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Tag: Enugu

  • Sit-at-home: Enugu CP orders police to go after hoodlums

    Sit-at-home: Enugu CP orders police to go after hoodlums

    The Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr. Ahmed Ammani, has ordered area commanders, divisional police officers and commanders of tactical and operational units to go after hoodlums trying to paralyze business activities in the state.

    Ammani gave the order on Saturday in Enugu following pockets of violence by armed-wielding hoodlums bent on causing fear and social unrest among residents.

    He directed them to deploy all intelligence and operational resources at their disposal to effectively patrol and fish out miscreants that might want to disrupt public peace and security.

    “You are directed to ensure that there is no disruption of businesses and other activities of law-abiding residents under the guise of enforcing illegitimate sit-at-home order in any part of the state,” he added.

    Ammani reassured that the command, other security agencies and law-abiding citizens would  ensure that lives and property of the residents are protected against undesirable activities of misguided criminal elements.

    The commissioner said: “I urge all and sundry to remain vigilant, go about their lawful businesses and resist succumbing to the antics of the miscreants, including the spread of tension-causing fake news.

    “I also enjoin law-abiding residents to continue to support and cooperate with the police and other security agencies, in their unwavering quest to quell the activities of criminal elements.”

    He also called on the good people of the state to remain law-abiding, security conscious and promptly report suspected criminals to the nearest police station.

    “They should call the Command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075390883, 08098880172 or 08086671202; or alternatively send emails to infoenugupolice@gmail.com,” he added.

    Meanwhile, normalcy has been restored at the New Market axis of Enugu where the hoodlums fired guns to scare residents in the early hours of Saturday.

    The command had already deployed a crack team of police operatives to hunt down the armed hoodlums.

  • Sit -At-Home: Many Feared dead, police car set ablaze in Enugu

    Sit -At-Home: Many Feared dead, police car set ablaze in Enugu

    About Five persons are feared dead on Saturday morning following attacks by hoodlums trying to enforce a sit-at -home order in Enugu state.

    Recall that a loyalist of Nnamdi Kanu Simon Ekpa had declared a sit-at -home order for all the five South Eastern states in the country.

    Meanwhile, a viral video circulating online has shown yet to be identified  victims lying lifeless in front of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital situated at Parklane.

    It was gathered that a police car was set ablaze at the New Market Area while some persons were shot.

    An eyewitness recounted that the gunmen, numbering over ten, stormed the area as early as 6 a.m. before shooting into the air to scare people off the street.

    Reports say the hoodlums were marching from one part of the state to another without resistance.

    Following the development, many residents have been forced indoors for fear of being attacked.

  • Ugwuanyi inaugurates Nnamdi Azikiwe’s centre in Enugu

    Ugwuanyi inaugurates Nnamdi Azikiwe’s centre in Enugu

    Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Friday converted old Premier’s Lodge of the defunct Eastern Region to Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe Centre for Historical Monument of Great Zik.

    Newsmen reports that the centre houses Zik’s interviews, showcase of his leadership qualities, exhibition of his life, scholarly awards, media releases in form of documentaries and movies as well as his dressing.

    Inaugurating the centre, Ugwuanyi said it was conceived to serve as a historical, educational, cultural and tourist monuments in honour of the late Zik.

    The governor, who described Zik as a scholar, foremost nationalist, an outstanding and inspirational leader, said he was pleased that his administration came up with the idea which started five years ago.

    He, however, emphasised the need for people to appreciate the past leaders for their contribution and efforts for the wellbeing of the country.

    The General Manager, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC), Mr Chukwuemelie Agu, thanked the governor for remodeling the centre earlier earmarked for demolition.

    According to him, the place serves as official office of the Great Zik of Africa while the other side was his residential home known then as Premier Lodge.

    Agu said the centre would preserve the lyrics and history of the Premier of the then Eastern Region, and the corporation had placed high premium on preserving his relics such as shoes, eye glasses and cloths.

    “ESHDC is highly privileged and excited to be part of this memorable and historical project,” Agu said.

    Also, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, while thanking Ugwuanyi for not making the great works of Zik swept under carpet, said the centre would help to uphold the legacies of their son, Owelle of Onitsha.

    He stressed that the gesture was not ordinary, particularly in Nigeria where people easily forgot the efforts and suffering of past leaders.

    “Children coming behind us will not know about Nnamdi Azikiwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Michael Okpara and others unless they visit centre like this to appreciate their efforts, legacies and philosophies.

    “With this, they will emulate their leadership principles and sense of humanity, so that in future more like them will emerge,” he said.

    Achebe, who lauded Federal Government for reintroducing History in school curriculum, said: “It is worst policy decision a nation can make by denying their people the knowledge of their history and place in the world.

    “It is a common knowledge that the most effective way to conquer a nation is not by physical arm like Russia, the real conquest is when you deny people the sense of their history, language and culture.

    “That was what Colonial Masters did to us but Zik and others fought for it but we Nigerians subsequently denied ourselves history.”

    Thanking Ugwuanyi on behalf of the family, the wife of Zik, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, said the family would not forget what the governor did for them.

    She said: “The centre is going to be a legacy project in Enugu and a centre where anybody visiting Enugu will come to see as well as tourists attraction for many.”

    Earlier, Zik’s son, Mr Uwakwe Azikiwe, said that Ugwuanyi conceptualised the ideal of immortalising his father by renovating the old Premier Lodge where Zik resided and worked as Premier of Eastern Region from 1954 to 1960.

    Uwakwe, who is the Special Adviser to Ugwuanyi on Special Duties, stressed that it was presented to them in 2016 and renovated by ESHDC.

    “There are sections for his personal life, independence, first and second republic, places named after him,” he added.

  • Just In: Gunmen kill three policemen in Enugu

    Just In: Gunmen kill three policemen in Enugu

     

    Three policemen of the Enugu State command have been shot dead by unknown gunmen at Agbani, headquarters of Nkanu West Local Government of the state.

    The incident, occurred on Saturday morning at a roundabout near the Agbani Divisional Police station.

    The police officers were on stop-and-search duty when the assailants sighted them and immediately opened fire, bringing down the three security operatives.

    The attack occurred less than 24 hours after a former Commissioner in the state and Oji-River Local government’s chairman, Chief Gabriel Onuzulike and his elder brother were killed at their Nkpokolo-Achi hometown by gunmen.

    Meanwhile, the State police command has disclosed that, following a distress call on the incident, two assailants were intercepted and neutralized by a joint Police/Army team.

    This was disclosed by Daniel Ndukwe, the state police spokesman.

    He said the team recovered an AK-47 rifle with two magazines loaded with ammunition, a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep belonging to the deceased victims, a Toyota Camry car and a RAV4 Jeep.

    Part of his statement read: “Pending the receipt of a detailed report, kindly be informed that preliminary report reveals that two (2) of the assailants, said to have infiltrated into Oji-River from neighbouring Anambra State community, in the evening hours of 18/11/2022, that attacked and murdered one Gabriel Onuzulike (identified as former Chairman of Oji-River LGA and Commissioner in Enugu State Government) and his brother at Nkpokolo-Achi in Oji-River LGA, were neutralized by a Joint Police/Army Team, who swiftly responded to a distress call on the incident and intercepted the hoodlums at Inyi community of the same LGA, as they were escaping into Anambra State.”

    Meanwhile, the chase for the assailants, many of whom escaped into a nearby forest is ongoing, he added.

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  • Gov. Ugwuanyi inspects newly-built asphalt plant in Enugu

    Gov. Ugwuanyi inspects newly-built asphalt plant in Enugu

    Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Saturday inspected the newly-built Asphalt Plant at Emene, Enugu, by an indigenous construction company, Eketeson Resources International Limited.

    Ugwuanyi commended the resilient spirit of indigenes of the state in excelling in their various business endeavours nationally and internationally, in spite of the challenges confronting the country.

    He stressed that: “Enugu indigenes have shown resilience in the face of the nation’s economic challenges.”

    The governor, however, thanked the Managing Director of the company, Chief Donald Ekete, for the bold initiative of investing in the state, describing the asphalt plant as a great project.

    Ugwuanyi, who attributed the existing peace and security in Enugu State to God’s kindness and mercy, beseeched Him (God) to give more indigenes of the state the will to invest and open more business ventures.

    He stated that the Eketeson asphalt plant would be a reference point in the next 50 years.

    The governor also prayed that the company would grow from strength to strength and provide employment opportunities for more people of Enugu State.

    He, therefore, used the opportunity to appeal to other indigenes of Enugu to come home and invest, stressing that God is in charge of the affairs of the state.

    Welcoming Ugwuanyi earlier, Ekete described the governor’s presence as a great honour and a demonstration of his commitment to investment and business growth in Enugu.

    Ekete disclosed that the plant was the latest version in the world.

    The Managing Director further explained that the company’s plant produced 120 to 150 tons per hour (TPH) and had the capacity to do any mixed design for its clients.

    “It is only RCC and Julius Berger that have this kind of asphalt plant in Nigeria.”

    He said that the project had a minimum capacity of 100 workers and other inherent benefits for the people of the state and the government.

    Ekete, however, expressed gratitude to Gov. Ugwuanyi for providing the enabling environment for businesses to thrive in Enugu State, especially the opportunity given to the company to actualise the landmark project.

    Yhe traditional ruler of Agunese Mmaku in Awgu Local Government Area, Igwe Cyprian Nevobasi, applauded Mr Ekete for the milestone achievement.

    He appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi for providing peace and security in Enugu which had made it possible for the siting of the plant in the state.

  • Enugu: APGA Guber candidate, Frank Nweke, unveils manifesto

    Enugu: APGA Guber candidate, Frank Nweke, unveils manifesto

    Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Governorship candidate for Enugu State, says his administration will restore perennial water scarcity in the state within 12 months in power.

    Nweke, a onetime Information Minister, made the promise during the unveiling of his manifesto at Polo Park, Enugu on Saturday, saying that “water is life”.

    The APGA candidate said the citizens had been experiencing hardship in getting tap water and thereby, exposed to the high cost of tank water hawkers.

    He promised to tackle the menace by partnering with experts and ensuring that water supply in the state was handled by different companies to elicit competition.

    The candidate said the party manifesto focused on seven key thrusts: Leadership, Governance, Security, Human Capital Development, Economic Transformation, Enviromental Sustainability and Infrastructure and Technology and Innovation.

    “Our key thrust for reigniting the Coal City are to revive culture of leadership that values honesty, hard work, brotherhood, partnership, and unshakeable focus on the people.

    “Restore trust in the institution of government, block leakages in expenditure, and replace the current system with one that is fit, inclusive, and equitable.

    “Pursue total human security by addressing the state and non state factors of insecurity, partnering with security agencies and local communities.

    “Prioritise the total well being of the citizens through sustainable investment in values propagation, Education, Health, Security, and Enviromental Sustainability.

    Nweke promised transformation of the state economy by making Enugu an investor friendly and industrial destination.

    “We will establish Enugu as a technology and Innovation destination through the propagation of tech hubs and the related ecosystem activity that sustains them.

    The state party Chairman, Mr Ndubuisi Enechionyia, earlier said that the party want to rescue the state from collapsing and to change the lives of the citizens to better.

    Enechionyia said that the part course to takeover the leadership of the state had been reinforced by the clear ineptitude of the current government in all aspects of governance.

    “From bad raods, teachers on strike, absence of Water, Security, Sanitation, healthcare even the Judiciary, situation of Enugu State has never been this bad.

    “Today, we are taking a major step in rebuilding Enugu State to give the citizens all they derseved as the electorates,” Elechionyia said.

    Nweke Jr and his running mate, Dr Edith Ugwuanyi, will contest the 2023 Guber election under APGA in Enugu.

  • Adoration Ministry: Do not protest, pray for me – Father Mbaka begs members

    Adoration Ministry: Do not protest, pray for me – Father Mbaka begs members

    Former Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministry, Enugu, (AMEN), Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has urged members of the church to remain calm and stop protesting but to pray for him.

    Mbaka made the call while leaving for the Monastery on Wednesday in obedience to the church order.

    The Enugu Diocese of the Catholic Church on Sunday announced Mbaka’s movement to the monastery.

    The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria on Monday clarified that Rev. Fr. Mbaka had not been removed from the Adoration Ministry Enugu Nigeria (AMEN) as erroneously reported in some quarters.

    According to reports, the recommendation for Mbaka to spend time in solitude at a monastery was hinged on the need for him to hear what the Spirit of God had to tell him.

    “I do not want to hear that there is any protest done to express anger towards my journey to the monastery.

    “Help me; fellow adorers to stop any kind of protest that anybody will carry on my behalf to please me. Instead of protest, or demonstration geared towards helping me, it may jeopardise my priestly call.

    “Therefore, encourage peace, love, within this time and do more of prayers and God of heaven will do the rest for us in Jesus name,’’ he said.

    On his journey to the monastery, Mbaka said he would use the opportunity to bless everyone, adding that, he was going to the monastery in obedient to the Bishop, His Lordship Onaga.

    Mbaka said he was going to monastery under priestly obedience and wished to encourage his fellow adorers to remain calm and be still.

    According to him, this is a time to know the real adorers. Please back me with your prayers so that I will go and embark on deeper reflection, sober contemplations and waiting on the Lord.

    “I want to assure you that God has plans for us for a future of hope and not of disaster. Use this opportunity to call on God for integral wellness and wellbeing of the adoration ministry that is the apple of God’s eyes.

    “I wish to inform you fellow adorers that this is not a time to be cantankerous, sorrowful, and angry unnecessarily,” Mbaka said.

    He said as a catholic priest, under the vow of obedience, he must obey the mother church, stressing that, his absence should not bring anything that would be awful giving the devil iota of glory.

    Speaking on the new director, Mbaka urged all adorers to obey, pray and listen to Fr Anthony Amadi, noting that he would be back in a short while.

    He, however, denied prophesying against the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi.

    Mbaka noted that there were several media reports that he prophesised that the former governor of Anambra state would not succeed in the forthcoming presidential election.

    Clarifying the allegation, Mbaka said he never mentioned Obi not to talk about him during the Sunday Mass, advising the purveyors of the news to apologise.

    “After handing over to Fr Amadi on Sunday, I started hearing that I spoke against Peter Obi.

    “I never mentioned Obi. Please whoever is being used by the devil to blackmail me in the name of doing any job for anybody is satanic and they should apologise,’’ he said.

  • Father Mbaka sent packing from Adoration Ministry

    Father Mbaka sent packing from Adoration Ministry

    Controversial catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has been transferred out from the Adoration Ministry.

    The Adoration Ministry, which was shut down three months ago, was re-opened yesterday, Sunday.

    However, in the place of Fr. Mbaka, another clergy of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Rev. Fr. Anthony Amadi has been posted to take charge of the Adoration Ministry.

    Mbaka has been sent to Monastery. The transfer is with immediate effect.

    Details to follow…

  • Enugu traditional rulers pray, present ‘ofo’ to PDP guber candidate

    Enugu traditional rulers pray, present ‘ofo’ to PDP guber candidate

    The Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers has presented ‘ofo’, a traditional symbol of authority, to the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Dr Peter Mbah.

    The traditional rulers also jointly prayed for him at a consultative meeting between them and Mbah Campaign group on Wednesday in Enugu.

    The Chairman of the council, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, said that Mbah had demonstrated his “great respect” for the traditional institution in holding a consultative meeting with the members.

    According to Agubuzu, by deciding to hold the consultative meeting Mbah recognises that the bedrock of democracy is the people at the grassroots who are subjects of the traditional rulers.

    “You will recall that on March 29, 2022 when there was tension in this state arising from the arguments for and against rotation of the office of governor we assembled here and issued a communiqué.

    “In the communiqué, we unequivocally stated that it was the turn of Enugu East Senatorial District to produce our governor in next year’s governorship election.

    “At that time, all eyes were on the PDP as the ruling party in the state even as we enjoined all political parties to pick their gubernatorial candidates from Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

    “The emergence of Hon. Peter Mbah as the gubernatorial candidate of PDP is in keeping with the rotational principle advocated in our earlier communique,” he said.

    Agubuzu also implored his colleagues to pray for his protection and to wish him success through “our joint presentation of ‘ofo” to him”.

    “As traditional rulers, we must remain absolutely non-partisan in politics while advising our subjects to vote wisely for leaders who would bring peace, security, development and prosperity to our state and country,” he said.

    Responding, Mbah expressed his profound gratitude to the traditional rulers for the prayers and handling over the collective “ofo’ to him, adding: “the great value I attach to what you have done to me today, cannot be lost by me”.

    According to him, the ‘ofo’, which is a symbol of authority, also represents peace and justice.

    “My virtues will represent and symbolise what you have done today. If the Almighty God answers our prayers and I become your governor, I will not abandon you.

    “What you have done shows what our ancestors in the state want, as you people are close to them and you are the sole custodian of our culture and tradition,” he said.

    Mbah also assured the traditional rulers that he would run a people-focused and development-focused administration when elected, adding that he would continue on the trajectory of rural community development, “in which Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi had excel”.

    “My administration will make Enugu State the preferred destination for business, tourism, industrialisation and technology hub within the Africa sub-region.

    “We will also continue to build on the existing peace and security, as Enugu State remains the most peaceful state in the country. It is clear that without peace and security there will be no development and progress.

    “We will accelerate youths’ employment to ensure peace and security within our communities as well as go ahead with our integrated local communities’ development master plan to ensure even development of the entire state.

    “We will build new infrastructure in our communities such as roads, markets, electricity and water schemes to further open up the state and continue with the great work of our present governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is doing,” he said.

    The PDP candidate also appealed to the traditional rulers to take the message home to their subjects that they had found who would deliver their development message and give them peace and security as well.

    The meeting was attended by all traditional rulers in state, while Mbah came with his deputy, Mr Ifeanyi Ossai, the PDP Campaign Director-General in Enugu State, Chief Ikeje Asogwu and the state’s PDP Chairman, Chief Augustine Nnamani, among others.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen attack Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy, policemen, aides killed

    BREAKING: Gunmen attack Ifeanyi Ubah’s convoy, policemen, aides killed

    The Senator, representing Anambra South Senatorial District in the National Assembly (NASS), Senator Ifeanyi Ubah on Sunday escaped an assassination attempt after gunmen attacked and opened fire on his convoy.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the convoy of Senator Ubah was ambushed by heavily armed assassins who opened fire, killing some of his aides, including some police officers.

    It was gathered that Ubah managed to escape in his bulletproof car, even as the car was riddled with bullets.

    A video of the attack showed the lifeless bodies of murdered policemen in about four of the vehicles in the convoy of the federal lawmaker.

    The spokesperson of the Enugu State police command, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the attack but insisted that the casualty figure remained unknown.

    He said: “Yes, there was an attack at Enugwu-Ukwu today, but the casualty figure is not clear. As I speak to you, the CP has personally led a team of men to the scene, and normalcy has been restored.”

    He promised to brief journalists on the findings of the Command.