The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Delta State

  • Knocks for Okowa as armed gangs take over Delta community

    Knocks for Okowa as armed gangs take over Delta community

    Residents of Effurun, Ekpan and other communities in Uvwie Local government area of Delta state are living in fears as armed gangs unleash mayhem on residents and business owners in the area.

    Our investigations revealed that no fewer than 10 persons have been killed and over 100 wounded since the beginning of the year. Properties worth several millions of naira, including Shoprite and other shops in the Delta Mall, have either being destroyed or looted.

    Distressed residents slammed the perceived nonchalant attitude of the state government, led by Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for the mindless killings, robberies, abductions and breach of the peace in Uvwie and environs.

    “The governor seems to have ceded Uvwie to armed gangs, while residents live in perpetual fear, sleep and wake up to the sound of gunfire and flying bullets,” one resident lamented.

    Reports that could not be independently confirmed indicated that at least three persons were killed on Thursday morning in a renewed bedlam in the restive area.

    A victim of the Thursday’s mayhem, Mr Olatuden Daniel, stated: “I don’t know what Delta state government is doing about this high level (of) insecurity especially Uvwie LGA, Ekpan and Jakpa in particular.

    “I almost got killed by spraying (flying) bullet early this (Thursday) morning on my way to office because of youth wahala (restiveness). A responsible government shouldn’t fold its arms and allow youths to take over the government.

    “This has been on for a month now and I hope Governor Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa will wake up to his responsibility. Up to this moment (1.20pm) from 5am there is still gunshot everywhere. No security.”

    Hundreds of persons on their way to their legitimate business were trapped in another bloody shootout around the Ekpan area of the community in the latest fracas.

    The latest spate of violence in Ekpan and other parts of Uvwie was triggered by battle for the control of motor parks in the area and its subsequent face-off between the council chairman, Chief Baro Henry and the state governor.

    The face-off led to the suspension of the embattled governor and his replacement with an interim chair.

    Sources said the interplay of forces working for Baro’s return and those bent on perpetrating the current occupant on the seat is responsible for the breakdown of law and order in the council.

    “There are those working hard to demonise Baro in order to ensure that he does not return and there are those working to ensure that the council becomes ungovernable if the elected chairman is not allowed to return to his seat,” a source who spoke on condition of anonymity added.

     

  • Delta confirms first case of Lassa fever

    Delta confirms first case of Lassa fever

    The Ministry of Health in Delta on Monday announced that it had confirmed the first case of Lassa fever in the state.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr. Churchill Oyewo, Public Relations Officer of the ministry and issued to newsmen in Asaba.

    The statement said that the index case occurred after a 65-year-old woman from neigbouring Anambra was admitted at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Asaba.

    It said that the woman was referred to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, when her conditioned worsened.

    The statement said that the case was later confirmed as Lassa fever at the Virology Laboratory, Specialist Hospital, Irrua, Edo.

    The ministry said that following the discovery, the state Rapid Response Team immediately placed 22 persons who had contact with the woman on surveillance.

    It added that five other samples had been sent for laboratory investigation, adding that the ministry had informed the Federal Ministry of Health on the development.

    According to the statement, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has provided the necessary logistics to enhance contact tracing and control measures.

    It advised residents to maintain high level of personal and environmental hygiene as well as keep their food and water away from rats and rodents.

  • IPOB protest disrupt activities in Asaba

    IPOB protest disrupt activities in Asaba

    Protesters under the aegis of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Monday disrupted commercial activities in major streets of Asaba, Delta State.

    This may not be unconnected with the continued incarceration of the Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.

    The placard carrying protesters who also bore various Biafra insignias insisted that they would remain in the streets until the detained Kanu is released from the custody of security agencies.

    The protest paralyzed socio-economic activities in the metropolis, causing traffic gridlock on the ever busy Nnebisi Road.

    One of the protesters who simply identified himself as Mr. Ikenna said that the protest was a peaceful one to prevail on the Federal Government to release Kanu from detention.

    Ikenna said security agencies were cooperating with them, noting that they were not being harassed as it used to be in the past.

    “This is a peaceful protest for the release of our leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu from prison. We will continue to remain on the streets until he is freed. This protest is happening in Asaba alone by members of IPOB,” Ikenna added.

    The detained Director of Radio Biafra, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu was billed to appear in court yesterday (Monday) for charges bordering on treasonable felony but disagreement between IPOB members, his family members and his wife over change of his counsel might jeopardize his chances in the legal tussle.

  • Delta mall invasion: Shop owners count losses

    Delta mall invasion: Shop owners count losses

    Shop owners at the Delta Shopping Mall, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta state, have begun to count their losses after the Friday morning invasion by armed youths.

    The mall, located at the Effurun Roundabout on the gateway to the East and South-south states, houses the popular South African consumer shop Shoprite and nearly 100 others.

    The mall is currently experience peace.

  • Panic in Delta as protesting youths seize Shoprite

    Panic in Delta as protesting youths seize Shoprite

    Thousands of shoppers and workers were trapped Friday as protesting youths took over the Delta Shopping Mall, in Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta state.

    The mall houses the popular South African consumer shop Shoprite and nearly 100 others.

    It is located at the Effurun Roundabout on the gateway to the East and South-south states.

    The Police has confirmed the incident and said the youths are protesting over lack of employment opportunities and other benefits.

  • Appeal court upholds Okowa’s election

    Appeal court upholds Okowa’s election

    The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the election of Ifaeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as governor of Delta State.

    The court, in a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji upheld the decision of the Delta State governorship election tribunal delivered on October 26 this year.

    The court dismissed the appeal filed by Great Ogboru of the Labour Party for lacking in merit.

    The court is currently delivering a single judgment in the three cross-appeals filed by Okowa, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against the tribunal’s judgment.

  • JTF arrest three militants, vandals in Delta

    JTF arrest three militants, vandals in Delta

    Troops of Operation Pulo Shield (OPS), formerly known as Joint Task Force (JTF) have nabbed three suspected militants and vandals following a raid on active camps located in the creeks of Delta State.

    The troops also recovered explosives identified as dynamites and cache of arms from the suspected militants and vandals who operated along the Benin River and adjoining creeks in Itagbene, Warri North Local Government Area, Delta State.

    Parading the suspects and the arms at the OPS Headquarters, Yenagoa, on Thursday, the Commander, OPS, Maj.-Gen. Alani Okunlola, named them as Mako Ajigidi, a.k.a Sorsor, Godspower Alebi and Okiti Ariri.

    He listed the recovered arms as one Light Machine Gun (LMG), five AK47 rifles, one G3 rifle, one LAR rifle, 20 AK47 magazines, 415 rounds special and other ammunition.

    He said 10 explosives identified as dynamites and bundles of detonating cords were also impounded from the militants.

    Okunlola said the feat was achieved through ongoing intensive patrols and raids of suspected militants’ camps.

    He said:”The operation is a continuous one aimed at recovering all illegally acquired arms that have found their way into the Niger Delta region.

    “l call on the good people of the Niger Delta region to key into our zero tolerance campaign against illegalities  and also give useful information that will aid troops to track and arrest miscreants.”

    He said the joint force remained ever determined to fight against crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta region.

  • Appeal court reserves judgement in Delta guber poll

    Appeal court reserves judgement in Delta guber poll

    There was apprehension Thursday across party lines in Delta state as the Appeal Court, sitting in Benin, reserved judgement in the appeal challenging the judgement of the state’s governorship election petitions tribunal, which had in October given victory to Dr Ifeanyi Okowa of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), as duly elected governor of the state.

    Levels of anxiety were heightened Thursday among party faithfuls of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) and the PDP over the likely angle the pendulum of the appellate court’s decision might swing when the judgement would be delivered, considering the events that necessitated changing the judges previously handling appeal.

    It would be recalled that the governorship petitions tribunal, which sat in Asaba, had on October 26, ruled in favour of Dr Okowa, his  party, the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), dismissing the petitions filed by Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, the governorship candidate of the APC.

    However, the Appeal Court in Benin, after the parties in the appeal had adopted their final addresses, in the petition with file number CA/B/EPT / 2015, filed by Chief Thomson Okpoko (SAN), counsel to Emerhor and the APC,  reserved  its judgement.

    Chairman of the five-man panel of Appeal Court Judges, Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, who presided over the sitting, stated that the date of the judgement will be communicated to the parties, while assuring them that justice will be done.

    Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower tribunal, Emerhor and his party, the APC, had approached the Appeal Court, asking the court to set-aside the judgement of the tribunal and order a rerun election in the state.

    In the 11 grounds of appeal, the appellant averred that, “the learned Justices erred in law when they failed to nullify the election due to substantial non compliance with the Electoral Act, INEC guidelines and over voting in 61 percent of the polling units in the state.”

    The appellants also alleged a resort to manual accreditation instead of the mandatory use of card readers.

    Counsel to Emerhor and the APC, Chief Okpoko (SAN) while adopting and relying on his written addresses, contended that the lower tribunal chose to ignore the preponderance of evidence before the court and urged the Appeal Court to allow the appeal and set aside the judgement of the lower tribunal and annul the election as required by law.

    He also sought the outright dismissal of the cross appeal of the respondents as lacking in merit.

    The counsels to first respondent (Okowa), Alex Iziyon (SAN); second respondent (PDP), Timothy Kehinde (SAN); and third respondent (INEC), Damian Dodo (SAN) urged the appeal court to dismiss the appeal with substantial cost against the petitioners, stating that the appeal lacks merit.

     

  • Sapele: Traders, widows protest against Okowa

    Sapele: Traders, widows protest against Okowa

    Widows and traders in Sapele, Delta State on Friday staged a peaceful protest against the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, over the state government order revoking stalls allotted to them by the last administration in the state.

    The women condemned the governor’s decision, stating that they were allotted the stalls after they made full payment for them and completed all formalities.

    Leaders of the placard-wielding protesters, Mrs Cecelia Eregare and Mr. Happy Atsegor, said, “It is wickedness for the governor that was voted into power by the people to turn around and throw us into the cold street after paying for our stalls.”

    They lamented that they had been on the issue since 2006 when fire gutted the market and they were ordered to vacate their shops for the market to be rebuilt.

    Eregare recalled that they were re-allotted the stalls in early 2014 after they completed payment and paper works with the government.

    “We applied for the shops; we bought forms, completed and returned them as well as made the requirement payment before we were given the shop. So it is surprising that the new governor is giving us notice to quit,” Mr Atsegor added.

    Meanwhile, the widows and traders who carried several placards that denounced the government’s action, vowed to resist the quit order.

    Besides, they wondered why the government was in a hurry to qui them despite a pending legal tussle over the issue.

    Although Governor Okowa could not be reached for comment, it was learnt that the state’s Director of Information, Paul Osahor, who signed the order, urged all traders currently occupying shops and stalls in the market to evacuate their wares.

  • Scores wounded as hotel collapses in Delta

    Scores wounded as hotel collapses in Delta

    No fewer than seven persons, including a female police officer and ADC to the First Lady of a northern state (names withheld), were injured in the wee hours of Wednesday, when the popular Mekaval Hotel located in Effurun-Warri, Delta State collapsed.

    It was gathered that the collapse hotel was similar to the collapse of the Synagogue of All Nation Church in Lagos, as the victims were mostly indigenes of neighboring state who besieged the city seeking salvation at the Christ Mercy Land Church, headed by Pastor Jeremiah Fufeyin, popularly called ‘Ijaw TB Joshua’ by followers.

    Although the cause of the collapse was yet unknown at the time of this report Wednesday, the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Kingsley Otuaro, a lawyer and deacon, hinted of possible structural defect.

    Otuaro, who raced to the scene of the incident at about 10:45am, immediately ordered the closure of the hotel buildings, as well as the standing two-storey main wing of the hotel, as a precautionary measure to avert further loss of lives.

    He said, “The state government has ordered that the hotel be closed immediately to avert further loss of lives. We are going to send engineers straight away.

    “It is very possible that there have been some structural defect ab initio during construction works because that place seems to be a waterlogged area and maybe the proper engineering works were not done.”

    Otuaro spoke with newsmen at the Divine Grace Clinic, where five of the victims, including a pair of brothers and three females were being treated, decried the incident and described it as devastating.

    He laments the devastation and trauma suffered by some of the lodgers at the hotel, including a lady from Bayelsa simply identified as Evangelist Florence, who spent over seven hours under rubles of the collapsed hotel.

    While stressing that it wasn’t time for bulk-passing, the Deputy Governor assured that competent engineers were on their way to the site to assess the immediate and remote causes of the building collapse.

    He commended public-spirited individuals and organizations like the Red Cross which promptly responded to distress call and assured that the state government would pick up the medical bills of the victims some of whom were being treated at the nearby Divine Grace Clinic.

    Otuaro, who also visited five of the victims, thanked God for their safe evacuation from the scene and assured them of the support of the state government.

    He advised inhabitants of buildings close to the scene to evacuate them pending examination by professional to ascertain the state of the structures.

    Nevertheless, The Nation independent check revealed that the victims of Wednesday disaster were mainly religious pilgrim from outside the state, who were in Effurun for a church programme organized by Pastor Fufeyin

    The ADC to the northern state First Lady, who was simply identified as Adeza, told Otuaro that she hit the city from Abuja on Tuesday afternoon in search of solution to some family problem.

    The lady, who hails from Agbede, Edo state said, “I am a Muslim, but I came here to see the man of God. Only recently I lost my elder brother who was in the Army and so many things had been happening in my family. So I came here for prayers.”

    The lady, who occupied Room 206 before the unfortunate incident, said at the time of her rescue she was still hearing voices from under the rubles from the collapsed hotel building, hinting that more people could still be trapped underground.

    Her view with contrary to those expressed that by the hotel management that the seven recorded lodgers had all been rescued alive at about 11am on Wednesday.

    Speaking in the same vein, another victim, who simply identified herself as Evangelist Florence, told our reporter that she came from Yenagoa, Bayelsa state for the church’s programme.

    “Immediately I got into town I went to the mountain for prayers. It was after the prayer that I came to Mekaval.

    “As I was sleeping, at about 2am I heard a sound creaking sound and everything came down, I tried to unlock my door but I couldn’t; it seemed like the door was locked outside. I was under the ground till about 7am when I was rescue,” she added.