The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abia State

  • NDLEA raids illicit drug producing factory

    Personnel of Abia State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), has raided an illicit drug producing factory in Aba, Abia State.

    The NDLEA personnel also arrested four men in connection with the production of unlicensed Diazepam; a sleep-inducing anti-depressant drug.

    The Nation gathered that the illicit drug factory uses big lister generator, two packing and sealing machines, two tablet-making machines, one mixing machine, one big dryer and other appliances to carry out their unauthorized activities.

    There were also unsealed tablets with waste products from packaging littering the floor of the production rooms forming the laboratory when the newsmen visited the warehouse- turned- laboratory

    NDLEA state commander, Bamidele Akingbade who took newsmen round the drug production laboratory located at Omenihu Street, off Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway, Osisioma local government area, near Aba said that the company which produces a brand of Diazepam, named Dizapam is doing so without license and in an unauthorized environment within a residential area.

    According to Akingbade the drug is not only substandard, but was manufactured with the name of an Indian drug company known as Shalina Laboratories PVT, India.

    He said that the personnel of the agency, acting on intelligence had carried out a survey of the facility before the raid.

    Read Also: Man sues NDLEA for son’s death

    Although the commander did not give the names of the arrested persons, he claimed that the suspects were caught working in the laboratory when his men carried out raid of the warehouse.

    He further disclosed that the owner of the factory who operates from Onitsha in Anambra State, is at large, stating that the agency’s personnel are on his trail and would be arraigned in court as soon as the long arm of the catches him.

    “What they do here is compounding and making diazepam illicitly because from the test that has been conducted, it proved positive for Diazepam but the production, registration is not controlled.

    “So it is a clandestine laboratory. He has no number. He has nothing to show government why he is producing the drug.

    “I want to add that Diazepam that is produced here is a controlled drug and if a drug is controlled it means that it affects the central nervous system and the use or abuse of it can lead to addiction or general damage to the user’s brain.

    “It is a depressant and used for treatment of insomnia and anxiety. So we expect that it should not be produced by a single individual in this environment”, he said.

    Akingbade while lamenting that some of the illicit drugs have infiltrated the market in Aba and the urged persons buying diazepam in Aba or the Southeast to check and ensure they got the authentic one.

    He also urged persons who reside in these areas with information on such unlicensed drug productions to report to NDLEA for prompt action in order to save lives.

     

  • ’21 Abia maize farmers make N162.4mn after harvest’

    21 smallholder maize farmers in Abia state have realized N162, 480,000.00 after harvest under the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP)

    The Nigeria Incentive- Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) in a statement issued on Thursday said it is concluding Harvest and Post-harvest activities for maize in Lokpa Nta and Umunneochi Local Government Areas of Abia State under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP).

    The harvest processes include handling, storage, processing, transportation and off-take.

    NIRSAL, a Participating Financial Institution (PFI) in the ABP, is supporting 387 maize farmers belonging to the Kelechik Out-growers scheme. As part of a trial phase, NIRSAL said it “has successfully harvested an initial 21 Hectares of land belonging to 21 smallholder farmers while arrangements have been concluded for the outstanding 366 farmers to participate in the 2019 Wet Season farming.”

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    According to NIRSAL “with the end-to-end use of mechanisation starting from the pre-planting phase, the maize crops were harvested, dehusked, threshed, weighed and transported to a produce drop point for storage and eventual delivery. The harvest amounted to 1,354 tonnes of maize valued at N162, 480,000.00.”

    Under the NIRSAL model, smallholder farmers are closely supported throughout the production phase up till the point of off-take.

    “As part of efforts to ensure optimum yield, farmers are trained on Best Agronomic Practices and Farm Management to prepare them for the transition from smallholder farming to Agribusiness” the statement said.

    Farmers under the scheme expressed their delight and appreciation to NIRSAL for building their capacity, empowering them and improving their yields, incomes and livelihoods through the project.

     

  • Army recovers locally-made pistol after foiled robbery

    Soldiers attached to the 145 Battalion Ukwa West under 14 Brigade army headquarters, Ohafia have recovered a locally-made pistol after foiling an robbery operation at Milverton , a popular road housing various transport companies in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State.

    Milverton has remained one of the notorious flash spots in Abia with open sales and consumption of hard drugs despite several raids by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    It was gathered the soldiers arrived Milverton at about 10pm in two hilux vans on a routine patrol within the Aba North and South local government area when they got a distress call that armed robbers were operating in the area.

    It was learnt the armed robbers on sighting men of the Nigerian Army fired shots into the air while escaping from the scene but the soldiers were said to have fired back.

    Our reporter, who learnt that the situation caused people to scamper for safety, also found out some passers -by were hit by stray bullets while the soldiers chased after the hoodlums.

    Some of the victims whose identities were yet to known at the time of filing this report were said to be receiving medical attention in different private clinics, including a private hospital located at Azikiwe off East.

    Another version of the report has it that two men among the injured persons sustained serious life-threatening gun wounds in their separate thighs and near the scrotum region.

    An eyewitness told our reporter the soldiers absconded after chasing some unknown persons and firing at close range immediately they noticed the damage they have done.

    Read Also: Fake news: Army chief calls for caution

    But a military source, who pleaded anonymity, denied the claim and stating the soldiers went after the criminals, not knowing that stray bullets hit some persons.

    “The boys were not on illegal duty. They were on night patrol when they distress information that there was a robbery incident going on at Milverton.

    “They quickly went there and on reaching there, the hoodlums saw them and started firing at them.

    “However, the soldiers responded and when the hoodlums noticed that the military weapon was superior to theirs, they took to their heels, while being chased after by the soldiers.

    “It was much later that we heard from the police who came to the scene while the soldiers chase after the hoodlums that some persons were injured at Milverton.

    “The soldiers who went on that operation are already detained and were being questioned. Investigation into the matter has also started and we will get back to the public as soon as we are done with investigation,” a military source added.

  • Soldiers rescue two babies in Aba

    Soldiers attached to 144 Battalion under 14 Brigade Army Headquarters, Ohafia Abia State in conjunction with the youths of Okpu Umuobo in Osisioma LGA of Abia State have arrested one Mr. Samson J. Enweriji for allegedly being in possession of a day old baby.

    Enwereji, aged 50 years is said to be an indigene of Isialangwa South LGA of the State.

    Our reporter gathered that the suspect was arrested through a tip off while attempting to evade with the child.

    Information within the army battalion has it that when intelligence has it that Enwereji was in the custody of an unknown baby around Okpu Umuobo, the army checkpoint in the area was activated and thereafter began stop and search operation in the area.

    The soldiers on suspicion flagged down Enwereji in a black coloured Toyota Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) with two women.

    It was learnt that during a thorough search the two women who had alighted from the car escaped, but a day old baby hidden in women’s hand bag and zipped with the sum of Eighty Four Thousand Naira (#84,000.00) only  was discovered in the vehicle.

    Also found on the suspect were total sum of Thirteen Thousand Naira and placenta of a baby wrapped in a polythene bag. An indication that the baby was just delivered.

    Read Also: Metele massacre: Army buries 19 soldiers in Maiduguri

    While some youths in the area had opened that the women and their male collaborator might have killed the mother of the child and tried to escaping with the child.

    They urged the army authorities to ensure that they got to the root of the matter with the aim of ascertaining whether the mother of the baby is still alive and to return the child to her is she is not a collaborator of the crime.

    They added that the mother of the baby shall be made to face the consequences of her actions if she is indicted in the illicit trade.

    But a military source in 14Brigade said that investigation was on, adding that efforts to reunite the child with the mother has yielded no fruit.

    The source who spoke anonymously went further to disclose that personnel of 144 Battalion also arrested one Miss Franca Bassey, aged 22 years.

    Miss Bassey is said to be a student nurse from Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State was said to have been arrested at Umuojima, Osisioma LGA of the state.

    She was alleged to have been for being in possession of a new born baby suspected to be a week old.

    Miss Bassey it was learnt during interrogation confessed of being sent by the Medical Director of a private hospital at Umuode village in the same Osisioma to bring a patient coming to the hospital.

    According to the statement of the student nurse, on getting to the place she was directed to go,  she met a woman who asked if she was the person to receive the patient.

    The woman was said to have handed over to her a baby to take back to the doctor and left.

    Luck was said to have ran out of her when the soldiers swooped on her with the baby.

    “When the troops arrived, she claimed she wanted to report to any security agency before the arrival of own soldiers.

    “The nurse and Enwereji are presently in our custody for preliminary investigation before being handover to the Police for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    “Meanwhile efforts are ongoing to arrest the Director of Hospital now at large.

    “The general public are once again kindly requested to report any suspicious movement or criminality within their domain to the security agencies,” the source stated.

     

  • Police arraign 51 Jewish worshippers in court

    A Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State capital has remanded 51 members of Jewish worshippers after they were arraigned for an alleged act of terrorism.
    One of the suspects identified as Felix and the other suspects were charged to Court by the Commissioner of police in the state Mr. Chris Ezike for committing a felon against the Federal Government.
    The suspects were arrested in Umuahia, on Monday while holding peaceful protest, demanding for a Jewish state of Biafra.
    The police prosecutor Adeyimi Olukoye in a two count charged accused the suspects of committing a felony.
    “That you Ibe Felix and 50 others on monday December 11, 2018, at the Isi-gate by cooperative junction in Umuahia magistratial district did conspire among yourselves to commit a Felony, an act of terrorism and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 17(a) of terrorism prevention amendment act 2013, as applicable in Abia State.

    Read Also: Police uncover ‘illegal’ drug factory in Lagos

    “On the same day and place being members of the Indigenous people of Biafra and in furtherance to your act of terrorism moved in procession, displaying IPOB flags, Jewish flags and banners with the inscriptions “All we need is Jewish state of Biafra”, which may seriously damage the image of the Federal republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 2(2)a of the terrorism prevention amendment act 2013, as applicable in Abia State,” he stated.
    In his ruling the presiding magistrate Mr. Idika kalu said the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.
    Kalu referred the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) under the Attorney General of the state.
    He directed that the suspects can apply for bail in the state High Court and report back to the court in respect to the compliance to his directive on January 24, 2019.
    Counsel to the accused persons, Mr. Anthony Nwaoffor berated the police for arraigning the suspects before the magistrate court knowing fully well that it lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.
    Nwaoofor said he would apply for bail for the suspects at the High court and report the outcome to the magistrate Court as directed by the presiding magistrate.

  • Police arrests 37 suspected members of IPOB in Umuahia

    Abia State Command of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in collaboration with other sister security agencies in the state on Tuesday hold a Joint Show of Force (JSF) operation in major cities of the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Chris Ezike in a telephone interview told our reporter that the command arrested thirty seven members of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Umuahia, the state capital who he said dressed in Jewish robe while they joined their counterparts in the state to observe the group’s planned 10million march protest of the group.

    Ezike added that the personnel of the command also recovered Israeli and Biafra insignia from the IPOB members. This is even as he stated the law will soon take its cause after they have profiled members of the outlawed group.

    Information gathered by our reporter has it that the protesters trooped out in their thousands and began the peaceful protest around 10:00 am from the Hotel Damgrate axis of Library Avenue (Bank Road); some distance from the home of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi kanu.

    The protesters comprising men, women and children were said to be chanting songs in Hebrew language, singing pro -Biafra songs, waving Biafra and Israeli flags as they marched the streets of Umuahia.

    The protest, which was said to be peaceful turned bad when the protesters who were heading towards the popular Isi-Gate were intercepted and ordered to a halt at the Okpara Square by heavily armed policemen in over four pick -up vans intercepted the protesters and ordered them to halt the movement.

    The security men were said to have allegedly started firing teargas canisters to disperse the protesters which resulted to chaos in the area as traders and passersby scamper for safety.

    Unconfirmed report has it that a resident of Umuahia believed to be an asthmatic patient in the area who inhaled the teargas slumped but was however rushed out of the scene with the help of a commercial tricyclist that reportedly took the victim to an undisclosed hospital.

    Our reporter who also monitored the march in Aba where the IPOB were said to have high followership reports that security agencies including Army, Civil Defence, regular police and tactical commanders of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as early as 7am moved in a convoy round major streets of Aba.

    Areas covered by the team include Ariaria market, Azikiwe road, Faulks road, Aba-Owerri road, Port Harcourt road among others.

    Read Also: Police chief to Dickson: I’m here to fight crimes

    A senior Police officer in Aba Area Command who spoke on anonymity told our reporter that no arrest was made in Aba as there were no IPOB or Jewish protesters on the streets of Aba.

    The source while urging Aba residents to go about their business without fear of molestation, added that the police and other sister agencies were committed in making sure that there was peace and security of lives and property in the commercial town during and after the festive period.

    In a related development, the leadership of IPOB who gave the number of the arrested members as fifty four (54) frowned at what it described as incessant arrest of the Jewish worshippers and IPOB members by security agents in the state.

    IPOB in a release signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful threatened that they were going to notify Jewish Community all over the world about the deliberate attempt by security agencies in Nigeria and Abia State in particular to clampdown on members of the religious faith who were even peaceful while exercising their fundamental human rights.

    “We are warning Abia state police commissioner to release them, the 54 innocent citizens of Biafra who were doing peaceful evangelism in Umuahia for Biafra freedom. We blame Okezie Ikpeazu and Abia police commissioner the damage this action may cause in Abia state if they fail to release these innocent Jewish worshipers exercising their rights. Okezie Ikpeazu and police commissioner must release those arrested without further delay or they will live to regret what will come upon them soon.

    “IPOB is firmly rooted with peaceful way to restore Biafra and cannot change its resolve to become violent organization because of high handedness Nigeria Government and her security agencies especially police and army officers are using against IPOB members since inception of this peaceful means adopted by our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We are calling on Nigeria Police and Army officers to stop this humiliation and harassment forthwith on anybody identified with IPOB family worldwide or face the consequences.

    “We are aware that Abia police commissioner and other security officers in Umuahia Abia state are working hard to please their Hausa Fulani slaves’ masters in Abuja but Hausa Fulani caliphate and their collaborators must deny them at the appropriate time.

    “However, IPOB must not fail to warn police commissioner and Okezie Ikpeazu once again if they fail to release these innocent citizens who committed no crime against anybody or Nigeria state that means they should prepare and wait for IPOB action. We are coming on Nigeria police soon because you cannot continue killing and intimidating innocent and unarmed IPOB faithful and go Scot free.

    “We promise to remain peaceful in every of our approach asking Nigerian government never push IPOB to pick up arms against anybody because it won’t be good to all and sundry in Nigeria,” the statement read.

  • Police arrests 37 suspected members of IPOB in Umuahia

    Abia State Command of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in collaboration with other sister security agencies in the state on Tuesday hold a Joint Show of Force (JSF) operation in major cities of the state.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Chris Ezike in a telephone interview told our reporter that the command arrested thirty seven members of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Umuahia, the state capital who he said dressed in Jewish robe while they joined their counterparts in the state to observe the group’s planned 10million march protest of the group.

    Ezike added that the personnel of the command also recovered Israelie and Biafra insignia from the IPOB members. This is even as he stated the law will soon take its cause after they have profiled members of the outlawed group.

    Information gathered by our reporter has it that the protesters trooped out in their thousands and began the peaceful protest around 10:00am from the Hotel Damgrate axis of Library Avenue (Bank Road); some distance from the home of the Director of Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

    The protesters comprising men, women and children were said to be chanting songs in Hebrew language, singing pro -Biafra songs, waving Biafra and Israeli flags as they marched the streets of Umuahia.

    The protest, which was said to be peaceful turned bad when the protesters who were heading towards the popular Isi-Gate were intercepted and ordered to a halt at the Okpara Square by heavily armed policemen in over four pick -up vans intercepted the protesters and ordered them to halt the movement.

    The security men were said to have allegedly started firing teargas canisters to disperse the protesters which resulted to chaos in the area as traders and passersby scamper for safety.

    Unconfirmed report has it that a resident of Umuahia believed to be an asthmatic patient in the area who inhaled the teargas slumped but was however rushed out of the scene with the help of a commercial tricyclist that reportedly took the victim to an undisclosed hospital.

    Read Also: 34 suspected IPOB members arrested

    Our reporter who also monitored the march in Aba where the IPOB were said to have high followership reports that security agencies including Army, Civil Defence, regular police and tactical commanders of Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) and Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) as early as 7am moved in a convoy round major streets of Aba.

    Areas covered by the team include Ariaria market, Azikiwe road, Faulks road, Aba-Owerri road, Port Harcourt road among others.

    A senior Police officer in Aba Area Command who spoke on anonymity told our reporter that no arrest was made in Aba as there were no IPOB or Jewish protesters on the streets of Aba.

    The source while urging Aba residents to go about their business without fear of molestation, added that the police and other sister agencies were committed in making sure that there was peace and security of lives and property in the commercial town during and after the festive period.

    In a related development, the leadership of IPOB who gave the number of the arrested members as fifty four (54) frowned at what it described as incessant arrest of the Jewish worshippers and IPOB members by security agents in the state.

    IPOB in a release signed by its spokesman, Emma Powerful threatened that they were going to notify Jewish Community all over the world about the deliberate attempt by security agencies in Nigeria and Abia State in particular to clampdown on members of the religious faith who were even peaceful while exercising their fundamental human rights.

    “We are warning Abia state police commissioner to release them, the 54 innocent citizens of Biafra who were doing peaceful evangelism in Umuahia for Biafra freedom. We blame Okezie Ikpeazu and Abia police commissioner the damage this action may cause in Abia state if they fail to release these innocent Jewish worshipers exercising their rights. Okezie Ikpeazu and police commissioner must release those arrested without further delay or they will live to regret what will come upon them soon.

    “IPOB is firmly rooted with peaceful way to restore Biafra and cannot change its resolve to become violent organization because of high handedness Nigeria Government and her security agencies especially police and army officers are using against IPOB members since inception of this peaceful means adopted by our supreme leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We are calling on Nigeria Police and Army officers to stop this humiliation and harassment forthwith on anybody identified with IPOB family worldwide or face the consequences.

    “We are aware that Abia police commissioner and other security officers in Umuahia Abia state are working hard to please their Hausa Fulani slaves’ masters in Abuja but Hausa Fulani caliphate and their collaborators must deny them at the appropriate time.

    “However, IPOB must not fail to warn police commissioner and Okezie Ikpeazu once again if they fail to release these innocent citizens who committed no crime against anybody or Nigeria state that means they should prepare and wait for IPOB action. We are coming on Nigeria police soon because you cannot continue killing and intimidating innocent and unarmed IPOB faithful and go Scot free.

    “We promise to remain peaceful in every of our approach asking Nigerian government never push IPOB to pick up arms against anybody because it won’t be good to all and sundry in Nigeria,” the statement read

  • APC raises alarm over destruction of Buhari, Ogah’s campaign posters

    Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised alarm over the destruction and defacing of campaign posters of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Governorship candidate of the party in the state, Dr. Uche Ogah within Umuahia, the state capital.

    In a telephone interview with the Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Benedict Godson on Wednesday, the party accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of being behind the defacing and destruction of President Buhari and Ogah’s campaign posters.

    APC while warning that the party would no longer watch the ruling party in the state using hoodlums to destroy campaign posters of the President, its governorship candidate in the state and any other candidate of the party said that henceforth anybody caught engaging in this wicked act would be dealt with according to the law.

    According to Godson, the defacing of its candidates’ campaign posters is a sign that the ruling party is defeated already and stated that the party is concerned about at the moment is how to sell ideas of their candidates to the people of the state and ensuring that President Buhari gets maximum votes in Abia State.

    Godson, while enjoining members of the party and Abians to get their PVCs and be ready to vote out bad government from office come 2019, assured that the party would ensure that the votes of the people counted.

    “I want to advice our brothers in the opposition party that this is not the way that democracy is being played. I believe that they have seen that we have come to take over the state and I want to plead with them to gently hand over the mantle of leadership of Abia State to Dr. Sampson Uche Ogah who has come to liberate Abia from bondage come 2019.

    Read Also: Court sacks Anambra APC chairman

    “Destruction of billboards and posters Mr. President, Uche Ogah and other candidates of the party is undemocratic and that cannot stop us from returning Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari who has done so well in terms of good roads, constant light, better life for Nigerians and Uche Ogah as both President and governor of the country and Abia State respectively.

    “It is important to say that the PDP government that we have in Abia State has failed Abians in all ramifications. They owe teachers from Primary to tertiary. The roads that they claim that they have built have caved in and they cannot justify the amount of money they claimed to have spent on such roads.

    “The little that we are seeing in the state are being built by the federal government through the NDDC.

    “We want to assure them that nobody has monopoly of violence and destruction of posters. We are warning the PDP to stop destruction of our candidates’ campaign posters with immediate effect,” said Godson.

    In a related development a statement issued by Ogah’s campaign office on Wednesday corroborated Godson’s claims and further alleged that eyewitnesses has it that a team of six mobile police men in company with some agents of Abia State government along Aba Road and other parts of the state capital carried out the ugly act.

    “To confirm this report, a team was dispatched from our Campaign Office to the said locations and it turned out to be true. Many of our newly pasted posters of Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah/Buhari with the All Progressives Congress logos had been destroyed. But the shameless elements who perpetuated this barbaric act had escaped from the scene before the arrival of our team but our eye witnesses gave a valid account of all that transpired.

    “Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah frowns at this unholy behaviour that can only be perpetuated by low lives and cowards. He wants to sound a note of warning to the Abia State government led by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to desist from such shameful act or be ready for an appropriate response.

    “Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah believes that election is about the contest of ideas and the opportunity to present the people with a program of action on how to better their lives and that of their generations yet unborn; That those who seek to lead must have the confidence to face public scrutiny amidst contending ideas.

    “In the light of the above, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah is asking the failed PDP government in Abia State to challenge the All Progressives Congress in Abia State based on their records of performance and allow free contest devoid of intimidation or harassment to enable Ndi Abia to make their choices without fear of molestation. He is hereby assuring the PDP and their failed administration in Abia State that the party and merriment is over. From now on, any act of intimidation by the PDP in the state, the government and their agents will be severely retaliated within the confines of the law.

    “All Abians are hereby encouraged to report any act of intimidation, harassment or molestation in any part of Abia state to Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah’s Campaign Office and the appropriate response will follow.

    “It is no longer going to be business as usual. All Abians are equal stakeholders in the state and they can no longer be made strangers in their own affairs. They must be allowed the freedom of choice that they deserve to choose between the failed diabolical PDP government that have looted our state to waste and the deliverable action plan of the APC led by Dr.Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah and Martins Azubuike; which will transform Abia into a prosperous sub national economy.

    “All Progressives Congress members in Abia State and other members of the Abia public are hereby encouraged to report anybody in their locality who dares to harass them or to tamper with Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah/President Buhari’s posters or Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson  Ogah/ Rt. Hon Martins Azubuike’s posters and other campaign materials. We promise to ensure that such actions are severely punished and any individual or groups involved brought to justice.

    “The peace and development of Abia state is the primary focus of Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah and Rt Hon Martins Azubuike and that will not be allowed to be toyed with,” the statement concluded.

     

  • ‘Embark on projects that will add value to host communities’

    The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has urged Corps members deployed to carry out their National Youth Service Programme in the state to embark on meaningful projects that would add value to the lives of their host communities.
    Dr. Ikpeazu made the call during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Batch “C” Stream 11 Orientation programme at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Umunna, Bende LGA. This is even as he reminded them that no effort would be too small in the collective responsibility of developing the state and nation at large.
    The governor represented by the Commissioner for Youth Development, Comrade Ikechukwu Anyatonwu urged the Corps members to ensure that they contribute their quota to the over all development of the state not minding were they were posted.
    Dr. Ikpeazu reassured that his administration would continue provide all the necessary support, care and enabling environment for them to serve effectively in their area of primary assignments as well appreciate outstanding corps members that will embark on various community development projects.
    According to him,” as ambassadors of the scheme , you have become the mirror through which people will assess the relevance of the scheme to National development, the governor said.

    Read Also: ‘I will end era of cosmetic projects’

    He however warned them to desist from conducts that would tarnish their image and that of the scheme which their predecessors and initiators have laboured to preserve.
    In her address, the State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Francesca Ifon said the corps members have undergone rigorous moral, physical and mental reorientation in the past three weeks which have repositioned them for the next phase of the service year.
     She urged them to accept their postings in good faith as their postings have been  done in line with the laid down rules and policies of the scheme as majority of them will be posted to the  rural areas where their services are mostly needed.
    The state NYSC Coordinator commended the state governor, Dr Ikpeazu for the unflinching support to the scheme and thanked the security agencies and the host communities for their contributions towards the success of the orientation camp.

  • ‘No Chinese with human heads in our custody’

    Abia State Police Command has debunked online publication making rounds which claimed that some  Chinese workers were allegedly caught with 15 human heads in the state.
    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike through a release issued by the Command’s spokesman, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna bemoaned the publisher of the report which he said never occurred in the state.
    According to Ezike, the video has been subjected to intelligent scrutiny and was found to be of no substance and  cautioned the populace against the growing tendency of using online publications to propagate unfounded news and hate speech that are capable of undermining the peace and tranquility of the state.
    He said that Abia hosts lots of Chinese who engage in various commercial and economic activities, adding that such unfounded allegation could undermine their security and contributions to the economic activities/development in the state.

    Read Also: Four human heads discovered in Ebonyi

    The Commissioner while assuring the Chinese of protection of their lives and properties, promised that those involved in the production and circulation of the fake viral video would be fished out and prosecuted.
    On the preparation of the command to ensure a crime free Christmas and new year celebration, Mr. Ezike said that though no society is crime free, he however stated that the command was well prepared to tackle challenges and vices associated with Christmas and new year celebrations.
     He called on parents to advised their children and wards to be law abiding adding that law remains respecter of no person and that even a juvenile could be arrested and tried for minor crimes and offences.