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Tag: Anambra

  • Illegal miners abandon equipment, flee as NSCDC raids site in Anambra 

    Illegal miners abandon equipment, flee as NSCDC raids site in Anambra 

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Anambra State Command has raided highly organised illegal sand mining site at Omambala River, Ifite-Ogwari Local Government Area of the State.

    Commandant, Maku Olatunde who disclosed this at the Command’s Headquarters, Awka said the operation was part of the Corp’s sustained commitment to the fight against illegal mining.

    He revealed that the operation was conducted by the Mines and Steel  Development Unit (MSD) of the command in collaboration with the newly deployed Anambra State Federal Mines Officer; Engr. Edet Anthony Oku.

    He added that the exercise was based on credible intelligence suggesting potential illegal mining activities at the site. 

    According to him: “On Friday, May 30, 2025 at about 13:05 hours, the command  swooped in on an Illegal mining site located at Omambala River Ifite-Ogwari in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state. 

    “As the team approached the site, all the suspected illegal miners fled the scene, leaving behind some of their mining equipment.

    “Exhibits recovered from site included, one dredger, two dredging engine pumps, eighteen drums, five suction pipes, eight plastic discharge pipes, three jerrycans (25L), one plastic bucket and one funnel.

    “Following the raid, the illegal mining site has been sealed, and a manhunt has been launched for the fleeing suspects.”

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    Maku added, “Preliminary investigation suggested that the site with licenced mining title reportedly held by one Hon. Ike Nweke of Messrs. Trillike Investment Ltd had been overtaken by unauthorised miners allegedly led by one Mr. Uche Joshua Okafor, who is currently at large.

    “‘As part of our mandate, we are duty-bound to safeguard the interests of legitimate title holders by sealing off illegal mining sites and facilitating the lawful operations of verified title holders. 

    “By doing so, we prevent revenue loss, environmental degradation, and promote sustainability in the sector.

    “Consequently, the command has launched a thorough investigation to uncover the full extent of the fleeing suspects’ criminal activities including those aiding and abetting the  illicit activities. 

    “Upon the conclusion of investigation, those found culpable would be formally charged to court to face the consequences of their actions.”

    While reaffirming the Command’s commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the nation’s solid mineral resources, Maku warned perpetrators of illegal mining activities to desist forthwith or face the full weight of the law.

  • JAMB: Another Nmesoma breaks UTME record in Anambra school

    JAMB: Another Nmesoma breaks UTME record in Anambra school

    Obiora-Nwokedi Nmesoma, a candidate of the just concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has broken record as the student with the highest score in her school.

    Nmesoma, a student of Queens Convent Awka, Anambra state, owned by the Anglican church scored 343 in the resit exercise scheduled by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    She had scored 165 in the botched controversial version, which the exam body had blamed on technical glitches in the system.

    Many students were reportedly traumatised by the ugly development, including the girl that allegedly took her life. 

    Speaking exclusively to our correspondent, Principal of the school, Dr Martha Ibezim attributed Nmesoma’s feat to the school’s commitment to academic excellence and holistic student’s development.

    She also linked the outstanding performance to the school’s dedicated faculty, state-of-the-art facilities and rigorous preparatory programs.

    According to Ibezim, the victory had not only secured the student a bright future, but had brought pride to the school, reinforcing its reputation as a leading institution for academic and personal growth.

    She said: “Initially scoring a disheartening 165 in the exam due to reported glitches in the JAMB system, Nmesoma refused to let this define her. 

    Read Also: Between JAMB and WAEC, what oversight from the National Assembly?

    “When given the opportunity to resit the exam, she soared to an outstanding score of 343, proving her academic prowess and showcasing the exceptional preparation provided by her school.

    “Nmesoma’s journey began like that of many ambitious students across Nigeria, with dreams of excelling in the highly competitive UTME to secure a place in a top university. 

    “A star pupil known for her consistent academic excellence, Nmesoma was shocked when her initial JAMB score of 165 did not reflect her capabilities. 

    “The low mark, attributed to technical glitches in the JAMB system, could have discouraged even the most determined student. 

    “But Nmesoma, fortified by the unwavering support of her teachers and the robust academic foundation at Queens Convent Awka, remained undeterred.”

  • Police arrest two suspects over killing of Anambra bank manager

    Police arrest two suspects over killing of Anambra bank manager

    The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects in connection with the abduction and killing of a female bank manager, whose body was discovered after a ₦14 million ransom had been paid.

    The victim was reportedly kidnapped and later found dead along Nnobi Road on January 13, 2025, with her eyes and mouth tied, indicating signs of foul play despite the ransom payment.

    In a statement issued Sunday in Awka, Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspects, Monday Egbe, 32, and Kenneth Nnoga, 28, were apprehended on May 28, 2025, in their hideout in a neighbouring state following extensive investigations.

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    Ikenga noted that both men are currently undergoing interrogation as police work to uncover the full operation of the criminal gang and track down other accomplices.

    Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, assured the public of the command’s commitment to pursuing justice and ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.

  • 1,083 traders empowered in Anambra

    1,083 traders empowered in Anambra

    Wife of Anambra state governor, Nonye Soludo, has urged women of Dunukofia local government area to justify the confidence reposed in them by those who empowered them.

    A total of 1,083 petty traders drawn from various communities in the council were empowered by the local government with the support of two illustrious sons, Arthur Eze and Jim Nwabueze.

    Speaking during the empowerment programme held at the local government headquarters, Mrs Soludo said the women were selected based on trust.

    She described empowerment as critical to reducing hunger and poverty, urging other spirited individuals to key into programmes that would lift more people out of poverty.

    She commended the Council chairman for his efforts in uplifting the people of the area, just as she praised the wife for making their home peaceful and ‘heaven on earth’.

    She said: “If you know what it means to lift such a number of people and the ripple effect it has on the state economy, then you’ll key into similar projects.

    “I urge the benefactors to make judicious use of the empowerment. It’s not all about the quantity of what you’re given, but what you do with what you’re given.

    “Trust and honesty are important in empowerment. I’m happy that the women we’re empowering today are honest people. I trust what they can do.”

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    The council Chairman, Chijioke Ozumba, attributed the success stories of his administration to the support from the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led administration.

    He said the empowerment was in line with Soludo’s Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP).

    He said: “We’ve empowered 200 farmers with N50,000 each and organic seedlings, as well as other incentives they need to go into farming.

    “We registered 860 students for JAMB free. One scored 354. He’s a product of our programme. We enrolled 1000 indigent persons in free medical care under the State Health Insurance Agency (ASHIA).

    “Today, we’ll be empowering 1000 petty traders. Prince Arthur Eze supported us with an additional 600. One of our own, Chief Jim Nwabueze, also supported us with another 300. Currently, we have 1,083 beneficiaries.”

  • Female drug dealer, five others nabbed as police burst trafficking network in Anambra

    Female drug dealer, five others nabbed as police burst trafficking network in Anambra

    The Anambra Police Command has arrested six suspects, including a female drug dealer, after bursting into a drug trafficking network in Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

    The Command’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this on Saturday, said the suspects were apprehended during a raid by operatives in the area.

    He said large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be hard drugs and other incriminating hard substances were recovered during the operation.

    He added that all the suspects would be transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Awka for further necessary actions.

    According to him: “Police Operatives attached to the Special Cultism Squad, Obosi Sector in the early hours of 30th May 2025 while acting on credible information burst into a drug trafficking network. 

    “During the raid, six suspects including a female drug dealer were arrested, and a large quantity of dried leaves suspected to be hard drugs and other incriminating hard substances were recovered in Isuaniocha, Awka North Local Government. 

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    “The suspects include Chinyere Onwuka ‘F’ aged 32 years, John Kennedy Onwuka ‘M’ aged 36 years, Chidiebere Onyeze aged 30 years, Echeazu Nonso ‘M’ aged 35 years, Osita Chukwu Chialuka ‘M’ aged 21 years and Nnebedum Wisdom ‘M’ aged 25 years respectively.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, frowned at the relative rise in drug consumption by the teeming youths and noted that drugs are the oxygen that drive most crimes and bad behaviour exhibited by individuals. 

    “He expressed willingness to step up advocacy against illicit drugs through a Police Campaign against Cultism and other vices (POCACOV) a program targeted to sensitize the youths of the dangers of drugs and other vices in the State.”

  • Soludo hails Tinubu’s two years of exemplary leadership

    Soludo hails Tinubu’s two years of exemplary leadership

    Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo has congratulated President Bola Tinubu on two years of exemplary leadership.

    The governor, in his congratulatory message by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime commended Tinubu’s bold and visionary economic reform policies that have positioned Nigeria on a trajectory of sustainable growth and development, despite temporary pains. 

    “These game-changing initiatives, including the removal of fuel subsidies, foreign exchange reforms, and significant investments in infrastructure development, demonstrate the President’s decisive commitment to building a prosperous Nigeria for all citizens.

    “President Tinubu’s courageous leadership in implementing necessary economic reforms, despite initial challenges, reflects the true spirit of progressive governance.

    “His administration’s impact on fiscal responsibility, economic diversification, and job creation aligns perfectly with our shared vision for national development,” he added.

    The Governor particularly acknowledged the strengthened partnership between the Federal Government and Anambra State, built on the foundation of progressive ideals and mutual commitment to excellence in governance. 

    “This collaboration has yielded significantly enhanced federal support for road construction and rehabilitation projects across Anambra State and increased commitment to  Southeast regional development, among others,” he stated.

    Read Also: Soludo to immortalise ex-gov as wife bags honorary doctorate

    The Governor also re-affirmed Anambra’s continued commitment to the shared ideals of progressivism by supporting the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope agenda for national transformation, recognising that the progress of individual states contributes to Nigeria’s collective advancement.

    Expressing confidence in his administration’s capacity to consolidate on existing achievements, Soludo wished him continued success, divine guidance, and good health as he leads Nigeria toward greater prosperity and international recognition.

    The Governor, in the same vein, extended his congratulations to all his brother Governors marking two years in office.

  • We’ll deliver Anambra to APC, vows Ukachukwu

    We’ll deliver Anambra to APC, vows Ukachukwu

    Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Anambra governorship election to be held on Nov. 8, has vowed to deliver the state to the APC.

    Ukachukwu made the pledge while addressing State House Correspondents, after the presentation of the APC flag to him and Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Deputy Gubernatorial Candidate, by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, on Monday.

    Ukachukwu said the President charged him and his running mate to bring the state to the centre.

    “He has given us a charge to go and bring Anambra to the centre, and that’s what we’re going to do. Anambra cannot continue to be a one-party system.

    ”The President was in Anambra recently and saw how ready and how charged the party people are in Anambra. He was happy about the turnout of the people that came out to receive him.”

    Ukachukwu said he was confident that the APC would triumph in the gubernatorial election because he and his running mate were the ones that made APGA strong.

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    “I was a former senatorial candidate of APGA. I left APGA with all my supporters to join APC. The Labour Party, the YPP and other political parties have joined us in the journey.

    “We have over 80 groups that are lining up to join us. This makes APC to be bigger.  It means nothing is left of APGA in the state.

    “It’s not the first time an incumbent will be losing an election; it happened in Zamfara, in Imo and other places. Even in Anambra too, so it’s not new to us in Anambra,” he said.

    (NAN)

  • Alleged N4bn fraud: Judge’s absence stalls Anambra ex-Gov Obiano’s trial

    Alleged N4bn fraud: Judge’s absence stalls Anambra ex-Gov Obiano’s trial

    The planned resumption of proceedings in the trial of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, was stalled on Monday owing to the absence of the judge.

    The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, is one of the judicial officers recently suspended for one year by the National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of alleged misconduct.

    Obiano is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a charge bordering on fraud-related offences.

    In the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/15/2024, the EFCC alleged that Obiano, while acting as Anambra Governor between March 2014 and March 2022, indirectly transferred funds from Anambra State Government’s security vote account, which he deployed for purposes not related to security problems in the state.

    In one of its filings, EFCC said investigation relating to the utilisation of the security votes account of the Government of Anambra State under Obiano revealed that he allegedly used some state government officials, including his Principal Private Secretary, Willie Nwokoye, one Otubetu Ugochukwu Chinedu and “one Uzuegbuna Okoagbue, whom he appointed as his Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff upon becoming Governor and other individuals to launder funds for the defendant.

    “Instances abound, as borne by counts one to three of the charge where, at the instruction of the defendant, funds from the Anambra State Government security vote were transferred to non-financial institutions and even individual accounts, the monies converted into United State dollars and collected in cash and handed over to the defendant by the said Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff, Uzuegbuna Okoagbue, which the defendant claimed was for his strategic security engagements, without evidence to that effect.

    “Investigation revealed that though the Anambra State Government maintained a dollar domiciliary account with Fidelity Bank, the defendant, as Chief Accounting Officer/Chief Security Officer, preferred to use accounts of individuals, companies/enterprises with no business transactions with the state government for the sole purpose of laundering the funds.

    Read Also: Obiano left huge gratuity arrears of N22.2bn for me, says Soludo

    “Instances abounds, as borne by counts four to nine  of the charge where, at the instruction of the defendant, funds from the security vote account of Anambra State were transferred to accounts of some companies and enterprises, who had no business transactions with Anambra State Government,  the funds converted to United State dollars in cash and handed over the defendant, who stated in his extra judicial statement that the funds were for his strategic security engagement, which investigation proved otherwise.”

    The EFCC also faulted Obiano’s contention that he could not be held accountable for the infractions of some Anambra State officials.

    The commission argued that such contention was strange and self-indicting, because as the Executive Governor of Anambra State, he “ought to have taken action against the people who withdrew funds belonging to Anambra State and handed the funds to him, if their action was without his authority and illegal.”

  • Gunmen kill couple, two children in Anambra

    Gunmen kill couple, two children in Anambra

    A family of four, comprising husband, wife and two of their children were on Thursday night murdered by unidentified gunmen in Isseke, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The victims have been identified as the family of Ichie Kennedy Igboanugo from Ekwuru Isseke (Ichie Akuruoulo 1 of Isseke).

    According to eyewitnesses, the killers invaded the family’s apartment while they were sleeping, killing them in cold blood and leaving their lifeless bodies on the floor of their rooms.

    The reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained.

    A police source, while confirming the incident, said the bodies of the deceased had been recovered and deposited at a morgue.

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    The source added that a joint security team had been deployed to the area to prevent further incidents.

    “Preliminary information suggests the gunmen attacked the family unprovoked.The bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at the morgue, and investigations are ongoing.

    “The command has expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims and is working to apprehend the perpetrators.

    “The area has been reinforced by the joint security team, and further developments will be communicated as the investigations unfold,” the source revealed.

  • Gunmen kill couple, two children in Anambra 

    Gunmen kill couple, two children in Anambra 

    Gunmen on Thursday murdered a family of four, comprising husband, wife and two of their children in Isseke, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    The victims have been identified as the family of Ichie Kennedy Igboanugo from Ekwuru Isseke (Ichie Akuruoulo 1 of Isseke).

    According to eyewitnesses, the killers invaded the family’s apartment while they were sleeping, killing them in cold blood and leaving their lifeless bodies on the floor of their rooms.

    The reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained.

    A police source while confirming the incident, said the bodies of the deceased have been recovered and deposited at the morgue.

    The source added that a joint security team has been deployed to the area to prevent any further incidents.

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    “Preliminary information suggests the gunmen attacked the family unprovoked.

    “The bodies of the victims have been recovered and deposited at the morgue, and investigations are ongoing.

    “The command has expressed condolences to the relatives and friends of the victims and is working to apprehend the perpetrators.

    “The area has been reinforced by the joint security team, and further developments will be communicated as the investigations unfold,” the source revealed.