The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anambra State

  • Textiles worth millions burnt in Aba market inferno

    …as police arrest six security guards on duty for questioning

    It was a sorrowful and tearful day at the popular Ekeoha/Shopping center located between Market road  and Ehi road off Aba-Owerri and Ehi roads respectively as Textile materials estimated to worth millions of naira went into flames on Wednesday as fire engulf shops in the popular market.

    It was gathered that six security guards said to be on duty around the area have been arrested and detained for questioning at Ndiegoro Police Division under whose jurisdiction the market is located.

    While the traders of the affected lines; zone 3 and 6 respectively were yet to ascertain the cause of the inferno, sources in the Abia State Fire Service, Aba attributed it to a “willful” or deliberate act by the perpetrators.

    Our reporter who visited the scene of the fire incident reports that the fire affected shop MF 1A and KH 23up said to belong to Mr. Hillary Asogwa from Nsukka in Enugu State and Mr. Peter from Neni in Anambra state.

    While the shop owners who were overwhelmed with emotion could not speak to our reporter gathered that the incident started at about 4:00 am and lasted till about 7:30am through the efforts of men of the fire service who prevented the fire from getting into other shops.

    Investigation by our reporter has it that the arsonist after setting shop KH 23up on fire through mistakenly set shop MF 1A on fire, thinking  that it was the parking store of the owner of shop KH 23up.

    While shop KH 23up is stocked with lycra material, shop MF 1A is stocked with lace materials.

    While police were still investigating the matter at the time of this report, source told our reporter that the arsonist broke a transparent glass on top of the shops before setting the shops ablaze using fuel and lighter to perpetuate the evil act.

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    “The shop at MF 1A just offloaded 15 giant bale of laces that was delivered in a 20ft container, while the shop owner of KH 23up recently brought back some goods which are yet to be touched. From what happened, the shop owner of MF 1A is just unfortunate to have suffered such a huge loss. We don’t think that he was a target. He became a victim because his shop is closer to the shop of the man in KH 23up. We don’t use electricity here. Tell me how the two different shops could just get burnt. The person that did this targeted the owner of shop KH23up who has a parking store at MF2A, but the person wrongly set MF 1A ablaze,” a source at the market disclosed.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the Aba Fire Chief, Mr. Okezie Uche failed, but a source at the station who claimed to be part of the team that attended to the fire said that the cause of the fire could not be far from what he described as “willful act”.

    The source who said that the timely intervention of their men saved billions of goods and the traders market from huge loss, however lamented construction of shops on emergency routes and shoddy construction job in the market which he said delayed them from accessing the zone and the shops being gutted by fire.

    “We got to the market after we got calls informing us about the fire outbreak at about 4am which we attended to until about 7:30am. But the problem that we encountered is that our car cannot enter the market because of the type of construction work and building of shops in the market. Almost all the fire routes in the market have been blocked with one structure or the other.

    “The security men on duty could not even easily indentify the location of the inferno. That also delayed the rate of attending to the fire. But the good news is that we were able to save goods worth billions of naira from being consumed in the inferno.”

    Speaking to newsmen, the caretaker chairman of Eke-Oha Shopping Centre, Mr. Friday Dimiri said: “As at 3am this morning, I got a distress call from the security men here about fire outbreak in the market. I quickly called the firefighters and also got the police involved to avoid theft. I rushed down here with my team and we have been here doing the most we can to calm things down here. The fire men with most of us who came earlier and with the help of God almighty helped in making sure that the fire didn’t escalate to other parts of the market.

    “The police in their own investigation have arrested the security men who serve here to know the reality of the whole incident. The worth of goods damaged by the fire cannot be ascertained yet as proper estimate with the owners have not been done. We will cooperate with the police to get to the bottom of the whole incident.”

  • Couple declared wanted over abduction of 4-year old

    A couple has been declared wanted by the Anambra State government following alleged abduction of a 4-year old girl in Umunya, Oyi local government area of the state.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, in a statement, said the suspect, one Elochukwu and wife, Chekwube, took the baby, Chisom Umekwe to unknown destination.

    He said the incident was reported to the police by the mother of the baby, Nneka Umekwe.

    Read Also: Couple split over stolen children

    “On the 23/08/2018 at about 1500hrs, one Nneka Umekwe of Ojobi village Umunya reported at Oyi division that on the 15/08/18 at about 1300hrs, one Elochukwu and Wife Chekwube, surname unknown of same address, took her daughter, Chisom Umekwe, to unknown destination and all efforts made to locate her proved abortive.

    “She is fair in complexion, about 3ft tall, speaks Igbo language fluently and without tribal mark.

    “She was also putting on white cloth and red slippers as at the time she was allegedly stolen.

    While enjoining members of the public to be on the look out for the suspects or victim, Mohammed urged them to report to the nearest Police Station for prompt response if seen.

  • Anambra school leaver impregnates house-help on master’s bed

    A teenage boy has allegedly impregnated a 15-year old maidservant (names withheld) in Nkpo, near Onitsha, Anambra state.

    The illicit act was reportedly carried out on top of the bed of the victim’s master while he was away.

    The Nation gathered that the house-help, a junior secondary school student of a private school in the area, has been in a secret love affair with the suspect.

    A resident of the area, who simply identified himself as Anthony, said the suspect, a secondary school leaver, usually sneaked into the apartment to sleep with the victim in the absence of her master and the wife.

    He however added that luck ran out on them when it was discovered that the maid was pregnant.

    “The illicit relationship went on unnoticed until the girl’s pregnancy became noticeable, and when she was accosted, she mentioned the boy’s name,” Anthony added.

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    Narrating her ordeal, the victim confessed how the suspect took advantage of the master’s absence and his wife to have sexual intercourse with her.

    “He frequently visited me after school hours when my oga and her wife were not around and the fun normally took place on my oga’s bed,” she said.

    She added that they preferred the master’s bed to that of the madam for the act because of what she described as the “care-free attitude” of the master.

    “As a woman, my madam will easily know that the bed was touched but my master does not have time for such matters,” she added.

    The Nation further learnt that the mother of the victim, who resides in Orlu, Imo state, had attempted to broker a marriage with the lover boy immediately the development was communicated to her.

    The efforts were however unsuccessful, as the suspect’s parents declined the offer, arguing that their son was too young to take up such responsibility.

  • Mayhem in Anambra as Madman kills herbalist over goat

    There was palpable tension in Oba Aguleri in Anambra East local government area, Anambra state following alleged gruesome murder of a native doctor by a man suspected to be mentally unstable in the area.

    The murder was said to have triggered protest leading to destruction of properties worth millions of naira while business activities were apparently shut down in the area.

    The Nation gathered that trouble ensued when the native doctor [name withheld] tied a goat bought for spiritual sacrifice to a tree and went into the market to pick other items, but could not find it soon after his return.

    A resident of the area, who preferred anonymity, said the native doctor enquired about the whereabouts of his sacrificial goat as soon he noticed its sudden disappearance.

    “He was informed that a wandering madman untied it and took it to his house few kilometers away.

    “They gave him direction on how to reach the lunatic’s house and he went straight to the place without fear of attack as he relied on the efficacy of his charm.

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    “When he got there, he met the madman already making advance plans to slaughter the goat for a meal.

    “While he was still demanding to know the reason the madman took his goat, he quickly dashed into his room and came out with a machete.

    “The native doctor took to his heels on sighting the machete in the hand of the madman,” he said.

    The resident who said the mad man ran after the native doctor, however said the madman caught up with him and macheted him severally after he fell down.

    “The native doctor bled to death before help could reach him,” he added.

    The Nation further learnt that irate youths in the area immediately mobilized and headed for the madman’s house to avenge the killing of their kinsman.

    It was also gathered that the crisis would have degenerated to further communal crisis but for the prompt intervention of security operatives who arrived the scene following a distress call.

    When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident, saying the suspected murderer and three other suspects had been arrested, linking the rampage to the death of the native doctor.

    His words, “the man that killed the deceased had been arrested with three others making a total of four suspects “.

  • ASUU threatens strike over 10-months salary debt at LAUTECH

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Friday threatened to embark on strike over ‘the worrisome situation’ at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho owned by Osun and Oyo states government.

    The body disclosed that lecturers were being owed 10-month salaries, warning that the shabby treatment of its members at the institution by both governments may trigger a nationwide industrial action.

    The union made the threat in a press conference in Awka, Anambra state through its Owerri zonal leadership, comprising of comprised of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State University, Owerri, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

    The zonal coordinator, Comrade Uzo Onyebinama, accused the two governors of conspiracy to deny the workers of the institution the right to wages as well as neglect of their constitutional responsibilities of providing quality education to their citizenry.

    He said the union had a duty to alert critical stakeholders and citizens of Nigeria on an issue that had continued to threaten the essence of the university system, warning that the situation was capable of truncating academic programmes in the institution.

    According to him, the university had continued to lag behind because of abysmal condition of learning, governance and infrastructure brought about by near absence of funding by the proprietors of the university.

    Read Also: ASUU raises alarm of LAUTECH facing imminent collapse

    He said: “The festering case of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomosho, jointly owned by Osun and Oyo states, is particularly pathetic and very worrisome. LAUTECH has continued to have problems of very poor funding since 2013 due to failure by owner state governments of Oyo and Osun, to take responsibility of funding the university.

    “LAUTECH has for long not received subvention and presently depends solely on funds from tuition. The university currently owes staff ten months salary arrears, (2013-2017), promotion arrears and 2009-2017 Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

    “There is no evidence of infrastructural development at LAUTECH since the inception of the present governments of Oyo and Osun states. In view of this ugly situation, staff and students of the university, as well as their parents and sponsors have been subjected to untold hardship.

    “Despite the fact that several visitation panels have been sent to the university, especially the committee set up by owner state governments chaired by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, which made recommendations for resolving the funding crisis in the university, the owner state governments have not implemented any of the recommendations.

    “Our union has continued to bring up issues of concern about the governance of our universities and the nation because they form part of our professional and moral responsibility as enshrined in our Constitution.

    “ASUU is one body and whatever affects any branch affects the entire body. If the two state owner governments fail to act fast, we might call out our members nationwide for industrial action as our immediate concern is the welfare of our members and students in the institution who are suffering.”

    The union called on members of the public and well- meaning Nigerians to prevail on the governments of Oyo and Osun states to take the training and education of Nigerian children more seriously by adequately finding LAUTECH and addressing all the welfare issues of all stakeholders in the university.

  • Quintuplets, mother held in hospital after delivery

    A 29-year-old woman who was delivered of a set of quintuplets in Nnewi, Anambra State, is yet to be discharged from the hospital three weeks after delivery.

    The woman, Helen Odo, from Nsukka, Enugu State, who put to bed at God’s Mercy Maternity Home in Obiuno Otolo, Nnewi, on July 25,  said she was being ‘detained’ at the hospital due to her inability to settle the medical bills.

    Speaking to newsmen, the 29-year-old woman said she had experienced multiple births, including a set of triplets, two of whom she said she lost three months later before the arrival of the quintuplets.

    She said she feared losing the nine children to hunger due to financial challenges her family was faced with, adding that the proceeds from her business and that of her husband could not cater for them.

    “Feeding, welfare and other issues concerning the babies is presently a challenge. I was undergoing training on how to make clothes before I put to bed.

    “The survival of her babies is in the hands of God as well as the government, public-spirited individuals, politicians.

    “Since the arrival of the baby, my husband has temporarily suspended his keke business to assist me in taking care of the babies,” she lamented.

    The husband, a 40-year-old commercial tricycle operator, had wanted to run away, abandoning the babies to the wife to cater for, but was held back by those present at the hospital when the babies were delivered.

    The man who described the quintuplets as over blessing, said he never hoped for quintuplets as he was struggling to feed the family.

    He said, “I had considered the possibility of running away from the responsibility of taking care of them.

    “I’m not running away because I don’t appreciate the blessing, but I had wanted to run because I don’t know where to start raising them from.

    “I’m a Keke rider. The keke is my own but it is very old. I never expected that my wife would deliver quintuplets. In fact, I was expecting one baby and that was my prayer.

    “I don’t have means to take care of one in addition to the number we have already let alone additional five babies at a go. I’m shocked. This is over blessing.

    “I wanted to run away the day my wife delivered but people held me back not because I am not happy for the gift of the babies but because I have nothing to take care of them with.”

    He appealed to government, corporate organisations, spirited and privileged individuals in the society to come to their aid as they cannot cope with feeding nine children.

    The couple can be assisted through the following bank account details: Odo Helen Ndidi, Union Bank account, 0048081828.

     

  • Kerosene explosion burns woman, razes eight rooms in Anambra

    A middle-aged woman on Monday night sustained severe burns all over her body following a kerosene explosion that engulfed her apartment in Awada-obosi, Anambra State.

    The explosion was said to have completely raised down eight rooms service quarters of the apartment, located at No. 7 Dike Ezeagu street Ugwuagba, including that of the woman.

    The Nation gathered that the victim, Mrs Gift Oroke, was preparing dinner at about 10pm, after pouring alleged adulterated kerosene in her stove, when the explosion occurred, leaving her with varying degrees of burns.

    Confirming the incident, the State PPRO, Haruna Mohammed, said the victim was taken to St. Martins hospital, Ugwuagba, Awada for medical attention.

    Read Also: Traders escape death as Kerosene explode

    He said sample of the kerosene was obtained for analysis, adding that the case was being investigated to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

    Mohammed adviced members of the public to always take necessary precautions when using kerosene and other combustible substances in order to prevent recurance of such ugly incidents.

    It would be recalled that similar incidents recently occurred in Nkwelle Ogidi and Amikwo in Awka, leading to the death of one Ada Okpoto (14), while one Devine Favour (13) sustained various degrees of burns respectively.

  • 45-year old rapist ‘pacify’ teenage victim with N400

    A 10-year old girl has been allegedly defiled by a 45-year old man in Achalla Umana village, Mgbakwu, Awka North local government area of Anambra state.

    The Nation gathered that the suspect, a father of two, simply identified as Anezeofor, gave the victim the sum of N400.00 to pacify her from disclosing the incident to anyone, particularly her parents.

    The victim, Makuachukwu, was said to be returning from an errand when she was lured by the suspect to his room where the incident took place.

    The primary three pupil confessed that the suspect had carnal knowledge of her after he had forcefully stripped her of her underwear.

    “He tore my pants and climb on top of me and raped me. He later gave me N400.00, warning me not to tell my parents or anybody what he did to me,” the girl lamented.

    The mother of the girl, who gave her name as Onyekachi, said she met the daughter on the way with torn pants stained with blood.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected rapist in Minna

    “I sent her for an errand and had been waiting for her to come back. I was surprised when I met her on the road shedding tears with her pants torn and stained with blood,” she wept.

    She said she quickly raised alarm which attracted sympathisers who assisted her in rushing the girl to a nearby hospital for medical attention.

    The father, a labourer, described the incident as shocking and devastating, calling on government to intervene in the matter.

    The Nation further learnt that the suspect has been arrested and is currently cooling off in police station in the area.

    The Police spokesperson in the state, Mohammed Haruna, when contacted on phone, promised to get back to the reporter but did not as at press time.

    “I will find out and feed you back please,” he said.

  • Anambra remembers Ozubulu massacre

    One year after gunmen attacked a Catholic church in Ozubulu, Anambra State, killing 13 persons, residents gather at the church to pray that such tragedy never befall them again. NWANOSIKE ONU reports

    Anambra State residents have a good memory of what happened at an Ozubulu cathedral one year ago. They remember how, without any warning, gunmen stormed the Catholic Church in the community and started shooting. No fewer than 13 worshippers were killed in the attack while many more were injured. They recall the rumour back then that the attack was connected to a drug war fought by indigenous Ozubulu persons living in South Africa.

    One year after, a huge crowd gathered at St Philp’s Catholic Church Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the state praying and hoping that such a thing never happened again. It was not an ordinary Sunday. The atmosphere was electric.

    The church was filled to capacity as the community remembered the August 6, 2017 massacre. The atmosphere was carnival-like, with about five live bands playing outside the church premises.

    That day in August last year was one some unknown gunmen invaded the church during service, and killed 13 persons, young and old including women, and injuring over 30 others.

    The unforgettable incident has continued to haunt the Ozubulu community. Some said it was a drug war among the indigenes of the area living in South Africa.

    The remembrance service was attended by two Catholic Bishops of Minna, Niger State, Martin Uzoukwu and Hilary Odili Okeke of Nnewi Diocese.

    Also, it attracted Nollywood actors and actresses like Pete Edochie, Chinyere Wilfred, Bob Manuel Udokwu and Rita Edochie, among others.

    The Ozubulu massacre generated tension in the entire Anambra State, with adequate security provided by the governments at all levels to ward off any attack on the citizens like the one that happened last year. The mayhem triggered turmoil in the community which lasted for over one month. Fear gripped the residents.

    In his homily the parish priest, Rev Dr Jude Onwuaso recounted the ugly experience of that day, adding that God had shown the people love since the incident.

    He said as human beings, we should love one another, noting that what happened a year ago should not repeat itself, adding that the people of the community had been in mourning mood.

    Recounting what happened on the day, Onwuaso said, “We recited ‘I believe in one God’, which the congregation chorused amen”

    “As soon as I began the introduction prayer of the faithful, some huge sounds like volcanic eruption echoed and filled the church; there was total silence and confusion.

    “At first I thought it was a dream. But it was real and there were sporadic shootings throughout the church at the first instance, it was the satanic agent and enemy of Christ that entered the church for the purpose of killing innocent children of God. At the end, people were wailing from every corner of the church and community as the church was covered in a pool of blood.”

    He thanked the parishioners, police and voluntary bodies that came to the aid of the wounded, the dead and conveyed them to hospital and the morgue.

    He parish priest further thanked the church, government and society at large for sympathising with them.

    “I am deeply touched by God’s care and love this one year, as He has shown them love through the diocese and beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

    He condoled with the families that lost their loved ones and the injured, asking them to bear the loss with fortitude.

    Also at the service was the benefactor of the church, Chief Aloy Ikegwuonwu whose father was killed during the mayhem at Ozubulu and a top politician in the state, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu

    Speaking with The Nation, Joel Obunadike, who lost his uncle, his brother’s wife and a baby, said it was an unforgettable experience.

    He said he would not want to remember that episode again, adding that God had taken control of their families.

    Samuel Ndulue and Chinasa Chukwueloka, who were injured during the incident, told The Nation, they were giving God the glory and honour for saving their lives on that day.

    Anambra mourns, but the state is also looking to the future with prayers and hope.

     

  • Two minors found wandering in Anambra

    Two little male children were on Wednesday found roaming round the streets with a bag containing their clothes in Agulu, Aniocha local government of Anambra State.

    The minors, Chinonso Ogoh (9) of Onitsha South council area and Udochukwu James (11) of Umunze, are said to have been found by a Vigilantee group who reportedly could not trace the houses of their guardians.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, who confirmed the report, said the kids were brought to Neni police division by the vigilante group attached to Agulu town.

    “On the 8/8/2018 at about 0800hrs, vigilante group attached to Agulu town brought to Neni division, the two children roaming around with a bag containing their clothes but could not locate their guardians’ houses,” he said.

    Read Also: Dumped six-month-old baby rescued in Anambra

    He however assured that effort were on to trace their biological parents in order to reunite them with the family.

    He said, “The Command enjoined members of the Public with useful information that could help trace the parent of the children to report at Neni division or call this number 07039194332.”