Crime

President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agents to go after the killers of five soldiers in Aba, Abia State and those behind the call for sit-at-home in South-East.

Tinubu said on no account should anyone, under any guise, have the audacity to kill agents of the state.
This was contained in a statement on Saturday night.

The President, who was reacting to the murder of five soldiers in Aba on Thursday, May 30, by elements suspected to be members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, warned that the Federal Government will come down heavily against those who have made it a habit to needlessly attack officers and men of our armed forces.

The statement reads: “I have received yet another disheartening news of the killing of five soldiers by suspected militants of the proscribed terrorist organization, IPOB.

“The slain soldiers were on peacekeeping duty in Aba, Abia State on Thursday when they were murdered, just two months after a similar tragic incident happened in Okuama in Delta state.

“These unwarranted barbaric and evil acts stand condemned and should never be condoned and tolerated in our country.

“Our soldiers and the police have the onerous duty to protect all of us from aggressors and non-state actors. Hundreds of them have paid the ultimate price in fulfilment of their duty, while some have experienced the indignity of being manhandled by the people they protect.

“They surely do not deserve the mindless attacks by unruly societal elements.

“The federal government will come down heavily against those who have made it a habit to attack the officers and men of our armed forces needlessly.

“I want to make it clear that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the armed forces can crush violent non-state actors, making our communities unsafe.

“I urge security agencies not only to fish out the masterminds and perpetrators of the Aba attack but also those calling on people to stay at home. Their action is nothing but a treasonable offence.

“The fact that the security forces exercise necessary restraints should not be mistaken for weakness.
“We are working to build a peaceful and harmonious society, but nobody should be under any illusion that the government will not act appropriately when the lives of our officers and men are wantonly taken.

“While my condolences go to the families of the five slain soldiers, their colleagues and the leadership of our armed forces, I urge other men and women on peacekeeping duty not to be discouraged by the unfortunate incident in Aba.”

Vanguard/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has ordered a painstaking investigation into the death of a hotel manager in Abia State, Achimugu Etubi.

Some personnel of the Nigerian Army were said to have brutally tortured Etubi, which resulted in his death.

This was after a Nigerian Air Force cadet, Emmanuel Onyemereche, reportedly drowned in the hotel’s swimming pool.

The Army, in a statement on Sunday by Director Army Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, said the service was concerned about the allegations reported in the news against its men.

He added that as a result, the Chief of Army Staff directed an investigation into the incident to unravel the circumstances surrounding Etubi’s death.

The statement read, “The Nigerian Army is deeply concerned by the alleged unprofessional conduct of some of its personnel in the tragic death of a hotel manager in Umuahia, Abia State, as reported in some online media.

“In response to this unfortunate incident, the Chief of Army Staff has promptly ordered a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the facts and bring to book, anyone found culpable.”

While offering condolences to the families of the deceased, Onyema assured them that justice would be served in the matter.

 “The NA extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased manager,  Achimugu  Etubi, and the Nigerian Air Force Officer Cadet Emmanuel Onyemereche and assure the public that every effort will be made to ensure that justice is served.

“The Army is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline, and, therefore, any personnel found culpable of wrongdoing will face appropriate legal sanctions.

“The Nigerian Army is resolute in its pursuit of truth and justice, and we will keep the public informed about the investigation.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

By Omolola Ameen

The Abia Police Command says it has rescued four missing children allegedly stolen in Umuahia.

Public Relations Officer of Police in Abia state, Maureen Chinaka in a statement says one of the parents had earlier reported the alleged abduction by an unidentified tenant to the police on December 16.

The children according to the Police are between three and six years old and are of different parents.

She said that two of the children were rescued on the 22nd of December while another two were rescued on Sunday.

The spokesperson also said one Ifeoma Abonyi, a 35-year-old female was also apprehended in Asaba, Delta State, who had been identified by tenant to be responsible for the abduction of the four children.

According to her, three other persons suspected to be complicit in the crime are still at large.

Meanwhile, an investigation is ongoing to determine the real status of six other children who were found in the custody of the arrested suspects.

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Labour

The Abia State Government says it has discovered 2,300 ghosts in its payroll system and weeded them out, thus saving over N220m on monthly wage bill.

The state said the ghost workers were detected following ongoing verification of civil servants in the state.

Abia State Accountant General, Deaconess Njum Onyemenam, stated this in Umuahia, the state capital.

Onyemenam, who spoke after a meeting with the state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, said that the verification exercise was still ongoing.

“So far, we have been able to save N220m from the ongoing verification of workers in the state, local governments and pensioners.

“Not less than 2,300 ghost workers have been weeded out from the payroll, using the unified payment system and we hope to still identify more as we continue with the exercise,” the accountant general said.

She reiterated the governor’s directive last week that workers would be paid the arrears of April salaries left behind by the immediate-past administration as well as June pensions to retirees.

Onyemenam also disclosed that local government workers, who did not get June salaries due to their failure to submit their verified payment schedule, will receive their salaries this week.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

The Independent National Electoral Commission has suspended further collation of governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.

This was made known in a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye on Monday.

It will be recalled that INEC’s office in Obingwa Local Government Area in Abia State was invaded by thugs on Sunday, March 19, 2023, and its officials were held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area.

Similarly, reports from Enugu State called for a review of the results of the governorship election from the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East.

According to Okoye, the entire process would be reviewed before it is concluded.

The statement read in part, “The Commission met today, Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday 18th March 2023.

“Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.

“Consequently, the Commission hereby suspends the collation of results in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Enugu State which are yet to be collated.

“A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.

“We appeal for the understanding and patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected States.”

According to Okoye, the entire process would be reviewed before it is concluded.

The statement read in part, “The Commission met today, Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday 18th March 2023.

“Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu states.

“Consequently, the Commission hereby suspends the collation of results in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Enugu State which are yet to be collated.

“A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.

“We appeal for the understanding and patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected States.”

Punch/Adebukola Aluko

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Lifestyle

About two months after her demise, the remains of late gospel singer, Osinachi Nwachukwu have arrived for interment in Abia State.

The singer’s body was received in her hometown in Amakpoke Umuaku community, Abia around 12:00pm.

Osinachi, who sang the popular song ‘Ekwueme’ died on April 8, 2022.

The Nation