The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ebonyi State

  • 40 years old restaurateur commits suicide in Abakaliki

    The Ishielu Campus of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Abakaliki was thrown into a sober mood on Friday as the body of a restaurateur in the area, Emmanuel Igwe was found dangling on a tree.

    Residents of the area discovered his body hanging from a tree behind a Pentecostal Church along Highlander Street in Ishieke.

    The 40 years old man popularly known as Ezeugo, it was gathered, hails from Amechi Idodo in Enugu state.

    The residents alerted the Police who came to the scene and brought down Igwe’s corpse from the tree it was dangling from.

    The deceased is survived by his wife and four children.

    His daughter, Uzoamaka Igwe told journalists that his father left their House as usual to his restaurant but later called her mother on phone and told her to take care of the children..

    According to the girl, her father did not respond to her mother questions but was unexpectedly found hanging on the tree.

    A friend of the deceased, Chimex Unah expressed sadness over the sudden death of the deceased whom he described as a hardworking person.

    He said the deceased did not show any signs of being depressed as he was always jovial, gentle and related with everyone very well.

    “I know Ezeugo very well, he is a jovial. We have stayed together for some time in Ishieke market. I came to the market today only to hear that he has committed suicide by hanging himself. I went to the scene and saw things for myself and he was still hanging on a tree when I got there. We were there until policemen came and brought down his corpse”, he said.

  • Pandemonium as Police kill motorcyclist in Ebonyi

    An unidentified Police officer on Wednesday night shot and killed a commercial motorcyclist (Okada man) along water walks road for allegedly refusing to give him N50 bribe.

    The yet to be identified okada rider, was accosted by Police officers of the Anti Kidnapping squad of Ebonyi State Police Command at Anan world junction by water walks road.

    A source who witnessed the incident said, the Okada rider in his 20s was carrying a female passenger when he was flagged down by the policemen, who are notorious for fleecing motorists of their hard earned money at night at the junction.

    “When they stopped him, they demanded for their usual N50n but he gave them N20n and wanted to drive off when ọ we of them opened fire on him. The bullet shattered his head and he died instantly”, said the source.

    The incident caused pandemonium along the road as residents along the adjourning streets gathered and attempted to lynch the officers. They also used tires to set burn fires on the road.

    But the arrival of a new detachment of Police officers to the scene saved the day as they used teargas to dispel the crowd while also shooting sporadically into the air to scare them away.

    It could not be immediately ascertertained if the female passenger of the slain Okada man was lso hit by the bullets of the policemen.

    Meanwhile, Governor David Umahi has ordered for immediate arrest of the policeman attached to the Ebonyi State Anti Kidnap Squad over the death of a commercial motorcycle operator, popularly known as Okada in Abakaliki,  Ebonyi state capital.

    The Governor who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary,  Emmanuel Uzor described the incident as barbaric and calous and expressed confidence that justice will be done in the killing of the deceased.

    He said the incident has further called for more dedication,  commitment and professional training for the country’s security personnel to stop further killings of innocent Nigerians on the line of their duties.

    The governor also assured that he would take up the matter to the Inspector General of Police to ensure that the trigger happy policeman who shot and killed the boy is punished inline with the rule of his engagement.

    Umahi warned that his administration will not tolerate any form of killing of innocent citizens or extra judicial killing by the security agencies and ordered the Commissioner of Police in the State,  Mr Titus Lamorde to arrest the trigger happy policeman who shot the decaesed and other members of the team to face full weight of the law.

    While expressing his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased,  Governor Umahi promised to visit the family when full information concerning his family is made available.

    He called on the public to remain calm as the situation was already under control and never to resort to taking laws into their hands.

    Efforts to get the reaction of the Police spokesman in the state, Loveth Odah, at press time were not successful.

  • Umahi urges new NYSC members promote national unity

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Monday called on the Corps members to be vanguards of national unity of the country.

    He also urged them to shun social vices such as corruption, ethnic bigotry, religious intolerance, violence and indiscipline in the course of their service to the nation.

    The Governor made the call during the swearing-in ceremony of 2018 batch ‘A’ Corps members deployed to Ebonyi State at the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC permanent Orientation Camp, Old Macgregor College, Afikpo.

    He charged the Corps members to be exemplary, dedicated and committed in all they do both at the Camp and throughout their Service year.

    Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hyginus Nwokwu, the Governor further charged the Corps members to take full advantage of the Camp activities to enrich themselves by dedicating themselves to the lessons that they would learn from the activities prevalent in the Camp.

    “I urge you to be prepared to follow in the footsteps of your predecessors who have done very well over the years in contributing meaningfully to the development of the State. I wish to say it here that I am proud of the lofty achievements of the NYSC in the State over the years”.

    In her address, the State Co-Ordinator of NYSC, Iluebbey Regina. E. advised the prospective Corps members to play an active role in ensuring that the nation remains indivisible and indissoluble by emphasizing the merits in the togetherness and unity of the nation.

    The State Coordinator who charged the Corps members to shape up and adapt themselves adequately to the demands and expectations of the orientation camp to enrich their knowledge and expand their horizon.

    “Your Excellency sir, let me use this medium to inform you that a total of 2,201 prospective corps members deployed to the State has reported and has been registered. Out of the number registered 1,116 are males while 1,085 are females.

    Mr Iluebbey appealed to the state government to assist the NYSC to renovate facilities in the camp and reconstruct the road leading to the camp.

    The corps members were sworn-in by Justice Benson Ogbu, who represented the State Chief Judge, Justice Alloy Nwankwo.

    The corpers also engaged in several activities to entertain the audience which include tug of war, karate, dance etc.

  • Council Boss, others arraigned for demolishing 94-yrs-old man’s building

     

    The Police in Ebonyi state have arraigned a top local government boss in the state, Chukwuma Igwe for allegedly demolishing a building and fence belonging to a 94 year old man, Pa Omabe Obini worth N15million.

    Mr Igwe is the Coordinator of Ezeukwa Development Centre,  Onicha local government area of the state.

    Development Centres are the fourth tier of government created by the Ebonyi state House of Assembly during the Sam Egwu administration in the state to step down governance to the remotest areas of the state.

    Each local government has at least three DCs. A Coordinator is in charge of the DC and work with the local government Chairman to govern his or her locality. They are appointed by the Governor and ratified by the House of Assembly for about three years tenure which can be renewed.

    Igwe, 49, was arraigned alongside other five suspects; Ejiuwaka Igwe, Okoronkwo Nwinyinya, Stanley Ejiofor, Chinedu Igwe and Joel Okorie on four counts charge.

    According to court records, the suspects allegedly carried out the demolition of Omabe’s building on 30th March 2018 and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi state, 2009.

    The demolition of Pa Omabe’s building  took place at Uwani Anike village in the area was allegedly carried out by nine suspected thugs alleggedlly under the supervision of the Coordinator.

    But Alm the avcussed persosns including Mr Igwe pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    They were alao granted bail by the Court even as the matter was adjourned to 3rd May, 2018 for hearing.

    Omabe had last week narated to journalists how Mr Igwe led suspected thugs to invaded his compound with axe, digger and cutlass  and chased away members of his family before embarking on the demolition of his building and a section of his perimeter fencing.

    He also paraded a 30 minutes video clip to journalists to prove his allegations.

    He further allegged that this was the second time the coordinator was sponsoring such attack against his property in the village.

    Pa Omabe who said he has reported the matter to the police, appealed to the state government and human right activists to intervene into the matter.

    He lamented that his health condition has worsened following the demolition.

    He said there was no basis for the action considering that he had no land dispute between members of the community or Igwe.

    In a reaction, Igwe who said he was the Chairman of Anike General Assembly said what was demolished was Pa Obini’s perimeter fencing which constiteued boundary between him and Umu Anike.

    He alleged that the decision to demolish the building was taken by the Anike General Assembly following Pa Obini’s refusal to appear before it for violating the resolution on the disputed boundary.

    The Police had upon reception of the complaint commenced investigation which culminated to the arrest of Mr Igwe and his subsequent arraignment today.

  • APC chieftains in Ebonyi back Buhari’s second term bid

    Two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ebonyi state, have applauded the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari to run for second term saying that the decision would benefit all Nigerians.

    The chieftains noted that the outstanding performance of the President qualified him to run for re-election to consolidate on the achievements recorded in his first term.

    The chieftains spoke in separate interviews with the News men on Monday in Abakaliki.

    Dr Paul Okorie,  a governorship aspirant in the 2019 election said  the decision was  welcome.

    He hailed Buhari for his courage and decision to present himself for a second term and urged party faithful and Nigerians to support the President for the reelection bid.

    Okorie who served at various times as Commissioner for Works and Transportation and Environment said the re-election of Buhari would deepen democracy and enhance economic growth and development.

    He listed among the achievements of the president, the growth of the foreign reserve from $30 billion to about $47 billion, road infrastructure, anti-graft campaign, job creation, youth empowerment, defeat of Boko Haram and  fiscal discipline.

    “Though he has performed creditably well in his first term, more needed to be done and four years obviously is not enough for him to fully accomplish his programmes and policies.

    “Again the South-East will have brighter opportunity to produce the next Nigerian President by 2023.

    “The decision is a wise decision and I commend Mr President for taking the selfless and patriotic decision, ” Okorie said.

    Another chieftain and Acting chairman of the party in Ebonyi, Mr Eze Nwachukwu said that the declaration has put an end to uncertainties  on whether the President would offer himself for a second term.

    Read Also: Tinubu has capacity to unite APC, says Kano lawmaker

    He praised the President for taking the bold decision, saying that the second term of Buhari would stabilise security concerns, enhance political, economic and industrial growth in the country.

    He said that the government had fought corruption and had redeemed the country’s image previously battered by corruption.

    “Corruption in public service has reduced while fiscal discipline and responsibility are strictly adhered to in public procurement.

    “The President may have his short coming as a human being but his administration’s programme and policies indicate that he is committed to building more virile and strong Nigeria.

    .“As a party, we commend the decision and pledge to mobilise Ebonyi and the whole of South-East to vote the President for second term in 2019,” Nwachukwu said.

    He urged all eligible voters in the state, who have  not yet registered in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ),  to ensure they register to avoid  disenfranchisement during the election.

    NAN

  • Ebonyi SSG, Prof Odoh resigns

    Secretary to Government of Ebonyi State, Professor Benard Odoh has resigned his appointment citing lack of a condusive environment to carry out his duties as his reason for doing so.

    Odoh, was the All Progressive Grand Alliance senatorial candidate in the 2015 general election which he lost to Senator Obinna Ogba of the People’s Democratic Party.

    He was appointed SSG by Governor David Umahi, the governor’s first appointment, right at the stadium after the governor’s inauguration.

    In a letter of his resignation, brained by The Nation, the former state scribe literally said he took his decision so as to protect his relationship with the governor, David Umahi.

    He stressed that he has more to preserve than occupy the position of the secretary to state government.

    Odoh said that in the past two years, he and other members of the State Executive Council haves not been offered conducive atmosphere to sincerely air and express their views on sensitive policy matters.

    He said: “in my opinion, this is the highest level of hypocrisy and the values I live does not allow me to operate in such deceptive atmosphere where people live opposite of what/who they are”.

    “Having assured you on my inception of office and at several times that I owe you the responsibility to be truthful and honest always, I wish to inform you that all is not well in your administration sir. If you observe carefully, almost all your appointees are nearly completely disconnected from your policy direction as they lack genuine sense of purpose, dignity, clear sense of commitment to decision taken in Council because of low morale”.

    “Once more on behalf of my family, friends and those who worked closely with me for almost three years now, I want to most sincerely again say thank you very much for the rare opportunity you offered me to serve our dear state”.

    “My appointment as the Secretary to the State government is hereby resigned in good faith. I have handed over the status of cabinet office to the most senior staff office, Barrister Ogbonnaya Otta in line with the best practices of service”.

    The Former SSG further commended the wife of the state governor, Rachel and the entire Umahi’s dynasty for the opportunity and loves to serve the state government.

    Prof Odoh before his appointment was a lecturer at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.

  • I killed my master and his wife for refusing to settle me – Apprentice

    A young apprentice, Okwudili Okoro, has given insight into why he murdered his master, Azubuike  Okoro and his wife, Jacinta Okoro, in a fit of age when the couple were having their meal.

    Last Saturday, Okwudili and his accomplice now on the run, barged into the home of his master, Azubuike, who also doubled as his blood brother, pulled two cutlasses hidden underneath their wears and hacked man and wife to death in a pool of blood.

    Okwudili  who is in the police net, said he elected to kill his brother and wife because the man refused to settle him after completing the presumably agreed three years apprenticeship.

    It was learnt that he and his accomplice, Kenneth, fled the scene when their crime attracted the attention of residents, who raised an  alarm but following a report of the incident by one Joseph Nwagu at the  Sango Police Division, Okwudili was arrested.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed this in a statement, said the suspect claimed he killed his master for not settling him after serving for three years.

    Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) added that the suspect was arrested when one Joseph Nwagu reported the crime to the police in Sango that Mr. Azuibike and his wife have been hacked to death.

    According to the Police  Spokesman in the state, Okwudili and Kenneth left their base in Sapon  in  Abeokuta, to commit the heinous crime at  Ijako – three Local Governments apart.

    “Upon his report, the DPO Sango Division SP Nasirudeen Oyedele led detectives to the scene where the suspect was arrested but his accomplice escaped.

    “On interrogation, the Ebonyi state born suspect claimed to have served his deceased elder brother for good three years, and when it was time for him to be settled, his brother kept on posting him from time to time.

    “He stated that when he realized that his brother is not ready to settle him, he contracted one Kenneth who is now on the run and they both bought two cutlasses, sharpened it to the edges and headed to his deceased elder brother’s house in Ijako.

    “On getting there, they met the deceased eating with his wife and before he can utter a word, they descended heavily on them with the sharp cutlasses and matcheted them to death.

    “The two corpses have been taken to the general hospital Otta mortuary for post mortem examination.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department for discreet investigation,” Oyeyemi stated

    According to him, the fleeing accomplice of the suspect would apprehended and brought to book within the shortest possible time.

    Read Also:

  • Nightlife returns to Abakaliki

    Nightlife returns to Abakaliki

    A few years ago, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, was like a ghost town. From 7pm virtually all shops and businesses closed down. One reason for this was lack of power. Another reason was that criminals were on rampage. Also, there was filth everywhere you turned. This ruined visitors’ trip to the state capital, after enduring the city’s woeful roads. Some concluded that Abakaliki was little more than a glorified village. Going out for fun in the afterhours was rare as a result.

    That picture has changed, thanks to Governor David Umahi who, on taking office in 2015, pledged to transform the state capital into what residents and visitors alike would be proud of. Nightlife is back.

    The city boasts streetlights  which are linked to the national grid and also backed up with generators to ensure steady illumination of the city throughout the night.

    Virtually all the roads in the metropolis have been reconstructed and refuse disposal is a daily routine supervised by the Ministry of Environment. The state hardly takes part in the monthly environmental exercise anymore but it is arguably today the cleanest city in the country.

    A trader in the state, Mrs Joy Obieze in a chat with The Nation said businesses now stay open till at least 10pm as the streetlights prevent hoodlums from attacking them.

    “We used to close around 6pm; now I can stay as long as I want and there are customers now at night unlike before,” she said.

    At the Abakaliki Township stadium, the story is the same.

    Shop owners at the stadium now stay open till late in the night while sporting activities and other programmes take place at the stadium day and night.

    Today the stadium is one of the few in the country with ave roofs that protect spectators and other users from the elements.

    The over 10,000-capacity stadium with five scoreboards now has an air-conditioned VIP section, equipped with 24 state-of-the art toilet facilities which are connected to 50,000-litre overhead tank and floodlights.

    The VIP section, which is covered with glass, is best fit for occasions including conferences, wedding and sundry indoor events, more so as it has 350 KVA and 500KVA standby electricity generators.

    Obviously to position the stadium for economic independence, a two-storey guest house of the standard of a high brow hotel is nearing completion within the stadium complex, while the 54 shops under the basement of the complex has been reconstructed.

    This has also added to the aesthetic beauty of the state capital as the beautiful stadium is now a tourist centre in the state capital. The 10,000 capacity stadium, following its former state was no longer attracting the attention of event planners, celebrities and Ebonyi people to the environment but the diverse innovation of Governor David Umahi has reawakened a new zeal and passion from the members of the public to the area.

    The place has surprisingly become a tourist attraction for many people in the state and outside as the governor has  rebuilt the stadium to international standards. It has indeed become a cynosure of all eyes in the state.

    “The number of people trooping into the stadium evokes a line of the feeling that the present administration is determined not only to set the pace in developmental strides but also set a precedence of ingenuity that democracy dividends is possible even in the face of obvious economic challenges”, said a first-time visitor to the state, James Okenwa.

    Indeed upon completion of the work at the stadium, Ebonyi State has now joined the league of states with the capacity to host both local and international events of any standard.

    Indeed, the busiest sport in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi state capital now is the Abakaliki Township Stadium which was recently renamed Ngele Oruta Township Stadium .

    Before 5am the stadium and its environs is filled with people. Most of the guests to the facility are the political bigwigs in the state including the House of Assembly members and their officials, lawyers, men and women from various strata and sections of the society.

    Majorly, they converge there for keep fit exercises and probably some other sundry social engagements.

    One of them, Mr Valentine Okike Uzor, a member of the state house of Assembly said: “You can now wake up anytime in the night and run along the major streets of Abakaliki which are well illuminated without fear of twisting your ankles as the roads are very smooth”.

    During the weekends, churches take over the arena, hold all sorts of crusades. Just last week, renowned Pastor, Apostle Suleiman held a crusade inside the main bowl of the stadium and it was filled to capacity.

  • University provides solution to Niger Delta soil contamination 

    University provides solution to Niger Delta soil contamination 

    The Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), in Ebonyi state, has found solution to the soil contamination in the Niger Delta region and other parts of the country using rice husk derived biochar.

    The experiment which heats up rice husk in a locally made carbonizer produces biochar which is discovered to enable microbes in polluted soil systems grow.

    Cordinator of the research, titled ‘ecotoxicological assessment and agricultural benefits of rice husk derived biochar’, Dr. Ihuoma Anyanwu made this revelation in Abuja, at the National science, technology and innovation expo, 2018. Themed: fast-tracking sustainable development of Nigeria through science and technology.

    Anyanwu stated that the biochar can be used for soil conditioning for farmers and bio remediation of contaminated systems, be it due to mining or crude oil pollution.

    Her words, “The target of the biochar is to use it for soil conditioning, especially acidic soil, most soil here in Nigeria is acidic, we want to use it to condition the acidic soil so that it will be good for farming and can also be used for bio remediation of contaminated systems in Nigeria.

    “We have a lot of mining and drilling going on, we have several crude oil polluted sites and heavy metal polluted sites, we produce the biochar so we can use it for soil conditioning for farmers and bio remediation of contaminated systems.

    “We did not just end with carbonizing it, we tested it on the soil to know the effect? If it is going to do the work planned or be more toxic. We tried to use it at a laboratory concentration on different scales on biota which comprises of earthworms, microbes that are responsible for the bio degradation and the plants that farmers cultivate on different concentrations; we allowed it age in the soil for 90days.

    “At the end we collected our result to know the percentage good for farmers to use as a liming product on the soil before cultivation or to use as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers, we also tested it on microbes that are responsible for bio degradation at different concentrations and we know the concentration that when uses on bio remediation it will give the required result.

    “We know it can work in the Niger Delta region because we have tested it on microbes and we know that microbes responds very well to the addition of biochar in the soil, it helps the microbes to grow, we tested up to 50% of it in the soil and found that as it ages in the soil, it gives the microbes the medium to grow, we analysed it scientifically and found that it gives the microbes the nutrients it needs and provides a refuge for the microbes to hide in and not be predated upon and gives them the nutrients they need to multiply, which helps in attacking any contaminants in the soil. We published this in a paper just recently.

    “This is all about converting waste to a byproduct  that can be used in soil amendment and bio remediation of contaminated system and what we did is that because our university is situated in a place you have a lot of rice husk because they are mostly farmers that produce a lot of rice, we have mountains of rice husk which we want to help the community out of it and at the same time manage the waste so that it will not become a problem to them, so we constructed a locally manufactured carbonizer, what we do is get the rice husk, the carbonizer has two chambers, the inner and outer, we put it into the inner chamber which is made up of a small container where we put the bio mash which is the rice husk, cook it properly with firewood to cook it and produce a byproduct known as the bio gel, it will only be called biochar if it is produced in a zero or low oxygen environment  but if it is not, then it is not known as a biochar but ash and we have tested ash and found out that it is very detrimental to the environment.”

    Director, Research and Development FUNAI, Prof. Onuegbu Igwu added, “There is need for industries to come and play a part, the idea of a university is to generate knowledge, then industries should help and propel such knowledge.”

    Read Also: Buhari assures Niger Delta of rapid development

     

  • Umahi flags off medical outreach

    Umahi flags off medical outreach

    Hundreds of people in Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State have been treated free of charge during the maiden edition of the Caring Heart Foundation Medical outreach.

    Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi flagged off the outreach, which was sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives (Onicha/Ivo/Ohaozara Federal Constituency) Linus Okorie.

    The flag-off at the Akaeze Development Centre Headquarters, Ugwuagba was attended by the state commissioner for Health, Dr Umezurike, Commissioner for Environment, Chief Din Njoku and his counterpart for Economic Empowerment, Uchenna Orji.

    Others were the Deputy Chief of Staff Prof Okpara, Ivo council chairman, Senior Advisers, traditional rulers, and town union presidents, among others.

    Governor Umahi who was represented by his deputy, Kelechi Igwe commended Okorie for his people-oriented representation at the National Assembly.

    He said such health outreaches will compliments the efforts of the state government in the health sector.

    He highlighted some of the programes initiated by his administration highlight like the construction of a modern virology centre in the state, fight against female genital mutilation and reconstruction of general hospitals in the state.

    Mr Okorie in his speech said the outreach is his own little way of giving back to his constituents who have shown him so much live by voting him into the House of Representatives two times.

    He said the outreach will be carried out in the three local government areas of the Constituency in the coming months to improve their health standards.

    Over 150 under five children (with one critically sick baby rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki with the ambulance), 60 pregnant women (with six identified as very high risk requiring special attention) and 239 older children and adults ( with one prolapse case) were treated.