The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogochukwu Anioke

  • Ebonyi to commence registration of herdsmen

    Ebonyi to commence registration of herdsmen

    In a bid to forestall herdsmen attacks which have claimed hundreds of lives across the country in recent times, Ebonyi state government on Wednesday said it will soon start registration of all herdsmen operating in the State from next week so as identify genuine cattle rearers from the violent ones.

    This is even as the State Executive Council has approved the sum of N29 million worth of relief materials for victims of herdsmen attack in Benue and Taraba States.

    The state governor, David Umahi made the stated this on Wednesday during the first State Executive Council meeting held at the Executive Council Chambers Government House Abakaliki the capital city.

    According to him, Government would convoke a meeting with Herdsmen, Traditional Rulers, Security Agencies among others to brainstorm on ways to avert any crisis that may erupt between farmers and Fulani herdsmen operating in the State.

    The governor said, “On Monday we would hold a meeting with herdsmen, traditional Rulers and the Security Agencies, we have to register all the herdsmen in the State to fish out genuine ones, our people are not happy with the level of destruction of our farmlands.

    “During the meeting, we will agree on why the State Government would provide boreholes to the herdsmen for their cattle, they abandon it and resort to destruction of farmlands at Ezillo and Izzi communities of the State”

    “The cattle ate up the rice farms, we would not take laws into our hands, trouble herdsmen would be registered, we would do a serious meeting with herdsmen in the State,” the Governor reiterated.

    Umahi frowned at a situation where herdsmen blocked his convoy on his way to the village stating “imagine where a Governor is travelling to his village and is being stopped by cattle, this is unacceptable,” he said

    “We condemn the killings in Benue and Taraba States, we urge the Federal Government to fish out the Killers of innocent lives, we commend President Buhari for tracking the militants that massacred the people in River State,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Mr Umahi has warned that any Executive Council member that has not added to the economy of the State would not continue with the administration.

    “By March 2018, any Executive Council member that has not added to the economy of the State will not continue with us, if you know that you wake up in the morning and you think of nothing, you have to start thinking of another Political Party to join,” he said.

    “Leadership is about courage, not every member of the State Executive Council believes in the mission of this administration, some people are making a Political calculation on our Executive Council Members,” he reiterated.

    The Governor announced that by August 2018, the administration would be able to complete all on-going projects embarked upon since the Government since assuming the mantle of leadership,”

    He opined: “It is only when that is done, we come out to tell the people that we are ready for politics, we are looking at the National Level, nobody will be making political calculations without Ebonyi State,” he reiterated.

  • Umahi urges Police to streamline arrest procedure

    Umahi urges Police to streamline arrest procedure

    Ebonyi state Governor David Umahi has called on the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to sreamline its operations especially as it relates to arrest to prevent loss of lives and wastage of funds.He made the call on Wednesday when the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, Abubakar Marafar paid him a courtesy call in Abakaliki, the state capital.
    He made the call on Wednesday when the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 6 Calabar, Abubakar Marafar paid him a courtesy call in Abakaliki, the state capital.
    The governor said because there was no streamlined operations in the transfer of cases, criminals and dangerous elements have in the past capitalise on this to abduct people in the state posing as officers from Force Headquarters Abuja.
    “We have a structure of the police post, the local government headquarters, the zonal headquarters and the national headquarters. So, we find it very strange a situation in which somebody can write a petition and our system is such that when you write a petition, nobody asks you to substantiate it but, people will go ahead to effect an arrest. While doing the arrest especially from Abuja, the lives of the people are in danger.
    “A situation where people dress in Police uniforms from Abuja and come down here to arrest people is worrisome. We are pleading that the organigram of the police should be followed so that before a matter is crossed to a zone, let it be a matter that will be transmitted by the CP of a state to the zone based on fact that the complainant was not satisfied with the way the petition was treated at that level and from zone it should start going to the national headquarter.
    “By this way, the society will have more confidence in the police and it will enable us to have a transparent system. Sometimes an arrest is meant for punishing people, a means of distracting people but I always say that in anything we do, we should always have the fear of God because whatever a man sowet no matter the religion, the person must have to reap it,” the Governor said.
    Speaking earlier, AIG Marafar said he was in the state to thank the Governor for the facilities he has provided for the Police.
    He named the facilities to inclue: provision of security infomation system at all local governments of the state, renovation of the police headquarters Abakaliki and provision of street lights inside the headquarters.
    He reiterated the resolve of the police to check crime and criminalities in the state and the one even as he called fo support of the populace to do so.
  • Ebonyi moves to end robbery, kidnapping

    Ebonyi moves to end robbery, kidnapping

    Ebonyi State government on Thursday said issues of kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes will soon be a thing of the past in the state soon.

    The state governor, Dave Umahi stated this in Abakaliki the state capital while flagging off the Sustainable Development Scheme (SDG) water scheme in the state.

    The Governor stated that his administration is working with the Police and other security agencies in the state to install CCTV and other surveillance apparatus in all the major entry and exit points and major cities of the state to ensure proper monitoring of the state.

    “When this is done, it will make it difficult for kidnappers and armed robbers to operate easily in the state and go free.”

    Umahi also backed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido’s advice that governor’s should not borrow to pay workers salary.

    He described it as postponing the doomsday asking, “if you borrow to pay workers, what will you do when the maturity time comes, it will then be a worse situation for the state.”

    He, however, promised that workers in the state and pensioners will continue to receive their salaries and pensions every 20th of the month despite the economic challenges facing the state government.

    On the water scheme, Umahi said his government will work to ensure that every local government is properly reticulated before the end of his tenure.

    He said the state government added another N900m to its N600m counterpart fund to ensure the completion of the projects.

    He listed the projects to include: rehabilitation of Ezillo water scheme, Sakamori water scheme to be done by Lannard Construction Company and Ohaozara water scheme to be done by Belform Nigeria Limited.

    Focal Person of SDG in Ebonyi state, Dr Ngozi Obichukwu attributed the realisation of the project to Umahi’s determination develop the state.

    She urged the people to ensure that the projects are properly maintained and protected.

  • Police foil another jail break attempt

    Police foil another jail break attempt

    • As Abakaliki prison inmates riot

    The Police in Ebonyi state this morning foiled an attempted jailbreak as Abakaliki prison inmates staged a riot inside the prison.

    As at press time, Police have cordoned off all roads leading to the Abakaliki prisons.

    Gunshots could be heard intermittently as Police try to recover a firearm allegedlly taken from one of the prison officers.

    The Nation gathered that the inmates were protesting poor treatment especially inadequate feeding.

    Unconfirmed reports said that some loss of lives have been recorded in the incident.

    Another source said some of the inmates capitalised on the riot to stage a jailbreak and had already succeeded in creating an opening on the wall before anti-riot policemen arrived and heavily tear gassed them into submission.

    The prison is located beside the police headquarters leading to prompt intervention from the police.

    Already the Commander of Military cantonment and the commissioner of Police have visited the area and are directing the operations to restore sanity to the prison.

    The Police spokesman George Okafor when contacted said the command was still working hard to resolve the crisis.

    He, however, refused to confirm if anybody is dead or not.

    “There was an attempted jailbreak and the prisons called in the police. We cordoned off the area and restored nomalcy to the area”

    “We will brief you later on the issue once everything have been sorted out”.

  • NYSC DG wants Corps members to intermarry

    NYSC DG wants Corps members to intermarry

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged corps members from different tribes to intermarry, as an avenue of boosting national integration.

    The Director General of the Corps, Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, gave the urge when he visited the 2016 Batch A (Stream II) corps members undergoing their orientation programme.

    He noted that the essence of the scheme is to ensure national integration, which would bring the desired unity which the country earnestly desires.

    “I wish to see you to intermarry within the orientation period to enhance national integration, as this would be achieved through adequate bonding in the camp.

    The DG remarked that Nigeria needs unity and development, as the outlined camp activities such as military drills, skills acquisition and sporting activities would prepare the Corps members for life within and after the service year.

    “The Ramadan did not stop us from coming to the camp as I received lots of text messages inquiring about the possibility of organizing the camp with the approach of the period.”

    He noted that he insisted that the orientation programme would be organized and by God’s grace it went on and the Corps members would soon leave the camp.

    “Corps members would not be posted to Ishiellu Local Government Area where the Ezza–Ezillo communal war took place until we get assurances of adequate security in the area.

    Kazaure also advised the corps members to be security conscious and ensure that they go out in the company of friends and colleagues instead of going out alone.

    “You should also pay special attention to skill acquisition while in the camp and the entire service year, to enable them be self reliant and not rely on white collar jobs.

    The Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Scheme, Mrs Gladys Mbachi, told the DG that 1, 932 Corps members were undergoing the programme with 1, 346 males and 586 females.

    “The corps members have been behaving well since they arrived in the camp, though we presently have some health challenges.

    She noted that one of the corps members has a mental problem while three others have asthmatic cases, but all have been referred to the hospital for adequate medical attention.

  • Umahi laments death of nine in auto crash

    Umahi laments death of nine in auto crash

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has expressed sadness over the death of nine persons in a motor accident which occurred on Wednesday at Ezzamgbo- Abakaliki- Enugu Expressway.

    Umahi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Emma Anya, described the accident as very sad especially judging by the fact that a similar accident occurred on the same spot barely two months ago which claimed the lives of 10 people.

    The governor said that information reaching him attributed the cause of the latest accident which involved a lorry and a commercial bus to over- speeding and burst tyre.

    He advised motorists to always avoid over- speeding and check the condition of their vehicles before putting them on the highways.

    Umahi said: “It is unfortunate that we have allowed avoidable accidents to happen. People must learn to be patient and cautious on the roads.”

    Governor Umahi called on the Federal Road Safety Corps to deploy more of its officers on the highways in Ebonyi State to check recklessness on the part of commercial drivers.

    He also called on the National Union Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to intensify the enlightenment of their members on safe driving.

    The governor wished the survivours quick recovery and prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed. He asked God to grant the families of the victims the heart to bear the death of their loved ones.

  • Umahi suspends Special Adviser indefinitely

    Umahi suspends Special Adviser indefinitely

    Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, on Monday suspended indefinitely his Special Adviser in charge of Lagos Liason Office, Mrs. Jacinta Nworie, for alleged unruly behavior.

    A statement issued by the Governor’s Principal Secretary, Nweke Clement, said the suspension followed alleged unruly behaviors and acts unbecoming of a public office holder, which portrayed the state in a bad light.

    The statement directed the suspended Special Adviser to immediately hand over all government properties in her possession to the most senior civil servant in the office.

    Mrs. Nworie was last week redeployed back to the state to take over as Special Adviser on Talent Development in the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

     

  • 10 die in Ebonyi road crash

    10 die in Ebonyi road crash

    At least ten persons including a woman and her two kids Tuesday lost their lives in a ghastly accident that took place at Hausa quarters junction along Abakaliki-Afikpo road.

    The accident involving 18 seater bus belonging to Ezza south local government area with the registration number NKE 28LG rammed into crane truck belong to a Chinese company with the registration number DKA 17YF.

    An eyewitness, Mr Favour John who spoke to our correspondent at the scene lamented that the junction is prone to constant accidents.

    “The truck was trying to turn all the way from Spera in deo junction but the bus driver, instead of stopping like others who saw it and stopped decided to drive past but unfortunately he rammed into it”. It is due to over speeding that made him to ram into the turning truck”.

    He called on the state government to put up bump at the junction to prevent further accident occurring at the area.

    Another witness, Chibuike Nwali described as painful the death of the passengers who lost their lives a few weeks to the yuletide season and blamed the driver of the bus for causing this mayhem.

    “The impatience of the driver led to this accident. The most painful thing was the death of a woman and her two kids who died instantly at the scene.”

    Also, Mr Victor Ituma a resident of the quarters blamed the accident on the truck for turning at such a busy point on th road.

    He said: “I was just coming out from my house reaching to this junction, this crane was turning when the bus rammed into it. My annoyance was that a truck like this with this capacity coming to turn at this junction where people are making use of should have had a revolving light or a security guard who must be positioned in this junction to direct road users”.

    It was also gathered that the same driver was last week warned by an officer of the federal road safety commission, FRSC for over speeding.

    People responding to the accident had to use axe to break open the mangled bus to retrieve the bodies.

    A pregnant woman who was rescued was still breathing heavily and was immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki for treatment.

    She and other wounded victims are believed to be in critical condition at the hospital as doctors and nurses were seen battling to save their lives.