The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Onitsha

  • Buhari commiserates with families, victims of Onitsha tanker accident

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday sent condolences to families of those who lost their lives in a tanker accident in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

    The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina commiserated with the government and people of Anambra State over the sad incident.

    READ ALSO: Buhari commiserates with victims of Makurdi fire incident

    He urged hospitals to give the survivors effective medical attention.

    President Buhari prayed that the almighty God will grant families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss and grant quick recovery to the injured.

  • Scores feared dead, many injured in Onitsha ghastly accident

    Several persons were crushed to death while scores were severely injured in a ghastly accident in Onitsha, commercial city of Anambra state.

    The accident, which happened around Toronto hospital along Upper Iweka and MCC axis of the Onitsha-Awka expressway, involved a trailer laden with kerosene.

    The Nation gathered the trailer was heading towards Upper Iweka from Awka axis when the driver lost control as a result of brake failure.

    Eye witness account had it that the driver in a bid to control the vehicle veered off the speed lane to the service lane where traders displayed their wares by the side of the road.

    “The trailer crushed some of the people who are mostly petty traders as it dragged along the road before it finally stopped,” one of them narrated.

    He said bodies of the victims littered along the way were still being evacuated by security operatives who arrived at the scene almost immediately.

    Confirming the incident, the Chairman of Red Cross Society in the state, Prof. Peter Katchy, said seven persons died on the spot and have been deposited at the morgue.

    He said: “We were able to rescue about three persons who sustained severe injuries while the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Toronto hospital mortuary.”

    Katchy, who said he was on his way back from Awka, when he arrived at the scene of the accident, said officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the police assisted in the rescue operation.

  • Be magnanimous in victory, Ojukwu jnr advises Buhari

    Mr Emeka Ojukwu jnr, Son of late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to be magnanimous in victory and appoint Igbos in strategic positions during his second term.

    Ojukwu jnr made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Onitsha while speaking on the re-election of President Buhari.

    Ojukwu jnr had in November 2017 dumped the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which was founded by his father for the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing Igbo interest as his decision.

    He said the Igbos supported President Buhari more in the 2019 elections than in 2015 with over 25 per cent votes in three states of the South East because of his achievements in office.

    “Buhari won Aba North Local Government Area based on his performance; he gave the business men and women in Ariaria market an independent power plant to boost their industries.

    “The votes also doubled in Anambra and Ebonyi. We have Senators and Federal Representatives elected on the platform of APC in the South East.

    READ ALSO: Ojukwu’s son defects to APC as Buhari campaigns for Nwoye

    “The Igbos are moving on to the Next level with the APC-led government,” he said.

    Ojukwu jnr commended Buhari for committing N33 billion to the second Niger Bridge and for rehabilitating federal roads in the zone.

    He however, urged the President to use his second term to address the perception that the South East and South-South were being marginalised.

    “We look forward to a better spread in terms of appointments and inclusiveness as he has promised.

    “We hope to see greater investment in the different sectors including power, roads and agriculture,” he said.

    He urged the president to ensure fairness and equity and to see that the country outgrows the old divides based on ethnicity in the interest of national development.

    “Mr President has served the nation in various high level positions and has reached the pinnacle; all that is left is his legacy.

    “What will he do in these next four years for the benefit of the entire nation and how will he be remembered?

    “The answer to these questions lies solely in his hands,” Ojukwu jnr said.

    NAN

  • Two remanded for allegedly attacking APC candidate

    Two persons were yesterday remanded in prison custody in Onitsha, Anambra State, for alleged conspiracy and unlawful attack on the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Onitsha North 2 state constituency, Michael Afam Emejulu.

    The accused persons, Onwuegbusi Ifeanyi, 35, Chidera Uzoma, 19, and others at large allegedly attacked Emejulu.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ugochukwu Leonard alleged that the accused on Monday, at Egerton Street, Onitsha, conspired and allegedly caused a grievous bodily harm on Emejulu.

    He said the accused on the same date and venue, with intent to maim, disfigure or disable, unlawfully attacked Emejulu with dangerous and offensive weapons.

    Ugochukwu further alleged that the victim was severally hit with a big hammer on the head and at the same time attacked with machete on his leg and other parts of his body, which caused him harm.

    The offences, the prosecutor said, were punishable under sections 495 (a) and 288 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, as amended.

    Before the charge was read, the police prosecutor told the court that he had withdrawn the first charge No. MO/122c/2019 bearing attempted murder as their offence, due to pressure from above and replaced it with the current charge No. MO/123c/2019, which is bearing grievous harm.

    After the charge was read, no plea was taken, as counsel to the accused persons, K. K. Oguejiofor, applied for their bail, saying he was ready to produce the accused any time they were needed in court.

    But the prosecution counsel, Mellitus Eze, leading other lawyers, objected to the bail application, arguing that since the court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain such a matter, which borders on life imprisonment if convicted, the court cannot also have the jurisdiction to grant them bail.

    Senior Magistrate Chioma Amuluche had before remanding them in prison custody, requested to see the victim to ascertain the level of injury he sustained during the attack, and his relations went to the hospital where he was receiving treatment and brought him to the court premises in a car.

    The magistrate, who came out and saw him snoring inside the car, ordered that he be driven back to the hospital.

    Ruling, Amuluche ordered that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody till March 28 when the plea on the application for their bail could be taken.

  • APC candidate survives machete cut in Onitsha

    …as aide’s toes chopped off

     

    All Progressives Congress ( APC ) House of Assembly candidate for Onitsha 1 State Constituency, Afam Emejulu, Tuesday survived attack by suspected cultists at Egerton Street, Onitsha, Anambra state.

    The attack, coming barely four days to the governorship and House of Assembly elections, was believed to be sponsored by political opponents.

    The Nation gathered from family sources that the victim was leaving his house in the early hours of the day when he was attacked.

    “He was taken unawares by the thugs numbering about ten who laid ambush and accosted him, with one of them hitting him on the head with a hammer.

    “Others clubbed, marched on him and hit him while he was forced to lie face down,” the source alleged.

    The source further alleged that one of the boys to the victim, who rushed to rescue him, had his three toes chopped off with machete.

    Elder brother to the victim, Raphael Emejulu, who confirmed the incident to newsmen, said he was away when the news got to him and had to rush back.

    He said, “On my way back, I saw Police Patrol team and I asked them to accompany me and they obliged.

    “On arrival to the scene, my brother who was still lying face down was unconscious with blood gushing out of his nose and mouth.”

    According to him, the thugs immediately took to their heels as they shot sporadically in the air.

    He however said two of them were arrested while some ran into Onitsha Central Police barracks from where they escaped during a gun duel with the police.

    He said the case has been reported at the police while the APC candidate and the boy whose toes were cut were taken to the hospital.

    He added, “I personally incidented the matter and made statement at Central Police Station Onitsha.

    “The police medical report was signed by one Edna Solomon, an Inspector of Police attached to the station and Dr. Okonkwo O. C. Of Onitsha General hospital.”

    Although the reason of the attack on Afam was still sketchy as at press time, Raphael said it must have been politically motivated.

    He said, “His campaign team the previous day mobilised over 3000 supporters for a road show where they displayed their capacity.

    “It appeared their political opponents were uncomfortable. But power belongs to God, not man.”

    When contacted, the Divisional Police Officer for CPS, Onitsha, Ifeanyi Iburu, said the matter was yet to be reported to him.

    He said, “As the DPO of the Division, I would have heard the development if it actually happened.”

  • No student was stoned to death, says Onitsha school

    Authorities of Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha, Anambra State, has described as unfortunate but accidental the death of Master Chukwuebuka Nnanna, a JSS 1 student of the school.

    The death of Chukwuebuka, rumoured to had been stoned to death by his classmate over alleged jealousy which went viral on social media was greeted with wide condemnation.

    Principal of the school, Rev. Can. Anieto Chigozie, in a statement, at the weekend, however, said the deceased would not have been killed out of envy as alleged, as he was just newly admitted to the school.

    He explained that the incident was purely an accident and not intentional, insisting that the deceased was neither stabbed, flogged to death nor fell from any height.

    He said: “How can a fellow student be envious of a JSS1 student who has stayed just a term? Is it really possible?”

    According to the principal, the information the school authority got from students showed that the boy slumped after being hit by a stone and was taken to the Sick Bay.

    He however said the deceased was rushed to the General Hospital where he was confirmed dead following inability of the staff nurse at the sick bay to handle the case.

    He added: “We called the father’s number severally but was switched off until we had to send a staff who knows his shop.

    “She succeeded in getting another number from them there and was contacted. But before he came, we had already taken the child to Iyienu Hospital where he was also certified dead.”

    Read Also: Flood claims 23-year-old sales lady in Onitsha

    The Principal further revealed that the school had sent its report to the appropriate authorities in charge of education both in the state government and the Church.

    While praying for the repose of the deceased soul and for the consolation of the family, the cleric assured that the matter was being investigated.

    “We are in touch with the family. No student has owned up to the crime but we are still seriously investigating the matter with the view of finding out who threw the stone,” he added.

    Efforts to reach the father of the deceased were unsuccessful as his telephone line was unavailable several times it was called.

  • Polls: Security agents uncover six flash points in Anambra

    Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, security agencies in Anambra said they had uncovered six major flash points in the state.

    Mr Rabiu Ladodo, Commissioner of Police in charge of security in the conduct of the general elections in Anambra, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Awka.

    Flanked by heads of other security agencies, Ladodo named the flash points as Ogidi, Obosi, Nnewi, Onitsha, Ajali and Ihiala.

    He said that identification of the black spots were made possible by the cooperation of security agencies with police.

    He, however, announced that adequate security arrangements had been made to ensure that the elections were peaceful in all communities in the state.

    The commissioner called on politicians, especially candidates vying for positions, to play by the rules.

    He also appealed to community leaders to advise their subjects against involvement in any act capable of affecting the exercise negatively.

    ”On our part as security agents, we will be professional in the discharge of our duties”, he said.

    Ladodo also called on the public to massively participate in the elections, adding that enough arrangements had been made by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to make the polls hitch-free.

    ”On my arrival in Awka Thursday, I went straight to Central Bank of Nigeria where the sensitive materials for the elections were distributed to all the local government areas.

    ”The brief I got from the INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner showed that all the 21 local governments have received their materials, and with the support of security personnel we hope to have smooth elections,” he said.

  • Mother, daughter in police net over baby’s theft

    •’Suspects sold baby for N250,000′

    A 42-year-old woman and her daughter have been arrested for allegedly stealing a four-year old baby, Mesoma Ikoko, in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The suspects, Ngozi Ede and Kosiso Ede, 17, were alleged to have stolen the baby from the custody of her mother.

    The Nation gathered that the suspects had allegedly sold the baby for N250,000 to another woman before they were apprehended.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman Mohammed Haruna said the suspects and the buyer were arrested following discreet investigation.

    He said the N250,000 had been recovered from the suspects as exhibit.

    Haruna said: “On February 13, at about 5:20pm, detectives attached to Awada Division arrested Ngozi Ede, female, aged 42, and her daughter, Kosiso Ede, female, aged 17, of 4, Ukaegbu junction, Awada.

    “The suspects conspired and stole Mesoma Ikoko, aged four, from the custody of her mother, Nneka Ikoko, female, of Mammy Market, Army Barracks, Onitsha on February 10.

    “Preliminary investigation further led to the arrest of Ifeoma Okeke, female, aged 45, who collected the child from the suspects and handed her over to one Ifeoma.”

    Read also: Man charged with phone theft

    In a related case, two persons, Nwakaeze Chukwuebuka, 29, and John Udechukwu, 28, were arrested for alleged threat to kidnap a 58-year-old woman in Ihialla.

    The suspects were alleged to have demanded N2million ransom.

    Haruna confirmed the incident, saying the case is being investigated.

    He said: “On February 8, at about 9pm, following intelligence report, detectives attached to the command’s Special Anti-robbery Squad arrested some suspects.

    “The suspects on February 4 threatened to kidnap Mrs. Anatestial Orji, female, aged 58, of Umueze ihiala, through a strange phone call or pay N2million ransom.”

    Haruna said the suspects had confessed.

    He listed the exhibits recovered from them to include the phone used in carrying out the crime.

     

  • Goods destroyed as fire guts Anambra plaza

    Goods worth millions of naira were on Friday destroyed by fire when a story building went into flames in Woliwo layout, Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The building, located along Okagbue Agba street in the area, was reportedly razed around 8pm.

    The Nation gathered that although no life was lost in the incident, almost all the shops located at the upstairs of the building were razed down.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident, saying no casualties were recorded in the inferno.

    He however said the fire was put off by men of the Fire Service department with the assistance of local volunteers.

    He said, “At about 8pm, there was a fire outbreak at one storey building (Ogbo Akwukwo plaza) along Okagbue Agba street Woliwo layout, Onitsha in Anambra State.

    “Police Patrol team led by DPO CPS Onitsha SP Iburu Ifeanyi rushed to the scene and cordoned off the area to prevent looters from taking advantage of the situation to loot.”

    Mohammed further revealed that the cause of the fire and value of property destroyed were yet unknown, assuring that investigation were on to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.

     

  • Suspected ritualist nabbed with female pant

    A 19-year- old man has been arrested for allegedly stealing a pair of female underwear in Odoakpu, Onitsha in Anambra State.

    The suspect, Chinonye Okorie of Mbaitolu, Imo State was apprehended with the pant by the police in the area.

    Parading the suspect on Thursday at the police headquarters in Amawbia, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, said the suspect stole the pant for alleged ritual purpose.

    He said: “At about 6:48am, Police detectives attached to Central Police Station (CPS) Onitsha arrested one Chinonye Okorie ‘m’ aged 19 years of Ogbaku in Mbaitolu LGA of Imo State.

    “The suspect allegedly stole a female pant washed and spread on a rope at No. 21 Umuna Street Odoakpu, Onitsha in Anambra State.

    “He intended to sell the pant to yet to be identified persons at the rate of N80, 000 for alleged ritual purpose.”

    Mohammed added the pant was recovered from the suspect as exhibit, assuring that efforts were on to apprehend other fleeing accomplices.

    “The Command implores the general public to be vigilant and report to the nearest Police Station any suspicious person or persons roaming around their vicinity for prompt action in order to avert this new trend of crime in the Society,” he added.