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Tag: Ebonyi

  • NLC, TUC petition Ebonyi governor over murder of principal, teacher

    NLC, TUC petition Ebonyi governor over murder of principal, teacher

    The Organized Labour in Ebonyi state has petitioned Governor Francis Nwifuru over the gruesome murder of a principal and a teacher at Nkaleke, Ebonyi LGA by some hoodlums.

    The groups urged the governor to direct security agencies in the state to fish out the perpetrators.

    They made this known during a courtesy call on the governor by the state chapters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC).

    The NLC chairman, Ogugua Egwu, while lamenting the killings called for arrests and prosecution of the killers by security agencies.

    He said: “The quality of life of teachers is poor, their work environments are being threatened by the flamboyance of our nationality, and communities no longer support the safety of teachers.

    “On Friday, 13th October, 2023, we lost two teachers, including a principal. They were gruesomely murdered in the line of duty at Nkaleke, Ebonyi L.G.A.

    “We use this medium to ask you, Sir, to ensure that the security agencies bring the perpetrators to book to serve as a deterrent to other haters of teachers.”

    It was gathered that the killers suspected to be assassins invaded Nkaleke Achara Community Secondary School in the Ebonyi Local government area of Ebonyi State, and shot dead the principal, Simon Ominyi, popularly known as “Osmosis.”

    Read Also: NLC and petrol subsidy protest

    The assailants after pumping bullets into the about 50-year-old principal also murdered a yet-to-be-named teacher in the school.

    The incident caused tension in the area, raising concerns about whether students and teachers would still return to the school.

    The community has been completely deserted as its leaders and stakeholders fled perhaps for fear of further attack or arrest by security agencies.

    Sources in the area said there was no trouble in the community before the gunmen stormed the school in a tricycle and murdered the duo.

    The source disclosed that the miscreants arrived at the school premises as if they were on a genuine mission, and inquired about the principal’s office from someone who led them to a distance before pointing at the office. But shortly after, they began to shoot sporadically.

    He said: “Immediately the assassins found their way into the principal’s office, they commanded the man and his guests from the WAEC office to lie down and Mr Ominyi having sensed the danger, complied without hesitation.

    “But surprisingly, in spite of the principal’s plea and non-resistance to their order, they still shot him to death on the spot.”

    It was further learnt that the gunmen shot another person in the leg and before making away with his motorcycle.

    Police spokesperson in Ebonyi state, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident.

    She said police have launched an investigation with a view to arresting the killers. 

  • Ebonyi lawmaker pays patients’ bills

    Ebonyi lawmaker pays patients’ bills

    From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

    The Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Kingsley Ikoro, has paid the bills of some patients at Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Afikpo, running into millions of naira.

    The lawmaker’s action is part of activities marking his birthday celebration, which has become an annual event.

    Represented at the event by Comr. Ransom Eze, the legislator, who represents Afikpo North West Constituency, said the gesture was part of his little way of ameliorating the suffering of the poor in his constituency.

    Read Also: Ebonyi lawmaker visits hospital, offsets patients’ bills to mark birthday

    At the hospital, the team from the lawmaker paid the bills of a woman who was delivered of a baby through caesarean section.

    The family, who hailed from Ozizza, had remained at the hospital because they couldn’t afford the bills.

    He also offset the bills of a baby born a few minutes after the team arrived at the hospital, as well as others.

    The team gave out gifts to newborn babies and other patients at the hospital.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ifeanyichikwu Cynthia, thanked the lawmaker for assisting them by paying hospital bills.

  • Ebonyi lawmaker visits hospital, offsets patients’ bills to mark birthday

    Ebonyi lawmaker visits hospital, offsets patients’ bills to mark birthday

    Kingsley Ikoro, the leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, has paid the substantial medical expenses of several patients at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Afikpo, amounting to millions of naira.

    The lawmaker’s action is part of activities marking his birthday celebration which has become an annual ritual.

    Ikoro was represented at the event by Ransom Ikedinachi Eze, the lawmaker (Afikpo North West) constituency, saying that the gesture was part of his own little way of helping to alleviate the suffering of the poor and needy in his constituency.

    At the hospital, the team from the lawmaker paid the bills of a woman who delivered through Cesarean Section.

    The family, who hailed from Ozizza, had remained at the hospital because they couldn’t afford to pay the bills.

    He also offset the bills of another baby born moments after the team arrived at the hospital as well as others.

    Read Also: Suspected sit-at-home enforcers burn buses, tricycle, motorcycle in Ebonyi

    The team gave out gift items to newborn babies and other patients at the hospital.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ifeanyichikwu Cynthia appreciated the lawmakers for coming to their rescue to pay the hospital bills.

    She said: “He has rescued us as we couldn’t pay the bills. May God continue to bless him so that he can continue taking care of his constituents as he is doing.”

    Eze also commended the Lawmaker for the gesture describing him as very kind and humane.

    He said: “What a very kind and humane way to celebrate one’s birthday. If you have ever visited any hospital and you’re not heartless, then you will understand how beautiful it is, to show them some love.”

  • Foundation lifts indigent Ebonyi students with scholarship

    Foundation lifts indigent Ebonyi students with scholarship

    The Gideon and Joy Life and Leadership Foundation has empowered indigent students of Ebonyi State with N100 million scholarship.

    Founder Dr. Gideon Osi, said 105 students will benefit from the initiative as the foundation has so far helped about 300 students.

    According to Osi, he would not have graduated without the grant he received from a prominent philanthropist in the state.

    Read Also: Ebonyi doctor sweeps three national postgraduate examination awards

    At the presentation ceremony, Osi said: “I believe that education is the key to solving the country’s worsening insecurity, poverty, and underdevelopment. I am a product of scholarship, and I have been giving scholarships to students and undergraduates. I feel one of the ways to contribute best to society is educational empowerment.

    “Education to every community, every society, and every country is like what oxygen is to the human body. When you educate the people, you are helping to reduce poverty. You are helping to reduce insecurity. This scholarship is our own way of giving back to the society.”

    Osi currently pioneers a community service scheme that provides access to education through the scholarship and educational support program.

  • Suspected sit-at-home enforcers burn buses, tricycle, motorcycle in Ebonyi

    Suspected sit-at-home enforcers burn buses, tricycle, motorcycle in Ebonyi

    Gunmen suspected to be enforcing an illegal Monday sit-at-home order, have again disrupted peace in Ebonyi State.

    This time, they struck on the Abakaliki/Enugu expressway attacking motorists.

    They were also said to have destroyed items in some shops.

    A source in the area confirmed the incident to our reporter.

    The source said the gunmen visited the Ezzangbo junction in Ohaukwu Local Government and burnt vehicles and motorcycles.

    “Gunmen visited  Ezzamgbo junction today, burnt down two vehicles and two  motorcycles at Sam Egwu’s flyover along Abakaliki-Enugu express way, Ebonyi State,” he said.

    Videos showing the vehicles and motorcycles burning, with terrified residents scampering for safety, as gunshots were fired intermittently, have since gone viral on social media.

    Another witness, travelling from Enugu to Abakaliki, who recounted the horrifying scene, said the incident occurred around 8am.

    He said the attackers arrived in a Sienna vehicle, firing shots to cause chaos, and then torched the vehicles.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Gunmen burn buses, tricycles, motorcycles in Ebonyi

    Police Commissioner  Tina Ogbodo confirmed the incident.

    She said policemen have been deployed in the area to restore order.

    Spokesperson for the police, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said no life was lost

    She said gunmen suspected to be IPOB/ESN members burnt three commercial buses, four motorcycles and one tricycle.

    She said: “Today 02/10/2023, Armed men suspected to be IPOB/ESN members in a sienna car attacked commuter buses, tricycle and motorcycles at Ezzangbo junction .

    “They burnt down 3 commuter buses, 4 motorcycles and 1 tricycle. No life was lost.

    The spokesperson said operatives of the Command have been dispatched to the scene and it environs to fish out the perpetrators.

    ‘And we believe that before the end of the day,  the perpetrators will be apprehended”, she added.

  • UPDATED: Gunmen burn buses, tricycles, motorcycles in Ebonyi

    UPDATED: Gunmen burn buses, tricycles, motorcycles in Ebonyi

    Gunmen suspected to be enforcing an illegal Monday sit-at-home order, have again, disrupted peace in Ebonyi state.

    They attacked motorists and damaged properties on the Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway.

    A source in the area confirmed the incident to our reporter.

    The source said the gunmen visited the Ezzangbo junction in Ohaukwu local government area and burnt vehicles and motorcycles.

    He said: “Unknown Gunmen visited Ezzamgbo Junction today, burnt down two vehicles and two motorcycles at Sam. Egwu’s flyover along Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway, Ebonyi State Nigeria.”

    Videos showing the vehicles and motorcycles burning with terrified residents scampering for safety as gunshots were fired intermittently have since gone viral on social media.

    Another witness, travelling from Enugu to Abakaliki, who recounted the horrifying scene said the incident took place around 8 o’clock in the morning.

    He said the attackers arrived in a Sienna vehicle, firing shots to cause chaos, and then setting vehicles on fire.

    It’s unclear if there were any casualties.

    The state commissioner of police in the state, Tina Ogbodo confirmed the incident.

    She said Policemen had been deployed to the area to restore order and promised to give more details later.

    She said policemen have been deployed to the area to restore order.

    Spokesperson of the Police, Onome Onovwakpoyeya said no life was lost

    She said gunmen suspected to be IPOB/ESN members burnt three commercial buses, four motorcycles and one tricycle.

    Read Also: Gunmen abduct 25 CAC members in Ondo

    She said: “Today 02/10/2023, armed men suspected to be IPOB/ESN members in a Sienna car attacked commuter buses, tricycles, and motorcycles at Ezzangbo junction.

    “They burnt down 3 commuter buses, 4 motorcycles, and 1 tricycle. No life was lost.

    The spokesperson said operatives of the Command have been dispatched to the scene and its environs to fish out the perpetrators.

    She added: “And we believe that before the end of the day, the perpetrators will be apprehended.” 

  • Gunmen set vehicles, motorcycles ablaze in Ebonyi

    Gunmen set vehicles, motorcycles ablaze in Ebonyi

    Gunmen suspected to be enforcing an illegal Monday sit-at-home order, have again, disrupted peace in Ebonyi state.

    They attacked motorists and damaged properties on the Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway.

    A source in the area confirmed the incident to our reporter.

    The source said the gunmen visited the Ezzangbo junction in Ohaukwu local government area and burnt vehicles and motorcycles.

    He said: “Unknown Gunmen visited Ezzamgbo Junction today, burnt down two vehicles and two motorcycles at Sam. Egwu’s flyover along Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway, Ebonyi State Nigeria.”

    Videos showing the vehicles and motorcycles burning with terrified residents scampering for safety as gunshots were fired intermittently have since gone viral on social media.

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap 25 worshippers in Ondo

    Another witness, travelling from Enugu to Abakaliki, who recounted the horrifying scene said the incident took place around 8 o’clock in the morning.

    He said the attackers arrived in a Sienna vehicle, firing shots to cause chaos, and then setting vehicles on fire.

    It’s unclear if there were any casualties.

    The state commissioner of police in the state, Tina Ogbodo confirmed the incident.

    She said Policemen had been deployed to the area to restore order and promised to give more details later.

  • Ebonyi doctor sweeps three national postgraduate examination awards

    Ebonyi doctor sweeps three national postgraduate examination awards

    Sunday Isaac Nwigboji, a medical doctor from Ebonyi state, has made his mark by winning three national medical awards at the 41st Hybrid Convocation Ceremony of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

    The ceremony was held in the college’s auditorium in Ijanikin, Lagos on Thursday, September 21.

    Dr. Nwigboji emerged as the top scorer in three categories in the Faculty of Radiology Examinations, winning three awards.

    He received the Professor BC Umerah Prize for Best Part 1 Candidate in Clinical Radiology, Faculty of Radiology Examination of the College.

    He also earned the Prof M Obajimi Prize for Best Part 1 Candidate in Radiological Physics, Faculty of Radiology Faculty of Radiology Examination of the College.

    The doctor was also awarded the Professor Bayo Banjo Prize for the Best Candidate in Part 1 FMCR Best Overall, Faculty of Radiology Examination of the College.

    Nwogboji, who is the son of the Traditional Ruler of Ekpomaka Community in Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi state, is also a Resident Doctor at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA).

    Read Also: 17,834 jostle for vacant 1,454 Ebonyi civil service jobs

    Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State government on Friday, September 22, hailed Nwigboji for the feat.

    The state government described his feat as a testament to what the people of the state can achieve and a signpost to the greatness that runs in the blood of its indigenes.

    The commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Chikadibia Okpor stated this in Abakaliki, capital of the state.

    Okpor said that Nwigboji’s feat underlines the greatness and spirit of hard work and dedication that is synonymous with Ebonyi indigenes.

    He said: “It must be said without mincing words that Dr. Nwigboji and other great achievers like him are the true image makers of our dear state, especially in this era when profiling, mudslinging, and dismissing the humble achievements and intellectual capacity of our people has become a fashionable obsession and a mark of self-fulfillment among people from our sister states. This is a testament to what we can achieve as a people; a signpost to the greatness that runs in our blood.

    “We congratulate him on this great achievement and hereby express our conviction that he will continue to be a great ambassador; a great image maker, and a worthy role model to other young Ebonyians. To this end, we invite other Ebonyians to endeavour to emulate the doggedness, hard work, resilience, and committed efforts made by Dr. Sunday Isaac Nwigboji towards the accomplishment of this goal.”

  • 17,834 jostle for vacant 1,454 Ebonyi civil service jobs

    17,834 jostle for vacant 1,454 Ebonyi civil service jobs

    Over 17,000 people have applied for the 1,454 vacancies in the Ebonyi State civil service.

    Governor Francis Nwifuru had directed that the recruitment be carried out to fill vacancies that came up as a result of retirement and resignation.

    Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, said yesterday that the Civil Service Commission had received 17,834 applications from job seekers.

    He said this while briefing reporters in Abakaliki on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday

    He said of the 17,834 applicants who submitted applications for employment, only 5,352 met the requirement of submitting original certificates with their applications, while the rest submitted their statements of results.

    Read Also: Tinubu mandates training of talents in digital skills

    Okpor said the Council resolved to uphold the submission of original certificate criterion for eligibility for shortlisting with a provision that opportunities should be given to those who did not attach their certificates, but were able to provide theirs before the screening date.

    He said Governor Nwifuru, the chairman of the Executive Council, emphasised that the recruitment should be merit-based, to give applicants equal opportunity to compete for the job.

    Okpor said the Council urged the Civil Service Commission to fast track the recruitment process, to ensure the exercise was concluded as soon as possible.

    On payment of gratuity to retired civil servants, the commissioner said the Council approved commencement of payment.

    He said the payment would begin from September 21, with a release of N3,851,763,617.65.

  • Police arrest two-man car theft syndicate in Ebonyi

    Police arrest two-man car theft syndicate in Ebonyi

    The police in Ebonyi state on Wednesday, September 20, said it arrested two suspects for allegedly stealing vehicles in the state.

    It gave the names of the suspects as Francis Oti from Afikpo local government of Ebonyi and Philip Pele from Isokoro, Delta state.

    The duo, according to the police, allegedly stole two vehicles, a Toyota Corolla with plate numbers Ebonyi AKL 172 RN and a Matrix car Abuja GWA 753 DC.

    Police spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the duo attempted to steal another car on Sunday but didn’t succeed.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze decries negative profiling of Ebonyi indigenes

    Instead, they left one of their phones inside the car which aided their arrest by the police

    She said the car-stealing syndicate was arrested when one of them placed a call on the phone which he unknowingly left in the vehicle.

    She said: “Lately, there have been incidents of car theft from where cars are parked, and so the command has been on their toes.

    “As God will have it, a syndicate trying to move a particular vehicle from where it was parked failed and one of them left his phone in the vehicle which was what led to their arrest.

    “The Hilux was recovered from one of the ESN camps, it was abandoned in the Agba community in Ishielu local government. So far, we have recovered 3 vehicles.

    “The Commissioner of Police, CP Augustina Ogbodo is warning the criminal elements to either desist from their criminalities or leave the state because she is going to make the state uncomfortable for them”.

    The suspects in an interview, blamed general hardship in the country on their criminal activities.

    Francis Oti said: “We were caught stealing people’s cars. We stole this corolla and matrix.  Hunger drove me into stealing people’s vehicles. As an engineer, the country is not favoring me. I have not been into this business, it was just last week that my friend who has the idea of this came to visit me from Abuja and talked me into this.

    “I am a tailer but for close to two months now, I have not seen work to do and if I continue like that, hunger will kill someone. It is only these two vehicles that we have stolen.

    Also, Philip Pele said: “When I came to Abuja from Ghana I called this my friend because I knew him before going to Ghana, when I called him, he told me that he was no longer staying in Abuja but in Abakaliki and I asked him what he was doing now he said he searches parked vehicles and picks what is inside and sell.

    “I said why don’t you think of how to move a vehicle and look for who to buy it, he said can you do it? I told him that all Toyota keys can start any vehicle, so we looked for keys and bought some, and tried them. After getting the cars we look for buyers.

    “So on Sunday when we came to Abakaliki, we decided to try a car that was parked outside a compound. As we tried to start the vehicle it did not move, we believe that we did not have a key that matched the vehicle.

    “He unknowingly left his phone in the vehicle. When he called the phone somebody said he picked it up on the floor and that he should come and take the phone. He sent somebody to go and collect the phone and the person was apprehended and that led to our arrest.

    “I was in Ghana doing fraud but the business at the moment is not favorable because of so many internet policies now that was the reason we came down here to see if we can see other things doing.

    “But this first attempt didn’t work. It’s not that there are no legitimate things to do but the way the country is has led us into this. I was into fashion and designing before I left for Ghana.”