Author: Elochukwu Benjamin

A 24-year-old woman, one Chidera Nwoga has been apprehended by the Police in Anambra State for being in possession of a premature baby girl concealed inside a rubber bucket. Nwoga, who is resident at Ofianta village Nsugbe but a native of Izzi Council Area of Ebonyi State, was allegedly arrested while she was on her way to bury the child. Police said preliminary investigation revealed that the woman, who was heavily pregnant, had approached a quack and untrained chemist, one Odimegwu Ikunne of Akpalagu village, Nsugbe who allegedly administered an injection on her and aborted the pregnancy. Spokesperson of the…

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Anambra State Government has announced the suspension of its earlier directive to close Eke Awka market for violating the state COVID-19 law. A statement on yesterday by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu said Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has considered the various pleas by Eke Awka market traders and other stakeholders and decided to reopen the market by Monday, 29th June, 2020. It will be recalled that the market was shut down by the State Government on the 15th of June because traders and customers at the market failed to comply with COVID-19 directives. According to…

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The selection of Australia and New Zealand as hosts for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, topped the chart on decisions made today when FIFA Council convened by video conference today to discuss the future of football. This is among the numerous decisions approved by the Council with a view to responding to the COVID-19 challenge as it affects football around the world. The Council unanimously approved the FIFA COVID‑19 Relief Plan, which was designed by the FIFA administration in close cooperation with representatives of the confederations. Across its three stages, this global support plan will make available up to…

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The Leaders of Eke-Awka Main Market have appealed to the Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano to temper justice with mercy by re-opening the market which was closed on his orders for non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols. It will be recalled that Eke-Awka market was closed down last week on the orders of the State Government for non-compliance with COVID-19 protocols. Curfew within Awka South, the Council Area housing the market was also reverted to 8p-6am. In a press statement issued on Friday by the Chairman, Eke-Awka Market Traders Association, Chief Emeka Jude Agumadu, the market leaders said the problem of…

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A 43-year old man, Ikechukwu Ekenta, was today arrested for defiling his four-year daughter by a joint team comprising the Department of State Security (DSS) and a team of social workers from the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Anambra State. The man who is from Ikeduru-Mbaitoli, Imo state, is resident at 3-3 area of Onitsha. The incident was said to have occurred a few weeks ago when the mother of the girl returned from the hospital where she was delivered of a baby girl and on getting home, discovered that her first daughter was feeling pains in…

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Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Action Centre (RULAAC) has commenced monitoring of the implementation of the recent directive by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar to minimize arrest and detention over simple offences across Nigeria. The activity which spans for 6 months, between May 30, 2020, and November 30, 2020, is supported by the Open Society Justice Initiative, also assesses compliance with the recent Operational Guidelines for the Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies on COVID-19 prevention enforcement duties launched by the IGP. It will be recalled that Guidelines are part of measures to foster a more…

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The vice-chairman of Nigerian side, Lobi Stars FC, Mike Idoko has denied that he voted in favour of using the Points Per Game (PPG) to end the 2019/2020 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season. In a statement released on Thursday by the club, Idoko reiterated his stand against using the PPG. He said contrary to media reports making the rounds from the aftermath of the football stakeholders virtual meeting Wednesday 24th June, 2020 to adopt a suitable mechanism to end the NPFL 2019/2020 that he voted for PPG, he had persistently opposed the use of PPG. The Nigeria Football Federation…

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A middle-aged woman this morning lost her life, after she was knocked down by a DAF truck while crossing the Onitsha –Awka expressway in front of Coca-Cola Depot, Onitsha. The crash, according to an eye witness, happened at about 9am when the driver of the green coloured DAF truck with registration number USL860ZC lost control of the vehicle while trying to avoid other pedestrians crossing the expressway. When TNC arrived the scene some minutes after, FRSC rescue team from Onitsha Unit Command and Upper-Iweka Outpost were on the ground trying to evacuate the corpse of the dead woman. Confirming the…

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A former Commissioner for Lands in Anambra State, Barr John Okoli-Akilika has assumed office as State Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party. The development followed the sack of Sir Emeka Obi who was indicted by the State Disciplinary Committee, for anti-party activities. Other officers that were also sacked include, the former state Vice-chairman (South), Mr Marcel Anyiam and Ex-women leader, Mrs Callista Adimachukwu. They were replaced by Chief Emmanuel Ebene as Vice-chairman and Mrs Justina Nwafor as women leader respectively. Announcing their replacement at a meeting of the State Executive Committee SEC, that was held in Awka, the state PDP…

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One person has been feared dead and many houses burnt down in a fresh violent clash between Achalla and Urum communities of Awka North Council Area of Anambra State. It was reported that people of Umuife village, Urum were invaded by armed Achalla youths yesterday, during which a violent clash ensued and in the process, one Ikechukwu Aaron was killed. It was alleged that the Achalla youths had made away with his corpse and set more than three buildings ablaze and property worth millions of naira were destroyed. The clashes which have become frequent in the area, was as a…

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A 40-year-old Philipino lady, Irene Torento Panas has been rescued from an Enugu man six months after she came on a ten-day love adventure to Nigeria. The victim who is an accountant by profession and a native of Manila in the Philippines arrived Nigeria on November 22, 2019, on a visit to one Chukwudi Odo aged 54years of Enugu Ezike in Igbo-Eze North LGA of Enugu State whom she met on Facebook on 8th March, 2017. The visit which was originally intended to be for 10 days, however, turned out to be a full case of abduction following the suspect’s…

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Anambra State Government says it will soon commence skills acquisition training in the 179 communities across the State. The Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy in Anambra state, Professor Theresa Obiekezie disclosed this today during a meeting at Government House in Awka. Professor Obiekezie, recently redeployed to the Youths Ministry, held a meeting with political appointees with portfolios in the area of Youth Mobilization, Development and Empowerment as well as Digital Entrepreneurship. The meeting was to engender seamless and effective planning and implementation of youth-oriented programmes in the state. According to the Commissioner, the best way to empower youths…

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South-East Governors Forum reiterated their commitment to secure the lives of Ndigbo in the region. The assurance which is contained in a press release signed by Mike Udah, Director, Media and Communication, South-East Governors’ Forum Secretariat, is in response to a publication allegedly made by Igbo Union on Daily Sun recently. In the said publication, Igbo Union, an organization of citizens and residents of Igbo extraction registered in the State of California, United States of America accused Southeast governors of ‘insensitivity to the threat and terrorization of Igbos by suspected Fulani herdsmen roaming (Igbo) villages with their cattle and Ak-47…

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As a way of registering their displeasure over the bad state of roads in Anambra, a Rights Group, Human Rights Liberty Access and Peace Defenders’ Foundation (HURIDE), has organized a mock commissioning of some roads in deplorable condition in the state. The roads commissioned over the weekend were Obodo-Ukwu and Ede Road in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to the group, the very bad roads in Onitsha and its environs have resulted in the loss of nine lives. Among the victims, the group said, were a pregnant woman, a 70-year-old man whose tricycle was submerged in a…

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A thirty-four-year-old man, Ifeanyi Apusiobi has allegedly killed his two biological children with a wooden pestle in Anambra state. The suspect who is from Ogbunike in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State allegedly performed the dastardly act in the wee hours of this morning, after he was said to have run amok. The deceased include a 7-year-old girl, Chinecherem and 5-year-old, Obinna who were murdered in their sleep by their father using a wooden pestle. The 72-year-old father of the suspect, Dominic Apusiobi, had narrowly escaped death in the hands of his son but with severe injuries on the…

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Anambra state government has warned that it will this week, commence total closure of parks and interception of transporters that flout the COVID-19 preventive guidelines in line with Anambra state COVID-19 Law. The state Commissioner for Transport, Mr Afam Mbabefo, disclosed this during a meeting with Heads of motor parks and transport unions in the state in Awka. The meeting was to brief the park managers and transport union leaders on the guidelines for the enforcement of the law and to also ascertain the readiness of the stakeholders to ensure the success of the directives. The transportation stakeholders in Anambra…

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The remains of three family members that lost their lives on March 15, 2020, Lagos explosion, has been laid to rest in their country home at Avomimi village in Enugwu-Ukwu community, Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra state. The arrival of the remains of the deceased at their family house had sparked mournful shouts from family members and community people, who had their jaws in their hands in shock over the loss. Among the deceased, were a businessman, Mr Obi Iyooh, aged 60, his wife, Mrs Obiagaeli, aged 55, and their 30-year-old son, Mr Onyekachi. The trio was reported…

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A thirty-two-year-old man, Chigbo Akpunobi has been arrested by the Police in Anambra for allegedly defiling a seven-year-old girl. The suspect who is a native of Asa village in Ohaji Egbema LGA of Imo State but resides at Obodukwu road, Nkitaku, Okpoko in Ogbaru Council Area of Anambra State, was said to have lured the minor to his rented apartment and defiled her on Sunday. Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Haruna Mohammed said the suspect had voluntarily confessed to the crime. “On Wednesday at about 12:30pm following a tip-off, Police operatives attached to Okpoko Division…

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National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anambra State chapter has kick-started a one week campaign in the state against rape and other forms of sexual violence. As part of activities marking the weeklong campaign, the Commission is embarking on advocacy visits to key stakeholders in the law enforcement and justice delivery system as well as mark across parts of the state. Today, the Campaign train visited the state Commissioner of Police Haruna Mohammed at the State Police Command Headquarters in Awka. Earlier, the group had led a peaceful rally with a banner tagged ‘Activism and campaign against Rape’ and moved around…

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A journalist with the Anambra Newspapers and Printing Corporation (ANPC), publishers of National Light, Ka O Di Taa (Igbo newspaper), and Sportslight Xtra newspapers, Mathew Onwuasoanya has been reported missing. Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Emma Ifesinachi, and secretary, Emma Udeagha disclosed this in a statement issued after the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the corporation, Chuka Nnabuife informed them that the journalist has been missing since May 30, 2020, at a stakeholders’ meeting yesterday. In a mail sent to the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Anambra State Council, Emma Ifesinachi, Nnabuife disclosed…

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A Monitoring and Enforcement Task Force charged with the responsibility of operationalizing enforcement of the newly signed Anambra State COVID-19 law, has been set up by Anambra State Government. The Committee comprises representatives of the state government including the Secretary to the State government, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Special Adviser to the Governor on Creative Security/MD, Anambra State Fire Service, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Commissioner for Transport, representatives of security agencies including Correctional services, the police, Civil Defence, OCHA Brigade, and ATMA. Secretary to Anambra State government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu said the State Governor…

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Barely two weeks after a fatal crash claimed 6 lives at Old NITEL axis of Upper Iweka, Onitsha, another crash on Tuesday has resulted in two deaths and injuries to 8 persons. The accident which happened at about 6:23pm, involved a 911 Tipper with Registration XA-445-NSK driven by one Okafor Patrick Ndubuisi aged 55 years of Ogbauru Street, Okpoko. An eye witness said the accident happened when the tipper driver lost control after the braking system failed while in motion along Enugu/Onitsha Expressway by old defunct NITEL Onitsha. It then crashed into PN Emerah park, ramming into human beings. Among…

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The Anambra State Police Command has raised an alert over a new trick of stealing vehicles from motor dealers under the false pretence of buying the vehicles, devised by a crime syndicate in the state. A statement released on Wednesday by the Command said the criminals will approach car stands under the pretext of testing the vehicles and as soon as the ignition key is released to them by unsuspecting owners, they will zoom off and escape with the car. The statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer said a case under reference happened on Monday at about 12:30…

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It was jubilation in the Ezeokafor family of Ekwulobia Community in Anambra state as a young billionaire popularly known as Jowizaza handed over the keys to a brand new $400,000 Rolls Royce Cullinan to his father, Chief Joseph Ezekafor. Chief Ezekafor is the Chief Executive Officer of Jezco Group of Companies and a philanthropist. He had during the Covid-19 lockdown donated the sum of N20 million to Anambra state government, N50 million to his political party APGA, and shared bags of rice and food items worth N10M to Ekwulobia people.

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There is a need for the government to sponsor comprehensive research on the impact of the 5th Generation of Wireless Cellular Communication (5G Network) on human beings and the environment.  This research should be carried out by Wireless Communication Engineers, Biologists and Physicists. Deployment of 5G cellular-network technology began globally in early 2019 and almost immediately, anti-5G groups began to raise unsubstantiated claims that the technology caused cancer or mental illness, that it killed trees and wildlife, and so on.  With the declaration of COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, numerous unfounded conspiracy theories attempted to link the virus with 5G…

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State Governments across Nigeria that are yet to domesticate the Child Rights Act 2003 and the Violence against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act 2015, have been asked to do so as a matter of urgency. The CLEEN Foundation, formerly known as Centre for Law Enforcement Education, made the recommendation in its report Tuesday, following observations by its monitors across the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. The Foundation said it received a total of 2,982 reports from the monitors hinging on citizens’ compliance to government directives, the conduct of security personnel enforcing government directives and human rights violations by security personnel enforcing government…

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Police Command has arrested a forty-year-old man, one Hillary Apeh for brutally assaulting his nine-year-old niece, Chioma Ogbu. The suspect was arrested by police operatives attached to 3-3 Police Station, Onitsha following a tip-off. It was gathered that the niece had come to stay with him because of the very poor financial status of the parents. Sources close to the suspect said the abuse had become frequent as the niece was always nursing one severe body injury after another. Confirming the arrest, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect had on…

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Police in Imo state says it has found the lifeless body of a man, Samuel Osuji and his lover, Cynthia Obieshi in a hotel in Owerri, Imo State Capital. The lovers were said to have booked room 19 in Vic-Mic Lodge situated at JMJ bus stop, Owerri on the 13th of June, 2020. A statement by the spokesperson of Imo Police Command, Orlando Ikeokwu said both lovers could not wake up the next morning after they lodged at the hotel. The statement read thus; “On the 14th of June, 2020, at about 0900 hrs, acting on a report received at…

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In response to the rising incidents of rape and sexual violence across the country, women and girls in Anambra State over the weekend held a march to raise consciousness on issues of rape and seek collaboration with citizens to end the anomaly. The exercise tagged ‘Walk against Rape in Nigeria’ was organized under the auspices of Anambra State Government with support from media organizations, non-governmental and Civil society organizations in the state. Among the partners were International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigerian Girl Guides, National Council of Women Society, Wazobia FM Onitsha, Network Against Trafficking Abuse and Labour (NATAL),…

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A 12-member Labour-Civil Society Situation Room on COVID-19 has been inaugurated in Anambra State. The Committee which is the result of a collaborative engagement between the Nigeria Labour Congress and Civil Society Organizations in Anambra, has as its responsibility, to sensitize workers and citizens on the reality, prevalence, prevention and containment measures against Covid-19. It also shoulders the mandate to embark on advocacy and social dialogue with government and private sector employees to promote public health and employment and income protection for workers in the State. Part of the Committee’s Terms of Reference (ToF) include maintenance of surveillance on the…

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