Tag: Cross River

Carnival: APC mourns death of fun seekers in Calabar

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River on Wednesday expressed shock at the killing of seven fun seekers during the Carnival Bakers Parade in Calabar on Tuesday.

Many were also injured in the accident when a motorist rammed into the crowd of fun seekers.

The party’s Publicity Secretary in Cross River, Mr Erasmus Ekpang, stated on Wednesday in Calabar that its leadership was traumatised by the accident.

“The leadership of APC in Cross River is deeply pained and traumatised by the horrifying, saddening and devastating incident which has stained and shortened the joy and excitement of the Yuletide celebration.

“We mourn and sympathise with the families of the deceased and those injured who are currently receiving treatment.

“We also commiserate with our leader, Gov. Ben Ayade and indeed the entire people of our state over the harrowing incident.

“We pledge our support for the families of the deceased and survivors during this moment of grief and pain,’’ Ekpang stated.

He added that the party would do everything within its capacity to soothe the pain caused the families and the survivors.

He assured that the ugly and unfortunate occurrence would be addressed appropriately.

“We also want to state that this should not deter your confidence in the party as we are also out for you and your well-being.

“Please, once again, accept our deep sympathy on this unfortunate accident. We pray God to strengthen you and your families,’’ Ekpang stressed.

December 28, 2022
Cross River Senator withdraws court case against APC

Sen.John Owan-Enoh (APC- Cross River) has withdrawn his court case challenging the outcome of the state governorship primaries which he lost.

Owan-Enoh, who represents Cross River Central at the National Assembly said this at a news conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said that his decision was based on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s public appeal to him.

“The public appeal by the presidential candidate and National Leader of our party is such a humbling experience which I cannot ignore under any circumstances.

“On this note therefore, I have taken the hard decision to put an end to the litigation and instead work for the success of the party,” he said.

The Senator who reiterated his respect for Tinubu, said that he had accepted to swallow the bitter pill and work in harmony with the party for its victory.

He called on his supporters and other aggrieved members of the party to join him in the renewed commitment to move the party forward.

“We cannot afford to go into the next election fragmented, factionalised and disunited,” he said.

Sen John Owan-Enoh, was one of the governorship aspirants of the APC but lost to Sen. Bassey Otu at the party’s primaries in May.

He, however, took the party and Otu to court alleging irregularities at the primaries.

December 28, 2022
Gov Ayade expresses sadness over Calabar carnival incident

Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has expressed sadness over the ugly incident where an errant motorist ploughed into a crowd that thronged the Carnival route to watch the bikers parade.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Barrister Christian Ita said Governor Ayade is devasted by the incident and has directed security agencies to apprehend the motorist who is on the run.

While sympathising with the victims of the accident and their families, the governor, according to the statement, ordered an immediate investigation to unravel how the motorist was able to get through security barricades to have access to the routes which were closed to the public.

Ita said the Governor directed the immediate discontinuation of the Bikers parade in honour of the victims of the accident.

Governor Ayade while promising to ensure the culprit is arrested and brought to book, however, sued for calm.

December 27, 2022
BREAKING: Calabar carnival turns ‘bloody’; 7 dead, many injured

Seven (7) persons have been confirmed dead and twenty-nine (29) others sustained various degrees of injuries in an incident that occurred during the annual Calabar Carnival on Tuesday.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Cross River State has confirmed the ‘bloody’ incident.

The Sector Commander of the Corps, Maikano Hassan confirmed the number of casualties.

Hassan said that the incident occurred in front of the Jumat Mosque in Bogobiri in the capital city of Cross River during the Bikers Carnival activity of the carnival.

He listed the number of injured to include 21 male adults, three women, two male children and three female children.

The FRSC boss said that the injured were rushed to Naval hospital and the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) for medical attention.

He said that the remains of the dead had been deposited in the two hospitals in Calabar.

According to him, the incident occurred when a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers during the carnival.

The incident abruptly brought the day five activity to an end, where the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade was already seated with other dignitaries.

It would be recalled that the annual carnival which started during the administration of Donald Duke, has not been held for the past two years.

The carnival was suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic while no reason was given for the carnival not holding in 2021.

Efforts were still being made to put some facilities in place for the 2022 edition of the carnival which was hurriedly put up.

Meanwhile, Gov Ayade has condoled with families of those who lost their lives and promised to bring to book the driver of the vehicle that caused the accident.

December 27, 2022
JUST IN: Police foil ‘Christmas heist’ in Calabar

The Police Command in Cross River said it foiled a robbery attack in one of the old-generation banks in the State capital city on Friday.

The state Commissioner of Police, Sule Balarabe, who confirmed the incident, said that the command arrested four suspects in connection with the planned failed attack.

He said the suspects were Joshua Samuel, 22; Innocent Edom, 20; Samuel Okon, 28; and Mohammed Salisu, 29.

The Commissioner, however, noted that five of the suspected bank robbers were still at large.

He also said that the nine-member robbery gang that had been terrorising the city, was smashed by the command.

”Based on credible intelligence, the Supol in charge of EPZ (Export Processing Zone) mobilised a tactical team and stormed the bank, apprehending four out of the nine suspects.

”The four arrested suspects were the ones carrying out espionage (surveillance) for the remaining five armed men outside waiting to strike.

”During preliminary inquiry, the suspects confessed to have been on an espionage mission with the intent to alert other gang members on when to strike and rob the bank,” he said.

He assured that the fleeing suspects would be apprehended soon by the command.

Balabare further warned criminals, who were bent on causing havoc, to either leave the town or stay law abiding as they would be ruthlessly dealt with.

”All the commanders of our tactical teams, DPOs are on red alert to deal decisively with criminal elements in any part of the state, within the ambit of the law and in the most professional manner.

”My officers and men have stepped up policing holistically across the length and breadth of the state.

”In achieving this task, the command has carried out massive deployment of personnel and tools in critical infrastructure, recreational centres and directed aggressive vehicular/foot patrols before, during and after the festive season,” he said.

Similarly, the Command also warned potential dealers and users of fireworks to desist from the illegal business venture.

The CP appealed to guardians and parents to caution their wards to desist from patronising fireworks sellers.

December 25, 2022
2023: APC performance has guaranteed us victory in C/River – PDP guber candidate

Sen. Sandy Onor, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship Candidate in Cross River, said that the poor performance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration in the state had made the campaign easier for his party.

Onor, who currently represents Cross River Central in the Senate, stated this on Saturday in a chat with newsmen in Ikom, Ikom Local Government Area of the state.

Onor, who spoke on a wide range of issues, including the use of BIVAS and the crisis in the PDP, said that “Cross Riverians“ (Cross Riveri people as they want to be called) were resolved to go in a different direction in the 2023 general elections.

He particularly expressed regrets at the current security situation in the state which, he noted, had snowballed into kidnapping.

“Our state is enveloped in darkness as far as good governance is concerned and in history we say darkness is not a subject of history.

“This wasn’t the kind of governance we (PDP) offered in the state. In comparison, what we have now is stagnancy.

“The civil servants are not happy, local government staff are despondent, the ordinary citizens are in a very dark and bad place.

“You will see that the choice is very clear and the people of the state are very willing to demonstrate that with their votes,” he stated.

Onor alleged that some people, out of desperation to ensure victory at all cost, were canvassing that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS)
should not to be deployed for the polls.

According to him, “BIVAS has come to stay and we are very happy with INEC because INEC has insisted from my knowledge of the position on INEC by the Senate, all kinds of pressures were put on INEC to drop the BIVAS which they (INEC) have rejected.

“We are going to be BIVAS-compliant and that is where our confidence is hinged.

“On our own, we are taking nothing for granted, we are working very hard and very convinced that we will win the elections,” he said.

Speaking on the crisis in the PDP, the Cross River governorship candidate said that Atiku Abubakar would be home-and-dry if he could reconcile with the Wike’s group.

He also noted that the Wike’s camp, which he belonged to, was ready for reconciliation.

“If he (Atiku) does his job well and reconciles with his party, reconciles with Gov. Wike and with all of us, it will be an easy ride for him and that is what I hope for the party.

“The Wike camp where we belonged to and the Atiku camp are both saying they are ready for reconciliation and we hope that the reconciliation will happen.

“Every right thinking PDP person is looking forward to that reconciliation, that is the position now and I don’t want to be pessimistic about it,” he said.

December 17, 2022
Gunmen abduct four, injure one in C/River

Mrs Rose Bassey, a former Accountant General of Cross River, was abducted on Tuesday along with three others at Uyanga axis of the Calabar-Ogoja highway.

They were abducted by gunmen who laid siege on that axis of the busy highway by shooting at the traveling motorists to force them to stop.

Nigerian standard reports that a popular evangelist in the state, Edim Edim Omin, was also shot during the process.

The evangelist, who escaped with bullet wounds, is said to be receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the state.

The incident is coming barely 24 hours after the state police Command said it has deployed tactical team, including Anti-Cultism and Kidnapping Squads, to that axis of the highway to safeguard motorists and commuters plying the highway.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the state Police Command, SP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the Tuesday’s incident and said the Command is working to see that the four abducted persons were released unharmed.

She reiterated that the Command is working to see that normalcy returns to that axis of the highway.

“It is a sad reality for us and as I speak with you, the Commissioner of Police is heading to that axis to assess the situation of things himself,” she stated.

It would be recalled that the Uyanga-Ikomita axis of the Calabar-Ogoja highway have become notorious for kidnappers in the past two months.

No fewer than 20 persons, including two medical doctors in the state, have been abducted at that axis of the highway.

The abduction of the medical doctors led to industrial action by the State chapter of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) that demanded for their release unhurt.

December 7, 2022
BIZARRE: Woman beheads her 11-month-old baby in Cross River [GORY PHOTO]

WARNING: A gory photo is attached to this publication. Viewer’s discretion is strongly advised.

The Police Command in Cross River State has confirmed the arrest of a woman who allegedly beheaded her 11-month-old baby in Yonen community of Ugep, Yakurr Local Government Area of the State.

The Spokesperson of the command, SP Irene Ugbo gave the confirmation on Wednesday in Calabar.

She said that the child was killed on Tuesday and the police immediately stepped in to prevent mob action against the woman.

Ugbo said that the case will be transferred from Ugep to the homicide department for proper investigation.

“It is quite unfortunate and devastating, already she is in protective custody, but the matter will surely be brought to Calabar,” the spokesman added.

It was gathered that the mother of two allegedly used a machete to cut off the head of the baby.

An eyewitness said the woman’s 8-year-old son stumbled on the scene and raised an alarm which attracted neighbours.

However, the timely intervention of the police, who immediately took the lady into protective custody and moved her out of Ugep, saved her from the mob.

Meanwhile, the Obol Lopon of Ugep and Paramount Ruler of Yakurr, Obol Ofem-Ubana Eteng, has called for calm as the police investigate the matter.

“I immediately convened a meeting with my subjects because even though what happened has desecrated the land, I had to ensure that further bloodshed was averted.

“We appealed directly to young people in Ugep to tow the path of peace and rational thought in the face of this heinous crime and they positively responded.

“We are in shock, but we are calm and have left this matter in the hands of the police. I assure you that there will be no reprisal action because we must remain law abiding”, he said.

See photo of the beheaded baby below (Again, viewer’s discretion is strongly advised):

November 30, 2022
I feel sorry for next Governor of Cross River – Ex-Gov Duke

Mr Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River, has said that he felt sorry for the next governor of the state, revealing that such individual would be faced with an uphill task to reinvent governance in the state.

He made the remarks at the inauguration of 1,080-member campaign council of the charter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Calabar on Saturday.

The former governor, who had been saddled with the task of leading the campaign council, noted that the essence of good governance had been lost in the state in the last eight years.

According to him, “I never bargained to be governor of the state, but was driven by passion and commitment to positively change the fortune of the state, when I eventually became one.”

He said that where he and his team envisioned the state to be by now was not where it was.”

“I am worried about development in the state, a whole generation had been lost.

“We know where the state ought to be by now. The plan was that we would have been governing the state without relying on federal allocation by now. The plans were all laid out.

“Whole paradise had been lost. This is certainly not the best of time to govern Cross River State,” he said.

Duke, however, said he was hopeful that the PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Sandy Onor, has what it takes to restore the lost glory of the state.

He stressed that Onor’s past experiences in government had adequately prepared him for the uphill task of reinventing the state.

“As a former Local Government Chairman, Vice Chairman and at a time Chairman of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), in addition to being a former Commissioner for environment and Agriculture and now a Senator, Sandy has what it takes to right the wrongs.

“I am glad that it is Sandy that will bring back the state that we have lost. I can stake for him because I know who he is,” he stated.

In his remarks, the Onor said that the state had lost direction, as everything about the state had been abused and debased.

Earlier in his address, the state party Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem, called for the support of all party faithful irrespective of their present status.

Ikem noted that all party members have the responsibility of selling the party’s candidates across the state.

November 26, 2022
2023: C/River APC Guber candidate loses support of party chieftain, community leaders

Chief Sam Bassey, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River and community leaders in Biase Local Government Area, have pledged support for the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Sandy Onor.

They made the declaration at a stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday at Biase, near Calabar.

Bassey said he and his followers took the decision to work for the success of Onor while still in the APC.

He noted that their action does not in any way amount to anti-party activity; It is meant to correct the injustice meted out to their constituency.

“The zoning structure adopted by the state chapter of the APC in their primaries election is in itself anti Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency where we all hail from,” he stated.

Bassey, a member of APC legacy group, said time has come for the political class and political parties to demonstrate equity, fairness and justice in sharing political offices.

He pointed out that using zoning or rotation to deny or marginalise other minority segments of the state is against the spirit of brotherhood.

Lashing proponents of back-to-south zoning arrangement, Bassey maintained that the agitators of rotation are mostly those who want to continually dominate the other sections that make up a zone.

He stressed that every senatorial zone has credible people and resources to lead the state.

He regretted that both the APC governorship and senatorial candidates are from Efik and from one local government area.

While noting that this arrangement was with the exclusion of Akamkpa and Biase local government areas, he said it was an attempt to pepertually marginalise the minorities in the south.

“I am vehemently opposed to this kind of arrangement where some people will remain underdogs and cannot occupy certain positions.

“Against this background, I, some community leaders and hundreds of our followers in Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency have endorsed and adopted the PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, ahead of 2023 polls.

“I believe that Sen. Onor can help us, we have discussed. He is very approachable and has a listening ear. We would try our best to mobilise for the election,” he stated.

On whether his support and campaign for PDP candidate does not amount to anti-party activity, he said: “I am still in the APC and a legacy member of the party.

“I have not defected, but the truth is that I am supporting the PDP because that is where the happiness of my people comes from. Besides, if my people are not happy in politics, I cannot even call myself a politician.”

He advised all the candidates and parties to play by the rules rather than engaging in politics of propaganda and sentiments.

Also speaking on behalf of some community leaders, Chief Emmanuel Ogban, said, “Some of us have already made up of our minds and are mobilising our people to work for the PDP governorship candidate to fight marginalisation in the south. We have been neglected.

“This 2023 election is not about party affairs, it is about capacity and credibility as well as who can deliver and redeem us from sufferings and economic doldrums,” he said.

November 6, 2022