Tag: Anambra

…as residents decry lack of security during sit-at-home

Residents of Ukpo, the hometown of oil magnate Prince Arthur Eze, and the neighbouring Abatete community have decried the absence of security forces as gunmen reportedly killed five people during a Monday sit-at-home enforcement. 

Ukpo is located in Dunukofia local government area, while Abatete lies in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra state. 

The attacks occurred between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on Monday, with no security operatives present to assist the affected communities.

Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants set several vehicles ablaze while firing indiscriminately and shouting, “No Biafra, no peace in Igbo land.” 

The gunmen, suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), reportedly targeted local vigilante groups, as police officers often avoid the roads on Mondays due to fear of attacks. 

A president-general of one of the communities was critically injured in the attack and has been hospitalized.

Read Also: DSS report on traditional stool of Anambra community missing

“They shot at him many times without bullet penetrating his body and they resorted to using cutlass to design his body, including the eyes.

“He just went to Eke Abatete to pick an iron bender to work in his house when those hoodlums struck from nowhere, killing two vigilante members that followed him and the iron bender

“We are praying for his recovery,” said a community leader, adding “This senseless violence has left our community shaken.”

Some leaders from the two communities, speaking to The Nation on Monday, compared the current situation in the Southeast to the Biafra war, saying the war seemed less dire than what they are now enduring.

Although the Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, was reachable for comment, a senior police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Commissioner of Police Obono Itam had deployed troops to the affected communities.

The officer assured that the command would not relent in its efforts until those responsible for the attacks were apprehended.

“Investigation is already ongoing, the perpetrators will not go unpunished. The command will never allow these hoodlums to take over Anambra space, nay Southeast, Never

“Let me tell you the truth, when we apprehend such men, your people will start making calls describing them as innocent while we become the bad elements, that’s the issue,” the Police source said

“Whatever that’s playing out today is Prof Chukwuma Soludo’s fault. Those people had remained calm for some time now until recently when the governor provoked them again by ordering that markets should be reopened every Monday.”

A tricycle operator, identified as Nnamdi Nnebe has been arrested for allegedly stabbing his elder brother’s wife in Umuokpu Awka in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The suspect was said to have attacked the brother’s wife in an attempt to defend her son.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim, Mrs. Njideka Nnebe said the husband’s brother had parked his tricycle in their compound when some children entered inside it to play.

Read Also: Tinubu, Shettima, Akpabio, others pay farewell respects to Lagbaja

“Immediately he saw kids playing inside his keke, he mistook one of them to be my son and went after him.

“To my greatest surprise, what started as a minor misunderstanding escalated to an exchange of words before he suddenly dashed inside his apartment and brought a knife.

“In an attempt to defend my son with my hand, the man stabbed me on my hand,” she said.

The Nation gathered that the suspect was not remorseful over the act as he was quoted as saying it was better the victim had died.

Reacting to the incident during her visit to the victim at the hospital, Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo described the incident as unfortunate.

• …as battle for traditional stool rages

The lives of residents of Ojoto community, Idemili South local government area of Anambra state, are being threatened by some certain persons over the traditional stool of the area.

Though the matter is already in court, but some of the community leaders have relocated to other towns claiming that their lives are in danger

Many residents of the community have left the community while some others who have chosen to stay put in their area are hiding from those they described as ‘tyrants’

Two persons are laying claim to the traditional stool of the community whose traditional ruler died in 2016.

Read Also: FBI arrests Anambra council chairman over alleged ‘$3.3m romance scam’

The two persons are the one the community claimed they selected and crowned (Ezebube-11), Chief Dennis Okafor and the other who claimed he received staff of office from the Anambra state government, Chief Gerald Mbamalu.

Based on the government’s interference, Okafor, who allegedly was crowned by the community, went to court to seek justice.

The situation has heightened tension in the Ojoto community, Idemili South local government area, as many of the residents fear being harmed or killed and have gone under cover

“What we’re practising in Nigeria is democracy and you cannot harm anyone for making a choice, but in Ojoto, it’s not the same, they want everybody to abandon our tradition and embrace ‘foreign god’ and we said no. That is why we’re being hunted,” the residents lamented.

• Says those who elected him should speak for him

Anambra State government has washed its hands off the case of the newly elected chairman of Ogbaru LGA, Franklin Nwadialo, arrested in Texas, United States (US), for allegedly running a $3.3m romance scam.

The state government said it cannot speak for  him as he’s not a government appointee.

The government yesterday declared  that it is left to  the people who elected him to  answer for him, adding that the development is part of the local government autonomy.

The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Dr Law Mefor, disclosed this while speaking with The Nation on the arrest of the embattled LG chair.

Mefor said Nwadialo is not answerable to the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo in any form and manner because he was elected by his people and not the government.

His words: “He was chosen by his people and the political party he belongs to. He’s not an appointee of Soludo, therefore I cannot speak for his conduct.

“Those who elected him should answer such questions whether the offence is true or not because I only speak for the state government and not local government.  Autonomy has come now.”

Nwadialo was reportedly arrested in Texas, United States, for allegedly running a $3.3 million romance scam.

The US department of justice confirmed his arrest in a statement. It noted that Nwadialo is facing a 14-count charge and risks a 20-year sentence if found guilty.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had arrested the 40-year-old LGA chairman on arrival in Texas.

He has been transferred to the Western District of Washington for arraignment.

Read A;sp: FBI arrests Anambra council chairman over alleged ‘$3.3m romance scam’

“According to the indictment, Nwadialo used various versions of the name ‘Giovanni’ when he met his victims online on websites such as Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café,” the statement reads.

“Nwadialo used false images for his profile and typically told the victims that he was in the military and deployed overseas so he could not meet the victims in person.

“Using these personas, Nwadialo invented many reasons he needed the victims to send him money.

“In one such case in 2020, he indicated he had been fined by the military for revealing his location to the victim. He asked the victim to help him pay the $150,000 fine. In all, that victim was defrauded of at least $2.4 million.”

The US department of justice cited another instance where the accused contacted a second victim in 2019 to help move funds from US accounts to accounts controlled by him and his co-schemers.

“In this instance, Nwadialo represented that he needed the help moving money in connection with his father’s death. The victim transferred at least $330,000 to the accounts controlled by the defendant,” the department stated.

“A third victim was defrauded by Nwadialo when he told her that he was investing money for her.

“He claimed that a check she received from another victim was proceeds from her investments, and he had her “reinvest” the money in a specific cryptocurrency account that he controlled. The victim transferred at least $270,000 at Nwadialo’s direction.

“Finally, in August 2020, Nwadialo defrauded another victim who he met on an online dating site and caused this victim to transfer at least $310,000 by claiming he needed financial assistance, including help paying for his father’s funeral or his son’s school tuition.

We’ll investigate allegations – APGA Chieftain

The National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Mr Ejimofor Opara, said the party will make its position on the matter known as the appropriate time.

He told The Nation by phone  that they saw the report on social media like any other person, adding that the party is still investing it

“After the investigation, the party will come out to say its position on the matter, for now it’s still a rumour

“Our party is a serious minded one and you know we don’t take such matters lightly. A typical example is what happened to the House of Representatives member recently and APGA frowned at it and came out with a position. This one won’t be an exemption when concluded.

Responding to our inquiry on replacing Nwadialo, Opara said, “nature abhors vacuum, whatever the law says must be followed immediately on that.”

The Nation gathered that Soludo is not happy with the development as the arrested local government chairman was one of the party members handpicked by the governor during the September 28,2024 local government election.

“The 14 counts of wire fraud relate to the communications with Nwadialo and the wiring of funds from victims to the defendant and his co-schemers.”

The case is being prosecuted by Sok Jiang, an assistant United States attorney.

Anambra State Government said it cannot speak or defend the allegations levelled against Ogbaru council chairman Franklin Nwadialo who was arrested in Texas by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for alleged romance scam.  

Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Dr Law Mefor, spoke on Saturday with The NATION on the development. 

Franklin Nwadialo was arrested in Texas, United States, for allegedly running a $3.3 million romance scam.

If the allegation is proved beyond reasonable doubt by the US Authorities, the newly elected Anambra Council chairman may be jailed for 20 years .

He was reportedly arrested on arrival at an airport in Texas on an indictment returned in the Western District of Washington. 

His deputy may be sworn in soon to take over as chairman of Ogbaru Local Government, one of the leaders of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) chieftain told The NATION on Saturday in Awka

Read Also: FBI arrests Anambra council chairman over alleged ‘$3.3m romance scam’

Mefor said: “He was chosen by his people and the political party he belongs. He’s not an appointee of Soludo, therefore I cannot speak for his conduct.

“Those who elected him should answer such questions whether the offence is true or not because I only speak for the state government and not local government, autonomy has come now.”

The Nation gathered that Governor Chukwuma Soludo is not happy with the development.

The Anambra chapter of the Young Professionals Forum will hold the second edition of its annual Growth and Influence Summit on November 10.

 The event which is tagged:”Establishing Kingdom Influence,” is scheduled to begin at 11:30 am at the Anambra State headquarters of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Umunya.

 The event, according to the Anambra State President of YPF, Nnamdi Anene, is a “high powered gathering of young professionals, young lawyers, finance experts, career leaders, entrepreneurs, artisans, tech experts, skilled workers from different industries.”

Read Also: Alleged N27bn fraud: Court to hear ex-Taraba gov’s motion challenging jurisdiction

 Adding, he said, the event would also feature different sessions to boost the careers businesses, professional growth and the spirituality of the participants. The Vice Chancellor of Renaissance University, Professor Thaddeus Eze will be the event keynote speaker.

 The other speakers will be  Chito Onuzulike, the State Manager, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Prof. Uzochukwu Solomon Nwanonyuo, Director, Susu College and National President, Owners of Private Schools Association of Nigeria.

 The convener of the event is Pastor Chike Onwuasoanya State Overseer, Anambra 1 of the Deeper Life Bible Church. Already, the members of the YPF have organised a street walk to publicise the programme.

Anambra state government under the leadership of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, has instituted a 100 million naira Innovation competition for the youths in the state

This was revealed in Awka by the Special Adviser on Innovation and Business incubation to Soludo, Miss Chinwe Okoli, while addressing reporter in Awka

She also disclosed that the state government has trained not fewer than 25,000 youths on technical skills preparing them for jobs in the global market.

According to Okoli,”Through programmes like Level-Up Anambra and Code Anambra, we have trained over 25,000 youths on various deep technology skills preparing them for jobs in the global market.

“Additionally, the Anambra State Startup Law, a domestication of the Nigerian Startup Act, is underway to boost an environment that nurtures creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.

“In support of this commitment, Governor Soludo has prioritized infrastructure, with over 2,000 km of fiber duct being laid across the state for last-mile internet connectivity.

“A 13.7-hectare plot of land, currently home to the Government House, has been designated as the permanent site for SID.

Read Also: Nigeria yet to announce date for Mpox vaccinations rollout — Africa CDC

“An innovation competition with a prize pool of over one hundred million naira (N100,000,000) in cash prizes”

“This competition invites Nigeria’s brightest startups to pitch solutions addressing critical societal challenges in various sectors such as digital health, renewable energy, e-commerce, agri-tech, fin-tech, environment, education etc. “Innovators both in Anambra and across Nigeria are eligible to apply and compete in the Battle4Solutions,” she said.