Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state on Saturday, granted unconditional release to three detainees being held at the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS office in Akwuzu. Governor Obiano granted the detainees bail, during his visit to all the SARS facilities in the state, to ensure that they comply with the directive given to them. Obiano had on Thursday while addressing protesters in Awka, promised to visit the defunct SARS offices and release persons detained there for no just reason. Speaking on Saturday Governor Obiano said he was serious when he made the promises to the protesting youths and the…
Author: Kenechukwu Ofomah
ENDSARS protesters in Anambra State running into thousands, on Friday, stormed the Awkuzu office of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and destroyed everything depicting the facility as belonging to SARS. Friday’s activity which marked Day 7 of the ENDSARS protest in the state, was joined by popular names such as Flavor, Phyno, Zorro and Yul Edochie. The youths moved on foot from Awka to Awkuzu SARS office, as the youths demonstrated their displeasure over the poor state of affairs in the country, while demanding total reform of the Police Force. One of the protesters who preferred not to…
A journalist working with Anambra State Ministry of Information, Mr John Bosco George may not only lose his sight completely but also his life, if he does not get urgent financial assistance to address a major cancer developing on his right eye. The travails of John Bosco who was a Grade ‘A’ journalist with Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), started in December, 2019 when the Cancer began to develop but eventually manifested in a bizarre form in September, 2020. The cancer has developed drastically on the left eye and from mere observation, may affect the second eye if something is not…
The calm that had engulfed the Anambra State Secretariat of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), ahead of the 2021 Governorship election campaigns in the state, was on Friday distorted as a former National Secretary of SURE -P under the PDP government, Chief Sullivan Akachukwu threw his hat in the ring. While the state headquarters of most political parties such as the PDD and the APC, has been a beehive of activities in view of the upcoming campaigns, that of APGA has experienced undue calm. This, TNC gathered, was as a result of a silent assumption even within party faithful,…
Governor Willie Obiano has terminated the appointment of former Officer in charge of the defunct Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Anambra State, Retired Chief Superintendent of Police, James Nwafor as a Special Assistant to himself There are scores of unverified allegations of extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests and detention, extortion among other illegalities, allegedly perpetrated either by the retired CSP Nwafor or done at his behest. The ongoing ENDSARS and ENDSWAT protests going on in Anambra, had flagged the excesses of the former SARS boss and demanded that the State Governor address the matter of the man who was in…
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Anambra State Command says it arrested forty-four persons suspected to be dealing in illicit drugs between April to September this year. The Commander of the Agency in the state, Mohammed Idris made this known in the second and third quarter report made by the agency and released to journalists in Awka. Mr Idris explained that out of the forty-four suspects arrested, four were females while nineteen of the suspects who were found to be culpable will face prosecution. According to him, the remaining suspects were referred to a rehabilitation centre for counselling. The Commander…
A new version of the ENDSARS protest, ENDSWAT today caused massive gridlock that grounded movement in and out of Awka, Anambra State Capital on Wednesday. The protest had begun at about 8am Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka but eventually took an eventful twist when it moved to the State Government House, Awka where the protesters demanded to be addressed by the Governor of the State, Willie Obiano. When the Governor was not forthcoming, the protesters defied every effort to get them pacified to leave and turned the protest into a party of sorts, blocking movement in and out of the State,…
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says those congratulating President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, Adamu Mohammed for scrapping the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) are not sincere and should apologize to the people for the embarrassment. ENDSARS protests across Nigeria have forced the hand of the IGP to disband the Police Unit and also direct the psychological and medical examination before they are redeployed into the Police Force. But speaking to TNC correspondent in Anambra on Wednesday, the Media and Publicity Secretary for the IPOB, Emma Powerful said the Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives,…
Owners of farmlands and agro investments near the ongoing Umueri International Airport project are crying out over what they call trespass on their property by the state government in the name of securing lands for the airport project. TNC correspondent reports that bulldozers had stationed earlier this morning at the farms located after the Ngene Igbokwe stream, Umueri close to the airport project to demolish the farmlands and private-owned agro investments. It, however, took the prompt intervention of some youths of Umueri community to disperse the bulldozers, even though the area had been surveyed for removal. The owner of…
The Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of eight Judges of the Court of Appeal as Justices of the Supreme Court. The confirmed Justices are Lawal Garba (North West), Helen Ogunwumiju (South West), Abdu Aboki (North West), I.M.M. Saulawa (North West), and Adamu Jauro (North East),. Others are Samuel Oseji (South-South), Tijjani Abubakar (North East) and Emmanuel Agim (South South). The names of the nominees were earlier submitted to the Senate for confirmation by President Muhammadu Buhari. At plenary, the Senate Committee on Judiciary chaired by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele presented the report to the Red Chambers after which the nominees…
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU has insisted that there is nothing on the ground now to warrant the calling off the ongoing strike by the Union. The President of the Union, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi disclosed this in a telephone conversation with TNC correspondent, on Wednesday. Ogunyemi revealed that the union is still meeting with the senate and will still meet with other stakeholders before any position will be reached. According to him, the federal government is still yet to act on five of their earlier demands which include a request for better hostels for students among others. “As…
Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), on Tuesday, donated 100 hospital bed sets and medical accessories to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla near Enugu. The donation is in continuation of the foundation’s medical equipment, supplies, medicines distribution programme to tertiary and few secondary health institutions across the country. Presenting the items at the hospital, the Founder of the foundation, Sir Emeka Offor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Chris Ezike, said the foundation on Sept 4 also donated medicines/medications worth millions of naira to the hospital. According to him, the medication included antibiotics, anti-hypertensives, anti-lipidemic,…
The Campaign for Equal Voting Access for Persons With Disabilities (EVAPWD), an NGO, has faulted the nomination of Lauretta Onochie as National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated Onochie who was his Special Assistant on Social Media as National Commissioner of INEC representing Delta State, in a letter read on the floor of the Senate by its President, Ahmed Lawan. According to the letter, President Buhari’s request is pursuant to paragraph 14 of party 1f of the first schedule of the 1999 constitution. Other nominees were Prof Mohammed Sani, Prof Kunle Akayi and…
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the 13th Zonal Command of the Nigeria Police Force, Danmallam Mohammed says the economy of the Southeast region of the country has boomed significantly because of the peace and stability in the region. AIG Danmallam made this know on Monday when he received in his audience, the National President of Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers Union (RATTAWU), Dr Kabir Garba Tssani and the Southeast Zonal Vice President of the Union, Comrade Emeka Kalu and other members of the National Executive Council of the Union, who called on him in his office…
The ENDSARS protest in Lagos State has been hijacked by criminal elements who are fully armed, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Hakeem Odumosu says. A statement signed by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi and issued on Monday, said today, at about 1pm, some armed protesters laid siege on the Anti Kidnapping Unit Office of the command, broke into the cell and liberated two of the kidnap cases suspects, before they were tactically and professionally repelled. It continued; “In the process, Inspector Ekei Joshua with AP No 175493, Inspector Peter Agabi with AP No 251138 and…
The Police Stakeholders Partnership in Anambra State has said with the banning of SARS, what remains is the action the Force will take against the operatives already identified for involvement in specific cases of extrajudicial killing, abuse, corruption and crime. On Sunday, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu announced the dissolution of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory in response to the nationwide protests and agitations against the Police Unit for perceived involvement in various crimes and professional misconduct. However, Nigerians are asking the IGP to…
Thousands of natives and residents of many communities in Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State are now putting up at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps at the Council headquarters, Atani and other uplands in neighbouring communities. This is as a result of the massive flooding that has affected over 7 communities in the council area, submerging hundreds of homes. The affected communities in the Local Government Area of the state visited by Wazobia FM include Akili, Ohita, Odekpe, Ossomala, Umunankwo, Umuzu, parts of Atani and Okpoko. Ogbaru is one of the Anambra LGAs that situate along the coastal lines of…
As agitations rage over the alleged killing of a policeman during ENDSARS protest in Delta State, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege has sued for peace and urged a thorough investigation into the incident. This is as he also strongly condemned the killing as totally unacceptable. On Thursday, during a protest in Ughelli town of Delta State, in support of the clamour to ban SARS, Etaga Stanley, a police corporal who is believed to be an indigene of Ughelli South and a constituent of the Deputy President of the Senate, reportedly lost his life, in circumstances that…
Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions over details of the 2021 Appropriation Bill presented yesterday to the National Assembly on Thursday, by President Muhammadu Buhari. The President had presented a budget proposal of 13.08 trillion naira budget for the year 2021, which he titled ‘Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience,’ with a budget deficit projected at N5.20 trillion expected to be financed through new borrowings. The budget was predicated on fiscal assumptions including oil price benchmark of 40 US Dollars per barrel, daily oil production estimate of 1.86 million barrels (inclusive of Condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day), exchange…
There is need to check the activities of illegal oil miners in Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State, especially in Ogwu-Aniocha and Ogwu-Ikpele communities. The Transition Committee Chairman of Ogbaru, Arinzechukwu Awogu, gave the view during an interactive meeting with leaders from Ogbaru Communities at Ogbaru Council secretariat, organized by the Anambra State Oil and Gas Development Committee. Illegal oil mining has been a major challenge in Ogbaru, despite the lack of access to the Oil-rich communities, although it was gathered that oil tapped was evacuated through the Rivers, Imo and Delta routes which also connect the council area. In…
Paullete Bisola Ajayi, a Portharcourt-based female lawyer who was kidnapped at her residence on October 4th, by unknown gunmen dressed in Army uniform, has been rescued by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Rivers State Police Command after spending four days in the hands of her abductors. The young lawyer was abducted at her residence on Sunday at her residence in Rumuokwurusi, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State and immediately a viral video of her sister raising alarm over the incident had gone viral on the social media. Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Joseph Mukan, had while receiving a taskforce…
Dr Joe Ugboaja Calls For More Partnership As Medical Activities Continue At NAUTH Perm Site The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Anambra State, Dr Joe Ugboaja has emphasized the need for private sector input towards improving health infrastructure in Public Health Institutions across the country. Dr Ugboaja who was speaking with TNC correspondent at the NAUTH permanent site in Akammili, Nnewi, said the responsibility of providing quality health care to the people cannot and should not be left for government alone to shoulder. According to him, public health institutions are the easiest to…
Anambra State Government has inaugurated House Numbering Project for proper and easy identification of buildings across the state. The exercise is expected to provide data that will be fed to Google Information System for proper identification of buildings for use in the areas of security, e-commerce, emergency response coordination, town planning and many others. The project will be undertaken by the State Signage and Advertisement Agency (ANSA) in partnership with a private firm, Great Source and is expected to be completed within one year. Streets naming and numbering constitutionally is supposed to be handled by the local governments but because…
A 21 year old man, Onyemaechi Mmaju has allegedly stabbed his landlord to death in Ogidi in Idemili North Council Area of Anambra State during a quarrel over his allegedly promiscuous lifestyle. Following TNC investigations, it was gathered from neighbours that the victim, Nonso Umeadi Oyiboka, aged 35, had on Tuesday, confronted the suspect for bringing too many women into the compound. The confrontation eventually led to a scuffle and in the process, the tenant stabbed the deceased to death. An observation on the deceased body revealed stab wounds to his back. When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in…
Wife of Anambra State Governor, Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano has said the only way to end rape and other forms of violence against women is when victims learn to start speaking out and not hide their hurt. Mrs Obiano was speaking on Monday when she commenced her annual local government tours with Awka South Council Area. Anambra has been a major flashpoint in terms of rape and forms of gender-based violence with over 100 cases of rape recorded since the lockdown occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year, according to statistics from the State Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Children’s…
The need for a Nigeria to produce a President of Igbo ancestry come 2023, formed the crux of discussions at an event on Monday in Awka, to mark the official launch and public unveiling of the Global Movement for Igbo President 2023. The event held at Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka, tagged “Actualising Nigeria’s Igbo Presidency: The way forward”, attracted notable Igbo politicians, scholars and associates. Among them were a former Presidential Adviser on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, former Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland, Amb Kema Chikwe, former Minister of…
Anambra youths under the auspices of Anambra Youth Alliance for Equity, today staged a roadshow/awareness campaign through major streets of Awka, Anambra State Capital, insisting it is the turn of the South to produce the next Governor of Anambra state, come Nov 2021. The awareness program saw the group move from St Paul University, Awka, with a strong presence of youth representative from the 326 political wards in the State, through the popular Eke Awka Market, Unizik Junction, Aroma Junction, to the Alex Ekwueme Square. The sociopolitical group is saying that Anambra would never attain prosperity if there is no…
As Nigeria marks its sixtieth independence anniversary, a former Governor of Anambra State, Dame Virgie Etiaba says there is no better time to restructure than now, if the hope of saving the country will materialize. Dame Virgie was speaking in an exclusive interview with TNC correspondent in Anambra on Nigeria’s 60th independence celebration. According to her, the diversity in Nigeria, which would have been a major strength, is now a snare due to the marginalization of some ethnic groups, adding that it has become imperative at this time to restructure Nigeria so as to guarantee equity and sense of belonging…
A former South-East Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Hycienth Ngwu, has urged Nigerians to support Federal Government’s total deregulation of petroleum sub-sector and removal of petroleum subsidy. Ngwu made the call while speaking with newsmen in Enugu on Thursday following President Muhammadu Buhari’s Independence Day Address as Nigeria marks her 60th Independence Anniversary. Buhari had in the address, made a clear comparison of Nigeria’s official N161 per litre price of petroleum and what other oil-producing countries within Africa and Saudi Arabia pay per litre. In his comparison, Buhari said, “Chad, an oil-producing country charges N362 per…
A fatal accident on Friday along Upper Iweka road by the defunct NITEL, Onitsha, has claimed the life of a male adult and injured four others. The accident, which occurred at about 5:05 pm yesterday, involved a mack truck with registration number, KK837JJJ and a yellow Daihatsu Hijet bus without a registration number. An eye witness said the truck lost control while in motion, hit pedestrians and equally rammed into the shuttle bus. As a result, five persons sustained varying degree of injuries. According to the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra, Kamal Musa, the victims were…
