Crime

We will track down killers of Chinese National in Ebonyi- Police

By Web News 401

Police in Ebonyi vowed on Monday that they would track down gunmen who attacked a mining site close to the state’s border with Benue on Saturday.

The assailants shot sporadically at workers in the process of which a Chinese and a policeman sustained gunshot injuries.

The Chinese later died in hospital.

The mining site is located at Otam Nwogba village in Izzi local government area of Ebonyi.

Police spokesman, SP Chris Anyanwu, stated on Monday at Abakaliki that the gunmen besieged the area and shot sporadically at the security men on duty at the company.

“One of the policemen on duty sustained serious bullet injuries and is still receiving treatment,’’ he stated.

Anyanwu urged members of the public to join hands in fishing out the miscreants by giving prompt and reliable information concerning their identities and or location to the police.

Net/Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Politics

(UPDATED)President Buhari in Ebonyi, Inaugurates Projects

By Web News 559

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in Ebonyi state for a two-day working visit.

The Nigerian Airforce Helicopter with registration number 5N FGI carrying President Buhari landed at the residence of Governor David Umahi in Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area at exactly 11:07am.

He was received on arrival by Governor Umahi alongside the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Chief Francis Nwifuru and some members of the Elders Council.

Meanwhile, the president has inaugurated the 5 kilometres dual carriage airport road and the airport’s Presidential Lounge, Onueke, ebonyi state.

He also inaugurated a flyover at King David University of Medical Sciences Uburu and dualized Uburu – Mpu road.

The president who is on a two-day official visit to the state is accompanied by Governor of the state, David Umahi , among other top government officials

Other projects to be inaugurated by the president while in Abakaliki include new Government House, Centenary City and reconstructed St. Margaret Umahi International Market complex, Abakaliki.

The president will also inaugurate the Aisha Buhari Wife of Governor’s Office Complex, Akanu Ibiam Lodge, new Governor’s Lodge, and Ebonyi House.

Ridwan Fasasi

Judiciary

Defection: Appeal Court Dismisses Suit Against Umahi

By Web News 513

The Appeal Court sitting in Enugu has dismissed the suit seeking the sack of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi and his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe from Office for defection.

The suit filed by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ebonyi State, in the 2019 Governorship election, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji and his Deputy, Chief Justin Ogbodo Mbam, demanded the Court to declare the seats of Governor David Nweze Umahi and his Deputy, Dr Kelechi Igwe vacant on account of their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the APC.

Recall that on Tuesday, February 28, 2022, the Ebonyi State High Court sitting in Abakaliki, struck out the same suit and awarded five hundred thousand naira as damages against the plaintiff.

Governor Umahi and his deputy had in November 2020 defected to the All Progressive Congress(APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

FRCN Abuja

Crime

Police Intercept 753 GPMG Ammunition in Abakaliki

By Web News 880

The Nigeria Police has intercepted 753 GPMG ammunition in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

This is contained in a Press Release by Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Frank Mba.

In reply, please quote;

Ref No. CZ.5300/FPRD/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.4/6

Date: 2nd May, 2021

The Director of News
…………………………….

POLICE INTERCEPT 753 GPMG AMMUNITION IN ABAKALIKI

PRESS RELEASE

• Recover 2 AK47 Rifles, 5 Pump Action Guns, 6 Pistols, others, from Onueke Commercial Bank Robbers

The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to the Ebonyi State Police Command have intercepted 753 live ammunition of General-Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) concealed in a sac being transported in a commercial vehicle from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State to Umuahia in Abia State. The intelligence-driven covert operation, which led to the interception and recovery of the deadly ammunition, is part of efforts by the Force to identify and crack down on criminal networks and supply chains for weapons and ammunition in and around the country. Comprehensive investigations aimed at bringing to book all persons linked to the crime are ongoing.

Similarly, following investigations into the foiled bank robbery on the Onueke branch of a commercial bank in Ebonyi State which occurred on Tuesday, 27th April, ​2021; Police operatives led by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, on 29th April, 2021, stormed the criminal hideout of suspects indicted in the investigations located at Oriuzo village in Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The suspects on sighting the Police squad, opened fire on them. The Police team engaged them gallantly and professionally. At the end, three (3) members of the gang including two (2) male and one (1) female met their waterloo following bullet injuries sustained during the exchange of gunfire. Other suspects fled in different directions.

Two (2) Ak47 riffles, five (5) pump action guns, six (6) pistols, fifty (50) Ak47 ammunition, one hundred and twenty-six (126) cartridges, Jack knives, cutlasses, and a 40-page notebook containing inventories of ammunition purchased by the gang were recovered. A Honda Pilot Jeep with Reg No. ABJ 163 NV used for the foiled bank robbery was also recovered by the Police Team.

Unrelenting in their quest to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Police team traced the suspects to a shrine where the robbers usually go for mystical powers before embarking on their robbery operations. Two (2) of the suspects were eventually arrested from the supposedly safe haven – the shrine, which led to the arrest of additional three (3) members of the gang. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the gang and their spiritual godfather – the chief priest of the shrine.

The Inspector General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc (+), NPM, fdc, while commending the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Police Command, CP Aliyu Garba, psc (+) and officers of the command, for excellently harnessing intelligence to nip the crimes in the bud, assured citizens of the renewed commitment of the Force to improving public safety and combating all forms of violent crimes across the land.

CP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA

Crime

Gunmen Strike at Ebonyi Police Station

By Web News 739

Abomege Police Station in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has been attacked by suspected bandits with a police officer critically injured.

An Eyewitness, who pleaded to be anonymous, told Radio Nigeria that the attack occurred in the night.

He explained that police officers at the station repelled the attackers as they neither gained entry into the premises nor set the station ablaze.

Efforts to get the reaction of the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs Loveth Oda was not successful as calls to her were not answered.

Suspected bandits have been attacking police stations in Ebonyi State since late last year, claiming the lives of many police officers and setting some stations ablaze.

Amechi Kingsley

 

Crime

Suspected Herdsmen Invade Ebonyi Communities, Kill Many, Burn Houses, Cars

By Web News 923

Many residents of Egedegede, Obegu and Amuzu communities in the Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, were on Monday evening, massacred by suspected herdsmen, who invaded their communities.

There are conflicting figures on the casualties in the killings, as of the time of filing this report. While a resident of the community, who did not want his name in print, said about 18 persons were killed by the herdsmen, another resident said 10 persons were killed.

The resident said,“We are mourning, we are in serious mourning since late Monday. Herdsmen invaded our communities and massacred our people. As we speak, 18 persons were slaughtered like animals. They matcheted many of our people, burnt vehicles, motorcycles and looted our properties.”

He said among those killed was a Priest in the Methodist Church, whose car was equally burnt to ashes.

Chairman of Ishielu local Government Area, Sunday Eze; and the Commissioner for Business Development in the state, Stephen Odo, who hail from the local government, led a team of security agents to the communities and condoled the families of those killed in the invasion, on Tuesday.

They assured the people of that government would investigate the invasion.

Punch

Transportation

NURTW Clashes in Ebonyi Leave 7 Dead

By Web News 680

Violent clash among members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) at Effium Motor Park in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State has left 7 dead, with several others sustaining injuries, on Saturday.

Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Abakaliki, said a special security team has been dispatched to the area while the injured have been taken to a hospital and suspects arrested.

Ebonyi State Government banned the activities of National Union of Road Transport Workers at the Park, following the development.

The Commissioner for Internal Security, Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Stanley Okoroemegha, who announced the ban, blamed politicians from the area for the crisis.

He dismissed reports on social media that the attack was masterminded by members of Igbo separatist group the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB

FRCN Abuja

Transportation

Ebonyi Bus Plunge: FRSC Confirms 14 Corpses

By Web News 796

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi has confirmed the retrieval of 14 corpses from the Akeze-Ukwu river after a Mercedes Benz 608 model bus plunged into it on Friday evening.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bus was conveying members of a particular church who attended their pastor’s burial and were returning to Enugu when the incident occurred.

The bus driver was said to have lost control of the vehicle while trying to overtake an articulated vehicle on the bridge but five victims were rescued unconscious on Friday.

Mrs Stella Uchegbu, FRSC Sector Commander in Ebonyi, said the bus had been retrieved with 14 persons aboard.

“Seven males and seven females, all adults were inside the vehicle all and they were all dead.

“Their corpses have been deposited at the Mater Misericordae Hospital, Afikpo, but both professional divers from Port Harcourt and the local ones are still searching for more victims,” she said.

Uchegbu said that with five persons rescued on Friday and 14 corpses retrieved on Saturday, it was clear that there more victims still missing.

“This sums to 19 recovered persons as against the expected 32 passengers on board the bus.

“The FRSC personnel are still on ground, maintaining free flow of traffic with the road cordoned to motorists since Friday,” she said.

Chief Onyebuchi Ogbadu, Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, disclosed that the state government hired divers from Rivers and Cross River to assist in the rescue efforts.

“The divers located the bus inside the river, pushed it to enable the crane pull it from the river,” he said.

Sources revealed that the driver was one of the persons rescued on Friday and he disclosed when he regained consciousness that 32 persons were inside the bus.

“The driver said he managed to dive from the bus as it plunged into the river,” the source claimed. 

FRCN Abuja