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Tag: Anambra

  • Woman, kids arrested for ‘beating’ 75-year-old father in Anambra

    Woman, kids arrested for ‘beating’ 75-year-old father in Anambra

    • Suspects in Police custody

    A middle aged woman, Esther Obidigwe, and her two children, Ozioma and Obuka, have been arrested for allegedly beating their 75-year-old patriarch in Awba-Ofemili, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The arrest followed a report from the victim, Mr Romanus Obidigwe, which he incidented at the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.

    Narrating his ordeal at the ministry, Obidigwe, a retired senior civil servant, said he had suffered much in the hands of his wife and children, including “sexual starvation”.

    He said: “My family has been in the habit of beating me. In this particular incident, my daughter, Ozioma, sold my firewood without my consent and when I accosted her, she, her mother and brother, pounced on me, tied me up and used a rod to inflict injuries on me.

    “It took the intervention of a neighbour before they stopped, after which they locked me out of my compound.”

    He added: “They have since stopped feeding me which I accepted in good faith. Yet, they usually steal from me, especially my first son. He even went to the extent of claiming my benefits at the Local Government Area I retired from.

    “Just for peace to reign, I have submitted to my wife’s compulsory “no sexual relationship” since 2000.”

    Responding to the allegations, the first son of the victim, Obuka, denied being present when the incident happened while his wife, Mrs Esther Obidigwe, confessed to the crime.

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    The daughter simply said: “It was what my father wanted to do to me that turned against him.”

     Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo condemned the act, vowing to ensure justice for the victim.

    She noted that her ministry was not only instituted for women and children but also for the social welfare of all.

    “Residents are warned to desist from crime because the administration is out to make sure the oppressed gets justice,” she stressed.

    The commissioner added that the suspects had been handed over to the police for further investigations and prosecution.

  • Woman, kids beat 75-year-old father over firewood in Anambra

    Woman, kids beat 75-year-old father over firewood in Anambra

    A middle aged woman, Esther Obidigwe and her two children, Ozioma and Obuka, have been arrested for allegedly beating their 75-year old patriarch in Awba- Ofemili, Awka North local government area of Anambra State.

    The arrest followed report from the victim, Mr Romanus Obidigwe which he incidented at the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.

    Narrating his ordeal at the ministry, Obidigwe, a retired senior civil servant, said he had suffered much in the hands of his wife and children, including “sexual starvation”

    He said: “My family has been in the habit of beating me. In this particular incident, my daughter, Ozioma sold my firewood without my consent and when I accosted her, she, her mother and brother pounced on me, tied me up and used a rod to inflict injuries on me.

    “It took the intervention of a neighbour before they stopped, after which they locked me out of my compound.”

    He added: “They have since stopped feeding me which I accepted in good fate, yet, they usually steal from me especially my first son. He even went to the extent of claiming my benefits at the Local Government Area I retired from.

    Read Also: Gunmen burn station, kill three policemen in Anambra

    “Just for peace to reign, I submitted to my wife’s compulsory “no sexual relationship” since the year 2000 till date.”

    Responding to the allegations, first son of the victim, Obuka, denied being present when the incident happened while his wife, Mrs Esther Obidigwe confessed to the crime.

    The daughter, simply said, “It was what my father wanted to do to me that turned against him.”

    Reacting, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo condemned the act, vowing to ensure justice for the victim.

    She noted that her ministry was not only instituted for women and children but also for the social welfare of all and sundry.

    “Residents are warned to desist from crime because the present administration is out to make sure the oppressed gets justice,” she stressed.

    The Commissioner disclosed that the suspects had been handed over to the police for further investigations and possible prosecution.

  • JUST IN: Gunmen burn police station, reportedly kill three in Anambra

    JUST IN: Gunmen burn police station, reportedly kill three in Anambra

    Gunmen have attacked another police station with bombs in Anambra State with three operatives feared killed.

    The incident happened at Oba, idemili South local government are on Tuesday morning with many policemen seriously injured

    But the police authorities claimed that only a Corporal was killed by the hoodlums.

    The secessionist group terrorising the entire Southeast region also attacked the Oba Civic Centre.

    Last week, one of the leaders, sent a voice note on social media calling for a one month sit-at- home in the region 

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    Anambra police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday in Awka

    Ikenga said: “Following, an attack in the early hours of today 3/9/2024 on Oba Police Divisional Headquarters and Oba Civic Cent<re. 

    “The suspected armed successionist group started shooting sporadically in an attempt to gain entrance to the Police Station and threw petrol bombs at the security facility which made some of the offices catch up with fire including the Oba Civic Center. 

    “Unfortunately, a police corporal who was fatally wounded paid the supreme price, while the fire was put off with the help of other Police officers on duty and the Joint Security responding team. 

    “The Commissioner of Police CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, while condemning the act, described the invasion of Security facilities and hostility towards security agents as an attack on the soul of a Nation and vows to bring those behind the unholy act to book.” 

    However, one of the Senior Police Officers in the state, told The Nation that three of their men died during the attack. 

    The source regretted that such attacks on Police formations had started again in Anambra state, while describing the assailants as members of the secessionist group. 

  • Soludo ends our pains, sorrows, say communities in Anambra

    Soludo ends our pains, sorrows, say communities in Anambra

    The tarring of a 50 kilometer road that links about five communities in Anambra State by the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has brought joy to the residents.

    They said the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, had ended their pains, sorrows and constant lamentation for many years.

    The communities in Anambra North Local Government Area are: Amansea, Ebenebe, Ugbenu, Ugbene and Oba-Ofemmili.

    As a result, they are appealing to Soludo to help further by working on the road that links Ezeagu in Enugu State, adding that when done, it would take the residents to access  Enugu State within 15 minutes.

    Speaking with The Nation at the weekend, some of the residents hailed Soludo for doing what the past administrations could not do for the communities despite their constant appeals.

    For 36 year old Chidiebere Chidebe, “Our suffering in this area was unbearable because the road was abandoned even before we were born.

    “We could not take our farm produce to town because the road was not motorable and you can’t use a bicycle to transport them. Life was so difficult for the people of Oba-Ofemmili and others,” Chidebe said

    Also speaking, Sunday Nnamah, 41 years of age, told The Nation that they had not seen any politician like Soludo, describing him as “talk and do.”

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    He said when Soludo visited the communities during his campaign period, he assured them that if elected, he would tar the road for the communities, having suffered to come to the area and seeing how terrible the road was.

    He vowed that in the 2025 governorship election, the people would not have any other option than to vote for him, having remembered the area.

    Chinedu Oraekie, a 47-year-old native of the area expressed his deepest appreciation to  Soludo, adding that he had given them sense of belonging

    Oraekie, a former Secretary General of Awba-Ofemili Community, praised the governor’s benevolence, saying, “I was born here, and the road conditions were terrible. I thank God today for the governor we have.”

    Comrade Osita Obi, a Human Rights Activist and Convener of the Recover Nigeria Project, lauded Soludo’s developmental strides.

    According to him, “The governor is doing wonderfully well in the state, but the public has not been given the opportunity to learn about these developments.”

  • Anambra bans use of school premises for social gathering

    Anambra bans use of school premises for social gathering

    The Anambra Government has banned all social events, weddings, shows, and entertainment on public school premises.

    According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, the state’s Commissioner for Education made this known in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Ifeoma Agbaizu,  in Awka  yesterday.

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    Chuma-Udeh said the move was to protect school premises and infrastructure from being messed up. “This is a warning to all principals and head teachers to desist from using school premises as commercial ventures.

    “Henceforth, any principal or primary school head teacher who indulges in such an act will be severely dealt with,” she said.

    The commissioner directed the Chairmen of the Post Primary Schools Services Commission (PPSSC) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) to disseminate the information to all principals and head teachers in the state.

    She also directed school heads to keep to the policy.

  • Chicken seller attempts suicide over N1.2m debt in Anambra

    Chicken seller attempts suicide over N1.2m debt in Anambra

    A 27-year old man Alozie John has allegedly attempted to take his life over a debt of N1.2m to a livestock supplier in Umunnachi in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement, explaiend the victim, a native of Ebonyi State who deals with live chicken reportedly drank poisonous substance hoping for breath his last.

    He however said the man was rescued, rendered medical assistance and kept in safe custody for monitoring.

    According to him: “On 23/8/2024 Anambra Police rescued a young man who attempted to take his own life. He was debriefed, rendered medical assistance and kept in safe custody for monitoring.

    “The young man, who was later identified as Alozie John ‘m’ aged 27years from Isielu LGA Ebonyi State but lives in Umunnachi, Dunukofia LGA, WhatsApp message was intercepted when he engaged the Command on a chat that he drank a poisonous substance hoping for death because of indebtedness of One million, two hundred thousand Naira to his supplier of livestock products. 

    “He further confessed that he deals with selling live chicken and after he took the harmful chemical did not feel otherwise.

    “Meanwhile, his mother was contacted, and she is currently assisting the Police with evaluation, references and transfer to a better facility for proper and other necessary care of the boy.”

  • Anambra doctors embark on indefinite strike 

    Anambra doctors embark on indefinite strike 

    • Kidnapped colleague yet to be rescued

    The kidnapped Medical doctor in Anambra State, Dr. Stephen Ezeh , is yet to be released by his abductors nine days ago by hoodlums

    As a result, the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) in the state, has declared an indefinite strike.

    The strike, according to the leadership, is in all private and public hospitals, after the ultimatum given to the state government and security agencies expired.

    This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Princeston Okam and  Dr. Ifeanyi Obiaeli, Chairman and Secretary of the NMA in the state, and made available to reporters in Awka.

    The statement said, “The NMA Anambra hereby directs all doctors in the state to forthwith withdraw clinical services in all the federal, state, private, mission, institutional, and corporate hospitals in the state until our member is released.

    “That the NMA Anambra will painstakingly monitor compliance with the above directive through her ‘Strike Monitoring Team’ and that defaulting hospitals and members will be blacklisted/ penalised in line with the congress resolutions.

    “That Anambra State government should activate all necessary security agencies and instruments at its disposal to ensure ‘timely and unconditional’ release of our abducted member.

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    “The NMA Anambra State is not oblivious of the hardship this withdrawal of services will cause the good people of Anambra

    “However, we appeal to the State government to expedite action towards securing the release of our colleague so as to restore normalcy to the health system.

    “The NMA Anambra leadership will continue to brainstorm and work together with all relevant government agencies to collectively achieve a healthy and secured populace,” it said.

    The body, however, commended the governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, and his Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, for their painstaking effort towards improving healthcare delivery and security in the state.

    The body also commended doctors for their resolve, and commitment towards offering quality health care to Anambra people.

  • Anambra stakeholders, security agencies strategise to end cult killings, crimes

    Anambra stakeholders, security agencies strategise to end cult killings, crimes

    Stakeholders and security operatives in Awka, Anambra State, have convened to find solutions to the rampant cult killings and other crimes plaguing the community.

    The security symposium, titled “Combating and Preventing Violent Crimes and the Menace of Cultism in Awka,” was held on Wednesday, August 21, at Emmaus House, with all major security agencies in the state present.

    It was gathered that over the past year, Awka has been gripped by cult-related violence, resulting in the deaths of at least 50 young men.

    Ozo Jeff Nweke, the convener from the Ezinano Community, which includes 20 of Awka’s 33 villages, emphasized that the city cannot continue on this path and called for an end to the killings.

    He urged residents to take action against the rising violent crime, stating that the entire community is suffering deeply.

    “Many families have lost their children and loved ones, the cause of it is what we don’t understand. Those who are involved in the killings are our children. We’re tired of losing them.

    Read Also: Security operatives storm kidnappers’ den, rescue victim in Anambra

    “This behaviour by our sons is depriving us of our values and culture. Awka people are known for their industrious nature and not for blood. What is happening in Awka is strange to us.

    “We want to form a synergy with all the security agencies to stop this anomaly, but not that the security outfits were not doing their best, but they had to step up,” Nweke said

    Nweke warned against resorting to “shoot on sight” tactics, instead advocating for a collaborative approach with security agencies to address the root causes of the problem.

    The Commissioner of Police, Obono Itam, represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police, in charge of operations, Aniete Eyo, identified inferiority complex, domestic violence, unemployment, and social injustice as underlying causes of cultism.

     He traced the origins of cultism to tertiary institutions, where it often begins, but noted that street cultists were often recruited by individuals who had graduated from higher institutions and were seeking a sense of belonging.

    He also blamed politicians for recruiting cultists during elections and highlighted the role of dysfunctional homes in contributing to cultism.

    He pointed out the way forward to ending the menace which included the roles of families, educational institutions, neighbourhood watch with collaboration with security outfits, and implementation strategy through government, among others.

  • Anambra’s 45 days’ notice for LG poll

    Anambra’s 45 days’ notice for LG poll

    • By Franklin Ebuka

    Sir: The Saturday, September 28, date announced by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC, for the conduct of local government election in the state has become a subject of controversy. The controversy stems from the questions on the legality, propriety and tenability of the 45 days’ notice for the election. Apart from the concerns on the shortness of the notice for the election, there is a question on the consistency of the amendment made to the Anambra Electoral Law 2024, which slashed the notice period for local government elections from 60 days to just 30 days, with the provisions of the 1999 constitution.

    While the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), sees nothing wrong with it, the opposition parties and some concerned citizens saw the 45 days’ notice for the election as short of fair. To them, the short notice was designed to exploit the opposition. House of Representatives member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency of Anambra, Afam Ogene, expressed dissatisfaction over what he called a “hasty” amendment of the Anambra State Electoral Law by the Anambra State House of Assembly. According to Ogene, the move was a promotion of undemocratic tactics, aimed at frustrating and politically ambushing opposition parties in the state.

     Other than the 1999 constitution, it is the Electoral Act, 2022 Electoral Act (as amended) that deals with heavily with the modus operandi for conduct of elections. The 1999 Constitution is silent on the minimum timeframe requirement for issuance of notice for the conduct of local government elections. The 1999 constitution is only explicit on the timeframe for the conduct of National Assembly, Governorship election, state Assembly and presidential elections, stating that election to such offices should not be held on a date not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.

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    The amendment made by the Anambra state House of Assembly, which slashed the notice period for local government elections from 60 days to just 30 days is apparently in a clash with a certain provision of the 1999 constitution and could be leveraged to question the validity of the local government election being planned by the ANSIEC. While the state House of Assembly is conferred with the power to make laws for the organization of local government election through SIEC or organize and undertake all elections to local Government councils, it does not operate in isolation, and those laws are not expected to be inconsistent with the provisions of the 1999 constitution. Section 4(5) of the 1999 constitution is clear on this. It states: “If any Law enacted by the House of Assembly of a State is inconsistent with any law validly made by the National Assembly, the law made by the National Assembly shall prevail, and that other Law shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.  Since certain provisions of the ANSIEC amendment law are in contrast with the Electoral Act 2022 enacted by the National Assembly, can the local government election ANSIEC is about to conduct stand the test of legal proceedings?

    Though one could argue that Clause 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 references INEC and not SIEC, the basic question remains if the state electoral body operates under different constitution. Moreover, the legislative powers to make electoral laws to govern the local governments are vested in the federal and state governments.

    This is therefore a call on the ANSIEC to take a critical look at the steps it has taken so far and ensure that they are not in violation of any known law, which could question the validity of the election the commission is about to conduct.

    •Franklin Ebuka,

    <ebukafranklin@yahoo.com>

  • ANSIEC tasked on credible council polls to develop communities in Anambra

    ANSIEC tasked on credible council polls to develop communities in Anambra

    The newly inaugurated Board Members of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) have been tasked to ensure a credible local government electoral process to drive sustainable socioeconomic and infrastructure development of local communities in the state.

    President, Princeton Leadership Forum Africa, Dr. Prince Chibuike Echem, gave the charge in a statement made available to reporters in Abuja on Friday.

    Echem, who is also the Founder, Okenwa Ogbuka Foundation, said the upcoming local government elections in the state represent a significant moment in our state’s democratic journey.

    He said governance at the local level is fundamental to sustainable democracy and inclusive socioeconomic and infrastructure development of Anambra State.

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    He said the integrity of the elections would shape the future of public service and political leadership recruitment at the local levels, improve the quality of governance outcomes, and impact the lives of residents in Anambra State through the local government administration, which is the closest government to the people.

    Echem urged the Chairman and Commissioners of ANSIEC to approach the sacred duties of their solemn mandate with unwavering commitment, diligence and dedication to high standards of public service excellence.