The Nation Newspaper

Category: SouthEast

  • Enugu power firm donates books, computers to schools

    Enugu power firm donates books, computers to schools

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), in partnership with Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), a non-governmental organisation, has donated books and computers worth millions of dollars to 15 tertiary institutions and 30 secondary schools across the Southeast states.

    The power distribution firm made the donation at Oraifite, Anambra State.

    The benefiting schools were made up of 3 tertiary institutions and 6 secondary schools from each of the states, and were nominated by their respective state governments.

    In his welcome address, the Coordinator, SEOF, Hon. Tony Obi, commended the effort of EEDC in partnering the Foundation to drive its objective towards the development of the education sector, which the Foundation has been involved in across the country over the years.

    He said that the gesture by EEDC is worthwhile to the society and for posterity.

    Obi stressed that the books and other educational materials that were donated must be used for the purpose it was meant for.

    He went on to charge the benefiting schools to ensure that their libraries are functional, as their monitoring team would be paying unscheduled visit to the schools to monitor and ascertain how well the books are being used.

    The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, EEDC, Mr. Robert Dickerman while delivering his address said that the gesture is in line with EEDC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy of contributing towards the development of its host community.

    “We know the importance of education, we have an obligation and responsibility to our communities, our business is not just to provide electricity, our job is to help and support the communities which we are a part of”, he explained.

    He went on to say that, “education is a part of the core of the development of any society; we are very honoured to be part of this donation and we committed to take active role in the education development of the 5 states in which we are community member”.

    Dickerman said that besides lighting up homes, companies and industries, we can also light up minds; “this, the company is doing through partnering Sir Emeka Offor Foundation. “

    “We believe that the things we are trying to do and the thoughts we have towards supporting social programmes under our CSR initiatives will be best served by partnering with such a foundation. They have international partners like Book For Africa (BFA) and many others; and we are comfortable partnering with them”.

    The governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Okonkwo applauded EEDC and SEOF for the gesture which is a shining example of a CSR act, and welcomed by the state government.

    He said, “Government alone cannot accomplish all that is needed in the education sector, and it is usually a great relief when corporate establishments like EEDC come out to boil up the effort of the state government”.

    The governor stressed that the use of books cannot be over stressed, and that the donation of the books will go a long way in educating the students, as the more they read, the more they get education.

    He said that the books will form the stock in the different libraries of the different beneficiary institutions; and will encourage them to maintain functional libraries.

    Obiano also called on teachers and principals to endeavour to get the students develop the habit of reading as a lot of education which they need in life is locked up in these books.

    He went on to say that, “this is indeed a partnership for sustainable development between the private sector, our government and the education institutions”.

    He pledged the state government’s support, and encouraged EEDCnot to relent, because it is towards the development of the people, children and the country at large.

    Both students and teachers of the benefiting schools expressed their appreciation to EEDC and SEOF for this wonderful initiative and promised to make proper use of the books.

    EEDC committed that this is not going to be a one-time event, as this effort is part of the organisation’s ongoing responsibility, and hope to continue partnering Sir Emeka Offor Foundation towards the development of the South East.

  • Cement production to resume in Ebonyi

    Cement production will soon come alive in Ebonyi State, it has been said.

    A deed of understanding and terms of settlement between NIGERCEM and representatives of the four host communities – Nkalagu, Nkalaha, Umuhuali, Amaezu and the Ebonyi State Government has been signed.

    With the signing of the pact in Abakaliki, the legal battles that had in the past affected the reopening of the once foremost indigenous cement production firm have been put to rest.

    The immediate past administration led by Chief Martin Elechi, had consistently closed the door for an out of court settlement, against Dr. Cletus Ibeto, who re-acquired the firm from Eastern Bulkcem and  tried to revamp the cement factory which was popularly known as NIGERCEM.

    In 2012, for instance, the Elechi administration warned IBETO GROUP against what it called illegal entry into the premises of NigerCem premises, saying its ownership was a subject of dispute in the courts.

    But an elated Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; Ibeto and the SSA to the Governor on Cement Production, Prince Sunday Ugwuocha, at the event described the signing of the MoU as a milestone towards the revitalisation of the company.

    Governor Umahi, who said he had in line with the popular demand of the host communities promised to allow Ibeto revamp the firm, noted that the journey to its realisation was not an easy one.

    He said, “When we were campaigning under divine mandate platform, the only request that the communities  made was that Ibeto  should be allowed to come and revamp NIGERCEM and we did promise  them that  that was going to be done.”

    Umahi, who thanked the Cement Production Implementation Committee, set up by his administration, for doing a good job, assured Ebonyi people that their 10% equity ownership of NIGERCEM was still intact.

    “Let me announce to Ebonyi people that our 10% equity with NIGERCEM is still alive,” he assured as he described the land of Ebonyi as a land made up of limestone, gold, frankincense, silver, lead, zink, etc.

    He added, “My prayers all the time is for the land of Ebonyi to vomit all the limestone, the gold, the frankincense, silver, the bauxite, lead, zink that the land has swallowed, and it has to started with Ibeto.

    The core investor, Dr. Ibeto, praised Umahi’s ruggedness, saying Ebonyians owed him (governor) for ensuring that the journey to revamp NigerCem started on a good footing.

    He thanked governor Umahi for creating the enabling environment for the takeoff of NIGERCEM.

    The chairman, Cement Implementation Committee, Chief Fidelis Nwankwo, in his opening remarks, had said the signing of the deeds marked the realisation of an age long struggle by the IBETO GROUP to revamp NigerCem.

     

  • Nigerian Navy at 60

    Nigerian Navy at 60

    The Nigerian Navy is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It is doing it in ways to make people remember that they are safe, protected and well taken care of especially those around the naval bases.

    The Nigerian Navy Finance and Logistics College (NNFLC) Owerrinta, otherwise known as NNS Kamanu in their own celebration decided to hold a free medical program for members of the host community, where patients numbering over 500 were treated and given free drugs for various ailments.

    Speaking with The Nation at St Ephraim’s secondary school Amaise Ahaba the venue of the free medical program, the doctor in charge of the base hospital, Lt Commander Adeniyi Aduwo said that the event is part of the way they want to say thank you to the host community.

    Aduwo a medical doctor said the program will help to let the members of the community who are their landlords to know that there is a hospital at the base, which they could access in time of any form of medical need.

    He said that the program is termed ‘Medical Rhapsody’ and that the logistics for the program was approved and provided by the commander of the college, Capt Godwin Obaje.

    Commander Aduwo said that they have handled about 500 cases ranging from High Blood Pressure, fever, malaria, ulcer, arthritis, including high sugar level, “These include old men, women, children and students as well, while those with severe cases are referred to the hospital at our base”.

    He noted that during his treatment and discussion with some of the patients, “I noticed that most of them are not even aware that they have health challenges, we have been able to tell them the type of ailments they have and given advises and drugs as well”.

    Earlier the chief nurse of the naval hospital, Sub Lt Ijeoma Nwachukwu had given the patients lecture on how to take care of themselves, stressing that what they were doing is part of social responsibility to their host community.

    Sub Lt Nwachukwu told them that they were going to run tests on them to determine their state of health, “We will also give those who have health challenges drugs free of charge, while the children from five years old down will be de-wormed”.

    She also told them about HIV/AIDS saying that it is not a deadly disease as such, “But you need to take care of yourselves to avoid contracting the disease, as it is not written on the faces of those who are carriers”.

    Nwachukwu said, “The worst aspect of the HIV/AIDS is the issue of stigmatization of the patients which kills faster than the ailment and you cannot contract it through touching but through blood contacts, but if you have HIV/AIDS and take your recommended drugs regularly,

    you will live long”.

    “There are other forms of diseases that kill faster than HIV/AIDS which includes hypertension, Hyperthertise B and other dangerous ailments, but these ailments could be controlled with the routine drugs meant for them”.

    She urged the men to allow their pregnant wives to come for ante natal check-ups and treatment at the base hospital, adding that they equally run free HIV/AIDS tests on such women, “Which is to avoid transmitting the disease from mother to child”.

    The navy college chief nurse, “During this free medical program, we are going to run tests, do Blood Pressure checks and give out drugs for those diagnosed with malaria, while pregnant women should come to the base for test and anti natal care with the paltry sum of N500 only

    for card registration”.

    Reacting one of the patients who was treated, Mrs Mabel Erondu a teacher said she is short of words to describe what the navy has done for them, “I am happy with the development, we cannot thank them enough, as I was tested and given drugs free”.

    “We pray for their success in all they do and pray that they should be holding this type of program more often with the rainy season when many types of ailments come up, and for giving us free drugs at this harsh economic period, they will never lack”.

    In his vote of thanks, the traditional prime minister of Amaise Ahaba community in Isiala Ngwa South local government area, Chief Friday Iheadindu expressed the appreciation of the people to the naval authorities for coming to their aide at this hard time and urged them to hold the program at lease twice in a year”.

     

  • Anambra community petitions Obiano, police, DSS

    Anambra community petitions Obiano, police, DSS

    Anambra State Governor Chief Willie Obiano and Police Commissioner Hosea Karma have been petitioned by Umunze community in Orumba South Local Government Area, following the court ruling restoring the town’s union leadership.

    Also, petitioned was the Department of State Service (DSS), the traditional ruler of Umunze, Igwe Promise Eze, the chairman of Orumba South Council Area among others.

    The petition was signed by the elected president of Umunze Progressive Union (UPU), Chris Amah and the secretary general of the union, Dom O. N. Uka and made available to reporters in Awka.

    It was entitled, “request to remove the caretaker committee administering the affairs of the union.

    The community said that it was sequel to the order of the High court, Awka made on the May 5, 2016, striking out the suit No. A/225/2007, Simeon Onunkwo and 10 others versus Governor of Anambra State and six others.

    According to the petition dated June 1, 2016: “It has become necessary to make this clarification because of the protracted case that led to the appointment of a caretaker committee in Umunze by the government of Anambra State.”

    “We now request that the caretaker committee administering the affairs of Umunze town should cease from functioning.”

    “Since the suit, together with the order of injunction has been struck out by the court, there is nothing preventing the validly elected executives of (UPU) from continuing carrying out their functions and duties,” the community said.

  • Towards better days in Enugu

    Towards better days in Enugu

    The Enugu International Investment Summit tagged Oganiru, has started to yield results. Two strategic partners working on integrated infrastructural backbone for the country has chosen Enugu State as the centre point for the regional integration of Southeast’s economic growth. CHRIS OJI reports

    Good things are coming the way of Enugu State. It has been chosen as the centre point for the regional integration of Southeast’s economic development under the planned national framework. The state was picked by two strategic Korean and Nigerian partners working on integrated infrastructure for the country

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi hosted the high-powered teams from the Integrated Infrastructure Backbone for Nigeria and Hyundai Engineering of Korea. They told him that talks with the Federal Government on their ambitious project has reached an advanced stage.

    The two corporate organisa-tions, which attended the last Enugu International Investment Summit tagged ‘Oganiru’ said action plans and designs for the proposed infrastructure backbone for the country has made the state a central focus for the Southeast, especially with the proposal for establishment of a dry port at Obollo-Afor, a boundary town.

    The designation of the busy border-town, Obollo-Afor for a proposed inland container/dry port was effected during Governor Ugwuanyi’s tenure as the chairman of the House of Representatives committee on Marine Transport.

    The elated Governor Ugwuanyi spoke to his visitors said: “I wish to thank you for your kind comments on the success of the Oganiru – Enugu State Investment Summit – during which, as you rightly observed, I declared that Enugu State is open for business.

    “Your visit today actually goes to confirm that the Summit made the required impact and is therefore yielding the desired results. It is in that spirit therefore that I do warmly welcome the team from Hyundai Engineering and those from Integrated Infrastructure Backbone for Nigeria.

    “We are certainly interested in hearing your proposals for investment in Enugu State and you can always count on our cooperation and partnership”, he told the investors.

    Those who came for the special presentation before the governor included; (from Korea) – Mr Hon Byung Chul, the General Manager, Overseas Investments, Mr Jang Hosung, Manager, Overseas Investments, Mr Cha Ki Young of Alpos which are Consultants to Hyundai Engineering and Mr Justin Okafor, President, Nigeria Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Japan.

    The delegation from the Integrated Infrastructure Backbone Project was led by Dr Nkemka Jombo-Ofo, Principal Consultant, Dr Stephen Dike, Principal Consultant, Dr Solomon Nyagba, Consultant, Mr Eric Eze, Surveyor and Mr Kingsley Eze, Consultant.

    Dr. Dike of Integrated Infrastructure Development Associate spoke on the dynamics of the ambitious project: “It is a special purpose company established to initiate the integrated infrastructure development project for Nigeria and the whole idea is to create economic development catalyst that would ensure that we have an integrated infrastructure backbone that would go from Akwa Ibom deep sea port all the way to Katsina.

    “We also have another one at Bayelsa which would now join the backbone from Akwa  Ibom to Katsina at Enugu. Our whole idea is to make Enugu/Obollo Afor Centre Point of integrated infrastructure development plan for the whole South-East region.

    “Along this backbone, we are going to have five dimensions of infrastructure development. That would include: power grid, fiber cables, high-speed rail road, dual carriage high and finally, it would include the gas pipeline 70 inch diameter gas pipeline.

    “The whole idea is that economic development in Nigeria can only go as fast as infrastructure development would go. Infrastructure development in Nigeria has not been strategic and integrated. The highest cost of infrastructure development are; the cost of security and the cost of right of wealth.

    “We are looking at other developed countries like Shanghai, Japan, Singapore et cetera and we are trying to emulate their successes of those at best practices in order to bring it to infrastructure development in Nigeria”, he further explained.

    On the strategic role of Enugu State in the whole project, he also explained that “Our partnership with Enugu State government is that the infrastructural backbone is going to pass through the state. Obollo Afor is the centre point for the backbone because we are going to have an inland container port at Obollo Afor.

    “Obollo Afor also is going to be the centre point for the inter-connector project that would go to other areas. For instance, the one coming from Bayelsa is going to connect at Obollo Afor. So the strategic relationship with Enugu State Government is that it is going to be the centre point for the South-East region”, he stated.

  • Accolades as Okorocha presents scorecard

    Accolades as Okorocha presents scorecard

    It was indeed a night of chest thumping and back patting as Imo State Commissioners and selected government appointees, filed out to present the scorecard of their various ministries and agencies to mark Governor Rochas Okorocha’s five years in Office.

    The ovations were thunderous as the charged crowd hailed the Governor for the almost endless list of verifiable and people oriented projects.

    Looking at the faces of the dignitaries that sat at the front roll in the crowded auditorium, one could not miss the cloak of shock that is intermittently eased by flashes of smile as they watched the documentaries of the five-year achievements of the Rochas Okorocha’s administration.

    The audience at the Imo International Convention Centre (IICC), majority of them visitors, may have been wondering if the projects they were watching on the large screen were actually executed in Imo State, giving its meager resources.

    Much to the admiration of the crowd, the commissioners of the various ministries and other government appointees took turn to render the scorecard of their ministries and parastatals, which were backed by motion pictures of the projects.

    Apart from merely showcasing the projects, the commissioners and the appointees went step further to educate the audience on the benefits of these projects and the business opportunities therein.

    From the education sector to the health sector, judiciary, infrastructure, power, security, rural development, agriculture, trade and commerce, women and youth development, job creation, the number and quality of projects presented, showed that the Okorocha’s administration, five years after, has delivered on its campaign promise of rescuing the state.

    Another interesting side to the well attended event was the competition among the commissioners, who were struggling to beat each other to the prizes to be won.

    The governor had announced that the commissioner or government appointee that will emerge as the overall best in terms of performance and number of projects executed will go home with ten million naira and a plot of land in the state capital, the second person will get five million and a plot of land also in the state capital, while the third person will get a plot.

    So it was reminiscent of a school debate as the commissioners and appointees fought to impress on the audience, especially the members of the panel why their Ministries should be chosen as the best.

    Some of them did very well to convince the panelists, while others managed to showcase the achievements of their Ministries within the allowed time of ten minutes.

    Opening the presentation, the current Chief of Staff and former Commissioner for Lands, Planning and Urban Development, Chief Uche Nwosu, reeled out numerous projects executed through his office to include, the Odenigbo Lodge, which serves as the Presidential Lodge for visiting VIPs, the Imo Treasury House, the Imo International Convention Centre, the renovation of the moribund Imo Concorde Hotel and the construction of a befitting Government House.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Emma Ibediro, presented before the perplexed audience, rural road projects that were unprecedented in the history of the state.

    According to him, the Rescue Mission Administration in the last five years have constructed not less than 35 kilometer roads in each of the 27 Local Government Areas.

    He prided that the road revolution have opened the economies of the rural communities by attracting investors, especially in the agricultural sector.

    Another milestone achievement recorded within the time under review according to Ibediro, was the building of 27 brand new General Hospitals in each of the Council Areas.

    The list was endless as the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Getrude Oduka, presented 305 schools built by the Okorocha’s administration in the last five years.

    Not only that, the Rescue Mission Administration on inauguration, according to her, introduced the first ever free education programme from primary to tertiary institution, a development she said has impacted positively on the number of Imo indigenes enrolling in schools annually.

  • 12 Nimbo community herdsmen victims for burial

    12 Nimbo community herdsmen victims for burial

    All is set for the burial this weekend for 12 of those killed by herdsmen in Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Council of Enugu State last April 25.

    Parish priest of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nimbo Rev. Fr. Joseph Obetta Okeke made this known to visiting coalition of non-governmental organisa-tions (NGOs) from Enugu led by Fr. Ambrose Ekereku of the Carmelite Prisoners’ Interest Organization (CAPIO).

    Although, he was not sure of the number, he said at least 12 bodies are awaiting burial. Others which were badly mutilated had already been buried.

    The cleric, who suffered mild stroke following the herdsmen attack, recounted how he smashed his car while rushing himself to hospital.

    “My blood pressure was so high that I did not know when I hit a tree on my way to the hospital,” he said.

    In the coalition were Women Aid Collective (WACOL), Juliet Ibekaku Hope Project, Women in Peace Network (WIPNET), National Council of Women Society (NCWS), National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ).

    The visiting NGOs donated various foodstuffs and one million naira to the devastated people of Nimbo.

    The leader of the team, Ekereku called on the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to urgently rebuild Nimbo community. Ekereku also urged government to pay more attention to the development of rural areas.

    He said: “It is evident that life in rural areas has remained rustic where the inhabitants lack even the most basic of amenities while those in the metropolis have a surfeit of such amenities. That situation has become untenable considering the environmental risks the inhabitants of the rural areas are exposed to.

    “The government should embark on extensive agricultural activities in Nimbo which is an agrarian community rather than abandoning the people to an agrarian subsistence existence.

    “Government’s failure to exploit the agricultural potentials of the community is akin to abandoning the people to the devilish whims of the herdsmen who are attracted to the lush grass in the area.

    “A stronger government presence in Nimbo and other communities in the council will attract investors in the agriculture sector.”

    According to Ekereku, such presence would definitely keep the herdsmen away.

    And at the palace of the traditional ruler of Nimbo, Igwe John Akor, the NGOs condoled with the community over the loss of lives and property during the mayhem.

    The traditional ruler thanked the group for the visit and donations, saying government and other organisations were doing their best to rehabilitate the people. He equally urged the government to come and make use of the large expanse of land the community is endowed with.

    “If government could heed to this advise by building institutions like Agricultural institutions in these lands, the Fulani will not have access to roam their cows anyhow”, he said.

     

  • Boost for physically challenged, indigent mothers

    Boost for physically challenged, indigent mothers

    ife of Abia State Governor Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu has called on Abians and public spirited individuals to come to the aid of the physically challenged.

    Speaking at the School of the Blind in Afara, Umuahia, Mrs. Ikpeazu, who inspected the reconstruction of some parts of the school, said the physically challenged people of the society need the help to feel the government’s impact.

    Mrs Ikpeazu praised the Abia State Oil Mineral Producing Areas Development Commission [ASOPADEC] for partnering with her to give the physically-challenged a new lease of life.

    She also appreciated the principal and teachers of the school for making personal sacrifices towards the care of the special students and urged them not to relent in their efforts to ensure that the people left under their care are well taken care of.

    The Abia Governor’s wife encouraged the blind students to be steadfast in their studies and used the opportunity to shower them with gifts that included hundreds of school bags, school uniforms, Sandals, foodstuff and household provisions.

    Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ikechi Mgbeoji represented by the Director of Education, Mr. Mba Udensi, Commissioner for Women Affairs Lady Chinedu Brown, represented by her Permanent Secretary Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, and ASOPADEC Chairman  Chief Emeka Stanley praised Mrs Ikpeazu for her gesture.

    The Principal, Mrs. Oriala said the perimeter fencing, renovation of several buildings and construction of a walkway would make the school better.

    In a related development, Mrs Ikpeazu has paid the hospital bills of seven indigent nursing mothers detained at the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia [FMC] after they gave birth. She also paid the bill of the only survivor of the fatal accident that involved Peace Mass Transit bus and a MAN diesel truck on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

    The Abia Governor’s wife said that her visit to the Nkasiobi and Bartley wards of the FMC was in the spirit of Children’s Day, “It will enable the nursing mothers to unite with their children at home”.

    She thanked God for the safe delivery of the nursing mothers, “The women wrote to me asking for my intervention and what we are doing is in line with the present administration’s desire to alleviate the suffering of the poor and provide quality health care delivery”.

    Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Goodness Nwachukwu a mother of twins expressed gratitude to Mrs Ikpeazu for coming to their aide and prayed God to protect her and her family.

  • Flood hits Ebonyi

    Flood hits Ebonyi

    No fewer than five communities in Ebonyi State have been grappling with floodwaters after their farmlands were submerged.

    The affected communities are in Ivo Local Government Area of the state.

    Residents of the communities said their farmlands were washed off after a federal government dam under construction forced water to spill over from other channnels into lower-lying lands.

    The incident threw farmers and their families into grief.

    The dam was being built in Npu in Anuri Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    The affected communities are Ameke, Okue, Amaokwe, Ngwo-gwo and Obodo.

    Visiting the dam site on Monday upon learning of the development, Governor David Umahi ordered   a comprehensive report of farms and cash crops destroyed by the flood.

    He noted that the damage was huge, adding that the report would be sent to the federal government with a view to assisting the state and farmers whose means of livelihood had been severely affected.

    He said, “We came to the point of the Ukeh River Dam that is being constructed by the Federal Government in Npu,Anuri Local Government Area of Enugu State.

    “A comprehensive report will be carried out so that we can seek Federal Government’s assistance not only to the state but to the farmers whose agricultural produce has been seriously damaged.”

    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area, Chief O. Ude, who accompanied Governor Umahi to the site of the dam, said the blockade caused water to overflow backwards, thereby   destroying  the farmlands in  the affected communities.

    “If you look back from where we are standing, you will see a river coming down from there; that is Ivo, and this river is Ukeh. So the rivers meet here and it is from here that the constructors created an embankment that makes water to flow backwards.”

    The chairman of Ngwogwo Community Development Union, Mr. Johnson Ukpai, lamented that the fllod had destroyed agricultural produce like yams, cassava, rice, maize and cocoyam.

    He pleaded with the federal government to come to their rescue.

    “The blockage of the dam which resulted in the overflow of water to  our community has caused enormous damage. Our crops like, yams, cassava, rice, maize, cocoyams have been destroyed.”

    Youths of the area were seen displaying cassava tubers which had decayed due to the impact of the flood.

    Mr. Augustine Ossai, a liaison officer in Ivo legislative council, called on the Federal Government and the National Emergency Management Agency to immediately come to the assistance of farmers in the area.

     

  • Imo sustains crackdown on vice

    Imo sustains crackdown on vice

    The message is clear: the heat is on criminals in Imo State. Early last month, we reported a major operation the state launched against suspected criminals in Owerri, the state capital. Security agents moved into an area said to be a haven of kidnappers, drug dealers, robbers and common thieves, and tore it down, arresting some suspects.

    Midway into the month, a shanty district allegedly a den of shady characters in Okigwe was also destroyed.

    Now, a similar clean-up has been carried out in Ohubaa in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of the state. There, bulldozers have been pulling down buildings and shanties patronised by people believed to have put residents through severe pain.

    As the bulldozers tore down  gigantic and palatial buildings owned by suspected kidnap kingpins, neighbours were stunned as stern-looking policemen and soldiers supervised the demolition.

    A handful of villagers who watched from a measured distance, swore that they never suspected that the men who often came home with exotic cars and a retinue of friends were kidnappers. But the security agents were not deceived by their feigned ignorance as they insisted that they were aware of the heinous crime but chose to conceal the information from the police.

    The exercise elicited widespread jubilation in Ohubaa, a sleepy community, which has earned notoriety as a major hideout of dangerous kidnappers and hardened criminals.

    Some of the elderly men and women were more forthcoming. They danced and hailed the security operatives for liberating the community from the clutches of the men of the underworld, who had long tormented them.

    They said, “We have been living in fear as they have taken over the community and no one can challenge them or dare report them to the police, even when we know what they were doing but for the fear of our lives we cannot say anything. But today we are happy that at last the security men have caught up with them and we are ready to point out their properties.”

    During the operation tagged “Operation Osheebe” led by the Imo State Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere and the State Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu and the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General Kay Isiyaku,  over ten houses were pulled down the in the agrarian community.

    According to Police sources, most of the kidnap incidents in the State are coordinated from a massive forest located in the community, where the victims are kept in connivance with the villagers who conceal the information from security agents.

    The Deputy Governor in his speech stated that the operation was in line with the determination of the State government to give priority to the security of life and property of the people living in the State.

    He said that the State government will not rest on its oars until those behind the unwholesome acts of kidnapping, armed robbery and other crimes are brought to book.

    Madumere who was shocked by the massive buildings owned by the kidnappers, said that the demolition exercise is a strategy that will have a lasting effects in the minds of the people so serve as a deterrent to others.

    He noted that it will be an unpardonable error on the part of the government if it allows those known for ill gotten wealth to continue to show off with their wealth, adding that, “such will be contradicting the cherished value and the very foundation of the society.”

    The Commissioner of Police, in his speech, noted that the strategy of demolishing the homes of criminals and their accomplices will send a warning signal that whoever indulges in crime and those abating and protecting them will not go unpunished.