The Nation Newspaper

Tag: uyo

  • A/Ibom Corps members abandon duty post for threat to life

    A/Ibom Corps members abandon duty post for threat to life

    About 15 members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) recently posted from the Ikot Itie Udung, Nsit Atai Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State camp, on Thursday abandoned their primary place of assignment following attacks by hoodlums.

    The affected Corps members, The Nation gathered were posted to serve at the Community Secondary School, Uruk Atta 11, in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area.

    One of the teachers, who craved anonymity, said: “The NYSC members were posted to this school on our request, and when they arrived we shared them to some private residence compounds at Obot Uboko and another compound along Uruk Atta 11-Okoyo village.”

    He disclosed that the suspected cultists had attacked the compound and disposed them of personal belongings including laptops, phones and petty cash.

    More worrisome to them, according to one Effiong Ekeke, a local resident was that: “the cultists also raped some of the female members, an action he said, forced them to flee the community.

    “Consequently, they (the Corps members) abandoned the school and left the community in protest over the lack of security.”

    Confirming the incident, Donald Iwok, a former Councillor, who represented the area at the return of democracy in 1999, attributed the incident to what he described as: “the collapse of security in some communities in the area.

    “In recent times, there had been incidences of cult clashes leading to the death of over 15 people in this axis along, especially in communities like Ikot Udobong, Okoyo, Uruk Atta 11, Ikpe and Otoro”, he recalled, adding “between Monday and Wednesday this week, two persons were also killed in Ikot Mkporikpo and Obon Ebot villages.”

    Calling on the Police to beef up security in the area, Iwok, an alumnus of the affected school, expressed worry that incidences of cultism, robbery and kidnapping for ransom, have become the order of the day in the area.

    The Chairman of Etim Ekpo Local Government, Udeme Eduo, who lamented that the scourge of cultism has created serious tension in the Council sued for calm, assuring that he was working with security agencies to restore peace.

    He charged traditional rulers to secure their domains to ensure their subjects lived according to the rules and regulations of the communities, warning that he would not hesitate to wield the big stick against erring youths in the habits of running foul of the laws.

    The Commissioner of Police (CP) Mr. Donald Awunah, said a number of suspected cultists have been arrested following the launch of ‘Operation Impact’ in the area.

    He assured that peace would soon return in the area as his men intensified efforts to dislodge criminal elements within Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.

  • MODELS TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT UYO FASHION FORWARD

    TWO models, Adie Meshach and Catherine Uboh have emerged the frontline models at the Uyo Fashion Forward 3.0 which held recently.

    Ebony complexioned Meshach, 6.2” tall, of RV Model Management popularly known as Mishy, an Agriculture Economics student at the University of Uyo, proved a delight as the star male model on the ramp while Uboh, a fashion design intern and a natural hair stylist represented by K-Mode Management in Nigeria was the star female model at the fashion show.

    Uyo Fashion Forward (UFF) is a fashion exhibition platform that aims to drive the Akwa Ibom and ultimately, the Nigerian fashion industry; by bringing together buyers, consumers and the media to view the current collections of global designers in the state capital of Akwa Ibom, Nigeria.

    The project which is in its third edition has featured over 60 home-grown talents, from fashion designers, models, makeup artists, hair stylist and photographers since inception.

  • Uyo Church: Roof supplier blames Apostle Weeks for collapse

    Uyo Church: Roof supplier blames Apostle Weeks for collapse

    Mr. Idorenyin Daniel Udo of Whitesteel Integrated Services who was contracted by the founder of Reigners Bible Church, Apostle Akan Weeks to fabricate and install the roof of the failed church building told Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday that Apostle Weeks did not make complete  payment of N26 million for the roofing project to him as he claimed.

    During his cross-examination, Mr. Udo said instead of N26 million, Weeks paid him N20, 250,000.

    He added that the work was incomplete at the time of the collapse.

    Mr. Udo said to the panel that Weeks had put pressure on him from 2nd December 2016 to remove the scaffold that supported the weight of the roof, but he refused.

    He disclosed that Weeks threatened to arrest him and his workers should he fail to comply.

    According to Udo, after all efforts to get him remove the scaffold proved abortive, one Engr. Essiet, who is one of the members of church building committee, called scaffolders elsewhere on Thursday 8th December 2016 to come for the removal of the scaffold.

    In reacting to the claim that he ordered the scaffold to be removed, Udo said he could not in any way give such approval.

    “I did not give anybody approval to remove any of the materials used during the installation of the roof.

    “Scaffold can only be removed when the roof is completely set.

    “I advised Apostle Weeks to allow the scaffold to remain since roofing was not completed,” he testified.
    Mr. Udo also told the panel that he only removed two of the seven derricks used during roof installation, and not the scaffold.

    “Derrick is equipment that is used to move materials from one place to another.”

    Udo later revealed that on Friday 9th December, he had noticed a crack at the right side of the octagonal church building by the second beam which he drew the attention of the site supervisor, Anietie Ndarake, who Weeks introduced to him as the church architect.

    His words: “I called the attention of the site supervisor, Anietie Ndarake, and he said that after the programme on Saturday, the concrete would be reinforced.”

    Udo therefore suggested that the crack might have contributed to the collapse of the building on Saturday 10th December, 2016.

  • 6 killed, houses razed as A/Ibom-C/River boundary war escalates

    No fewer than six persons have been declared dead and several others injured as the age-long communal war between Oku Iboku community in Akwa Ibom State and Ikot Offiong in Cross River State, degenerated into full-scale war.
    Several houses, various brands of vehicles, including Julius Berger truck, according to some eye witness accounts, were razed around the Calabar-Itu head bridge and adjoining communities.
    Unconfirmed accounts said two security operatives, were among those killed, forcing the Military to deploy dozens of soldiers to the scene. 
    Police have also deployed detachments of Police Mobile Force (PMF), unit 26 and 57, to quell the war.
    Passengers to and from Calabar, capital of Cross River State, were stranded for several hours as the major access road was blocked by soldiers, anti-riot Policemen and other emergency security operatives.
    According to Chief Ene Essien, a community leader in Oku Iboku, the latest incident occurred after series of attempts by the people to reoccupy the fishing area after they were forced out by the people of Oku Iboku, failed.
    He said: “The Ikot Offiong people are fishermen who migrated into our area from Akpabuyo, in Cross River State to settle. After settling for so many years, they developed the instinct of seizing our land and even expanding more into Itu.”
    “Their uncomplimentary relationship with the host community forced us to push them away from the fishing community. When they left our community, the settled at Odukpani, but the people also pushed them out to their place in Akpabuyo, because of their penchant for war.”
    He recalled that the intractable war has lingered for years leading to intermittent attacks by the invaders from Ikot Offiong.
    According to him, the war started around the fishing area, but later escalated to the Calabar-Itu road, when the people of Ikot Offiong returned in reprisal that led to the dead of six persons after sporadic shootings.
    It was gathered the invaders returned with armed hoodlums in 11 busses and several flying boats, but were later repelled by a combined team of soldiers, anti-riot Policemen and men of the State Anti-Robbery and Kidnapping Squad (SARS).
    Two Aides to Governor Udom Emmanuel, Essien Ndueso and Joseph Okon, who were trapped in the war as they returned from the official assignment in Calabar, who narrated their ordeal, said, “the entire area was on fire” and thanked God they were not cut down by bullets.
    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Cordelia Nwawe (ASP), confirmed the incident, saying several persons were injured, adding that she was yet to be briefed on those who died in the incident.
    “It is not the business of the Police to count dead bodies, our business is to secure lives and properties”, she said, and assured that normalcy has returned as detachments of Police Mobile Force (PMS), 26 and 57, have been drafted to quell the crises.

  • A/Ibom: Group raises alarm over alleged plan to assassinate APC leaders

    A socio-political organisation in Akwa Ibom state known as Akwa Ibom Change Movement, ACM yesterday the raised alarm over what it described as “systematic intimidation and assassination of selected vocal leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC,” in Akwa Ibom State by Governor Udom Emmanuel.

    Governor Emmanuel had last week during a Solemn Assembly, said Akwa Ibom youths should rise against “any idiot” who comes from Abuja to oppose his government, adding that before such a person leaves the studio, the youth will rise against him.

    In a release signed by the ACM’s President, Prince Emmanuel Sam and the secretary, Noah Noah, said Governor Emmanuel expressly threatened to unleash militants, which he euphemistically called “youths,” on perceived opposition figures in Akwa Ibom, especially those who have been appointed to serve in the APC administration at the federal level, and who dare to criticize him and his administration in 2017 and beyond.

    The group quoted the governor as saying: “In 2017, any Akwa Ibom son or daughter if you have been given appointment anywhere, thank God for your appointment. If you use your appointment to come into the state and cause disunity, I can reassure you I have the full assurances of the youths, any idiot who will come forthwith to make any nonsense proclamation in the state, the youths will not let him go.”

    According to the group, immediately the governor said this, the crowd, mostly youths, immediately went into a frenzy, jubilating as he said this.

    The group said: “It is worth noting that Governor Emmanuel issued this undisguised threat in the presence of dignitaries like the president, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, and several other Christian leaders. Several youth groups and women groups who also attended the religious ceremony.

    “Without any iota of doubt, the person that Gov. Udom Emmanuel directly addressed as the “idiot” who came “forthwith to make any nonsense proclamation in the State” and who the “youths” have “reassured” him that they would not “let him go” next time was Senator Ita Enang, the SSA to the President on National Assembly, Senate.

    “As a matter of fact, Senator Ita Enang had given a radio interview on Saturday, December 31, 2016, in which he asked the governor to account for the enormous resources of the state his government has gotten since June 2015.

    “Truth be told, the cardinal sin that Senator Ita Enang and other APC leaders in Akwa Ibom have committed, all they have been saying for more than one year now and which is twisted to mean “causing disunity in the State” is asking the PDP government of Mr. Emmanuel to stop blackmailing the Buhari”s government and falsely claiming that his glaring ineptitude and inability to run a transparent, accountable and responsive government is because the APC federal government has been short changing the Akwa Ibom people and government.

    “Gov. Udom Emmanuel has started, also after nearly two years in office, to stealthily use threat to re-introduce violence and state sponsored murder of perceived political opponents as a tool to bully, intimidate and frighten the competition out of the 2019 gubernatorial race.”

  • Uyo church collapse: ‘My original design was altered’

    Uyo church collapse: ‘My original design was altered’

    The architect who designed the plan for the collapsed Reigners’ Bible Church, Mr Abimbola Oke, said before the Commission of Inquiry in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Monday that he stands by his original design for the church.

    Oke, who was cross-examined by the commission’s counsel, Mr Friday Oke, stated that when he visited the site to check on the church’s founder and General Overseer, Apostle Akan Weeks, he noticed that the design had been altered.

    According to him, during his visit, he told Weeks that what was implemented was at variance with the original design, adding that he urged him on the importance of adhering to the original design.

    Oke, who is also a lecturer in the University of Uyo, explained that when he observed the building, he also noticed that not all the structural elements had been put in place including the gallery floor.

    He said that he did not supervise the building project as had been alleged, noting that if he did, the church would have paid for it, having given the church a design that worths N11.5m for free.

    Asked why he chose to give out the service with such amount of money for free, Oke answered that, “That is not the first time I’m doing that kind of a thing; it is my belief that God can bless me; it is my act of service to God, and it has been proven over and over again.”

    When asked if he designed the roof and the trusses, Oke replied that he was not the person who designed the roof and the trusses.

    “Apostle Akan Weeks asked me to design a round or diagonal 5,000 sitting capacity auditorium plan for him. After the design, I took it to him and he said it was all right. As regards altering the design, I did not redesign any part of the building. I stand by my original design which included the basement floor.

    “The apostle later asked me if I could supervise the building, but the church’s building committee chairman reacted to it by saying that they were going to build their church by themselves.

    “Afterwards I visited Weeks at a certain point in time and told him that what was in the design was not implemented. I also informed him of the importance of adhering to the original design,” he said.

    Oke added that he understood that the site was sloping and that was why he introduced the basement floor to suit the site.

  • NBC Uyo depot gutted by fire

    NBC Uyo depot gutted by fire

    Fire on Wednesday night gutted the depot of the Nigerian Bottling Company office on  Abak Road, Uyo.

    Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that goods worth millions of Naira were lost in the inferno.

    One of the eyewitnesses, Mr Ekong Charles, told NAN that the fire started from where the pallets were packed and engulfed the entire packing zone.

    Charles said that it was the quick intervention of firefighters from the state Fire Service that prevented the fire from spreading to the office complex.

    “The fire started from where the pallets are packed and the fire service was quickly alerted to control the spread to other buildings.

    “In fact, it was so serious; if not for the quick intervention of the firefighters it would have consumed the entire depot.

    “Five trucks of firefighting vehicles were brought to put out the fire,” Charles said.

    The Chief Fire Officer in Akwa Ibom,  Mr Ndarake Ukpe, told NAN that he had to mobilise firemen from Ikot Ekpene, Abak and Akpan Andem to put out the fire.

    Ukpe said the cause of the fire was yet unknown and  appealed to residents to be careful in handling inflammable materials during this harmattan period.

    He also confirmed that no life was lost to the inferno as the place was taken care of by security personnel.

    “Fire does not just happen, it was caused by carelessness and fake electrical installations in our buildings.

    “We have organised seminars for people in the markets and advised them to stop storing fuel in their houses.

    “We are committed to ensuring that our department response to fire calls within record time so that minimal lost is recorded,” Ukpe said.

    He urged members of the public to report fire outbreak promptly instead of waiting until the damage was done before calling the fire service.

    The Uyo depot manager, Mr Benjamin Uche, told NAN that the cause of the fire was yet unknown.

    Uche said that he was yet to quantify what the company had lost to the inferno.

    “I have to take stock to know what we have lost in this incident, ” Uche said.

    On Christmas day, the home of the Commissioner for Works, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, was gutted by fire.

  • Uyo church collapse: Family of detainee calls for pastor’s arrest

    The family of Anietie Ndarake, an architect and member of Reigners Bible Church in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where a building collapsed in December, has called for his unconditional release.

    It urged the police to arrest the proprietor of the church, Bishop Akan Weeks.

    Uwem Ndarake, the detainee’s older brother, addressed reporters yesterday in Uyo with his relations.

    He said the bishop knew everything about the collapsed church building.

    The distraught brother noted that as a committed member of the church and a professional, Anietie felt obligated to visit the site from time to time.

    He said: “He (Aniette) was not contracted or paid to supervise any aspect of the construction work. He had no hand in the drawings or designs. Neither did he work at the site as someone paid to offer professional service.

    “Bishop Weeks controlled everything at the site. He paid those working there. We are aware that he personally paid people to remove the scaffold that held the weight of the ‘drum or fulcrum’ of the truss of the roof.

    “It was after removing the scaffold on Friday evening, from what we gathered, that a crack was noticed on the wall. Why did he order the removal of the scaffold against advice? Why did he keep threatening workers at the site to act against sound advice? We want Akan Weeks to release Anietie immediately.”

    The family urged the Federal Government to appoint coroners who would conduct an inquest into the building collapse. The panel should also determine the number of persons who died. We request that the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) be allowed to independently conduct an investigation and make its report known to the public.

    Uwem expressed worry about the state of his brother’s health, adding that the police had denied him administrative bail.

    The designers of the structure and the roof as well as other persons who supervised the project, including Bishop Weeks, were released after making statements to the police.

    This happened several days after the incident.

    Two persons were detained in police custody since December 12, last year. The suspects are: Ndarake, and Mr. Idongesit White, the roof contractor who merely interpreted the design according to the specification of the structural design handed over to him.

  • Truck kills conductor, lands on cab in Akwa Ibom

    Truck kills conductor, lands on cab in Akwa Ibom

    A diesel truck driver on Saturday killed his conductor and crashed on to a cab at Ekom Iman Junction in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    The truck was said to have fallen into the gutter and crushed a taxi which was waiting for its turn to load.

    A resident, Mr. Okon Ekong, said the truck was on high speed without minding the corner.

    He added that as the driver tried to maneuovre to avoid crashing into the gutter, but owing to the speed, he was unable to do so.

    He added that just three weeks earlier a truck crushed into the similar spot killing a child.

    According to Ekong, there should be proper training for truck drivers as many of them do not know the difference between a straight road and a bent.

    His words: “Trucks are major threats in Akwa Ibom. The drivers, who drive these trucks drive them as if they were riding motorbikes or cars. Many deads in the state caused by accident are always accentuated by tucks.

    “Not just three weeks ago, a truck fell on the same spot of Ekom Iman and killed a child, not to mention that of Itam in Itu Local Government Area of the state, just a month ago that claimed lives.

    “This time it was the conduct of the truck that lost his life. Though the cab driver was able to escape dead as he was not in the vehicle, how will he repair the vehicle so that he can fend for his family once again?

    “I think there should be special school for truck drivers. it should not be an all comer affairs.”

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Cordelia Nwawe, said she was not aware of a truck falling and killing anybody.

  • Uyo church collapse was human error, says Emmanuel

    Uyo church collapse was human error, says Emmanuel

    Akwa Ibom State Governor Udom Emmanuel yesterday attributed the Reigners Bible Church building collapse to human error.

    This was the preliminary verdict of the seven-man panel set up by the government headed by Justice Umoekeyo Essang (Chairman).

    Its members are: James Utiaruk, Essien Nkanga, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Abibo; Prophet John Linus, Asuquo Okon and James Amiang.

    Mrs. Emem Victor Daniel of the Ministry of Justice in Uyo, the state capital, is the Secretary.

    Speaking yesterday at the 2016 Akwa Ibom Christmas carol at the Uyo Township Stadium, Emmanuel said the state had not fully recovered from the shock.

    The governor noted that what fell was a church building (man’s handiwork) and not God’s promise.

    The roof of the church on Uyo Village Road collapsed during the consecration service of Apostle Akan Weeks as Bishop.

    The govrnor was the special guest of honour at the event.

    Twenty-six persons have been confirmed dead while scores of others were injured.

    Emmanuel said: “Ever since God created the sun and put it there, we have never had a blackout. The sun has never run out of gas. The collapse of the building was man’s error. That is why we have set up a high-powered panel of enquiry to determine what went wrong.

    “We dedicated two days of mourning to the souls of the departed. We activated the full machinery and resources of government to aid the rescue and evacuation of victims of the tragedy. We have also assured the victims’ families of government’s resolve to stand by and with them during this time of mourning.

    “Ever since Mary Slessor and other blessed missionaries came to our shores and evangelised our ancestors, we have come to see the church as a shelter of refuge. The church has given us hope and inspiration. The church has showered blessings on us and raised our moral tone and texture.”

    The governor said he led the team of rescuers and called in specialist physicians from across the nation.

    He assured Akwa Ibom residents everybody’s life mattered and the state government would save their lives in any situation.