The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • FUTO SSANU protests unpaid allowances

    The Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) chapter of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) on Monday joined the three-day national protest in line with the directive of the national leadership of the Union.

    The aggrieved Staff, deplored the Federal Government over non-payment of their earned allowances, refusal to abide by the Court ruling which reinstated the Universities schools that were sacked and show of apathy in implementing the Memoranda of Understanding reached with the Union.

    Displaying placards with various inscriptions such as “SSANU says no to injustice on staff issue’’, “FGN must obey Court Order on staff issues and comply’’, “Pay us our earned allowances now FGN”, the protesters noted that “members of the staff domiciled in University Staff schools have been subjected to trauma, insecurity and denials of salaries”, a situation they said the Union cannot continue to accept.

    Addressing journalists, the branch Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Franklin Matthews, said that their protest followed the resolution reached at the National Executive Council 35 meeting held at Enugu State University, which directed all the branch Chairmen to organize a three day national protest across the country.

    He said that the meeting reviewed the various status of the MOUs signed between the Federal Government and the Union in respect to the actualization of the 2009 agreement reached with the Federal Government

    Marthews condemned the continued delay in the payment of the earned allowances to non-teaching staff of universities by the Federal Ministry of Education after an approval has been made following the demand of the template for the payment to the unions

    While describing the letter sent to the unions as a delay tactics by the Federal Ministry of Education, he maintained that the letters are needless “because the unions had always made their positions known since the irregular disbursement of the N23b to ASSU in 2017”.

    The SSANU Chairman regretted that the delay in the payment has become a source of discomfort and embarrassment to members of the Union.

    He condemned the failure of the Federal Government to reinstate their staff who were disengaged despite the ruling by the National Industrial Court on December, 5th 2016

    The branch Treasurer of the union, Comrade Uchenna Nwokeji, in his contribution, lamented the present condition of the affected Staff that are yet to be reinstated by some Universities.

    Decrying the poor state of infrastructures in the Universities, Nwokeji,  called on the Federal Government to monitor how funds allocated to Universities are expended to ensure that the funds are properly utilized.

  • 19 freed as Imo decongests prisons

    As overcrowded prison cells are decongested in Imo State, 19 inmates are the first beneficiaries, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    After years of complaints, the congestion of Owerri Prisons, with its attendant health and security challenges, has finally got the attention of the state government.

    Even though the state governor, Rochas Okorocha had on different occasions raised the alarm over the poor state of the Owerri Prisons, especially the worrying issue of congestion, no practical step was taken to address the problem until now.

    Penultimate Tuesday, the state chief judge, Hon Justice Paschal Obinna Nnadi released 24 Prison inmates in a major decongestion exercise. Twelve other Awaiting Trial Men were referred to various high courts handling their cases.

    The exercise was to commemorate the 2018 Jail Delivery Day.

    One of the lucky inmates, Ifeanyi Atumonyegwu had been remanded in prison custody since 2015 for a minor offence and had overstayed his detention period of two years, according to the Chief Judge’s ruling.

    Another freed inmate, Eric Iwu, was arraigned in 2014, while Nzeribe Nwankwo, another inmate had been in prison custody since 2010.

    That was the pathetic state of the inmates who were dumped in prison over minor offences and were forgotten to rot away.

    Twelve others were not so lucky, and were instead referred to respective courts where their suits were instituted, in accordance to the non prosequi signed by the Attorney General of the State, declining further prosecution of the cases.

    Those referred to the Courts were Sylvanus Okeke, Okechukwu Odigbo, Stanley Amaefule, Denis Nwauwa and a traditional ruler, Boniface Ihueze.

    Others were Lucas Joseph, Linus Nlemedim, Emmanuel Onyewuchi, Paul Kio, Emmanuel Nwaokorie, Chukwuebuka Nkemjika and Chinweikpe Uwenwa.

    Unfortunately, two of the inmates that were listed to benefit from the the Jail Delivery, Onyebuchi Ejimkonye and Joseph Onyebuchi were said to have died two weeks before the CJ’s visit.

    Speaking at the event, the Chief Judge said that the Prison visit was in line with the Jail delivery session.

    Read also: ‘Intelligence is required most in Boko Haram war’

    He noted that in accordance to the Nigerian constitution, the CJ has the legal rights to visit and free prison inmates, especially those awaiting trials or have served for a long period of years without trails.

    Justice Nnadi explained further that the exercise was also necessitated by the increasing level of congestion of the Owerri prison.

    He said that the visit will help to decongest the prison for “the healthy living of the inmates, officials and the residents”.

    The CJ reiterated the readiness of the Imo Judiciary in ensuring speedy fair hearing, equity and justice to those seeking justice and redress in the law Court.

    He admonished the inmates not to be deterred by the environment they found themselves, but to always approach the Court if they have stayed beyond five years without trial, adding that such step could help speed up their freedom.

    According to him, the clerk has been mandated to issue production warrants immediately to High Courts for a speedy hearing and ruling on pending cases.

    “All pending cases in the High Courts across the state should be looked into without further delay.  Once there is a nolle having a pending case in the High Court, the CJ has no legal right to release or interfere, but if there is a direct nolle prosequi, any further detention becomes unlawful and unconstitutional,” he said

    Standing for the accused persons include the Deputy Director of Public Prosecution, M.C Ijezie and colleagues, and the Legal Aid Counsel, led by Chukwuma Oliver alongside the members of the professional body.

    Also present was the controller of Prisons, Chris Okoye, who lauded the CJ for remembering the prison inmates.

    He pledged to work in tandem with the judiciary in upholding law.

    Meanwhile, the state governor had earlier raised the alarm over ‘looming’ jailbreak at the Owerri Prison as a result of congestion, inadequate facilities. He had noted that the state is worried about the condition and location of the Prison, which is directly opposite the Government House.According to him, “the State is worried about the Owerri Prison congestion and the location of the prison. The site is bad, just opposite the Government House. We are concerned with the number of inmates in the prison without adequate facilities”.He continued that, “the Council is therefore calling on the Federal Government to do something as quickly as possible to relocate the Owerri Prison from where it is now to a suitable place for the purpose of ensuring that we don’t have a jailbreak in the State. The Judiciary also requires a lot of infrastructure and personnel to dispense justice speedily. This will equally help in decongesting the prisons”.

  • 11 face court martial at 82 Div, Enugu

    The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu has set up a general court martial to try erring soldiers within its area of responsibility.

    The court martial, inaugurated by the GOC in charge of the division, Major General Emmanuel Kabuk, has a 10-man membership with Col. Edward Aboreý as its president.

    Eleven soldiers including a female were billed for trial for various undisclosed offences and were arraigned before the military court during the inauguration.

    Major General Kabuk, while inaugurating the court, said the importance of discipline to the success or failure in battle for troops cannot be over emphasised, hence the trial.

    He said, “Disciplinary measures in the military to which court martial belongs are aimed at guaranteeing, a highly disciplined and battle ready army. In line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt  General T. Y. Burutai which is to “have  a professionally responsive Nigerian Army, in the discharge of its constitutional roles,” trials in the NA must be organised and administered in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFRN) as  amended.

    “As we commence these proceedings, let me assure you that no accused person here should have any reason to fear or panic as the Court martial shall observe all the principles of fair hearing as enshrined under Section 36 of the 1999 CFRN as (amended).

    “At this juncture, it must be borne in mind that justice as confirmed by the eminent late justice of the supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Chukwudifu A. Oputa, is not only to the accused. It is three-weay traffic, justice to the accused, justice to the victim of the action or inaction of the accused.

    “It is equally imperative to recall that both Section 36 of the 1999 CFRN(as amended) and Section 122 of the Armed Forces, Act, CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,do emphasize the fact  that expeditious and speedy trial form the basis on which fair trial must rest.

    “This is one of the most important   advantages of a Court. I therefore enjoin all the parties in the cases to ensure that they avoid unnecessary technicalities that would delay the trials as there are two concepts of justice. Some believe that justice delayed is justice denied while others believe that justice delayed is not justice denied. What is important is that let there be justice .

    “With these few remarks, President of the GCM and members, ladies and gentlemen, I Maj Gen Kabuk GOC 82 Div hereby declare this General Court Martial inaugurated. God bless and good luck.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the president of the court martial, Col Abore assured the accused soldiers of justice.

    “You should not entertain fear or panic as justice will be dispensed judiciously, “ he told the accused soldiers.

    CAPTION: President of the Court Martial, Col Abore (with mic) with other members of the court

  • ‘Thanks for paying our salary arrears’

    The members and staff of Abia State Passenger Integrated Manifest and Safety Scheme (ASPIMSS) have expressed their appreciation to their new General Manager (GM) Dr Anthony Agbazuere for clearing several months of their salary arrears.

    Before the coming of the new GM in October, the workers of the scheme had been languishing over the nonpayment of their arrears of salary by former leaders of the organisation.

    Speaking during a visit to their GM in Umuahia, the chairman of the ASPIMSS Staff Welfare Association (ASWA), Temple Egesi said that his coming was not only timely but suitable as it is one of the best things to happen to the scheme in recent time.

    Egesi said that his appointment came at the most auspicious time when the scheme is in dire need of reforms and eager to maximize the objectives of the establishment which has been neglected over time.

    He thanked the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu for appointing him, “By this act of the governor he has proven his commitment to make ASPIMSS better in terms of structure and human capacity development.

    The welfare boss said that his coming to the scheme has given them hope, “As in less than two months of assumption of office you have given us assurance of brighter days in the scheme”.

    “We are happy to express our thanks to you as you have within the two months you assumed office, you are up to date in the payment of workers’ salaries including the three months arrears you inherited”.

    “You have concluded plans for the payment of December salary before the Christmas Day, this feat is no doubt uncommon and record-breaking and can only be possible with a man of conscience and integrity like you”.

    In his response, Agbazuere thanked them for their visit and the governor for finding him fit to be given such a huge responsibility which gave him the impetus to work hard to clear their arrears of salary within a short time.

    Agbazuere assured them that they are definitely going to get their December salary before Christmas Day which has never happened since the scheme came into being, saying that the issue of salary arrears will be a thing of the past.

    The former information commissioner, “All workers in this scheme will be paid their salary before going home for Christmas break in addition to bags of rice as they need to feel happy after several months of work”.

    “January is a always a difficult time for parents when they find it hard to pay the school fees of their children and wards, I want to assure you that before the end of that month that so you can take care of your families unlike before”.

    He told then that the issue of accumulation of salary which are not paid will never happen while he is their leader, “It is now a thing of the past, as your welfare is of paramount importance to me and the re-roofing of the bad roof of our office”.

    Agbazuere said that he intends to increase their salary on or before February, stressing that the idea is to raise their morale as their take home package is nothing to write home about.

  • US-based group gives free health care in Ebonyi

    A non-governmental organisation, Healthcare Educational Liaison Project (HELP) based in the United States has given free medical treatment to residents of Amaigbo-Edda, Afikpo South local government area and its environs

    The NGO, The Nation learnt, carried out the health outreach because the community is located in one of the remotest parts of the community where the people have great difficulty accessing quality and constant health care.

    Speaking to our reporter, Dr John Kalu Ijem, a US-based heart surgeon who led the team of medical doctors during the programme, said the programme has become a yearly ritual he started to give back to the community of his birth.

    “We are here to provide free medical care to indigenes of Amaigbo Edda free of charge. The programme is organised by Healthcare Educational Liaison Project, HELP, based in the United States. It’s a non- profit organisation, that provides free medical care for undeserved areas”.

    “I am from the area so having excelled in what I am doing overseas in the United States there is what we call giving back and so this is a way giving back to the people of my community”.

    The Medical Practitioner advised wealthy members of the community to imbibe the habit of sharing with the less fortunate members of the society.

    ”It is not how much you have but how much you are willing to share with those who are less fortunate than you are. I am not the richest person in the community but I have enough for myself and I think I could share with other folks who are less fortunate than myself.

    ”As you can see we have over 250 people here right now who are here to receive the  free medical care. Many more are still coming We have four resident doctors who have come to help us to try and provide the free medical care to the people. So it is not how much you have but how much you are willing to share and care for those who are in need. The total cost of this project is about 30,000 US dollars”, he said.

    The Cardiologist said the programme has had tremendous impact on the health and well being of the people of the area and promised to sustain the programme

    “The programme has been tremendous. Last year I saw a person who I put in a pacemaker about 7 years ago. She saw my mother in the and was thanking my mother. That her son was able to save her live after many years that she was going from one hospital to the other. She is still alive today. So it has been tremendously successful. Most of the people here are farmers, so they do lots of hard work and it comes with some serious pains. So we give them a lot of pain medications to alleviate their pains and so they are always looking forward to our coming”.

    The Nigerian facilitator of the programme, Mr Ijem Sunday Ogbonna commended Dr John Kalu for coming up with the programme which he said has help to alleviate the health challenges of the people.

    ”The programme is a lofty one. As you can see the number of people here is much. We thank God who has helped him to come this far and to remember where he comes from. So that yearly like this he comes to see his people to tell them yes, I know that you people are suffering this is the little I can do for my people.

    ”So we thank God who gave him such an opportunity. The programme is not only for Amaigbo people, it is for all of Edda. As many people as we can reach we try to help them. People from all the neighbouring communities are here that is why the number is overwhelming”, Mr Sunday added.

    A beneficiary, Mrs Rose Orji Ndukwe said she was there to get treatment even as she confirmed the efficacy of drugs given to her in previous editions of the programme.

    ”I have serious fever and chest pain and high blood pressure.. I also have pains all over my body. It is as if someone used iron to hit me all over my body. It also comes with serious cough. I came to get treatment because I heard that Dr John is giving free treatment again. I was here last year when I hear similar problems and he gave me drugs and I was well again. But after the drugs finished it started again, so the drugs are very effective and I hope that he will help me to get better again. May God continue to bless him for all the good works he is doing”.

    A member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Imo Kalu, who benefited from the outreach last year said the programme has been of immense help to the people of the area.

    ”Last year while I was in final year, I was deeply sick so they told me that there was one man here that was giving free treatment. So I came and was totally healed. So, I was at my place of primary assignment in Aba, Abia State when I heard that he was around again, so I decided to come and show my appreciation by volunteering to help organise the programme for this year. I am helping to organise the people and do the necessary documentation like writing down their names so that they will go in and be attended to in an orderly fashion”, the Corps Member said.

  • Methodist prelate: Nigeria paying for neglecting youths

    The prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, Most Rev Samuel Kalu Uche has evaluated Nigeria’s profile and returned a dim verdict, saying the country’s failure to properly plan for the youths has exposed it to self-inflicted ruin.

    Using a biblical term, the cleric said the country has sown the wind over the years and was now reaping the whirlwind.

    Uche said that education is the basis for the upgrading the youths and that a country that cannot take care of its youths in terms of giving them sound education is planning towards failure.

    Speaking in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, after his apostolic visit to Umuahia archdiocese, Uche said that any government that has no plans for its youths who are future leaders of the country should be voted out from office.

    Uche who gave a graphic story of a young man who holds a master’s degree in geology said that the young man because he could not get a job in the area he studied had to make do with teaching in a secondary school with a salary of N20,000 per month.

    He said, “If this young man does not have the mind of God in him nothing stops him from carrying arms to rob or commit heinous crimes in the society, there is every need for the government of the day to invest meaningfully on the youths of the country.

    The head of Methodist church in Nigeria explained that the issue of Boko Haram is as a result of neglect of the youths by government, adding that if the needful had been done the dreaded group would not have arisen.

    On the issue of President Muhammadu Buhari refusing to assent to the new electoral bill, Uche said, “I am not familiar with that bill, however the executive should not hold the entire country to ransom as people want a credible election”.

    He continued, “We want a free, fair and credible election devoid of police or any security agency harassment of the electorates, the electoral umpire should be fair to all so that the best candidates would be elected”.

    “I don’t belong to any political party, all I am saying is that what happened in both Ekiti and Osun states should not be allowed to happen again where vote buying was the order of the day during election days”.

    “The two elections in the two states earlier mentioned were a charade people should be allowed to cast their votes and there should be no falsification of votes which is one of the ways of ensuring a united country”.

    “If the President refuses to accent to the bill, the legislative arm of government should over ride him in the proper way which is by voting in their chambers and not by force as what we need is a servant leader not a ruler”.

    Uche lamented the way the leaders of the country have been deliberately impoverishing their people to the extent that, “People do not know their rights again, many people can no longer send their children to school while they (leaders) send their children out of the country to school”.

    He said, “Every bad government should be voted out from office and it should be done through the right way which is the ballot box not by fighting as the country has had enough bloodshed”.

    The Methodist Prelate said that he was worried with the level of infrastructural decay in the state to the level that most of the rural areas he visited had no roads to evacuate their farm produce as most of them are rural farmers.

    He said that the roads to Amaudo Itumbauzo was nothing to write home about including roads to places like, Item and Nkpa communities, “The roads in these areas were so bad that I wondered if they are really part of Abia state”.

    Uche said, “I noticed that the state was so dirty as I saw people dumping refuse along the roads and the refuse collecting agency were not evacuating same which they were supposed to do on daily basis”.

    “I also noticed that many workers and pensioners of the state have not been paid their salary and pensions for several months as reported by our church members, I want to call on the government to do the needful by paying their workers”.

    “What I saw means that either the state or federal governments are not doing what they are supposed to do, however I also noticed that the government has been trying to give the state a facelift in the area of road construction among others”.

    On the issue of unity of the country, he said that the type of unity witnessed during Super Eagles, Super Falcons and any other age grade teams is what we need when ethnicity never existed.

  • NGO backs call to end girl-child abuse

    A non-governmental organisation, The Web has visited Methodist Girls High School, Ugwunchara Umuahia, with a call on the girl-child to speak up when abused.

    The girl-child, unlike her male counterpart, is often the object of domestic violence and inhumane treatment such as rape and sexual abuse in the hands of people who ordinarily should protect her.

    Unfortunately, the law and the  society are not doing much to punish offenders or speak for the vulnerable group.

    Speaking on the essence of the campaign, the leader of the NGO, Norah Okafor regretted that the girl-child has been subjected to all manner of inhuman treatments including being regarded as sex tool and people whose duties are restricted to the kitchen, pointing out that The Web aims at handling cases of abuse by ensuring that every culprit is brought to book and the victim rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society.

    Okafor said that the group partners doctors, lawyers and members of the Civil Society Organisations in fighting the growing scourge of girl-child abuse.

    He called on well-meaning individuals to join hands with the NGO in its quest to give the girl-child the protection they need to survive in the society.

    The vision bearer who is also an on-air-presenter with Abia State-based terrestrial cable TV, Modern Communication Limited (MCL), disclosed that the plan is one school, one girl.

    So far, he said, they have cases of abuse they are handling, assuring that the team must put a stop to girl-child abuse.

    Delivering short lectures, some members of the NGO, Joy Ekekwe, Victor Rowland, James Mfreke and Inimfom Ubuoh said abuse could be physical, mental, psychology and sexual and called on the girls to open up when molested, assuring that the group is out to ensure that those who abuse the girl children are not left unpunished.

    In an interview, the Vice Principal, Methodist High School, Ugwunchara, Umuahia, Mrs. Rejoice Ugbo and the school’s Counsellor, Mrs. Chinyere Anyikwa appreciated the team for bringing the programme to their school.

    They said the school has been managing the reported cases in the school and urged parents to continue to relate well with their children with a view to ensuring that the children open up to them at all times, while urging the students to feel free to open up and not to die in silence.

    In a vote of thanks, the Senior Prefect of the school, Miss Chidiebube Chibuike thanked The Web group for taking the campaign against the girl child abuse to their school and assured that they would keep to the pieces of advice given to them.

  • Shelter for the needy in Anambra widows

    Three widows from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have been presented with keys to three two-bedroom bungalows by wife of the governor Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano.

    Another two-bedroom bungalow was also donated to an indigent family from Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.

    The donations were made under the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ) Housing for the Indigent & Widows project of the governor’s wife, with support of the UNDP.

    Presenting the house keys to each beneficiary, Mrs Obiano said the era of people living in dilapidated thatched mud houses was over.

    She restated her commitment to building more houses to improve the living conditions of widows and indigent families.

    She said, “I feel satisfied any time I see each beneficiaries of our modest gesture express happiness after receiving keys to their new houses. I must emphasise that the house belongs to the beneficiary and no one should disturb them.

    “The water borehole component is meant to serve occupants of the house and neighbours are free to fetch from the reticulation point outside and ensure it is well maintained.

    “CAFÉ project has built and donated over 22 houses under its free housing scheme; with the latest executed with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) towards improving human living condition.”

    Expressing appreciation to a businessman in the area, Mr. Tony Ezeani who graciously furnished two of the buildings, the governor’s wife urged others to emulate her to positively touching lives of the less privileged.

    In her brief remark, wife of Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Mrs Oby Okeke commended the governor’s wife’s demonstration of love through CAFÉ projects and urged the host communities to support her efforts.

    In their separate remarks, the transition Committee Chairman of Oyi and Anambra East Local Government Areas, Engr. Nnamdi Nwadogbu, and Chief Pius Ifeadi, expressed satisfaction for Mrs Obiano’s free housing for the widows and the less-privileged, by the Governor’s wife and thanked her for remembering persons.

    Responding, the beneficiaries,  who were randomly selected to ascertain those in dire need of shelter, thanked the benefactor, praying for God’s guidance and sustenance.

  • Land tussle: Developers flee Anambra community amid shootings

    People of Isuaniocha community, in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have raised the alarm over a shooting spree in the area following a disputed secondary school land rocking the community.

    They said the ugly development has compelled land developers in the area to abandon several ongoing projects in the community.

    Speaking to newsmen in Isuaniocha, the President General of the community, Mr Tony Onyeagolu, said the crises had retarded the pace of development of the community, calling for immediate intervention of the state government.

    He asked the government to consider setting up an independent body to look into the remote and immediate causes of the crisis.

    According to him, setting up of a neutral body to meet with stakeholders involved would restore lasting peace instead of constituting a caretaker committee with some of the agitated leaders as members.

    “It’s very unfortunate that this crisis has persisted and has slowed down the pace of development because many land developers have, out of fear, been abandoning their projects sited in the community,” he said.

    Onyeagolu accused some stakeholders in the area with vested interests of scuttling the peace process with the help of some non- indigenes of the community, who he alleged, were closer to the government.

    “Despite all efforts made by my executive to get government attention on the disputed Isuaniocha secondary school land through series of letters to relevant authorities, some stakeholders in the community with personal interest to protect kept scuttling the peace process with the assistance of some non-indigenes of the community who are closer to the government,” Onyeagolu decried.

    The PG also alleged that some members of the community have vowed to make his seat ungovernable to pave way for his removal and replacement with a caretaker committee.

    He said, “These people are not just fighting me alone, but the entire community. Their target is to make my seat ungovernable so government will say I have failed and will remove me.

    “The last time government visited the community and left, they beat me up and vandalized my car and bar. I was even arrested and detained.”

  • IPOB: 33 detained traders released in Nnewi

    Nnewi, the industrial city of Anambra State, was agog following the release of 33 traders who were arrested and detained on the presumption that they were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The arrest took place during the recent clash by the group and the police in the town.

    The traders, arrested from different markets in the area and subsequently detained after being paraded by the police, were reportedly released last Saturday after spending eight days in police custody.

    No fewer than 5,000 traders from the major markets in the area converged on the Agboedo motor spare parts Nkwo Nnewi market, where they offered praises to God in appreciation for the release of their members.

    Speaking to The Nation shortly after the event, Chairman of Agboedo Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association (AMSPDA), Chief Gabriel Chibueze, said the gathering was essentially to appreciate God for the unconditional release of their members.

    He said the traders were arrested from the eight major markets in the industrial city, expressing worry over the eight days they spent in police custody, regardless of their innocence.

    He said the detained members could have spent longer time with the police if not for the relentless efforts of members of his executive and other relevant stakeholders.

    He said, “Ever since their detention, the entire executive have not rested and were fighting for their release. We wrote letters to all authorities concerned, including the IGP, the commissioner for Trade and Commerce, our representatives in Abuja, among others.

    “We also had to shut the entire markets in the town for three consecutive days in solidarity with our detained members.”

    Chibueze refuted reports alleging that one of the traders died in police custody, saying all of them were released hale and hearty.

    Also speaking, Vice President, Amalgamated Markets Traders Association (AMATA), Gozie Akudolu, disclosed that no money was paid for their release, though he regretted that some went ahead to engage the services of lawyers contrary to his instructions.

    “I’m happy to announce to you that we didn’t pay any dime for their release because I instructed that no lawyer should be engaged in the process.

    “Those who defied the instructions and paid should find a way of going after their money,” he added.

    He appreciated those who contributed towards ensuring the release of the traders, praying God to reward them abundantly.

    “I’m overwhelmed with joy today. Special thanks go to the IGP, leader of police delegates from Abuja, the state governor and commissioner for Trade and Commerce, state CP, AC Nnewi, and a host of others.”