TheNewsGuru

Tag: Anambra

  • Tragedy! Three waiters burn to death in Anambra hotel

    Tragedy! Three waiters burn to death in Anambra hotel

    Three ladies were burnt to death in a hotel in Ezekwuabo Otolo Nnewi, Anambra state.

    The facility reportedly caught fire in the early hours of the morning after the day’s business.

    The source of the fire outbreak was unknown at the time of filing this report.

    A witness who pleaded anonymity said the deceased were fast asleep when the hotel went up in flames.

    She said the fire started after the owner of the facility closed for the day, leaving behind three ladies.

    “The ladies were fast asleep when they were caught up in the inferno were burnt beyond recognition.

    “They couldn’t escape because the rooms were locked,” she said.

    According to a report by The Nation, corpses have been deposited at Nnewi Diocesan Hospital awaiting identification by the deceased families.

    Confirming the incident, the Commissioner of Police, job Abang described it as unfortunate.

    “Yes, it’s a drinking joint and the waiters who do sleepover there lost their lives, very unfortunate,” he said.

    He said the owner of the building had made useful statement to the police.

  • Anambra accident claims 4, injures 2

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that four persons died, while two others sustained injury in an accident involving a lorry on Nteje/Onitsha expressway in Anambra.

    Mr Andrew Kumapayi, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the accident occurred at about 9 a.m. on Friday.

    Kumapayi explained the accident occurred when the lorry with registration number UML 587 XP lost control and somersaulted, adding that six persons were involved in the accident.

    “Our rescue team arrived at the scene three minutes after we were contacted.

    “The corpses have been deposited at the mortuary, while the injured persons are receiving treatment at Ndeli hospital in Awkuzu,’’ he said.

    The sector commander advised motorists to drive cautiously and ensured that their vehicles were in good condition before embarking on trips.

  • Anambra law makers reject Obiano’s Prado Jeeps, give reasons

    Anambra law makers reject Obiano’s Prado Jeeps, give reasons

    Members of Anambra State House of Assembly are up in gloves in Governor Willie Obiano over alleged proposed gifts of Prado jeep vehicles to the 30 lawmakers from the government believed to be over N1billion.

    The lawmakers accused the Governor of wasting funds, insisting that the state should patronize Innoson motors being manufactured by their own son.

    The state government had proposed the gifts to the lawmakers to help them in discharge of their oversight functions in the state.

    The proposal was sequel to complaints by some lawmakers over the delay in provision of statutory allowances and other entitlements by the state government.

    They contended the purchase of Toyota Prado Jeeps to the tune of almost N1billion was an unnecessary waste of funds when a similar vehicle produced by INNOSON Motors Limited would cost less.

    The lawmakers noted that other governors of the South East and South south had been patronising the local car manufacturing company ,adding that Obiano had ignored his own son.

    But in swift reaction, Chief Press secretary to Speaker Emma Madu said he was not aware of any car gift to the lawmakers .

    However, the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Emeka Ozumba, told the public to discountenance such allegation.

    He said thE House of Assembly and the Executive had enjoyed good working relationship, adding that there was no cause for alarm.

    Chairman, southeast conference of 2019 APC House of Assembly candidates, Hon. Afam Ezenwafor, told reporters the Governor should drop such idea and patronise the local manufacturer.

    According to him: “Obi procured Innoson motors for AVS, schools and local govt councils in the state, it is worthy of emulation.”

    “I commend Gov Ugwuanyi of Enugu state who purchased over 100 hilux pickups from Innoson motors for the security agencies in the state.Other southeast governors must do same”

    “We can only grow our local economy and encourage think home investment when our leaders patronize local contents, govs of Imo, Abia and Ebonyi are not patronising Innoson motors and that’s sad, that attitude must change”.

  • Man electrocuted in Anambra

    A middle-aged man identified as Nduka Emeziagbala, died on Friday, at Enugwu-Agidi community in Anambra in circumstances suspected to be electrocution.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered on Saturday that the incident occurred while the victim was up on a breadfruit tree, which he was hired to cut its branches under electricity high tension cable in the community.
    The deceased was believed to have had contact with something bearing electricity current while on the three trying to shed the branches, and got electrocuted.
    He was said to have fallen off the tree and died in a condition depicting electrocution.
    An eyewitness said that the deceased from Iruobieri village, was given the job following the warning by Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) on the dangers of the tree.
    The company had said that it was necessary to cut down the tree to ensure free flow of electricity current on the wires.
    “In the process, the young man was hired to cut down branches of the tree because of the repeated warning from officers of the EEDC,” the source said.
    Another source, who said that the incident had thrown the entire community in Njikoka Local Government Area into morning, described the deceased as “a quiet young man, who cared for his mother more than his siblings’’.
    In his reaction, President-General of Enugwu-Agidi Brotherly Union (EBU), Mr Chidi Okoye, described the incident as regrettable, but blamed it on carelessness of the deceased.
    Okoye said the leadership of the union had earlier engaged some villagers on the need to allow EEDC to cut down the tree due to the inherent dangers it posed.
    “It is unfortunate that the young man died in that manner. We expected that there would have been a proper communication with the EEDC before cutting down the tree.
    “He just lost his life out of sheer carelessness. The sad incident is a lesson to everybody in the community,” he said.
    Okoye, however, cautioned youths in the area not to take laws into their hands, advising that there was no need for civil unrest in the community as a result of the incident.
    He disclosed that the deceased’s body had been deposited in a mortuary in the community.
    Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Haruna Mohammed, told NAN that the case was not reported to the police.
    Mohammed, however, said that the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the area notified him that the deceased did not die of electrocution.
    “Investigation revealed that the deceased fell from Ukwa (breadfruit) tree and became unconscious.
    “He was taken to a hospital where he later died.
    “But, the matter was not officially reported to the police,” he said.

  • Anambra: Gov Obiano reshuffles cabinet

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has announced the movement of six commissioners from their ministries to new ones.

    The cabinet reshuffle was effected after the State Executive Council meeting held in Awka on Monday.

    Mr C-Don Adinuba, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, in a statement, said six commissioners were affected.

    They include Mr Obi Nwankwo, who was moved from the Ministry of Utilities to Environment, while Mr Michael Okonkwo, who was in charge of the Ministry of Environment, now takes over Ministry of Housing.

    Mr Emeka Ezenwanne, formerly of Housing Ministry, is to take charge at the Ministry of Utilities while Mr Afam Mbanefo, formerly of Agriculture now to head Youths and Creative Arts Ministry.

    Mr Bonaventure Enemali, formerly of Youths and Creative and Arts now proceeds to Lands, while Mr Nnamdi Onukwuba, formerly of Lands, now moves to the Ministry of Agriculture.

    Adinuba said the affected commissioners had two weeks to perfect their transfers.

  • Anambra guber: Prepare for war in 2021, APC tells APGA, PDP

    Anambra guber: Prepare for war in 2021, APC tells APGA, PDP

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Anambra State, has called on the All progressives Grand Alliance APGA and the People’s Democratic Party PDP, to prepare for war in the next governorship election in the state in 2021

    The party leaders in a unanimous decision Friday at the Milatel Hotels in Awka, vowed that what happened in the past during elections in Anambra State, will never repeat itself again.

    It was during the presidential victory get together of the party, organized by the Buhari Youth Organisation, led by its Coordinator in the state, Hon Olisa Okamelu.

    Speaker after speaker including the former Commissioner for information, Chief Charles Amilo, South East Youth leader of APC, Hon Olisaemeka Onyeka and party leaders from Imo and Enugu states, spoke in the same vein.

    The State Acting party Chairman of APC, Chief Basil Ejidike, said the target of the party was 2021 governorship, adding that it would be the time for APC to stamp it’s authority in Anambra.

    He apologized to party members for the party not living to its billing during the previous elections, nothing that the time to get it right would be in 2021 election in the state.

    According to Ejidike “it will not be a problem again for us because we have identified some of the problems that held us back in the past”

    “Our coming political summit in May in Anambra will usher in a new dawn. So, the ruling party in the State and others should be ready to face APC because it’s now or never”

    The state Coordinator of BYO (Buhari Youth Organisation) Hon Osita Okamelu, said with the leadership of the party under Ejidike, who he described as a political bulldozer, that APC was as good as winning in 2021

    However, he agreed with other speakers like Okelo Madukaife, the party’s publicity secretary, Chief Amilo, Onyeka and others that there was an improvement during the presidential election unlike what happened before now.

    For Olisaemeka Onyeka, the Southeast Youth leader of APC, there was need to review the proposed zoning formula in the party.

    He said the party should give the Southeast either the Deputy Senate president or Deputy Speaker of the House of representatives, since the other positions had been shared, adding that the office of the Secretary to the government of the federation SGF was just an appointment.

  • Herdsmen raping our wives –Anambra youths declare

    Herdsmen raping our wives –Anambra youths declare

    Disillusioned youths from Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State on Monday protested against the alleged raping of women in the area by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The youths from Anam and Igala communities also noted that Fulani herdsmen had killed and mutilated some people in the area.

    The placard-carrying campaigners, who converged on Umueze Anam Bridge, vowed to resist further attacks by the herdsmen.

    They said, “How can they be raping our mothers, wives and sisters in our presence almost on a daily basis? Enough is enough.”

    Some of their placards read, “Silent killing of our people by Fulani herdsmen on the farms and our villages are still going on”, “We are running out of patience with the violent activities of Fulani herdsmen in Anambra West”, “Pushing us to the wall will bring mayhem”, enough of the killing of our people”, “Police and Army are only protecting herdsmen while they are killing our people”.

    They urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Willie Obiano to intervene.

    Odikpo Madubueze, spokesperson for the group said, “We are just respecting Governor Obiano that is why we have not confronted these herdsmen. If they continue what they are doing, we will confront them and it will be bloody and we’re sure at the end of the clash no herdsman will ever come to Anambra West again.”

    He added, “We are disappointed that the government is paying lip service to this issue. The visitors will come here to rape our mothers, wives, sisters, attack and kill our people. We can no longer tolerate these.

    “Obiano should intervene now; we do not want to create any embarrassing situation for him, but we expect him to act now.

    “We do not want to take the law into our own hands, but the federal and Anambra state governments should not allow us to engage in violence; they (herdsmen) have humiliated us enough and many of our people who are predominantly farmers have abandoned their farms.

    “We cannot run away from our farms and villages because of people we decided to accommodate to do their cattle business.”

     

  • Anambra youths protest, threaten reprisal over alleged killing, raping of women

    Anambra youths protest, threaten reprisal over alleged killing, raping of women

    Youths of Anambra West local government area, Anambra State on Monday, staged a peaceful protest over alleged continued killings of farmers and raping of women in the community.

    They accused the state government of paying lip service to their plight, threatening to embark on a reprisal attack if noting urgent was done.

    Addressing newsmen shortly after the protest, Secretary of the youths, Ikechukwu Onuorah, wondered why they would be asked to be patient while they continued to be humiliated by visitors in their communities.

    He said, “We are disappointed that the government is paying lip service to addressing the problem.

    “How can people be sleeping in their farm settlements and homes while visitors will attack, kill and cut off their neck? It makes us look as if we are weak.

    “We are just respecting Governor Obiano that is why we have not confronted the killer herdsmen. We don’t want to create an embarrassing situation for him, but we expect him to act now.

    “If they continue what they are doing, we will confront them and it will be bloody and I’m sure at the end of the clash no herdsman will ever come into Anambra West.”

    On his part, the Coordinator, Mr. Odikpo Madubueze said, “We don’t want to take laws into our hands, but Federal and State governments shouldn’t allow us to match them violence for violence, they have killed many of our people and farmers have deserted their farms.

    “It’s only few courageous farmers that go to farm in groups now, unlike before they go alone and even at that, they have always run out of the farms claiming to be pursued by herdsmen.

    “We cannot run away from our farms and villages because of people we decided to accommodate to do their cattle rearing business.”

    The protesters, carrying placards, chanted songs, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Willie Obiano to intervene by stopping further killings in the area.

    Some of the placards read, “Silent killings of our people by Fulani herdsmen our farms and villages still going on”, “We are running out of patience with the violent activities of Fulani herdsmen in Anambra West”, “Pushing us to the walls will bring mayhem, enough of the killings of our people.”

  • [Graphic photo] 22-year-old politician commits suicide in Anambra

    [Graphic photo] 22-year-old politician commits suicide in Anambra

    A 22-year-old man, Chika Alex-Chukwuezie has committed suicide in Ubaekwem community in Ihiala Local government area of Anambra state.

    The deceased of Umuanasa clan, reportedly hung on a family mango tree for yet- to- be ascertained reason.

    According to reports, the deceased until his death was an active youth in the Umuezekwe political ward of Ihiala LGA.

    A family member, who preferred anonymity, said the act might not be unconnected to spiritual liberation defect due to the reoccurring suicide incidents that plague the family.

    He said: “He was a single unemployed young man who had completed his SSS exams, with the hope to excel in business after schooling.

    “One of his uncles also committed suicide at youthful age decades ago.

    “The family had to subject itself to spiritual cleansing to avert recurrence of the unfortunate incident.”

    The body of the deceased has been thrown into the thick forest in accordance with Igbo traditional rites.

    “Efforts are ongoing to bring in traditionalists who will cutoff the orange tree and sanctify the compound,” a source added.

    Police Public Relation officer in the state, Harunna Muhammed, confirmed the incident.

    He said investigation was on to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

  • Ifeanyi Ubah dumps YPP for APC

    The Young Peoples Party (YPP) Senator-elect, in Anambra State, Ifeanyi Ubah, has dumped his party for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Ubah had often debunked reports that he had dumped his party, but his membership of APC was confirmed by Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the APC on Monday.

    Oshiomhole had announced Ubah’s membership of the ruling party at a meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with APC senators-elect in Aso Rock on Monday night.

    At a press conference on Friday, Ubah had said: “I am not yet ready to defect from the YPP. I am still in the YPP. In party business, you can’t determine what would happen next. Sometimes you wake up and you will start seeing one problem or the other. For me today, I am in the YPP and I hope to remain in the party.

    “The YPP is bringing a revolution of change to Nigeria. I must join a progressive group in the Senate since I cannot be alone. The YPP is the party to beat in this country. I won my election without the party having an office in any part of Anambra State.”

    According to The Cable, Governors present at the meeting were Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara).

    Others were Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Kashim Shettina (Borno), and Gboyega Oyetala (Osun).