Metro
Poverty: Ex-LP Presidential Candidate, Obi condemns stampede, death of 9 in Sokoto
The former Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the last general election in the country, Peter Obi has described as tragic the stampede that occured at Sokoto state, which resulted to the death of nine persons and 30 others injured.
The Nations News Nigeria reports that the recent stampede that occured in Sokoto state, resulted in the loss of nine lives and left 30 others injured at the premises of Senator Aliyu Wammako’s house.
He made this known through in a statement issued to newsmen at the weekend said: “The recent tragic stampede in Sokoto over relief materials meant for the less privileged is yet another unfortunate and avoidable tragedy. The stampede resulted in the loss of nine lives and left 30 others injured at the premises of Senator Aliyu Wammako’s house.
“This serves as a poignant reminder of the daily struggles endured by countless impoverished Nigerians. While acts of generosity, such as those demonstrated by Senator Aliyu Wamakko, cannot be discouraged,
“They must not divert attention from the pressing need to address the underlying causes of poverty and inequality. It is truly disheartening to witness fellow citizens risking their lives simply to fulfil their basic needs, whether for sustenance or other essentials.
“Rather than perpetuating a cycle of dependency on charitable handouts, our focus should be on cultivating an environment where all Nigerians have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society and also the capacity for self Sustenance on basic needs.
“This is precisely why I am steadfast in my advocacy for a shift from consumption to production—a fundamental principle essential for our nation’s long-term prosperity and well-being. Through strategic investments in education, job creation, and entrepreneurship,
“Thereby lifting our people out of poverty and paving the way for a more sustainable future for all. Let us unite in our efforts to build a Nigeria where every citizen is afforded the chance to thrive and actively contribute to the collective prosperity of our nation” he stated.
Metro
Mayhem in Anambra as 3 vigilante operatives allegedly torture, rape 15yr old girl to coma
….as mother who is a widow petitions Gov. soludo, police for intervention
By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha
Two out of three local vigilante operatives at Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, who allegedly tortured and raped a 15 year old girl, {name withheld} are cooling off at police head quarters, Awka, state capital.
Narrating the ordeal to newsmen, the mother to the victim who gave her name as Mrs Helen Joseph, a widow, said, ” I am a widow and mother of six, from Makurdi, Benue State, We live at Nkpor, on the fateful day three vigilante operatives and a girl stormed my apartment, and the girl accused my daughter of removing #13,000 she kept in a particular place and my daughter told them that she did not understand what they were saying and didn’t take any money.
“Immediately they started beating her and dragged her to their torture camp. That day was like hell to me because she is my only daughter and they kept deaf ears to all my pleas that they should release her.
“Then in the night they tortured her and their leader raped her while others held her. Early in the morning the next day they dumped her at the gate of our compound with blood all over her body and she couldn’t talk because she was unconscious.
” Had no option than to rush to Ogidi police station and one of them, the one that raped her, was arrested and the police took my daughter to hospital where it was confirmed that she was raped.
“At the Ogidi Police station, instead of the police to arrest the remaining two, they tried to release the one they arrested without tangible reason and I had to get in touch with the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, and the case was transferred to Awka.
“At Awka, the police arrested one more, making them two as the one at Ogidi was brought to Awka. The leaders of the vigilante group and friends to the vigilante group approached and begged me to take #50,000 and I said no that I want justice for my daughter.
“Next day they came and. Pleaded with #100000 and I said I want justice and they boasted to me that since I refused to take #100000 that they will give it to the police and those arrested will be released and true to their words, the two who were detained have been released.
“Because I don’t have anybody on my side, the police told me that they will come to Nkpor and interview people on the incident. Luckily for me, a neighbour has confessed to me that it was her daughter that removed the controversial #13,000 and and not my daughter and begged me to forgive her.
“I am pleading to Governor Soludo, Commissioner of Police and Human Affairs Commissioner, Ify Obinabo to come to my rescue before they deny me justice as my daughter now lives in pain,” she pleaded.
When contacted, the state PPRO, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, adding that investigation is ongoing.
Metro
Reps Committee on ecological funds laments over devastation of flood in Enugu communities
By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu
The House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Funds has visited parts of Enugu State affected by flooding.
The communities include Amechi Idodo, Amauzam Amagunze, Ihuokpara and Nkerefi communities in Nkanu East LGA and Mpu, Okpanku, Oduma and Nenwe in Aninri Local Government Areas.
Assessing the impacts of the flooding at the weekend, the team led by the Chairman House Committee on Ecological Funds, Aminu Sani Jaji, explained that they decided to embark on the fact-finding visit to see things for themselves, assuring that substantial funds would be made available to address the situation.
“We have selected some states. Now, we have seen the level and magnitude of the flooding and other ecological issues that we are here to identify. We are equally here to find a lasting solution to most of the ecological issues that we have across the country. We have seen this place and we are heading to other places to see for ourselves.
“Before we took over the leadership of this committee, there were so many things that went wrong and now we are trying to correct the public perceptions regarding the Ecological Fund. We want to make sure that this time, it will be completely different from the tradition of giving some piecemeal to the states to address the challenges.
“Now, we are looking at the real problem. Our assessment here is that the devastation will not only affect the communities, but will also have some significant impact on the economy. And as far as farmlands and the houses are submerged, leading to displacement, there will be a decline in the national security of the country. So, we are trying to see how we can provide remedy to these challenges. We will make sure that we provide substantial funds that will cater for such problems,” Jaji said.
Addressing the press, the Coordinator, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mrs. Chinasa Mbah, who accompanied the team, narrated how flooding and other ecological issues had caused devastations in parts of the state, stressing that people in the affected areas were passing through difficulties because their houses and means of livelihood had been grossly destroyed.
Mrs. Mbah, therefore, called on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to swiftly come to the aid of the affected people of the state to ameliorate their pains and also find lasting solutions to some of the ecological changes affecting the state.
“The impact of the flood is too high on the Enugu State citizens. When you go to these affected areas, which we visited today, you would discover that the people are actually suffering as a result of the flooding and other ecological issues in the state. We need the National Emergency Management Agency as soon as possible because the citizens are highly impacted,” she stated.
Metro
Cocoa Farmer Tasks DSS to investigate alleged Workers’ Attack In C’River
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
A small holder cocoa farmer operating at Abonita Cocoa farm, in Etung local government area of Cross River State, Mr. Mark Prince, has called on the State Director, Department of State Services (DSS), Mrs. Roseline Izuagbe, to Investigate alleged attack of his six workers by a rival farmer who inflicted various degree of injuries on his workers at the contentious 32 hectares Abonita cocoa estate belonging to the state government
Mark Prince made the call during an interactive session with journalists in Calabar, stressing that the injured workers are currently receiving treatment at General Hospital Ikom, Cross River State.
He accused Gov, Otu’s Special Adviser on Security Matters, Rtd. Major General Okoi Obono, of compromising the security situation at the Abonita cocoa estate, where he shared a boundary with government Cocoa estate in the area, calling for investigation into the matter and sanction given to culprits.
“I am calling on the director, State Security Services ( DSS), because there is no way you can sit at the comfort of your home and put up a document, stopping the army that used to patrol at the Abonita axis, protecting lives and property of citizens from patrolling any longer because you want your personal interest to be protected”.
“As I speak, if you go into the farms now, you will see Njor’s thugs parading with arms in the cocoa farm. If this is not checked, I foresee outbreak of lawlessness at Abonita axis between Agborkim and Ajassor neighboring communities at the nearest future.
“Don’t you know that persistent attack can cause war between the two sisters communities of Ajassor and Agborki, Because, there is no way you machete people like this and we mobilized for revenge that it won’t result to a communal war.
“I am calling on the state governor, Bassey Otu, to ask his State Security Adviser, Rtd Major General Okoi Obono to explain to him, why he halted the Nigerian army from patrolling at Abonita cocoa estate known for criminal activities.
“We have instances where a criminal commits a crime and we incident the matter at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Effraya, Etung local government of the state, the matter will quickly be transferred to Zone 6 police Command Calabar, or Abuja. Before you know it,
victims suddenly turn to suspects”. He maintained.
Narrating his ordeal, one of the victims Mr. Kelly Abang, who spoke on behalf of others at Ikom General Hospital said,”I go to do work for Mark Prince cocoa farm yesterday and one man called Chilo met us in the bush and asked us about the owner of the farm and we told him we are labourers working for Mark Prince.
“He demanded that I should call our master, Mr. Mark Prince because he wants to speak with him. And I responded to his demand and i put a call across to Mark Prince and they spoke with each other. And thereafter, Mr. Chilo ( ASU Njor) asked us to continue with our work and he left in company of the boys.
“Only for him to return back about 30 minutes later in company of armed young men who tortured us squarely and inflicted injuries on us with machetes.
In his reaction, the accused, Mr. Asu Njor (Chilo), denied any involvement in the attack stressing that he was in Càlabar and not at Abonita farm on the day that Mark Prince’s workers claimed they attacked adding that he had no hands in the matter.
Reacting, Gov Otu’s Special Adviser on Security Matters Maj.Gen Rtd. Okoi Obono, denied compromise of security situation at the estate, as alleged stressing that he had asked police to commence investigation.
Metro
Scandal: ‘I didn’t approve the release of any tractor- Umana insist
From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The scandal rocking Cross River Basin Development Authority over missing tractor took another dimension as the Principal Commercial Officer with Mr. Inyang Umana has denied authorizing the release of missing MF -275 tractor for physical inspection by external auditors to be returned the following day.
Umana denied the allegations while answering questions from journalists in his office Monday in Calabar.
The Nations News Nigeria reports that Umana had been accused of signing the authorization letter that allowed the tractor to be taken out of Basin Authority premises
” To say that I was part of those involved in the release of the tractor is lies.Is not the first time this staff had been involved in issues like this.
” I was only a whistle blower. I was the one who even raised the alarm. To drop me into the matter is ridiculous.
“The missing tractor might still be in Urban moving wood at Oban, in Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State.
“From what we gathered, the two young men stormed the premises of Basin Authority in company of one of our staff with a forged document pretended as if the document was signed by me.” Umana stated.
He stated that the missing tractor might have been taken to the northern part of the country where it might have been hired to execute a job and he assumed the bandits may have seized the machine
Metro
Suspected ghost survives assault by Onitsha residents, says he is not ghost
By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha
A 46 year old man from Ebonyi state, Mr. Christopher Nwali, whose businesses is frying akara balls (beans cake) and moi moi which he sells to the public, rumoured to have died and disappeared, was reportedly assaulted on reappearance by residents of Ezeiweka road, Awada Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, Anambra State, where he does his business.
Narrating his ordeal to newsmen at the weekend, Mr.Nwali, disclosed that it has been problem after problem since he started fighting for his means of livelihood as a family man adding that the worst that happened to him is to tag him a ghost which caused his business to collapse.
“My name is Mr. Christopher Nwali, I am from Ebonyi state, I deal in fast foods business, my business name is Uyaka or Nwoke Akara Na Out. I am very popular at Ezeiweka road axis because of the akara balls I fry as a man.
“After the death of my master who I lived with as a house help, his children asked me to go and look for what I will do since their father has died. Then my wife was hawking akara balls and later procured akara balls’ frying pan and started frying her own. I joined her in the frying.
“She became heavy with pregnancy (our third child), and when she started nursing the baby, I was the only one frying the akara balls and people were joking with me, asking me to go and look for what to do as a man. Before I joined my wife in the business I was riding a commercial motorcycle and later hawked sachet water.
“One day I took a commercial bike to go and procure a motorcycle part for my damaged bike and I had an accident and got fractured in one of the legs. I then sold the bike because I was hospitalized for one year. When I returned I joined my wife again in the akara business.
“Again, one day I took a commercial bike to go and procure plantain we will fry and was involved in another accident, fracture in the same injured leg. My situation became worse and on recovery I returned again to the akara business. We resolved to have two branches, one at Ezeiweka road and the one at Moore street, where we started the business and I was staying at the new site.
“One day I got burnt while frying the akara balls and my entire body touched. On recovery I continued the business and later felt sick. I was admitted at Federal Medical Center, Asaba, Delta State capital. While in the hospital I got a message from my relative that the news is all over the place that I am dead. A woman called me and I disappeared.
“I then told my doctor what people were saying and he said it was not possible. I was inundated with calls to the extent that I became worried and demanded to be discharged to go home. I was even annoyed that my wife had not come to visit me, not knowing that she was scared and one day called me and asked me to pick my call and I picked and responded, she cried.
“When I was discharged the next day I went straight to my house and was told she was hospitalized and I rushed to the hospital. On seeing me she spoke with me and started crying. I told her here I come, I am not dead but people have rumored I am dead. Later I went home and during the last monthly sanitation exercise, residents of where I do business and others insisted that I will join them in the exercise to clear their conscience that it was mere rumour being circulated that I am dead.
“I have about five workers in my employ and they told me that within the period of my absence that the business failed, people no longer patronise them as they believe that the akara balls were owned by the ghost. My son told me that he will not go to the shop again because people were telling him that his father was dead even as he insisted that I was not but hospitalized at Asaba.
“They call my children sons of ghosts and disappeared men . So on the clean up exercise I came and was badly assaulted to ensure I was not a ghost. Some threw stones, pebbles, sand, sachet water, and used sharp objects to spill blood from my body, among others at me to know if I will disappear as rumoured that I was a ghost. Some even scratched my body with their nails, poured water on me and I was only laughing and praising God.
“It was a thing I will never forget in life, people who carried rumour about should repent for it is aimed at bringing somebody down.we have lost all our customers but thank God that with my presence now, the business is gradually growing, I have to start afresh, such is life but the wicket must not go unpunished. The Bible told us so.
“I have been into this akara business for 18 years and we also cook moi moi, we are into indoor and outdoor services for those having functions like marriages, parties, new yam festivals, among others and we train apprentices. If not for lack of space I would have started roasting yam and corn. It is hard for me to get accommodation because landlords said I can’t afford house rent as my business is frying akara balls despite my plea to them that I am capable of paying,” he further disclosed
Contributing, one of his workers, Chukwunagorom C. Sabastine, lamented the ugly incident disclosing that he was about to leave when it got to the peak that their master was rumoured to have died but when he returned he had a sigh of relief.
“Rumour mongers can kill one unexpectedly. We were so cursed and insulted when our master did not appear for two weeks. The rumour was all over the place that we are children of a ghost and that we sell akara balls to kill people who eat them. All manners of humiliation.
“Thank God that our master has appeared. Our business went down to the extent that we could not sell a painter of beans in a day because people were scared to patronize us. All who abused us have seen that our master is hale and hearty. Glory be to God in the highest,” he prayed.