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Tag: Ebonyi State

  • Buhari to commission stadium, factory, road projects in Ebonyi

    Buhari to commission stadium, factory, road projects in Ebonyi

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi on Thursday said that all is set to receive President Muhammadu Buhari on working visit to the state.

    According to him, the President is expected to commission stadium, factory, and many road projects in the state.

    He spoke with State House journalists after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said “I am here to see some of the officials of the Villa because of the coming of Mr President to our state next week.

    “We are fully prepared for the visit. We pleaded with Mr. President for the visit and before then we have been preparing, we are fully prepared.”

    On the kind of projects the President will commission in the state, he said “We have quite a lot of projects that we have executed within this past two and the half years. We have three numbers of twin flyovers that is built across the African transahara Road running from Enugu to Cameroon passing through  Ebonyi State, so we have to build  three twin flyover to decongest traffic on that  road, each of the twin flyover is 700 metre length.

    “We have completed two and the third one is 80% done, Mr President will commission the two. We also have a mall what we call Ebonyi mall that is modelled after the famous Dubai mall. But a kind of microcosm of that microcosm.

    “And we intend for the President to lay a foundation stone of that mall which we will like Mr President to commission within the next 12 months.

    “Also we are building a tunnel that dovetails into a flyover that is parallel to the existing flyover, that particular junction that is called Akanibium junction, we want Mr. President to lay the foundation stone and that flyover bridge will be named after Mr. President and we are sure to finish that project in the next 12 months, Mr. President will also come back, he will be commissioning it when he comes back during his campaigns.

    Read Also: Buhari remains only credible candidate for 2019 Presidential election

    “So we will like to make them ready. So there is also a federal Road that is 14.5km that we got the consent of Mr. President to build and the road is fully done. We have 18.5km that is leading to the Federal University, we did that road with concrete and overlaid it with Asphalt, its fully ready.

    “We have 15.5km of Nigercem that road passes through the first cement factory in the country which is in Ebonyi State and it’s passes to Benue, we will build the 15.5 km in the axis of Ebonyi with concrete ,ready for Mr. President to commission. 23.5km of state road we built with concrete is ready for Mr. President to commission.” he said

    The governor added “We have 500 km of internal roads which we completed in Ebonyi is ready for Mr. President to commission. We have the stadium we remodeled, we have the best VIP stands in the whole country in our stadium is fully air conditioned and all the stands are fully covered. Mr. President will also commission that; we can go on and on.

    “We have a minimum of 30km of concrete Road in each of our local government; most of them completed some have attained 80% completion. We have quite a lot for Mr President to commission. We have mushrooms factory, Agric project that I want the president to commission. We have a launch of one man one hectare programme in Ebonyi, we want Mr President to launch it for us.”

    Asked if the President told him he was going to re-contest, he said “Well, any first term governor would want to go for second term and if what you wish yourself, you should be honest enough to wish another person the same. Since, Mr President is doing his first term and I am doing my first term, it’s my wish to re-contest and I will as well wish the president the same to re-contest.

  • Five killed in renewed Ebonyi/Cross River boundary dispute

    Five killed in renewed Ebonyi/Cross River boundary dispute

    Five persons from Itim-Amagu in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state were on Thursday allegedly killed and beheaded by  unknown gunmen at the boundary area between the community and neihbouring Adadama community In Cross River state.
    Both communities have been in boundary dispute for decades.
    The beheaded bodies of the victims have been recovered while three persons have been declared missing.
    The Chairman of Ikwo council, Mr John Nnabo  in a statement accussed the Adadama community of carrying out the killings.
    However, it was gathered that the war has claimed hundreds of lives and unquantifiable cost of property destroyed on both sides.

    Confirming the incident, the local government chairman of Ikwo, Mr John Nnabo said he was called on Thursday morning by his Vice chairman
    over the incident.

    The council chairman noted that the victims had gone to the area to uproot their cassava and other food crops because it had been long any sound of gunshots were heard or any sign of danger in the area, only to be surrounded by the warlords of Adadama and unleashed mayhem on
    them.

    Nnabo pointed out that the problem has persisted because the Adadama people would always cross the river boundary to the side of Ebonyi state to humiliate them.

    He said: “it is true. I was called on Thursday morning by my Vice Chairman. Five women were killed and beheaded. We have recovered their corpses. Three persons are still missing. Our people went to uproot their cassava and other crops thinking that the war has subsided without gunshots for a long time”.

    “As they were in the farm, the Adadama people surrounded them, killed and beheaded them. They will always cross the river to humiliate us”.

    Meanwhile, an Ikwo stakeholder and National Coordinator of Buhari/Osibanjo Initiative For Demonstrating Change,  Comrade Chinedu
    Ogah has called on the Federal government and the National Boundary Commission to quickly take urgent steps to delineate the boundary to forestall further loss of lives and property in the area.

    He, however,  commiserated with the families of the victims, assuring them that efforts were on top gear to ensure amicable resolution of the dispute.

    The Youth Leader further charge security agencies to ensure adequate security for the protection of lives in the area to avoid the repeat of the dastardly act.

  • 30 injured in Ebonyi road accident

    30 injured in Ebonyi road accident

    Over 30 persons have been critically injured in an accident that occurred along Enugu/Abakaliki expressway near the boundary between Enugu and Ebonyi state.

    An eyewitness said the accident occurred when the driver of an 18-seater bus travelling from Abakaliki to Enugu tried to avoid a police checkpoint and collided with another Hiace bus going the opposite direction.

    Rev. Fr Stephen Nnorom of the Catholic Diocese of Buya Cameroon who was among those that rescued the victims and conveyed them to hospitals, described the accident as tragedy and regretted the attitude of some sympathizers who could not volunteer their vehicles to evacuate the victims to hospitals.

    He advised motorists to always obey law enforcement agencies at the road to avert road accidents.

    Two other eyewitnesses, Mr. Chinonso Okeke and Mr. Ifeanyi  Igwe blamed the police at the checkpoint for the accident and explained that it  would have been prevented if  the two drivers were patient.

    But another eyewitness, Mr. Chukwudi Maduabuchi disassociated the police from the accident but blamed the drivers for their recklessness.

    A federal road safety special marshal, Macks Nnaji, who assisted in rescuing the victims, said though the accident was caused as a result of the road block, however cautioned motorists to always apply caution in the ember months.

    He appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that the ban on all road blocks was implemented in the south east region.

  • Ebonyi residents relish NYSC’s health care outreach

    Ebonyi residents relish NYSC’s health care outreach

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has flagged off its health initiative for rural dwellers in Ebonyi State with a pledge by the state coordinator, Mrs Iluebbey Ememie that the service will continue to provide free medicare to people of the state.

    The state coordinator while flagging off the programme at Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area, said the programme was carefully thought-out and packaged by the DG of NYSC and his management team to  bring free medical care to the doorsteps of the poor and vulnerable persons in communities who lack access to the medical care due to no finances to do so.

    She said the programme was first held in 2015 in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.

    According to her, the programme has recorded many successes as it has received so many positive feedbacks from communities where it has held.

    “I make bold to state to inform you that feedback from communities where the HIRD have held in the state since its inaugural edition abound in the joy of the beneficiaries whose health have been improved and their lives made better.

    She said that buoyed by the positive feedbacks and successes recorded by the scheme, the DG of NYSC Brig Gen SZ Karaure have resolved that the programme will be held regularly.

    She, therefore, urged members of the public to take advantage of the programme which she noted is free to enrich their health.

    Mrs Iluebbey commended the state Governor, David Umahi for his support to the NYSC scheme in the state by providing a conducive atmosphere for the scheme to thrive.

    Earlier in a his remarks, the Chairman of Ezza Local Government Area, Sunday Ogodo described the programme as a sign of te love the NYSC have for the people of the area as the programme have held twice in the council.

    Represented by the supervisory councillor for Health, Malachi Agu, the chairman who assured of full participation of the people of the council also commended the NYSC for its laudable contributions in the education sector.

    Doctors from the scheme also gave health talks on hypertension and hygiene to the participants.

    One of the participants, James Nkwuda thaked the service for the programme which he noted have saved him the trouble of going to Abakaliki to receive treatment for the sickness he has been having.

    “I was wondering how I will raise money to go for treatment, you know this is farminf season and the little money I had went into farming. So the coming of the programme to Onueke has been of great help to me as I was treated free of charge with lots of drugs that I am not sure I can finish.”

     

  • Ebonyi residents relish NYSC’s health care outreach

    Ebonyi residents relish NYSC’s health care outreach

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has flagged off its health initiative for rural dwellers in Ebonyi State with a pledge by the state coordinator, Mrs Iluebbey Ememie that the service will continue to provide free medicare to people of the state.

    The state coordinator while flagging off the programme at Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area, said the programme was carefully thought-out and packaged by the DG of NYSC and his management team to  bring free medical care to the doorsteps of the poor and vulnerable persons in communities who lack access to the medical care due to no finances to do so.

    She said the programme was first held in 2015 in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.

    According to her, the programme has recorded many successes as it has received so many positive feedbacks from communities where it has held.

    “I make bold to state to inform you that feedback from communities where the HIRD have held in the state since its inaugural edition abound in the joy of the beneficiaries whose health have been improved and their lives made better.

    She said that buoyed by the positive feedbacks and successes recorded by the scheme, the DG of NYSC Brig Gen SZ Karaure have resolved that the programme will be held regularly.

    She, therefore, urged members of the public to take advantage of the programme which she noted is free to enrich their health.

    Mrs Iluebbey commended the state Governor, David Umahi for his support to the NYSC scheme in the state by providing a conducive atmosphere for the scheme to thrive.

    Earlier in a his remarks, the Chairman of Ezza Local Government Area, Sunday Ogodo described the programme as a sign of te love the NYSC have for the people of the area as the programme have held twice in the council.

    Represented by the supervisory councillor for Health, Malachi Agu, the chairman who assured of full participation of the people of the council also commended the NYSC for its laudable contributions in the education sector.

    Doctors from the scheme also gave health talks on hypertension and hygiene to the participants.

    One of the participants, James Nkwuda thaked the service for the programme which he noted have saved him the trouble of going to Abakaliki to receive treatment for the sickness he has been having.

    “I was wondering how I will raise money to go for treatment, you know this is farminf season and the little money I had went into farming. So the coming of the programme to Onueke has been of great help to me as I was treated free of charge with lots of drugs that I am not sure I can finish.”

     

  • Septuagenarian arrested for repeatedly raping minor in Ebonyi

    Septuagenarian arrested for repeatedly raping minor in Ebonyi

    The Police in Ebonyi State have arrested a 70 year old man in Akpoha, Afikpo North local government area of Ebonyi state, Simon Alobu popularly known as papa Eke for allegedly hypnotizing and repeatedly raping a 7 year old orphan, simply named Favour.

    The suspect, The Nation gathered was handed over to the police by the Family law centre, where the case was first reported by the victim’s relatives.

    It was also learnt that little Favour moved to her maternal house where her aunt Martha Enya lives after the death of her parents.

    The suspect lives in the same compound with the girl and her Aunt and was reported to the centre by the victim’s aunt who alleged that the man also raped her when she was a little girl.

    The suspect who narrated her ordeal to journalists in Abakaliki said the man first raped her after she prepared food for him.

    “The man said I should come and prepare food for him. After preparing the food, my brother who leaves with me said he was not eating and left immediately”.

    “When my brother left and I was still eating, the man locked the door and carried me to his bed and raped me,” she said.

    The suspect, it was also learnt, first raped the little girl in 2014 and since then has repeatedly raped her.

    Last year, Enya started suspecting that she was being raped when she complained of severe pains in her private.

    But all efforts to make Favour name the culprit were not successful until recently when she opened up.

    According to the woman, she took the girl to Afikpo where the rape was confirmed but efforts to make her reveal the identity of the rapist failed as he continued the act till this year.

    “Favour confessed by herself and we went to the man and he agreed that he is the one raping Favour and that he has raped her five times,” she said.

    She alleged that the suspect mutilated Favour’s bottom with razor blade where he presumably applied some charms to prevent the girl from revealing his identity.

    The suspect when quizzed confessed that he had carnal knowledge of the girl adding that that he committed the act under the influence of alcohol.

    Police spokesman in the state, ASP Loveth Odah said the suspect is in police custody and will soon be arraigned in court.

  • South East governors forbid IPOB

    South East governors forbid IPOB

    The South East Governors’ Forum has announced the proscription of activities of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

    Arising from its emergency meeting on Friday in Enugu, Chairman of the forum, Gov. Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state requested the group and other of such groups to articulate their grievances and send to the forum.

    Umahi appealed to all governors in the zone to ensure compliance with the directive in their various states and for the Federal Government to withdraw the troops in the zone.

    Umahi said: “All activities of IPOB are, hereby, proscribed. IPOB and all other aggrieved groups are advised to articulate their position on all national issues.

    “Such should be submitted to the committee of governors, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo and National Assembly members from the South East zone through the chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum,” he said.

    The Ebonyi governor said that the forum believed in the unity and indivisibility of the country and reinforced their desire for the restructuring of the country.

    “We reinforce our desire for the restructuring of Nigeria where all national issues will be discussed and amicably settled to achieve justice and fairness to every Nigerian.

    “Accordingly, we appeal to President Muhammad Buhari to, please, withdraw the military in the South East zone, while police perform their traditional role of maintaining law and order,” he said.

    Umahi said that the forum was in touch with their northern counterparts “who have assured us of the safety of our people living in the north and we have also planned for exchange of visits to reinforce confidence.

    “We wish to assure Nigerians that full investigation is ongoing on all allegations of killings, maiming and other unlawful conduct in the zone within this period,” he said.

    He said that appropriate actions would be taken against those found culpable.

    Umahi said that governors in the zone had taken adequate measures to protect the lives and property of indigenes and non-indigenes and urged northern governors to do same in their respective states.

    “We advise all residents of the zone to go about their normal businesses as governments of each state is committed to protecting everybody,“ he said.

    The governor said that all those invited for the meeting were present except the leadership of IPOB that sent in their apologies.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the meeting were governors of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu while Imo was represented by the deputy governor.

    Other notable personalities that attended the meeting were the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar and the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo.

  • Ebonyi lawmaker offsets SSCE fees for 110 pupils 

    Ebonyi lawmaker offsets SSCE fees for 110 pupils 

    It was a day of joy for pupils of Umunaga Secondary School, Enu-Faith Uburu in Ohozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State as a lawmaker at the State House of Assembly, Deacon Onu Nwonye paid off the 2018  Senior Secondary School Examination fee for 110 candidates in the school.

    Each beneficiary was presented with N16,000 cash with the charge to study hard and become successful in life so that they will empower others in future.

    The lawmaker who represents Ohaozara West Constituency said the gesture will, next year, be extended to 25 best students selected from each secondary School in Uburu.

    Hon Nwonye urged the students to avoid bad friends that could lure them into cultism, which could destroy their future.

    He said he did not pay the SSCE fees because he is rich but having lived in poverty in the past, he understood the pain and suffering parents undergo to meet up with the welfare of their wards especially in the area of education.

    Deacon Nwonye who also distributed fertilizer to farmers in the area, advised the students to always respect and support their parents in farming so that they could produce more pointing out that it is by the grace of God that we are succeeding in life

    He said ‘’ You must understand that the world is like a battle field. You are regarded as a great soldier when you understand and obey the rules of engagement. You cannot make the best out of any situation if you refuse to listen to your parents and when you throw away their good advice in your life.

    “Even as I address all of you today, I am very sure that you are all aware of the consequences of being a cultist. You must not bring your parents and your community to shame and disgrace by getting involved in any of these things. Believe it or not, the price you will pay come with either your death or the death of your loved ones”. he said.

    Mr Roy Umahi who was the founder of the Secondary School and the Chairman of the occasion in his remarks expressed joy that the school he founded for his community in 2008 is progressing and commended Hon. Nwonye for extending his goodwill to every house hold in the community as the students all came from the 14 villages in Uburu.

    He challenged other political leaders to emulate Nwonye pointing out that youths are empowered there will be reduction of poverty and social vices in the land.

    One of the beneficiaries, Onu David thanked Nwonye for taking away their burden by paying for their SSCE fees and assured that they will never let the community down.

  • NULGE Workers stage protest, demand local government autonomy

    NULGE Workers stage protest, demand local government autonomy

    Thousands of local government workers in Ebonyi state under the aegis of National Union of local Government Employees (NULGE), took to the streets and major road in Abakaliki to protest lack of autonomy in the local government system.

    The workers, who carried placards with various inscriptions, also stormed House of Assembly and government house Abakaliki where they were addressed by the state Head of Service, Dr. Chamberlin Nwele.

    Speaking at the government house gate Abakaliki during the protest, National Trustee of NULGE Comrade Abimbola Babaloloa said local government autonomy will stop deductions of local government allocation by Governors.

    He noted that the autonomy will bring sanity to the system and strengthen the local government administration in the country.

    “If we have our own resources, we will manage it well. We want direct allocations to local governments so that it will stop the deductions being made by our governors. When we have them in our poll, we know how to utilize them better for the people.  We want democracy to get to the root, let democracy thrive at the grassroots; let it be to the standard everybody want.

    “In the past, leadership was grown from the local government system but this day, everything has just been in shamble including the election that is being handled by the SIECs.  We want LG election to be handled by INEC, let’s have democracy at the grassroots. We are the people that are voting”, he said.

    On his part, the state NULGE President Comrade Leonard Nkah said with full autonomy, the third tier of government will provide democracy dividends to the people.

    “Politically, autonomy will create a level playing ground for truegrassroots politicians to emerge as Chairmen and councilors. This will surely create such level of stability that will attract high profile individuals to come and participate in the grassroots governance and contribute their quota towards an enviable local government system thus reducing the pressure and quest for state/ federal appointments”,
    he said.

    Addressing the workers, the state Head of Service Dr. Chamberlin Nwele said in Ebonyi state, over 50% of the local governments cannot pay salaries of the local government workers.

    “About seven out of the 13 local government areas in Ebonyi state cannot pay salaries of workers in the system. Should we have local government autonomy? Today, salaries are paid on or before 15th of every month in the state at both the state and local government employees because of the Governor’s ingenuity in managing the lean resources of the state,” he said.

  • Police parade notorious kidnapper for murder of 60-yr-old woman

    Police parade notorious kidnapper for murder of 60-yr-old woman

    Police in Ebonyi State have arrested eleven suspects including a kidnap master strategist operating within Ebonyi and Abia States, Ogonna Alioka.

    Alioka, popularly known as Pilot according to the police, was allegedly among the gang of kidnappers involved in the abduction and killing of a sixty year old woman Mrs. Catherine Okorie Chukwu.

    The late Mrs Okorie deceased, an indigene of Ishiagu community in Ivo local government area of EbonyiState was on January 18th, 2017 abducted in her residence.

    Unfortunately, she was later killed and buried by her assailants in a shallow grave located in a in a forest bordering Lokpanta in Umunneochi and Awgu local government areas of Abia and Enugu States, for recognizing one of the kidnappers

    Parading the suspects at Police Headquarters Abakaliki, the Police spokesman in state, Mr Jude Madu said though some members of the gang had been arrested and arraigned in court, Alioka who allegedly drove the vehicle used in the operation had been on the run until few days ago when he was arrested in Abia State.

    The suspect Alioka, in a chat with reporters confessed to the crimes.

    He alleged that the woman was killed while fleeing from them in the bush pointing out that he engaged the kingpin in a fight when the incident occurred.

    He said after killing the woman he ran away to avoid being arrested pointing out that the abduction of the woman was masterminded by a politician in Ishiagu.

    Other suspects which included one Chukwudi Nwezaku, Otu Okpara, Eze Chima ,Chiadikaobi Ani, Uchechukwu Aniewo and Ozomena Obasi were arrested in connection with armed robbery attacks, electricity cable vandalism, buying of stolen cars and unlawful possession of firearms.

    Mr Madu explained that Police also arrested one Gideon Omaka who was just released from prison custody in March this year for allegedly robbing and killing one Eze Idam Ogbonnaya during a robbery incident in Amasiri, Afikpo North local government area.

    The group is believed to be responsible for various armed robbery and other criminal activities recorded recently in the area.

    Omaka’s arrest came after angry youths in the community attacked and buried alive his brother Chukwudi Omaka who was also part of the robbery gang who robbed Ogbonnaya.

    An eyewitness and resident of the community, Emmanuel Udu told our reporter that Omaka was also among robbers who robbed one cool room known as Etuelughu which belongs to Oko Udu Monday and another businessman identified simply as David who sells provision

    “This handsome boy was beaten thoroughly; despite that, he refused to call the names of his members. He was later buried alive by Amasiri youths”, Emmanuel told our Correspondent.

    Items recovered from them included five vehicles, one tricycle, electronics, guns and live cartridges.

    Mr Madu said all the suspects arrested would be arraigned in court soon.