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Tag: Anambra State

  • Ex- governor’s aide’s daughter, community leader, wife kidnapped in Enugu

    A former Enugu State governor’s aide’s daughter, a community leader and his wife, were on Thursday abducted by gunmen in two different locations in Enugu State.

    Kosiso, the daughter of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani’s aide, Frank Anioma, was said to be on her way to the New Haven market when she got missing.

    “Her phone was ringing when we called her number but there was no reply.

    Thereafter, it went into busy,” Anioma posted.

    The second incident occurred Thursday night at Amokwe, Udi Local Council along Old EnuguAwka Road where an Nnewi based businessman, Chief Ernest Otugo and his wife were kidnapped by gunmen.

    They were travelling to Enugu from Nnewi, to attend a social function billed for the next day in a chocolate colour Toyota Venza when the incident occurred.

    The couple also had their children and a family friend simply identified as Chief Reuben with them when the gunmen struck.

    Otugo, his wife and his friend, Reuben, said to be an indigene of Awka, Anambra State, were taken captive leaving behind the children.

    The wife was later released by the kidnappers for her to go and arrange for the ransom.

    The amount was not mentioned.

    Enugu State Police Command through its spokesman, Superintendent Ebere Amaraizu said the anti-kidnap operatives were on top of the situation.

    An advocacy group for the promotion of peace and good governance in Enugu State, Enugu Youths Coalition for Good Governance, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to direct the immediate redeployment of the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Suleiman Balarabe, for lack of capacity and commitment to secure the state.

    The group, which frowned at the spate of crimes in the state since Balarabe assumed office as Enugu State Commissioner of Police, few weeks to the 2019 general election, said that the demand was borne out of their objective assessment of the performance of the police chief and the need to protect lives and property.

    In a statement signed by the Coordinator and Secretary, Hon. Ikechukwu Ibeh and Engr. Jude Onyema, respectively, the advocacy group maintained that Enugu State had been peaceful and one of the safest states in Nigeria, expressing deep concern that “if something urgent is not done to rejig the security architecture of the state; our state’s enviable status will be jeopardized.”

    Read Also: Anger over murder of woman in Enugu

    They stated that the present cases of kidnapping, murder and other criminal activities being witnessed in the state were strange and a sign of failure on the part of the security agencies in the state, especially the police.

    The group added that “this recent ugly experience was never encountered in Enugu State in the past three years when the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danmallam Mohammed was in the saddle.”

    Another kidnap incident was recorded in neighbouring Imo State where gunmen abducted the wife of the Anglican Bishop of Ikeduru Diocese, Anuri Maduwuike.

    The incident occurred barely 24 hours after gunmen killed five people in a pre-dawn attack on another community in the state.

    It was gathered that the victim was abducted on her way home from Owerri. According to an eyewitness, the prelate’s wife was ambushed at a bad spot by Ekemele and whisked to an unknown destination.

    According to the source, “wife of the Anglican bishop of Ikeduru Diocese Mrs. Anuri Maduwuike was kidnapped by gunmen. We need prayers for God’s intervention for the safety and freedom of the God’s handmaid.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed the development.

    The Police spokesperson told our correspondent that her abductors were yet to establish contacts with the victim’s family

  • Anambra 2021: APC, PDP, APGA in verbal war

    CHAIRMEN of three leading political parties in Anambra State, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the All Progressive Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) are locked in hot exchange of words over who succeeds the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano.

    The state chairman of the APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, had declared that his party would stop at nothing in winning the governorship in Anambra come 2021.

    His PDP counterpart, Chief Ndubuisi Nwobu, in a chat with The Nation at the weekend, boastfully dismissed the APC , saying that the party had no place in the political equation of the state.

    APGA chairman, Sir Norbert Obi, in a separate chat  with The Nation, described both parties as jokers and confused.

    Ejidike, the state’s APC chairman said:  ” The Willie Obiano administration is just counting days and months and that will be the end of APGA in Anambra.

    “We are not relying on what the Vice President; Prof Yemi Osinbajo said when he attended out round table summit at Prof Dora Akunyili Women’s Development Center in Awka.  Our party has got it’s mojo back ”

    “With our arrangements and inroads already in the state, APC will stop at nothing in making sure the state joins in the Next Level’ and we are ready and good to go. All the loopholes that had blocked the party from winning elections in the state are gradually being opened. Both PDP and APGA cannot stop the moving train.”

    PDP chairman, Chief Nwobu said, “APGA should be following us and not us following them, the present administration in the state has collapsed completely and the people are suffering. The 2019 election has shown the pattern of interest Ndi Anambra in the PDP notwithstanding that we are not in power now at the center or in the state.

    “I don’t want to talk about APC because they are not in the political space in Anambra. Their boast of taking over the state is a wishful thinking. Our people will never go back to kindergarten, they don’t have such capacity.”

    The APGA chairman, Sir Norbert Obi said with what Governor Willie Obiano had already put in place in Anambra State, that it would be difficult for any other political parties to dislodge his party in the state. According to him: “We don’t believe in noise making, but in action.

    APGA government has raised the bar of governance here and it will be a herculean task for any other party to take over the state.

    “We are not relenting because we know all eyes are on APGA and the other parties are not happy and that is why the Obiano administration is not taking anything to chance in making sure that the people are happy.”

  • Three feared killed in Anambra leadership tussle

    No fewer than three persons were on Friday feared killed over leadership tussle in Umueri community in the Anambra East local government area of Anambra State.

    It was gathered that the fracas might not be unconnected with a power tussle between the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Benneth Emeka and the President General Umueri General Assembly, Pius Okonkwo.

    A resident of the area, who refused to disclose her identity, told our correspondent that there was gunshot in Mgbago Umueri by youths in the area who stormed in their numbers.

    He said three bodies were found dead with varying degrees of bullet wounds following the gunshots.

    Confirming the incident, President General of Umueri community, Pius Okonkwo, accused the monarch of the community of instigating the violence following attempt to assume the duties and functions of the town union executives.

    He alleged that the monarch imposed a 30-man committee on the community to run the administrative duties of the town union.

    According to him: “Trouble started when some youths loyal to Igwe Benneth Emeka stormed UGA meeting at Umueri Civic center and disrupted the meeting, claiming to have impeached the President General.

    “Umueri has not had a Traditional Ruler for about 21 years before Ben Emeka came into the saddle and before then, our community had lasting peace but the peace and harmony are what Igwe Emeka is trying to scuttle and Umueri people will not allow that.

    “As I speak to you, the traditional ruler has taken over the functions of the town union leadership and now plays the role of Emperor Nero of the then Roman Empire.

    READ ALSO: Police recover 10 unexploded civil war ordinances in Anambra, others

    “We have up to September to the end of our tenure and we have to set up an electoral committee to conduct elections by December this year.

    In a swift reaction, however, the monarch accused the President General of sponsoring hoodlums to raze his palace.

    He said: “The hoodlums were arrested and they confessed to the crime. They accused the President General of sponsoring the attack on my palace and if you go to the police, they will give you statements made by the suspects.”

    According to the monarch, Okonkwo had been mobilising people to effect his dethronement, alleging that his intention was to remain in office perpetually.

    Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, when contacted, denied knowledge of the incident.

    He said, “I have spoken to the DPO Otoucha Division and he confirmed to me that there was no such incident in Umueri and no official report was made to that effect please.”

  • Mixed feelings for parents of quadruplets

    It was mixed feelings for the family of Evangelist Ibe, following his wife’s delivery of a set of quadruplets at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State.

    While many visit prayer houses and traditional medicine practitioners in search of fruits of the womb, Ibe’s family was blessed with four kids at a go, a blessing he described as ‘overdose.’

    The cleric, a native of Mbaitoli, Imo State, attached to St. Barth’s Anglican Church, Umuezeagu Uruagu, Nnewi, said the news of the quadruplets threw him off balance as he was not expecting four at a time.

    He expressed concerns over how to settle the hospital bills, feed the babies and take care of some other challenges in view of the economic hardship in the country.

    Ibe said, “Immediately after the delivery, somebody came where I was waiting and said to me, congratulations father of four.

    “I shouted, Jesus! I was not expecting four at a go. Actually, we were told from the scan conducted in one of the hospitals in Nnewi that the babies were three but, to my greatest surprise, they turned out to be four and that threw me off balance.”

    He appealed to the state government and public-spirited individuals to come to his aid to enable him cope with the situation.

    Fortunately, intervention came through one of the persons he extended the distress call to:   Chief Louis Carter Onwugbenu, an Nnewi-born industrialist.

    Onwugbenu, who requested for the bills on arrival at the NAUTH, could not hold back his generosity as he ended up offsetting bills of over 12 indigent mothers at the maternity ward who were unable to foot their bills.

    He also offered scholarship to the quadruplets to study up to tertiary level in any higher institution of their choice, anywhere, under the Louis Carter Foundation, where other indigent students were beneficiaries over the years.

    According to him, the gesture, which amounted to over N1.5m, was part of the activities marking his 66th birthday celebrations.

    He said, “I didn’t carry out this act of kindness because I’m the richest within my environment but I see it as a responsibility and as a way of appreciating God for his numerous blessings.”

    Onwugbenu called on government and other philanthropists to always respond to the cry of the indigent, stressing that, “no one knows who will be what tomorrow.”

    Chief Medical Director, NAUTH, Prof. Anthony Igwegbe, expressed appreciation to the philanthropist for his magnanimity, saying he had always been known for such at the hospital.

    “You have always reflected your chieftaincy title of “Okpata Ozue Ora Nnewi” (He who utilises his wealth to help others) in your actions,” he added.

    Igwegbe prayed for God’s blessing upon his life.

    Responding, the Ibes and other beneficiaries of the largesse were full of praise to God and the benefactor, being the instrument used to rescue them from financial embarrassment.

  • Anambra market leader denies alleged cult financing

    CHAIRMAN, Eke Awka Market, Anambra State, Emeka Agummadu, has refuted reports alleging him as being a financier to cult activities in Awka and its environs.

    He said he was neither a cultist nor sponsored cult killings or any related crimes in the state.

    The police had, on Wednesday, issued a statement that the market leader, a.k.a Baby Awka, was arrested alongside three others over alleged sponsorship of cult related killings in the area.

    But addressing newsmen in Awka on Saturday, Agummadu described the allegation as false and unfounded, aimed at tarnishing his reputation.

    Read Also: Anambra teachers fight Lassa fever

    He called on the Nigeria Police to thoroughly investigate the matter.

    He said, “I’m not a cultist and I don’t sponsor cult killings or any related crimes. The allegation is a handiwork of mischief makers bent on tarnishing my image.”

    While condemning cultism in its entirety, Agummadu called for denunciation of those involved, urging them to engage in legitimate means of livelihood in order to be useful to themselves and society.

    “As a philanthropist, I have changed the living conditions of so many Awka indigenes and contributed immensely to the development of the town,” he added.

    He pledged unflinching support to Obiano’s administration, including provision of security network for the lives and properties of the citizenry.

     

  • Community invokes ‘curses ‘ against perpetrators of crisis in Anambra

    SOME elders in Nando community, in Anambra East local government area of Anambra State, have invoked ‘curses ‘ against those allegedly instigating crisis in the area.

    They debunked the claims that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and his wife Ebelechukwu, had been involved in acquisition of their lands.

    The community had been in turmoil for the past one week over illegal acquisition of their land by unknown persons, which resulted in the protests by the youths of the area.

    75-year-old Chief Obukwelu Ikeora, from Isi-Inyi Nando, commended the state government for coming to their rescue.

    Ikeora, while exonerating Obiano and his wife from the land acquisition allegations, invoked curses on those, who, according to him, were stirring the peace of the community.

    For Mr Donatus Ajamma, the National Youth Leader of Nando, he expressed displeasure over the crisis and allegations, and enjoined the community to support the new leadership and Anambra State government for peace and more government presence.

    Addressing his people yesterday, the President General of Nando Development Union NDU Caretaker Committee, Amali, dismissed allegations of selling of lands to Obiano’s wife.

    Read Also: Twin building razed in Anambra explosion

    He described it as unsubstantiated allegation aimed at tarnishing their image and that of their son, Leo Ogbuefi.

    According to Amali, as an Ogbunike born daughter (referring to Obiano’s wife) of their matriarch named Iguedo, the governor’s wife needed not to hide under any guise to acquire land title from Nando if she so desired.

    He observed that Obiano had shown special affection to the natives through the 20 million naira community infrastructure (Choose-Your-Community Project), in addition to construction of roads traversing Ikem – Nando – SARS Awkuzu; Nado – Igbozunu – Aguleri – Achalla – Igbariam road.

    He said some miscreants were hired and mobilised to the Nando market to disrupt the peace of the community which paralysed business activities on Monday.

  • Daughter dies assisting dad in Anambra

    A 21-YEAR-OLD nursing mother has reportedly died while attempting to save her father from a tree fall in Umungada, Umuomaku, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The deceased, Chinwendu Ike, was crushed by the weight of her father, Mr. Samuel Ike, while falling from a pear tree.

    Her mother, Franca, said the deceased was inside the house when the father climbed the tree. She was attracted by the father’s cry for help as he clung desperately to the tree’s branch.

    Franca, who said she had severally warned her husband against climbing trees on Sundays, regretted that such warnings were not heeded.

    She said: “That Sunday, Samuel defied my warning. He was on the tree plucking pears when the branch he was standing broke. He fell on another branch and as he clung unto that branch helplessly, he started calling for help.

    “Chinwendu, who heard the call, ran to the backyard and saw her falling father who had already slipped from the second branch. As she stretched her hands to catch him, his head hit her on the chest.”

    Read Also: One dies, 18 injured in Anambra auto crash

    The deceased was confirmed dead in the hospital few days later.

    The Nation gathered that the deceased was later buried in the compound, while the pear tree was cut by relatives.

    One person died and 18 others were injured in an accident on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.

    The accident involved two commercial buses which had a head-on collision. One of the buses lost one of its tyres.

    Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Pascal Anigbo, who confirmed the incident, said: “A head-on collision by two buses this morning at the Umunya-Nteje axis of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway claimed a life and injured 18 persons.

    “The accident happened when a driver lost control after his bus lost a tyre, causing it to collide with another bus.”

    Anigbo said the injured persons have been taken to a nearby hospital while the body was deposited at the morgue.

  • Two die, four injured on Onitsha bad road

    Tragedy struck in Onitsha, Anambra State when two persons lost their lives while four others sustained injuries after an articulated vehicle fell on a tricycle in the commercial city of the state.

    The ugly incident which occurred around 10 am along Obodoukwu Junction by Onitsha-Owerri road, involved three tricycles and a shuttle bus said to be loading passengers along the road.

    The incident which was blamed on the deplorable condition of the section of the road, left the victims trapped till about 1pm before they were later confirmed dead.

    The deceased, middle-aged man and woman apparently left home that morning in search for daily bread without knowing they would never return to their loved ones.

    For the three hours the victims were under the debris, efforts were being made to offload the content of the heavy container.

    The Nation gathered that the firm handling the construction of second Niger bridge later arrived the scene after several calls with a heavy duty crane that lifted the container.

    Those who witnessed the accident attributed it to the poor condition of the road.

    They called on both the federal and state governments to urgently repair the failed portions of the road to save lives of innocent citizens.

    One of them, Nkemjika Asumugha, said three tricycles and one shuttle bus were loading along the ever busy road when the trailer carrying a container fell on them.

    Another respondent, Emmanuel Izunwanne who described the incident as unfortunate, blamed it on poor condition of the road.

    “After the incident occurred, sympathisers who rushed to the scene, managed to rescue some of the lucky ones who were seriously injured but not dead.

    “The injured persons in critical conditions were rushed to various hospitals for medical attention,” he added.

    Combined team of the Red Cross Society, Security agents including the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Anambra State Traffic Management Agency offered assistance and cordoned off the entire area from onlookers and sympathizers.

    The state sector commander, FRSC, Mr Andrew Kumapayi said the trailer driver lost control of his vehicle following the deplorable condition of the road.

    He said, “The poor condition of the road caused the trailer driver to lose control of his vehicle which caused the container to fall on the three tricycles.”

    He warned tricycle operators to always ensure they parked properly and stay away from loading along the expressway to avoid such disasters.

    Also reacting, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu attributed the cause of the accident to bad road.

    He said, “The Onitsha Owerri road and other portions of road in South East are begging for attention because of long neglect.

    “We are advising Igbo governors to emulate former governor of Anambra state, Mr Peter Obi in rehabilitation of federal roads.

    “The current Igbo governors must start rehabilitating the federal roads in their respective states.

    “It is the Ndigbo that are suffering and dying on those federal death trap roads.”

     

  • Ban on prayers in Anambra markets sparks controversy

    Reactions have continued to trail the recent ban on prayers in all markets across Anambra State by the Anambra State Amalgamated traders Association (ASMATA).

    The announcement by the new chairman of the body, Chief Ikechukwu Ekwegbalu had triggered wide spread criticisms particularly among Christian denominations across the state.

    Those who spoke to The Nation on the development expressed divergent views over the order.

    While some described it as a step in the right direction, others said it was a handiwork of some occultic groups to unleash terror and mayhem on the traders, claiming the prayers were adversely affecting their businesses.

    Read Also: Anambra traders threaten legal action over ejection

    A cleric, Pastor Raymond Momah of the All Believers Assembly, Okpoko, however described the ban as a war between the children of God and the devil.

    “The battle is on and we will know who among us is serving the living God,” he asserted.

    An authordox clergymen who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was of the view that the measure was in the interest of everybody as the privilege was being grossly abused.

    “The intention is no longer to win souls for christ but for stomach infrastructure. I commend the government for that noble action,” he added.

    An industrialist, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka described the ban as a welcome development, stressing that the prayers were detrimental to the state economy as it scared visiting traders from the markets.

    Ezeonwuka, who is one of the patrons of ASMATA, maintained that the prayers not only constituted noise pollution, but a nuisance in the system.

    He said, “Market prayers are not only time consuming which irritate and frustrate visiting traders but also constitute noise pollution and other elements of nuisance in the system.

    “It also scares visiting traders from the neighbourhood and across the country from coming to the commercial city of Onitsha in particular to buy or sell goods to the detriment of the economy of Anambra State.

    “Market daily prayer is a fallacy. The best form of prayer is to work hard and to be honest. To work is to pray. You are as good as praying when you are working tirelessly.”

    According to the businessman, the time the traders devoted to prayers were better channeled to clearing and cleaning the market environment.

    “Cleanliness is next to godliness. These traders don’t know this, that is why they spend much time on prayers and end up scaring away those willing to patronise their businesses.

    “Market prayers on daily or weekly basis are harming the economy of the state because a lot of people who normally come to Onitsha to do businesses have diverted to other places.

    “If you budget two hours for a trip and end up spending five hours won’t you be irritated and frustrated? Won’t you find alternative?”

    On its part, the State government however said it did not instruct anybody or group of persons in whatever capacity to ban prayers in the markets as speculated in some quarters and published in some media.

    Commissioner for Commerce, Trade and Wealth Creation, Dr. Christian Madubuko, said the state government did not ban prayers in the markets but directed that the prayers be regulated and organised with decorum.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Cult clash claims five in Anambra

    NO fewer than five persons reportedly lost their lives in a cult clash in Anambra State.

    The Nation gathered that the clash occurred at Idemili-North and Oyi local government areas of the state.

    Two others were also said to be shot at Ogidi. The cause of the clash was yet to be ascertained as at press time.

    But our correspondent gathered that the fracas might not be unconnected to disagreement among the rival groups.

    Confirming the incident, the police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said the normalcy had returned to the area following intervention by command’s rapid response team.

    Read Also: Anambra to tackle girl-child dropout rate

    He said Police patrol teams rushed to the scene and took the victims to Iyenu hospital for medical attention were they were certified dead on arrival.

    The PPRO added that the police were on the trail of those involved in the fracas. He said, “It was a cult clash.

    They equally shot two others at Ogidi. The police are intensifying efforts to apprehend perpetrators in order to bring them to justice.”