The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control ( NAFDAC ) Abia State office, confiscated food and drug products worth over N5 million between October and December 4 in Abia.
The NAFDAC Coordinator for Abia State Office, Mr Olisa Okeke, disclosed this in Aba on Tuesday.
He said that the confiscated products include: beverages, food stuffs and drugs which were being sold without NAFDAC’s permission at night.
He said that the agency had also sanctioned seven shops selling provisions in Aba and Umuahia because of the status of the goods they were selling to unsuspecting residents.
The coordinator said that most of the shops were selling expired products to the public at night.
He said that the Abia NAFDAC Office Surveillance Team got information from residents which resulted in the bursting of the sales of the expired and unregistered products in Aba and Umuahia.
Okeke said that some unscrupulous business men were bringing into the state unregistered and expired products to making quick money during the impending Christmas period and warned residents to be watchful.
“We have noticed that activities are heightening this Christmas season and NAFDAC has started feeling the heat.
“You know that during this period, unscrupulous businessmen like to bring into the state all kinds of goods and products including unregistered, substandard and spurious products and those whose expiry dates had been altered.
“This might be on the increase so we are alerting our citizens, especially those in Abia , to be watchful to ensure they are not taken unawares.
“On our part, we have increased our surveillance to check the incidence of infiltration of harmful products into the state.
“Residents, however, owe the agency a duty to volunteer information that could help investigation and bursting of perpetrators of these evils to save lives,” he said.
The family of leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has berated the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai over what it said was the cheap, blatant and childish lies the army boss told an Abuja Court Friday in respect of the invasion of their house by soldiers at Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State.
Gen Bruatai had in a counter-affidavit he filed in reaction to a suit in Kanu’s name before the Federal High Court, Abuja instituted by his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor said soldiers chased a truck laden with weapons into a house said to belong to the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu’s father in Afara Ukwu.
Speaking on behalf of the IPOB leader’s family, his younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu said it was unfortunate the Chief of Army Staff could condescend so low to tell such cheap, childish and unbridled lies.
“What is General Buratai talking about? The question I am asking is why should Justice Binta Nyako listen to such lies? If she fails to jail Bruatai, that means the judicial system in this country should not be trusted for any reason, he should be jailed for telling such cheap and childish lies, this is shameful, not when we have evidences.
Prince Kanu said by denying the military did not invade their house not once but twice, Buratai was disputing what the Minister of Defence, Mansur Mohammed Dan Ali said that he actually authorized that invasion.
“If the Minister of Defence said in a Television programme that he authorised the invasion, how could Buratai come out to say something different? If after the invasion on September 14 and on September 16 there was a press state by Abia State commissioner of police admitting they recovered some ammunitions from our house why then is the COAS on November 16 is denying they never invaded the house. If there was no invasion of the house, how come that the whole place was riddled with bullets? How come that people were killed including our dog and the Eagle bird we kept in the house?”
Kanu going further said “All of them are confused, they don’t even know what they are saying, there is even no sense of direction since the Minister of Defence will say something different and the Chief of Army Staff will also say something different, they should coordinate their lies.
“The truth remains that soldiers invaded our home without any course and they took so many people away including Nnamdi Kanu; either they’ve killed him or still keeping him somewhere. So, how come they are lying; are they lying against the local media or the international media which have visited the house and found out there was an invasion? So, who is deceiving who here? From the look of things everyone now knows that Nnamdi Kanu was either killed or taken away by the military.”
The IPOB leader’s younger brother said if the army had traced someone who had truck load of ammunition to their house, that the COAS should tell the world who the person was, when it happened and the evidence to show that they traced someone with dangerous weapons to their house.
“If the truck laden with the so called dangerous weapons was blown up by the driver as claimed by Bruatai, where is the charred body of the lorry or the ashes? The bottom line of everything is that there was no truck laden with weapons that was found near our house; the army invaded our house without any just course and as a matter of fact, Buratai knows where Nnamdi Kanu is and he should produce him.”
To further buttress his point that there house was invaded by soldiers, Kanu alleged that during the invasion, “they (soldiers) took away our personal belongings, generator sets, food items, shot the eagle bird in our house, the dog and took away boxes containing our mother’s clothing and vandalized vehicles in our compound after riddling it with bullets.”
He appealed on the international community to prevail on Buratai to order his men to return their personal belongings particularly his mother’s boxes they took away on September 16 or they will face the wrath of Briafra land.
Speakers at the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) have praised Pepsodent, produced by Unilever for promoting oral hygiene. The PSN made the disclosure during its 90th annual conference in Umuahia, Abia State, from the 6th to 10th of November. Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of excellent oral hygiene, and focusing on the importance of brushing twice daily.
With theme: Medicines Availability and National Security, the conference featured discussions on a personal approach to combat tooth ache and plaque build-up, as health experts at the event deliberated on measures to address health issues such as the prevalence of gum disease and tooth decay in Nigeria.
In a statement, the Brand Manager, Pepsodent, Ogechukwu Anozie stated that with the organisation’s key mission to be a dependable healthcare provider of quality, safe and cost effective drugs and health information in the country.
She said that Pepsodent, as a leading health vendor, strongly supports the responsibility of securing faster and equitable access to oral healthcare for all Nigerians.
“Unilever is committed to doing business in a sustainable way and improving the lives of the Nigerian people, and our partnership with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria is intended to create awareness about the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene” she concluded.
Through the Pepsodent Brush Day & Night School Programme, the brand has a long term goal to improve the oral health of ten million children in the country by 2020. One of the highlights during the conference was the launch of the new close up variant ‘Cool Breeze’, a new toothpaste from Unilever that contains anti-bacteria mouthwash formula to gives cool and fresh breath for 12 hours.
The Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP) Anthony Ogbizi has paraded 14 suspected kidnappers and 10 suspected armed robbers in Umuahia, the state capital.
Parading the suspects, Ogbizi said that the command is determined to rid the state of criminals and make it safe for those coming home for Christmas holidays and other engagements.
Ogbizi said that policing has gone beyond the work of official officers and men of the police, stressing that it is the reason behind the community policing which has been yielding positive results in the state in particular and country at large.
The Abia CP said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Omoba division received information which led to the arrest of Victor Jonah 27 of Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South at his hide out while his accomplice escaped.
He said that the suspect had attempted to rob one Ikechukwu Orji of his motorcycle, “But when he was arrested one red Sanyang motorcycle with registration number QU 323 UYY suspected to have been stolen was recovered from him”.
Ogbizi said that on the 3rd day of October this year that his men received a report from the DPO of Elimgbu in Rivers state that Pastor Raphael Antai has been abducted by unknown hoodlums in a Toyota Highlander SUV with the number LND 438 BK and headed towards Aba.
He said, “My men moved into action by laying ambush for them which led to the arrest of Philip Iheakolam and Chimezie Abiaka both males and aged 33 and 39 years, when they came to remove the vehicle from where they hid it, the suspects and vehicle have been handed over to the Rivers state command”.
The Abia state police boss said that his men also arrested three suspected kidnappers at the premises of Federal Government Girls’ College Umuahia while trying to escape from Ubakala youths.
He gave the names of the suspects as Chinemereucheya Alozie, Emeka Ogbonna both males and Adaku Okereke female all of Ikem Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South, saying that the suspects who operate in a tricycle confessed to have picked up their victim along Bank Road Umuahia.
Ogbizi said that one of the victims of the syndicate who they had earlier swindled of the sum of N150,000 within the week has identified them, while one tricycle and GSM phone were recovered from them.
The last of the suspected kidnappers to to paraded by the police were Kpobaril Menapene 49, Monday Nsam 35, Kikka Jigidam 29 and Nelson Enuu 25 from Ogoni in Rivers state, living at Owaza Ukwa West in Abia state.
The suspects who were arrested by the men of F-SARS were alleged to have masterminded the kidnapping of Bar Azubuike Innocent in Port Harcourt in September this year.
The Abia police boss said that the confession of Menapene led to the arrest of the other three while one locally made single barrel gun with one live cartridge were recovered from Enuu.
Ogbizi paraded Ifeanyi Mba and Orji Uche both of Nguzu Edda, Ebonyi state who were arrested by the task forces of Ozu Abam and Ndiebe and handed over to the officer in charge of Abam police station, adding that they had injuries on their bodies.
He said that the suspects who were brought in with two locally made guns were later identified by Samuel Irem as those who shot and killed his brother after robbing him of his motorcycle.
Other nine suspected armed robbers were paraded, while stolen children who were rescued were also handed over to their parents by the Abia state police command, also stolen vehicles were recovered during the period under review by the command.
The issue of accommodation and logistics challenges being faced by the prisons has been compounded by the 100 Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) members in its zone E custody.
Speaking with newsmen at the Abia State headquarters Umuahia, after a meeting with the officers of the command, the Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) zone E, Mr Alloy Uchenwa, said, it was a miracle yesterday how the command was able to convey 100 IPOB members to court.
Uchenwa who was in Abia State as part of his routine inspection of facilities in commands under his zone, identified logistics as one of the major challenges of the prisons.
He therefore called on individuals, organisations and governments to assist the zone by providing logistics to enable it convey inmates to court at the appropriate time.
The ACG equally identified overcrowding/prison congestion as another challenge confronting the prisons, “A situation where more than 90% of inmates are awaiting trial was worrisome”.
The zone E prison boss, called for building of more prison cells to ease the challenge of overcrowding, saying that a situation where cells for 500 inmates were occupied by 1000 prisoners was not the best.
According to him, the society would enjoy peace only when there is peace in the prisons saying that the zone’s commitment to excellence would not be compromised.
He disclosed that in his meeting with the Abia State Attorney General and commissioner for Justice, Chief Ume Kalu (SAN) he raised the issue of prison decongestion with a promise from him to expedite trial of cases.
Uchenwa commended Abia prison command for the improvements recorded since his last visit.
He said that of particular interest was the reform which has helped the inmates to enroll in classes which has helped most of them to write WASCE even as others were taking courses in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
He commended the prison personnel while describing them as disciplined officers and men and assured that their promotion would remain regular even as the 2017 promotion would soon be released.
On the issue of babies born in the prisons who automatically become members of the community even without committing any crime, the prison boss said the law is silent on that but added that such children were normally released to their parents or relatives after 18 months.
He said, “But the first few months of birth, the baby would need the attention of the mother”.
On the issue of lack of adequate medication and food for inmates, he said the inmates would not be satisfied with the service because all the inmates need is freedom.
The Federal Government through the Government Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme (GEEP) said it has disbursed N380 million to develop micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Abia.
Uzoma Nwagba, Chief Operating Officer of GEEP made this known on Friday during the disbursement of GEEP Moni Market Loan to beneficiaries of the scheme at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia.
He said:”We want to disburse 30,000 loans in Abia in this year alone; as long as you are qualified you will be entitled to it”.
“This programme is meant for alleviating poverty and putting money in the hands of the people at grassroots to empower them. The focus is on women and youths.”
Speaking at the occasion, Tola Johnson, Technical Adviser to Vice-President on MSMEs, described the initiative as a strong partnership between the Federal Government ,the state government and different parastatals.
Johnson also said tthat the progress of the scheme would be monitored to ensure that the objective for establishing it was achieved.
In his speech, the Governor of the state, Okezie Ikpeazu, thanked the federal government for initiating a programme that would strengthen SMEs in the state and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the loan appropriately.
Ikpeazu disclosed that the state government would organise regular training programmes for the beneficiaries to ensure that the programme would be a success in Abia.
In separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), some beneficiaries expressed delight over the opportunity they had received to grow their businesses.
Mrs Adanma Ogbonna, a beneficiary of the programme said that the money would enable her to grow her business, promising that she would make her payment on time and in full.
Mr Osinach Chigbu, another beneficiary, said that he had received a bank transaction alert which indicated that the loan had already been paid into his account.
Chigbu expressed hope that the programme would go a long way to improve the livelihood of the people of Abia. (NAN)
Lethal weapons, including petrol bombs and one double-barrel gun, were recovered during Sunday’s raid of the Afaraukwu, Umuahia’s home of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu, the police claimed yesterday. IPOB is banned.
Abia State Commissioner of Police Anthony Ogbizi said the items were recovered during a joint operation by security personnel.
He said the petrol bombs were found in buckets.
Also found, according to the police chief, were incriminating documents and letters concerning IPOB’s activities.
He said the raid was carried out after an intelligence report regarding the continued activities of some members of the group.
Ogbizi said: “We recovered many of Biafra’s insignia, staff of office and some of those items are being analysed.”
The police boss said a suspected member of IPOB was being held.
He said the team also discovered the telephone numbers of the group’s zonal coordinators, adding that all the communications between the leadership of the group and their collaborators would be thoroughly analysed.
Ogbizi said a Biafran flag was also found hanging on a telecommunications mast in the area.
According to him, the police will ask the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to sanction any telecommunication company that allowed its mast to be used to hoist Biafran flags.
He said the activities of IPOB in the Southeast were “stirring insurrection” and that security agencies would not fold their arms and watch the group foment violence.
He said members of the group allegedly set ablaze a police station and a van in Aba. A military patrol team attacked in Umuahia.
Ogbizi said similar joint operations would be carried out intermittently in Kanu’s residence, anytime the police received intelligence reports that offensive weapons were brought to the place.
He said that it was wrong to say that the military was taking over the duties of the police. The action, in his view, should be seen as a synergy between the two organisations to check security challenges.
Ogbizi said that he would not hesitate to invite the army anytime the security situation in the state grew beyond the capacity of the police.
Governors moved yesterday to stem the tide of violence sparked by the soldiers’ clash with separatists in Abia State.
Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in Jos, the state capital, following fears of possible attacks in the city.
Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu announced that soldiers would be withdrawn from Aba and Umuahia today – in response to pleas from well-meaning people.
Many governors were said to have summoned Security Council meetings to stop the violence from spreading to their states.
Southeast governors are meeting today on the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) challenge.
The Sultan of Sokoto issued a statement, calling for peace and unity.
Ikpeazu warned hoodlums to stay away, following attacks on police stations. Detainees were said to have escaped at the Ariaria Police Divisional Headquarters building.
According to Ikpeazu, the soldiers will be withdrawn following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians.
However, those at checkpoints before the new deployment will remain at their duty posts, the governor said.
Ikpeazu is to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, who he will urge him to suspend the planned “operation Python Dance II” scheduled to begin next week in the Southeast. But he warned that the state would not entertain any form of agitation or protest on the streets.
Ikpeazu told members and sympathisers of the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) to stop spreading false information.
A police station in Aba set on fire by suspected IPOB members
The curfew he imposed on the state will end today.
Ikpeazu said: “The security situation in the state in the past few days, which led to the deployment of soldiers into our state ahead of the Operation Python Dance 11, has become of great concern to both the government and the citizenry.
“After several interventions, I want to inform you that by tomorrow morning, there will be withdrawal of solders from the streets at Aba and Umuahia, apart from the pre-existing military checkpoints at various locations in the state.
“With the expected exit of soldiers from the streets, we must warn that we will not tolerate agitators and protesters taking over the streets for any reason at all.
“I will also be meeting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss possible ways of relaxing the Operation Python Dance 11 in the state for now.
“Our attention had been drawn to ugly incidents of attacks on police stations and military posts at Aba and Umuahia and we hereby warn that we will no longer tolerate that, and all other acts that are capable of causing insecurity in the state.
“We have also observed illegal acts of throwing petrol bombs and setting up of bonfires to obstruct free movements along some roads by suspected miscreants and wish to warn that such acts should stop forthwith.
“To mischief makers who want to use Abia as their base, let me announce to you that henceforth, Abia will be too hot for you to carry out your wicked acts as the government will work with security agents to ensure the protection of lives and properties in the state without fear or favour. There will be no hiding place for you.
“At about midnight yesterday, we received security reports that hoodlums and miscreants, some of whom were allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals, were mobilising around Uratta Road at Aba with a view to converging at Ariaria International Market to burn it down. Their aim was obviously to take advantage of the security situation in the state to cripple the economy of the state and cause widespread suffering.
“It was this group that originated the rumours of attacks and counter attacks around the area and also tried to create panic to force people out of their homes to enable them execute their evil intentions under the cover of orchestrated crises.
“Thankfully, their plan was nipped in the bud by the combined team of soldiers and policemen that promptly moved to the area and later positioned around Ariaria market to protect the lives and properties of our people.
“We have it on good authority that the same group of hoodlums attempted to burn down the police station at Ariaria market early today and security agents are currently on the hunt for them and those outside the state who are sponsoring their evil actions. Not even one of them will escape the full weight of the law.
“Members and sympathisers of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) should henceforth desist from spreading false rumours capable of throwing our state into disorder. Those spreading such falsehood will be dealt with, according to the law.
“My fellow Abians, it is in the interest of all our citizens and residents for full and total peace and security to return to our state immediately. No meaningful progress can be made in an atmosphere of violence and anarchy.
“Those at Aba are therefore advised to fully observe the current curfew in the city and ensure that they cooperate with security agents to maintain peace and order.
“I swore to protect lives and properties of all Abians and residents and that I must do. I therefore call on all to support our efforts at making
The leadership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the alleged humiliation of suspected members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) by soldiers in Umuahia, Abia State on Wednesday.
Reacting to the video clip of the alleged inhuman treatment that has gone viral, the party, in a statement on Thursday described the action as the depth of callousness and descent into the gutter by the soldiers.
“The PDP believes that human life is sacrosanct and must be treated as such by all and sundry; the right to life and liberty as enshrined in our Constitution and other international conventions must therefore not only be respected and protected, but must be seen to be so”, the statement said.
While welcoming the decision of the Army authorities to investigate the matter, the party called for an independent panel of experts on human rights to ascertain the veracity of the allegation.
“Where they are proven to be true, the PDP demands that all perpetrators as well as all those connected, however remotely, be immediately brought to justice.
“This would go a long way to not only serve as a deterrent, but also reassure the international community that Nigeria is not a jungle but a decent society where human rights are being promoted.
“Finally, the PDP frowns at and condemns violence in all its ramifications and calls on all Nigerians, wherever they are, to eschew it and live peacefully with one another”, the statement added.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has announced the withdrawal of soldiers from the streets of Aba and Umuahia, the state capital.
Ikpeazu announcing this in a media chat with Journalists in Umuahia on Thursday said that the reason for the withdrawal was as a result of intervention from well-meaning Abians and Nigerians.
The governor disclosed that he was going to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to urge him to suspend the planned Python Dance II exercise scheduled to commence later this month in the southeast and warned that the state wouldn’t entertain any form of agitation or protest on the streets of the state.
Ikpeazu who warned members and sympathizers of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB to stop spreading false rumors urged residents to abide by the curfew throughout the period it would last. This is as he called for
Part of his address read “Dear brothers and sisters, the security situation in the state in the past few days, which led to the deployment of soldiers into our state ahead of the Operation Python dance 11, has become of great concern to both the government and the citizenry.
“After several interventions, I want to inform you that by tomorrow morning, there will be withdrawal of solders from the streets at Aba and Umuahia, apart from the pre-existing military checkpoints at various location in the state.
“With the expected exit of soldiers from the streets, we must warn that we will not tolerate agitators and protesters taking over the streets for any reason at all.
“I will also be meeting the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss possible ways of relaxing the Operation Python dance 11 in the state for now.
“Our attention have been drawn to ugly incidences of attacks on police stations and military posts at Aba and Umuahia and we hereby warn that we will no longer tolerate that, and all other acts that are capable of causing insecurity in the state.
“We have also observed illegal acts of throwing petrol bombs and setting up of bonfires to obstruct free movements along some roads by suspected miscreants and wish to warn that such acts should stop forthwith.
“To mischief makers who want to use Abia as their base, let me announce to you that henceforth, Abia will be too hot for you to carry out your wicked acts as the government will work with security agents to ensure the protection of lives and properties in the state without fear or favor. There will be no hiding place for you.
“At about midnight yesterday, we received security reports that hoodlums and miscreants, some of whom were allegedly brought into the state by unscrupulous individuals, were mobilizing around Uratta road at Aba with a view to converging at Ariaria International Market to burn it down. Their aim was obviously to take advantage of the security situation in the state to cripple the economy of the state and cause widespread suffering.
“It was this group that originated the rumors of attacks and counter attacks around the area and also tried to create panic to force people out of their homes to enable them execute their evil intentions under the cover of orchestrated crises.
“Thankfully their plan was nipped in the bud by the combined team of soldiers and policemen that promptly moved to the area and later positioned around Ariaria market to protect the lives and properties of our people.
“We have it on good authority that the same group of hoodlums attempted to burn down the police station at Ariaria market early today and security agents are currently on the hunt for them and those outside the state who are sponsoring their evil actions. Not even one of them will escape the full weight of the law.
“Members and sympathizers of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) should henceforth desist from spreading false rumors capable of throwing our state into disorder. Those spreading such falsehood will be dealt with, according to the Law.
“My fellow Abians, it is in the interest of all our citizens and residents for full and total peace and security to return to our state immediately. No meaningful progress can be made in an atmosphere of violence and and anarchy.
“Those at Aba are therefore advised to fully observe the current curfew in the city and ensure that they cooperate with security agents to maintain peace and order.
“I swore to protect lives and properties of all Abians and residents and that I must do. I therefore call on all to support our efforts at making sure that lasting peace prevails in our dear state.”
