The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Ibom

  • Terrorism: Police declare 59 persons wanted in Akwa Ibom

    The Police in Akwa Ibom has declared 59 persons alleged to be ring leaders and sponsors of insecurity within Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo Local Government Areas of the state.
    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, released the names of the wanted persons in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo on Sunday.
    Ogunjemilusi said the suspects were needed to explain their roles in the resurgence of and persistent crises in the two affected areas during which four church leaders and one official of the Independent National Electoral Commission were kidnapped for ransom last week at Uruk Ata 2 community.
    According to him, they are allegedly involved and connected with series of crimes such as armed robbery, rape, cultism, kidnapping, unlawful possession of firearms and terrorism.

    READ ALSO: Cultists kill father of three in Akwa Ibom

    The commissioner noted that the assailants were also said to have killed eight people, torched seven houses and abducted two female students of Obong University, Obong Ntak, in Etim Ekpo.
    He said that the police had launched a manhunt towards freeing other captives from their abductors.
    “The listed suspects are still within the crises areas. Difficult terrain and equipment have been hindering our operations.
    “Even the Blue River at Azumini that they (the criminals) always use to migrate into Abia, Rivers and other neighbouring states after operations is even too shallow for navy boats,” he said.
    He said collaborative security operations comprising the police, navy, army and other security agencies working with local communities have been intensified in the past one week to dislodge the criminals and their sponsors from the areas.
    He explained that many of the troubled areas in the two affected local government areas had been freed with displaced people returning.
    Ogunjemilusi said that one or two communities in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun have become the last point of resistance due to difficult terrain.
    Meanwhile, Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom had promised to deal with sponsors of violence in the troubled areas.
    Emmanuel said that government was aware of the intensity of criminal activities in the areas and was strategically pursuing a course to entrench lasting peace in the area.
    “What is happening in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo, we all know that those things are sponsored. We have identified and tracked them; we are on it.
    “Well, whoever is sponsoring them, good luck to that person because one day we will get to the sponsors,’’ the governor said. (NAN)

  • Hoodlums abduct three girls, three church elders in Akwa Ibom

    •Emmanuel to expose killers in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local govts

    Three women students of Obong University at Obong Nntak in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have been abducted by armed hoodlums.

    The abductors reportedly attacked the institution’s girls’ hostel and took the girls away.

    Police spokesman Odiko MacDon, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), confirmed the raid on the institution’s female hostel by suspected militants.

    He said one of the students sustained gunshot wounds on her shoulder.

    The spokesman said the injured student “was rescued and taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment”.

    Also, Governor Udom Emmanuel has vowed to expose those behind killings and kidnappings in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo local government areas.

    Emmanuel addressed reporters at the weekend as part of activities marking his third year in office.

    The governor said investigations had begun into the incidents to fish out the sponsors and perpetrators of the bloodshed in the local government areas.

    He blamed the crimes on desperate politicians, warning that his administration would not spare any culprits, however highly placed.

    Also, the whereabouts of three elders of Qua Iboe Church (QIC) at Uruk Ata2, who were reportedly seized by the hoodlums at the weekend, are still unknown.

    Emmanuel, who condemned the incident, blamed it on desperate politicians, whom he accused of being behind the mayhem.

    The governor urged parents to warn their children against cultism.

    He said: “Although I don’t like to speak on security issues, insecurity in Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun is being sponsored and we are tracking the sponsors.”

    Tracing violent crimes in the area to cultism, Emmanuel declared secret societies as outlawed associations in the state.

    The governor regretted the increasing wave of the malaise, saying parents should warn their children on the evil of cultism.

    He added: “Don’t allow your children to be initiated into cultism.”

    The governor enjoined security agencies to work towards dislodging the criminal elements and make the state safe for investors, tourists and visitors.”

     

  • ‘Enemies of Akwa Ibom jealous of seaport, power projects’

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel has accused enemies of the state of plotting against key projects of his administration. Emmanuel did not name the ‘enemies’.

    He listed the projects to include the Ibaka Deep Seaport and the power sector projects aimed at boosting the industrialisation.

    The governor spoke at the weekend during a parley with reporters at the Banquet Hall of the Government House, Uyo as part of activities to mark the third anniversary of his administration.

    He said the government was at the last lap of obtaining the Federal Government’s nod to go ahead with the Ibaka Deep Seaport Project.

    Emmanuel said the state would soon become a hub for Microsoft, adding that his government was committed to the development of the information, communication and technology sector (ICT).

    The governor claimed the state government runs the most transparent government in terms of financial reporting.

     

  • A’ Ibom Govt. urges commission to assist refugees from Cameroon

    The Akwa Ibom Government has appealed to the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, to come to the assistance of Cameroonian refugees who have settled in the state.
    The Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr Akwa Ibom Government, made the appeal in an interview with Our Reporter  in Uyo on Friday.
    Ekaiko said that the state government had been over stretched in rendering assistance to the refugees, calling on the commission to intervene.
    According to him the commission has given assistance to refugees in the neighbouring states saying that those in Akwa Ibom should be so treated.
    “What I am saying is that the relevant federal agencies should live up to the expectations of these people.
    “The agencies should ensure that they provide relief materials to the refugees and rehabilitate them as they are doing in other states.
    “It is not only in Akwa Ibom state that we have these refugees. There are some in Cross River and there are kinds of interventions the commission has made there and other places,” he said.
    He disclosed that the state government had informed the commission about the presence of the refugees since last year and had been waiting for its response.
    The permanent secretary said the state government had expected that the commission would as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the refugees.
    “Last year, there were some returnees and refugees from the Republic of Cameroon. Each of them was interviewed by the immigration services.
    “This office visited their camps at Mkpat Enin, Eket and Oron for some assessment. Immediately after that assessment late last year, the state government sent relief materials to them,” he said.

  • Suspected cultists kill four in Akwa Ibom

    •Three clerics kidnapped

    Suspected cultists have killed four persons and abducted three elders of Qua Iboe Church.

    The incident occurred at Uruk Ata 2, a community in Etim Ekpo Local Government of Akwa Ibom State.

    An elder of Christ Faith Church was also kidnapped by the hoodlums.

    The Nation learnt the miscreants attacked a commercial bus at Ikpe village.

    It was gathered the bus carried mourners, who were heading for a funeral.

    “The hoodlums flagged down the bus near Obot Uboko on Ukanafun-Iwukem highway. When the driver refused to stop, they fired at the bus.

    “Three persons were killed on the spot, while others sustained bullet injuries. The driver later stopped, the rest passengers escaped into a bush”, a vigilance group member, who preferred anonymity, said.

    Another source said a man, Saturday Monday Udo, alias Movement, was killed in another incident on allegation that he was an informant to the police.

    He said: “The hoodlums came in large number from the direction of Ikpe village and exchanged gunshots with mobile policemen stationed around Akpan Umoh market, who fled. The suspected cultists chased the deceased to his home and killed him.”

    The three clerics of Qua Iboe Church, Rev. Donald Ekpo Cookey (a resident pastor); Elder I. I. Ukpong and Elder Charles Udo, were reportedly abducted early yesterday, following an attack on the church by the hoodlums.

    The Nation learnt parishioners scampered for safety, sustaining injuries in the process.

    An elder of Christ Faith Church, Marcus Inyion, was kidnapped yesterday. Two houses, including his own, were torched by the miscreants.

    About seven houses have been set ablaze in the community, including those belonging to Ezekiel Obonukut, Sampson Matthew, alias Attraction, a night guard at the village school, and Moses Marcus Etuk.

    “The hoodlums have taken over the community, killing, maiming, kidnapping and plundering at will because security has collapsed. They have torched seven houses and killed over eight people in this small community,” a member of Qua Iboe Church, who said he narrowly escaped death, said.

    He urged Governor Udom Emmanuel, who has banned 33 cults, to intervene.

    Police Commissioner Mr. Adeyemi Samuel Ogunjemilusi said he was yet to be briefed by the Etim Ekpo Area Command.

    He said: “I’m not in the state right now. I am attending a workshop in Abuja.”

     

  • Angry youths burn customs vehicle over 5 bags of rice

    Irate youths on Thursday burnt down a Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) patrol vehicle at Uya-Oro junction in Oron Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

    The angry youths staged the protest when some NCS personnel attempted to clamp down on a vehicle allegedly carrying five bags of imported rice.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while the NCS vehicle was chasing a car with the contraband (rice), the car ran into commercial cyclists carrying three passengers.

    A witness, who pleaded anonymity, said one of the three passengers died, living others injured.

    He said the accident happened at about 3 p.m.

    The angry youths later went berserk after a failed attempt of the customs personnel to arrest the car carrying the five bags of alleged imported rice.

    Reacting to the issue, the Akwa Ibom Police Public Relations Officer, DSP MacDon Achebe, confirmed the incident.

    He said that a customs vehicle tried to stop a car carrying contraband and the driver refused to stop.

    “The customs personnel shot at the car and in an attempt to escape, it ran into a commercial cyclist,” Achebe said.

  • Refugees in Akwa Ibom seek help

    Over 1,200 Cameroonian migrants taking refuge in Mkpat  Enin,  Esit Eket and Oron local governments of Akwa Ibom have appealed to governments for assistance.

    The migrants told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday that the situation in their country necessitated their migration to Nigeria.

    NAN reports that the crisis in Cameroon has led to many Anglophone Cameroonians seeking refuge in neighbouring countries, including Nigeria.

    In Mkapt Enin Local Government, where there were over 300 migrants, they hailed the host community for their hospitality.

    They, however, appealed to the government to assist in rehabilitating and integrating them into the society.

    Miss Shalom Epolle, a Cameroonian refugee, said they were living in deplorable condition and appealed for assistance.

    “I came here on February 21, because of the crisis in Cameroon. Since we have been here, we don’t have food to eat, no place to sleep, the mattresses we have are small, but we manage. Three people sleep on one.

    “Both men and women stay together, no privacy, no water, no toilet; the most important one is food because we can’t stay here when there is no food. We go outside, look for jobs to do to get money to help ourselves,” she said.

    At Esit Eket, where over 400 refugees were camped in a church, the people lamented the hardship that had befallen them.

    They urged relevant authorities to assist them.

    Mrs. Glory Harrison, a mother of three, said she did not know where her husband was, as everyone fled during the crisis.

    According to her, feeding the children has been difficult at the camp.

    “We are suffering; we are hungry, no food to eat, no water and no place to sleep.

    “We don’t even know anyone here to ask for help, it is not easy, please help us, we don’t have bed to sleep, we sleep on bare floor and it hurts our body when we wake up.

    “We have just one cloth, our children are not in school because we can’t afford to pay fees. There are mosquitoes here, but no mosquito net to use. The government should help us,” Harrison said.

    At Oron, about 500 refugees were housed at the security village, where the council Chairman, Mr Anthony Etim, had arranged a temporary refugee camp.

    The people appreciated the chairman’s gesture and called for more assistance from governments.

  • A’Ibom to improve child eye care

    The Akwa Ibom state government says it is determined to improve child eye care services in the state and has accordingly signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brien Holden Vision Institute.

    Commissioner for health, Dr. Dominic Ukpong disclosed this in Uyo during the official launch of Seeing is Believing Comprehensive Child Eye Health (SIBCEH) project in the state.

    Brien Holden Vision Institute is a global non-profit non-governmental organisation which believes that sight is a fundamental right for everyone, everywhere and has made name since 1998.

    Dr. Ukpong while performing the launching of the project, said Brien Holden Vision Institute programme for child eye health is reliable for its sustainability and can be monitored for upgrading, hence the decision by the state government to agree to partner with the organisation.

    “Brien Holden Vision Institute has a clear objectives and goals making it easy to monitor its programmes for upgrading. The state government is impressed by the modus operandi of the Institute. Its services are not only aimed at checking children’s eye health but their characters.

    “Akwa Ibom state government is willing to partner with them because we are one of the states in Nigeria with worst child eye services. With the programme of Brien Holden Vision Institute, the state is mirroring at the future,” Dr. Ukpong stated.

    He also said that the programme is coming at the time the state government is investing much resources in the health sector towards ensuring better health services delivery for the people, especially at the grassroots.

    Read Also: ‘Kids must run to, not from school’

    Dr. Ukpong commended Brien Holden Vision Institute for its passion at solving the child eye health challenges for both present and future generation.

    Earlier in her presentation of the over view of “Seeing is Believing Comprehensive Child Eye Health” project of the Institute, Dr. Anne Ebri said the Institute’s programme launched in 11 states, is a new eye care initiative set to benefit over 1.5 million Nigerian Children.

    Ebri who is the Sub-Regional Manager of Brien Holden Vision Institute, said, the programme is funded by Standard Chartered Bank, with two principal partners being CBM in nine states and Brien Holden Vision Institute in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

    According to her, the Institute aims to implement the three-year programme at improving the quality, accessibility and scope of the eye health services to 500,000 children; develop and/or upscale appropriate workforce to long-term delivering of the comprehensive services.

    Others, she added are to, “Improve the quality of early intervention, education and blind children with severe visual impairment within the two state’s catchment; create change and sustainability by embedding child eye health procedures and guidelines within the existing school health policies held by the Ministries of Health and Education Nationwide.”

    In arriving at the signing of MoU with Akwa Ibom state government, the SIBCEH Desk Officer, Dr. Ejitu Mfon Isong said the Institute accessed the adequacy of available space at four selected hospitals in the state for child eye health services; create alternative space and identified gaps with a view to addressing them towards improving the eye health services.

    Dr. Isong who is also a Consultant Pediatric Optometrist said that the MoU was signed on the 28th of April between Akwa Ibom state government and Brien Holden Vision Institute for a term of three years.

    She said that the agreement is expected to aid the establishment of a sustainable school eye health programme and development of referral chain for child eye health, reduce the harmful traditional eye practices, childhood blindness and improve early intervention and education of visually impaired child in the state.

    It is expected to also integrate child eye health into the primary health care programmes, especially maternal and child health and bring about the poverty reduction through enhanced education and rehabilitation for quality life.

  • Catholics ask Buhari to resign over killings in Benue

    Catholic faithful in Akwa Ibom state on Tuesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over the gruesome murder of 2 Catholic priests and 17 parishioners by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Benue state.

    This is as members of the church who trooped out in the hundreds stormed the streets of Uyo, the state capital in protest and solidarity with victims and families of the Catholic massacre in Benue.

    The placard-carrying catholic leaders, priests, women, youths and children marched from the Uyo Diocesan headquarters at Brook Street with placards to the Government House, where they registered their complaints before governor Udom Emmanuel.

    Some inscriptions on the placards read, “No to religious terrorism”; “Live and let’s live”; “No weapon fashion against Christians shall prosper”; “Say no to terrorism in places of worship”, Christian lives matter”; “No to ethnic cleansing”; “Human life is sacred”, etc.

    Read Also: FG saved N120bn from ghost workers – Buhari

    Addressing Journalists, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Uyo, Most Rev. John Aya, lamented over the collapse of security architecture in the country, noting that such lapses led to the invasion of the Catholic Church in Benue, where two Priests and 17 parishioners were killed by armed herdsmen.

    He, therefore, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to resign in line with the resolution of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC), noting that “any government that fails to secure lives and properties of citizens has failed and should resign”.

    “The killings portray lack of security in the country and Buhari should know that there have been too many killings in the country. We should not continue to live in fear in the country.

    In the same vein, the Vicar General in-charge of administration in the Diocese, Donatus Udoette, urged Christians to remain calm in the face of these unprovoked attacks and admonished adherents to continue to rely on prayers, mass and rosary as their spiritual weapons.

    “We want to live in peace. Catholics can’t carry arms for self-protection because our only weapons are prayers, rosary and mass. Therefore, we are asking Christians not to take up arms, but fight the battle with prayers and peaceful protest”.

    However, Governor Emmanuel commended their peaceful protest over killing of Christians in the country and appealed to the Federal Government to step security in the country to forestall further killings of citizens some parts of the country.

  • A’Ibom APC chairman gets support for second term

    Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom have declared their support for the second term aspiration of State Chairman, Dr Amadu Attai.

    Members of the party made their position known on Thursday at a consultative meeting of the party in Uyo during which Attai declared his intention to run for a second term.

    In his address, Attai said he was there to  present himself and members of the state executive for a second term in office, as was recently decided by the state party caucus, so they can work hard to move together to the government house in 2019.

    He promised to work assiduously against ethnicity and hatred, promote internal democracy to sustain inclusiveness in the party as well as revisit the reward system so that people who have laboured can be rewarded.

    His words, “I stand before you this day, to formally announce my desire and interest to recontest the Chairmanship seat of APC, at the Akwa Ibom State Congress of the party scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 19, 2018.

    “You are no doubt aware of the transformation in the history of political parties in Nigeria that metamorphosed to the emergence of the All Progressives Congress, APC in 2013, an opposition party that vanquished the then ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the 2015 general elections with overwhelming support from Nigerians across the country.

    “In 2014, providence and the political dynamics at the time threw me up as the preferred and and acceptable chairmanship candidate of the party, a position I have occupied till date. In that position, I superintended over and contained the influx of PDP decampees (vexed by impunity in the party) who jumped seat and sought the platform of APC in pursuit of their political aspirations.

    ” As the state chairman, I will continue to promote and encourage politics of inclusiveness and internal democracy within the party. I will revisit the reward system of the party and ensure that all those who have served the party conscientiously are appropriately rewarded “.

    Addressing the gathering earlier, Chairman on the occasion, Hon. Engr Efiok Akpan said it was time to fill in candidates for the different executive positions and that people at the gathering should sit tight and follow how the event will unfold.

    In his response, Rt Hon Emmanuel Ekpenyong, former member, Uyo Federal Constituency, stated that Attai and his team had worked assiduously to uplift the status quo of the party and that many reasons abound why he should be supported to carry on with the good works. Ekpeyong, who said Akwa Ibom State APC cannot afford to miss Amadu Attai and his workaholic team, said Uyo people are up and waiting for the election date, so they can do the needful by electing him for the seat.

    Former Chairperson, Uyo Local Government Area, Mrs. Stella Effiom noted that Dr Attai who is a very simple man and has remained very assessable, has the charisma and pedigree and deserves the support of all the women in the party so they can drive the party to its permanent site.

    For Eket Senatorial District, Hon. Mrs Mabel Udonwo said Amadu Attai is God fearing, honest, humble and is a team player and that Eket Mkpat Enin, Eastern Obolo and Oron Federal Constituency are intact to cast their votes for him to continue. They added “the journey which is starting today would end in 2019 when the government of Akwa Ibom State would be overthrown by the progressives”.

    Obongifiok Dr. Anny Asikpo from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District praised the ingenuity of the party’s state chairman who has denied himself of the juicy ‘betrayal appeals’ just to keep his integrity and the face of the party. He said, “We were opposition before now but in 2019, we are playing positions no  more opposition. We are the winning team and we would play the winning team. Therefore, all unit, wards, chapter and state executives should carry on with their good works. God bless Akwa Ibom State, God bless APC and God bless Nigeria”.

    Dr Nduehe Esitikot said he is in charge of the Ikot Abasi and that APC would produce Akwa Ibom State Governor in 2019. He appealed to those who loved Amadu Attai and Dr Nsima Ekere to come out enmass to vote Dr Amadu Attai and his executive members for a second term so they can, together, move to the government house in 2019.

    Dr. Abasiubong Udofia said Attai’s leadership prowess has been widely commended, even at the national level and so the team needs an encouragement to continue to provide the needed leadership template to drive the party forward.

    Meanwhile, the 31 chapter chairmen of APC, led by the chapter chairman of Nsit Ibom, Hon. Nkereuwem Okpok endorsed Amadu Attai and offered to purchase his chairmanship form for him. State Vice Chairman, Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District, Obong Kufre Inyangette said Annang, Ibibio, Oron are all desirous to support the executive to move the train forward for the next four years.

    Other notable personalities who attended the meeting included Rt. Hon. Alex Nyong, Dr Hon. Dan Akpan, Dr. Mrs Roslyn Harry, Rt. Hon. Dr/Mrs Enobong Ufot, Rt. Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, Hon. Mrs Stella Efiom, Hon. Joy Ubong Abasi, among others.