Illegal Bunkering: Taskforce impounds tankers with 90,000 liters of diesel in Aba.

Aba  Jan. 14, 2022

By Ijendu Iheaka 

An Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Joint Taskforce (JTF) on Pipeline Vandalism, illegal bunkering and Product Adulteration, Aba Unit, Abia on Friday impounded two tankers bearing adulterated diesel.

The JTF operatives seized the tankers bearing 45, 000 liters each of adulterated diesel along Enugu - Port Harcourt Expressway in Aba in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area being conveyed to an undisclosed location.

The the drivers and occupants of the tankers escaped arrests when JTF were seeking to move them to their office abandoning the products near Tonimas Junction.

Mr Godfrey Chukwunyere, the JTF Chairman told newsmen at the scene that illegal oil bunkerers were closing their members businesses as they could not compete with the price at which the bunkerers sell their products.

He also said that the products which come from vandalized pipelines had cut them off from getting products from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) depot in Aba.

"We plead with the government of Abia State to come to our aid. We are trying our best to checkmate the activities of these illegal bunkers. 

"We are doing our best but we need government support because these people are criminals who are bent on sabotaging the Nigerian economy and taking genuine oil marketers out of business. 

"These vandals have filled the market with adulterated products that are very harmful to our people. 

“We formed this task force to checkmate the nefarious activities of illegal bunkers and make sure that none of our marketers is involved in this. 

"We also want to ensure that any of our members found to be collaborating with these vandals is delisted and reported to the relevant authorities. 

"We are happy that so far none of our members is involved in this. These people are criminals and must be stopped. We cannot fold our hands to allow them to take us out of business”, he said.

Chukwunyere said their union want the stoppage of the bunkering on Port Harcourt -Aba pipelines which deprives them of supplies from Aba NNPC depot so that they can do their businesses and pay the necessary taxes.

Chief Nwandu Anyawu, Chairman, Oil and Gas Suppliers (OGS) branch of NUPENG Aba unit, said they believed the suspects got the products around the boundary of Rivers and Abia.

He suggested that they were entering Aba to distribute them before they were caught. 

“We are calling on the governor to kindly assist us to fight and win this battle with these people because their activities are affecting everybody.

"We can't load in the Depot again. Their activities in the pipeline are killing businesses. These people sell cheaper than the NNPC price in the Depot. They break pipelines and take refined products to sell illegally”, he said.

Mr Chidiadi Achibiri, the Public Relations Officer of the OGS branch of NUPENG, Aba unit said that the issue on the ground involved marketing illegally gotten  and adulterated petroleum products.

"They have faked documents forged to enable them to move these products as if they were gotten from the Depot. 

"They are bringing these products from Rivers State but we have our people here checking them because the Depot here in Aba is no longer functioning”, he said. 

Aba will henceforth experience timely disposal of its refuse - Commissioner

Aba. Dec. 24, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Chief Sam Nwogu, Abia Commissioner for Environment has promised that Aba residents would henceforth experience timely disposal of refuse from refuse buckets in the city.

He said that the era of having refuse buckets in the city filled to overflowing and causing traffic jams would no longer be allowed in Aba.

Nwogu made the promise during an interview with Our Correspondent in Aba on Friday.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu had sacked the Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), in charge of Aba, Chief Rowland Nwakamma, his in-law for incompetence.

Ikpeazu, however gave Nwogu, the Environment Commissioner charge over ASEPA operations in managing refuse in Aba which charge had resulted in the cleaning up of the city within 48 hours.

Nwogu said that the team Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu asked him to lead has cleaned Aba up noting that the residents would celebrate their Christmas and New Year in have a clean city.

“We have cleaned up the city apart from Faulks Road area which we started work on last night but will complete this night alongside Tonimas area.

“We could not finish these areas last night because of the heavy traffic of people leaving the city but we will go back this night to finish the clearance.

“The governor asked us to take over from the former team managing Aba refuse disposal and we have been able to tidy up most parts of the city now.

“We are going back to the drawing board to come out with a more concrete plan of how we will be collecting the refuse from individual homes and shops and desilting of gutters and handling of the dumps.

“These are the areas we would want to critically look at. II want to promise you that you will not see refuse heaps left over for two or three days in Aba again”, Nwogu said

OPM opens free school in Aba for indigent pupils – General Overseer

Aba Dec. 21, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, the General Overseer, Omega Power Ministries (OPM), with headquarters in Port Harcourt, has announced the opening of a free school in Aba, Abia, to cater for indigent children in the city.

Chinyere said that the school is the second one in Abia and the 18th OPM free school in Nigeria with the rest located in Rivers, Lagos, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa and Plateau states.

Chinyere told Our Correspondent in Aba on Tuesday, that he built the first free school 10 years ago in his village, Ohanku, Ndoki, in Ukwa East Local Government Area (LGA) of Abia to ensure that indigent children have access to free education and a better life.

He noted that he also rebuilt a government secondary school in Ohanku, and turned it to a free school by paying all the students’ fees and providing for their needs.

Chinyere said that the Aba free school will take off fully in January 2022 and has provision for about 60 students who would have access to a library and computers for studies.

He said that the lucky students will also enjoy access to free books, school uniforms and sandals.

The general overseer said that the school located at No 30, Compost Road, Ogbor Hill, Aba, with double large two story buildings, will be expanded to accommodate more students as the need arises.

He also said that students who were unfortunate to have lost a parent or guardian and dropped out of school as a result, have the opportunity to join the school and complete their education.

He said that the school will host a nursery section from classes one to three and a primary section from classes one to six.

The cleric who said he has passion for the education of young people had acquired N110 million property in Port Harcourt and built a free school for children with Autism and Down Syndrome with a bus to convey them.

“We hereby invite all orphans, children of poor widows and parents that their children have stopped going to school because of lack of money, to go to the address for free admission and school uniforms.

“Our free schools are funded through the tithes and offerings of members of the church and all tribes and religions are welcomed into our free schools as usual,” he said

Stakeholders sign MOU with developer to build Aba leather, garment cluster

Aba (Abia) Sept. 16, 2021

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Key stakeholders in the planned development of Aba Leather and Garment Cluster sited at Umunneato, Obingwa LGA, on Thursday, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commence the project immediately.

Total Value Integrated Services Nig. Ltd, the clusters’ developer and the artisans who are the off-takers of the shops to be built signed the agreement in a ceremony at Hotel De’ La Paix, Aba.

The off-takers comprise the Leather and Allied Product Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEPMAAS) and Union of Tailors and Fashion Designers of Abia (UTFD).

During the event, LEPMAAS President, Mazi Okechukwu Williams said that Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu had ordered the stakeholders to commence work on the site two months ago but that it was delayed to set somethings right.

Williams who said the journey had not been easy for LEPMAAS members and the garment union members thanked God and governor Ikpeazu for making the process a reality.

“We are here today kicking off the development of leather and garment cluster, I am happy. The ball is now in our court and we should be committed to making this project successful.

“Lots of agreements have been made and today we are going to put our hands to paper to sign the final MOU.

“By signing this MOU, we are giving Integrated the power to go to site immediately just as it also gives us powers as partners”, he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Mr Cletus Mbah who represented the governor said the cluster would make the artisans and their children shop owners for life.

He said constructing the cluster would gulp over N30 billion and would have facilities such as Police post, banks, fire service post, CCTV cameras, hotels and other related services.

He promised that Ikpeazu will inaugurate the project before he leaves office in 2023 adding that the place would give the artisans opportunity to gain what they have been losing in the past.

The CEO of Total Value Integrated Services Nig. Ltd, Dr Chris Simon said the company had received approval by Ikpeazu to develop the cluster which would host 15,000 shops.

He said they have worked with the Industry Ministry to ensure that payment for shop ownership would be easy for the off-takers adding that their payment will be spread across 4 years.

He appealed to them to key into the project and ensure it is a success..

Waste management staff allegedly wastes teenager in Aba

Aba, Sept. 13, 2021

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Mr Okeugo Ugonna, a refuse disposal agent for Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) on Sunday evening allegedly killed one Master Daniel Ogbonna in Aba close to a receptacle.

An eyewitnesses, who although close to Ogbonna, did not want his name printed, said he Ogbonna is a native of Amaogwugwu Village, Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia and was just 17 years.

The incident happened near an ASEPA receptacle on Jubillee Road by Asa Road junction at about 5 : 30 pm Sunday when the young Ogbonna went to dispose refuse at the place.

This site learnt that Ogbonna, who resides at No 36 St. Michael's Road, Aba was killed allegedly by the suspect for disposing his refuse at the base of the receptacle because it was filled.

Aba residents have asked for more receptacles several times to aid proper disposal of their refuse but the call had not been heeded although the residents pay ASEPA fees at homes, offices and markets.

The short supply of receptacles for many years now in Aba had contributed to the culture of residents dumping refuse at the base of filled receptacles in the city.

The eyewitness said that the receptacles had been filled before Ogbonna got there and because that one was the only receptacle serving a large population, he did what he had to do.

“I came to Jubilee Road near the place to pick my motorcycle from a mechanic workshop when I saw the ASEPA man, called Biggy, in charge of that bucket ordering one of his men to run after the boy who just poured refuse there and left. 

“The man who Biggy sent to get the boy ran after him although the boy wasn't running because he never knew they were after him. 

"Suddenly I saw him dragging the boy along. The next thing I saw was a heavy blow that landed the boy on the asphalted road. The boy rose and fell flat without moving again.

"On seeing what he had done, the ASEPA agent tried running away before some Jubilee Road boys caught him and handed him over to Aba Central Police Station. 

On seeing what had happened, Biggy ran away too. I'm sure the police will be after him now”, he said.

A reliable Police source at the Aba Central Police Station told our Correspondent that, Okeugo Ugonna who hails from Ekeakpara Community in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia is currently in police net.

The source also said that the Police is now searching for Biggy to come and explain his role in the gruesome murder of Ogbonna.

When contacted, the Deputy General Manager, ASEPA, Aba Zone, Mr Rowland Nwakamma said he was not aware of such incident and promised to reach out to his staff in the area to get more details.

"But we did not send anybody to beat residents. If that had been our operational style, we would have killed many people. I did not send anybody to beat or kill people.  

"I wonder also if the person that you said killed the 17 year old boy is my staff because my staff closed earlier by 4 pm yesterday because of the IPOB sit-at-home. 

"I have not received such a report but now that you have given me this information, I will get in touch with my staff to know what happened”, he said.

Abia PPRO, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, when contacted, said he was not aware of the case but added “if you say that the suspect is now in Police custody, investigations will now follow”.

Thugs attack Aba South representative in ABSHA, journalists, break car windshields

Aba. Aug. 25, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Armed thugs on Wednesday attacked the Member representing Aba South in Abia House of Assembly (ABSHA) Mr Obinna Ichita and broke his SUV’s windshields at his Constituency office.

The hoodlums numbering about 30 who attacked Ichita, journalists and some of his constituents came in three hiace buses as he was concluding his Town Hall meeting with his constituents which started at noon.

However, security men whisked Ichita away from rain where he addressed his constituents from when the young men swooped in on the venue destroying hired plastic chairs participants used and chasing them away.

Their sudden swoop towards the participants who were busy seeking refuge from the rain, made the participants and journalists to scamper for safety resulting in the injury of many.

Ichita was at at No 20 Port Harcourt Road, Aba, his Constituency Office, for a Town Hall Meeting to brief his constituents on his efforts to ensure Abia government mobilized contractors to roads in the local government which have massively failed.

He said he also had moved a motion in ABSHA on July 14 to make the government in addition to ding their roads but to also remove the accumulated refuse heaps in the local government blocking their roads.

He said that even efforts of ABSHA which acknowledged his action could not move the government to act on his request which he said was justified for his constituents who are also Abia residents too.

Our Correspondent who ran into a house to escape the thugs saw them still destroying chairs picked from the venue some hours later using Machetes to break some of the chairs they took away from the venue as he was escaping.

However, efforts to reach Ichita for comments on the attack failed because his phone was shut off and calls put through to it did not go.

Earlier before the thugs scattered the crowd, Ichita had in agreement with the demands of his people given Abia government seven days ultimatum to act on their demands made through their representative.

They said that if the government failed, they would use protests to mount pressure on the government to give their local government infrastructure befitting the N200 million it receive in federal allocation monthly.

The Aba South Constituents had also sworn to ensure that about $ 56 m:Illinois the government had received from the World Bank for road construction in the state was not squandered but used to build their roads.

Young man shot dead by men in Nigerian Army Uniform in Aba

Aba,    Aug. 16, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka (08033312507)

A yet-to_be identified young man was, on Monday, shot dead at the popular Gas-Line bus stop off Enugu - Port Harcourt Expressway by persons eyewitnesses said were in military uniform.

An eyewitness who did not want his name mentioned for security purposes said the deceased was killed by men suspected to be men of the Nigerian Army.

He said the men were on patrol with three Army coloured Vans and on sighting the people coming out to the road, they stopped, shot at them and left.

"We were all out here to see how things were going as there are no vehicles to go to market. 

“Suddenly, the three Army Hilux Vans were crossing. They just stopped their vehicles, came down and opened fire. 

"Some of us didn't run until we saw them pointing guns directly at us. We were not even protesting. This is my street. I only came out to check things out. Moreover, there is no sit-at-home today. 

“What baffles me is that there was no single problem here. The boy their bullet caught on the chest died instantly as everyone ran for their dear lives before returning to see him dead. 

"There are the same security men telling residents to come out that they will guarantee our safety. 

“The same security saw residents who came out from their houses to know if they could find vehicles to go out to their businesses and decided to shoot them. What kind of country is this? 

"They shut him, entered their vans and zoomed off. I saw it with my eyes. I wasn't told. His body has been taken away by people I learnt are hisrelatives, but people made videos of it”, he said.

When Our Correspondent contacted the Capt Ilya Dauda, Army PRO for 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Abia, he said that ‘there was nothing like the Army shooting and killing anybody in Aba”.

Following further probing, he added that the army did not also receive any information on men in military uniform shooting dead a resident in Aba.

Although the IPOB’s sit-at-home order could not be reversed with their earlier notice of its suspension on Friday in Aba,, some parts of Aba experienced chaos following the menace of the notorious Aro cult boys.

The areas where the situation turned into an opportunity for the Aro cult to extort people for coming out of their houses includes, Ariaria, Faulks Road, Okigwe Road, Osusu Road, Over-Rail and Power Line areas.

Ikpeazu gives scholarship to seven secondary school students in Aba

Aba,  July 9, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia on Friday awarded scholarships to seven students of Cor Mariae Comprehensive Secondary School, Umungasi, in Aba for welcoming him to the area.

Ikpeazu who disclosed this during the inauguration of Immaculate Heart Avenue, Umungasi, Aba said he was impressed by the student’s welcome address they read to him during the event.

He said the scholarship would cover the period the seven students would be studying at the Cor Mariae Comprehensive Secondary School, Umungasi, Aba.

He said that his government was building roads in Abia that would last beyond the tenure of his administration stressing that completing the road reconstruction would enable him face others.

The governor thanked residents of the area for their patience during the years the reconstruction lasted adding that the road built with cement-pavement technology would last for fifty years

The Deputy Governor, Ude Oko-Chukwu in his speech expressed happiness at the inauguration of the road which he said was very critical to residents around it and Aba generally.

“We will continue to work and inaugurate more projects. I thank everyone who came out to welcome the governor because you are happy”, he said.

Chief Bob Ogu, Abia Works Commissioner thanked Ikpeazu for enabling the reconstruction of the Immaculate Heart Avenue which should link Ogbor Hill through a bridge.

He said the governor’s desire to have the link bridge built was being realized as the bridge’s drawing plan was ready for execution.

He also said that the road would have street lights when completed stressing that by the third week of July, the street lights would have been be fitted.

The Chairman, Landlords Association of the road, Prince Nweze, on behalf of the association, thanked Ikpeazu for reconstructing the road for the residents of Aba.

He said the reconstruction of the road confirmed Ikpeazu’s desire to make Abia a better place hence it will check the menace of hoodlums in the area.

Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Abia Information Commissioner said the roads were ongoing projects of the government of Ikpeazu who is determined to make a difference with road infrastructure in Abia.

He said parts of the infrastructure development of Ikpeazu included the remodeling of Ngwa Road market and other major roads like Omuma, Ohanku, Obohia and Ngwa Road in Aba.

“Governor Ikpeazu has passion to deliver roads that will last for fifty years.

“In the next 12 months, he will be delivering 250 kilometer roads targeted at rural communities in Abia. Ikpeazu is in deed working”, Kalu said.

Four suspects in Court for murder of two brothers in Aba

Aba,  July 7, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Four men arrested by the police in connection with the murder of Bright and Victory Chima were on Wednesday brought to an Aba High Court to answer for their alleged crimes.

Bright (9), and his brother Victory (7) were strangled to death in their father’s house at Abayi-Ogbuligba in Osisioma LGA, Abia on April 2, when their parents went out.

The men, Chigozie Ikeokwu, Amanna Temple, Chukwuebuka Nnamani and Chimezie Emmanuel were brought before Justice Teddy Eruba sitting at High Court III in Aba for arraignment.

However, the arraignment, which in law means presenting suspects in court and having them respond to questions of “guilty or not guilty” during a pre-trial session was botched.

The arraignment failed to hold because two of the men who allegedly took part in the murder of the two brothers had no lawyers to represent them legally in court.

When the matter with suit no HOS/13C/2021 was called up, Mr Chima Esom and Chidi Nwachukwu, announced appearances for Chimezie Emmanuel, and Chukwuebuka Nnamani, third and fourth respondents.

However, when the Judge inquired, the first and second defendant confirmed that they had no lawyer to represent them.

Eruba therefore told the prosecution led by a Senior State Counsel, Ms Uloaku Nwogu, and the defence lawyers representing the fourth respondent to take a date for a short adjournment.

Eruba said such a serious criminal case could not go on without the defendants having lawyers defending them.

Esom and Nwachukwu, the third and fourth defendants’ lawyers and the prosecution, however settled for August 4, 2021.

But before the judge ruled, the fourth defendant’s lawyer pleaded with the judge to move the suspects who were coming to court from state CID facility in Umuahia to Aba Correctional Centre.

He said this would reduce cost of moving them to court in Aba and to also give the lawyers easy access to their clients.

Eruba, after hearing from the prosecution lawyer, Nwogu who had no objection to the appeal, ordered the defendants to be transferred to Aba Correctional Centre.

Justice Eruba, further adjourned the case to August 4, for continuation of pre-trial.

He, however urged the first and second defendants to get themselves lawyers to defend them or risk having to remain in detention for a long time

Community lauds Apostle Chinyere’s investment in children’s future

Aba July 3, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka

Ikwuorie Community in Ohanku, Ndoki in Ukwa East LGA of Abia has lauded Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere’s investment in their children’s future through a scholarship scheme Chinyere instituted for them.

Chief Reginald Ogudu, the community leader, who spoke to Our Correspondent on Saturday in Ikwuorie, expressed his community’s gratitude to Chinyere for his selfless services.

Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere, is the  General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries (OPM) in Port Harcourt and a son of Ikwuorie community.

Ogudu said that the general overseers’ services to God and mankind has made lives of people around him in Ohanku and elsewhere better and urged him to continue the good work.

He thanked the pastor for reconstructing the Ikwuorie Comprehensive Secondary School, Ohanku and for awarding scholarship to its students from Junior to Senior Secondary School levels.

Chibuike Nwachi, a priest with the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Ikwuorie, was also elated by the OPM pastor’s desire to help save the future of the community’s children.

“He has established a free Nursery / Primary School in our community and awarded scholarships to our indigent students to study in Turkey, Poland, and United States of America.

“Chibuzo has also secured international jobs for more than 8 Ohanku youths and no fewer than 25 others are now at the OPM free skills acquisition centre to acquire different skills.

“We are very grateful to God for sending such a man to us and pray God to bless and multiply his source and to give him the strength and grace to do more for God and humanity”, he said.

Chinyere said he acted on a call from the principal of the secondary school that the government was about closing it down because the students who could not pay their fees were no longer attending school.

“I asked them if 50 children go back to school will they still close down the school, they said if they see 50 children they will no longer close down the school.

“I then decided to give every student of the school scholarship from their first year in junior secondary to their last year in senior secondary school education because many of them could not pay school fees”, he said.

Our blog reports that Chinyere has renovated the dilapidated secondary school, built additional structures including NYSC Quarters and donated lockers for the school and a generating set for corps members posted to the school.

Chinyere’s intervention in the school also saved it from being delisted as a West African Examination Council’s exams centre.

Two brothers murdered by suspected hired killers, buried in Imo.

Aba, June 26, 2021 

By Ijendu Iheaka 

Two brothers, Bright and Victory Chima strangled to death in their father’s residence in Aba, Abia were on Saturday buried amidst wailings at  Umungwa, Obowo LGA, Imo.

 

During the funeral service at Umungwa village, Evang. Christian Ofoegbu of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, St Stephens Parish Church, Umungwa warned that God's judgement would come upon evil-doers soon.

 

He said that although the evil machinations of men's evil heart had taken the two children from their parents, they are with God in his bosom in Heaven.

 

Ofoegbu said only men who repented of their sins and became like children who know not evil would be with God after death in Heaven.

 

The church prayed that the killers of Bright and Victory will be rewarded by God accordingly.

 

Their father, Chima Osuagwu told Our Correspondent that the death of his sons was suspected to have been planned and funded by one of his own kinsmen, Chimezie Ojukwu alias designer.

 

He said Ojukwu was arrested after the killers of his sons identified Ojukwu as their sponsor and their hard drug supplier.

 

He said that Ojukwu had visited his shop at Ariaria International market and threatened to “consume” his children since his plans to kill him (Chima) had been failing.

 

He said that Ojukwu also visited his shop in his absence on the day his children were killed and when he saw him returning, he ran off exclaiming that a Wizard had arrived.

 

He said that he expected the government of Abia to could have intervened in the matter to ensure justice for him and his family but  has not had any help from them.

 

Osuagwu said when he was asked to do the autopsy of the children which cost him about N500, 000 he was left alone to foot the bills with his family alone.

 

“The government should have helped me in that area or ask the suspects to do it.

 

“A situation like this one leaves me with painful feelings for myself, family and poor Nigerians who may be involved in cases requiring autopsy to prove cause of death.

 

“It means that if such a person cannot afford the cost of the autopsy, the culprit would be made to go free and continue in his wickedness”, he said.

 

Osuagwu begged governments to ensure they cover the cost of autopsy for victims of killings to ensure justice is given to all parties and to keep the society stable.

 

Bright Chima (7) and Victory Chima (9) were strangled to death by suspected hired killers in their father's residence at Abayi Ogbuligba, Osisioma LGA, Abia on Good Friday, April 2, 2021. 

 

The unfortunate incident happened after their parents had gone to the market leaving them at home.