TheNewsGuru

Tag: Anambra

  • Tragic! Anambra man abandoned by wife commits suicide

    Tragic! Anambra man abandoned by wife commits suicide

    A certain 47-year-old man, Samuel Nweke, who was allegedly deserted by his wife about a week ago in Anambra State, has committed suicide.

    It was gathered that the victim’s wife left him on February 25, 2020, following a quarrel.

    The victim left a suicide note, the content of which had not been made open by the police.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident saying it was reported at the Awada Police Station.

    Mohammed stated, “There was a report at the Awada Police Station that the decomposing body of one Samuel Nweke, aged about 47, was discovered in his apartment at No. 5 Chief Nwankwo Street, Awada, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    “Following the report, police detectives attached to the Awada Division visited the scene, cordoned off the area and photographed the victim after he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

    “No marks of violence were seen on the victim’s body, but what appears like a suicide note was discovered beside the body of the deceased. The corpse was evacuated by the victim’s relatives.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the deceased had an altercation with his wife and that made her to leave her matrimonial home on February 25, leaving the husband alone in the house.”

    Mohammed said the Commissioner of Police in the state, John Abang, had ordered a secret investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

     

  • Medical doctors embark on indefinite strike

    Medical doctors in the employ of Anambra Government, under the aegis of Conference of Civil Service Doctors (NAGGDMP), have embarked on indefinite strike over government’s alleged failure to implement its agreement with the group.

    Addressing newsmen at the General Hospital, Onitsha, on Monday, the state Chairman of the conference, Dr Livinus Chukwuma, expressed sadness that doctors in the state were the least paid in the country.

    “This strike was necessitated by the failure of the state government to adhere to the agreement signed with NAGGDMP and Nigerian Medical Association on one hand and the state government on the other.

    “The doctors in the state are disheartened to note that they are the least paid in the country as the state government has failed to keep to its part of the bargain,” Chukwuma said.

    He recalled that doctors in the state went on strike for more than 13 months in 2011 over the non-implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure approved by the Federal Government as the standard for all doctors in government service.

    He said that the strike was then called-off after interventions from eminent persons and a fresh agreement reached with the state government.

    According to him, the agreement stipulated that government would periodically review the salaries until 100 per cent was achieved, starting from 50 per cent.

    “This is in spite of all the efforts made to make the government see reason, including a warning strike in 2019.

    “All the other states are either paying 100 per cent of the 2014 template or something very close to that,” Chukwuma said.

    He expressed dismay that doctors in the state were getting about 40 per cent of what their counterparts in other states were receiving.

    He regretted that the situation prevailed, in spite of the fact that the federal government in 2014 further reviewed the CONMESS upwards.

    Chukwuma said the salary disparity made doctors in Anambra a laughing stock in the comity of doctors.

    “The doctor in the state service is a frustrated one. Many have left the service for other states or institutions where they are accorded better wages and many are preparing to go.

    “The doctors in the state are very much aware of the dire consequences of this strike on the health needs of the people and wish it were avoidable. But we had been pushed to the limits.

    “We want to state clearly that there is still room for discussions and, therefore, implore our citizens of goodwill to prevail on the government to attend to the demands of doctors,” he said.

  • Students escape as fire razes Anambra school

    Students escape as fire razes Anambra school

    Scores of students on Sunday night narrowly escaped death following a mysterious fire that razed their hostel in Gregorian College, Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    According to reports, the students were being evaluated from the affected building which has hostel and classrooms together.

    Fire fighters were battling to quench the raging fire which cause was yet unknown.

    The police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the incident.

    He said, “A distress call was just recieved of a fire incident at Gregorian College, Ogidi by BORAC before Tarzan juncton Nkpor in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

    “Police and other security agencies have cordoned off the area to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage to loot while fire fighters are battling to put off the fire.

    “Meanwhile, other emergency responders are also on ground evacuating people from the building.

    “Cause of the fire is yet unknown but effort is ongoing to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.”

    He assured of further details on the incident in due course.

  • Anambra State Government Commiserates With Arthur Nwankwo Family

    Anambra State Government Commiserates With Arthur Nwankwo Family

    The Anambra State government has condoled with the family of Dr Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo over the death of their patriarch.
    Dr Nwankwo, 77, died yesterday at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozala, Enugu State, after a brief illness.
    In a statement in Awka today, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Mr C. Don Adinuba, described Dr Nwankwo’s passage as at once painful and glorious.
    “Painful because Nwankwo was one of the few people in the world who should never die”, Commissioner Adinuba stated.
    “Glorious because he was able to achieve so much for not just his country but also humanity.
    “He was a most accomplished publisher, poet, novelist, historian, political scientist, pan Africanist, activist and fighter for justice.
    “Worried about the dearth of indigenous publishing firms in Africa in the early 1970s, Dr Nwankwo, together with Dr Sam Ifejika, with whom he co-authored a popular book on the Nigerian Civil War in 1969, established a firm named Nwamife Publishers Ltd in Enugu, which published not only books on the war but also works by such scintillating scholars as Professor Ben Nwabueze, Africa’s most influential scholar of constitutional law.
    “With Dr Ifejika’s relocation to Canada, Dr Nwankwo started his own personal firm, Fourth Dimension Publishers, also in Enugu, in the late 1980s.
    “Fourth Dimension published almost two thousand highly respected books in various genres, ranging from fiction to literary criticism to history to religion to philosophy to political science to sociology to poetry to physical and biological sciences to autobiography to law and so on.
    “It was, indeed, a thing of honour for scholars around Africa to be published by Fourth Dimension. And through Fourth Dimension, many academics attained the professorial rank in the universities.
    “The Anambra State government recognizes Dr Nwankwo as a foremost fighter for social justice.
    He returned to Nigeria from the United States after studies at Eastern Mennonite College in West Virginia and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, as the Nigerian political crisis was starting in the late 1960s. He could have returned to America or travelled elsewhere, but he chose to stay with his people with all the sufferings and deprivations and deaths of that era.
    “He was at loggerheads with different governments which saw him incarcerated more than once. He was a natural member of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which saw him address critical audiences around the world on the Nigerian condition under the military dictatorship. He was to pay a price for all this.
    “Dr Nwankwo was a statesman through and through.
    “Governor Willie Obiano thanks the Nwankwo family for keeping in touch with his government in the last few weeks of their leader.
    “We condole with the Nwankwo family of Ajalli in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State on the passage of this remarkable writer, publisher, social crusader and pan Africanist. May the Lord receive his soul”.
  • Fighting Fires: Other States Can Learn from Anambra

    Fighting Fires: Other States Can Learn from Anambra

    Both the Federal Government and all the states in Nigeria plus the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja have been called upon to learn from the experience of the Anambra State government in fighting fire outbreaks in a modern and effective way.

    The call was made today in a press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, in the wake of a series of fire outbreaks in the country, including the one at the Old Automobile Spare Parts Market in Obosi, Idemili Local Government Area of the state at the weekend which affected 12 lock-up shops.

    “This call has become necessary in consideration of the incessant fires across the country induced by the ongoing harmattan”, Commissioner Adinuba explained.

    “The fire could have been more disastrous but for the timely intervention of key agencies like the Nigeria Police Force and the Anambra State Fire Service.

    “Once the fire service was alerted about 1.30am by the Awada Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Tony Adeyi, the firemen responded promptly and robustly.

    “They were joined by not only the police but also agencies like the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency and Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade to ensure that goods and shops were not looted.

    “The Anambra State government appreciates the cooperation of the crowd which gathered at the scene and notes that the crowd cheered officers of the relevant agencies for their gallant action.

    “It is self-evident that the new conditions of service and operational steps taken by the Anambra State government to effectively and efficiently fight fires in the state are working very well.

    “Following the fuel tanker accident of Wednesday, October 3, 2019, on the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway which resulted in the destruction of some assets in Onitsha and even loss of life, the state government decided to reorganise the fire service.

    “It increased the professional hazard allowance of firemen from a mere N10 a month to N10,000 per month.

    “It appointed a highly respected military officer, Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi, the managing director of the fire service.

    “In addition, it provided a number of fire trucks and an additional 40 vehicles last month to the service.

    “Most importantly, it decided, pending approval from the state House of Assembly, to take the fire service away from the supervision of any ministry and make it autonomous, so as to accelerate its efficiency.

    “Hitherto, if the agency wanted to make even regular purchases, it would have to seek permission from the permanent secretary in the supervising ministry who, in turn, would seek the approval of the commissioner and the commissioner would have to contact the Governor or Secretary to the State Government for approval.

    “All this bureaucratic redtapism impedes the efficiency of the organization which, perforce, should have an excellent response time.

    “The government and people of Anambra State are proud that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has demonstrated sound leadership by identifying the loopholes in the system and tackling them accordingly.

    “True leadership requires people to learn from experience and correct all errors and efficiencies, so that the system will not continue with them.

    “We, therefore, urge all governments in Nigeria to learn from the Anambra State government how to effectively tackle fires, all the more so during this harmattan season.

    “We assure all our people that Anambra State will continue to be the Light of the Nation.

  • Properties worth millions destroyed as fire razes Anambra market

    Properties worth millions destroyed as fire razes Anambra market

    Properties worth millions of naira were yesterday destroyed in a fire incident at the old Automobiles Spare parts Market, Mgbuka, Obosi, Anambra State. One person reportedly collapsed during the incident which occurred around 01:30am.

    It was gathered that the cause of the fire and value of properties destroyed were yet to be ascertained. The police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident in a statement. He said the Commissioner of Police, John Abang, has sympathised with the victims of the inferno.

    He said, “Today, 11/1/2020 at about 01:30am, there was a fire outbreak at old Automobiles Spare parts Market, Awada. Following the distress call, police patrol team led by DPO Awada Division, CSP Tony Adeyi, rushed to the scene and alerted the fire service department and other emergency units which also responded promptly and put off the fire.

    Meanwhile, the area was cordoned off by the police to prevent hoodlums from taking advantage of the situation to loot. One person whose identity is yet unknown collapsed and was taken to the hospital for medical attention.

    “The Commissioner of Police has ordered for a discreet investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident.” On his part, the State Fire Chief, Martin Agbili, said his men deployed fire trucks and firefighters to the scene.

    He said, “The fire outbreak was much due to the nature of things they sell there, which are mainly flammable materials. With the application of our chemical foam compound, we were able to control the fire.”

  • Southeast Group Commends Anambra Govt for Financial Integrity, Discipline

    Southeast Group Commends Anambra Govt for Financial Integrity, Discipline

    The South East Renewal Group (SERG) has commended the Anambra State government for exemplary leadership in the country, saying its commitment to financial discipline, integrity, honesty and transparency has marked it out.

    “There is no other explanation for the various paths in different fields which the state government has been breaking in the last four years”, according to the SERG in a statement in Enugu today signed by the president, Dr Charles Ifebuzo, an accountant, and the secretary, Rowland Anyanwu, a development economist and management consultant.

    “Though what accrues to the state government annually is almost an insignificant fraction of what the Lagos State government receives yearly, the Anambra State government is competing effectively with its Lagos State counterpart.

    “In fact, Anambra is far ahead of Lagos in such areas as education and security.
    “ It is the safest state in Nigeria today and also the most peaceful, thus attracting huge investments estimated by experts to be worth between four and five billion dollars.

    “Its record in education is such that students from Regina Pacis Model Secondary School in Onitsha on Thursday, August 9, 2018, won the highly coveted Global Technovation Competition in Silicon Valley, California, and its students from St John’s Technical Secondary School at Alor won the bronze medal in the International Festival of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) held in Tunisia from March 21 to 29, 2019.

    “Anambra in December, 2018, became the first state in Nigeria’s history to win in four straight years the highly cherished President’s Cup for Secondary Schools Debate, repeating a similar feat on Saturday, October 5, 2019, when at the National Teachers Day celebrated at the Eagle Square in Abuja, Anambra State won four out of the 24 prizes available when no other state got more than one and went on to win two out of the four vehicles donated by the Federal Ministry of Education, The Presidency and the Nigeria Union of Teachers.

    “Anambra’s record in infrastructure development is also exemplary, as it now has the longest bridge in the South East, the best road network in the whole country and is now building the largest conference centre in West Africa with 10,000 sitting capacity. It will be ready in April.

    “It is also among the three least indebted states in Nigeria and the only state in Southern Nigeria which has not exceeded the 50% threshold of the total annual revenue, according to the Debt Management Office and the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

    “We have examined various explanations for Anambra’s outstanding development record, including the recent one that it has to do with the fact that Governor Willie Obiano is a professional banker and auditor who is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants (ICAN), assisted by Dr Nkem Okeke, an engineer with a degree in economics, and Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, an econometrist with huge research and teaching experience in the United Kingdom and the Far East.

    “It is our considered opinion that the explanation is true, but only to an extent. After all, we have seen how creative accountants and a host of other brilliant professionals have messed up organizations like Enron of the United States and the Nigerian unit of Cadbury, the British multinational.

    “It is our firm view that Anambra’s excellence, despite its meager allocation every month from the federation account, has more to do with a large stock of values like trust, honesty, integrity, loyalty, discipline, prudence and commitment to the common good which collectively define social capital.

    “Other states, especially those in the South East, are encouraged to borrow a leaf from Anambra State and restore public trust in them.

    “We hereby lend our support to the call last December by the Igbo Leaders of Thought led by Professor Ben Nwabueze, the globally acknowledged constitutional law expert, and Professor Chiweyite Ejike, former vice chancellor of the defunct Anambra State University of Technology in Enugu, on Governor Obiano to share the secret of his success with his brother South East governors.

    “We note with delight that both Ebonyi and Enugu states, for instance, have started their own versions of the highly Anambra’s eminently successful Community-Choose-Your-Project initiative through which the government executes N20m project in each of the 179 communities in Anambra State, though Obosi and Onitsha receive the double of this amount in consideration of their enormous populations.

    “Researchers, scholars, writers and even students should conduct research on the correlation relationship between effective development and such values as trust, integrity, discipline, honour and dedication to the common good”.

  • Tragic 11-yr-old student roasted in hostel inferno [Photos]

    Tragic 11-yr-old student roasted in hostel inferno [Photos]

    By Augustine Anioke

    An 11-yrs-old Secondary school student in Anambra State has been burnt to death in a fire outbreak which occurred in his school hostel block.

    The fire, it was gathered, occurred on Saturday night when other students had gone out for prayers.

    The incident happened at Patterson Memorial Grammar School Awada.

    It was gathered that the student, Chigozie Dim Anyichie had stayed back in the hostel when other students went to the prayer ground for prayers.

    Police spokesman in the state, Haruna Mohammed confirmed the incident to our Reporter.

    “On the 6 January 2020 at about 09:45am, one Rev. Dr. Kajetan Anuforo ‘m’, the Principal of Patterson Memorial Grammar School, Awada reported at Awada Police Station that there was a fire outbreak in the school on the January 5 at about 10:pm,at a section of the school dormitory when the students were out in the field for night prayers”.

    “The fire which completely burnt down a dormitory block was eventually put off by the concerted efforts of the staff and students of the School.

    “However, when the dust settled, it was discovered that a JSS 1 student identified as one Chigozie Dim Anyichie aged 11years, who did not go out with other students for prayers was caught up in the inferno and burnt beyond recognition,” he said.

    Mr Haruna said that Police detectives led by the DPO of Awada Division, Tony Adeyi visited the scene and took the victim to the hospital where he was certified dead by a medical doctor.

    “The Corpse was photographed and deposited at the mortuary for postmortem examination”.

    He added that the cause of the fire and value of property destroyed is yet to be ascertained.

    “Consequently, the Commissioner of Police CP John B.Abang,FDC has commiserated with the family of the victim and ordered for a discreet investigation to ascertain circumstances surrounding the incident, please.”, Haruna added.

  • Traders flee as plaza collapses in Anambra

    A building reportedly collapsed on Thursday at the Ochanja market in Onitsha, Anambra State.

    The collapsed structure was said to be one of the plaza partially burnt last October during a fire incident at the market.

    TheNewsGuru gathered that some persons, who were inside the building around 3:30pm, fled before the structure caved in.

    An eyewitness, who identified himself as Chuka, said none of the traders was trapped.

    “I don’t think anyone was trapped inside the debris. Most of them were fast enough to escape,” he said.

    Police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said nobody was trapped in the building.

    He said the police patrol team led by the DPO had visited the scene.

    “Yes, the building partially collapsed, but nobody was trapped. There was no loss of life and no injury sustained by any person,” Mohammed said.

     

  • 5 year old boy abducted in Anambra

    A five-year-old boy has been abducted during a service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Ekwulobia, Anambra State.

    The victim, Chimaobim Kosi Ayinkor, was said to be playing with his siblings on the field in the church compound when he was captured.

    A member of the church, who preferred anonymity, said

    The boy was abducted by a yet-to-be identified man, who deceived his elder sibling to go and buy sachet (pure) water for him opposite the church, while he carried out the act.

    Confirming the incident, police spokesman Haruna Mohammed said that the kidnap occurred on Sunday during service while the children were playing on the church field.

    He said: “Mr. and Mrs. Ayinkor Umego of Okpo village, Ekwulobia reported at the Aguata Police Station at about 9am that his wife prepared their three children for service at St. Joseph Catholic Cathedral Church, Ekwulobia.”

    “However while the children were playing on the field within the church premises, a man, whose identity is unknown, called the eldest child and sent him to go and buy three sachet water opposite the church.

    “Before he returned from the errand, the man had disappeared with his younger brother, Chimaobim Kosi Ayinkor, aged five, to an unknown destination. Efforts to find him by the parents have proved abortive.

    “Following the report, the police have circulated a wireless message to divisions/formations through the control room, while effort is being intensified to find the missing child, who is dark in complexion, about 3 feet tall and without a tribal mark.”

    Mohammed urged parents and the public to be wary of strangers.

    “The command enjoins people with useful information about the child’s whereabouts to report at the nearest police station or through a designated police emergency number,” he added.