The monarch of Atani community in Ogbaru Local Government of Anambra State, Igwe Augustine Azuka Ngodi, and the Chairman of the Local Government Transition Committee, Arinze Awogu, have denied ceding the communal land to herdsmen.

They also refuted the arrest and detention of youths of Umuidima village, Atani community, by men and officers of the Navy for being members of the detained Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Speaking to reporters yesterday at the traditional ruler’s palace, the Secretary of Atani traditional palace, Chief Augustine Ezeolisa, said what was responsible for the crisis was the squabble over the revenue generated from sand mining at Umuidima village.

He accused some persons of instigating the indigenes, especially youths, against Igwe Ngodi and the town union over the management of the revenue being generated from sand mining.

“The development prompted the youth to hijack the revenue collection and management, insisting that no part of the money should go to the traditional ruler and town union leadership.

“A meeting was convened to find a solution to the issue, when some people invaded here and overpowered even the policemen that came to provide security. So, the Navy officers came to douse the tension and rescue the policemen,” Ezeolisa said.

He said the arrested persons were released the same day following the intervention of the monarch that no one should be detained.

The people of Umuidima village told reporters at the home of 99-year-old Chief Nwabunwanne Nwadukwe that their village had become impassable following the activities of sand miners.

 

 

 

Ebonyi Governor David Umahi has suspended the Coordinator of Íshielu Development Centre, James Abba.

Secretary to the State Government, Kenneth Ugbala, announced this in a statement on Sunday.

The SSG said the suspension is with immediate effect.

Ugbala said the Coordinator was suspended for his alleged role in the Ezilo crisis, which has claimed many lives.

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His statement reads: ” Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dr David Nweze Umahi, has approved the suspension of the Coordinator of Ishielu Development Centre, Hon James Abba, with immediate effect”

“The suspension is as a result of his alleged roles in Ezillo crisis that has claimed the lives of some Ebonyians.

“Consequently, Hon James Abba is directed to hand over all government property in his possession to the Secretary to the State Government not later than 4pm today 15th August, 2021.

“Please ensure strict compliance to this directive.”

One of the leading governorship aspirants of the People’s Democratic Party PDP before the primaries, Dr Godwin Maduka, said he dumped the party because of injustice

Maduka  who joined Accord Party to pursue his governorship ambition, declared that nothing would stop him from winning the November 6 election in the state.

He said he left his former party following the manner the party conducted its primary, alleging that the delegates list was changed three times in the middle of the game.

Maduka, who had picked another strong politician, Mr Ken Obi, as his deputy, spoke at the weekend in his party office along the Enugu -Onitsha expressway in Awka.

He expressed optimism of garnering votes from his former party, and the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to win the poll.

He said he had contributed significantly in the making of governors and other political office holders in the state before now, adding that it was the time for him to lead the way

“Even though I’ve left PDP, but I’m optimistic that many people in the party as well as APGA and other political parties will cast their votes for me on November 6.”

 

Bayelsa State Government has warned that traditional rulers in the state who fail to open registers to profile visitors and non-indigenes engaged in business and other socio-economic activities in their areas will face its wrath.

Deputy Governor Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave the warning during the second round of local government by local government meetings with traditional rulers across the state, beginning with Ekeremor council at his office in Yenagoa.

Ewhrudjakpo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, yesterday explained that the state government had earlier directed the traditional rulers to carry out the profiling in its previous meetings with them in which securty topped the agenda.

Making reference to a recent policy announcement by the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, he maintained that the issue of profiling had become compulsory in view of the current security situation in the country.

The deputy governor described the situation where most communities in Bayelsa do not know the number and kinds of people carrying out all sorts of activities in their forests, farmlands and rivers, as “no longer acceptable to government.”

Ewhrudjakpo, who lamented that Bayelsans had left their traditional fishing and farming occupations to strangers, reiterated his call on the royal fathers to expedite action on the opening of registers and close monitoring of visitors in their various communities.

In their separate remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Michael Ogbere, and the Chairman, House Committee on Youth and Sports, Tari Porri expressed concern over the rising tide of piracy in the area.

They called on the traditional rulers to provide useful information to the security agencies to curb the menace.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Chief Thompson Amule, enjoined the royal fathers to always be on the same page with government to promote unity and peaceful coexistence in their communities.

Former governorship aspirant of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Afam Ezenwafor, has refuted bribery allegations in connection with his withdrawal from the party, insisting he did not receive money from anyone.

Ezenwafor made the clarification yesterday in a press briefing while officially announcing his position as governorship candidate as the National Rescue Movement (NRM) as the ahead of the November 6 election in Anambra State.

He noted that selling his mandate to another aspirant would amount to betrayal of trust and confidence reposed in him by the people of the state, urging them to disregard such allegations.

He said, “It may interest you to know that my withdrawal from the party primary was predicted on privy information and due diligence. I became mindful that “whatever that killed the mother hen will not allow the chicks to open their eyes.”

“I wish to state that nobody gave me money, nor did I receive money from anyone to withdraw from the party’s primary. Everyone should please disregard the rumor by handiwork of detractors targeted at tarnishing my image and truncating my governorship aspiration.”

An unidentified vehicle has plunged into a mining pit in Enyigba community, in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state.

It is believed the occupants of the vehicle have died in the accident.

They were believed to be on their way to Ikwo from Abakaliki local government area.

The number of persons in the car and the type of car could not be ascertained at the time of this report.

While some reports claimed it was a mini bus, others said it was a salon car.

An eyewitness,  Akachukwu Offia, a Lecturer with AEFUNAI said no help was forthcoming from the company which owns the mining pit despite appeals from him and other commuters.

He said: “A vehicle fell into a pit. Driving from Abakaliki a little distance away from a Mining Company some minutes ago, I observed a white car driving along the same direction.

“And suddenly, the car fell into one of the mining pits full of water and just very close to the road. It was like a dream to me while I followed the car a little distance away from behind.

“I quickly stopped other vehicles from both sides to observe the true position of the accident and while we observed more closely, we discovered much wave of the water due to the fall but could not sight the car nor the passengers.

“I quickly rushed with another private car owner to the mining company to report the accident and seek for urgent rescue but the rest were more of protocols which could not render an immediate help.

“Who were the passengers in the car? Whose relatives were they? How could we rescue their dead bodies after about 40 minutes of no immediate solution. And when shall that particular pit and others close by be covered with earth? I was shocked and also wept at the ugly sight. May the LORD repose their souls, Amen”, he said.

Police spokesperson, Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.

She said the police contacted local divers who tried all their best to recover the bus or its occupants but were not successful.

“We will continue tomorrow. Number of occupants has not been ascertained”, she said.

 

An angry mob in the early hours of yesterday set a suspected burglar ablaze in Warri, Delta State.

The suspect was burnt alive by Cinema Site Roundabout in Okumagba Avenue, Warri South council area.

According to residents, the suspect was caught while breaking into a house in the area.

He was said to have successfully burgled other homes before running out of luck.

In a video seen by our reporter, a crowd was gathered at the scene, staring at the burnt corpse.

Policemen from the ‘B’ Division Warri, who got a hint of the incident, were deployed to the scene to ensure calm and vehicular movement.

 

The management of the University of Calabar has hinted of plans to invite erring lecturers to face the varsity’s Disciplinary Committee over alleged sex for grades/sexual harassment, acts of sorting, extortion.

This was contained in an internal memo signed by Prof. Michael Okom, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Administration and circulated around the University community at the weekend.

The memo with the subject matter, ‘Obnoxious and Abhorrable Acts of Sorting, Extortion and Sexual Harassment,’ which reads in parts stated thus: “Some departments and lecturers have been specifically fingered and investigations have commenced.

“Management also has information to the effect that lecturers have resorted to giving students scripts to write exams at homes, hotels and relaxation places.

“All those involved in these despicable activities are hereby warned to desist and repent. In fact, they will soon be invited to interact with the Disciplinary Committee,” it concluded.

No fewer than 50 persons were injured and property worth millions of naira destroyed by unknown persons in Isuaniocha community in Awka North local government area of Anambra State

As a result, the people of the area have cried out to Governor Willie Obiano and the federal government for help.

The incident, according to sources happened few days ago in the sleepy community

As at the time of filing this report, no arrest had been made as the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, said the matter had not been reported to the command

He said he would make further enquiries into the matter, adding that the command would not tolerate lawlessness.

However, The Nation gathered that the incident had caused fear and panic among residents in the community.

An eye witness, Peace Patrick, who works in one of the guest houses destroyed, said it was like a war territory

She said about thirty young men carrying assorted weapons including guns, descended on them at the guest house, beating up everyone and destroying household effects worth millions of naira in the facility.

Also, Ada Favour alleged that the hoodlums carted away, television sets, refrigerators, assorted drinks, foams, and huge sum of money.

“I was inside the room when they invaded us, they started shooting the window glasses, breaking everywhere and parking our electronic gadgets, they collected my sisters phone from her.”

One of the injured victims, Mr Onyebuchi Okeke, said the way the hoodlums pounced on them was as if they were descendants of the Boko Haram people

He said they were working on a bridge leading to Otoko village in the area when they arrived shooting non-stop into the air to scare onlookers while they destroyed cars, motorcycles among others

Another victim, Mr John Nwankwo, said “we were working at the bridge, when the boys descended on us asking us to stop work immediately.

“They started attacking us with machetes, destroying cars parked and even tricycles, God really saved us from the hands of those unidentified hoodlums.”

Speaking with The Nation on phone, the President General of the community, Comrade Frank Mkpume, blamed the crisis on the activities of people he described as bad elements, who he alleged were bent on fomenting trouble in the land for selfish purposes.

“They had been involved in some illegal activities including collecting levies from developers, selling lands of individuals, intimidating people and hijacking the work of the elders and market authorities we know them.”

The Chairman of Otoko village, Mr Okwudili Obiakor, said that trouble started in December last year when the people wanted to replace the caretaker committee

On the allegations, the Youth Chairman of the community,   Mr Onyemazi Ngini, regretted the inability of the Anambra State government to recognise their new President General after they had impeached Mr Frank Mkpume, led to the lingering crises in the area.

He accused Mkpume of going ahead to collect development levy amounting to a million naira from a developer and never remitted such to the youths account.

 

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

A popular businessman and pharmacist based in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, Mr Ikechukwu Onyegbuna, has alleged incessant harassment by security agents in the state over his perceived membership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

Onyegbuna, who raised the alarm on Thursday while speaking with reporters in Yenagoa, alleged that he had been under constant intimidation, victimisation and harassment by security agents.

He stated that he had lived in Bayelsa State for many years and had been conducting his business without involving in the agitation for Biafra and other secessionist groups.

Onyegbuna said: “I have observed of recent that some security operatives are hounding me and have made life unbearable for me.

“The harassment and threat to my life have made me to go into hiding and can no longer move freely to conduct my legal and thriving business which is my source of livelihood.

“My ordeal in the hands of security operatives is a fallout of the crisis in Oyigbo, Orlu and the recent sit-at-home order by IPOB in the Southeast and arrest of IPOB members in part of the Southsouth. I have no links with the crisis.”

He appealed to all relevant authorities to intervene and save his life from imminent danger in the hands of the security operatives.

But the police authorities in the state said Onyegbuna had not reported the matter.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, said as far as he had not reported the matter, the police would not act on it.