The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Abia lawmaker’s medical outreach thrills constituents

    The 2019 edition of Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha’s free medical mission in conjunction with a United States-based non-governmental organisation, Living Hope Medical Center, has brought health relief to the people of Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State.

    For Hon. Onyejiocha, who represents the constituency at the House of Representatives, funds the outreach every year.

    The exercise comes up in June and July, a time of heavy rains, but beneficiaries who come from within and outside Umunneochi/Isiukwuato area, defy the wetness and head to Isuochi, venue of the outreach.

    This year’s edition, the only Abia female lawmaker in the 9th National Assembly, brought 41 medical professionals in different medical fields who deployed their expertise to render medical assistance to the people.

    To make their job more convenient, Hon. Onyejiocha acquired land where she erected a more conducive structure for the medical team to carry out their operation unlike when they were using a government healthcare centre that could barely accommodate the team members.

    The medical doctors took their time to listen to the patients. Nurses checked the blood pressure of patients while pharmacists handed over drugs to patients, and optometrists issued glasses to those in need of them.

    The doctors were in various rooms carrying out open corrective surgery on a good number of patients.

    Some of the patients who came with tears amidst hopelessness after being examined by the doctors who treated and prescribed drugs for them, left with joy.

    Some of them who spoke to our reporter said that they were excited with the level of attention that they received from the medical personnel.

    According to them, the month of June and July when the programme usually holds, is a time that they anxiously wait for especially at a time in the country when access to healthcare of such quality is meant for only the rich or privileged members of the society.

     

    In an interview, Onyejiocha said, “The reason for the health mission is that health is wealth. A lot of people here are people who can’t afford medical treatment for themselves and so, as the member representing the area, this is one way of giving back to the people that I represent.

    “This is my personal fund. Even before I became a member of House of Reps, I have been doing this. I have done it for over 14 years. It has nothing to do with my position as member of House of Representatives. It has a lot to do with my passion for my people. it has a lot to do with identifying with the need of the people that have kept sending me back to the National Assembly. It is not a constituency project. The building that you are seeing here comes from my personal fund.

    “At the start, I was partnering with local doctors. But since I came in contact with Living Hope, they have done much more than what we did in the past. They have done more surgeries than the local doctors have done.

    “I am impressed because the quality of service is there, the dedication is there and they are doing more complex surgeries wityh the team of experts that they came with than what the local doctors have been able to do in a two days medical mission. That is why I keep partnering with them after we took off for the first time.

    “They know that I do it every June. Some have started booking surgery for next year. I pray that God will keep me alive and healthy so that I will be able to do it much better than what we have this year. I wish I could have more doctors to see everybody. I wish I could have more doctors to see everybody.

    “I wish I could have more doctors to go into some areas that they can’t do here because the medical facilities that we have on ground here cannot take care of. My prayer is that maybe in time to come, that God will continue to heal my people so that they don’t need to go through all these and even if they do need, that we will be able to provide the kind of facilities that will be able to take care of them.

    “I have sent most of the referrers to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Federal Medical Center (FMC) and other places. I also assure them that I am going to take care of their medical bills. If they had done it here, I am not sure that it will cost me any extra money.

    “My constituents know how much that I value their well being and that was why when I moved into APC, they weren’t looking at the party, but the person who is representing them. I am the party that they know.”

    On what future plans she has for the medical mission, the former House Committee Chairman on Aviation said “That plan would be, but we have to put a lot of things into consideration. If you take a cursory look at health facilities around the state, one would not help, but try to get it bigger, bring in more equipments, get in more qualified doctors and make it permanent so that even when the expatriates leave, the local doctors will keep doing what they can do and the ones they can’t, they can refer to bigger teaching hospital. That’s the plan, but it depends on how much money that I will be able to save to do that.”

    On insinuations that she was doing the medical mission for political reasons, the lawmaker said “I have seen so many people here who didn’t vote for me in the last election because they have their loyalty to other political parties. Apart from members of the APC who are here to either get treated or to render assistance in one way or the other, I have seen members of the PDP, APGA and SDP coming to get screened and attended to by the medical team. Will I tell them to go? I won’t do that. They are members of Isiukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency that I represent at the Federal House of Representatives and whatever that comes from me to the people should be shared across board.

    “Everyone has the right to vote for any person of his or her choice. And I can’t deny him or her opportunity to get treated because the person didn’t vote for me. The people that I represent must be in good health regardless of the political party that they belonged to.

    “What political point would I want to score or achieve after my election few months ago? If I want to score political point, shouldn’t I have done this last year at the heat of the campaign period?

    “What political point would I want to score after my swearing-in and inauguration? This date was fixed from last year, many people won’t do that. They would have preferred having this kind of programme during the campaign to win the sympathy of would be voters.

    “What political point have I been scoring over 13 years ago that I will score today? For me, everything I do has nothing to do with politics. I have tried to remove politics from representation because you can’t be representing people and then, you are politicking with their lives.

    “What point would I score that somebody is sick and the person is just waiting for another June to be treated? There is no point here to score.

    “Even in my foundation, I made it clear that it is about representing the people. It is about giving back to the people who have worked for us and so, if I want to do politics, I will go to the field and I will put banners.

    “If I want to score political point, I would have organized a Press Conference even before takeoff. For me, representation is about a covenant with the people and God. When it comes to politics, we play politics. But I warn politicians, those who come and get votes from people and run away from their responsibilities, that a time will come when no matter how much that they pay, they won’t get the vote because it is about the people who have the passion to represent the people and not how much that you have amassed for yourself.”

    On what she feels about her mom’s gesture to the constituents, Chisom Onyejiocha said “I feel that what she is doing is very inspiring. Our people are suffering; our politicians aren’t doing the job that they are supposed to be doing.

    “I think that my mum is one of the few people that actually cares about her people. For her to be doing this free medical care every year shows the much that she loves her constituents. People are going through a lot of things and for them to be healthy, the privileged ones should regularly be doing this kind of thing.

    “I am happy that the people who are here leave here better than they came, I am however sad because of the crowd here is overwhelming. I am sure that this is not going to end after my mum leaves office as the Isiukwuato/Umunneochi representative. We, the children have to assist her and carry on this medical mission till everyone is able to afford healthcare.”

    The leader of the medical team, Dr. Sonny Acho, the founder/President Living Hope Medical Center, said, “The organisation is based in the United States of America and we have been in existence for thirty years. Every year, we embark on medical mission to help our people ease the stress and suffering that they are passing through over the years because of their inability of having access to quality medical healthcare.

    “This is the twelfth year of Hon. Nkeiru Onyejiocha partnering with us; Living Hope Mission to help her with her passion and vision. We share the same passion and I have known her for a very long time. When we saw her heart and what she wants to do for her constituents, it was easy for me to persuade my organization to partner with her.

    “We did surgeries for hernias to lymphoma to cataract among others.  The ophthalmologists are screening people and are giving glasses. We have 41 doctors and nurses and pharmacists among other medical professionals in different medical disciplines that came with me.

    “At Isiukwuato, we amputated someone’s leg that is so horrible which if we didn’t do, the guy may not have last for a longtime.

    “For thirty years, I have been doing this kind of thing for thirty years. One of the things that we were a big challenge for us is the roads, they are horrible. It is one of the things that frustrate me. if the government can do something to fix them, then it will be easy to access the area.

    “To come from Isiukwuato to Isuochi that shouldn’t take more than thirty minutes will take you about two hours and it is frustrating.

    “Some of the people are frustrated because they don’t have money to go to the doctor. We are their only hope. That is why you will see them fighting and struggling to go and see the doctor so that their situations can be taken care of.

    “If we go and they weren’t attended to, it means that they are going to wait till the next year. People are dying needlessly here. A situation that a visit to the doctor will take care of or a situation that $20 could take care of in the US, you see people dying for it. If you go into the operating room, you will situations that are very horrible.

    “We have a lady that has been carrying lymphoma for several years, but it was taken out by her visit to this place. The woman, I am sure may not afford to pay for the surgery elsewhere because the least it could cost her getting the stuff removed should be around N350, 000.

    “Cataract that can cost around N180, 000 in average Nigeria hospital were removed in less than twenty-thirty minutes here for free.

    ”We also discovered that people have suffered a particular health condition for so many years maybe because they don’t where to go or that they know where to go, but don’t have the money to get treated.

    “In this area, there are cases of hernias, waist pains and joint aches, malaria and eye related issues are mainly what we have been treating here.

    “There are about two huge fibroid cases that if we start getting into it now, it will take about three-four hours to get done with loss of blood. So, we are encouraging them to go to the nearest hospital and see if it could be done. But we know why they run to us, they have tried the hospitals, but the money to do it might be their challenge. Unfortunately, we don’t have the time.

    “We noticed that people are struggling with finances; they don’t have the money to go treat themselves. It hurts me to see that I am situations that they could have taken care of but because they don’t have the money to get treated, they have to wait for us to come.

    “You see people dying of situations that they could have get tested and treated almost immediately, but because they don’t have the money, they won’t be able to treat such until they come to a medical mission as this and some of them come when the situation may have grown bigger than what a mission like this can take care of.

    “What we do when we have such cases is to send the patient to government or private hospital where it could be taken care of and what we do in most cases is to use our personal funds to pay for the person’s medical bills.

    “We hope to bring in more specialists in the next edition. Knowing what are dealing with now, we hope to bring more doctors that can handle some of these situations and hopefully, the facility here that Hon. Onyejiocha has put up will become more functional.

    “I hope that by next year, the building must have been remodeled to accommodate the type of treatment that we want to cover by next year. we are equally building a state-of-the-art laboratory in Isiukwuato for people to go and investigate before they can be treated.

    “The Health Center that we have been using in the past for this medical mission here in Isuochi has been a horrible place to be, but with the current facility that Hon. Onyejiocha has been able to put up, we can have three surgery beds and our target for next year is to have about five surgery beds.

    “One of the things that we have also discovered here is that HIV is so high. As we have been doing surgery, we have been so careful because there are lots of sexually transmitted issues in this area.”

     

  • Suicide: ESUT medical school brainstorms the scourge

    Irked by the ravaging epidemic of suicide in the society, the College of Medicine, University of Science and Technology (ESUT) packaged a lecture where the issue was discussed and dissected by an expert.

    With the theme: “Alarming Rate of Suicide: the underlying factors and issues”, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Luke Anike in his opening remarks said suicide, basically has to do with the individual’s self-perception and ability to withstand stresses of any kind.

    Stressing that the lecture not only addressed a problem of the society but that it should be noted that it most importantly addressed “the problems of university communities as a greater percentage of those that were recently involved were undergraduates.”

    “Now that it is ravaging our youths especially in the university communities, it is important that we take a very close look at it from all ramifications with a view to stemming the tide”, Anike said.

    Professor Richard Uwakwe who teaches Neuropsychiatry at  the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi campus was the guest lecturer.

    He told the audience at the auditorium of the College of Medicine that a number of factors were found to be associated with either suicidal attempt or ideas which he listed as young age and traumatic experience.

    He said explaining the cause of suicide could be quite complex, involving philosophical, sociological and neurobiological issues.

    “Although, primarily, suicide in itself is not a mental disorder, however, most (90%) people who committed suicide have been found  to have had a mental disorder.

    “Incidentally the majority of mental disorders that are associated with suicide are treatable. But there is no treatment for suicide because it is the end of life. Rather what is available is the prevention of suicide,” the lecturer hinted.

    He asserted that the most important point in prevention of suicide is the recognition of at risk individuals. “While psychiatrists are trained to do formal risk assessment, there is a collective responsibility for suicide prevention, without necessarily medicalising a complex problem.

    “People who have mental disorders and those who are single, separated, widowed, divorced usually have higher risk.

    “Suicidal threats are not to be taken lightly and once an individual shows signs of possible suicide in the context of risk estimation, there is need for active intervention. Sometimes simple measures such as listening, showing concern and empathy can be very helpful.”

    Uwakwe posited that a number of factors constitute barriers in fighting against suicide in the Nigerian society.

    He gave for example, that psychiatry has a very low profile in most medical school curriculum, coming as a mere appendix to the more glamorous areas of medical specialties.

    He explained: “Consequently, many medical graduates have only a faint idea of psychiatry, where it is taught at all. Coupled with stigma, this is complicated by the fact that as today, Nigeria has no Mental Health Law.

    “Nigerian psychiatrists still operate with the outdated 1916 Lunacy Act and this has sometimes led to inability to prevent extended suicide.

    Uwakwe called on government at all levels to resolve the challenges of unemployment, job losses, poverty and insecurity as a necessary step towards tackling the problem of increasing rate of suicide in the country.

    He told the audience that Nigeria was under siege by suicide with 42 cases in six months.

    He recommended that in addition to addressing economic downturn in the country with the pressure it is putting on individuals, African values which enhance social integration should also be encouraged to help prevent suicide and suicide tendencies.

  • Anambra coastal communities celebrate outstanding NYSC members

    it was a memorable day for outgoing 2018 Batch “B” Corps members in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State when the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) stormed the area.

    Over 63 of them deployed to carry out their one year national service in the riverine communities could not hold back their joy as they trouped out in their numbers to receive the team led by the State Coordinator, Mr. Kehinde Aremu.

    Their excitement was not unexpected as such visits by the NYSC management team were rare in the area in view of the peculiarity of the terrain.

    Among the corps members were four of them who were honoured with Chairman’s Award for distinguishing themselves during their service year.

    The award recipients, Mr Sunday Anonime, Mr Iwuoha Ekemezie, Mr Omotunde Oluwafemi and Miss Grace Eze, were also presented with cash rewards.

    Speaking during the occasion, the NYSC state Coordinator, Mr Kehinde Aremu, said he chose the council area to celebrate with the corps members owing to the peculiarity of the terrain.

    He described Anambra West as a people in special need and promised that the NYSC would do what was within its reach to bridge the manpower deficiency gap.

    He appreciated the council for the love and hospitality shown to the corps members, assuring them that their requests would be considered.

    Commending the corps members for accepting to serve in the hard to reach riverine area to impact positively in the lives of the people, Aremu noted that such sacrifices hardly go unrewarded.

    He said the NYSC would help to tell the story Anambra West to the world, while promising to work on their request.

    The awardee corps members said the community lacked access to quality education, good healthcare and sanitation.

    They said they apparently shouldered the education of the people of the council as they made up the bulk of teachers.

    The only female awardee, Grace Eze, who was among those who declined being evacuated when crises erupted in the area, said she insisted on serving in the community due to the passion she had for the people.

    She said she thought mathematics and physics in the school where she was posted to, saying she also organized tutorials for the students including on weekends.

    “I also thought the locals how to prepare local okpa and abacha. I equally thought them cultural dances,” she added.

    Eze called on the state government to address the myriad of challenges in the area as a way of checking their underdevelopment.

    Earlier, Chairman of the Council, Mr Sylvester Okafor, appealed to the NYSC in the state to post more health specialists to the council to bridge the manpower gap in that sector.

    The council boss said the local government did not have any functional health facility nor government doctors in the 21 health centres in the council and prayed the NYSC to help uplift the people of the area.

    He said they also needed the service of pharmacists and laboratory scientists as there was no place where people can run simple laboratory tests for as little as malaria in the riverine area.

    He said, “Your coming to this place is not just for the fun of it, you have seen the condition of the people here, this is our request and I hope it will be granted, please post more doctors to Anambra West, if we can get five we will be happy.

    “We don’t have a laboratory here where we can even run a simple malaria test in this whole local government, but if we can have laboratory scientists, somebody can come from Ndiora, Oroma can come to Anam for the test.

    “The only hospital we have is a missionary hospital in Mmiata, managed by the Holy Rosary Sisters with one doctor who works day and night, that is why are calling for these graduate doctors to help the people in Igala area, Mmiata and other hard to reach areas.

    “The two we have now are leaving and by that we don’t have any again, so, please send us more doctors, we don’t need them to give us drugs, we need them to give us the manpower.”

    Okafor promised good incentives for corps members who work in the council.

  • Succour for Anambra widows

    Over 150 widows in Anambra State have been empowered by Virtuous Women Foundation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

    The widows drawn from across the 21 local government areas of the state were presented with motorcycles, wrappers, bags of rice, toiletries and other material gifts.

    Addressing the beneficiaries in Awa, Orumba South council area, founder of the NGO, Mrs Ifeyinwa Egbosiuba said the exercise was part of the organisation’s programmes in alleviating the challenges of the widows.

    She noted that the association, which had been in the forefront of empowering widows since inception, had empowered no fewer than 20,000 widows in the 36 states of the federation.

    She said, “The day is set aside by the United Nations to recognise and empower widows and vulnerable children.

    “We offered European Scholarships to 36 youths and 12 children in primary and post-primary schools as well as to the university.

    “Skills acquisition programmes, shelter for widows, and farming schemes have also been provided.”

    Egbosiuba solicited support to better the lives of widows and the less-privileged in the society.

    Also speaking, Captain, Anti-Conflict Peace Keeping Chaplaincy, Lagos headquarters, Mr Ernest Maduka, said widowhood was not a curse, neither were widows beggars nor objects of sympathy.

    Read Also: Better days await Lagos widows, say perm sec, others

    Speaking on the theme, “Upholding The Human Rights of Widows”, Maduka noted that women and girls had rights to be protected from sexual and gender based-violence in armed conflicts.

    The empowerment/support programme featured awareness lecture as well as inauguration of state executive.

    One of the lecturers, an Assistant Director, Investigations, National Human Rights Commission, Anambra State, Mrs. Nkechi Ugwuanyi said the day was observed globally to educate the public on issues of concern, mobilise political will and resources to address problems of women’s rights.

    “In Anambra, women are faced with various kinds of abuse and violations, ranging from disinheritance, sexual violence, domestic violence, discrimination on ground of gender to harmful traditional practices,” she decried.

    She enjoined relevant stakeholders to live up to their obligations by upholding the rights of widows as enshrined in the international and National laws.

    She added, “There is need for stakeholders to intensify their efforts at creating awareness on widows’ rights and the need for inclusion of women in decision making process during conflict resolution.’’

  • This woman needs N1.6m for bone surgery

    A 39-year-old woman Mrs Ujuka Ifediba, involved in a container lorry accident along the Mile 2 Badagry expressway, Lagos has appealed for financial assistance from spirited individuals and organisations to enable her return to normal life again.

    Ifediba, a native of Umuoji, Idemili North of Anambra State, said she needed the sum of N1.6 million to offset her bill for the corrective surgery.

    The patient had narrowly escaped death on September 6, 2017 when the container fell off a truck and descended on her waist and lower part of her body at Agric Bus Stop area of the state.

    Describing her survival as divine, Ifediba recounted how a man who was beside her died instantly under the container, noting that the trauma of the accident were yet to leave her.

    “I was receiving treatment at a traditional bone setting home before I was moved to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH), Awka last year.” she said.

    According to her, she had undergone several surgeries for treatment of the wound, but added that the actual corrective surgery for the fractures was yet to be done.

    “I have been a burden to my husband and widowed mother as family members have spent a lot of money on my predicament.

    “I have not received medical attention in the hospital for more than two months due to my inability to pay the N1.6 million bill for the corrective surgery,” she narrated soberly.

    Ifediba however revealed that she was asked to leave the hospital following ongoing strike by doctors in the hospital, but not until she had offset over N1,044, 775 accumulated bill.

    Medical report from COOUTH signed by Dr Ifeanyi Ezeobi, a Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon, revealed that Ifediba was admitted in the hospital on May 28, 2018 and had been under a combined team of orthopedic and plastic surgeons.

    “She was a victim of road traffic accident and sustained multiple fractures to the pelvis and lower limbs.

    “Initial management was by traditional bone setters in Lagos leading to pressure sores at the gluteal and back of the knees and hips with stiffness of the joint.

    “She has undergone series of surgical interventions to heal the pressure sores while still awaiting definitive treatment of the fractures which will come when the pressure ulcers are healed.

    “The estimated cost of the definitive treatment for the fractures is put at N1.6 million, this includes the cost of surgeries, additional hospital stay and rehabilitation,” it stated.

    Ifediba currently lying helpless at the deserted female surgical ward with her mother on her bedside can be contacted through this phone number – 081 616 758 02.

  • Imo prioritises agric revival

    To create jobs and shore up its economy, the Imo State government plans to revive the state’s moribund agriculture sector. OKODILI NDIDI reports

    Not too many people know that aside from its enormous mineral resources, Imo State has huge untapped agricultural potentials that when harnessed will transform it to a leading exporter of agricultural produce.

    But painfully, successive administrations in the state failed to take advantage of these agricultural resources to create jobs and attain food security in the state. Instead, the state government has continued to rely on the 13% derivation from the Federation Account as an oil producing state, leaving these potentials to idle away.

    For instance, unconfirmed reports put the state  ahead of Anambra and Enugu states in the cultivation of cashew which is allowed to waste away but for a handful of  peasants who process the  nuts for the local market.

    A cashew plantation that spans hectares of land along the Njaba-Orlu Road in Njaba Council Area of the state, which was planted during the administration of Sam Mbakwe, has been abandoned. The same applies to the Imo Rubber Estate and the Imo Palm Plantation located in Ohaji-Egbema.

    Although attempts were made by the Rochas Okorocha administration to return the state to agriculture through various policies and programmes, none of these were enough to activate the much needed revolution in the agricultural sector in the state.

    If properly harnessed the cashew plantation can attract foreign exchange for the state through export and direct foreign investments, as well as create meaningful jobs for the teeming youths in the state.

    The Imo Rubber Estate is another abandoned goldmine that is capable of creating jobs and becoming a major revenue earner for the state.

    Established during the reign of Michael Opara as the Premier of the Eastern Region, the Imo Rubber Estate was conceived as a farm settlement with a flouring estate. During its heydays, it was the largest single rubber plantation in the Eastern Region and created wealth and job opportunities for the people.

    Despite the fact that the rubber plantation has been and some of the trees destroyed either by age or climate conditions, no remarkable efforts have been made by successive governments to replant or expand the plantation.

    Read Also: NIRSAL woos banks to finance agriculture

    The Estates which were built in three major rubber plantations in Ngor-Okpala, Ohaji-Egbema and Owerri West Council Areas are now weather beaten and totally abandoned.

    This also applies to the Imo Palm Plantation, which was also established by Michael Opara. Spanning hundreds of Hectares of land, the Imo Palm Plantation is about the third largest single palm plantation in Nigeria and was once the mainstay of the economy of the old Imo State.

    However, despite the prospects, the Oil Palm plantation was grossly mismanaged over the years, resulting in endless clashes between the Management and the host community.

    Meanwhile, if properly harnessed, Imo State will become a major exporter of palm oil and other by products that are derived from oil palm.

    At last there is something to cheer; the Imo State government is set to revive and rejuvenate the agricultural sector and once more make it the mainstay of the economy of the state.

    By implication, the ailing agro-industries in the state will receive the required attention, which will no doubt unlock the hidden agricultural potentials of the state.

    Disclosing the plans of the state government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Uche Udeozor, stated that the state governor, Emeka Ihedioha is committed to accelerated agricultural development.

    According to him, “the state government is committed to revamping agriculture and pull over 60% of the people of the state out of poverty by making the required investments in agriculture”.

    He however lamented that over N30 billion budgeted for agriculture in the last six years was never invested in the sector.

    Also assuring of better deal for the agricultural sector, a member of the newly constituted Board of the Imo Rubber Estate, Chief

    Fidel Onyeneke, said that the current administration is poised to returning the pride of agriculture in the state.

    He noted that the Imo Rubber Estate when revived will create no fewer than 200 jobs, adding that, “the current administration is committed to diversifying the economy of the state by making huge investment in the agricultural sector. All the abandoned agro-industries like the Imo Palm, Imo Rubber Estate, Avutu Poultry, among others that where hitherto abandoned will get the required attention”.

  • ‘Suspects in Enugu nurse murder held’

    The gunmen behind the murder of Mrs. Maria Amadi, the head nurse at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, are now in police net.

    A private investigator, Pastor Samuel Ekwechi disclosed this in an affidavit which he filed before an Enugu State High Court.

    The affidavit marked Motion No: E/210m/2019 was dated and filed by the pastor on June 24, 2019.

    Mrs Amadi from Igbo Etiti local council of Enugu State was murdered in front of her house at Trans Ekulu Estate in Enugu at the close of work.

    Three senior members of the staff of the same hospital including the principal of the School of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nusing, Mrs Buzo-Ruth Maduka and the vice principal, Afam Ndu were earlier arraigned before the High Court presided over by the Enugu State Chief Judge, charged with murder.

    Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had placed a N5m bounty to whom will give information to the arrest of the killers.

    But the private investigator has now told the court that the key suspects have been arrested.

    In the affidavit, he disclosed that the suspects, identified as Chidi Nwobi and Amingo, were arrested at the Abakpa Area of the State.

    He said that “on the 19th of June, 2019, both Chidi Nwobi and Amingo were interviewed by the police in relation to all the crimes they have been committing and I was present there by virtue of the level of my involvement in the intelligence work and without any molestation or torture of any sort, Chidi Nwobi openly confessed to many armed robbery escapades and in particular confessed that it was he and his gang of other three persons that shot the deceased Maria Amadi at Trans-Ekulu Enugu, and that they did not mean to kill her but only wanted to rob her of money and other valuables.

    “That he also confessed to the names and identify of all other members of his gang, which he named to the police and reiterated that they only wanted to rob her and in the process it resulted into shooting at her and that they were not paid, sponsored, hired or instructed to kill or attack the deceased by anybody else.

    “That this interview was video-recorded and can now be confirmed by the police authorities in the State and it is no more a secret that under the able leadership of the current commissioner of police in the State, the identity of the culprits who attacked and killed the deceased has been unraveled.

    “That all those members of staff of the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, who were remanded in this case, as well as all those still currently held in detention at Abuja as part of investigation into this case are by virtue of the open confession of Chidi Nwobi and Amingo completely innocent of the allegation.”

    Contacted, the Enugu police command spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu said he was out of town.

    Meanwhile, a video, where one of the suspects was confessing to the crime, is currently trending on social media.

  • Cleric to fathers: be committed to God

    A clergyman Rt. Rev. Nathan Umeh has challenged men to actively propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ without waiting to be reminded or cajoled.

    Rev Umeh, who is Bishop of Province III of Christ Holy Church, Aba, Abia State was addressing men of the church on the occasion of Father’s Day.

    Bishop Umeh, while urging fathers and other parishioners to emulate early missionaries, admonished them not to be compelled but rather volunteer for the spread the gospel of Christ.

    Read Also: Cleric seeks more prayers to curb insecurity

    According to him, people who volunteered to be witnesses shouldn’t slumber, but should stand firm in their faith, stressing that there is a reward for those that serve God.

    In an address of welcome, the chairman Men’s Fellowship, Ibo Station, Emeka Enemor described men as “real life heroes”.

    Enemor used the opportunity to reiterate the commitment of the Men’s Fellowship to bolster their welfare scheme for active and diligent members and also to assist the church in executing some capital projects as part of their commitment in the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    High point of the occasion was song ministration from the Men’s Choir among other presentations that added glamour to the event.

  • Deadly explosion brings memories of Civil War in Imo

    The explosion of a 50-year-old bomb in Imo State has brought back horrific memories of the Nigeria-Biafra Civil War, OKODILI NDIDI writes

    The carnage that characterised the Nigerian Civil War was recently revisited on Eziorsu community in Oguta Council Area of Imo State when an Unexploded Ordinance used during the war exploded in a scrap metal shop, killing three persons and destroying several buildings.

    Fifty years after the civil war, the abandoned weapons that were buried under the earth are still potent and lethal, this much was established when one of bombs that was exhumed by scavengers exploded.

    For the victims, Elvis Ukado, Kasiemobi Uzoma and Justus Adiemea, the day’s business, which involved sorting of iron scraps brought by customers for sale, started without any inkling of danger until they stumbled on a rocket-shaped piece of iron which weighed far above its size.

    Out of curiosity, the trio decided to cut open the iron and find out why it was unusually heavy but they never lived to disclose their findings. They were blown to death in the explosion that rocked the makeshift shop.

    The sleepy neighbourhood was thrown into panic. Buildings caved in under the impact of the explosion. There was stampede as the people ran in different directions.   After a while, the cause of the explosion was unraveled and people trooped to the scrap metal shop to find the three young men, who were bubbling with life a while ago, lying in a pool of their blood.

    Read Also: Decaying monuments of NIGERIAN CIVIL WAR

    Chief Stephen Chimezie who narrated the incident to The Nation, said that it was a common site during the civil war, adding that the noise and commotion that attended the explosion brought back the civil war memory.

    “We had forgotten about the Civil War but this explosion reopened the memory,” he said. “Some of the bombs that were abandoned by the soldiers were buried after the war. We have been complaining about it but nothing is happening. My advice is that our people should be careful, when they see objects they don’t know, they should report to the police”.

    Narrating her own account of the incident, a food vendor, Mrs. Uka Roseline, said that she escaped death by the whiskers.

    In her words, “I normally bring food to the scrap shop every morning to sell to the workers but today as I was coming, I stopped over to sell food to some people working in a building site, hoping to go to the scrap shop from there.

    “But while I was still collecting money for the food I sold, there was this loud sound that shook the ground and we were wondering what happened when we saw people running towards the scrap shop which is just few poles away from where I was. By the time I got there, a large crowd had gathered at the place and I saw one of the boys I used to sell food to lying dead, I could not believe my eyes”.

    Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Command in an attempt to forestall a reoccurrence of such ugly incident, has organized a sensitization programme for scrap dealers in the state, where they were thought on how to identify Unexploded Ordinances or any other dangerous items that were not detonated during the civil war but buried under the earth.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, warned the scrap dealers to promptly report any metal device suspected to be Unexploded Ordinance to the Police for possible examination and destruction.

    He said, “While you are scavenging for iron or metal, be vigilant, if you see any metal that has the shape of a rocket or suspected to be Unexploded Ordinance, report immediately to the Police, don’t take it to your shop for sell, it is dangerous. It may be rusty and look damaged but it is still potent, despite the fact that it has been buried under the ground for decades.

  • Fanfare as army ends operations in Abia

    With family and friends, army personnel celebrate the end of 2018 operations in Abia State, reports SUNNY NWANKWO

    One of the gigantic structures conspicuously located on the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road is the 14 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army. Despite its visibility, it is one of the facilities that even residents of the host community, Ohafia, would not go near if they don’t have anything genuine business there. Stern-faced soldiers mount guard at the gate.

    Last week, the brigade threw its gates open to the host community and other security agencies to mark the end of operational engagements of the brigade in the state.

    The event, which was originally meant to be marked in the first quarter of 2019, was rescheduled because of the Egwueke III militarily exercise in the Southeast and other parts of the country ahead of the 2019 General Elections.

    The event provided an opportunity for the military to socialise with members of the public to foster a harmonious relationship with the civilian population.

    In attendance were the GOC 82 Division, Major-General Abubakar Sadiq Maikobi, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu and other dignitaries.

    Some of the activities that thrilled the audience were tug of war, drama, dancing competition, award presentation to officers and soldiers who distinguished themselves in various areas of the just concluded military operations.

    Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ikpeazu represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Ude Okochukwu lauded the Army for maintaining the old military tradition of bringing its officers and men to socialise with their children, friends and well-wishers. He also thanked the leadershio of the brigade for using the event to showcase Nigerian culture.

    He said, “I am proud to say with all humility that officers and soldiers of the 14 Brigade and their families have given a good account of themselves in the true spirit of WASA going by what I saw. Therefore, I say well done to all the groups and teams that participated in this event.

    “The 14 Brigade has done well within the year in ensuring that Abia State remains peaceful in spite of their enormous responsibilities. Let me seize this to congratulate and commend the officers and men of 14 brigade for the professional conducted that they exhibited during the just concluded Egwueke III and Operation Safe Conduct during the 2019 General Elections.

    “Let me emphasise here that I will say that 2019 general elections went well and in this Abia State, it went well without any rancor and we will attribute this to the efforts of the Nigerian army in Abia State alongside with other security agencies in the state.

    “So, we say a very big thank you to all of you. We can also not forget in a hurry what the Nigerian Army have done in Abia State in the last couple of years when we were terribly traumatized and almost humiliated as a state by hoodlums in the name of kidnappings, the Nigerian Army came to the rescue. I want to also request that you shouldn’t relax, but to continue to ensure that you continue doing those things that you know how to do well so that Abia State will continue to remain one of the most peaceful states in the federation.

    “I want to conclude the commander 14 Brigade and his team for organizing this fantastic WASA despite their busy schedules. I want to also appreciate the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Enugu and heads of other security agencies and paramilitary agencies for the synergy and cooperation extended to 14 Brigade in order to ensure that Abia State continue to remain peaceful and safe.”

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division, Major-General Abubakar Maikobi, represented by his Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Clement A. Apere, said, “The event provided the people with the opportunity of showcasing the rich Nigerian heterogeneous culture and tradition in the army through the medium of West African Social Activity which is an age-long military tradition from the founding fathers of the Nigerian army.

    “West African Social Activities and other get-together organized in the Nigerian Army are aimed at reducing tension and stress to enable the soldiers forge ahead and face future challenges.

    “I recognise that all officers and men of 14 Brigade has worked assiduously throughout the year 2018 in support of the Chief of Army Staff’s vision and the attainment of 2018 training objectives. Some of you will be honoured today for distinguishing yourself in various areas within the past one year, I congratulate you for such feat and I advise that you keep it up.

    “I wish to thank the governor for his unflinching support for the Brigade amidst other state commitments. I want to thank members of the host community for your warm hospitality which has in so many ways provided the enabling environment for the Brigade in the discharge of its duties. I know that this event will further promote the already existing cordial relationship.

    “I will not forget to express our appreciation to the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai under whose leadership the Nigerian Army has made a giant stride towards professionalism.

    “It is pertinent to remind officers and soldiers to always remain apolitical and be conscious of your conduct within and outside the barracks as worthy ambassadors because whatever attitude that you exhibit affects the image of the Nigerian Army.

    “I also wish to state that it is our duty to guide and protect our democracy jealously because as a soldier, one hundred percent loyalty is what is expected of us.

    The 14 Brigade Commander, Solomon Kumapayi I thank the almighty God for making it possible for us to gather here today. Nigerian Army Social Activity is an accepted age-long military tradition that is aimed at creating a social an conducive atmosphere for relaxation for officers, soldiers and their families to socialize with their host community at the end of the training year.

    “The origin of the Nigerian Army Social Activity could be traced to as far back as the Second World War when the Nigerian Army fought as part of the larger West African Frontier Force; during this period, indigenous West African Armies came together to celebrate their cultural heritage with their kinsmen at the end of every training year.

    “In the past, delegates were usually sent to obtain permission from the colonial masters by village heads to seek the release of their soldiers for this yearly event. However, instead of releasing the soldiers yearly to attend the occasion at their country homes, the colonial military masters then incorporated this tradition to the armies and named it West African Social Activity known as WASA which we have adopted the name, Nigerian Army Social Activity.

    “The tradition included dancing and singing among others. This age-long tradition introduced by the colonial masters is still being held in most of British Colonies in the West African Sub-Region including Nigeria. This legacy has helped to command the confidence of soldiers, foster esprit de corps and share in the spirit of the existing cultural diversities of personnel and families within the barracks. Since the end of colonialism in 1960, this tradition was sustained by the indigenous army and has always been an annual recurring feature in the present Nigerian army forecast of events.

    “Additionally, Nigerian army social activity plays a vital role of reminding older generations of the barracks community of the good time in Nigerian villages and at the same time, connecting the younger generation who were probably born outside their traditional communities to their roots.

    “In contemporary time, the Nigerian Army social activity has also become an avenue where the formation units showcase its achievements during the training year.

    “On this note, I wish to state with all sense of humility that we have been able to achieve the brigade’s training objectives for the year 2018 which is to improve professionalism and sustain regimentation among others. This was made possible by the zeal and determination of officers and soldiers supported by their families in 14 Brigade. To this end, the Brigade participated in several competitions to include corporal and below quarter guard competition, combat efficiency, just to mention but a few.

    “May I urge you to continue to maintain your responsibilities to your families and I urge you to do more as you can see that we are going to honour those who distinguished themselves in various skills held within the year. There is also a reward for hard work.

    “I wish to thank the GOC and staff officers of 82 Division of Nigerian Army for their guidance and support in achieving the feat earned in the year 2018 by the brigade. The brigade will continue to do its best in the fight against kidnapping, oil theft, robbery and other vices bedeviling the brigade’s Area of Responsibility within Abia State.

    “I want to assure you that the 14 Brigade 2018 Nigerian Army Social Activity promised to be very exciting, featuring colorful and entertaining cultural dances, tug of war and inspection of local dishes as would be presented by the various units and sub-unit stands.”

    Highpoint of the event was award presentation to the Governor and Deputy Governor of the state, the GOC 82 Division and other officers that distinguished themselves in various areas within the year in review.