Tag: Anambra

A truck driver and his conductor tragically lost their lives on Friday, March 1, in a single fatal crash along the Owerri-Ihiala expressway in Ihiala, Anambra state.

The incident took place near Azia junction and involved an unidentified commercial driver operating a Mercedes truck with registration number XD131NSH.

An eyewitness reported that the driver, travelling at high speed, lost control and crashed after ramming into a big gutter by the roadside.

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Confirming the incident, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Adeoye Irelewuyi attributed the cause of the crash to excessive speed and loss of control.

He sympathised with the deceased family, warning motorists to desist from excessive speed and drive within the safe speed limit they could control.

He said: “Two people comprising 2 male adults were involved in the crash; 2 male adults, the driver and his conductor were killed.

“The dead victims were taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Mortuary, Ihiala by good Samaritans before the arrival of the FRSC rescue team.

“However, the FRSC rescue team has removed the debris littered on the expressway, and normalcy in human and vehicular movement has been restored.”

There was a palpable fear in the home town of former governor of Anambra state, Chris Ngige over the arrest of a cabinet chief in the community by the police. 

The arrested chief, known for supporting the dethroned traditional ruler of Alor, Idemili South local government area, is scheduled to appear in court next Wednesday. 

As a result of the current development, tension has heightened in the community.

The charges, according to the state police command, include alleged assault, threats to human life, and desecration of the sanctity of the state House of Assembly complex. 

The community has experienced ongoing turmoil due to disputes concerning the town’s union leadership and traditional stool.

The Nation gathered that the recent problem was the failure of the dethroned monarch to honour invitation of the state House of assembly’s committee on public pétitions, alongside other stakeholders 

The behaviour, however, angered the lawmakers who threatened to issue him bench warrant. 

They were initially invited on Jan 21, 2024, but the dethroned monarch did not honour the invitation and a new date was given to him to appear before the committee which was on February 22.

The alleged petition from one of the High Chiefs in the community, had noted that the dethroned monarch, who was allegedly removed  by the State High Court about two and half years ago, was still parading himself as a traditional ruler of Alor community, contrary to the verdict and orders of Court. 

Ahead of the day’s sitting, the dethroned traditional ruler presented a written reply to the petition to the state Assembly, stating his own side of the report. 

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It was further gathered by The Nation,  that after the sitting, one of the chiefs of the ‘dethroned ‘monarch rushed to the petitioner and attacked him. 

This, warranted the lawmaker, representing Ihiala 1 Constituency , Hon Golden Iloh,  to lock the Assembly gate to alert the police who quickly intervened to quell the fracas. 

The alleged attacker, Osita Igbonwa was arrested and detained at the ‘B’ Division of the police command before he was released on bail. 

One of the senior police officers who spoke with The Nation but pleaded anonymity, said suspect  would appear in court next week wednesday to answer to the charges of assualt, threat to human life and descretion of the sanctity of the state Assembly complex. 

One of the chiefs, (names witheld),  said: “I don’t want to be arrested because I was only invited for an agreed amount to accompany Igwe to a function.”

Goods worth millions were destroyed when an early morning fire razed four shops in Anambra market. 

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning at Nkwo Market, Umunze in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The inferno, which occurred around 1.20am, was reportedly caused by power surge.

Two days ago, Anambra Commissioner for Spécial Duties, Hon Beverly Ikpeazu -Nkemdiche, had raised the alarm over incessant fire outbreaks in the State in récent time. 

She lamented that 24 of such incidents occurred within one month, advising the public to take proactive measures on how to prevent them 

Nkemdiche said nine of such incidents happened in January, while eight took place in February already. 

According to eyewitnesses, goods worth millions, including household items and plastic materials were destroyed by the fire.

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State Fire Chief, Dr. Martin Agbili, who confirmed the incident, said no life was lost in the inferno,

He said his men who arrived the scene shortly after they were alerted controlled the fire from spreading the entire market.

According to Agbili: “At about 0120hrs (1.20am) of Wednesday 21-02-2024, Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of fire outbreak at Nkwo Market, Umunze.

“Immediately, we deployed our fire truck and gallant firefighters to the fire scene. We fought, controlled and extinguished with the assistance of some traders and the public who came out at that incident time.

“The cause of the fire was unknown but suspected power surge. There was no casualty or lost of life during the fire incident but about four (4) shops were affected, mainly provision shops, plastic shop and attachments shop.

“Always remember to switch off your electrical and electronics appliances when they are not in use to avoid power surge.”

Anambra State Government has raised the alarm over incessant and preventable fire outbreaks recorded in different parts of the astate within a short time 

Commissioner for Special Duties, Beverly Ikpeazu-Nkemdiche, in a statement in Awka, informed the state recorded 24 fire outbreaks between September, 2023 and February 16, 2024, with highest incidents occurring in January .

She said while nine fire incidents were recorded in January, eight others had been recorded this month.

She urged residents to prioritise fire safety measures in residential and public buildings, markets and other business premises.

She commended State Fire Service headed Martins Agbili, for averting the fire outbreaks and preventing any loss of life and huge loss to property.

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The Commissioner underscored the need for residents to partner government to prevent future occurrence.

“Citizens and residents of the state must always ensure all electrical appliances are switched off when not in use. 

“They must ensure repairs and engineering works on electrical connections are carried out by trained professionals.

“They must avoid indiscriminate bush burning, install fire extinguishers or hydrants in their houses, cars and other places where necessary.

“They should invite the state fire service to conduct thorough fire audits in residential and public buildings under construction.

“The state government will, on its part, increase the response time of the state fire service to any fire emergency anywhere in the state through the acquisition of more fire trucks, training of personnel and setting up of fire stations in all the 21 local government areas and all the major markets in the state,” the statement partly reads.

No fewer than 400 bags of rice and other palliatives have been distributed to inmates in Anambra State by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF).

 The distribution of  food items to all correctional centers in the State by the Foundation is in continuation of his humanitarian gestures towards alleviating the prevailing economic hardship of the less privileged.

Items distributed to the inmates included 400 bags of 25kg rice; 1,000 cartons of Indomie brand of noodles and 50 cartons of Izal disinfectant.

Speaking during the distribution at Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of the State, Chief of Staff to  Offor, AIG (rtd), Mr Chris Ezike, described the gesture as a sign of concern and remembrance of challenged persons, including the incarcerated.

He recalled that the Foundation had last week distributed 40,000 bags of rice to indigents and vulnerable in society, especially widows in 179 communities in the State during the 65th birthday celebration of the founder.

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Ezike said, “Sir Emeka Offor didn’t stop at that, he has looked around and directed his attention to where the delinquents are warehoused. 

“If you have people who have committed offences, they go through the legal system, go through the administrative justice system and you either remand them or jail them. 

“You send them to what we now know as correctional center where they are supposed to be reformed and become better citizens.

“It has pleased the Foundation and Sir Emeka Offor to also extend magnanimity, uncommon generosity to the correctional services in Anambra State.”

For  Sir Offor, the Foundation decided to look at the direction of the correctional centers for the first time to give them a sense of belonging.

“The best we can do is to support them materially. This is a new beginning, a new chapter. We have not been extending our hands of fellowship to the correctional centers.”