The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Abia State

  • Buhari averted bloodbath, says Abia governor

    Buhari averted bloodbath, says Abia governor

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said yesterday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to agree to withdraw soldiers from Umuahia’s streets averted a bloodbath.

    The governor also hailed the President for the confidence reposed in the South East governors to handle the issues concerning the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Read: Governors, security agents work out solution to IPOB

    The governor said that the near bloodbath which was avoided, “would have set back all we have done in the past two years in projecting the made in Aba products which will boost the revenue base of the state”.

    He spoke during a visit to the Abia State Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ)secretariat to sympathise with journalists over the invasion of the secretariat by some soldiers last week.

    Also: IPOB not a terrorist group, says Ohaneze

    Ikpeazu described the Igbo as the only group of people that showed true reconciliation after the civil war having found their way to all parts of the country and living peacefully with others.

    Ikpeazu said reports available to him from leaders of Igbo union from the North show that over 11.6 million Igbo were living in the north.

  • PDP condemns humiliation of IPOB members

    PDP condemns humiliation of IPOB members

    The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged humiliation of suspected members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) by soldiers in Umuahia, Abia State on Wednesday.

    Reacting to the video clip of the alleged inhuman treatment that has gone viral, the party, in a statement on Thursday described the action as the depth of callousness and descent into the gutter by the soldiers.

    “The PDP believes that human life is sacrosanct and must be treated as such by all and sundry; the right to life and liberty as enshrined in our Constitution and other international conventions must therefore not only be respected and protected, but must be seen to be so”, the statement said.

    While welcoming the decision of the Army authorities to investigate the matter, the party called for an independent panel of experts on human rights to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.

    “Where they are proven to be true, the PDP demands that all perpetrators as well as all those connected, however remotely, be immediately brought to justice.

    “This would go a long way to not only serve as a deterrent, but also reassure the international community that Nigeria is not a jungle but a decent society where human rights are being promoted.

    “Finally, the PDP frowns at and condemns violence in all its ramifications and calls on all Nigerians, wherever they are, to eschew it and live peacefully with one another”, the statement added.

  • Tension as army shoots three in Umuahia

    Tension as army shoots three in Umuahia

    The residents of Umuahia, Abia State capital are now living under tension following the shooting of three people on Akanu Ibiam Road also known as Bank Road in the capital city.

    The incident happened at about 9:30 am in the morning, and according to an eye witness who said they were shot close to the Diamond Bank near the Abia State Government House gate.

    The eye witness said that two of the three who were shot died instantly while the third was fatally injured.

    He said that the soldiers after their action took the corpses and the injured away in their truck.

    It was said that those who were shot were said to be wearing black which the army took to be IPOB uniform.

    The incident has sent panic to residents as shop owners quickly locked their shops, while most vehicles especially commercial operators also had to pack leaving passengers stranded.

    The Nation observed that most of the banks operating around that area have all closed shops, while at the First Bank on Akanu Ibiam road, customers were seen outside the bank premises and on inquiry one of the bank security said, “We have closed for the day”.

    At the Afaraukwu, the home of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, panic stricken residents have locked their shops and residential gates, while the entire area looked deserted.

    Reports from Aba, the commercial center of the state, say that there was shooting in the city resulting in the death of many people.

    It was also reported that the Ariaria Police Station in Aba was raised down, a report the PPRO, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, confirmed.

    As a proactive measure, the policemen barricaded the gate of the command headquarter diverting the traffic to one lane.

    The previous day, the city was calm but early Thursday morning troops poured into the capital city in trucks and vans/pick ups.

  •  Kanu, IPOB blamed over face-off with military 

     Kanu, IPOB blamed over face-off with military 

    Following the recent face-off between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Nigerian military in Abia State, the South East Renewal Group (SERG) has blamed Nnamdi Kanu as the root cause of the tension in the region.

    The development has forced the state government to declare three days of curfew across the state.

    Reacting to the incident, SERG called on Igbo leaders of thought not to tarry further in doing the needful to arrest the impending war.

    Speaking with newsmen Wednesday  in Abuja, Charles Mbani, National President of the group lamented that from his discovery, the IPOB youths have been brainwashed into seeing the army as the enemy.

    According to Mbani, “You must have, like other Nigerians, watched recent events in Igboland with a sense of foreboding, concern and utmost dread. Images emerging from the southeast, our homeland, are as troubling as they are worrisome with the most recent being those of youths attacking military detachment with all manners of crude weapons including catapults, cudgels, machetes, sticks and others.

    “These youths are being put up to this mischief after being brainwashed by the so called Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which is now militarizing them as its fighting force. These misguided youths have been deceived into thinking they are making the right sacrifice of protecting Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader whereas the only thing they sacrificing is their lives that they are throwing away on the altar of ignorance.

    “The soldiers attacked by these uncouth elements are the ones taking part in Egwu Eke II (Operation Python Dance II), which we find most ridiculous considering that the same operation last year ensured that kidnappers and armed robbers that were desecrating our land were curtailed to a point where Igbos enjoyed peaceful 2016 Yuletide. We are therefore wondering if there is a nexus between IPOB and the crimes being eradicated by the military for its youths to become virulent on the scale being witnessed.”

    Speaking further, the SERG leader condemned the confrontation with the military in the strongest terms as irresponsible, barbaric and having no place in a pluralistic country like Nigeria.

    He added, “We urge other well-meaning elders of our land to join in condemning the incidents. The unnecessary attempt to provoke the military into using stick to address the Biafra issue would be catastrophic and those who love the region should do so well to warn their children from setting the region ablaze.

    “May we emphasis that Igbo leaders of thought must tarry no further in doing the needful before it’s too late. The conspiracy of silence on the part of these leaders is what has made Nnamdi Kanu fill the resulting vacuum as a demagogic evil that is leading our youth population astray. This disposition of indifference was displayed as the hate speech championed by Kanu gained momentum until it got to a point where other ethnic groups in Nigeria basically developed a morbid collective disdain for the Igbo.

    “The hate speech has now crystalized and is the bedrock of the aggression being exhibited against the military. It nothing urgent is done the next phase in this ugly evolution could threaten our existence as a people.

    “We have interrogated the situation and discovered that the IPOB youths have been brainwashed into seeing the army as the enemy, which is most unfortunate since the person whom they think they are defending is their real enemy. Nnamdi Kanu holds dual citizenship and will escape to the United Kingdom once he has the opportunity to flee across the border. He is going to leave behind broken bodies and damaged youths that would have destroyed their lives in pursuit of what is meaningless relative to contemporary world reality.”

    The group further noted that some of those sponsoring the growing violence in south eastern Nigeria are those who lost money and political relevance having edged their bets in favour of former President Goodluck Jonathan being re-elected.

    “Interestingly, Jonathan has moved up but these loser remained locked in the past and think their only access to redemption is to send our youths on suicide mission. We counsel such persons to desist forthwith for the Igbo nation is larger than the mess of pottage that they are bitter over.

    “We have also noted the role of shameless politicians in Igboland that see the madness being advocated by Nnamdi Kanu as something to be milked for political capital. We have in the recent days seen such politicians rushing to tacitly endorse violence as the answer when other ethnic nationalities are pushing for restructuring. If violence is activated as being advocated the forget that our land would burn while other parts of the country continue with their life,” Mbani added.

     

  • Chaos in Aba as army, IPOB clash

    Chaos in Aba as army, IPOB clash

    There was tension and pandemonium in different parts of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State Tuesday evening as soldiers reportedly clashed with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Unconfirmed reports have that a number of people reportedly died in the process.

    Trouble was said to have started when some members of IPOB who left Aba in the morning for Umuahia in solidarity for their leader, Mazi Nnamdi kanu over the invasion of his house at Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, were alleged to have been stopped by soldiers at Isiala Ngwa junction along the Enugu/Port Harcourt Express were manhandled, some of them being forced to roll inside muddy water.

    The IPOB members, who escaped the soldiers’ wrath at Isiala Ngwa junction, were said to have met another set of soldiers at Osisioma junction some kilometers away from the heart of the commercial town which led to a face off.

    The soldiers were said to have shot sporadically as the IPOB members were moving towards Ariaria International Market, causing pandemonium as people scampered for safety.

    The chaotic state which enveloped the Osisioma axis stretched beyond Ariaria market, to the Fly Over junction, a distance of over eight kilometres, leading to the destruction of some vehicles and death of unconfirmed number of people.

    There was pandemonium also within the city centre as soldiers condoned off all roads leading to the Aba Central Mosque on Mosque on Hospital by Mosque road to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation in the city to vandalize the Mosque.

    As soldiers condoned off the area, they shot sporadically to wade off intruders, and people ran for dare lives, forcing traders to close business for the day and rushed home.

    The situation was still very tense as at the time of filing the report, but to ease tension, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu declared dusk to down curfew in the city.

    As at the time of filing this report, our correspondent gathered that the 14 Brigade army Chief was addressing Journalists in Umuahia, the state capital.

  • Abia State Gov declares curfew in Aba

    Abia State Gov declares curfew in Aba

    Apparently worried by the development coming after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and soldiers attached to 14Brigade Ohafia, Abia State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Tuesday announced a three day curfew in Aba, the commercial nerve of the state.

    Ikpeazu in a release that he personally signed at the end of a crucial meeting with heads of security agencies in the state at the Government House, which was obtained by our correspondent through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Enyinnaya Apollos said that the curfew would be effective from 6pm to 6am within the three days.

    While the Governor said that it doesn’t see anything wrong with the Python Dance II in the southeast as was initiated by the army authorities, it demanded that such action should be carried out according to international best practices.

    The release further urged members of the public and Aba residents to be law abiding and go about their businesses without any fear as government on its part was committed to ensure the safety of lives and property of visitors and residents of the city and neighbouring towns.

    Parts of the release read “Abia State has for the past few days been the focus of security searchlight occasioned by the reported skirmish between some groups in the State, especially Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with men of the Nigerian Army.

    “Government notes and has observed the frenzy of activities of members of IPOB within Afara – Umuahia, the ancestral home of the leader of IPOB for some months now.
    Government is equally aware of the recent proclamation by the Nigerian Army of Operation Python Dance II within the South – East geopolitical region of Nigeria.

    “The operation as declared by the Army is intended to check kidnapping, banditry, assassination, secessionist activities within the region, amongst other forms of criminal activities.

    “The recent confrontation between the Nigerian Army and members of IPOB on Sunday, 10th September, 2017, could presumably be attributed to the commencement of the said Operation Python Dance II.

    “The Abia State Government unequivocally states that Abia is a component State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and subscribes to the supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and all other extant laws.

    “While the Government of Abia State recognizes the right of the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, to perform their statutory duty of protection of lives and property of Nigerian citizens, such duties must be carried out within acclaimed Nigerian and international standards of engagement with the civil populace, with due respect to the human rights of citizens and sanctity of human lives.

    “The Abia State Government is committed to the protection of the lives and properties of its citizens and others residing and doing business within the geographical entity called Abia State.

    “Abians and others living within Abia, are advised to remain law abiding and carry on their lawful business without fear, as efforts by Government will be made to reduce friction between the civil populace and military personnel in the State.

    “Meanwhile, Aba residents are advised to observe a curfew from 6pm to 6am from today 12/09/2017 to 14/09/2017.

    “Persons residing within the State are strongly advised to remain law abiding, while going about their lawful business without fear of molestation, and, not engage in any form of confrontation with military personnel or other security agents.

    “The Government recognizes the constitutional Right to Freedom of Movement for all Nigerians, but objects to the influx of people into Abia State for purposes of unsettling the enduring peace in the State.

    Finally, Abia State will co – operate with security agencies to maintain the rule of law and order in the State.”

  • Lawyer narrates encounter in the hands of gunmen

    Lawyer narrates encounter in the hands of gunmen

    …Blasts policemen in Aba

    Aba based lawyer, Barr. Emperor Gabriel Ogbonna has narrated how he narrowly escaped death by the whiskers in the hands of gunmen who had wanted to abduct him from his residence located at Ogbor Hill, off the heart of Aba, Abia State.

    Ogbonna, though could not disclose the hospital where he was receiving medical attention, in a facebook post on his wall thanked members of the public for praying for his quick recovery but however blasted policemen in Aba for not “doing their job.”

    He also dismissed reports that has been making wave in the commercial city that the gunmen were assassins, but a failed kidnapped attempt.

    The post on his timeline with the caption “stronger than the will to live is the will to thrive” read “On Monday the 28th day of August 2017, I closed work and I was driving home.
    As usual, I called my wife to inform her that I was coming home so that the gate can be opened.

    “Before I could reach my home, the gate was already opened so as soon as I drove in, about four to six men armed with AK47 guns and pistols pounced on me, trying to abduct me.

    “I didn’t know who they were so I was confused. They were shooting sporadically both at me and in the air and one of them aimed at me and shot me at the back.

    “The Ak47 bullet entered my back, passed through very close to my stomach cavity or sac and came out through the front. I instantly collapsed and my right leg was broken, broken into three pieces.

    “The gunmen wanted to carry me into their vehicle but due to the fact that my body was heavy, my leg shattered and I was bleeding from my stomach, they were arguing whether to take me with them or leave me in a pool of my blood.

    “They then drove off and the boys in my street took me to the first hospital then rejected me but the second hospital accepted me and both surgeries and treatment of the eight inches long bullet was been done on me.

    “I went to the land of the dead and came back. But I made up my mind that I shall not die. I under that almost everyone in the social media was praying for me.

    “My church was praying, the government was praying, friends were praying, lawyers were praying, my family was praying.

    “All-over the world calls were coming, the Aba community were praying, my classmates were coming. Some wanted me to come over to America or Europe for treatment. Never have I see such an outpouring of love.

    “So any people who came to see me in the hospital were turned back, big men, prominent men, we turned back. Some managed to see me at least. When I recover fully, I will dedicate a piece to tell the world that played what role toward my recovery.

    “But I was not just determined to live, I was determined to thrive. I saw that stronger is the will to thrive than the will to live, and that when you desire to thrive, life comes naturally. Today, I am recovering. It is a slow process but a steady process.

    “I read several persons and website insinuating that what happened to me was an assassination attempt. I make bold to state that what happened to me was not an assassination attempt, no. It was a kidnap attempt gone badly.

    “The Nigerian police are highly incompetent. They will stay few metres away collecting money from transporters and would run away when they hear a gun shot.

    “The other day I was on TV program and the Abia State commissioner of police called, I advised him to cause his boys from search vehicles instead of collecting Rogers and let vehicles pass at hot areas.

    “The Nigerian police in Abia state is just interested in collecting money from motorists and bail money without doing anything.

    “If you have a bomb in your car and ten men with Ak47, and police stop you and you give them N100, they will allow you pass. And if they hear a gunshot, they will run away instead of coming to help the victim; Shameless people.

    “The money spent on maintaining the police is a waste, complete waste. So many people have identified with me at this time, and more are still. I am grateful. I shall recognize you soon when I get better.

    “I have going through the internet and I never knew I was this loved by Nigerians. Only few people have the privilege of reading their eulogies while alive. I thank you all. I am still the same person you know I have not changed, and shall not change.”

     

     

  • Aba waits after floods

    Aba waits after floods

    Over one month after Aba, Abia State’s city of commerce and industry, was submerged, residents hope their pleas will be answered. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    The downpour on July 23 was devastating. Two children were said to be swept off. Homes were wrecked, and many residents forced outdoors. Aba, Abia State’s commercial capital, had a sudden tragedy in hand. Those affected, mostly in Aba North and South local government areas, appealed for help, wherever they could get it, from the local government to Abuja, the nation’s capital. Six weeks after, some residents wondered if no one heard their pleas. Nothing of substance was forthcoming from any of the tiers of government.

    Some of the distraught residents took to abandoned petrol stations for refuge not minding the danger of being exposed to dangerous animals that may be occupying the makeshift shelter before their arrival.

    The lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige  visited them alongside the head of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Owerri Operations Office, Hon. Ugo Evans. Prestige was moved to tears seeing the damage and horrible conditions under which dislodged families lived after the floods.

    Aba’s flood problems are multiple. There is a federal road project under the supervision of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) that could drain off Aba floodwaters to the Aba River. But the concern is that for years the project has not made any appreciable progress. That is why the residents often resort to self-help to prevent their houses from being submerged after several failed attempts to attract the attention of government to their plight.

    They dread the rainy season during which they go through much stress finding a way to their homes and then out again every day to look for daily bread.

    The Nation gathered that a trip to Ihieorji to Umunkama down to Ukwa which usually took a stop now takes up to three or four stops depending on where you are going. A trip to Umunkama which once cost between N30 and N50 now costs as much as N100 and even N200.

    A resident described their ordeal as hell on earth, adding that this year’s rain took them by surprise.

    A resident of Amucha, Mrs. Uchechukwu Nnadiugwu said, “To be frank, what we usually see here during rain is unbelievable. We are happy to see you guys here today. During rainy season, we hardly see food to eat because of several expenses we are expecting to make on flood disaster. We just pray God gives you people the strength to help us out totally from this predicament. On Sunday we didn’t go to church because we were using pumping machines to take water off our buildings. Seeing Prestige Ossy here, I’m so happy.”

    Another respondent, Ikechukwu Onyiba corroborated Mrs. Nnadiugwu, adding, “Almost all our tenants here have been driven away by the downpour. It got to a point where we had to use refuse to build local fence and today, the rain has totally destroyed the local fence and destroyed our homes and every property we had in our houses.

    “The reason why we are still here is because here is my hometown. I’m from here and have no place to run to. Our house here occupied over 15 plots of land, but as I speak to you now, there’s not a single tenant there. The flood comes from Ibadan Street, Ohanku and some other areas to us here to cause damage.

    “As I speak to you, two children died and their bodies were discovered the next day. Their mother carried their things to somewhere, but before she could return, the flood carried her two children. Where we are standing now used to be a house over 30 years ago, but flood has destroyed everything here.”

    In an interview with newsmen, Ugo Evans of NEMA said, “From what I’ve seen, it’s obvious that this area is a flood-prone area. And from what I also heard, it has been like this for the past 8-10 years. Many administrations have come and gone with zero remedy and no help is being given to residents of this area. What I’m seeing and hearing here is unbelievable.

    “According to what we’ve seen here today, it’s obvious that bad road networks and lack of drainage and plane area for flood control are the main problems. We shall come in and give them some relief materials to enable them replace their lost properties with the aid of state emergency management to sensitise people in this area on how to leave here. As soon as possible, this will be done. We are here as a fact-finding team, so when we are doing our recommendations, we’ll include medical aid because the possibility of an outbreak of disease abounds.”

    Also speaking, Prestige said, “My impression still remains the same. Federal Government needs to order its agencies to come to the rescue of Aba people. In my motion, I expressly said that Aba has been submerged by flood and that the flood menace in Aba need the urgent intervention of the federal government right now. Having come here with some officers of NEMA, I’m sure that the report they will give back to their office wouldn’t be different from what I’ve said in my motion.

    “Federal government as a matter of urgency should come to the rescue of Aba people because half of Aba is now almost having an IDP camp. I’m sure you saw some people sleeping in filling stations. Their bedroom and parlours are now in the filling stations.

    “NEMA has done so much in the Northeast, providing them with food items, houses and so on. Aba is also in need of such help because my people are suffering too. There is a serious problem in Aba. As I heard from one of the landlords saying that if not for the fact that he’s from there, that he would have run away because all his tenants have all moved away. People now sleep in churches and public places. This is exactly what is obtainable in the Northeast.

    “I know that in the last three months, over 13 billion naira has been spent in providing facilities and some of these relief materials in the Northeast. Even if it’s half or one quarter of what’s spent in the Northeast to Aba, I’m sure it will go a long way in making Aba people know that they are a part of this country.

    “It will not stop here. It will continue till NEMA does something. I assure Aba that they will be remembered. Let me inform us that prior to now I’ve written to the ecological office in the SG office about Aba.

    “I’m sure that apart from NEMA, FG through ecological office in SFG office will do something. The ministry of works and housing has sent their staff to measure the remaining part of the road with a view to continue after the rains. And the roads under construction must be done with the knowledge that here is flood prone area.

    “When dry season sets in, I’m sure the construction will continue. Raising alarm about flood disaster is not the issue. The execution part of the alarm is what matters.”

  • Dry port a priority to Abia, says Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said how much the proposed dry port to be established in the state means to his administration.

    He described the facility as a priority, adding that his administration would support and ensure that it becomes a reality, alongside the Inland Container Depot (ICD) to be situated at Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state.

    Ikpeazu, who was represented by the chairman Implementation Committee of the ICD, Mr Dan Nwankwo in a meeting with the concessionaires, East Gate Ltd, members of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) and other stakeholders at the state capital, Umuahia, said the project “is a priority to the state”, which the government would not want to toy with it.

    Nwankwo stated that the importance of the dry port to the state cannot be overemphasised, adding that the government was aware that more than 50 percent of goods imported into the country comes to Aba.

    He assured the investor and other stakeholders that the money they were going to invest wouldn’t be a waste as the state government would do all it could to ensure that the project succeeds.

    The chairman of East Gate Ltd, Mr. Bill Nkemdirim said they were in the state capital to present some of the partners to the state government.

    Nkemdirim said East Gate Ltd would ensure that the dry port came to reality, adding that the project when completed would create jobs for the unemployed youths and increase business and commerce in the state.

    The Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr. Hassan Bello, a lawyer, represented by John Choji of Lagos Council stated that the project when completed would enhance movement of goods from the ports to the southeast and south-south regions of the country, adding that the movement of goods from the ports to the dry port through railway would reduce the pressure of moving goods from various parts of the country using the highways and will also reduce the cost of transporting containers from one place to another.

    Other speakers including the Isiala Ngwa North Local Government chair, Ginger Onwusibe, member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Darlington Nwokocha, HRH Eze Robert Nwaigwe; chairman of Land Donors said they were happy that the project was sited in their community and local government.

    They pledged to work with the concessionaire and the state government to ensure the project was realised.

  • Abia trains 300 students on ICT

    Abia trains 300 students on ICT

    The Head of Abia State e-Library, Miss Pearl Solomon, said on Tuesday the state government has trained about 300 children from various primary and secondary schools in the state on Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    Solomon stated this in Umuahia at the end of a computer training programme.

    She said the training which lasted one month was given to the trainees free of charge in order to encourage youths to develop their computer skills.

    “It will interest you to know that these children were trained to become computer literate.

    “We have started a process and we are determined to ensure that every Abia child is ICT compliant. I urge parents to make their children available for subsequent computer training,” she said.

    A former Secretary to Abia State Government, Prof. Mkpa Mkpa, urged the participants to utilise what they learnt at the programme in order to impact positively on the society.

    Mkpa said the computer was like a “double-edged sword” which had the capability to make or mar an individual and urged the participants to utilise it productively.

    NAN