IPOB Order: Soldiers kill passer-bye in Aba

 May 30, 2018


By Ijendu Iheaka


Soldiers on Wednesday shot and killed a young man in Aba during the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) sit-at-home order given to honour dead Biafran heroes.

A source who pleaded anonymity said the soldiers came from Asa Road to Port Harcourt Road / Uratta Junction where some IPOB members reportedly gathered in the morning of to discuss the sit-at-home protest.

He said that the soldiers started shooting indiscriminately as they got close to the junction, forcing the IPOB members to leave the junction.

According to him, as the shooting continued, a stray bullet hit the young man identified as Nnamdi Ikemeh from Mbano in Imo State who died on the spot.

He said that Nnamdi who was resident on Chigbu street off Uratta Junction had gone out from his house that morning to buy something.

The source said that immediately the soldiers saw him collapse, the soldiers reportedly dragged his corpse into their patrol van and sped off, preventing Nnamdi’s younger brother from taking his dead body.

“Early this (Wednesday) morning, some boys believed to be IPOB members gather at that junction as part of the sit-at-home protest;

“Suddenly we started hearing gunshots and men in army uniform with their hilux van parked around Onyike Street and from there started shooting and coming down to Uratta Junction.

“On getting here, we all were watching from our houses when their bullet hit a boy called Nnamdi from Chigbu Street.

“When the soldiers saw he was down, they started shouting at everyone to run and sit at home. Before you knew it, they dragged the dead man towards their van and sped off.

“They latter came back to harass people in the street which made most of the boys to run away,” he said.

Soldiers from a nearby military post also harassed and tore to shreds the newspapers of a vendor who was out and about selling his newspapers at Ngwa road.

The vendor who refused to give his name said he was at his newsstand when soldiers who were on patrol saw a bonfire close to his stand, jumped down, and accused him of knowing the persons who set the bonfire on the road.

The vendor said that while he was telling the soldiers he knew nothing about the bonfire or those who set it up, they tried to arrest him and he ran away.

He said that the soldiers angered that they could not arrest him, resorted to tearing his newspapers to shreds.

Prince Emma Kanu, the younger brother of Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader, speaking about the sit-at-home, said the pro Biafra group has “conquered again”.

He expressed happiness over the total compliance to the order but condemned the killing of the young man he said was not an IPOB member.

 “The man killed is not an IPOB member, but he is a Biafran and the action of the soldiers is condemnable because they are not supposed to kill an innocent man who was not carrying any arms, I wonder the excuse they are going to give this time around,” he said.

The Army PRO of 14 Brigade, Ohafia could not be reached for comments, but a soldier who spoke under anonymity said the victim, was not killed by soldiers, but that the soldiers retreived his body after he was shot dead by a group he could not mention.

Meanwhile, there was total compliance to the sit-at-home order as Banks, schools, shops and some other business premises in Aba were shutdown.

IPOB Order: Aba locked down with inactivity

IPOB ORDER : Aba locked down with inactivity

May 30, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba on Wednesday experienced an unusual inactivity in the town following the "Sit-at-Home" order given by a pro-Biafra group -the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

Accept few shops on streets off the major roads, others were shut just as banks and other businesses

The famous Ariaria International Market was shut down with Cemetery, New Market and other major markets in Aba.

Inland roads in the city were dry as vehicles and pedestrians were very few on the roads while most filling stations in town were closed.

Few filling stations in Aba that opened had no customers to service.

Emeka Iwuoha, a filling station manager in Aba said they opened believingbpeople would be up and about and would need their services but having seen that the streets were dry had to close shop to honour the fallen heroes of the Biafran struggle.

Ezenwa Anosike, said he believed in honouring the persons who died for and during the Biafran-Nigerian war on a day like this.

He said he was forced out of his house today because of his sick daughter who he took to the hospital adding that he would not leave his house today again.

Udochukwu Enwereuzo, a tricycle operator, said he is a Biafran and had to come out today because he "wanted to help few of those brothers who have reason to visit somewhere today".

He said the roads are dryer than he had expected and would as a result be returning to his "house in an hour to respect the fallen heroes of the Biafran struggle".

Ikpeazu promises to expand Abia University Teaching Hospital

May 24, 2018


By Ijendu Iheaka

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Thursday promised to expand the state University Teaching Hospital, (ABSUTH), Aba, to house some newly acquired equipment.

The governor disclosed this at the ABSUTH campus, Umueze, Aba, during his visit to hand over N180 million worth of equipment procured for the hospital to the management of the institution.

Ikpeazu said that the organisations that helped his government to secure the equipment would be returning to Abia to verify that they were being used and their impact felt by Abia residents.

He also promised to reroof the hospitals operating theatre which puts surgeries on hold whenever it rains because of leakage.

He said he would consult with the state Commissioner for Lands to know the private developers who have encroached on the hospital’s land space in order to stop them.

He said that the mandate of ABSUTH should be understood by the staff to appreciate the cost of keeping it working compared to the amount of revenue it generates.

The governor said that there are investors willing to invest in the institution but regretted that such may face serious challenges because of incessant strikes by the staff.

Besides, Ikpeazu pledged to ensure that their eight months salary arrears were paid and called on them to make some sacrifices to make the state better.

The governor described health as a very great enabler in every nation, adding that getting the state health sector right will be his biggest achievement.

Earlier, the Chairman, ABSUTH Management Board, Dr Kingsley Enweremmadu, said the hospital has lived up to and exceeded the expectation of its founding fathers.

He said that through the sacrifice of staff, the institution had been operating and recording some achievements in a single block building which was meant for a specialist hospital earlier planned there.

Enweremmadu said the hospital needed an emergency and accident department building, Laboratory Department and Radiology Department buildings and space for an amenity ward.

He further asked the governor to fix the road leading to the hospital, provide a dedicated 33KVA transformer and generating sets as the ones they have had become obsolete.


While thanking Ikpeazu for the visit, he expressed optimism that the visit would bring the expected results for the institution and the state.

Police confirm arrest of over 47 BIM, MASSOB members in Aba

Aba (Abia) May 23, 2018  

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Nigerian Police has arrested 47 members of Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) in Aba.

The Abia State Police commissioner, Mr  Anthony Ogbizi disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in Aba.

Ogbizi explained that the persons arrested included men and women and were being held in Aba.

He said that although they were peaceful during their march, they were arrested because they wore army camouflage uniforms and had Biafra flags and insignia with them.

On whether or not BIM and MASSOB were proscribed like the IPOB, the commissioner said that the Police would vet the persons arrested to see if they belonged to IPOB to know what next to do with them.

“We are profiling them and when we finish they would be charged accordingly.

“The legal department is there. They will advise us before we know what else to do,” he said.

However, the leadership of BIM and MASSOB in Aba said the police arrested 115 of their members in the commercial city.

The Zonal Leader of the group, for Abia South, Mr Fredrick Onyenucheya disclosed this to newsmen at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) office on Tuesday.

Onyenucheya was accompanied by Chief Obi Anyanwu, the Zonal Leader for Abia Central.

He said about 200 members gathered at Umuorieoma junction near Osisioma junction by 9 a.m and were peacefully marching to No 154 Faulks Road to celebrate the 18th anniversary of hoisting the Biafra Flag in Aba.

“At a point on Faulks Road, at about 10.10 a.m, the Nigerian Police came and began to shoot tear gas canisters at us and many of our members were injured and they arrested over 115 members.

“They came with over 20 Hilux vans with which they took our members. We want to say that it is unfair for the police to be intimidating and harassing innocent and peaceful citizens moving on the road without disturbing anybody.

“We were only going there to celebrate our anniversary and nothing more. We did not ask anybody to sit at home but to go about their businesses.

“We want to tell the Nigerian Police to release our members they arrested unconditionally because we were on peaceful demonstration,” he said.

He said that the celebration was a programme going on in all the South East zone of Nigeria and wondered why members in Aba were being singled out for arrest and molestation.

Onyenucheya said that they would want the Nigerian Police to know that they could not be cowed, adding that “no amount of intimidation and harassment can stop us until Biafra is actualized,” he said.

NDLEA uncovers Psychotropic substances in Ariaria market

May 22, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abia State Command, says it has traced the entrance of some psychotropic substances into the state to Ariaria International Market, Aba.

The state commander, NDLEA, Mr Bamidele Akingbade, disclosed this in an interview with our reporter on Tuesday in Aba.

Akingbade said that the command was working with state government officials to curtail drug barons’ activities in the market in a way that would not impact negatively on the market.

“We have traced the source of some of these psychotropic substances to Ariaria Market and we are working with the state government.

“But because we are looking at the economic importance of Ariaria Market to the state, we do not want our activities to impact negatively on the market when we carry out operations there.

“So, we want to involve the state government in our bid to ensure that these psychotropic substances are not brought into this state again from Ariaria Market or elsewhere”, he said.

The commander said that his agency was working hard to ensure reduction or total eradication of hard drugs on the streets in the state.

Akingbade said that the NDLEA had secured a federal high court approval to destroy about 6 tonnes of illicit drug substances the command had seized in the last three years
.
According to him, the destruction of the drugs would be done publicly when the NDLEA headquarters gives approval and date for the operation.

He said that the command was working with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Drug Free Clubs to establish branches of the club in some secondary schools in the state.

“We noticed that drug abuse has spread to children in primary and secondary schools in the state.

“This is evident in the death of a boy at a secondary school in Arochukwu after he ingested 9 tablets of Tramadol to help him outperform his mates during a school inter-house sports competition in February.

“So we are taking this awareness of Benelyn with codeine and tramadol to primary and secondary schools”, he said.
Akingbade said that the agency had sustained “drug supply reduction” in the state through raiding of black spots and intercepting drug supplies from outside Abia through intelligence gathering.

He said that the agency faced a serious handicap having only one vehicle to move through the 17 local governments of the state which had been hindering its progress.

He called on the state government and donor agencies to assist the agency with vehicles to enable it further reduce “the preponderance of hard drugs” on the streets of Abia.

2019 elections: Abia INEC REC assures residents of fairness

May 21, 2018 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Dr Joseph Iloh, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abia State has promised to conduct a free and fair elections in Abia state in 2019 to enthrone peace and progress.

Iloh who said that “a badly conducted election could result in war and anarchy” promised that Abia would not experience such in his time.

The INEC REC made this disclosure while speaking in a political programme on radio “Ka M Kwuo” at the Abia State Broadcasting Corporation (BCA) monitored in Aba on Monday.

“We know the problem of our people. They find it hard to leave their businesses to go and register.

“But we are asking them to tell us where and when they gather in good numbers and we will come there with our machines to register them.

“What they fear is that their votes do not count but I promise that in Abia this time, their votes will be counted, recorded as it is and the results announced as it is.

“We are begging our clerics to encourage our people to go register for elections because the clerics are respected and once they open their mouth to tell their members to go and register, they will go. 

“Our people should know that anybody who has no Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and is not willing to get one is not a friend of the community and people who do not vote have no good plans for their community”, Iloh said.

The REC said that INEC in Abia state was targeting registering about two million voters but noted that it had only registered 310,000 voters since the continuous registration began in 2017.

He said that the commission had received 87, 068 Permanent Voters’ Cards from the exercise and enjoined residents who registered during this period to collect their PVCs at their LG headquarters.

Iloh vowed to sack any INEC staff in the state who asks for “money for fuel” from anybody who came to register adding that registration under any circumstance is free.

He urged Abia residents to report any such demand for money from them to his office in order to punish the offender.

He called on registered voters who have lost their PVCs to log on to the internet using the following INEC portal address register.www.voterreg.inecnigeria.org to check their names in order to get a replacement.

FG to expand N-Power programme - Osinbajo

May 18, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says the N-Power Graduate Skills  Acquisition Programme will be expanded and made better to benefit more Nigerian youths.

Osinbajo made the disclosure on Friday during a visit to Kiara De-Luke Multi-Skill and Entrepreneurship Centre, an N-Power training centre at Umuobiakwa in Obingwa Local Government Area of  Abia.

Addressing the trainees, the vice president said  the N-Power programme was very important to the Federal Government because of its focus on empowering the youths through capacity building.

“The programme will be expanded, enriched, made bigger and better and we will improve the welfare of those in the programme.

“The Federal Government wants to demonstrate through you that Nigerian young people are not only  competent, but can with the best training become the best available anywhere in the world.

“You can be sure that we are going to see this programme through. We are going to continue the programme. We are not going to stop it.

“It is the largest of its kind anywhere in Africa. We want to prove that it is possible not only to  keep young people employed and engaged but to train at the same time on a continuous basis and to train them using technology.

“We want to prove also that you do not need to know anybody to be able get a job. You do  not have to go and speak to anybody. You get the job in a free and fair manner.

“So I want to ask you to be committed because sometimes there may be difficulties.” he said.

Osinbajo said that the project would be supported by the Federal Government to ensure the youths realised their aspirations.

He said that the training centre was an ample demonstration of the Abia Government’s willingness to empower young people and give them real opportunities in life.

Also speaking, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu  said that the vice president was at the centre  to see  youths  who had decided to learn skills and liberate themselves from poverty.

“I call on the Federal Government to add a bite to executive order number three which says that you must look inwards before you start importing.

“It is unfortunate to remark that some of our leaders are still living under the veil of sophistry that has no bearing with what we do and produce in Nigeria.

“The only way we can encourage entrepreneurship is to look inwards and patronise made-in- Nigeria goods,’’ he said.

He, however, said there was a  power supply challenge at the Kiara /Logistics De-Luke Training Centre and solicited the  Federal Government’s assistance.

Ikpeazu also thanked the Chinese government for giving Abia the grant to train about 100 youths in various skills.

Psychiatrist recommends special strategy to curtail drug addiction

May 14, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

Mrs Althea Nwaeleh, Executive Director, Advocacy for Veritas, a Drug Addiction Treatment Initiative, has recommended a special strategy to tackle the global problem of drug addiction in Nigeria.

Nwaeleh, a Canada-trained psychiatrist serving as an addiction counselor and Consultant in Nigeria, said this in Aba on Monday while fielding questions from our reporter in Aba.

Advocacy for Veritas is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which is involved in the treatment of drug addicts to enable them recover and live drug-free lives.

She underscored the need for Nigeria to train addiction counselors to educate citizens on the dangers of drug abuse in order to curtail it.

According to her, training of special addiction counselors would directly impact on the addicts and result in recovered addicts who by telling their recovery story, would win hearts to drug-free living.

Nwaeleh said that a trained manpower spread across the nation would compliment rehabilitation facilities and enhance the handling of cases of drug addiction.

She said that education was at the root of the war against drug and substance abuse hence such education needs to be handled in a strategic, planned manner by addiction counselors.

“The first thing we need to do is to educate the public. Education is very important. It is to inform.

“You see something like fuel is innocent. If somebody inhales fuel or gum that is used to fix tyres, you can get high. Some persons do misuse that.

“So are we going to ban every single substance out there? It is not possible. So this is about educating the public about the dangers of using and misusing these things. And so that is where we should start the drug addiction reduction plan,” she said.

Nwaeleh said that drug abusers required handling with compassion if they must be recovered, adding that early detection of drug addiction tendencies would help in recovery of patients.

She said that parents, society and law enforcement agencies have roles to play in detecting when a person had begun the trail down the dark path of drug addiction and to recover them.

India spends $74m on projects in Nigeria - High Commissioner

May 13, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Shri Nagabhushana Reddy says that country has invested more than 74 million dollars on projects in Nigeria this year.

Reddy made this known in Aba on Sunday during the Indian Universities Alumni Association, Aba Chapter symposium and cultural fiesta.

He said that Indian government was handling a Solar PhotoVoltaic Renewable Micro-Utility (REMU) project in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria valued at 8.36 million dollars.

According to him, a 50 megawatts Solar Power Plant was also being installed in Bauchi state at the cost of 66.6 million dollars.

He said that India in 2016, approved 60million dollars and 30 million dollars for power projects in Kaduna and Cross River states respectively while similar project was being processed at 40 million dollars for Enugu state.

The High Commissioner said that India fully supports Nigeria’s economic recovery and growth plan through the promotion of its agriculture and allied sectors as a means of improving the global economy.

Reddy, represented by his deputy, Subhash Chand said that the Nigerian-Indian bilateral relationship in the education sector has `a proud history, is of great importance and would be sustained.

He commended the Aba chapter for the initiative and promised that India would always support them.

Meanwhile, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia state used the opportunity to call on Indian government to establish a tricycle assembly in Aba to serve the large number of residents patronizing it.

He said that Aba was once known for production of textiles but regretted that its textile factories have become moribund.

He therefore called on the Indians to come help restore the Aba textile mills to enable it serve the people and create more jobs.

Ikpeazu was represented at the occasion by Mr Emma Emeruwa, Chairman, Aba South LGA.

In his speech, the President, Indian Universities Alumni Association, Aba Chapter, Chief Ben Egwuonwu said the association was formed in 1985 by Dr Bon Asiegbu.

He said that since inception, the association had contributed positively towards the relations between the two countries by stopping discriminatory policies against Nigerians including the alumni

He also said that it had helped to solve the problem of rejection of Indian Universities alumni by Indian companies in Nigeria.

The association called for the establishment of Indo/Nigerian Cultural, Educational and Business Centre at Aba to advance mutual interests of stakeholders.

Egwuonwu said there was urgent need to establish effective economic and business collaboration between India and Nigeria adding that the alumni should serve as foundation stone.

Aba South LGA prosecutes 2 company staffers for allegedly disposing human waste on streets

May 10, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka 

 The Environmental Health Department, Aba South LGA of Abia State, has arrested two staffers of Junifon Nigeria Limited, a public toilet / waste operator in Aba for channeling human waste on to the streets.

Mrs. Nwaigwe Onyinyechi, Director Environmental Health Department, Aba South LGA disclosed this in her office to newsmen on Thursday.

She said the company located at number 1/3 Asa Road Aba, had channeled excreta from a septic tank into public drainage resulting in the lodging of sewage at York Street and Aba Town Hall.

Nwaigwe while confirming the arrest of the suspects also said that they have been arraigned in an Aba Magistrate Court.

She said that an abatement order has been issued to Junifon Nigeria Limited to reconstruct their septic tanks and channel their waste properly or face the wrath of the law.

She said that following the order, the Company’s Manager, Mr George Okojie signed an undertaking with one man as his surety to be law-abiding and clean in their operations or be punished.

The undertaking which was made available to newsmen and duly signed on May 8, 2018 by the company’s manager and their surety reads:

“I, the manager on behalf of the owner of the above address / premises promise via this undertaking to abate any nuisance arising from our activities and actions in our premises as may be directed Environmental Health Department, Aba South.

"I also promise to keep our surroundings clean regularly to promote public health and shall never discharge our sewage into the public drainage and road henceforth.

“Failure to abide by the above undertaken, the office shall be constrained to seal up my premises and take any legal action against me/company in law court”.

Nwaigwe said that the company having defaulted earlier abatement of nuisance order given to it in April 2018 when its lawlessness was first detected, it would be monitored strictly henceforth.

She said that this second abatement notice to Junifon Nig. Ltd would be the last warning to them adding that under her watch, it will no longer be business as usual for them and their ilk.

She said that the Department of Environmental Health under her watch has declared war against environmental pollution and will work tirelessly to make Aba safe and healthy for residents. 

When contacted, George Okojie, the Manager, Junifon Nigeria Limited, after explanations from our reporter, claimed to have no knowledge of the undertaking.

He also refused to respond to questions about the undertaking which has his name and signature.

He however, was eager to know how and where our reporter got to know about the undertaking which he claimed not to know about asking, “Which undertaking, from who?

Aba residents commend Rep Ossy Prestige for grading roads

May 9, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

Some Aba residents have commended Mr Ossy Prestige, a member of the House of Representatives for giving face-lift to some roads in his constituency.

The residents who spoke in separate interviews with our reporter on Wednesday in Aba, said that Prestige, who represents Aba North/Aba South, had relieved them of pains of plying on bad road.

It is on record that Prestige of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), had graded a network of over 15 roads that connect communities within the area, which had been in very deplorable conditions since 2008.

The roads are: Hitex, Odozi Obodo, Elvina, Aja, Umuibe, Ajali, Ukadike, Agu, Umuibe, and Onyemaechi areas, among others.

Mr Ben Harrison, a driver living around Awkuzu by Agu Road, said the road was in deplorable condition before the intervention by Prestige.

He thanked the House of Representatives member for making the roads in their neighbourhood passable.

Mr Ndu Onyeibe, who lives around Hitex, said that the federal lawmaker had made the area accessible through massive grading of roads linking the area.

“I know him because he graded Hitex Road and has now made it accessible. He was visiting the area during the rehabilitation.

“If others who were at the House of Representatives before him had done such things for us, our roads would have been better and easier to pass.

“He provided residents of the area a borehole at Agu Road with solar energy to power it, this is commendable.

“ If other politicians will be doing little things for us like he had done, we will be better off,” he said.

Mrs Chinyere Ikechi, a trader living at Uzomkpa Street, said that it was good that the lawmaker graded many roads around the area.

She said that the roads were minor roads, and stressed the need to give Ohanku Road face-lift, as it is the major road in the area.

Ikechi said that the Abia Government should complement the effort of Prestige by giving Ohanku face-lift, as it would  further boost accessibility in the area.

Enyimba Industrial City architectural design ready by December 2018 - Project Manager

May 2, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka

Mr Uzoma Ozurumba, the Project Manager, Enyimba Industrial City Development Company, says the architectural design will be ready by December 2018.

Ozurumba made this known in an interview with the our reporter in Aba, Abia, on Wednesday.

He said that the masterplan of the city had been completed while the compensation survey was currently ongoing, to ensure proper stakeholders’ inclusion and integration.

Ozurumba said that the compensation survey would soon be completed to pave way for the commencement of the construction of the city.

He said that the survey would ensure that the 28 communities, whose lands were included in the planned project, were adequately compensated and documented.

Ozurumba said that the speed at which some of the processes of the city’s projects were being completed, showed the commitment of the company to deliver the city fast.

He explained that though the project was a long term one, its sponsors were pursuing it vigorously to ensure its timely delivery.

He said that the realisation of the project would be a case study of quick delivery of a massive city project in Nigeria.

According to him, a Chinese company, Ruyi Investment and Development Group, a large garment product manufacturer, has shown interest in investing in the city.

He said the company’s management visited Abia recently to confirm the availability of facilities to sustain their investment in the city, adding that the company’s management would soon make their interest concrete.

The project manager said that the project was receiving unprecedented support from the state government.

He said that the company would integrate the media into the awareness creation plan of the industrial city, to enable stakeholders to follow its development.