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Tag: Imo State

  • In Imo, a crackdown on hardened criminals

    While criminals seem resolute in tormenting Imo State, the security community is even more determined to thwart them. In the latest crackdown, 31 suspects have been rounded up, reports OKODILI NDIDI

    It is like tug of war. The police and other security agencies continue to crack down on suspected criminals, pulling down their properties, smoking them out of their dens, and trying them in the courts. The outlaws often stage a comeback. Residents of Imo State cannot forget their ordeals at the hands of their tormentors. But there is no giving up on the fight against bandits.

    In the latest effort, no fewer than 31 notorious armed robbery and kidnap suspects are currently cooling their heels in police custody in the state following a renewed onslaught against hoodlums across the state.

    Other criminal elements including child traffickers, fake military officers and cultists, among others, were also arrested in the massive clampdown initiated by the state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi.

    Before the suspects met their waterloo, the indigenes were sleeping with their eyes open. Reports of armed robbery, kidnapping and rape were becoming alarming. It got to a point that banking in Owerri, the state capital, was becoming a nightmare as armed robbers ambushed their victims at the banks.

    Market women were not spared as they lost huge amounts of money to the rampaging criminals who waylaid them most times on their way to the market.

    According to security reports, no fewer than 21 people have been kidnapped between January and February.

    But at last there is something to cheer. The criminal elements that have made life hellish for residents of the state have been rounded up and are helping the police in their investigations that will certainly lead to the apprehension of other criminal elements that are still at large.

    Parading the criminals at the State Police Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police (Dasuki Galadanchi), stated that the proactive measure through Community Policing engagements adopted by the Command has paid off.

    He said, “You recall that I promised a few months back to rid our dear state of criminals to enable Imolites enjoy a crime-free yuletide celebrations. That promise, I can gladly tell you, we have fulfilled to a large extent, thus necessitating the reason for today’s briefing.

    “I also promised that as we approach the electioneering period, we shall continue an all-out offensive against criminals through intelligence led raids, information gathering, cordon and search, diligent investigation of arrested suspects and successful prosecution of cases.  I also promised you to be more visible at black spots, strategic junctions, public places and commercial centers to ensure that Imo State is peaceful, secure and safe for Imolites to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation especially in this electioneering period.

    “Finally, our proactive measure through Community Policing engagements has once again yielded the following results as we display before you 33 suspects involved in various heinous crimes.”

    Among the suspects were alleged members of a notorious kidnap gang, Chinweke Nnachi, Chibuike Okolia, Chijioke Ukaeje, Ibe Christopher and Chukwudi Chukwuka who reportedly specialised in abducting rich politicians and their family members.

    Galadanchi said they ran out of luck after abducting one Christian Duru from Awo-Mamma in Oru East Council Area of the state.

    He said, “As fate would have it, the kidnap suspects arrived Orlu with the victim and in effort to kidnap a second victim, one Ekwueme Uchenna, their car fell into a gutter and from the ensuing scenarios the first suspect Christian escaped.

    “Operatives of SARS of the Command in collaboration with PMF 18 Personnel swung into action and rescued the second suspect a day after he was kidnapped. Suspects have made useful statements and confessed to the crime”.

    Also apprehended were members of an armed robbery gang that raided Immigration Transit Camp where they dispossessed the Personnel of their valuables.

    The suspects include Amos Friday (20), Chukwuebuka Ibeawuchi  (23),  Augustine Thomas (39), Iheanacho Eluma (20) and  Kaburu Mohammed (39).

    Exhibits recovered from the hoodlums include three vehicles, one AK 47 rifle, two English pistols, two locally made pistols, among other dangerous weapons.

  • N1.25bn damages: Court fixes Feb. 28 for suit filed by Okorocha

    The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, on Wednesday fixed Feb. 28, to deliver judgment in a N1.25 billion damages suit filed by Gov Rochas Okorocha of Imo against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the EFCC for ”invading and ransacking” his house in Jos.

    The Presiding Judge, Justice Musa Kurya, fixed the date High Court, after all the counsel to the parties involved in the case adopted their final written addresses.

    Okorocha through his Counsel, Mr Markus Saleh (SAN), had prayed the court, in his final written address, to condemn and adjudge the invasion of his home in Jos on May 3, 2017 as illegal, null and void.

    Saleh argued that Okorocha’s family members and staff were held hostage during a “search” by the police and EFCC conducted without any court warrant.

    He prayed the court to declare the action of the police and EFCC as “illegal, null and void’’ and award his client the sum of N1.25 billion as general damages because there was no valid court warrant for such an exercise.

    “We also pray for the issuance of a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further doing anything as such in his homes across the country, ‘’ he prayed.

    Responding, the counsel to IGP and EFCC, Edwin Inegbenoise and Muktar Ali-Ahmed respectively, prayed the court to dismiss Okorocha’s the application on the grounds that it lacked merit.

    Read Also: Okorocha to Issa-Onilu: stay away from Imo

    Inegbenoise argued that the search was conducted by police officers attached to the anti-graft commission, there was no way the governor should include the Police in the case because those officers involved take orders only from the EFCC and not the police.

    He prayed the court to strike all the allegations labeled against the IGP and the Plateau Commissioner of Police who were joined in the suit.

    In his submission, EFCC counsel, Ali-Ahmed prayed the court to dismiss the case because it lacks merit since the EFCC has the constitutional powers to search any person’s house or office in the cause of any investigation more so that there was a search warrant obtained from a chief magistrate court.

    “My Lord, we finally urge this honourable court to dismiss this case for lack of merit, ’’ he pleaded.

  • Nwosu, Uzodinma, others sign peace pact

    Security agencies in Imo State on Tuesday politicians ahead of the general elections to desist from acts capable of jeopardising public peace and security.

    The warning was coming at the heels of a peace Parley organised for politicians by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

    The Security Chiefs warned that any politician caught inciting violence in the state during and after the elections will be severely dealt with in accordance with the law.

    Meanwhile the governorship candidates of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu; All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Hope Uzodinma; People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Emeka Ihedioha;  Change Advocacy Party (CAP)  Ikenna Emmanuel; Young Progressive Party (YPP)  Linus Okorie and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Ifeanyi Araraume, among others signed agreement to be of peaceful conduct during the election.

    Addressing the candidates shortly before the signing of the Agreement witnessed by security chiefs, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), religious leaders and journalists, Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, urged the politicians to play by the rules and jettison all forms of violence.

    Read Also: Imo: Uzodinma, Araraume boycott Peace Parley

    According to him, the state has witnessed relative peace when compared to others Federation, as a result of the “cooperation and support of the people of the state”.

    He said: “You will agree with me that this hard earned peace and tranquility we enjoy and experience in Imo State should be guarded jealously, thus, we have no other option than to ensure this endures before, during and after the elections”.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner Francis Ezeonu assured INEC is prepared to conduct credible election that will meet the aspirations of all the parties.

    He restated his commitment to provide level playing ground for all the political parties participating in the election while pleading with the candidates to abide by rules and regulations guiding the election.

    Meanwhile, fake soldiers escorting and unnamed politician were paraded at the event at the State Police Headquarters.

    Parading the suspects, who were fully dressed in military fatigue, during a peace parley for candidates, the Commander 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Brigadier General H. I Bature, disclosed that fake soldiers have infiltrated the state to cause chaos during the general elections.

    He stated desperate politicians have equipped hoodlums with army uniforms and weapons to perpetrate violence in the state, warning all those involved in the ignoble act will be fished out and dealt with.

     

  • 2023: Igbo may lose a second time – Okorocha

    Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has warned that the Igbo may yet lose out in national polity if they fail to apply tact and political wisdom.

    Okorocha who recalled the fate of the Ndigbo since after the civil war, lamented that they are about making similar mistakes that put Ndigbo in a disadvantaged position in the Nigerian project.

    According to him, “The saying that there was no victor and no vanquished after the civil war is just a mere way to create unity for the country, otherwise the Igbo were the vanquished, ever since the Igbo has fared like the defeated but the most painful aspect is that Ndigbo are about to lose again”.

    The Imo governor disclosed that the recent political upheaval in his state, were sponsored by forces outside the state, using politicians from the state to pull him down ahead 2023.

    Read Also: Ohaneze’s adoption of Atiku baseless – Okorocha

    He stated that the calculation is that if he is allowed to continue gathering momentum he will give a good fight for the Igbo Presidency, adding that Ndigbo will be at the losing end if he is politically alienated.

    He said “There is more to the noise you are hearing about the governorship election in Imo, it is not about Uche Nwosu, it is about a plot to stop Okorocha by all means, otherwise why will Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi be interested in who governs Imo. The calculation is that if Uche Nwosu becomes governor and I go to Senate, I will be a strong force by 2023. The most annoying fact is that they are using our people to pursue that agenda”.

    The governor further gave reasons why he wants to go to the Senate, adding that “I want to go to Senate to remain politically relevant until 2023 and also to represent Ndigbo and the Nigerian masses”.

  • How I won FUTO SUG election, by 19 year-old President

    Samuel Chigozie, 19, has been elected the Students Union President of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) in Imo State. He tells AJALA SAMUEL AKINDELE how he wooed fellow students with his ‘belief campaign’.

    Tell us more about yourself? 

    My name is Samuel Frank Chigozie, an undergraduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, 400l, Department of Geology.   I am 19-years old and from Imo State.   By the grace of God, I am the Student Union Leader of my school.  I am an award winning motivational speaker and writer at regional and national level.

    How did you emerge as the Student Union Leader of your institution? 

    Before you become a Student Union Leader there has to be an election.  By experience I have been involved in school politics for two years.

    First and foremost, I was nominated to represent my department in the house and after an in-house election I emerged as the Speaker of the Students Representative Council (SRC)

    After eight months in office I resigned to run for the Students Union Government President.  For one month I had to campaign and convince the students about what I was set to do in office.

    The election came in August and by the grace of God I was victorious.  This is my third month in office after I was inaugurated in September, 2018.

    Having been a student in my school for three years and being in the SUG for one year before I ran, I noticed something. The SUG was far away from students and student could not see the SUG as a support base for their aspirations, dreams, and abilities.  They could not see the SUG as a bouncing part to where they should get to. So that was simply what I came to offer to the students and they bought the idea and they supported me.

    As a 19-year old teenager, how did you run your campaign? 

    The fact that I am 19-year old does not mean I have not gathered knowledge for a while that would allow me run a successful election.  So, I did not consider my age though a lot of people felt my age should have disqualified me because I was too young to run for such office or even handle it.  But then looking at the fact that once you can sell belief to people and they can get hold of it, they can give their vote for you. That was enough for me to do what I wanted to do.

    There are also some key stakeholders we informed to get their blessings but that does not mean they are the ones to run the campaign.

    But we do not rule out that money has to be spent on campaigns, very true.  Definitely, you have to pay for fliers, stickers, data and other publicity materials and buying of campaign form.  So the bulk of my money went for campaign not inducing anybody.

    What are your aspirations for the next five years? 

    My aspiration as a person is basically to add value to people’s lives.  It may not be through politics at the end of the day but it may be through sports or ministry.  Basically, it is just to add value to people.  If you add value to people by showing them the reason they live and then they will value you so much because of what you have given to them.  Show them the reason to be inspired and get more value out of life.  Add value to them by not just inspiring and motivating them but giving them enough reasons to push on and keep getting better.

    In 2018 all the conferences I attended I made sure I paid for people’s ticket fee in order to make them get better and learn.  So this has been my little way of adding value to people’s lives.

    In 2019 there will be ways of inspiring people to give business grants to show them that I want to inspire them to give value to people’s lives.  When I do that automatically I blessed then in what they cannot imagine and it makes the society gets better.

    What have you done since you were elected as the SUG President? 

    I had to start my plan for what we had to do in office by calling all my executives together and asking them serious questions on what we want to do in the year and it has really been productive.  It has helped to form a forum of what we intend to do with our various offices alongside forming alliances with the SUG in Imo State and outside the state especially those in Port Harcourt, Enugu and Anambra.

    For the first time ever we recorded over 1,500 freshmen who just got admission registering for the SUG ID card and it has been produced.  It has always been known that after students register they wait till the end of the session for them to get their SUG I.D card.  We have over 1,500 students whose ID cards are ready for collection as soon the ASUU strike is over.

    Also, we created a pamphlet for student; it gives them guidelines on registration, the map of the school to help with movement and security. It can enable them to calculate their result for 100 level (first and second semester) to enable them track their progress.

    I have worked up a leadership programme that is going to raise 100 leaders each semester.  So that when I am handing over I am handing over 200 leaders that are sound and ready to take up responsibility in the school and outside to the next SUG leaders.

    We are bringing an innovation tech challenge that is going to encourage the technological spirit of our students – showcasing the talent and abilities of our student to the world –aside from the essay competition, debates, poetry and every single thing that has to spring forth what student has in them.

    At the end of the day my government would have been set to be Leadership and students focused government.

  • Imo State, act now!

    In blocking the entrance to the gate of Government House, Owerri, the Imo State capital, on January 21, and disrupting activities at the seat of power, members of the state chapter of the National Association of Persons Living with Disabilities were exercising their inherent right to be treated with honour and dignity. All too often, those who do not suffer from disability, particularly those in positions of authority who allocate state resources in aid of disadvantaged groups believe they are doing the disabled a favour by offering them assistance, which is often paltry and tokenistic.  Sometimes they exhibit a condescending attitude towards this group of citizens, treating them with callous disdain, as somewhat less than human as is obviously the case in Imo State.

    Nothing could be more mistaken. Persons with disabilities are as human as able-bodied citizens and deserve to enjoy the same rights and humane consideration as their fellow citizens. The complaints of the disabled persons who participated in protesting against what they saw as oppressive and unjust treatment in Imo State are indeed pathetic and heart rending. One of the grievances was the alleged discrimination against them in recruitment into the state public sector. According to the spokesman of the protesters, Mr. Jude Okparaeke, no person living with disability is among the approximately 3,000 persons employed by the Rochas Okorocha administration into the public service.

    This is certainly unacceptable and indefensible. It cannot be the case that there are no persons living with disabilities qualified to be recruited into some of the vacancies filled even on merit. The accidental and unfortunate fact of disability should not be a limiting or disqualifying factor necessitating a policy of discrimination that is the immoral equivalent of apartheid.

    Even more damning is the allegation that the Okorocha administration has serially defaulted on the payment of the yearly subvention due to the association,  although this has reportedly always been provided for yearly in the state budget. In the words of Mr. Okparaeke, “Since this governor came on board in 2011, our yearly subventions have not been paid. We are talking about N6.9 million, which is less than one million Naira a year. This is a paltry sum which the government can easily pay”.

    For a state government that has attracted widespread criticism for spending humongous amounts of scarce public resources on erecting statues in honour of characters who have added negligible value to the state, denying these needy citizens their legitimate due can only be described as sadistic. It is even sadder that, as Okparaeke put it, “Even when military government was holding sway, these subventions were paid to us. It is constitutional. We have explored all available means but the government has remained adamant”. Of course, the irony is not lost. Dictatorial and unaccountable military governments met statutory obligations that a democratically elected government has refused to meet.

    Developed societies go the extra mile to provide opportunities, resources, programmes and facilities to ameliorate the conditions and maximise the potential of persons living with disability not only because the ability to show compassion is a key measure of a community’s level of civilization. More critically, a society that, through sheer neglect or indifference, does not empower its disabled citizens to transcend their disadvantages, as well as optimally develop and utilise their talents only ultimately shoots itself in the foot. For, such a society will be depriving itself the benefit of the productive potential of a not inconsiderable number of its citizens.

    The Imo State government has no excuse. It can and must address these grievances urgently.

  • Buhari to Imo monarchs: I have delivered on my campaign promises

    President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday told the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers that he has fulfilled his 2015 campaign promises to Nigerians.

    The President who met with over 500 monarchs at the Palace of the Eze Imo in Owerri, said that his administration has fought corruption headlong, decimated Boko Haram and revived the economy.

    According to Buhari who was in Imo State for his campaign rally, “We should recall where we used to be in 2015 before we came to power and today we know where we are and what we have been able to do with our resources. Although the challenges of corruption and insecurity are still prevalent today, we have made significant success”.

    He continued that, “Before we came to power, Boko Haram was holding 17 Local Government Areas captive but today, there is no LGA that is under the control of Boko Haram. We have also through the leadership of the militants reduced the sabotage on oil installations we have also scored one hundred percent in food production. We introduced the Treasury Single Account (TSA) where all government money goes into and all money going out can be traced. We are trying to put infrastructure in place so that Nigerians can move about freely”.

    Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of the Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, commended the President for tackling corruption, which he said is the nation’s greatest challenge.

    Read Also: Imo electorate task INEC on credible poll

    In his words,  “the last we saw you was four years ago and I remembered vividly that I told you were going to be the President  because we needed change and you are a man of strong character who can bring the change the country needs”.

    He continued that, “The biggest problem is corruption and we saw you as the person that can fight it, I want to commend you, we know that your action is raising dust but that is corruption fighting back. Let me tell you that we trust you to continue to fight corruption, we are happy that you’re strong and fighting insecurity and corruption”.

    However the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, in his statement, urged the President to shift his attention to the Southeast, adding that he has focuses more on other zones in the last three years.

  • Buhari promises more infrastructure for South East

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Aba, Abia State, pledged to provide more infrastructures to the South-East geopolitical zone of the federation.

    This, he said, will give a further impetus to the spirit of industry, hard work and competitiveness for which the Igbo are known.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari said “They deserve more and more infrastructure to further excel,”

    President Buhari, who kicked off a two-State campaign tour of Abia and Imo States Tuesday, was said to have got two critical endorsements for his second term bid.

    “The first was from the Chairman of Aba Traditional Council, His Royal Majesty, Dr Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of Aba, who called on all indigenes of Abia State to vote for the All Progressives Party, APC Presidential Candidate.

    He said the Igbo people would remain loyal and committed to President Buhari for the payment of pensions to ex-Biafran security personnel; for the administration’s policy on ease of doing business which, the traditional ruler said, had benefited the Igbo more than any other ethnic group, and the massive infrastructural development going on throughout the southeast.

    Read Also: Buhari meets Zik

    “You love Nigeria and you need to return to consolidate your fight against the monster of corruption and to take us to the Next Level. I want to assure you that Aba and Abians and indeed all Igbos will massively vote for you,” the royal father told the President as he raised his hand and proclaimed him winner of the coming presidential poll.

    The statement said that the second endorsement was by the secretary-general of apex-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo,  Uche Okwukwu, who had earlier expressed a dissenting view from that of his chairman in expressing support for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the imminent elections.

    “Okwukwu announced the adoption of President Buhari as the true Ohanaeze candidate who will be formally recognized as such at a coming event at the Aso Rock Villa.

    “On his part, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, welcomed the existing “synergy” between the federal government and his state which he said, had come with enormous gains that are cherished by the government and the people.” he said.

  • Imo electorate task INEC on credible poll

    Registered voters in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State under the aegis of Ohaji-Egbema Elites on Monday protested the continued manipulation of election results in the Council Area by politicians in connivance with Staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The group lamented that elections in the area have never reflected the will of the people, a situation they said is responsible for the indifference of those that represent the people in government to the plight of the people.

    Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Francis Ezeonu, leader of the group, Francis Ugochukwu, stated that the electorate in Ohaji-Egbema are demanding that their votes should be made to count in the forthcoming election.

    He said, “We are worried that in INEC records, our Local Government Area is marked with red and we are poised to change that by collaborating with INEC to ensure that for the first time in our history that we have a free and fair election that will reflect the will of the people”.

    Read Also: ‘Let’s secure future generations of Imo’

    Ugochukwu continued that, “the most painful aspect of it is that our people are not as volatile as they are thought to be but the problem of election in our place is complicity of INEC Staff who manipulate the results by manufacturing figures that don’t exist for politicians and this is the cause of the poor representation we are suffering. But we have decided that enough is enough, we want our votes to count this time around. So we are appealing to the Commission to find solution to this problem, we are peace loving and we want to participate in the election. We are not supporting any politician; all we want is a free and fair exercise”.

    In his response, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (Francis Ezeonu), stated that the Commission is aware of the challenges in the area, assuring that it will do everything possible to ensure a free and fair polls across the state.

    He said, “this election is the most deliberately planned election and INEC has put in place strong strategy that will ensure credible poll but I will advise that you stay back after voting to ensure that your votes count”.

    Meanwhile, scores of youths from the Council Area staged a peaceful protest outside INEC office to further buttress the demand.

    They displayed placards with various inscriptions such as, ‘INEC let our votes count’, ‘one man one vote is our demand’, ‘voting is our right’ and ‘we say no to rigging’, among others.

  • Ohaneze’s adoption of Atiku baseless – Okorocha

    Imo State governor,  Rochas Okorocha has described the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization,  Ohaneze Ndigbo as null and void and of no effect.

    The Imo governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo,  insisted that “Ohaneze is a Socio-Cultural Organization and not a registered political party and there is no voting unit or polling booth called Ohaneze. So, its adoption of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP should be seen as a folklore and should not give anybody concern”.

    Okorocha also pointed out that the action of the Igbo group, has no electoral value, “the adoption is neither here nor there, since it has no electoral value. This is also not the first time Ohaneze has adopted a PDP Presidential Candidate. It did that in 2015, yet, PDP failed with its Presidential candidate, while APC won with its Presidential candidate.

    Read Also: Imo APC seeks expulsion of Okorocha

    “And one would have expected Ohaneze to exercise caution this time following what happened in 2015. Indeed, the Organization should have done things differently especially when it remembers that all Igbos whether in PDP, APC, APGA, ADC or SDP are presumed to be members of Ohaneze”.

    He noted further that, “not minding the adoption, President Muhammadu Buhari will win in the South-East and the general election proper. So, Igbos in APC should remain focused and not to make the adoption an issue, when it is not an issue in all ramifications”.