Crime

Father Asks for Help Over 4 Missing Children

By Web News 404

A father of four children, Chimaobi Agah, has cried out over his four children who had been missing since Monday morning and is pleading with the Abia State Government and the state police command to come to their rescue.

Agah, 43 years from Amasiri in Ebonyi State, who lives in Umuagua Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA, Abia State, said his four children, Chinweotiti Chimaobi (seven, female), Nmesomachi Chimaobi (seven, female), Testimony Chimaobi (four, male) and Godswill Chimaobi (two, male), left home for their school, Great Ambassadors College, Nkwoegwu, also in Umuahia North on Monday, November 27 but had not been seen since then.

He said he travelled to Enugu State when his wife prepared the children for school and hired a tricycle driver within their area to convey them to school.

According to him, when the four children were not at home at the end of the day, he and his wife became apprehensive and started looking out for them. He said they raised an alarm over the disappearance of the four children suspected to have been abducted by the tricycle rider engaged to convey them to school.

According to Agah, the incident has shattered his family as they have yet to recover from the trauma nor live a normal life since the incident.

“She paid a Keke (tricycle) rider to take them to school. In the afternoon, when the school was supposed to dismiss, they did not return home, and my wife went to their school to look for them.

“She was told by the school authorities that they did not come to school at all. My wife called me and I returned to Umuahia on Tuesday morning. I went to the school and was told the same story.

“So, I went to the police and reported it. They gave me four policemen and we searched for them but without success. They asked me to come back the next day and make a statement. After that, they told me to go to a radio station and make an announcement. I have done all these and till now, I have not seen them.

“The public should please help me. God should please forgive my sins. I know I’m a sinner but I believe Jesus died for sinners like me. Please, I need my four children rescued,” he cried out.

Agha said he reported to the police and as of Sunday, the children had yet to be seen and pleaded with the state government and the police to assist in locating and saving the children, stating, “I am feeling bored. Losing four children is not easy. Let the Abia State Government and the police help us”.

He noted that the police asked him to come to their office on Sunday.

Acknowledging the report, the Abia State Police Command Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, in a statement Sunday said, “On 28/11/2023, at about 1530 hrs, Mr. Chimaobi Agha and his wife, Mrs Chimaobi Oluchi, residents of Umuagu (Ibeku, Umuahia North LGA), visited Ohuhu Police Divisional headquarters to report an incident.

“According to their account, on Monday, 27/11/2023, at 0730 hrs, Mrs Chimaobi Oluchi escorted their four children identified as follows: Chinweotiti Chimaobi (7 yrs old, female), Nmesomachi Chimaobi (7 yrs old, female), Testimony Chimaobi (4 yrs old, male) and Godswill Chimaobi (2 yrs old, male).

“The children’s mother escorted them to the junction of her street to board an unknown tricycle destined for Great Ambassadors College, Ukaiuga Nkwoegwu, Ohuhu, in Umuahia North LGA.

“No one escorted or went with them, considering that the eldest is 7 years old and the tricyclist is unknown. Unfortunately, at the end of the school day, the children did not return home as anticipated.

“The police initiated an investigation into the whereabouts of the missing children. Further investigation has shown that the children were not present in school on the specified date, and the investigation to trace the missing children is ongoing.

“We urge anyone with information that could aid in locating them to promptly report to the nearest police station.”

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Police Nab Woman for Alleged Baby Theft

By Web News 409

A 28-year-old woman, Adaeze Lawrence, is currently in the custody of the Abia State Police Command for allegedly stealing her friend’s one month and two days old baby boy.

It was gathered that Lawrence gained the trust of the baby’s mother, Onyinyechi Owujie, and became her friend before she committed the crime.

The suspect, a hair stylist, was said to be a schoolmate of Owujie’s elder sister through whom she gained access to her (Owujie).

She reportedly requested that they celebrated the baby’s birth and absconded with the boy during the celebration.

The case was reported to the police following which she was arrested in her hideout.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Chioma Chinaka, in a statement, said credible intelligence led to the suspect’s arrest on Monday.

The statement read, “On August 14, 2023, around 4pm, the Abia State Police Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Aba, received credible information and effectively apprehended one Adaeze Lawrence of Amaogbonna Road, off Osisikakwu Street in Aba.

“She was found in possession of a baby boy who is one month and two days old.

“During interrogation, the accused confessed to abducting the child from Onyinyechi Owujie’s residence situated at 5, Cricke Road, off Nigeria Brewery, Aba.

“Investigation revealed that the suspect and the baby’s mother’s elder sister were schoolmates. The suspect took advantage of this relationship to gain the baby’s mother’s trust.

“The suspect, under the pretence of visiting her friend, requested to celebrate the new baby’s birth. On their celebration outing, she absconded with the baby.”

The statement further revealed that the suspect earlier denied abducting the child, claiming that he was hers, but after a medical report proved that she was not the biological mother, she confessed to the crime.

“Upon the suspect’s arrest, Adaeze Lawrence denied the crime, but medical examinations from the police clinic disproved her claims, leading to her confession. The child’s biological mother identified the baby, confirming the abduction on August 6, 2023,” the statement added.

Chinaka said an investigation was ongoing on the case. She also advised members of the public to be protective of their children and to know their whereabouts, especially when in a public place.

“The public is advised to maintain constant supervision of children and exercise caution when strangers take an interest in their children, especially in public places,” she said.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Economy

Govs Warn Traders against Rejecting Old Naira Notes

By Web News 512

The Ekiti State Government has warned citizens of their states not to reject the old naira notes as means of transaction in line with the Supreme Court judgement otherwise they would be arrested and face prosecution.

The Abia State Government also threatened to sanction anyone found rejecting the old notes.

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, gave the warning in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, on Saturday.

Oyebanji said, “Banks are to make the naira notes available in all their branches and pay points and to all traders, business owners, service providers, okada riders, drivers, filling stations, gas plants, supermarkets, schools, hospitals, POS operators, to start accepting the old notes forthwith.

“To do otherwise would amount to defying the ruling of the highest court in the country and thwarting government efforts at reducing the hardship of the people. The government will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute business owners found rejecting the old naira notes.

 “This is an appeal to all residents of Ekiti State to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court which provides a reprieve for the people by extending the validity date of the old naira notes till December 31st.”

Similarly, the Abia State Government, in a statement on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chris Ezem, threatened to sanction any person, group, or business entity that rejects the old 500 and 1,000 naira notes for business transactions.

Ezem stated that the decision was in line with the Supreme Court ruling extending the validity of the old 200, 500 and 1000 naira notes as legal tender to December 31.

He stated, “Abia State Government advises Abia residents to feel free to carry out their financial transactions with the old naira notes alongside the new notes as stipulated. Any individual, group or business entity that rejects the old notes will be contravening the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and stands the risk of facing sanctions.”

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State government has called on business operators, banks, traders, and transporters in the state to obey the Supreme Court ruling directing that the old notes circulate with the new notes till the stipulated date.

This was announced in a statement by the state Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Strategy, Ayibaina Duba, on Saturday.

He said the government came up with the 24 hours ultimatum after some residents of the state capital, Yenagoa, staged a peaceful protest against the rejection of the old N1,000 and N500 notes by businesses, banks, filling stations, eateries, traders and transporters in the state.

Duba said, “The government, therefore, urges business operators in the state, particularly banks, traders, and keke (tricycle) to take into consideration the Supreme Court ruling in order to reduce the pains of people of the state.

“While the state government is not against the naira redesign policy of the CBN or the Federal Government, it is however not comfortable with the method of its implementation that has resulted in further hardship on people of the state and, indeed, the country.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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News

Body Part Harvesting: Mob Vandalizes Mortuary

By Web News 588

An angry mob has destroyed a mortuary at Ndiolumbe, Isiala Ngwa council area of Abia State, over the alleged harvest of body parts.
The mortuary attendants were said to have fled the facility on sighting the irate youths.
The mob burnt ambulances and destroyed the facility, popularly known as Prince O Mortuary, leaving dead bodies scattered all over the premises

Sources told newsmen that the Ndiolumbe community has been accusing the Prince O Mortuary attendants of harvesting body parts and selling them to ritualists.
Following the destruction of the mortuary, relations of the dead stormed the area to convey the remains of their loved ones to other mortuaries located in the community.

A mortuary owner in the area who pleaded anonymity confirmed that over 50 corpses from the demolished Mortuary have been deposited at his mortuary by their relatives.
“The mortuary has always been accused of harvesting dead body parts and selling them to ritualists. There have been too many stories about Prince O mortuary. So, the youths of Ndiolumbe community decided to destroy the mortuary and burn the ambulances. It was an awful sight as corpses were scattered everywhere. Nobody could stand the odour oozing from the mortuary,” a resident of the community told newsmen.

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Health

Doctors Barricade Abia Govt House, Seek Rescue of Kidnapped Colleague

By Web News 602

Doctors in Abia State, Friday barricaded the major entrance gate to the Government House Umuahia, demanding the immediate release of their Kidnapped colleague, Professor Uwadinachi Iweha. Professor Iweha was Kidnapped on Sunday, June 6, 2022, inside his dark-blue Highland Jeep while driving out of his house at Umuokpara in Umuahia South Local Government Area.

The doctors carried placards with various inscriptions such as:” Doctors’ lives matter”, “Dr. Iweha should be released to his family”, and “ Doctors have the right to live”, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the doctors during the peaceful protest, Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, NMA, Abia State chapter, Dr. Chimezie Okwuonu, said that the abduction of the medical doctor had thrown the medical community in the state into confusion and apprehension. He expressed concern that since the sad incident on Sunday, every effort made towards securing his release from the captors had not yielded any fruit.

The doctors sought the Government’s urgent intervention to rescue their Kidnapped colleague while decrying the rate of abductions in the country.

The NMA Chairman threatened that if after 48 hours their Kidnapped member were not released, doctors across the state might have no other option than to down tools as their safety could no longer be guaranteed in the state.

Dr. Iweha was kidnapped exactly two weeks after the Prelate of Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Samuel Uche and two other clerics traveling with him were abducted by unknown gunmen suspected to be herders around the Lokpa axis of Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway. The Prelate who was released two days later after a ransom of N100 million was paid, alleged that his captors were Fulani herdsmen.

Meanwhile, the NMA Chairman later read a communiqué issued at the end of an emergency general meeting of the medical body held at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia before the protest. According to the communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman, Dr. Okwuonu, and the Secretary, Dr. Robinson Ugwuanyi, NMA said it had worked tirelessly but without success to secure the release of Prof. Iweha.

It read in part:” That up till today 10th June 2022, Prof Iweha has not been released from the kidnappers’ den.

“That this is traumatic, depressing, dehumanising and has instilled a lot of fear within the medical community whose primary objective is to save the life of Abians from the medical point of view.

“With the current state of fear caused by the kidnap and detention of our colleague, safety cannot be guaranteed to the Medical Doctors in Abia State and it will be difficult to attend to our normal duties since no one knows who will be the next victim.”

“We demand immediate release of Prof Uwadinachi Iweha from the captivity of the kidnappers.

“If Prof Iweha is not released in 48 hours, members of the Nigerian Medical Association may be forced to down tools as our security in the performance of our usual duties is not guaranteed.

“This communiqué serves as a notice for the aforementioned action.”

The union, however, called for intensified prayers for the release of its abducted member.

Responding, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu assured the doctors that efforts were being intensified to secure the release of their Kidnapped colleague.

Ikpeazu who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Okey Ahaiwe, said that the Government would stop at nothing in ensuring total security of lives and property across the state.

Vanguard

News Politics

Ex-Abia Varsity VC Clinches PDP Gov Ticket

By Web News 483

The immediate past Vice-Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu, Professor Uche Ikonne, has emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate from the primary conducted in Abia.

Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Governor Ayodele Fayose, said Prof. Ikonne polled 468 votes to defeat the closest rival, Mayor Lucky Igbokwe, who polled 45 votes, and Ezinwanyi Jonah, who polled five votes.

Out of the 11 aspirants, only three appeared for the primary as the rest eight were said to have withdrawn from the race.

Meanwhile, some of the aspirants that withdrew, including a former PDP state chairman, Senator Emma Nwaka, and Desmond Anyaso said they withdrew from the race which they said was inconsistent with acceptable standards.

“This decision is taken timely to enable me completely dissociate myself from a process that is fraught with irregularities, illegalities, and undemocratic acts. As a firm believer and disciple of the tenets of democracy, it would be injurious to my reputation, my aspiration, and the collective hope of those who believe in me if I go ahead and participate in a primary election that is most undemocratic, and at best detrimental to the progress and development of Abia State,” Desmond said.

Senator Nwaka also said he withdrew from the race which he said did not properly follow the democratic process, starting from the selection of the three delegates, even as forms for the delegates were not sold.

Punch/Taiwo Akinola

News

Court Fixes November 2 For Nnamdi Kanu’s N5bn Suit Against FG

By Web News 830

The Abia State High Court has fixed November 2 for the hearing of fundamental rights suit filed by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Nnamdi Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, made this known in a press statement titled, ‘Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Fundamental Rights suit to be heard on 2nd November 2021’, on Thursday.

The lawyer had, on August 27, 2021, filed the case, demanding that the Federal Government return the secessionist to Kenya where he was “abducted”.

He also demanded N5 billion from the government over alleged gross violation of Kanu’s fundamental rights.

At the last hearing of this matter on September 21, 2021, the vacation judge had made a ruling transferring the case to the Chief Judge of Abia State High Court for assignment.

The statement read, “For the information of the general public, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Fundamental Rights suit pending before the High Court of Abia State has been assigned and set down for hearing on 2nd November 2021.

“On this date, the Nigerian government and its Attorney-General will be expected to move their extant application for extension of time to file their defence to the suit and my opposition to the application.

“It is my intention to, on the spot, move for a Ruling on their application for extension of time, so that the case can proceed quickly to the next level, which is expected to be a definitive hearing on the substantive matter.

“Fundamental Rights suits are intended to be concluded quickly, especially in situations such as this where my Client, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Applicant is currently incarcerated.”

Adewumi Faniran/Everydaynewsngr

News

National Conference: Stakeholders Want Journalists To Operate More Efficiently

By Web News 641

The Seventh National Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ, has opened in Umahia,  Abia State with a call on Journalists across the Country to set standards for the profession and operate strictly within the professional framework.

Speakers at the official opening of the delegates conference were unanimous in their call on Journalists as members of the fourth estate of the realm to effectively perform their roles as the society’s watchdog.

Presenting a paper on the theme, “The Role of the Media in times of National Renewal, The Managing Consultant, True Vision Newspapers, Gavinta and Associate, Abuja, Mr Emma Agu noted that Journalists must live above board in discharging their duties to enable them to hold the governments at all levels accountable to Nigerians.

Mr Agu added that, Journalists needed to be true to their professional ethics there must be entry qualification and create a code of conduct and Sanctions through designated regulatory bodies necessary for the operations of the Journalism.

The Veteran Journalist Called for a platform that would engage stakeholders constructively to ensure oneness, equity and balance in governance thereby reducing disharmony and agitations in the nation. 

The Chairman of the Occasion who is the Chief Executive Officer of Reagan Groups, Mr Ochiagba Reagan Ufomba in his remarks, urged Journalists to Always stand by truth and Justice even if it means standing alone.

A Veteran Journalist and the Chairman Isuikwuato Traditional Rulers Advisory Council, His Royal Highness, Eze Uwadiegwu Ogbonaya appealed to members of the pen profession to work together towards the Success of the Journalism Profession.

Ealiers the National President of NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo said the Union would take a critical look at the issues of quackery, fake media practitioners, abuse of journalists by politicians and poor remuneration.

Chief Iziguzo also noted that the Union would no longer accept the abuse of constitution and court processes by desperate members of the Union hence the need for immediate review of the NUJ constitution after the Election.

Modupeola Sobukonla

  
 

Lifestyle

IPC decries kidnap of FRCN Female Reporter

By Web News 946

Press Release

The International Press has expressed dismay over the kidnap of Chinenye Iwuoha a female presenter with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria’s, (FRCN) Pacesetter FM, Umuahia, Abia State.

Mrs. Iwuoha was kidnapped by gunmen near the popular Amakanma Estate in the Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state around 7pm on Monday according to a report by The Punch Newspapers dated May 6, 2020.

It was also gathered that the gunmen shot at the driver of the vehicle conveying the general manager and the other employees before abducting Iwuoha and making away with their valuables.

The gunmen who had since made contact with the station are demanding N20m as ransom for the release of the presenter.

In a statement, Mr Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, IPC condemned the kidnap of the female journalist noting that the pattern of using journalists as bargaining chips by kidnappers is unacceptable.

“The rising dangers faced by journalists is leading to greater levels of concern and immediate action needs to be taken to guarantee their safety and hold accountable those who endanger them” he said.

He called on the commissioner of Police of the state to leave no stone unturned to secure the release of the journalist and ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

Stella Nwofia

Program Manager

Tel: 234-(0)8020359629, 08063810424

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