The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CALABAR

  • Motorcyclists drag corpse into governor’s office in Calabar

    Several commercial motorcyclists on Friday invaded the Governor’s office in Calabar, Cross River State, to protest the death of their colleague, who was allegedly killed by members of a security task force.

    The protesting motorcyclists dragged the corpse of their colleague right into the premises of the Governor’s office, smashing windows and attacking anyone that resisted them.

    The deceased, it was gathered was thoroughly beaten up by members of the task force until he became unconscious around Ikot Ansa in Calabar.

    He died while being taken by his colleagues to a health facility, it was learnt and this infuriated them, as the stormed the Governor’s office.

    Read Also: One killed as youths, motorcyclists clash

    The protesting okada riders had arrived the governor’s office and overpowered three security personnel at the gate.

    They damaged some items at the gate, tore the official security registers and approached the main entrance reception, where they smashed the glass doors.

    As they became more violent, reinforcements of armed soldiers from 13 Brigade of Nigerian Army and policemen from the nearby state police command arrived to contain the situation.

    It took several gunshots into the air to disperse them. A couple of them were rounded up by the security agencies.

    The body was later taken away by the police.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo said the victim fell from his motorcycle and died when the task force team wanted to arrest him for violating the government ban on Okada plying major roads.

  • Ita-Giwa leads rally against election violence in Cross River

    Former Presidential Adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, on Thursday led a rally though the streets of Calabar, the state capital, against violence in the upcoming elections in Cross River State.

    Ita-Giwa, who led youths of Calabar-South in the rally urged politicians to stop using young people for their personal gain.

    “We have a major campaign against violence especially in elections. An interesting thing is that all the different group of youths in the entire south have come together voluntarily to say they do no longer want violence associated with elections. The reason why I called them is advise them against allowing themselves to be use do violence in the elections. These are people’s children; we should stop using and arming them to start shooting each other. We should stop buying machete for them to machete each other. Calabar is a very historical, clean town. We do not have bloodshed in Calabar. And these children have come out to volunteer to demonstrate against violence and have also promised that they will not let themselves to be used in election violence.

    “The governor of the state is a very peaceful man. Prof Ben Ayade is one of the governors that is scared of violence and bloodletting. He is a very peace-loving man. So he is the last man to arm boys to go and shoot each other. I want my children to stay alive. I don’t want my children to go and give their lives for someone who will win elections and forget them.

    Read Also: No faction in Bakassi APC, says Ita-Giwa

    “Those planning violence should not try it. In their interest they should not try it. We need peace in Nigeria. We must stop using our children for bloodletting. You win election you go and enjoy yourself, you stay in government house or parliament and enjoy and don’t remember these boys anymore.

    “We should make a peaceful elections possible in Cross River State. It should be a peaceful election. We are not addressing anybody, we are addressing issues. I am here to ensure that Ayade returns for a second term because he is a man of peace, respects elders and recognizes the youths. All the youths that were going astray, he collected them and put in his government. No other governor can do that,” Ita-Giwa said.

  • FG rehabilitates 250km of Calabar-Ogoja highway

    Rehabilitation works are ongoing on the 250km of the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja Highway, the Federal Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Cross River State Bassey Nsetip has stated.

    The road, which is the nerve of the state, runs 330km from Calabar in the southern part of the state up to Ogoja local government area in the northern part terminating at Gakem at the Benue State border.

    The road connects connecting almost the entire 18 local government areas of the state.

    The road, which has been in a state of disrepair for decades, had been a source of agony for road users who often spent about 10 hours or more on the road travelling from Calabar to Ogoja local government area due to its poor state.

    Nsetip said three different contractors are handling the rehabilitation of the road and the quality of the job was good. According to him areas rehabilitated would not last less than 20 years.

    The Controller, who led an inspection to check parts of the road already completed and those still ongoing said this particular road was vital to the life of the state.

    He said by the time they are done, commuters would have a smooth ride all the way from Calabar to Ogoja reducing travel time to just about four hours.

    Read Also: Prisons donates to motherless babies’ home in Calabar

    “It is a very important road in the state. In fact it is the main arterial Federal Road we have in the state. It connects all the local governments to the state from the south up to the north.

    “It is a very important road and the Federal Government has been maintaining the road to ensure that business does not collapse here.

    “You know the road is the life wire of the economy and if you want to shut down Cross River State, you shut down this road.

    “From Calabar to Ugep that used to be three hours, is now one and a half hour from Calabar.

    “If ask the people, they are very happy. We have 250km we are working on right now. Areas we are not working on are areas that are still okay,” he said.

  • Prisons donate to motherless babies’ home

    The Nigerian Prisons Service, Cross River State Command, has donated items for the upkeep of the Uwanse Motherless Babies’ Home in Calabar.

    Items donated included baby food diapers, noodles, toiletries, and beverages among others.

    Controller of Prisons in the state, Mr Imaikop Jimmy Ndaekong, who led officers and men of the Command to donate the items, said the gesture was a token of gratitude to God for making the Command peaceful throughout last year.

    “We did this to thank God for giving us grace to do our job successfully throughout 2018 without any issue. The Command was very peaceful throughout 2018. So instead of us to do a party, we decided to use the little we have to give to this home, who need our care. We decided to celebrate with the children.

    “Government cannot do everything alone, so all hands should be on deck to ensure the proper upbringing of these children. Let us join hands to ensure that they are groomed. Just like what we do in the prisons service where we are trying to shape the adult, who has gone in conflict with the law, bring them back, rehabilitate them and reintegrate them into the society. Nobody knows what these children could be tomorrow,” Ndaekong said.

    Read Also: Officials bust drug gang at Ikoyi Prisons

    He urged those in charge of the children not to relent in their duty of raising them to be good citizens of the society and also called on the children to always respect authority.

    Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Effanga Etim, said the gesture was the first of its kind in the Command.

    He said it was a worthwhile development. “It’s a worthwhile exercise in extending our hands of love to the vulnerable ones in our midst, outside prison facility,’ he said.

    The Officer in charge of the Home, Mrs Felicia Oti, thanked the Prisons Service for the gesture and promised to use items judiciously for the upkeep of the children.

  • Ayade mourns victims of fuel tanker explosion in C/River

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has decried the tragic death of some persons due to fuel tanker explosion at New Netim junction in Odukpani local government area.

    Ayade conveyed his condolence in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, on Saturday in Calabar.

    “My heart goes out to all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion. This is the most horrendous way to die. 

    “I am too shocked and traumatized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion.

    “As a government, we must try and reach out to the victims’ families who are affected by these avoidable deaths. 

    “Whatever circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident must be thoroughly investigated. This is one tragedy too many. We must do something to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

    Ayade pleaded with residents not to subject themselves to such avoidable deaths, adding that the state Ministry of Information and Orientation would begin sensitization campaign on the matter.

    He said that the campaign should educate the citizens on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with petroleum products.

    Mr Chidiebere Nkwonta, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, confirmed the incident.

    Nkwonta, who spoke in a telephone interview, said that the tanker fell off the road side at around 2pm on Friday.

    Read Also: Ayade enjoins youths to embrace farming

    “We suspected the incident to have happened out of speed violation on the side of the driver. He was slightly injured when my men visited the scene.

    “We did our best to ensure safety around the scene by ensuring free flow of movement around the area.

    “Unfortunately, at night, some people went there and started scooping fuel and there was an explosion that resulted to mass casualty.

    “I want to use this medium to advice people to stop scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with petroleum product, it’s not safe,” he said.

    Some of the victims who sustained third degree injuries were currently receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

    NAN

  • Many feared dead in tanker explosion

    Many people were feared killed in a petrol tanker explosion along the Calabar-Odukpani Highway in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State on Friday.

    The incident occurred at a bend close to the Odukpani local government secretariat.

    It was gathered the petrol tanker fell while trying to negotiate the bend with residents rushing to the scene to scoop petrol.

    Eyewitnesses reported the clamour for petrol resulted into a spark as some of the residents used metal containers to scoop the product.

    Read Also: Tanker explosion: Ondo orders agency to assess damage

    This led to an explosion which killed several people at once.

    At the scene, the police tried to contain the situation as the fire raged.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, could not confirm the number of fatalities as at press time.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Popular broadcaster kidnapped in Calabar

    A popular broadcaster with the Cross River Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC) in Calabar Petertex Etim aka The godfather on Friday abducted in his house by unknown gunmen.

    It was gathered the abductors stormed his house along Chamley Street in Calabar South and whisked him away in a waiting vehicle, while he was preparing for work in the morning.

    “He was supposed to read the news on radio this morning but of course could not anymore because of the kidnapping.

    “He is not a politician or involved in any controversy. He is such an easygoing guy.

    Read Also: Tension in Calabar over vandalised billboards

    “So why should something like this happen to him? Could it be a mistaken identity? No one knows.

    “His phone number has been switched off since and the kidnappers have not gotten in touch yet. It is really unfortunate,” a source close to him said.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident.

    ‘We are aware of it and we are working on it,” she said.

     

     

  • Tension in Calabar over vandalised billboards

    Tension is brewing in Cross River State following the destruction of billboards belonging to the governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Owan-Enoh, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), incumbent governor, Prof Ben Ayade.

    Owan-Enoh at a press briefing last week had alleged that agents of PDP led state government, were pulling down his billboards even after making required payments, warning that there will be reprisals if the destruction of his billboards is not stopped.

    However, after the complaint, a billboard put up in along the popular Ndidem Iso Road in Calabar on Friday was pulled down by unknown persons. Since then, destruction of billboards of both parties by unknown persons became the order of the day. Reacting to the development, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Christian Ita, denied the allegation that the PDP was responsible for destroying Owan-Enoh’s billboards.

    He inferred that the destruction of APC billboards was due to the APC’s internal issues as there is a faction insisting that Owan-Enoh is not the candidate of the party. He said the state government will not condone any form of violence and they will ensure that those perpetuating it would be dealt with according to the law. The governor’s media aide said it was unfortunate that the destruction of PDP billboards started after the APC candidate threatened reprisals.

    But the Public Relations Officer of the APC in the state, Bassey Ita, said the denial was spurious and a cheap attempt by the PDP to exonerate itself from the evil and criminal agenda it is already known to perpetrate. “We will not accept such spurious claims and insinuations that a faction of our party is responsible for this criminal and evil exploit as currently made by the PDP.

    “Such insinuations, we note, is inexcusable and further speaks of the antecedents of a conquered army trying to shy away from an evil attack on a winning team just to play safe. For the umpteenth time, we warn that we will resist any further attempt by anyone or group of persons in whatever guise who perpetrate such an obnoxious practice of pulling down our campaign materials,” he said.

  • Cross River: 14 governorship candidates adopt Owan-Enoh

    The governorship candidates of 14 political parties in Cross River State on Thursday endorsed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator John Owan-Enoh, for this year’s general election.

    The governorship candidates who came under the group, Coalition of Owan Friends of Political Parties and Groups (COFOPPAG), said the state is in dire need of a rescue from the present administration hence the need to come together to ensure the APC candidate wins at the governorship polls.

    Director-General of the Coalition and the governorship candidate of the People’s Party of Nigeria (PPN), Pastor Ntami Esege, said the development was the first of its kind in the country, and it became necessary because “our state has gone through a lot of drama where lies and sycophancy have taken over as the order of the day.”

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Coalition in Calabar, Esege said the adopted Owan-Enoh because he had been tested and proven over the years in public service.

    He expressed confidence that with their support, the APC would emerge victorious in the elections.

    Owan-Enoh, who was accompanied by his running mate, Ntufam Ekpo Okon, said he was honoured by the adoption by the governorship candidates, and described the development as history making for the rebirth of Cross River State

    He lauded them for choosing the interest of the state instead of personal interests, and promised not to fail them and the people of the state.

    The APC governorship candidate alleged that everything about the present administration is fraudulent and called on Cross Riverians to “save the state.”

    According to him, “great danger” awaits the state if the present government got reelected.

  • Eight killed in Calabar New Year accident

    Eight persons were killed in a car crash along Ndidem Iso Road in Calabar, the Cross River State capital on New Year day around 2am.

    The Nation gathered the accident occurred when a speeding Toyota Camry car slammed into a taxi that was trying to make a U-Turn at the Apples’ axis of the road.

    One person sustained injuries in the accident.

    The taxi had seven occupants, five male and two female, including the driver, who died on the spot.

    The driver of the Camry vehicle, a young man, who had a female passenger in his vehicle, also died it was gathered.

    Only the young woman survived.

    The police confirmed the incident, declaring the bodies had been taken to the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) mortuary.