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Crime & Justice

Anambra lawmaker killed and beheaded

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… Soludo offers N10m reward for info

A faceless violent gang has killed and beheaded Anambra lawmaker, Hon Okechukwu Okoye, kidnapped on 15 May 2022.

Hon Okoye, representing Aguata II in the Anambra State Assembly, hitherto chaired the House Committee on Information.

The gang abducted the lawmaker with his aide, Cyril Chiegboka, Government said in a statement.

Both died in what appears like a cheeky response to Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s efforts to rid the state of violent criminals.

An outraged Governor Soludo pledged to find the killers and offered N10million bounty for information that helps unmask them.

Incidentally, Governor Soludo, late Okoye and Chiegboka are from the same hometown of Isuofia in Aguata LGA of the State.

The double killing heightened fears that faceless terror gangs holding the State hostage were sending a message to the Governor.

Soludo said this morning he was undeterred by their action, even as the news shocked and saddened him.

He however vowed to press on with his mission to track down and deal with murderous criminals operating in Anambra

He suggested that the same criminal gang that attacked him and killed three policemen at Isuofia could have struck again.

“They can never cow down Isuofia and Anambra state,” he said in a statement released by his spokesperson, Christian Aburime.

The N10million reward he pledged is for individuals or groups that offer information to unmask and arrest the killers.

“Anambra will soon be a hell for these criminals. Anambra will win against the forces of darkness,” he said.

Gov Soludo urged Anambra citizens to brace up for “the all out war against the criminals.”

As of the time of writing this report, no group claimed responsibility for the double abduction and murder

Slug Anambra lawmaker killed and beheaded

Red Sunday in Anambra
Crime & Justice

Red Sunday in Anambra

…Policeman shot dead
…Legislator kidnapped

It was red Sunday this evening, 15 May, as gunmen shot dead a policeman and kidnapped a state legislator in Anambra.

Unidentified gunmen reportedly shot and killed a police officer at Eke Oko Market this evening.

Oko, the Polytechnic Town, is in Aguata LGA where the Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, incidentally comes from.

Witnesses said the policeman was riding on a bike when his assailants blocked his path and pumped bullets into him.

Witnesses ran for dear life as the unfortunate agent died on the spot.

In another daredevil raid, kidnappers this afternoon abducted a state legislator in the same Aguata LGA.

Witnesses identified Dr Okey Okoye who represents Aguata II in the Anambra State House of Assembly as the victim.

The abductors dragged him out of his black Sienna bus and whisked away.

The Anambra Police Command has yet to confirm both alleged killing and kidnap.

In recent times, miscreants appear to directly target the Governor’s home local government in a renewed terrorist offensive.

It is a forcible response to the Governor’s effort to contain violence and killings unleashed in the State.

Governor Soludo was in Abuja on Friday to visit detained separatist agitator, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and get him to help stem the violence.

Mazi Kanu reportedly agreed to call Biafran activists to order if given the opportunity to make a broadcast.

Red Sunday in Anambra as policeman killed

News Updates

SMC partners UN on migration reporting

SMC partners UN on migration reporting

The SMC partners with two UN agencies to upscale reporting skills on migration issues in Nigeria. SMC is the School of Media and Communication of the Pan-Atlantic University in Lagos.

The partners are the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a UN Migration Agency, and the Global Migration Media Academy.

The programme kicks off today 10 May at the SMC Campus along the Lagos-Epe Expressway.

Over a two-week period, participants will be tutored on how to achieve better reportage on the complexity of migration. The title of the programme is “Media and Migration from the Global South”.

Participants – 25 of them – are final year and postgraduate students as well as journalists from across the country.

Five returnee migrants will share their experiences, according to a statement by Isaac Ezechukwu, Director of Professional Education at SMC.

The journalists are from Maiduguri, Yola, Abuja, Benin, and Lagos. They will run the second stream of the programme from 16 May 2022.

Cyprine Cheptepkeny, Project Officer of the International Organization for Migration expressed excitement about the possibilities of the Global Migration Media Academy in deepening narratives on migration.

The IOM carefully chose to collaborate with the School of Media & Communication in the pilot programme that it would replicate in four other countries.

“Migration has grown in intensity and impact across the world with many African countries involved in local and international migration.”

Cheptepkeny said the UN Migration would want better reportage of the trending global issue beyond the headlines that report boat disasters and similar accidents.

The International Organization for Migration works “to ensure humane and orderly migration in the interest of humanity”, the Project Officer added.

She hopes to educate citizens on the broader contexts of migration across international relations, diplomacy, economics, culture, and the health issues around it.

The International Organization for Migration would help participants to know what is happening in the migration world to ensure better communication of the issues.

Moreover, she added, the data shows that migration affects persons 13 to 35 years in the youth demographic.

Dr Mike Okolo, the Dean, said the SMC was glad to collaborate with the IOM as it aligns with its mission to impact society.

“We are glad to partner with an organisation with a similar mission to affect society”.

Okolo added, “We do not see migration as negative. We see it as something that requires control and management as part of the human story”.

Course Coordinator Dr Chike Mgbeadichie disclosed that the training seeks to

  • problematize migration, its opportunities and challenges from the perspective of the global South,
  • explore the centrality of the media in shaping the societal discourse of migration and
  • unpack the role of the media to assist nation-states, and civil societies in their campaign for effective migration.”

Facilitators come from SMC, the University of Wits, South Africa, and UN Migration in Geneva.

They will tackle topics such as Migrations, Climate Change and Dot Connections; Development Communication and Migration;

Others are Culture and Migration; Social Realities: The ‘here and there’ Discourse; Community Development and Policy Initiatives; Reporting Migration and the Japa Narrative; Reporting Vulnerable Audience and Migration through Storytelling; social media and Migration Reporting; Media Ethics and Migration; Reporting on Data.

SMC partners UN on migration reporting

Business

Geometric Power Appoints CEO for generation

Geometric Power, Nigeria’s first private integrated power company, appoints veteran power engineer Ben Caven as CEO of its generation arm.

Geometrics is gearing up to begin operations later this year in Aba, Abia State. It is licensed to produce and supply power to the industrial city and neighboring communities,

Impeccable sources told Enugu Metro that Caven will serve as Managing Director of Geometric Power Aba Power Limited (GPAL).

He was variously executive director in charge of engineering, generation, and transmission at the PHCN. Caven is also reputed to have actively participated in the design and construction of power infrastructure in Nigeria.

Power engineers hail appointment

Power engineers received the news of the appointment with general approval.

Engineer Cliff Eneh, former PHCN Senior Manager who joined the academic world after working at Texas Power and Light Company in the United States said it was a good decision.

“Caven was incomparable throughout PHCN history, even in human relations terms. “He is so talented as an engineer. Yet he is so self-effacing and associates with colleagues closely, regardless of their status and backgrounds.

Caven’s appointment also earned praise from the initiator of the South East Nigeria Economic Commission (SENEC), Chris Okoye.

In a message to Company Chair, Prof. Bart Nnaji, Okoye said it was a very good appointment.

“Geometric Power could not have chosen a better person to head Geometric Power Aba Limited, said,

“He is a quintessential and dedicated power engineer well trained in the United Kingdom, as we found out when we did a project for NEPA.”

“In fact, Engr Caven is an outstanding business leader rather than a manager who knows how to manage human resources, materials and financial resources effectively.

“He sets his sights on the future, rather than the present.

“His choice as the Geometric Power Aba Ltd MD shows that Geometric Power group is determined to conduct a 21st century electricity business”.

About Geometric Power

Geometric Power operates gas turbines manufactured by General Electric of the United States, the world’s largest electricity equipment manufacturing firm.

It has a 27-kiolmetre gas pipeline from the Shell flow station Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area to the Osisioma Industrial Estate in Aba.

Oilserv Ltd, a leading indigenous engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company in Nigeria’s petroleum industry constructed the pipeline. 

Geometric Power Appoints CEO for generation

News

Let us resist evil men in 2023

While preparing for election, let us all rise, register to vote, come out to vote, and protect our vote. We should choose our leaders. These evil men are now busy meeting. They are already planning which Barabbas, a corrupt thief like themselves, to impose on us through INEC (as Pilate). We must resist them.

Bishop Godfrey Onah

A Catholic Bishop has warned Nigerians to beware of plans by dishonest political and religious leaders to impose corrupt people to rule again.

Bishop Godfrey Onah of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka gave the warning in an Easter Homily.

He said that evil men are already meeting and plotting how to impose corrupt leaders on Nigeria.

Take a listen:

Let us resist evil men in 2023

People

Bianca Ojukwu releases video of altercation with Mrs Obiano

Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, wife of Biafran warlord Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu releases clearer video of altercation with Mrs Ebele Obiano.

The video shows clearly that Mrs Obiano bullied and assaulted her before she got up to defend her dignity.

She shared her feelings about the assault and her response thusly:

“Dignity is a human rights and bullying in any form is not an entitlement, a rite of passage or an executive privilege.

“It must not be condoned or tolerated in any form.

“The future does not belong to the faint-hearted … it belongs to the bold.”

Bianca Ojukwu releases video

Education

Ugwuanyi apoints new ESUT VC from UNN

Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State apoints a new VC from UNN to head the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT.

Government announced today that Prof Aloysius-Michaels Nnabugwu Okolie will lead the 41-year old ESUT.

Okolie is a professor of Political Science and International Relations at the nearby University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

His appointment took effect yesterday, Monday, 4 April 2022, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, said.

An unending leadership succession crisis hitherto engulfed ESUT, thereby forcing government to appoint a VC that overstayed his temporay appointment.

Prof Charles Eze, appointed VC in acting role in May 2020, stayed on for two years, violating extant rules.

Obaervers hope that outsourcing a new VC stems the perennial internal battles among ESUT professors campaigning for the position.

Prof Okolie is from Awgu town in Enugu State, according to the government statement.

He was Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Chair of the local ASUU chapter at UNN, Ortuanya said.

Last year, Enugu Government equally tapped Okolie to Chair the Governing Council of Enugu State College of Education, (Technical).

The statement extolled the many academic and management experiences that make Okolie a good fit for the job.

“He is a renowned international Scholar and Researcher with over one hundred and eight (108) publications to his credit.

“Professor Okolie belongs to several national and international scholarly and professional Associations and has served in several national and international Committees.

Additionally, Okolie also trained in the management of higher institutions, according to the Government Secretary.

Ugwuanyi apoints new ESUT VC from UNN

Crime & Justice

Obi Onitsha dismisses story on Kaduna-bound train

… says he never planned to travel by rail

Obi of Onitsha dismisses as false and callous the story that he nearly boarded the ill-fated Kaduna-bound train on 28 March.

Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe said in a statement last night that he was never at an Abuja train station as reported.

He admitted that he initially considered but however discarded the idea of going by rail to attend a Kaduna event.

The trip, according to him, was an invitation by army authorities to address officers of various security outfits in the country.

Obi Onitsha dismisses story on Kaduna-bound train

He named the school as the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, near Zaria in Kaduna State.

Giving a background on this journey, the monarch said he accepted the alternative of a fully-armed military escort to travel by road.

The volatile security situation in Kaduna State forced his hosts to consider various alternative means of transport, he said.

But they quickly discarded the option of a train ride in favour of heavy military escort to and from Jaji.

His speech to the officers was on 29 March, a day after the bombing of a Kaduna-bound train by terrorists.

He said he returned to Abuja on the 30 March without incident using the same military escort.

Obi Achebe strongly disclaimed the reports that he nearly boarded the ill-fated train, calling it “callous.”

“The entire country is in Dire Straits on its internal security and anyone could be a victim in the situation that we currently face…

“Thus, it is the absolutely callous for anyone to use such a distressful national tragedy to grab fake media attention.”

Chief Osita Anionwu, Chief of Staff to the Onitsha Traditional Council, signed the Obi Achebe statement.

Obi Onitsha dismisses story on Kaduna-bound train

Crime & Justice

Anambra picks prayer day to end sit-at-home

Anambra State picks Monday, 4 April 2022 as Day of Prayer For Peace in a bid to end Mondays sit-at-home in the Southeast Region.

A coalition of traditional rulers, church leaders and the Anambra State Government officials settled on the date today.

The group urged the Federal Government to unconditionally release detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The gesture, they said, will “douse the current tensions across the Southeast and create an atmosphere for collaboration toward a constructive resolution of the issues.”

The group asked citizens of the region to join efforts to end the sit-at-home which IPOB declared ended since August 2021.

“We declare Monday, April 4th, 2022 as a Day Of Prayer For Peace for Alaigbo.

“We implore Ndi Anambra and all religious congregations to join in this important day of Prayer.

“It will take place within the premises of the Cathedrals, Churches, and prayer houses across Ala Igbo by 11:00 a.m.

“We enjoin the faithful wherever you may be across Nigeria or abroad to pause and join in fellowship as we seek the face of our Father.

“It is the expectation of the Joint Body that the conclusion of the prayer session shall mark the end of sit-at-home in Anambra State and the Southeast region in general.”

Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, Archbishop Valerian Okeke, and Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Secretary to the State Government, signed the statement.

Other signatories are Igwe Laurence Agubuzu, Chairman, Enugu Traditional Rulers Council, and Most Rev. Chibuzo Opoko, Secretary and Representatives of Archbishops and Bishops.

Their statement followed Gov Soludo’s consultations with relevant groups in the state to end the notorious sit-at-home.

The Joint Body decried the Monday Sit-at-Home as an “ill-advised and counter-productive” way of advocating for a cause.

“All over the world, it is our inalienable right to make demands, make our voices to be heard, make agitations against perceived injustice and the reality of marginalization.

“It is however totally unacceptable to stop our children from going to school, to destroy our means of livelihood, to kill, maim or recklessly destroy properties of the so-called potential beneficiaries of the struggle, to make our economies unattractive to investors, and to create an environment in which our youth have little hope of realising their legitimate dreams and aspirations for jobs and wealth creation.”

The Joint Body asked “all criminal elements masquerading as working under the instruction of IPOB or ESN to cease and desist from further acts of violence and criminality or face the implacable force of law and order”.

Drop your arms, it urged all who seek resolution of their grievances through armed struggle and victims of the insecurity in Anambra State in the past three years to “step forward and cooperate with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that will be inaugurated by the Anambra State Government next week”.

Anambra picks prayer day to end sit-at-home

Crime & Justice

Obi Onitsha nearly joined attacked kaduna-bound train

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, nearly joined the ill-fated Kaduna-bound train attacked by terrorists on Monday, 28 March.

The monarch broke the news today to Southeast peers and bishops who came to discuss security in their region.

The Abuja-Kaduna rail link was hitherto the safest means of transport to Kaduna, a hotbed of terrorist activities in Nigeria.

Obi Achebe said it was an emergency call that prevented him from boarding the train after he arrived at the station.

“I was among the passengers meant to be on the train last Monday because I had a meeting I was supposed to be attending.

“I was already at the train station when I got a call over an emergency and I had to leave the station to attend to it.”

The Monday evening train attack occured in an isolated location between Katari and Rijana train stations.

Obi Onitsha nearly joined attacked Kaduna-bound train

Authorities said the terrorists blew up the rail track with explosives, thereby forcing the train to derail.

They immediately opened fire on passengers and crew, forcing many to scamper into the bushes.

Authorities have not accounted for all passengers on board as many were abducted at the spot

Chief Executive of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Fidel Okhiria, confirmed the attack as well as the abductions and casualties.

Nine persons died while the abductors hold on to an unspecified number i the forests by their abductors.

Witnesses said the terrorists carefully isolated high profile individuals and herded them into the bushes.

The operation lasted for over an hour before a military detachment arrived, passengers said.

In Enugu today, Obi Achebe decried the insecurity that has enveloped the nation.

Obi of Onitsha nearly joined Kaduna-bound train