By CHIDI NKWOPARA
September 27, 2013 is a day residents of
the sleepy rural community of Umuchima,
Ubaha, Okigwe Local Government Area of
the state will not forget in a hurry. On this
fateful day, a very unusual but deafening
noise suddenly rented the air, accompanied
by a rare spectacle that threw all and
sundry into panic as they scampered into
safety. The strange sound was later traced
to the family home of a visually-impaired
pensioner, Mr. Augustine Eke.
What further heightened people’s anxiety
was when they also noticed a thick smoke
coming from the hapless man’s compound.
They had every reason to believe that Boko
Haram insurgents had invaded the
community. News quickly spread that a
rocket had landed in Eke’s compound. They
were right but it was not coming from
Boko Haram!
Indeed it later turned out that there really
was no cause for alarm as the rocket was
nothing but a practical expression of the
technological talents of an ex-student of
Federal Government College, Okigwe,
Gideon Chiadikobi Emenike and his friend,
Chibuisi Nwafor. The duo fabricated and
launched a rocket that travelled over five
kilometres into the sky before crash
landing.
The exploits of these youthful Nigerians
may never have come to light but for the
Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr.
Mohammed Katsina. Again, if they had been
treated like common criminals, the story
may have taken a different shape. Truth is
that Katsina moved journalists to Okigwe
for on-the-spot assessment of the exploits
of the young lads. Giving account of what
happened to newsmen, the Commissioner
of Police said although the boys who
fabricated the device were reckless,
preliminary investigations did not raise any
serious security concern.
*CP Mohammed Katsina addressing
the boys
*CP Mohammed Katsina addressing the
boys
The CP’S account: “We have identified the
launch site and where the rocket crash
landed. I know that the young chaps used
simple components in activating this
element. It is a combination of computer
accessories and a highly inflammable
substance.
“I will not, for security reasons disclose all
the details we have concerning the device.
What I want you to understand is that one
of the components is something very
common, something you and I use on a
daily basis- sugar. We know sugar is highly
inflammable. It is this sugar and some
other components that propelled this
device you hear that crash landed in
Okigwe.
“Although the young boys can be said to be
excessively reckless, preliminary
investigations have not shown any criminal
motive behind the adventure. I see the
development as an excursion into the
world of science and technology by some
adventurous, skillful and intelligent young
boys with incredible creativity. “This
endowment propelled them into designing
their own style of spacecraft.
When
they
*The CP holding aloft the rocket
after it crashlanded
*The CP holding aloft the rocket after
it crashlanded
launched this thing, there was about 30
minutes dream journey into space. The
element eventually lost focus and crash-
landed here (pointing at the point). We
thank God that there was no fatal
consequence to either life or property. “The
element has been deactivated by our bomb
disposal unit. I can tell you that the
contraption does not contain any toxic or
radioactive material. I like to authoritatively
inform you at this juncture that the boys’
conduct was not an act of terrorism. It was
a mere adventure by two young boys.
“Let me also say that people should feel
free and go about their normal business.
We have taken possession of the whole
area. Everything has been cleared, cleaned
and rendered safe for human habitation.
Apart from the initial pandemonium and
fear created in the minds of the people in
the neighbourhood, everything ended well.
“The boys are just between 16 and 17
years old. They only tried out their learning
while in the secondary school. They wanted
to know if they can practicalise the theories
they learnt in school. The dream of these
young boys is to design a spacecraft. It was
launched without funfair. “The device went
some kilometres into the sky before crash-
landing. Let us not forget that the
command has some formidable structures
on ground. We have since commenced the
sweeping of Imo State of all explosive
ordinances. I want these boys to be
encouraged. May be, who knows
tomorrow, at my old age, I may be the lucky
one that would fly in the spacecraft made
by these young lads.
“So, I would rather not think of punitive
measures against the boys. I would rather
dwell heavily on protection, rehabilitation
and encouragement of these young boys.
Those who ran away are free to come back.
From this moment, we have ended this
case.
Gideon speaks: “My name is Gideon
Chiadikobi Emenike and my friend’s name is
Chibuisi Nwafor. I studied in Federal
Government College, Okigwe and I
graduated last year. This project started
when I was still in school. I was told to
build a project in school for a competition.
“In my SS1, I built a helicopter. In my SS2, I
was told to build another project. I built
this rocket and we went for a competition
in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. I came second in
the competition with the project. This was
at the national level.
“We also went for another competition
organised by the Society for Science and
Technology. I also came second. I also went
for Olympiad and I equally came second
there. I was told that I was going to
represent Nigeria in Brazil but later, my
principal said that I was no longer going to
represent the country.
“I still don’t know why the principal
cancelled the trip. This frustrated me
somehow but later, I picked up from where
I dropped and started again. I now met my
friend at a learning centre. I found out that
he has for things related to science. We
now pooled our brains together. “That was
how we planned to build a rocket and a
satellite, as well as sending it into space. It
was an amateur satellite because you know
we have not yet university graduates.
We just graduated from secondary school
last year. “We have done this for now. I was
really challenged when I heard that other
countries were planning to launch satellites
into space. It made me to think deep. This
is what pushed to do what you are seeing
today. If government can adopt our
technology, we can help them to actualize
their dream of launching a satellite.
“This particular project was a mere attempt
to reach a particular altitude. It was not
fashioned to remain in space. This project
came through after several experiments. If
the Federal Government can sponsor us, we
can take Nigeria to any level they want.
The boy’s father speaks
“My name is Friday Mgbemena Emenike. My
son is curious about science. He got
admission in University of Nigeria, Nsukka,
UNN, the last time. I tried to make him to
study medicine but he rejected it and
preferred to read aeronautic engineering.
That was why he refused the admission.
That is why he is still at home.
“He got an opportunity to travel to Brazil
but the principal of his former school
frustrated the move. He is intelligent. I am
aware of this incident. When it happened, I
didn’t feel too good till I learnt that the
thing did not kill anybody and that it did
not destroy anything. That increased my joy
and I described it as the first victory.
“The question which Vanguard Metro and
well meaning people of Imo State are
asking is whether the Federal and State
governments have taken note of the
success recorded by these boys. What they
will do with these boys thereafter equally
remains a huge guess.

Rubbish

^^^

Imo and rockets launching sa...

Imagine the potentials and many more that will be accomplish if Igbo's are allowed to govern themselves.

The land of the rising sun.