TheNewsGuru

Tag: Akwa Ibom STate

  • Cultism: Yoruba residents, Akwa Ibom Indigenes clash in Ibeno

    Cultism: Yoruba residents, Akwa Ibom Indigenes clash in Ibeno

    There was pandemonium on Wednesday in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom, as Yoruba residents and indigenes of Akwa Ibom living in Ibeno clashed.

    Report has it that about 5 persons had died with many fleeing their houses to look for a safe haven.

    Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed as a result of the clash.

    The cause of the imbroglio is still unclear but sources around the community said that the crisis began as a result of cult clash before it turned to a tribal clash.

     

    It was gathered that the Ilaje people, mostly fishermen, who are the major residents of the community have started fleeing through bush paths, while their houses and tents are being looted and destroyed by the hoodlums.

    Meanwhile the State Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko Macdon, claimed they have not been notified on the matter but said that the police will wade into the matter and restore peace if it turns out to be true.

    He said, “I am not aware but I will find out”.

    However, a Yoruba indigene living in Akwa Ibom State Barr. Oluwajuwon Ogunbiyi, who confirmed the incident described the situation as unfortunate and called on the state government to set up a committee to investigate the crisis.

    He said, “It is quite unfortunate that this crisis has led to the loss of innocent lives and destruction of properties. The Ibeno community had been a good host over the decades to both indigenes and non-indigenes. Everybody has been living there in harmony without rancour.

    “I’m therefore using this medium to appeal for peace and an end to hostilities from both warring parties. I also want to call on the Governor of Akwa Ibom State as well as Head of all security agencies in the state to intervene in the matter immediately in order to stem down this waves of violence.”

  • BREAKING: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel, Obong Attah, others endorse Umo Eno next Governor

    BREAKING: Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel, Obong Attah, others endorse Umo Eno next Governor

    Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel has officially named Pastor Umo Eno, the State Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, as his preferred choice to succeed him.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Emmanuel announced Pastor Eno as his preferred successor at a well attended stakeholders’ meeting of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which took place on Sunday at the Governor’s Lodge in Uyo.

    This is following months of speculations and permutations, and after Emmanuel had said he was seeking the face of God to choose his successor.

    After announcing his choice of Eno, former Governor, Obong Victor Attah, thereafter made the formal presentation to the stakeholders, which comprise major and leading political chieftains from the three Senatorial Districts, who all applauded the choice and pledged to work towards his emergence as the governor of the state come 2023.

    Pastor Eno spoke passionately and emotionally about how he grew up in the Police barracks and how dreary and challenging those days were, but he summoned hope to overcome those difficulties.

    The commissioner said he was grateful to God and to Governor Emmanuel for finding him worthy of the onerous task to lead the people of the state and continue the people-focused and developmental strides of Governor Emmanuel.

    Bishop Uma Ukpai and the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr. Sunday Mbang, prayed for his success, a sentiment that was re-echoed by the Oku Ibom Ibibio and Chairman of State Council of Chiefs, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk.

    Among those who attended the event were the Deputy Governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey; Senators Akon Eyakenyi, Effiong Bob, Ibok Essien, Aloysius Etok; and former Deputy Governor, Etim Okpoyo.

    Others are member representing Etinan Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Onofiok Luke; PDP State Chairman, Elder Aniekan Akpan; Barrister Emmanuel Enoidem, the National Coordinator of the Maintain Peace Movement (MPM).

    Also in attendance are Hon Pat Ifon, Member representing Eket Federal Constituency at the National Assembly; Chief Nduese Essien, a former Minister of Housing; Ambassador Assam Assam, SAN, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Russia and the state’s political class.

  • Why Obong Attah’s housing security programme succeeded – Okon Obot

    Why Obong Attah’s housing security programme succeeded – Okon Obot

    The Housing Security Programme of the administration of Obong Victor Attah as Governor of Akwa Ibom State succeeded largely in part because he was prudent, meticulous, engaged intelligent people and accepted superior opinions and judgements, his Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Arc Okon Obot has said.

    He made the statement at the 2nd Obong Victor Attah Colloquium organized by the Uyo Book Club to mark the 83rd birthday of the former Governor who the founder of the Club, Dr Udeme Nana, at the event, described as “a book to to be read.”

    Arc Obot listed the high brow Shelter Afrique Estate, Akwa Ima Estate and Legislators Quarters at Ikot Akpan Abia, Akwa Savings and Loans Estate on Aka Itiam, 50 3-bedroom Housing Estate in each of the 31 Local Government Areas, Ibom Icon Hotel and Golf Resort, Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge and new Akwa Ibom House in Abuja as some of the signages of the success.

    On Shelter Afrique Estate, Arc Obot gave graphics details on how Obong Attah, himself and the project consultant, Arc Ezekiel Nya-etok, made sacrifices to ensure that the high networth residential estate came to be.

    “We needed a loan of $2.5m from Shelter Afrique, the housing arm of the African Development Bank, ADB. After meeting with the project consultant who had contacts with them, I prepared a Memo and took it to the Executive Council. Thank God for Abom Tony Esu who introduced the young Arc Nya-etok to me and who helped us push the Memo to make sure Obong Attah received it well. The problem was that we needed to pay 25 percent as counterpart funds and we didn’t have such money. Due to his ingenuity, Obong Attah converted and valued the first Legislators Quarters that was built in the area and with the mass of land,invited the Shelter Afrique people from Nairobi, Kenya for inspection.

    ” When we went for our first meeting with them in Nairobi, the government could only afford N400,000 for me and the project consultant, Arc Nya-etok for transportation and other expenses. We had to shelf staying at the five star hotel booked for us by them for a hotel with no air-conditioning system to save money. Even when we went to sign the final agreement, I , Arc Nya-etok and the Attorney General, Senator Effiong Bob had to use what I call an air molue because we could not afford a direct flight. We stopped over at three locations, one of which was the then war torn Rwanda where we had to stay for three hours awaiting clearance to proceed on our trip again. Obong Attah pursued with vigour whatever he believed in and didn’t do it for selfish reasons. I and Arc Nya-etok did not have any allocation of houses in the Estate because Obong Attah was not a selfish leader”

    The former Chairman of Abak Local Government Area further said Obong Attah surrounded himself with intelligent people who could interpret his vision for the state and always bowed to superior arguement because he had an “addictive passion for knowledge”

    He said Obong Attah’s prudence in managing the economy of the state with only a N600m monthly allocation paved the way for the laying of a solid developmental foundation for the state.

    He praised Governor Udom Emmanuel for naming the state airport after Obong Attah, saying it is psychologically satisfying for a man who made huge sacrifices for the growth of the state to be honoured while alive.

  • Why we need another Obong Attah as next Governor – Dr Udeme Nana

    Why we need another Obong Attah as next Governor – Dr Udeme Nana

    Founder of the Uyo Book Club, Dr Udeme Nana has said anyone interested in becoming the next Governor of Akwa Ibom State must posses certain character traits of former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah.

    Dr Nana, who listed the traits to include integrity, humility, selflessness, simplicity, discipline, courage and intelligence, spoke in Uyo, Saturday, at the 2nd Obong Victor Attah Colloquium held by the Club to mark the 83rd birthday of the elder statesman.

    “As we prepare our mind towards the round of elections,let us be more circumspect.Let us look for someone in the mold of Obong Victor Attah, someone who will love his people, someone who is mature, well experienced, widely exposed, disciplined, simple, not self centred, one who will take development to all nooks and crannies of the state and a man of integrity and uncommon intelligence,” he said.

    Dr Nana said Obong Attah was well respected and his voice regarded in Nigeria, especially during the fight against the onshore/ offshore dichotomy, because he spoke wisely always.

    “Obong Attah had a booming voice that was heard and respected accross Nigeria.That was the voice he used to articulate the principle of true federalism and wisely, fought and won the battle against the obnoxious onshore/offshore dichotomy,” Nana said.

    Dr Nana, who served in Obong Attah’s government as Director of Press Affairs noted that Obong Attah was “a large and kind hearted person who cared less about where people came from.

    “I was the first person he gave appointment to .As at that time, he did not know where I came from. He spread appointments. He spread projects to the extent that he forgot about himself.I can testify that on the day he left office as Governor, his own personal house was still under construction”.

  • How I escaped from being kidnapped by unknown gunmen – Akwa Ibom lawmaker

    How I escaped from being kidnapped by unknown gunmen – Akwa Ibom lawmaker

    Mr Usoro Akpanusoh, (PDP-Esit Eket/Ibeno) at the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly has narrated how he escaped from being kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    Mr Akpanusoh confirmed the incident and narrated how he escaped from the unknown gunmen in Esit Eket on Tuesday.

    He stated that the incident happened at a traditional marriage ceremony he attended at Uquo community in Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom last Thursday.

    He said that the gunmen surfaced at the ceremony with intent to abduct him, but he was lucky to escape after struggling with one of them. He revealed that the unknown gunmen killed two persons.

    He expressed appreciation to God that he escaped the kidnap attempt in his home town in Uquo in Esit Eket.

    “I went for a traditional marriage in Uquo in Esit Eket with the family of the Deputy Political Leader of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in my ward.

    “After staying for about 40 minutes, I bade the couple goodbye and approached my car.

    “While attempting to enter my car, I saw a Nissan Sony that blocked it car and a guy came out with AK47 rifle and started shooting sporadically into the air and people thought that he was a policeman.

    “I saw him pointing the gun at my car and started shooting at people directly and bullets hit two guys,’’ he said.

    Akpanusoh said that the abductors removed his driver and approached him and drew him out of his car and attempted to abduct him.

    “Fortunately the driver struggled with the guy and as God would have it, he was able to find his way back to the crowd.

    He said that scores of others were injured and were rushed to the hospital.

    Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Akwa Ibom, SP Odiko Macdon, said that the Commissioner of Police had asked the Divisional Police Officer in Esit Eket to investigate the incident.

    “We are aware of the attempt to abduct the House member and the police are trying to determine the extent of the crime,’’ he said.

  • PDP governors celebrate Udom Emmanuel at 55

    PDP governors celebrate Udom Emmanuel at 55

    The Peoples Democratic Party (Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF), has congratulated the Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-lbom, as he celebrates his 55th birthday anniversary.

    The Forum in a statement issued by its Director-General, C.I.D Maduabum, congratulated Emmanuel on his accomplishment.

    Maduabum said that the forum, under the chairmanship of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, of Sokoto State, was proud to associate with Emmanuel.

    “The Forum is particularly enamoured by your numerous accomplishments and milestones since you assumed office as governor in 2015, Ibom Air company has continuously raised the bar in aviation successes and standard, growing to become one of the most resilient airline in the country in terms of safety and passenger comfort.

    “Your prudence in the management of state resources has been uncommon, endearing you to both international and domestic watchers of the state’s economy over the years.

    “This is directly felt in your consistent inauguration of people-oriented projects and polices in fiscal discipline, education, culture, tourism and history, agriculture and social infrastructure.

    “Uyo, your state capital has become the first choice of most tourists, who want to experience the rare and breath-taking sites and sounds of the culture of the people of the state,” Maduabum said.

    He said the achievements had in no small measure, re-awakened the essence of purposefulness in the life of the people of Akwa-Ibom.

    According to him, the forum is proud to be associated with Emmanuel’s successes and contributions to the cohesion, robust debate on issues and the sense of camaraderie existing within leaders of the party, which positions PDP as a worthy alternative to the ruling party.

    Maduabum prayed that Almighty to God grant the governor more grace, wisdom and the vision to lead the state to its “Land of Promise”.

    He assured Emmanuel of the PDP governors’ brotherly support and cooperation at all times.

  • Police confirm attack on station in Akwa Ibom

    Police confirm attack on station in Akwa Ibom

    The Police Command in Akwa Ibom has confirmed Saturday’s attack on its Udung Uko Divisional Police Headquarters by gunmen.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko MacDon, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Udung Uko in Akwa Ibom on Sunday.

    Macdon said that the situation would have been worse but for the gallant policemen on duty who repelled the attack.

    He, however, said that the three officers who sustained gunshot wounds were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital in the state.

    “Gunmen on Saturday night attacked the Divisional Police Headquarters in Udung Uko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.

    “At least three officers sustained fatal injuries, resulting from heavy gunshots as policemen on duty tried to repel the attack,” he said.

    According to him, the identities of the assailants are still unknown as at press time.

    Meanwhile, a source, who claimed anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the gunmen came in a Sienna Toyota vehicle.

  • PDP constitutes committee for Akwa-Ibom State special congress

    PDP constitutes committee for Akwa-Ibom State special congress

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Sunday constituted Akwa Ibom Special State Congress committee which will elect the State party Chairman.

    This was disclosed in a statement, issued by the PDP National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), in Abuja.

    Akobundu said that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) approved the appointment of Edmond Mark as Chairman and Mr Christian Ibelachi as secretary of the committee.

    Other members of the committee are Sir John Ngbede, Mrs Helen Adebakin and Hon Ben Olorunfemi.

    He noted that the Congress is scheduled to commence work on Wednesday, June 30, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

  • Police repel attack on divisional station in A’Ibom

    Police repel attack on divisional station in A’Ibom

    The Police Command in Akwa Ibom said on Sunday that it repelled attack launched by suspected hoodlums on Ini Divisional station in Odoro Ikpe in the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Odiko Macdon also said the command lost one of its officers in the process.

    MacDonald told newsmen in Uyo that the attack on the division was repelled by officers and men of the Operation Restore Peace recently launched by the Inspector General of Police.

    He, however, said the command lost one personnel in the attack, who was hit by a bullet and was rushed to a hospital for treatment but later died.

    He said officers of the command recovered operational vehicle and three motorcycles from the hoodlums, used during the attack, adding that one of the hoodlums, Imo John Udo was arrested.

    “Police operatives arrested one of the hoodlums, Imo John Udo, 28, from Ikot Edem village in Essien Udim LGA of the state.

    “Their operational vehicle, a Venza, they used was recovered and three motorcycles.

    “As I speak, men of the Operation Restore Peace are still combing the bush as the hoodlums possibly escaped with bullet wounds sustained in a gun duel during the attack.

    “The CP, Andrew Amiengheme, has already ordered discreet investigations. In no distant time, more of the perpetrators will be arrested,” Macdon said.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums attacked the police station in the early hours of June 13, using motorcycles and opened fire directly at the station, killing one police personnel.

  • Why Uduak murdered Iniobong Umoren – Police

    Why Uduak murdered Iniobong Umoren – Police

    The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has confirmed arresting 20-year-old Uduak Frank Akpan in connection with the unthinkable brutal murder of Iniobong Umoren.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the police command confirmed the arrest on Sunday, giving an insight into why the daredevil Uduak murdered the budding young lady in cold blood.

    According to the police in a statement released by Odiko Macdon, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Uduak raped Umoren before killing her and burying her in a shallow grave.

    The police in the statement revealed that Uduak killed Umoren to cover his tracks after luring her to his house in the guise of giving her a job, but ended up sexually and physically assaulting her.

    The statement reads: “The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested one Uduak Frank Akpan, 20 years old for kidnapping, raping and murdering one Miss Iniobong Umoren.

    “On 30/04/2021, the Command received a report on the disappearance of the victim.

    “Following available leads, men of the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command, led by CSP Inengiye Igosi, consolidated on the initial great progress made by the DPO Uruan, SP Samuel Ezeugo and arrested the perpetrator who confessed to have lured his victim to his house in the guise of giving her a job, but ended up sexually and physically assaulting her which led to her death.

    “To cover his tracks, he dragged and buried her in a shallow grave in his father’s compound.

    “The deceased has been exhumed and deposited at UYTH (University Of Uyo Teaching Hospital) for autopsy.

    “The suspect confessed to have told his Local Government Chairman of his atrocity before escaping to Calabar and was never at anytime handed over to the Police by anyone.

    “Suspect is a confessed serial rapist who has owned up to the raping of other victims. He will be charged to court at the conclusion of investigation.

    “The Commissioner of Police, CP Amienghene Andrew, has called on youths and job seekers to be wary of the activities of scammers and other men of the underworld.

    “While appreciating the efforts of the social media family and other fighters of injustice, he has condoled with the family and friends of the deceased.”

    Meanwhile, the police, has also confirmed no parts of the deceased body were dismembered, ruling out ritual killing.

     

    However, reactions have continued to trail the brutal murder of Umoren by Uduak.

    Especially, a public, televised trial have been demanded of the rapist, his father, his cousin and any other accomplices.

    See reactions on Umoren’s murder below:

    https://twitter.com/firstdoctorr/status/1388844748681662468?s=19