Over 138 persons have been arrested and prosecuted by the Ebonyi State Government for defecating in open places.
Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor
The Commissioner for Environment, Ogodo Nome, disclosed this in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Also, over 60 landlords in Abakaliki alone have been prosecuted for refusal to install toilet facilities in their houses.
Mr. Nome attributed the spread of most diseases in the state to poor sanitary conditions by residents.
According to him, lack of toilet facilities and dirty environment can lead to contraction of diseases and warned that.
“Anyone who erects buildings in the state without toilet facilities will be sanctioned according to the state environmental law”, he warned.
He noted that the state government has taken measures to prevent incessant fire outbreak in the state.
He said security has been beefed up in the state’s main market, Abakpa main market, to ensure that hoodlums don’t have access to the market.
The first case of fire incident in the market two weeks ago, he said, was recorded because of the activities of miscreants who usually smoke in some parts of the area.
He added that street trading around the market has been banned and warned that anyone caught in the act will be dealt with.
Mr. Nome also announced that the government has banned trading on all the tarred roads in the metropolis.
The Commissioner promised that government will assist victims of fire disasters in the state in any way it can.
Ebonyi State Governor,Engr. David Umahi, has ordered an indefinite suspension of his special adviser on Internally Generated Revenue,Chief Jeremiah Oketa, for action,described as going beyond the authority and command of his office.
Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor
The Commissioner for Information and State Orientation,Senator Emanuel Onwe, announced this on Thursday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s state executive council meeting in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Onwe, who said that Special advisers and commissioners were no longer authorized to collect any form of taxes or revenue for the state, added that the board of internal revenue had been mandated by EXCO as the only legal body to do so.
He also announced that it had become an offence for anyone to receive on behalf of the government or pay any rent or revenue in cash to the government. .
The commissioner said, “The Special Adviser on IGR, Chief J.O.J Oketa, has been suspended indefinitely for going beyond the authority and command of his office.
“Special Advisers and commissioners are no longer authorized to collect taxes or revenue of any kind. The Only legal body now authorized by council to collect revenue is the Ebonyi Board of Internal Revenue or any agent that the board may legitimately engage to do so.
“All payments of all kind of revenue should be done in the way it goes directly into the account of government.”
He explained that the Executive Council received presentations from companies on enumeration and collection of taxes and revenues for government without imposing hardship on Ebonyians.
Meanwhile, the state Executive Council has set up an advisory committee on higher education comprising representatives of the three senatorial zones of the state.
They include, Amb.Frank Ogbewu, Engr.Fidelis Nwankwo and Prof.Chigozie Ogbu.
Their function is to look into the situation of higher institutions in the state, particularly the Ebonyi state university and recommend the way forward for governmen
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engr. Babachir Lawal, has commended the achievements of Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, saying he was surprised that such performer existed in the Peoples Democratic Party.
Lawal who was on a one-day visit to Ebonyi State on Thursday, added that Umahi’s performance had become a challenge to all governors, including those of the All Progressives Congress.
He said he would recommend Umahi’s ‘pragmatic type of governance’ to President Muhammadu Buhari, since according to him; it should be a model for other governors to emulate.
The SGF said, “Governor David Umahi has performed more than what we see others do in the last six months. I will tell Mr. President that this state is a model of development for our country.”
Turning to the governor, he jokingly added, “Sometimes, we get surprised that people like you are found in the PDP but there is a cliché that says good men are found everywhere.
“We like such people but we will not envy them if they remain in PDP because they also challenge APC governors to perform. That is the essence of opposition and competition in politics.”
The SGF applauded the prudence and integrity with which Umahi was managing the lean resources available to the state.
Lawal, who appealed to all Ebonyians, members of the State House of Assembly and the Executive to continue to cooperate with the governor to enable him do more, stated that “with the governor’s performances so far, he will win his election for a second term if in the APC.”
The SGF had inspected some projects in Abakaliki, including flyovers under construction and inaugurated the CBN Road in the Centenary city.
At one of the sites, Lawal, who was in company with the Ministers of State for Niger Delta and Labour and Productivity, Bar. James Ochili and Dr. Cladius Daramola,observed that the cost of the three flyovers was an indication that “the governor belongs to a cream of leaders in the country who are not greedy and corrupt.”
Lawal, who was honoured with a Chieftaincy of ENYIOMA of Ebonyi State by the state Traditional Rulers Council, noted that his visit to the state was not for politics, but as a functionary of the Federal Government.
He assured that he would assist in facilitating the Federal Government’s refund to the state of the over N10bn spent on the construction of federal roads in the state.
Speaking at a state Banquet, Umahi said the appointment of Lawal as SGF was an act of God.
The governor maintained that his support for the President’s administration should be seen beyond party differences, stressing that his intention was to get Ebonyi State on the right track and not party politics.
Gov. Umahi said, “For me, the Nigeria project is not all about party, and the earlier we forget about party to an extent after elections, the better for this country.”
He explained that the newly reconstructed Governor’s Lodge was named after the first civilian governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu as a mark of recognition for his humility, honesty and selfless contributions to the development of the state.
Earlier at the Spera-In-Deo flyover site, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Fidelis Nweze, disclosed that the flyover projects were awarded at the coast of N5.482bn
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has assured the people of Ezza that work will soon resume on the Ugwuachi end of the North-Onueke Ezza Road in the next one week.
Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor
Umahi, at a civic reception for him by the people of Ezza Ezekunna at Onueke on Staurday,added that work on the Ezzama- Oshiri-Onicha Road would commence in the next one month.
The governor, who described the people of Ezza nation as a reliable ally in the struggle for political freedom,social justice and fairness, also said, “We are going to have water together with street light at Onueke in the next two weeks.”
He thanked the people of Ezza for honouring him and his wife, stressing that he was proud of their sons and daughters working in his government.
Umahi recalled that two commissioners out of the four given state award for meritorious service in December 2015 came from Ezza nation.
He said, “I want to say to Ezza nation that I am very very proud of you people. I am quite appreciative of the commitment of your sons and daughters that are working with me in Ebonyi project.
“I cannot mention all of them,but it is of note that,when commissioners were given award,and am not sure they were more than four, an Ezza son and daughter got two .
That is eloquent testimony that together,we are moving Ebonyi State forward.”
He lauded the Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Aloy Nwankwo, for his uprightness in justice delivery,and also paid glowing tributes to National Assembly and state Assembly members from Ezza extraction who stood by him in the face of rising opposition.
The governor praised Ezza people for their great show of meekness and understanding which, according to him, helped to forestall escalation of the Ezza-Ezillo crises.
Governor Umahi promised that his government would soon bring permanent solution to the crises.
The Secretary to the State Government,Prof.Bernard Odo, had earlier in his address, applauded Umahi for his achievements and benevolence to the people of Ezza nation.
“You have brought equity, synergy, foresight, transparency, morality, meritocracy and exceptional energy into the. Administration of the state,” Odoh stated.
Highlight of the ocassion was the conferment of chieftaincy title of Ikenga 1 of Ezza nation on Umahi and Ozinya Ikenga 1 on his wife, Racheal.
In another development, the Ebonyi State Government has assured rice millers in Abakaliki that election will be conducted before the end of this month to enable them have a new leadership.
Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Elizabeth Ogbaga, who gave the assurance in Abakaliki on Monday, attributed the major causes of the problems at the rice mills in the state capital to leadership problem.
The Commissioner and the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Ali Odefa, were at the Rice Mill premises in Abakaliki following a demonstration by the security men engaged by the rice mill management over the non-payment of their December salary.
Ogbaga stated that government was not interested in the leadership of the association, but explained that the election which would be supervised by her Ministry in conjunction with the office of the SSA on Security would be based on democratic principles.
Ogbaga, who said she noted the damage done to buildings and other properties at the mills on Sunday evening by fire from the large heaps of rice husk, expressed worry that the situation could degenerate into lawlessness if the government failed to intervene.
She consequently directed the caretaker committee chairman of the Rice Millers Association to take urgent steps to put out the fire.
The commissioner also decried the packaging of Ebonyi Rice with sacks with the inscription, “Enugu State Government” which bore the portrait of a former Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Sullivan Chime.
Earlier, Odefa had warned that government would not condone any act of lawlessness and insubordination by any member of the rice millers or security men.
He frowned at the attitude of the security men who set tyres ablaze on the main road and blocked all the major entrances into the rice mills.
Odefa warned that on no account should the gates of the rice mills be closed by any agitator.
He noted that the disruption of business in the mills by the security men had robbed the traders and the government of huge sums of money.
The SSA directed the protesting security men to dismantle all the road blocks and open the gates for normal business to resume.
Assuring them that the caretaker committee chairman of the rice millers association would pay them, he advised them to embrace peace as the government was set to improve their infrastructural needs.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and former Governor Sam Egwu on Wednesday openly narrated how they outwitted the immediate past governor, Martin Elechi and his allies, to emerge victorious in the April 2015 elections.
Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor
They said during a thanksgiving service by Egwu, who is the current Senator representing Ebonyi North senatorial zone, in Umuebe in Ohaukwu Local Government Area that they formed a prayer quartet and handed over their struggle to God.
While Egwu, who was the first to disclose this, described Umahi as the arrow head of the struggle,the Ebonyi governor said Egwu’s wife, Eunice, was their consultant.
The senator disclosed that a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and the deputy of the state, Kelechi Igwe, were the other two members of the quartet.
He told the large gathering which included Anyim and members of the Ebonyi State Executive Council that they found out that Elechi was opposed to his candidature and that of Umahi because he wanted his inlaws to occupy the two positions.
The Senator said, ” I remember a particular day,myself, Pius Anyim,David Umahi, and Kelechi Igwe sat down in the dining room of the former SGF(Anyim) and we prayed about our mission.
“We asked God to support us in the mission we had embarked upon. We knew it was very difficult but we committed it into the hands of God. Four of us prayed that we were going by the grace of God to contest the elections; we prayed that Engr.David Umahi becomes the governor of Ebonyi State; myself to be the senator and Kelechi Igwe to be the deputy governor.
“Of course, senator Anyim said he was not going for any position,but he would solidly be behind us.”
Egwu, who thanked God for answering their prayers, hailed Governor Umahi and
Senator Anyim whom he described as the force behind his victory, and the face of the struggle in Abuja.
He called on political office seekers to always seek God’s endorsement.
Umahi, in his remark, also narrated the struggle with former governor Elechi,even after he (Elechi) was advised by the the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to allow Egwu and himself to contest the elections.
He disclosed that after their prayers at SGF’s home, they became stronger and more determined to contest the elections.
The governor said, ” We can’t thank you enough our dear Senator Anyim; we can’t thank you enough. You got all the important personalities to help us; you also brought the funds needed alongside with your friends.
“At a time, we were more interested in former governor Egwu going to Senate than myself going for governorship position.”
He praised Eunice Egwu for lending her support to the struggle, adding that she was their main political consultant.
Senator Anyim said he was elated because their prayer for Umahi to become the governor of Ebonyi State and for Egwu to become a Senator was answered by God.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has paid a surprise visit to Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi at his country home in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area.
Neither Onu nor Umahi spoke to the press after the visit which was seen by a large gathering at the Umahi compound ass ending a seemingly political animosity between the two Uburu-born politicians.
The governor belongs to the Peoples Democratic Party while Onu, a former governor of the old Abia State, is a member of the All Progressives Congress.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ohaozara LGA, Justice Ogbonna, described the visit as a sign of peace and unity in Uburu community.
The visit has put to rest the peoples’ insinuation that Dr. Onu and our governor are not enjoying good relationship, forgetting that both of them come from the same community’’, the council chairman said.
He described governor Umahi as a special gift to the people of Ebonyi State who has within a short time of his administration recorded many achievements.
Others that paid Christmas homage to the governor were the state Commissioner of Police, Peace Abdallah, a delegation from the Ezza South LGA , Association of Persons with Disabilities, Abakaliki Main Market Traders Association and Governor Umahi’s 1976 classmates in Uburu.
Addressing the people of Ezza South,Engr. Umahi described the Ezza nation as a major force behind his success at the April governorship election.
He saluted the courage displayed by them during the electioneering period even in the face of intimidation.
Explaining that the appointment of many Ezza people as his cabinet members was a reward for their strong support and commitment, he promised to energise Onueke in the first quarter of next year in the ongoing rural electrification in the state.
The member representing Ikwo/ Ezza Federal Constituency, Chief Lazarus Ogbee, assured Umahi of the continued support of the people of Ezza . He said that the National Assembly would remain focused in 2016 to make good laws that would improve the lives of every Nigerian.
The Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has flagged off the construction of the Ivo Water Project estimated to cost over N1.2bn.
Umahi, Ebonyi State Governor
Speaking at the ceremony in Amagu Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area, Umahi disclosed that the project which was conceived when he was a deputy governor was a Federal Government-assisted project.
Umahi, who commended Senator Anyim Pius Anyim for his contributions towards the realization of the water project, said, “We requested for assistance from the Federal Government for this Ivo Water Project. It was supposed to be for Ishiagu alone, but we decided to expand it to reach Akaeze community and also get to our model rice mill in Oso Edda.”
He said that 70 per cent of the money needed to complete the project was ready, stressing that the counterpart funding from the Federal Government was also available with the state government.
Umahi, who used the occasion to thank the people of Ivo LGA for their support during the last governorship election, assured them of the provision of roads and electricity.
“Roads are still coming, electricity will still come,” he assured, stressing that when the water project is completed, the government will be proud to say that the water need of the LGA has been solved.
Earlier in an address on the occasion, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Engr. Francis Orji, stated that the project which has a 12-month completion period was awarded to Chap Construction Limited at the cost of N1, 203,824,347.44k.
Orji thanked Governor Umahi for his huge investments in the water sector and assured of the commitment of his ministry “to ensure that the project is started, executed and completed in the most professional manner”.
Similarly, Governor Umahi commissioned the Uburu Rural Electrification and Uburu Street light projects.
Performing the ceremony at Umunaga Agu-Ugwu and the Old Market Square, Amata Uburu in Ohaozara LGA, Umahi said, “When we came on board, we sat down to say look it is better to start our rural electrification community by community. If we come to one community, we finish everything about rural electrification of that community.”
The governor told Uburu people to hold the Commissioner for Power, Chief Emmanuel Uguru, responsible if there was any part of Uburu without electricity.
He said, “Our agreement is for this (electricity) to get to every part of Uburu so that for years, Uburu will not ask for electricity again, and from there we will go to another community anywhere in Ebonyi State.”
The governor announced with regrets, attempt by some people to vandalize the electricity cables and directed that the suspects must be prosecuted.
He charged Uburu people to protect all government investments in their area, warning that any vandalized public utility would not be repaired.
Umahi said, “You have to guard government’s investments. This is your own dividend of democracy. So any one vandalized will not be repaired.”
The governor thanked Chief Uguru and his team for their commitment in delivering on set goals.
A police corporal, Samuel Okere serving at Ugbodo Division in Ebonyi local government area of Ebonyi State has been arrested by the state Juvenile Welfare Centre (JWC) for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl.
Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase
Okere was said to have committed the act in Ugbodo at the victim’s father’s house when she returned from school.
The victim’s parents had gone for their teaching jobs when the police officer allegedly committed the act.
When the parents returned from work, the little girl started complaining of pains in her private part as she could not walk properly.
When the father, Emmanuel Iyiekuna asked the girl what happened to her, she told him that the policeman inserted something inside her.
Iyiekuna subsequently went to Okere’s house and he(Okere) allegedly admitted committing the crime but said he only used finger on the girl and did not insert his manhood.
He appealed to Iyiekuna not to disclose the matter to anyone and reportedly offered N50, 000 to take care of the victim which was rejected.
Iyiekuna later took his child to a nearby clinic where after examining the girl, a nurse told him that the girl’s hymen has been broken.
The case of defilement was reported to the state family law centre, a special court in charge of treating such cases and other issues.
At the court, the suspect denied having carnal knowledge of the girl.
The Chairman of the court, Mrs. Elizabeth Nwali petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, CP Peace Ibekwe over the matter, calling for her intervention and investigation.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, on Thursday explained why the planned protest by traders against the relocation of some Boko Haram suspects to Anambra State did not hold in the state.
Boko Haram
He told journalists during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Abakaliki that since the suspects had already been taken to Abuja, the protest was unnecessary.
He said, “The traders have the right to protest but there was no need for the protest because we (South-East governors) had enjoined the Federal Government not to relocate any Boko Haram prisoner to any prison in the South-East. Those suspects brought to Anambra State have been taken back to Abuja.
“The state decided against the protest for the reason that the governors of the region had intimated the Presidency on their opinion on the matter, and so no need for anyone to encourage people of the state to take to the streets.”
Umahi said that risking the lives of the people of the state on the streets was not the best.
It was gathered that the planned protest by the traders was expected to take place simultaneously across the five states of the South-East.
The traders in Abakaliki, according to sources, were expected to convene at the Abakpa main market at about 8am.
They were to march round the state capital before converging at the Government House gate where Umahi was also expected to address them.
It was observed that riot mobile policemen had taken over the market to prevent the traders from embarking on the protest and to avert possible breakdown of law and order in the state.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chris Anyanwu, said that the command had to beef up security on major roads and locations of the state to avert any possible breakdown of law and order.
He said, “We got wind of plans by traders in Abakaliki markets to stage a peaceful protest over what they alleged as relocation of persons suspected to be Boko Haram members to some prisons in the South-East. We had to mobilise our men immediately to major roads and locations in the state to avert any breakdown of law and order.
“Part of our responsibility is to ensure the security of lives and properties of the citizenry. We envisaged that hoodlums may take advantage of the protest to disrupt the peace of the state especially now that the election petition tribunal is sitting in the state capital. We don’t want people to loot peoples’ properties in the name of peaceful protest, so we had to mobilise our men.”
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr. John Lebo, on Thursday said the state would resist any attempt to send Boko Haram suspects to prison facilities in the state.
Lebo said this in Calabar during his maiden press briefing with journalists.
The Speaker, who was reacting to a question on the recent public outcry over the relocation of Boko Haram suspects to a prison facility in Anambra State, said the Federal Government should not contemplate sending Boko Haram suspects to any prison facility in Cross River State.
He said emphatically that the state could not accommodate the suspects.
There are no fewer than six prisons sited in different locations including Calabar, Adim, Obubra, Ogoja and Obudu.
Lebo said, “We will resist relocation of Boko Haram suspects to Calabar Prisons or any other one in the state.”
He reiterated the assembly’s commitment towards making good laws that would impact positively on the lives of the citizens.
Lebo, who represents Abi state constituency in the House, also underscored the need for a robust relationship between the legislature and the executive, this he said, would help in deepening democracy in the country.
SIX middle-aged men believed to political thugs are currently cooling their heels at the Anti-Kidnapping Cell of Ebonyi State Police Command Headquarters for allegedly kidnapping and torturing a local town crier, Ogbonnaya Okoro (alias Big Boy).
The victim, who is a well-known town crier, was abducted in Okposi-Okwu community in Ohaozara Local Council of the state two days ago.
The six apprehended abductors are said to belong a gang of 10 that has been terrorising communities in Ohaozara and its environs.
Narrating his ordeal in the hands of the hoodlums to The Guardian at the police headquarters in Abakaliki, Mr. Ogbonnaya Okoro, said his abductors came to his home in the late hours of Tuesday and started beating with machetes and clubs before dragging him into a waiting mini-bus.
He said that as soon as he was dragged into the mini-bus, which bore the inscription of one of the governorship candidates in the forthcoming Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, the men blindfolded him with a red cloth, which made it impossible for him to know where he was being taken.
His words: “After travelling some distance, they brought me out and started beating me. When they stopped, they asked me how much I was paid to do an announcement by another political party, saying that they would kill me if I didn’t comply with what they would ask me to do.”
The town crier further disclosed that the hoodlums brought him to the community market square and directed him to start beating the gong and telling the people that he sold his community for N5,000 and that the people should vote for the candidate of a particular party.
“While I was doing the announcement the men continued to hit me at the back with machetes and clubs,” Okoro added, saying that the beating continued until the men of Afikpo Zonal Police Command came and rescued him.
Some of the weapons found in the possession of the hoodlums included various sizes of machetes and metal axes.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Chris Anyanwu, (ASP) explained that since the matter was under the Anti-kidnapping Department of the Command, the report was yet to get to his office, assuring that he would brief the press as soon as the investigations have been wrapped up.
It would be recalled that prior to the presidential and National Assembly elections, nine people were abducted in the same Local Council by young men operating under the code name “internal security.”
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ishielu Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Emeka Nworie, has been reported killed by suspected political thugs in the early hours of Saturday.
Police Spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu, confirmed to Channels Television that Mr. Nworie was attacked in his house in Ezzagu where he was shot several times until he died.
According to Mr. Anyanwu, the incident took place at around 3a.m. He said the attackers had asked for money from their victim, which was given to them, after which they still went ahead to kill him.
Ebonyi State has had its share of political violence in the run-up to the 2015 elections. Only recently, two people were killed in Ikwo following a clash between the supporters of the PDP and Labour Party.
Governor Martins Elechi of Ebonyi State on Wednesday said those sponsoring the plot to remove him from office have not reneged.
Elechi stated this while addressing youths who paid him a solidarity visit at the State Government House.
The governor told the youth that the political crisis in the state began after the Peoples Democratic Party primaries last November, which he said was faulty leading to the divisions in the party and emergence of unknown party – Labour Party.
He alleged that those who burnt the state House of Assembly did so to cover their illicit deeds, “and then turned round to point accusing fingers to others.”
Elechi, however, said he was not afraid of those plotting his removal, as he was only answerable to Ebonyi people.
He said, “If I misbehave, I should be answerable, but not when people see a political goal and the only way to achieve that political goal is to remove me. They decide to remove me before they look for reasons to adduce to convince the public that I should be removed.
“The impeachment battle is still raging and I know the feelings of Ebonyi people. If not that we appealed to them to douse the tension, Ebonyi State would have been on fire by now.”
Elechi also said that those plotting to remove him from office were panicking and doing all sorts of things to arrest events in the state. “But that is possible and we remain unstoppable because it is the will of the people that is manifesting,” he added.
Meanwhile, the youth called on the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Chukwuma Nwazunku, to apologise to Ebonyi indigenes for inciting other lawmakers in the impeachment plot against Elechi.
“If he failed to apolgise to Ebonyi people for instigating the impeachment plot in the House, then we would have no option but to ensure he is punished adequately,” the National President of Nigeria Youth Organisation, Okorie Okorie, said.
ABAKALIK I— FOLLOWING the impeachment notice served by members of the state House of Assembly on Governor Martin Elechi two weeks ago, the Ebonyi State government was yesterday reported to have allegedly stopped the salaries and entitlements of the lawmakers.
A source close to the House of Assembly said the legislators had expressed their determination to pursue the impeachment of the governor to a logical conclusion vowing that as no amount of mischief and conspiracy would deter them from fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities.
“The lawmakers are not deterred by the attitude of the Governor who have denied them their salaries for quite some time. The Governor is now exhibiting a divide and rule tactics to sideline the lawmakers from benefiting from his administration. At this point the Governor has been sending people to plead with the lawmakers so that he will not be impeached. As it stands there is no going back,” the source said.
In a chat with Vanguard, the zonal Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Ali Odefa, called on Governor Elechi to answer the allegation charges against him and stop playing to the gallery.
According to him, the silence of the Governor on the matter means admittance.
There is currently panic among residents of Abakalik, the Ebonyi State capital over suspected case of Ebola at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
Doctors, nurses and other health workers, as well as patients have deserted the hospital for fear of contracting the deadly virus.
Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sunday Nwangele has reacted to the panic situation, describing as false alarm and urged residents to go about their normal businesses.
ABAKALIKI-UNKNOWN gunmen Thursday morning within Abakaliki metropolis kidnapped the majority leader of Ebony State House of Assembly, Hon. Samuel Nwali.
Vanguard learnt that the majority leader was kidnapped at his residence at Watchman street in Abakaliki
The House member who represents Ikwo South state constituency is believed to be a strong supporter of the Speaker-elect, Hon. Helen Nwobasi.
At the time of filing this report, the whereabout of the lawmaker was still unknown.
However, a member representing Afikpo South East, Eni Uduma Chima confirmed the incident.
Meanwhile, a source who pleaded anonymity said Nwali’s kidnap may not be unconnected with the crisis rocking the House of Assembly over the impeachment of the Former Speaker, Hon. Chukwuma Nwazunku last Monday.
There was tears and confusion in Ephuenyim village in Ndiagu Okpuitumo community in Abakaliki local government area of Ebonyi State, yesterday, when two female children were found dead in a shallow stream in the village.
Worried by the mysterious death of the two children, the Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, the state commissioner of Police, Mr. Maigari Dikko and the senator representing Ebonyi North zone, Senator Chris Nwankwo visited the family to ascertain the cause of death of the children.
Narrating the death of the deceased children, Ibuchi Nwangele, 8, and Oruomachi Nwangele, 2, the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Pius Nwangele, told the governor and his entourage that their corpses were discovered about 8 pm on Friday at a shallow stream in the village.
He explained that the community had undertaken an intensive search for the children some weeks ago when they disappeared.
Nwangele said the community suspects fowl play by the co-wife of the father of the children, one Mrs. Felicia Nwangele, who had been having a running battle with the mother of the children.
The former military Head of STate, General Yakubu Gowon has denied the claim that Fulani herdsmen are behind the general killing in parts of the north.
He said that, instead of Nigerians blaming hoodlums who dress as Fulani herdsmen for the attacks, they are blaming herdsmen.
He disclosed this during a delegation headed by him under the aegis of Nigeria Prays Movement to Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State in Abakaliki. He said “I find it difficult to believe that it is the Fulani herdsmen who are predominantly little children that cause the mayhem in some parts of the country.
“These children carry sticks and lead their cattle on pasture across the country, but now some people put-on Fulani clothes and perpetrate crisis.
“The question is how the transformation from little cattle herders to criminals took place, as we should continue to pray that God touches the hearts of these disgruntled elements to change.”
He urged Nigerians to pray as prayer is the main tool the nation need to solve the problem of insecurity the nation is currently battling.
He said “The power of prayer is stronger than all physical powers we have as when it touches our souls, we become the right instruments God wants us to be,”
He added:”In the Bible, Saul was persecuting the Christians, but when God’s power touched him, he became the strongest disciple that ever propagated God’s word.”
He said that the increase in insecurity challenging the country should be a major reason why Nigerians who seek God’s intervention to restore peace to the country.
He urged people of Ebonyi to come out in mass today for the Pray Summit scheduled to be held in Abakaliki by his organisation.
Governor Elechi appreciated Gowon’s effort for leading prayer warriors to savage the country through prayers, and also thanked him for his fatherly role
He said:”Gowon became head of state at the age of 31, bravely waded through the civil war period and is now leading ordained men of God to seek solutions to the nation’s problems.
“He has remained relevant in all regimes since leaving office, both military and civilian, and he insults no one but gives fatherly advice to successive governments.”
30 year old Nwode Chukwudi Awam, was arrested last week for beheading his father, 56 year old Michael Awam and eating his neck. The Ebonyi State Police Command, who paraded the killer on Thursday April 3rd, said the incident occurred at Egwudinagu Obegu village in Ebonyi LGA of the state.
“When the police went for him, he was waving the machete which he used to cut his father’s head and threatening to kill anybody that gets close to him. He was overpowered all the same. He ate the neck’
“He was seen eating the entire stub of the neck. So when you look at the exhibit, the head doesn’t have the neck even though he did the beheading from the base of the shoulder. You will not see the part of the body that is supposed to be the neck; he ate it up. We can say that it is not unconnected with ritual because it does appear that he may have been asked to do such a thing.” The State Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police Chris Anyanwu, said
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The suspect said he carried out the act after he heard a voice which told him to go to his village and kill his father.
His uncle, Mr. Joseph Nwite, said that the suspect had been away from home for over 6 years, adding “he just came back from Imo State and killed his father.” (0)
The Police in Ebonyi State have arrested a 35 years old man, Vincent Iziogo for allegedlly attempting to murder the 22 years old wife of his younger brother, Ijeoma Iziogo.
The suspect also allegedly set on fire, the house of one Peter Okereke.
Police spokesman, ASP Chris Anyanwu, said the suspect committed the offences at Ette Nkaliki village in Abakaliki Local Government Area.
He said: “The suspect tricked the victim to his room after setting a locally fabricated trap. As soon as she stepped into the assailant’s house, he gripped her neck with the locally fabricated trap and attempted to strangle her”.
“Thereafter, he tied her hands and legs, locked her up in the room thinking her to be dead and bolted away”.
However, as luck may have it, the victim regained consciousness after 5 hours and screamed for assistance”.
According to the spokesman, the suspect proceeded to the House of Peter Okereke, whom he believed to have aided his wife to abscond from his house, and set the house ablaze.
ASP Anyanwu said the suspect will be charged to court for attempted murder and arson as soon as the investigation is completed.
The command also nabbed eight members of the notorious cult group Burkina Faso Confraternity a.k.a BF.
They were arrested on a tip off by men of the Special Anti Robbery Squa (SARS) in a spot at Ishieke, Ebonyi LGA where they converged to introduce their new rookies to all the old members.
Among those arrested include one Abidakun Segun from Akure, Ondo State, a 28 yrs Economics student of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) work and study programme, who have spent nine years in the university without graduating.
Others include: Augustine Dike, Okoro Maduabuchi, Igwe Chukwunonso, Udora Emeka, Kingsley Nzekwe, Samuel Ikpenyi, Ifeanyi Odo and Okonkwo Ikechukwu.
All the suspects, according to the spokesman, have confessed to being members of the BF confraternity and will soon be arraigned in court even as it was gathered that they have been expelled from the university. (0)
Vanguard learnt that the majority leader was kidnapped at his residence at Watchman street in Abakaliki
He disclosed this during a delegation headed by him under the aegis of Nigeria Prays Movement to Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State in Abakaliki. He said “I find it difficult to believe that it is the Fulani herdsmen who are predominantly little children that cause the mayhem in some parts of the country.
