The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Two Nigerians

  • Two Nigerians stabbed to death in South Africa

    The death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to rise with another two being the latest victims in ongoing xenophobic attacks on foreigners in that country.

    The latest victims were stabbed to death during xenophobic attacks in Johannesburg and Cape Town on April 5 and April 6, 2019, respectively.

    The Assistant Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Union in South Africa (NUSA), Mr Odefa Ikele, confirmed the killings in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from Johannesburg on Monday.

    ”The Nigerian community lost two citizens to gruesome murders over the weekend.

    ”Mr Bonny Iwuoha, 48, from Ihitte/Uboma in Imo state, was stabbed to death at about 11:45 p.m. on April 6, 2019 in Johannesburg South.

    ”We gathered that his assailants followed him from 152 Hay Street Turffontein, and thereafter, stabbed and killed him in front of his gate at Turf Road, Turffontein.

    ”The killing was witnessed by Mr Izochukwu Nwokocha, also known as, Nwa Father,” he said.

    Ikele said the killing had been reported and a case of murder opened at Booysens Police Station in Johannesburg South.

    READ ALSO: Community decries killing of Nigerian in South Africa

    He said that another Nigerian, Goziem Akpenyi, also lost his life in similar circumstance on April 5, 2019.

    ”Akpenyi was allegedly stabbed to death by three unknown coloured South African men after an argument with the deceased.

    ”The incident took place at in Cape Town at about 1 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2019.

    ”These latest killings add to four other Nigerians who were shot dead in March. Three of the victims were murdered in Sunnyside, Pretoria and one in Balfour Park, Johannesburg,” he said.

    Ikele said that NUSA was concerned over the incessant killings of Nigerians and worried that the perpetrators had not been brought to book.

    According to him, the arrest and prosecution of the culprits by the South African Police would put to a stop the daily killings of Nigerians.

    ”We call on the Nigerian Government to impress on their South African counterpart that the killings have to be investigated and the culprits prosecuted,” he appealed.

  • Ethiopian Airlines crash: Senate mourns Nigerians

    The Nigerian Senate today, 19th March 2019 mourned the death of two Nigerians who died in the Ethiopian airline crash of 10th March 2019.

    The Senate equally resolved on the need for Nigeria to protect its airspace from the Boeing 737 MAX 8 Series while also ensuring that all aircrafts’ operating within Nigeria are air worthy in order to keep Nigerians safe at all times.

    The Senate resolution flowed directly from a motion titled “The Sad Demise of two illustrious Nigerians in the recent Ethiopian Airlines Crash of 10th March, 2019 and the need for Nigeria to protect its airspace from the Boeing 737 Max 8 series pending the determination of its Air worthiness”. The Motion was sponsored by Distinguished Senate Gbenga Ashafa, representing Lagos East in the Senate and Chairman Senate Committee on Land Transport.

    Ashafa moved the motion expressing sadness that Nigeria lost two illustrious citizens in the crash. He was quoted as saying thus “Notes with great sadness that two illustrious Nigerians were among the 157 people who lost their lives in the ill-fated Ethiopian Airlines flight ET – 302, which went down near Bishoftu a community roughly 60 kilometers southeast of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

    Notes that the said late distinguished Nigerians aboard the flight were Ambassador Abiodun Bashua, a former United Nations and African Union, Deputy Joint Special Representative in Darfur, Sudan and Professor Pius Adesanmi, a Professor of Literary Arts in Carleton University, Ottawa Canada, and a popular advocate for good governance”

    The Senator went on further to intimate the Senate that the two Nigerians who lost their lives were no ordinary citizen as the two of them distinguished themselves in their various fields and till their death were worthy Ambassadors of Nigeria in the Diaspora.

    Ashafa observed that it was not the first time that a Boeing 737 Max 8 series aircraft had crashed under similar circumstances. He thereafter commended the Minister for Transportation (Aviation) Senator Hadi Sirika for the restriction placed on the use of the Boeing 737 Max 8 and 9 series aircrafts within the Nigerian airspace pending the outcome of the investigation of the plane crash.

    In their contribution to the Motion, Senator Mao Ohuanbunwa and Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi expressed their sadness over the death of the two Nigerians, while also commending the Minister of State for Transportation for the restriction on the use of the Air craft. Both Senators agreed on the need for Nigeria to own its own National Airline to be able to monitor and regulate its use.

    The senate along with the resolutions made observed a minute silence in honour of the two deceased.

     

    Sylva urges youths to emulate late Adesanmi

    A Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, yesterday urged youths to emulate the virtues of the late famous scholar, Prof. Pius Adesanmi.

    Sylva, who described the sudden death of the scholar as shocking and a huge loss to the country said youths should strive to attain the excellence of Adesanmi.

    The former governor spoke in a statement by his Media Aide, Julius Bokoru, after participating in candlelight held in honour of the late professor at the Unity Garden, Abuja.

    Sylva, who is a literary enthusiast said: “This is a huge loss for our country, for Nigeria. Prof. Pius Adesanmi, beyond the excellent Academic, was a necessary voice that constantly refreshed and enriched our national conversations, he prompted us to look inwards and was a national moral meter of sorts’

    “By the Grace of God there will be other Piuses who, just like our dearly departed prof, would blend intellect and genuine will for genuine soceital growth to always stand for what is right”

     

  • Two Nigerians killed in South Africa

    •Death toll of Nigerians rises to 118 in two years

    THE death toll of Nigerians killed in South Africa has continued to climb with two young Nigerians being the latest victims.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the latest killings bring the number of Nigerians killed in the former apartheid enclave since February, 2016 to 118.

    Up to 800,000 Nigerians, mostly young people, reside in South Africa, according to unofficial estimates.

    Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa Mr. Habib Miller told NAN in a telephone interview that two additional Nigerians were killed in South Africa in the past eight days.

    Miller, who spoke from Pretoria, South Africa, identified the latest victims as Francis Ochuba, a native of Ngodo community in the Umnneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

    He named the other victim as Chidi Ibebuike, a native of Uturu in the Isikwuato Local Government Area also in Abia State.

    “Ochuba, a property owner, was shot dead alongside his estate agent, a female South African on May 5. They were shot dead as they visited the tenant occupying Ochuba’s house to collect rent.

    “The incident occurred in Central Johannesburg and Ibebuike was shot dead at the entrance to his house at Hazyview in Mpumalanga on May 13.

    “Ibebuike’s car was subsequently, snatched by yet-to-be identified gunmen.

    “Nigeria Union Chairman in Mpumalanga Province Mr. Amadi and other compatriots have reported the incident to the South African police authorities and investigation is underway.”

    Miller said the latest killings came on the heels of the murder of ThankGod Okoro, a native of Ogbaku in the Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 9 and that of Clement Nwaogu, a native of Njikoka in Anambra State on April 22.

    He noted that Okoro was reportedly shot dead by a member of the South African Police Flying Squad at Florida in Johannesburg. Nwaogu was burnt alive by a mob in Rustenburg in the North West Province.

    The spokesman said a violent group in Rustenburg had earlier given Nigerians notice to vacate the area or get killed.

    He said since the order was issued, there had been numerous cases of Nigerians being kidnapped with ransom paid to their abductors.

    “The incessant looting and killings in the area, prompted 14 Nigerians to protest the injustice and the lack of police protection from the South African Police.

    “The 14 Nigerians were attested and had been detained since January  21 in Rustenburg.

    “The extra-judicial killing of Nigerians in South Africa is, however, a stark contrast to the general goodwill and protection South Africans and their businesses enjoy in Nigeria.

    “There has been no record of looting of South African businesses in Nigeria.

    “While South African companies transfer billions of dollars in profit made from doing business in Nigeria, Nigerians in South Africa are sending body bags of murdered breadwinners back home to Nigeria to dejected families,” Miller said.

     

     

     

  • Navy arrests 11 Indians, three Ghanaians, two Nigerians

    Navy arrests 11 Indians, three Ghanaians, two Nigerians

    The Central Naval Command (CNC) of the Nigerian Navy is investigating the involvement of 11 Indians, three Ghanaians and two Nigerians in offences bordering on oil theft.

    The suspects were said to have been apprehended by the operatives of the Forward Operating Base (FOB) Formoso, Egwema, Brass Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    The arrested Nigerians are reportedly the collaborators of the foreigners.

    It was learnt that they were arrested when attempting to lift substances suspected to be crude oil from an offshore loading terminal in Brass.

    The Nation gathered that the vessels to be used to carry out the illicit business came from Ghana.

    The Commanding Officer, FOB, Formoso, Capt. Noel Madugu, confirmed the arrests.

    He said the suspects had no permit to enter Nigerian waters and lift oil.

    Madugu said the suspects were preparing to siphon the product when they were apprehended.

    He said: “Our operatives arrested 11 Indians, three Ghanaians and two Nigerians as they were waiting for vessels from the creeks.

    “At the time of arrest, they could not provide permits authorising them to load from Agbara platform of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company’s terminal in Brass. Their vessels came from Ghana.”

    The commander said the suspects would be handed over to the relevant prosecuting agency after preliminary investigation.

    Noting that oil criminals had no hiding place in the waterways, Madugu urged those involved in the illicit activities to desist.

  • Two Nigerians in race for Commonwealth Writer’s Prize

    Twenty-one writers, including two from Nigeria, are in the race for the 2013 Commonwealth Prize, the highest honour for literature in English from Commonwealth countries.

    Nominated from Nigeria are The Spider King’s Daughter by Chibundu Onuzo, Sarah House by Ifeanyi Ajaegho and Sterile Sky by E.E. Sule.

    The prize inspires writers, story-tellers and a range of cultural practitioners to make an impact on the society with their literature and engage with the audience for change.

    The prize builds on communities of emerging voices to influence their lives directly and indirectly. The five regional winners and the overall winner will be announced on May 14 at the Hay Festival in London. The winner will receive a cash prize of 10,000 pounds.

    The winners will be judged by a panel of members of the international literary community represented by Godfrey Smith, Goretti Kyomuhendo, Manu Joseph, Linda Leith, Esther Phillips and Martin Shaw.

    The list of regional finalists are first-time novelists who address issues typical to the Commonwealth nations like immigration, colonial history, post-colonialism, politics, relationships and transformation.

    Other nominees are: Disposable People by Ezekel Alan (Jamaica), Floundering by Romy Ash (Australia), Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron (Canada), Mazin Grace by Dylan Coleman (Australia), A Tiger in Eden by Chris Flynn (Australia), The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Rachel Joyce (UK), The Headmaster’s Wager by Vicent Lam (Canada), Island of a Thousand Mirrors by Nayomi Munaweera (Sri Lanka), The Death of Bees by Lisa O’Donnell (United Kingdom), The Great Agony & Pure Laughter of the Gods by Jamala Safari (South Africa), The Last Thread by Michael Sala (Australia), Sterile Sky by E.E. Sule (Nigeria), Beneath the Darkening Sky by Majok Tulba (Australia) and The Bellwether Revivals by Benjamin Wood (UK).