike Onu and his wife, Engr. Nnamdi Udoh and Mazi Udo Torty among others.

    In the mood of the Yuletide season, Rocobath Choral Group provided the musical entertainment, complemented by the Ugochinyere and Ojojo Cultural Dance groups.

    And when it was time to write the cheques, the special invitees did not disappoint. They demonstrated their support to ‘Make Aggrey Great Again’ by donating in hundreds of thousands, and in millions of naira.

    Suffice to say that the old students had long yeaned for such a forum to bring them together after decades of leaving school and migrating to different parts of the world.

    First sitting in class clusters, one of the ways they demonstrated their yeaning to mingle once again was the spontaneity with which they broke the ranks, converting every space of the floor for dancing, in response to familiar songs of the ‘old skool’ genre. It was indeed a no-holds-barred exercise, some with glasses of wine in their hand.

    A cross-section of the old students expressed delight at the occasion, giving kudos to the Alumni executive for organising the event.

    Mrs. Ivuoma Ndukwe, an old student of the Class of 1979, who flew in from the United States of America for the re-union, said her trip home was worth the while.

    She, it was, that championed the return of the trademark tartan skirt uniform, which the college had jettisoned, with a consequent loss of identity by the female students.

    For Dr. Henry Onyeador, another Diaspora-based old student, the re-union represented a remarkable milestone in the history of the college.

    The post-event feelers indicate that those who could not return for the ceremony are already looking forward to the next.

    Similarly, potential donors who could not also attend the ceremony have reportedly promised to make up in cash donation for their absence.

  • ‘Our border neighbours are killing us’

    The people of Isu community in Arochukwu Local Government Area, Abia State have cried out over alleged continued invasion and occupation of their land by their neighbours in Utuma community in Biase Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    They alleged that Biase community has been sacking and occupying their community.

    The aggrieved community was reacting to the recent murder of their son, Okoro Ukwaa and destruction of property worth millions of Naira in the community by suspected gunmen from the neighbouring Utuma community.

    Speaking to newsmen, a former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Chief of Staff to former Governor Theodore Orji, Mazi Don Okorie accused the state government of total insensitivity to their plight.

    Okorie said that since the attack on the community on April 18, 2018 which was done without any provocation by their neighbouring community and their cronies, Isu community has not known peace.

    He said that the latest attack which happened on the February 15, 2019 claimed the life of one of their illustrious son Ukwaa, who was murdered in cold blood while he was at his farm.

    The former SSG said, “The latest coldblooded murder in all intents and purposes is the most atrocious, devastating, and tragic, the clan is in a state of absolute melancholy, we want to use this meduim to appeal to the government to come to our aid.”

    Okoro said that the attacks which has been consistent have left over 15,000 people from five different communities homeless, while farm lands have been left desolate. The absence of government intervention has made us to wonder if are still citizens of this state.

    “As we speak, those people are still scattered across the area in various locations as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) with their homes and farmlands abandoned without any hope of returning there soon.”

    He said that the situation the community has found themselves will have a serious effect during the forthcoming general election, stressing that it is time for the state government to take decisive action to save the situation in Isu land.

    Okoro said that the invaders action may not be unconnected with their intention to annex the clan because of its large limestone deposit, explaining that the governments continued silence over their plight was not helping matters.

    He said that the two warring communities have large deposits of limestone which Utuama have been taping their own and are now desirous of annexing Isu community to boost their limestone production.

    Explaining further about the communities, he insisted that, “The government has not given it enough vive for it to stop. The people of Iheosu, Aba-Isu, Amachi-Isu, Ndi Ugbor, and Aliose are currently no longer living in their home.”

    The embattled clan proposed the establishing of a permanent police post in the clan to end the crisis before it escalates further, adding that they had made a formal complaint and written petitions over the matter to the police to no avail.

    Okoro said that if government had taken action before now, “What has happened to our community and the killing of our great son would not have taken place, we are pleading that government should come over and help us.”

    Similarly, a Special Adviser to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, on Grassroots and Youth Mobilisation, Hon Tony Kalu, wondered why the government had kept quiet over the matter, decrying the neglect of the clan in terms of employment and development.

    When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna said that the command is not aware of the recent killing of Ukwaa, stressing that they are aware of the tension in the area which they are handling.

  • Army: we didn’t abduct, kill IPOB members

    The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu has denied the accusation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) that soldiers killed members of the secessionist group, and also captured and took away some other IPOB operatives in the southeast.

    The leadership of the pro-Biafra group through its spokesman, Emma Powerful in a statement alleged that soldiers in Imo and Abia State were abducting, manhandling, wounding and killing members of the group indiscriminately in the two states.

    But the military speaking through its spokesman, Sagir Musa, in a counter press statement made available to The Nation, stated that the military never manhandled, shot, wounded, abducted or killed any person including IPOB members in any part of the Southeast.

    Musa in the release stated that the military as a professional and responsible organisation under the leadership of Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai has often made it clear that it will not encourage or condone any form of professional misconduct among its personnel across the country especially as it concerns human rights abuses.

    The Army spokesman said the Nigerian Army would not ordinarily join issues with an “illegal organisation,” but decided to respond in order to set the record straight against what it described as divisive, selfish and wicked propaganda and misinformation being perpetrated by a proscribed group.

    Musa in the release maintained that the Nigerian Army in the Southeast under 82 Division, would not be deterred by the IPOB propaganda, but continue to ensure that they protect life and property in the zone.

    He further stated that the Nigerian Army under the 82 Division is poised to ensure peaceful and secured conduct of free, fair and credible 2019 general elections in the Southeast.

    While urging members of the public to disregard the rumours being peddled by IPOB, Musa disclosed that the military does not detain civilians in the conventional army detention camps except when someone is involved in terrorism act or any form of insurrection, among others.

    “For awareness and further clarification, civilians are not detained in conventional army detention centres except under exceptional situations such as on charges of terrorism, insurgency or any form of armed insurrection, among others. So, anyone arrested by the NA during the ongoing Exercise EGWU EKE III has been handed over to the civil police for further necessary action.

    “Members of the public are hereby requested to disregard any form of divisive and inciting propaganda particularly the ones coming from the likes of miscreants and outlawed organisations like IPOB,” the release read.

  • In Imo, a crackdown on hardened criminals

    While criminals seem resolute in tormenting Imo State, the security community is even more determined to thwart them. In the latest crackdown, 31 suspects have been rounded up, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    It is like tug of war. The police and other security agencies continue to crack down on suspected criminals, pulling down their properties, smoking them out of their dens, and trying them in the courts. The outlaws often stage a comeback. Residents of Imo State cannot forget their ordeals at the hands of their tormentors. But there is no giving up on the fight against bandits.

    In the latest effort, no fewer than 31 notorious armed robbery and kidnap suspects are currently cooling their heels in police custody in the state following a renewed onslaught against hoodlums across the state.

    Other criminal elements including child traffickers, fake military officers and cultists, among others, were also arrested in the massive clampdown initiated by the state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi.

    Before the suspects met their waterloo, the indigenes were sleeping with their eyes open. Reports of armed robbery, kidnapping and rape were becoming alarming. It got to a point that banking in Owerri, the state capital, was becoming a nightmare as armed robbers ambushed their victims at the banks.

    Market women were not spared as they lost huge amounts of money to the rampaging criminals who waylaid them most times on their way to the market.

    According to security reports, no fewer than 21 people have been kidnapped between January and February.

    But at last there is something to cheer. The criminal elements that have made life hellish for residents of the state have been rounded up and are helping the police in their investigations that will certainly lead to the apprehension of other criminal elements that are still at large.

    Parading the criminals at the State Police Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police (Dasuki Galadanchi), stated that the proactive measure through Community Policing engagements adopted by the Command has paid off.

    He said, “You recall that I promised a few months back to rid our dear state of criminals to enable Imolites enjoy a crime-free yuletide celebrations. That promise, I can gladly tell you, we have fulfilled to a large extent, thus necessitating the reason for today’s briefing.

    “I also promised that as we approach the electioneering period, we shall continue an all-out offensive against criminals through intelligence led raids, information gathering, cordon and search, diligent investigation of arrested suspects and successful prosecution of cases.  I also promised you to be more visible at black spots, strategic junctions, public places and commercial centers to ensure that Imo State is peaceful, secure and safe for Imolites to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation especially in this electioneering period.

    “Finally, our proactive measure through Community Policing engagements has once again yielded the following results as we display before you 33 suspects involved in various heinous crimes.”

    Among the suspects were alleged members of a notorious kidnap gang, Chinweke Nnachi, Chibuike Okolia, Chijioke Ukaeje, Ibe Christopher and Chukwudi Chukwuka who reportedly specialised in abducting rich politicians and their family members.

    Galadanchi said they ran out of luck after abducting one Christian Duru from Awo-Mamma in Oru East Council Area of the state.

    He said, “As fate would have it, the kidnap suspects arrived Orlu with the victim and in effort to kidnap a second victim, one Ekwueme Uchenna, their car fell into a gutter and from the ensuing scenarios the first suspect Christian escaped.

    “Operatives of SARS of the Command in collaboration with PMF 18 Personnel swung into action and rescued the second suspect a day after he was kidnapped. Suspects have made useful statements and confessed to the crime”.

    Also apprehended were members of an armed robbery gang that raided Immigration Transit Camp where they dispossessed the Personnel of their valuables.

    The suspects include Amos Friday (20), Chukwuebuka Ibeawuchi  (23),  Augustine Thomas (39), Iheanacho Eluma (20) and  Kaburu Mohammed (39).

    Exhibits recovered from the hoodlums include three vehicles, one AK 47 rifle, two English pistols, two locally made pistols, among other dangerous weapons.