Labour

Protest: NLC President in Police Custody

By Web News 496

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, on Wednesday, allegedly arrested the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Joe Ajaero in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The Head of Information, NLC, Benson Upah, who spoke with newsmen, noted that Ajaero was picked up at the state secretariat of the congress and taken to an unknown location.

“President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero was picked up a few minutes ago from NLC state council secretariat by heavily armed policemen in Owerri and taken to an unknown destination,” Upah said.

It was reported that the NLC had vowed to mobilise its members for a total strike in Imo state starting today, November 1, 2023.

Accusing the state governor Hope Uzodimma of neglecting workers’ welfare, Ajaero lamented that many of them have died because of the alleged lack of payment of their salaries.

He outlined some of the infractions against workers by Uzodimma, including the alleged refusal to implement previous agreements especially the accord reached on January 9, 2021, outstanding salary arrears of about 20 months, unjust declaration of workers as ghost workers, declaration of pensioners as ghost workers and unsettled gratuity arrears, among others.

According to him, approximately 10,000 pensioners have been wrongly labeled as ghost pensioners resulting in over 22 months of unpaid pensions while about 11,000 workers have been branded by the Imo State Government as ghost workers.

The NLC president also lamented the non-compliance with the national minimum wage by the state government, adding that Governor Uzodinma has resisted the use of social dialogue and collective bargaining to resolve the issues.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Politics

Over 240,000 voter cards uncollected in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa – INEC

By Web News 343

Over 241, 715 Permanent Voter Cards, PVC, have yet to be collected by the voters in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States two weeks to the October 9, 2023 deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the collection of the cards ahead of the November 11 off-cycle governorship polls in the three States.

While 107,715 voter cards were awaiting collection in Kogi, no fewer than 134,000 had yet to be claimed by prospective voters in Imo State. However, the figure of unclaimed PVCs cards in Bayelsa State was unavailable.

The electoral commission has, however, said it will not extend the PVCs collection in the States and admonished registered voters not to delay in picking up their cards.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi and the Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Longpet, both affirmed in separate interviews that there was no going back on the October 9 d deadline.

They cautioned the concerned electorate against waiting till the last minute to collect their PVCs.

The INEC had fixed the governorship elections in the three States to November 11 in which 18 parties are fielding candidates.

At its regular meeting held on June 6, the commission approved the final list of candidates for the three off-cycle governorship elections and also uploaded it to its website and social media platforms.

The Kogi State REC, Longpet, also echoed Oyekanmi, stating that there would not be an extension of the time earlier scheduled for the collection of the voter cards.

“There will not be any extension of time as we had said that the collection is for four weeks since it is not a nationwide exercise and these are remnants of the cards previously provided for collection,’’ he explained.

On the number of the PVCs collected so far collected, the REC said, “From the daily reports sent to me, so far, 11,307 PVCs have been collected up to the 21st September, out of a total number of 119,022.We have two weeks to go.

“We have been broadcasting and urging people in the various local languages to go out and collect their PVCs. We have translated the jingles in Ebira, Igala, Okun, Nupe, and Hausa, in addition to English.”

Speaking on the situation in Imo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Sylvia Agu, disclosed that INEC resumed the issuance of PVCs for the election on September 11 and that the exercise would continue till October 9.

“INEC still has about 134,000 uncollected PVCs in Imo piled in the 27 local government council secretariats of the State.

“I urge Imo residents to collect their PVCs at the INEC offices in their council areas, while those in Orlu Local Government Area should collect theirs at the State office in Owerri.

“Apart from the 27 local government area offices, INEC has also created some centres for PVC collection for Registration Areas that have more than 1,000 uncollected PVCs. Remember that PVCs cannot be collected by proxy and they must be exchanged with the Temporary Voter Cards,’’ she stated.

“INEC has gone a step further to gather the phone numbers of owners of uncollected PVCs in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi to send bulk SMS to them,’’ Agu added, assuring that the commission was fully prepared for the election.

She revealed that all non-sensitive materials had been received and would be distributed to the various Local Government areas appropriately. The commission’s Head of Department, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Inclusivity in Bayelsa, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the uncollected PVCs in its Yenagoa office were from the previous exercise.

He said people currently collecting their PVCs included those who registered newly, those who could not pick up their PVCs after they transferred their PVCs, and those who lost their voter cards.

Ifogah said, “When you talk about collected and uncollected PVCs in the State, why I don’t want to give those figures is that it won’t add up to anything because what we have are uncollected PVCs from the previous exercise. It’s not like they brought anything new.

‘’Moreso, the PVCs are not just for people who registered newly but it has to do with both those who registered newly and unable to pick them and those who requested for a reprint of their PVCs, and those who did transfer whose cards have come in.

“So, from the overall statistics, if we really want to know those who have collected, we have to wait for the end of the exercise to know those that have collected, who registered newly.

“’But right now, everyone picking involves those who registered newly, those who were unable to pick up their own when they did transfer and those who lost their PVCs. Right now, I don’t have an idea of the total uncollected PVCs.”

He, however, added that the commission would not extend the October 9 deadline for registration and collection of PVCs.

Punch /Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Ex-Imo Speaker’s Orderly’s Body Found in Bush

By Web News 861

An orderly to a former speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chiji Collins, has been found dead.

The victim identified simply as Charles was found dead in a bush in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state a few days ago.

Charles, an inspector of police, was kidnapped a few weeks ago alongside a driver in the Ohaji/ Egbema area of the state.

They were said to be driving in a Hilux and a Sports Utility Vehicle when they were intercepted by their attackers and taken into a bush.

The driver was later found dead while the search for Charles’ whereabouts continued. The lifeless body of Charles which had already decomposed was later found in a bush a few days ago.

The victim’s colleagues told newsmen that the command was saddened by the killing of the Inspector of police who hails from the Mbaise area of the State.

One of the sources who doesn’t want to be mentioned said, “Charles’ body was found in a bush in the Oguta area. His body has already decomposed. He was killed in such an unfortunate manner. He was given a cut on the neck. This is so disgusting.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the State, Henry Okoye, confirmed the incident and added that the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Berde, had commissioned a team of police investigators to apprehend the killers.

He said that the command would ensure that those who killed the Inspector are caught and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Sallah Tragedy: Gunmen Kill 5 Policemen, Couple

By Web News 451

Gunmen on Friday morning killed five policemen at the Okpala Junction in the Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State.

Also killed were a couple identified as Mr and Mrs Chinaka Nwagu who hailed from Amankwo Okpala community.

The incident has thrown the junction and the entire community into a state of panic as commercial activities had abruptly come to end.

A source who identified himself as Uche and a relative to the couple told newsmen that the slain cops drove from neighbouring Abo Mbaise police division to eat at the junction.

He said that while the policemen were eating, some gunmen drove to the scene and opened fire on them.

He said that while three policemen were shot dead at the scene, two others ran to a nearby shop but their attackers raced to the shop and killed them and equally killed a couple who owned the shop they ran into.

The eyewitness disclosed that after killing the policemen, the gunmen carted away their five rifles.

The witness added ”The couple just relocated from Lagos about one year ago. We just deposited their bodies in a mortuary. The market is shut. People here ran away out of shock and fear. This is unbelievable.”

Another source, Dominic Okpor, told newsmen that he saw the lifeless bodies of the cops on the road when he drove through the Owerri – Aba Road.

Okpor described it as horrible. “The bodies of the five policemen were lying on the road as we drove through. Their Hilux was also parked at the junction. The scene was horrible. It is terrible. God have mercy.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the police in the State, Henry Okoye, said that he had yet to be briefed on murder incident.

He however promised to make enquiries and revert but he had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Gunmen Launch Another Attack on INEC Office

By Web News 604

Gunmen on Monday morning launched an attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, office in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

Part of the building was damaged after it was torched by a firebomb.

The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mike Abbatam, who confirmed the incident said three gunmen were killed while two firebombs were recovered from the scene.

This is happening eight days after an INEC office was attacked in the Orlu Local Government Area of the state.

Suspected hoodlums had similarly torched the commission’s offices in Ebonyi, Osun and Ogun States within the past four weeks, sparking fears that some people were plotting to derail the conduct of the 2023 elections.

However, the Owerri attack, carried out around 3 am this morning, was repelled as three of the perpetrators, including their commander, were gunned down.

Also, AK47 rifles and some pump action guns and eight vehicles were recovered from the hoodlums.

An impeccable source said, “This morning, gunmen launched a vociferous attack on the INEC office in Owerri, Imo State but the joint security team repelled them and killed three of the attackers, including their commander.

“Seven vehicles were recovered, including some AK47 and pump action rifles. Many of the gunmen escaped with bullet wounds. But one police vehicle was burned by the hoodlums.”

Confirming it, Abattam said AK47 rifles and vehicles were recovered.

He stated, “We killed three of the attackers and recovered three AK47 rifles and pump action guns. We also recovered two explosives and three of their vehicles.”

It was gathered that security had been beefed up in parts of Owerri, following the incident.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Lifestyle

Delta Government Mourns Dead Boxer

By Web News 406

Medics at the boxing event of the ongoing 21st National Sports Festival NSF, tagged ‘Delta 2022’ battled to save dead boxer Chucks Igbouargo.


Igbouargo of Team Imo took on Prince Gaby Amagor of Team Delta in the 86kg bout at the boxing events at Asaba on Sunday.


He was said to be walking out of the hall when he suddenly collapsed.


Secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Federation, NBF, Dapo Akinyele said medics placed him on oxygen and tried to stabilize him, but he died before getting to the hospital.


According to Akinyele, while speaking with the newsmen on wednesday evening at the Stephen Keshi Stadium said he was well and okay and did not show any sign of distress.


He said his coach was with him but, stepped out to get some equipment momentarily, unsuspecting the boxer was in danger.


An official of the Local Organising Committee, LOC, said the boxing events had to continue because, there was no reason to stop the bouts since it was an accident outside the ring.


Since the incident, the body of the boxer had been taken back to Imo state just as the state Government commiserates with his family and the concerned.


Omolara Ayoade

Politics

PMB in Imo, Inaugurates Projects

By Web News 835

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, inaugurated the 36km dual carriageway of Owerri-Orlu road in Imo State.

Buhari was earlier welcomed at the airport by the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, and other dignitaries dressed in white outfits and red caps.

The president, in his visit to Owerri, is expected to inaugurate other projects by Uzodimma.

Punch/Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Crime

Gunmen kill Motorcyclist in Imo

By Web News 511

There was panic at Ogbaku market on Owerri- Onitsha Road in Owerri, Imo State, on Tuesday as gunmen invaded the market and shot a motorcyclist dead.

This happened while the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, was in at the Government House Owerri to inaugurate the 12 Armoured Personnel Carriers procured by the state government to fight banditry in the state.

Sources at the market told Newsmen that the gunmen who struck operated in a sienna vehicle and came from Oguta Road.

On reaching the market, one of the sources who do not want to be mentioned said that the gunmen identified their target and ordered him to enter their vehicle but he refused.

The source said, “The man they killed is an Okada rider. They came in a sienna vehicle from Oguta Road. On reaching the market, they identified the Okada man called Chima and ordered him to join them in their vehicle.

“The Okada man refused. They told him three times, but he insisted. They got infuriated and shot him three times, and he died on the spot before they drove off. They also shot in the air while zooming off.”

The Secretary General of Ogbaku Youth Association, Justice Nwafor, who confirmed the incidence said that the remains of the victims had been evacuated from the scene.

He also told our correspondent that the youth body had reported the incident to the Ogbaku Divisional police headquarters and that the deceased’s motorcycle had been taken to the police station.

The spokesperson for the police in the state, Micheal Abattam, is yet to respond to an inquiry concerning the incident.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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News

Imo State Gets New Head of Service

By Web News 998

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has appointed Mr Raymond Ucheoma as the new Head of Service of the state.

This was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu and made available to newsmen in Owerri.

According to the statement, the appointment is with immediate effect.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ucheoma took over from Dr Camelius Iwuagwu.

“His Excellency appreciates the contributions of the former Head of Service, Dr Iwuagwu to the state Civil Service and wishes him well in his future endeavours.

“The governor has equally charged the new Head of Service, Barrister Ucheoma to bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.

The Governor enjoined him to enthrone a result-driven and re-energised civil service, to meet the challenges of the digital age,” the statement said. 

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Crime

Gunmen Attack Bullion Van in Imo

By Web News 660

Gunmen, on Thursday, attacked a bullion van at Ogbor-Nguru in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.

Reports say the bullion van took off from Owerri, the state capital, and was billed to offload cash at one of the new generational banks in Mbaise when it was attacked.

An eye witness, Kennedy Onwunali, told newsmen that the gunmen attacked their target at the General Hospital in Mbaise.

He said that the attackers shot at the van continuously but the driver was courageous enough to keep moving.

According to the eyewitness, the bullion van somersaulted after the driver kept dodging the gunmen.

He said, “The gunmen intercepted the bullion van at the Hospital junction, Mbaise, but the driver was courageous enough to keep moving. They went after him and kept shooting. Everybody scampered for safety. The van later somersaulted but the armed robbers ran away. No life was not. No money was lost. The driver survived with a bank official and police escort.

“The police have arrived the scene and taken over. But economic and commercial activities had come to an abrupt end because of fear. The panic was much.”

The spokesperson for the Police in the state, Micheal Abattam, confirmed the attack in a brief statement.

He wrote, “Sketchy information revealed that the bullion van was returning after delivering money and was attacked by hoodlums. The driver on noticing it tried to escape, unfortunately his vehicle capsized (somersaulted). No money was carted away.”

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Environment

Illegal Refinery Explodes in Imo

By Web News 920

An illegal refinery has exploded at Abaezi forest in the Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.

Report says many people were feared dead and six vehicles were also razed during the incident which had thrown the community into panic.

The state Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Goodluck Opiah, newsmen at the scene that the state government had declared the owner of the illegal refinery, Okenze Onyenwoke, wanted.

He advised the suspect whom he said was on the run to turn himself in at the nearest police station.

The commissioner said, “This is a sad development. The Imo State Government has declared wanted, Okenze Onyenwoke, who owns this illegal refinery. I advise him to hand himself over to the police or any security agency.

Net/Olaolu Fawole

News

Student Dies During Acting in Owerri

By Web News 857

Tragedy struck at Claratian University of Nigeria, Nekede, in Owerri, Imo State, on Friday, as a seminarian, Suel Ambrose, slumped and died while acting in a drama on campus.

Reporters who visited the campus on Saturday morning were told by students that the deceased who hailed from Benue State was dramatising the role of the biblical Peter in the Passion of Christ when the incident occurred.

The drama is a representation of the activities about how Jesus Christ was crucified.

One of the students who simply identified himself as Mavis said the 25-year-old first-year student of Philosophy died on the spot.
The student said, “He was playing the role of the biblical Peter in the dream and that process when Peter cut the ear of one of the soldiers and Jesus fixed the ear and ask Peter to let them do their wish. You know how passionate the play is.

“So when the soldiers chase the disciples to drive them away from Jesus, the young man fell on the floor and started bleeding. We took him to our school hospital and the doctors did their best but he was not responding to treatment. We took him to the Federal Medical Center in Owerri where he was pronounced dead.

“The drama was in commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in respect to the Easter celebration. He was born in 1997. He is a year one student and had the dream of becoming a priest in the Catholic church.”

When contacted the priest in charge of Student Formation in the university, Fr Chukwuemeka Iheme, said that the institution would brief the public after the “authority gives us permission to do so.”

Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Crime

NAPTIP Rescues Aged Burundian Woman, Children From Traffickers In Imo

By Web News 518

The combined operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, and the Department of State Services, DSS, Imo State Command, have rescued a middle-aged Burundian woman and her three children suspected to be victims of trafficking, from a village in Imo State where they were being exploited by their trafficker.

The victims, Ms Siniremera Bizimana and her three children namely Murwaneza ZerthaMaecy, Akimana Bethel and Umwiza Collins, were set free after an early morning sting operation carried out on their house located in Umunoha village in Mbaitol Local Government Area of Imo State.

In a statement, the victims were rescued based on a complaint from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees lodged at the Headquarters of NAPTIP and further directive from the Director-General of the Agency, Dr Fatima Waziri – Azi.

It said the victims who have refugee status in Kenya, were trafficked to Lagos, Nigeria by yet to be identified human traffickers in September last year and thereafter moved to Umunoha, Imo State where they were forced into menial labour of all sorts.

Their travelling document and other valuable personal belongings were also confiscated by the unknown trafficker in the process.

According to the Commander, Imo State Command of NAPTIP, Mr Earnest Ogbu, the account from the victims indicated that they may have been deceived by the trafficker into coming to Nigeria and a remote village in Imo State without any resistance.

Speaking on the development, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dr Fatima Waziri – Azi, thanked all stakeholders and partners who provided information and assisted in ensuring a successful operation that led to the rescue of the victims.

The NAPTIP boss specifically appreciates the effort and collaboration of the Imo State Command of the Department of State Services for providing the needed operational support.

Dr Waziri – Azi, gave an assurance that those behind the ordeal of the victims prosecuted be identified and prosecuted.

Bose Ijelehai

Crime

Police Claim Responsibility As Gunmen Invade Imo Church, Abduct Okorocha’s Son-in-law Uche Nwosu

By Web News 713

The Imo state Police Command on Sunday confirmed that the former governor Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, is in their custody.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, made this known to newsmen in Owerri.

He said he wanted to make clarification based on the report that Nwosu was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. However, the detail for which Nwosu was arrested was yet to be given.

According to Police, “This is to inform the general public that chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in the police custody.
“This is to refute the earlier news that has being making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown persons / gunmen. 

“The Commissioner of Police while using this medium to assure Imolites of the command’s commitment in ensuring the safety of Life and prosperity this  yuletide seasons , advised the general public to always shun fake news.”

Adewumi Faniran /Vanguard

Politics

INEC creates over 1200 new polling units in Imo

By Web News 677

He said the new polling units were carved out of the existing voting points and voting point settlements which were created in 2011 to address overcrowding arising from the emergence of settlements.

Prof Ezeonu explained that the creation of new polling units was part of measures to address declining voter turnout during elections and maintain safety at polling units by way of physical distancing in line with COVID-19 preventive measures.

He noted that Electoral Officers at the local government identified suitable places for locating the new polling units and geo-referenced them using Global Positioning System coordinates.

The Commissioner added that the names and delineation data of the new polling units will be published when the ongoing verification is concluded.

Education

2 FUTO Students Found Dead in Hostel

By Web News 2103

Two undergraduate students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri have been found dead in their hostel while a third occupant is in critical condition at a health facility in Owerri, Imo State.

A statement from the Police Public relations Officer, Imo State Police Command Mr. Orlando Ikeokwu says following a report, men of the Divisional Police Headquarters in Nekede/Ihiagwa moved into a hostel in Eziobodo Owerri West Local Government Area of the State where the three undergraduates were seen lying helpless.

He said the victims were immediately taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where two of the three persons whose names were given as Udeagbala Kenechukwu and Anele Stephen were confirmed dead while the third, Nkama Eberechukwu was revived.

Mr. Ikeokwu explained that preliminary investigations suggested that the victims might have suffocated as a result of fumes that emanated from a power generating set which they inhaled while sleeping at night.

According to him, a generating set was seen by the window in an enclosed space and the exhaust pipe pointing towards the window which is an indication that they might have inhaled carbon-monoxide

He said further investigation has commenced while efforts are on to trace relatives of the victims who are between the ages of twenty one and twenty two.     

Chinazo Ilechukwu