₦airaland Forum

[quote author=bk/babe97 link=topic=440669.msg5993041#msg5993041 date=1272915075]Watch the Ibos try to claim him. . . . . .[/quote]

[b]18 Nigerians face execution in Indonesia
From NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha
Friday, April 30, 2010


•Goodluck
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Eighteen Nigerians who were condemned to death by the Indonesian judiciary in 2008 for their alleged various criminal offences, including drug peddling and other related offences, may be executed in Indonesia between June and August, this year.

The convicts had been slated for execution in Indonesia on September 28, 2008, shortly after the Ramadan feast of Indonesians, but Nigeria’s high powered delegation, comprising the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora and some Senators visited Indonesia and opened discussions between the Nigerian and Indonesian governments on the fate of the convicts.

The Indonesian government had condemned a total of 21 Nigerians to death, sentenced four to life imprisonment and eight others to various jail terms, ranging from 11 to 18 years.
Out of the 21 condemned Nigerians, two of them, Samuel Iwuchukwu Okoye, and Hassan Anthony Nwaolisa, had already been executed on June 28, 2008, while another, Augustine Celo Ogbonna, died in prison custody in September, 2008.

In a strongly worded petition to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Ewa, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, dated April 22, 2010, a copy of which was made available to Daily Sun yesterday in Onitsha, Anambra State, an Onitsha-based human rights lawyer, Barrister Melly Chukwuemeka Eze, is appealing to the National Assembly to take concrete steps with a view to getting reprieve for the condemned Nigerians.

Eze, in the petition entitled: “Shocking revelation from Indonesian Prisons: Execution of 18 Nigerians scheduled for between June and August, 2010,” noted that most shockingly, he learnt from the prisoners that those on death row might be executed anytime between June and August this year if no further diplomatic efforts and pressure were mounted on Indonesian authorities.
According to Eze, “I have it on good and reliable authority that officials of Indonesian government who opened discussions with the Nigerian delegation are now expressing disappointment over an apparent display of unseriousness on the part of Nigerian government over the diplomatic move already initiated by Nigerian government officials”.

The human rights lawyer recalled that his earlier petition to the Presidency, National Assembly and the Foreign Affairs Ministry in October, 2008 in respect of the 18 Nigerians on death row and others serving various jail terms in Indonesia had attracted reactions from Senator Uche Chukwumerije, who moved a motion on the floor of the Senate to that effect.

He also recalled that his earlier petition had attracted the attention of the foreign affairs minister who sent a high powered delegation to Indonesia to mediate on behalf of the convicts and other prisoners, numbering 50, serving various jail terms in Indonesia, with the minister himself as part of the delegation.

He recalled that the Nigerian delegation had returned with a strong hope of change of heart by the Indonesian authorities, which prompted Dabiri-Ewa to grant a press interview where she assured Nigerians that the Nigerian government was committed to doing everything possible to address the plight of those Nigerians, adding that the Senate President also wrote him personally, promising that the issue would be addressed, just as Senator Chukwumerije personally wrote.
He expressed the fear that government might not have taken any further steps to get reprieve for these Nigerians, nearly two years after.

He gave the names of those on death row as Kingsley Okonkwo, Michael Titus Igwe (Real name-Izuchukwu F. Ezimoha), Uchenna Cajethan Onyenworo, Ekperedike S. Olekama, Adam Wilson (real name-Emmanuel Okari), Hillary K. Chimezie, Eugene Ape and Humphery Ejike.
Others on the death row are Okwudili Ayotaeze, Obinna Nwajiagu, Daniel Enemuo, Fredrick Lutter (Real name-Benjamin Obiora), Sylvester Nwaolisa, Gabriel Nnadi, Dennis Anumona and Ikenna Ezenwune, while Stephen Rashid, Joseph Ndaba, Ken Michael and Obinna George are currently serving life imprisonment.

He disclosed that most of the convicts, who are currently languishing in Nusakambagan Island prisons in Jarkata and other parts of Indonesia, were arrested shortly on arrival to the country and without them hearing Indonesian language, they were sentenced to death, without allowing them to take plea or have fair representation from legal practitioners.

Giving an instance of one of the convicts who was arrested with an Indonesian who had since been released, and another one who was arrested in a hotel where a bag of heroin was dumped by unknown persons, who was later arrested, the human rights lawyer saidthe worst part of the whole issue was that the Indonesian government said for their cases to be reviewed, each of the convicts must pay between $15,000 to $20,000 US Dollars.[/b]

[b]
Emmanuel Nzomiwu

      Enugu — Chairperson, FIDA, Imo State, Mrs. Ine Nnadi (second left); wife of Imo State Governor, Mrs. Chioma Ohakim; lawyers, Mrs. A. Chide; and Mrs. Oby Anyikude, from Imo State at the 54th session of the UN Commission on Status of Women (UNCSW) in New York, recently.

National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South-East zone, has raised alarm over possible outbreak of cerebral meningitis in the country if people fail to always sleep under well-ventilated houses.

Speaking to journalists in Enugu, Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Dr Abdullahi Onimode, described Cerebrospinal Meningitis as a deadly disease that kills faster than the dreaded Human Immune Virus Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

Onimode, who blamed the hot weather in the country presently on global warming, however, disclosed that well ventilated houses could be used to prevent meningitis, the way mosquito nets are used to prevent malaria.

His words: "At this period of the year when the environment is very hot and the temperature is very high, we usually battle against Cerebrospinal Meningitis and as you are aware, the disease is deadly.

"In NEMA, we see it as a potential killer. Last year alone, 26 states of Nigeria including the five states in the South East were affected. This year, we are particularly concerned about states that border other states in the North including Anambra and Enugu states.

"In Anambra, you have traders who come in and go out. It is possible for these traders to be incubating the disease."

As the rainy season approaches, the zonal coordinator urged Nigerians, especially inhabitants of Enugu Metropolis to clear their gutters and open up long drainages to avoid flooding that could contaminate good water.

He explained that the rain would soon come and the people would be faced with a scourge of flood everywhere especially in the sloppy Enugu Metropolis, and appealed to the public to clear their gutters, adding that those who want to build houses should not build on flooded places.

Onimode added that people should also desist from throwing refuse into running water, which is capable of causing epidemic, just as he appealed to people of the South East to clear their drainages.

He listed some causes of flood disasters to include dam breakage, rivers overflowing their banks, seasonal changes that may cause increased down pour and perennial flood planes.

Others are building on flood planes, poor urban planning, disposal of refuse into running waters, blocking of drainages and water channels with solid waste.


Commenting on the renewed Ezza/Ezeilo communal clash in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State, which has claimed scores of lives, the NEMA official, regretted that personnel of his agency has not been able to carry out need analysis and assessment in the area since the crisis started owing to the sophisticated nature of the war, but expressed the hope that the federal government agency would embark on the assessment exercise when ever peace returns to the crisis ridden communities.

"When it happened two years ago, we did an on-the-spot assessment and even visited various camps to preach peace. We also distributed relieve materials in the presence of the local government chairman. Unfortunately, three weeks ago, we got information that the war had started again, as usual, we are suppose to carry out an assessment to determine the level of assistance that we will give but with the kind of sophistication of arms and ammunition, we want to be sure that we are safe first before we go for an assessment," he said.[/b]

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0oGdGZ7FNdLHHsAg9BXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEyajBwbzQ4BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA0g0NjVfNzk-/SIG=135qgk0u5/EXP=1272473083/**http%3a//independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx%3fid=10519%26print=1

[quote author=#Afanna link=topic=437139.msg5955381#msg5955381 date=1272305760][b]Isi-Uzo: A cry for potable water

Abakaliki – Isi-Uzo is an agrarian local government area situated in the undulating lowlands of north-east flank of Enugu State. The major sources of water in the five major communities of Mbu, Neke, Umualor, Ikem and Eha-Amufu that make up the local government are Amanyi and Ebenyi streams.

There has never been any bore hole in the entire five communities that anyone can remember. The only source of drinking or other domestic water is through the flowing streams and the water is usually highly turbid during the rainy seasons. Even the sachet water which is popular in many places is a luxury here since bad roads make it difficult for water tankers and other supply vehicles to come.

Geologists and water experts say that the entire terrain of the local government is such that water cannot be sourced through boreholes. And indeed several core drilling attempts made to source water has yielded no result due to lack of underground water.

The option left was the setting up of a treatment plant. But it has been found that such water reticulations are usually costly and difficult to maintain. Admittedly, the Federal Government through the Anambra-Imo River Basin Authority recently completed a surface water scheme at Ikem the headquarters of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area which included extraction of raw water from the Ebenyi stream and treatment plant installation
The third phase of the contract which would have distributed the water and made it available to the people was abandoned after tendering by the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority with the simple reason that the mandate of the Authority does not include water supply anymore. This has left the completed Ikem Water Supply Scheme moribund.

Just recently, the Community Development Association of Ikem during the official handover of the completed phases of the Ikem Water Scheme to the community and the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) requested the state agency to undertake the completion of the scheme which now included reticulation of the treated water to the communities.

The Managing Director of RUWASSA Mr. Mike Oguamah promised to convey the request to the government of Enugu State under the leadership of Governor Sullivan Chime who has water supply in his Four Point Agenda. Also, the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority promised to do something as soon as their mandate on water supply is lifted.

Information has it that the Federal Government plans to include the expansion and over head tanks on its yearly budgets but till date the partly executed project has not rendered the desired service. Even if the expansion is done, the plant can only service parts of Ikem community, leaving out four communities in the local government.

The African Society for Toxicological Sciences, ASTS, a none-profit organisation, while on a visit in the area on issues of sanitation and safe health, has also noted the desperate need for water in the area.

In dry seasons, the people trek long distances of about 15 kilometres to the Ebenyi River to fetch water. Wheel barrows and bicycles are used by those who can afford them while the very indigent ones carry their water pots and calabashes on their heads. There is no doubt that the people need government intervention very urgently to alleviate their water problem.

Sourcing water from the popular shallow wells is equally difficult because of the same terrain problem. Those who dig very deep to find well water see them dry up shortly after the rainy season while some dig deep but find no water. It is not yet clear the arrangement the Enugu State government has for provision of safe water in Isi-uzo but the people expect government should at least have a master plan for rural water supply, especially for their area with such low water density.

The Chairman of the Isi-Uzo traditional rulers council, Igwe Francis O.O.Okwor, said that his community has set up a committee that would manage the Ikem water treatment plant. But he pleaded that the Federal Government should complete the project by awarding the expansion contract. Igwe Okwor also pleaded that the Federal and state governments should replicate the treatment plant in other communities of Isi-Uzo so that pressure would not be much on the Ikem plant any time it comes on stream.

The Isi-Uzo local government chairman, Dr. Sam Chijioke Ugwu affirm that his people have serious water problem just like other problems of roads, health, education among other facilities lacking in the area.

For now the people continue to scoop water from the streams and ponds while awaiting intervention by government or donor agencie

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/20/isi-uzo-a-cry-for-potable-water/[/b][/quote]

[b]
A 68 year old man, Mr. Adisa Olowo, escaped unhurt after a two-storey building at the Isopakodowo market, Oshodi in Lagos collapsed on Monday morning.


Adisa who identified himself as Head of Labour of the Provida Investment and Architech Design Consultants and Builders, ( a private developer), said the incident occurred around 8.00am when they just started the day’s work. The building at the shopping complex was still under-construction. According to him, they had a crash and suddenly the building caved in and collapsed. About 10 people were said to have been working at the site when it collapsed. The building also crashed onto another building in the shopping complex, which however was not greatly damaged.


One person was confirmed dead while two people were said to have remained trapped at about 2.00pm when our correspondent left the scene. About four rescued people were said to have sustained serious injuries and were being treated at a hospital.

A combined team of police officers, fire-fighters, emergency management agencies and other sympathisers and volunteers worked hard to rescue the remaining two victims trapped under the rubble.

Most of the people that spoke to our correspondent appealed to developers to use standard materials and adhere strictly to building regulations to avoid a recurrence. They also appealed to the government to effectively monitor building constructions to ensure that they comply to building regulations and specifications.[/b]

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010042617302940

[b]Igbo cause of Ogbulafor’s problem -Iwuanyanwu
National News Apr 26, 2010  By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—A member of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, yesterday accused the Igbo of being the architect of the moves to remove the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, just as he described them as selfish.

“What happened is the ambition of some individuals, who have a wrong perception that if Ogbulafor is there, they may not get nomination.

“They are not fighting because they love PDP, they are not fighting because there is no reform. People talk about reform, the constitution of the PDP has made adequate provision on what people should do to carry out reform,” he said.

According to him, Igbo leaders will resist any attempt to actualize the plot against the backdrop that the people from the South East zone of the country will be perceived as not capable of discharging any responsibility they are saddled with, when judged from what happened when the zone produced the Senate President in the last dispensation, when it moved round the states of the region.[/b]
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/26/igbo-cause-of-ogbulafors-problem-iwuanyanwu/

[b]Isi-Uzo: A cry for potable water

Abakaliki – Isi-Uzo is an agrarian local government area situated in the undulating lowlands of north-east flank of Enugu State. The major sources of water in the five major communities of Mbu, Neke, Umualor, Ikem and Eha-Amufu that make up the local government are Amanyi and Ebenyi streams.

There has never been any bore hole in the entire five communities that anyone can remember. The only source  of drinking or other domestic water is through the flowing streams and the water is usually highly turbid during the rainy seasons. Even the sachet water which is popular in many places is a luxury here since bad roads make it difficult for  water tankers and other supply vehicles to come.

Geologists and water experts say that the entire terrain of the local government is such that water cannot be sourced through boreholes. And indeed  several core drilling attempts made to source water has yielded no result due to lack of underground water.

The option left was the setting up of a treatment plant. But it has been found that such water reticulations are usually costly and difficult to maintain. Admittedly, the Federal Government through the Anambra-Imo River Basin Authority recently completed a surface water scheme at Ikem the headquarters of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area which included extraction of raw water from the Ebenyi stream and treatment plant installation
The third phase of the contract which would have distributed the water and made it available to the people was abandoned after tendering by the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority with the simple reason that the mandate of the Authority does not include water supply anymore. This has left the completed Ikem Water Supply Scheme moribund.

Just recently, the Community Development Association of Ikem during the official handover of the completed phases of the Ikem Water Scheme to the community and the Enugu State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) requested the state agency to undertake the completion of the scheme which now included reticulation of the treated water to the communities.

The Managing Director of RUWASSA Mr. Mike Oguamah promised to convey the request to the government of Enugu State under the leadership of Governor Sullivan Chime who has water supply in his  Four Point Agenda. Also, the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority promised to do something as soon as their mandate on water supply is lifted.

Information has it that the Federal Government plans to include the expansion and over head tanks on its yearly budgets but till date the partly executed project has not rendered the desired service. Even if the expansion is done, the plant can only service parts of Ikem community, leaving out four communities in the local government.

The African Society for Toxicological Sciences, ASTS, a none-profit organisation, while on a visit in the area on issues of sanitation and safe health, has also noted the desperate need for water in the area.

In dry seasons, the people trek long distances of about 15 kilometres to the Ebenyi River to fetch water. Wheel barrows and bicycles are used by those who can afford them while the very indigent ones carry their water pots and calabashes on their heads. There is no doubt that the people need government intervention very urgently to alleviate their water problem.

Sourcing water from the popular shallow wells is equally difficult because of the same terrain problem. Those who dig very deep to find well water see them dry up shortly after the rainy season while some dig deep but find no water. It is not yet clear the arrangement the Enugu State government has for provision of safe water in Isi-uzo but the people expect government should at least have a master plan for rural water supply, especially for their area with such low water density.

The Chairman of the Isi-Uzo traditional rulers council, Igwe Francis O.O.Okwor,  said that his community has set up a committee that would manage the Ikem water treatment plant. But he pleaded that the Federal Government should complete the project by awarding the expansion contract. Igwe Okwor also pleaded that the Federal and state governments should replicate the treatment plant in other communities of Isi-Uzo so that pressure would not be much on the Ikem plant any time it comes on stream.

The Isi-Uzo local government chairman, Dr. Sam Chijioke Ugwu affirm that his people have serious water problem just like other problems of roads, health, education among other facilities lacking in the area.

For now the people continue to scoop water from the streams and ponds while awaiting intervention by government or donor agencie

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/20/isi-uzo-a-cry-for-potable-water/[/b]

[b]The Nation journalist killed in Lagos
National News Apr 25, 2010 By Evelyn Usman and Wahab Abdulah
LAGOS—SEVEN months after The Guardian newspapers’Assistant News Editor was killed by gunmen, another newspaper journalist, Edo Sule Ugbagwu, was shot dead, weekend, in the same neighbourhood by unknown gunmen.
The late Ugbagwu who hailed from Oturkpo, Benue State, was 42 years old at the time he was killed in the Shasha Akowonjo area of Lagos.

Ugbagwu, a Judiciary Correspondent with The Nation newspapers, was killed on Saturday evening at about 6.45pm. A statement by The Nation newspapers, yesterday, confirmed the incident.

Reports said that the gunmen, numbering two and armed with an AK 47 riffle and a pistol, stormed 39 Church Street, off Bameke, Shasha, Akowonjo, where they made straight for Edo’s flat which was on the ground floor, at the back of a one-storey building.

Demand for money

They were said to have met the deceased’s brother, identified as Okloho Sule Ugbagwu in the sitting room and demanded that he brought out the money kept in the apartment. Thereafter, they ordered him to lie flat on the ground, warning that they would shoot if he acted otherwise.

Just then, Edo reportedly came out of his bedroom, and on hearing the banters between his brother and intruders, demanded for their mission. Apparently unaware of their mission, he was said to have asked them to leave the house, but what he got in response were two-gun shots aimed at his forehead.

Efforts to save his life proved abortive as he reportedly gave up the ghost before reaching a private hospital around the area.

The gunmen reportedly left the flat thereafter, without taking anything from the apartment, or carrying out another attack in the premises. They were said to have zoomed off in a red Honda car with unknown registration plate.

When Vanguard visited the residence, sympathizers were seen condoling Ugbagwu’s widow.

Explaining how it happened, the deceased’s younger brother, Okloho said: “I was in the bedroom when I heard my name.

Thinking it was my brother that called, I came out, only to find two men with guns asking, ‘where is the money?’ I was confused and asked them which money they were referring to. They asked me to lie down and I obeyed. My brother then came out of his room and they asked him to go back into his room and kept asking where he kept the money. He told them to get out of his house, but the next thing I heard were two gun shots while the men quickly rushed out.”

The widow, Mariam Ugbagwu, who is yet to come to terms with her husband’s demise, said: “We were taking a walk when he received a call and thereafter told me he was going to get something from the house. I sat down patiently waiting for him a few metres to our gate.

But just then, I noticed a vehicle driving recklessly out of the direction of our house. On approaching where I sat, the vehicle slowed down, reversed and drove off again. I did not know what that meant until I got home only to meet my husband in the pool of his own blood. I screamed and called out to my neighbours who helped rushed him to a private hospital from where he was referred to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Ikeja, where he was certified dead.”

Until his death, Edo worked with defunct Comet Newspapers before he joined The Nation newspaper on July 31, 2006. His last official assignment was the press conference organized last Friday by the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch .

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, visited the scene, Saturday night, to have on the spot assessment, from where he directed detectives at the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Panti, to carry out discreet investigation.

The CP’s visit according to the spokesman for the command, Mr. Frank Mba, was not only to commemorate with the bereaved family but also to demonstrate how the command felt about the unfortunate incident.

Although there had been no arrest but Mba said “detectives from the homicide section have been to the scene. We are very passionate about this case and we are going to carry out discreet investigation at the end of which we would inform members of the public about our findings.”[/b]

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/25/the-nation-journalist-killed-in-lagos/

[b]Abia: ‘Why Ngwa community lacks development’
From Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia, 04.24.2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010


 
The simmering roundlings among Ukwa/Ngwa sections of Abia State over alleged marginalisation of the area has generated sharp reactions in Government House, Umuahia, with aides of Governor Theodore Orji saying that Ngwa people were the architects of their own misfortune.

A group under the aegis of Concerned Ngwa Citizens in Asia, Europe and USA irked the government when it claimed in an advertorial entitled “the state of Ngwa/Ukwa communities in Abia State” that the area was “highly” marginalised while the governor was doing nothing to reverse it.


But the special adviser to the governor on print media, Joshua Ogbonna, told newsmen that the claims were a bundle of lies which flies in the face of facts. He said the Orji administration has invested so much in the development of Ngwa land.

According to him, as much 60 percent of the state resources are spent in Aba to improve the infrastructure in the commercial city and also develop other areas in Ukwa/Ngwa axis.


He said the involvement of Ngwa people in kidnapping and armed robbery was hampering development efforts of government.

“All efforts of government efforts are being frustrated by Ukwa/Ngwa land. They should help government fish out the criminals (because) it is only in Ngwa land that kidnapping is still in Abia,” he said.

Corroborating his colleague in government, the special adviser to the governor on electronic media, Ugochukwu Emezue, wondered why Ngwa people should engage in blackmailing the governor who has been striving hard to carry every section of the state along.


He said that the Concerned Citizens of Ngwa/Ukwa were ill-informed of the developments in the state as the governor has been making positive impacts in every sector of the economy in the state.


He cited the massive road construction and 68 health centres and specialist hospitals built by the Orji administration.


On the alleged massive acquisition of property by the governor, Emezue said that Orji deserved to have his own private house having been in public service for over eight years, adding that it was sheer mischief to claim that he has acquired all properties on a street.[/b]

http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/25/224.html[/b]

[b]Ravaged by erosion: Sad tale of Imo communities
By Chidi Nkwopara
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Owerri – Late last year, the whole world gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark, to critically discuss disturbing climatic changes. Understandably, the countries of the world are in agreement that the way we live and grossly abuse the environment has not only started to adversely affect our lives but is also posing serious and irreparable danger to future generations.


One of the many erosion sites in the State

From all indications, this global concern is believed to have vindicated the vision of the Imo State government, which led to the launching of the Clean and Green initiative. Some political big names in the state, however, seem not to understand the direction of the present administration as they have been accused of playing politics with the issue.


But recently, two citizens of Imo State, Messers Ambrose Obiako and Onu Oparaugo, took Vanguard Metro to a gully erosion site close to Orji Mechanic Village. This frightening erosion site stretches to the Works Layout. Several buildings are already on the verge of bowing to the superior force of the erosion.


The duo lamented that not much concern has been shown to this site but quickly added that what they were experiencing was greater than what the local council and the state government could conveniently tackle. They passionately appealed to the Federal Government to quickly step into the matter so as to save both lives and property.


Until Governor Ikedi Ohakim came into office in 2007, nobody knew that the entire state had a staggering 460 erosion sites scattered all over the state. Indeed, not one of the 27 local government areas is free from the erosion menace.


What is on the lips of Imo people is: “Which is the most devastated community in the State?” From Ideato North and South to Ikeduru, Ngor Okpala, Owerri North and Owerri Municipal, the story has remained the same. You may not appreciate the magnitude of these devastations from a distance.


Indeed, so many families have been sacked from their ancestral homes. Several hectares of farmland have been washed away. The same is also true of cash crops. This ugly development would not have taken place if, probably, all former administrations had taken steps to check the rampaging erosion. They largely paid lip service to the menace confronting the people.


Visible signs are there on government’s objective of reclaiming and protecting the environment. It is steadily being pursued. For instance, out of the 460 erosion sites identified by the administration, 73 have been studied and designed with the Bill of Engineering Measurement valued and ready for award to competent contracting firms. Governor Ikedi Ohakim told Vanguard Metro that the Ministry of Petroleum and Environment has completed the control of four erosion sites in Nkwo-Mbaa in Isiala Mbano local council area.


He also disclosed that the first phase of Ebenato-Ekwe emergency erosion site in Isu Local Government Area, Umuorji Mgbidi sites in Oru West local council area, as well as the emergency erosion control at Holy Sisters of the Needy, Okwu Uratta in Owerri North Local Government Area have been carried out.


In the words of Governor Ohakim: “Design measures and emergency erosion control have been carried out in Ikeduru, Ideato South and Ezinihitte Mbaise local government areas”. After visiting one of the erosion sites, Governor Ohakim even talked of relocating the entire community, as a last resort.


Ohakim similarly told Imo Stakeholders Forum on January 4, 2010, in Owerri that his administration has since drawn the attention of the National Assembly to the erosion menace in the state, which he said is estimated to cost over N400 billion.


“The Senate Committee has visited the sites. We made solid presentation at the Senate Retreat at Enugu, on November 11, 2009. Apart from relating with the management of Ecological Fund, we are working hard to get the Federal Government to declare the South East geo-political zone a disaster area and deal with the erosion accordingly,” Ohakim told the Imo Stakeholders Forum.


Whether members of the National Assembly and the federal government will eventually come to the assistance of the government and people of Imo State remains a huge probability. The ideal thing would however be to save Imo from the rampaging erosion[/b]

[b]Robbers terrorise Imo, kill 10
From Amby Uneze in Owerri, 04.24.2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010

Imo State recorded yet another unprecedented high profile robbery attack on Thursday as armed robbers ran through most of the banks operating from Orlu through Anara in Isiala Mbano Local Government to Okigwe, robbing and killing innocent people.
 

As the dare-devil men were busy robbing the banks, they also engaged the police and army, and at the last count, ten people comprising four policemen, two military personnel and about four civilians were killed.

The vicious onslaught by the hoodlums dressed in mobile police uniform started in Ihiala in Anambra State where they were said to have shot policemen on sight at checkpoints on their way to Imo State.


Having shot and killed two policemen at a checkpoint around St Joseph Catholic Church in Orlu, leaving two others who had rolled under a stationary vehicle with multiple bullet wounds for dead, the gunmen proceeded to Owerri Nkwoji in Nkwerre council area where they were said to have attacked a bank, killing two policemen and a civilian who lived in the building opposite the bank.


From Nkwerre, the gunmen headed for Anara in Isiala Mbano council area of the state where what would have been an ambush by the police, according to a source, turned sour.

The source confided in THISDAY that Police had planned to confront the hoodlums at Anara but some how the gunmen were at the location before the police perfected their plans.


The source said that the hoodlums were already waiting around the area where the Operation Festival’s Joint Police and Military patrol outfit was often stationed, while police were bringing a tipper lorry to barricade the road.

While the two policemen were coming down from the tipper, the gunmen opened fire killing them instantly.


On their way out of the state, the robbers passed through the front of the state police command headquarters and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and shot repeatedly at their buildings.

When THISDAY visited the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu where most of the casualties from Orlu area were taken to, the emergency unit of the hospital was literally besieged by concerned residents of the state who had come to sympathize with the victims and others who had come to ascertain that none of their loved ones were affected in the vicious attack. 


The Army Public Relations Officer, Lt. Adamu Ngulde maintained that as at news time, he was not sure of the number of casualties the army recorded, saying they were still receiving reports and assessing the situation in all the locations the attacks occurred. A woman, who was apparently being treated for shock at IMSUTH, narrated how a female passenger sitting next to her in a bus was killed by a stray bullet.


She also lamented the fact that the same band of gunmen could run through two states inflicting pain and death in several hours without any formidable challenge from security agencies operating in both states.

The Chief Medical Director of IMSUTH, Dr Alex Chukwulebe stated that over 19 casualties were brought into the emergency unit of the hospital among the 19 were two policemen who were brought in dead and another two civilians who were also brought in dead.

These were casualties from Orlu alone. The injured according to the CMD suffered different degrees of organ injuries with two of them being subjected to emergency surgeries to save their lives.

Reacting to the incident, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Linus Nwaiwu however differed on the impression that the robbers had a joy-ride through the state.


He insisted that the Police confronted them at different points after the initial surprise attacks.

He agreed that the police sustained serious casualties but stressed that the hoodlums also had their own casualties with serious gunshot wounds.  “It is only a matter of time. We will definitely catch up with them”, he said.

Consequently, the Anti Terrorism Squad of the Nigerian Police Force recently drafted to the South-East states, most of whom have been operating in the state capital of Owerri alone, were yesterday deployed to all the zones of the state in a bid to smoke out the hoodlums.

Along the Orlu-Owerri road, it was no longer business as usual at the checkpoints as the officers were aggressively searching boots of vehicles plying the road in a no-nonsense manner. [/b]

http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/25/211.html

[b]SOUTH-EAST REPORT
Cult boys hold Enugu community hostage
From PETRUS OBI, Enugu
Wednesday, April 21, 2010


•Ngwu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
More Stories on This Section
Jude Ngwu, a student of Public Administration in the Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Enugu recently received a baptism of fire from his kinsmen who have reportedly turned the Amaeke Ngwo community into a campus of sort; intimidating, maiming and harassing innocent villagers in the name of cultism.

Ngwu, a part time worker with the Nigerian Breweries, Enugu was preparing for an internal exam in the Brewery when his friend pleaded with him to help wait for some of his friends who were coming from Lagos.

“So, on that fateful day I went with the same friend to the 9th Mile Corner to wait for his friends that were coming from Lagos; we were there making contacts with them on phone, trying to direct him. Suddenly, somebody came and tapped me on the shoulder and said he wanted to speak with me; I asked him to go ahead and say what he wanted to say, but he said no, that I shouldn’t be afraid that he knows me very well; he asked if I am not the brother to Charles Agu, saying that there is information he wanted to pass on to me.

“So, I took few steps away from where we were standing; the next thing they requested for was my phone, but I asked him why, and tried to return to where my friends were staying; the next thing they broke a bottle on my head and blood splashed and covered my face; I was still trying to recover when the other guy brought out a machete from his waist and cut my hand.

While the police in Ngwo are still searching for the two assailants who were identified by people around, a Catholic priest who hails from neighbouring Uborji community Rev. Fr. Evans Offor has blamed the leaders and elders of the Amaeke community for the evil being perpetrated by these cultists.

Rev. Offor who is the Parish Priest of Holy Family Catholic Church, Ogbatu in Udi Local Government Area told Daily Sun that there have been incessant cult activities in Ngwo communities, saying that “it has taken long and we are expected to have done something about it, especially the traditional rulers.”

His words: “I expected them long ago to have established structures to tackle these bad boys; they are too many in this place. So, cult activities in Ngwo, especially in this area Amaeke are quite on the rising side, and they have been using dangerous weapons against innocent ones; and that makes me weep for my people.
“They are not attacking their opponents, but here it is innocent young men who are enterprising and the problem now is the problem of leadership in this community; and from the grapevine I hear that some of the leaders are using these boys for personal and selfish purposes and that is why it is on the increase.

“So, I am using this opportunity to call these leaders to order and also to invite the security agents in this state to come to Amaeke Ngwo and do something. This is the haven for cult activities; the citadel of it. In my own community, Uborji we have done our best to ensure that these boys don’t harm anybody because they are rascals; cult boys are from hell and they can do anything to maim people.

“Like this very one now they almost cut-off one of the arms; so let the community leaders set up a vigilante that will take care of these boys. Edmund Burke said that evil thrive in society because good one keep quite; I don’t know why opinion leaders from this community should keep quiet and their children will become devils from hell; threatening, rampaging maiming and killing; they even use a local masquerade called Odo to rape women and girls and also cause harm to people. It is high time they came together to do something; we call on the police to beam the searchlight on Amaeke Ngwo.”

The traditional ruler of Amaeke Ngwo, Igwe Jerome Okolo who spoke on phone after several attempts to reach him failed, condemned the recent attack on Jude Ngwu, pointing out that he has been speaking against the activities of cultists in his community.

His words: “I have always been against any sort of brutality and attack on innocent people and I want to assure you that we shall make sure that we put a stop to the activities of these cultists.”
Former chairman of the Amaeka Town Union, Mr Peter Ozioke agreed that the activities of cultists was on the rise in the entire communities of Ngwo Uno and assured that it will be top on the agenda of their next community meeting.
On allegations that Amaeke has been notorious on cult related incidents, the former chairman said, “I will not use the word notorious; it’s been on the increase like any other community in our Ngwo Uno.”
He, however, noted that all the atrocities were being perpetrated by a handful of boys and assured that the community leaders were out to put a stop to it.[/b]






http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/apr/21/national-21-04-2010-005.htm

[b]Desperate man smuggled self to the US in Delta Airline plane’s tyre compartment but arrives Atlanta as mangled dead body

By CHIOMA IGBOKWE
Saturday, April 17, 2010


The family of a Nigerian, who wanted to play James Bond and perhaps, shock the world with his plan, is currently gnashing its teeth, as the venture has ended in tragedy.

Saturday Sun gathered that a young Nigerian, Mr. Emeka Okechukwu Okeke, recently wanted to do the impossible by smuggling himself into the United States, but ended up arriving not only in body bag but also as mangled body.

Impeachable sources at the Murtala Muhammed International, Lagos, revealed that Okeke had beaten all security at the airport, traced his way to the tarmac and sneaked into the tyre compartment of a Delta Airline’s plane scheduled to depart for Atlanta, United States.

It was gathered that the plane had departed Lagos, without Okeke being detected, and safely arrived Atlanta. Ground staff of the airline, in the United States, were said to have discovered pieces of flesh and blood smear on one of the tyres of the plane and raised an alarm.
A check on the plane revealed the mangled body of Okeke in one of the tyre compartments of the aircraft. The check also revealed a bag and a mobile phone on what remained of the body of the young man.
Saturday Sun gathered that shocked officials of Delta Airlines, in the US, had put on the mobile phone and scrolled through the numbers. To find out the identity of the man, they were said to have called the last number dialed and made inquiries. The man, who received the call, was said to have revealed that the owner of the phone had travelled to the United States.

Delta Airlines officials in the United States had transferred the case to Nigeria, where it was discovered that Okeke, who is married, had confided in some of his friends and relatives that he was travelling to the United States on the night he sneaked into the tyre compartment of the aircraft. His family has been contacted and its members have identified the corpse of Okeke.

According to our source, Okeke is from Anambra and had tried unsuccessfully for years to get a visa to America. Owing to desperation, he decided to embark on the risky venture, which eventually claimed his life. Although, he told his family that he was travelling to US, he never revealed that he was going to sneak into the tyre compartment of the aircraft.

According to our source, Okeke colluded with airport officials to gain access to the tarmac, before finding his way to the plane in the dark. He was said to have wrapped himself in a blanket, not knowing that the aircraft tyres would get to where he was and kill him.

Meanwhile, Delta Airline staffers, who guarded the plane at the airport on the day the incident happened, have been arrested by the police, to explain how Okeke sneaked into the tyre compartment of the plane.
Saturday Sun gathered that Delta Airline has a security policy, whereby its plane at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, is guarded from the time it arrives Nigeria, in the afternoon, till when it departs with passengers in the night.

With such security arrangement, the airline is, therefore, shocked that somebody could have access to the plane undetected and embarked on a suicide mission, which has caused the airline a scandal.
The police at the airport command are currently battling to find out how security was breached at the airport that day.

An airport official, who pleaded for anonymity, told Saturday Sun, that many people had been smuggled out of the country by sneaking into aircraft.

The source said: “That route is for people who have guts and all efforts to leave Nigeria have failed. The man has bad luck; it is not his destiny to leave Nigeria. Maybe he did not follow the instructions given to him on how to survive under there. This is not the first time people are sneaking out of Nigeria through that means. Sometime last year a woman travelled through that means and arrived safely.
“If this man arrived safely, we would not be talking about this. He was careless with his life. Now innocent staff of the airline are going to suffer for his mistake. Those who guarded the plane that night were arrested.”

The racket at the airport

The question being asked by people is, how possible is it that somebody would gain access to the tarmac undetected, considering the tight security in the airport? Our source explained that such illegal movement is being coordinated by a syndicate at the airport, which also works with airlines’ workers.
It was gathered that people who need such services pay as much as N800,000. They tutored on how to survive in the aircraft compartment. For one, it was learnt that they are given blankets and winter clothes with which they would keep warn while the plane is in flight across the Atlantic.
In the country of destination, the illegal immigrants are received by agents in the syndicate, who smuggle them into the country.

Our source blamed the level of corruption at the airport on poor working condition, alleging that some of staff are paid N30, 000 monthly. [/b] “In this present day, how can one survive with such an amount of money? We have to survive; that is why there can never be a cure for the level of corruption at the airport. There is nothing like absolute security; the people at the helm of affairs smuggle things into the plane also, despite their fat allowance,” an airport worker said.
When contacted, officials of Delta airlines refused to comment. However, a policeman at the airport command confirmed the incident and said investigation was going on.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/n

[b[b]]Gunmen kidnap legislator’s wife in A’Ibom
By AGENCY REPORTER, Published: Friday, 16 Apr 2010
   
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chie

Unidentified gunmen on Friday abducted Mrs Roxy Udota, wife to a legislator representing Eket in Akwa Ibom House of Assembly.

Udota, who is the Treasurer of Eastern Obolo Local Government Council, was abducted on her way to work between Mkpat Enin and Eastern Obolo.


The Eastern Obolo Local Government Council on Friday presented its 2010 budget estimates to the council‘s legislature for approval.

The Chairman of the council, Mr Francis Uduyok, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Okoroette that staff of the council were in sad mood following the news of the abduction.

``We are shocked that such a thing will happen because there is only one entrance to the council.[/b]
``We have a check point around the place the incident happened, therefore, the council is embarrassed by this development.


``We have ensured adequate security on the Mkpat Enin-Eastern Obolo road before now; with this development there is need to take a critical look at the security here.

``In addition to regular policemen, the council secured the services of some 200 youths in vigilance groups, so it beats our imagination why this should happen” he said.[/b]
http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010041614301560

[b]Ekiti: Police arrest 3 suspected cultists over varsity students’ murder
From Toba Suleiman in Ado-Ekiti, 04.12.2010
Monday, April 12, 2010

Ekiti

Following the recent cult activities, which led to the death of two students of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD), police in the state have apprehended two suspected cultists from the institution over their alleged involvement in the killing of the students.



The students were killed recently by cultists when they struck at Dallimore area of the town.


The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Mr. Mohammed Jimoh, who confirmed the arrest on telephone in Ado-Ekiti, identified the suspects as students of the UNAD.

But, the PPRO however revealed that the third suspect arrested in connection with the killing of the students, was a student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Ado-Ekiti Satellite Campus.


The PPRO said that the suspects who were arrested at the Adebayo area of Ado-Ekiti were apprehended by a team of policemen following information from some members of the public.

According to him, a gun and a cutlass were recovered from the suspected cultists, adding that the suspects would soon be charged to court. It would be recalled that  cult-related clashes, which have been on the increase since the beginning of the year climaxed last week when two students of UNAD were hacked to death at dawn.


A parent of one of the victims was present as the hoodlums butchered her son and  her pleas did not deter the cultists, who axed the students to death right inside the family house at Dallimore area.

In a related development, the police have also arrested a member of an armed robbery gang, which has been terrorising Nova area of Ado-Ekiti.


The suspected robber was nabbed at a scene of robbery incident at around 2 am last Thursday by a team of policemen led by one Sergeant Damilola Samuel.

The police team called CP Crack Force stormed the scene of the incident and arrested Tope Alabi, a male who is suspected to be a member of a robbery gang.[/b]
http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/12/207.html

[b]Anambra: Three kidnap suspects in police net
From NWABUEZE OKONKWO, Onitsha

Saturday, April 10, 2010

The police in Anambra State are now interrogating three of the eight suspected kidnappers for their alleged involvement in the abduction of an 82- year-old farmer, Pa Edward Major, and extortion of N10.9 million from his family as ransome for his release.

According to sources, the suspects who were identified as Anthony Madukolu (21), John Chinwuba (23) and Desmond Chinwuba (22), were captured by a team of Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS) led by Kenneth Okonkwo and handed over to the police.


The source said the AVS team had, on a tip-off, arrested Madukolu in a hideout somewhere in Onitsha and after brief interrogation, he made confessional statements that led to the arrest of the Chinwubas, who incidentally are two brothers of the same parents.


The trio had on March 12, at Aseazaga village, Ndoni in the Rivers State boundary with Anambra State, abducted Pa Major at about 11.30 p.m. and demanded N150 million ransom. But after negotiations with the family members, N10.9 million was paid and the old man was released.

Luck, however, ran against them whem after the release of Pa Major and his family contacted AVS members, who immediately swung into action and arrested Madukolu and the Chinwubas, while the five other members of the gang are still at large.


The trio, after their arrests, were handed over to men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) at their Anambra State headquarters, Awkuzu for further interrogations.

On their way to the SARS office, the suspects denied ever indulging in any kidnap but Pa Major identified Madukolu as the ring leader, who introduced himself as an Inspector of Police attached to Ndoni Police Station.

Pa Major identified them as those who kidnapped and held him and the entire family hostage inside their house and at the same time, telling him that they were aware that one of his sons is a millionaire but that when he told the gunmen that he has no money, they started shooting all over the place and thereafter whisked him away. [/b]


http://nigeriaworld.com/cgi-bin/axs/ax.pl?http://odili.net/news/source/2010/apr/10/510.html

[b]White Zimbabwean farmer found dead in Kwara
National News Apr 12, 2010 By Demola Akinyemi

Ilorin — One of the white farmers from Zimbabwe working in  Kwara State, Mr James Chisohm, was mysteriously found dead beside the stream in Labintan village, Bakase in Asa Local Government Area of the state, weekend.

Informed source told Vanguard that the deceased had earlier sent his boys to get him drinkable water around the area.

On their return, the source claimed that the boys could not locate 63-year-old Chisohm, a development that prompted the setting up of a search party to look for him.

The search, which started on Friday, continued till the next day, Saturday. They eventually discovered his corpse in the said village.

Police story
Contacted Sunday, Kwara State Police Command confirmed the development in an interview with journalists in Ilorin.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Dabo Ezekiel, “The Kwara State Police Command wishes to announce to the general public the death of a white Zimbabwean farmer.

“The deceased Zimbabwe-an farmer, Hamish James Chisohm aged 63, was confirmed dead on Saturday at about 1206hrs after severe search. The decea-sed was said to be in search of water in the stream said to be located at Labintan village via Bakase in Asa LGA of Kwara State.”

The PPRO added that “the incident occurred on 9 April 2010 at about 1150pm when one Seyi Adedokun ‘m’ of Nigeria Starch Mill Farm Onire, along Alapa came to the police station to report on the issue same date at about 145pm.

“Hamish James Chisohm, the deceased Zimbabwean farmer, Sunday, Baba Azeez, Elemosho and Seyi Adedo-kun, all of Starch Mill Farm,  went to measure the land and set the boundary.

“At a stage, Hamish sent them to get him water from the office and later directed them to meet him at another location of the farm. When they came back with the water at the said location, Hamish was no where to be found.”

Search  for Chisohm

Dabo continued: “A search party was put in place to go round the farm to look for him, but the search proved abortive. On 10 April 2010 (Saturday), the search resumed and about 1206hrs of the same date, the body was found dead by the side of a stream in Labintan village via Bakase in Asa LGA of Kwara State.”

The police spokesperson, however, noted that investigation conducted on the deceased showed no mark of violence or cuts on the body and therefore no foul play was suspected.

He stressed that the corpse has been moved to the state specialist hospital morgue where autopsy will be conducted after which the body will be released to the family for burial.

Meanwhile, a high powered delegation compri-sing the state Police Commissioner, Muhtari Ibrahim, DPO Francis, the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Develop-ment, Abdulfatah Ahmad, Security Adviser to the Governor, Yinka Aluko, Mike Fields and John Sawyer (both Zimbab-wean farmers from Shonga) and other staff of the farm visited the place where Chisohm was found dead.[/b]

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/12/white-zimbabwean-farmer-found-dead-in-kwara/

[b]Jonathan’s interest in Southeast security
By Godwin Ajoku

More Stories on This Section
It is heartwarming that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan held a meeting with all five state governors in the Southeast geopolitical zone on March 23, 2010, at State House, Abuja , on the security situation in their area. News reports did not show if the Inspector General of Police, Ogbonna Onovo, was in attendance.

But if the IGP was there, we hope he used the opportunity to tell the governors the home truth, the truth of how some of them have deliberately been making things difficult for him as the nation’s foremost security officer and the first south easterner to attain this most prestigious position, a post he attained on merit and in keeping with the principles of justice, fair play and national cohesion.

A particular state governor is well known to use kidnapping as an effective tool to silence his ever-growing band of critics, and his opponents have, in turn, resorted to kidnapping his supporters. This is a governor who was into full-time advance fee fraud business. Far from developing his state, he has engaged in sheer showmanship, self-aggrandisement, narcissism, and outright propaganda to hoodwink the people, in the tradition of the current North Korea leaders and Josef Goebbels of Adolph Hitler’s Germany . The governor recently recommended a notorious but very successful 419er to the Federal Government for a national honour.

Intelligence reports from commercial banks with which his state does business show the unconscionable manner this governor scams the state through various bogus programmes and projects. It is, indeed, a shame that some otherwise intelligent people were once under the illusion that this fellow would change in view of the high and sacred office he now occupies. Who has ever seen the leopard change its skin?

What is clear from the above is that Southeast governors and other political leaders from the geopolitical zone have not been using the resources of the people for the common good. Therefore, the area is not developing as fast as it should. One consequence of this state of affairs is growing poverty. There is hardly any Southeast governor who is interested in creating jobs for the people, as Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has been doing; Fashola has even gone to the extent of finding useful jobs for “area boys”, street urchins who used to be a terror to Lagos residents and business people. Without jobs, crime can only grow. If countries like Sweden , Switzerland and Norway experience no violent crimes like armed robberies, it is precisely because the citizens are fully employed.

But poverty is not the only reason for the growing state of insecurity in the Southeast. After all, the region is not the poorest in the country. In fact, in terms of income per capita, it enjoys the highest rate in Nigeria as the people are reputed to be exceedingly industrious. IGP Onovo was recently quoted as saying that ostentatious display of wealth by the tiny elite in the midst of mass wretchedness contributes to the crime wave in Nigeria . Onovo also mentioned other factors which I will collectively like to call the collapse of values. Let us give an instance with Southeastern politics. One of the people who sought to be the governor of Anambra State in the February 6, 2010, election in the state is someone everyone knows was a drug baron. He has plenty of money but little education. Still, he holds a high public office. Senator Aliyu Nuhu once expressed shock at the fact that some of the people he arrested for heinous crimes when he was the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of criminal investigations are now in the National Assembly.

A great incentive to crime everywhere in the world is not to punish the offender. A greater incentive is to reward crime. In the Southeast, as in some other parts of Nigeria , we have been rewarding and beatifying crime. A society where well known advance free fraud practitioners and drug barons are allowed to occupy sacred public office in the name of politics is doomed. Such a situation can only breed crisis and insecurity. Young men and women in the Southeast daily see common criminals become state governors and legislators, and flaunt their wealth to the applause and admiration of the larger society. It will be tough to convince the youth that crime does not pay.

News around the Southeast is not pleasant at all, security-wise. About half of Nigerians in foreign jails are of Igbo stock; their offences range from advance fee fraud to trafficking in hard drugs to robbery. In Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, the Ezillo people are uprooting the Ezza community in their midst which has hitherto been living amicably with them since the 1930s; they are killing not just themselves in their hundreds, but also non-indigenes innocently driving through their towns, including a federal director of Cross River State origin.
The Onitsha Main Market, reputed to be the biggest open market in West Africa , has become the source of all manner of paraphernalia of violence. Almost 2000 rounds of ammunition recently seized by eagle-eyed Nigerian police officers were Onitsha Market-bound from the Republic of Benin.

IGP Onovo is a tested and trusted hand in intelligence matters. He should deploy an efficient intelligence mechanism to not just rid the market of all manner of illegal items, but also bring the merchants of death to justice. Good a thing he has been working with an arm of the British government called the Department of Foreign and International Aid (DFID) in community policing. The entire Onitsha metropolis is in dire need of community policing. Meanwhile, questions need to be asked about why there is absolutely no impact on Onitsha of the Federal Government’s “ Safe City ” programme in which seven selected cities in Nigeria , including Onitsha , are to benefit. Over three billion naira was set aside for the project, and the money was handed over to the Ministry of Police Affairs, then headed by Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame.

Acting President Jonathan deserves commendation for showing a deep interest in Southeast’s security. If he gives IGP Onovo the necessary political support, our zone will reclaim its pride of place.

Ajoku, a lawyer, lives in Owerri, Imo State .[/b]



http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&p=igbo+are+making+onovo+job+more+hard-+nigeria+sun&sig=Hwo8lSkmxQgImUHE.hRaJg--

[b]By Evelyn Usman

Even though it is no longer news that some men, known as homosexuals or gays, date fellow men, such perverted sexual   practice has always been carried out in secret because of the public condemnation it attracts.   But this was not the case in Festac town on Easter Monday as two males were caught right in the act  inside a Mercedes Benz 230 car.

To add to the shock, the sexual tango involved   a 40-year-old man and a teenager who is barely 15 years old. The teenager who gave his name as Uche Anyanwu, was reportedly caught pants down , on the thighs of a fat bellied 40-year-old man and father of two, at the back seat of his car.

Vanguard Metro gathered that the position of the car alerted a police patrol team from Festac division at about 10.30pm, who surreptitiously approached the car, only to behold the duo engaged in such ungodly act.

On what could a 15-year old boy be doing outside at that time of the day, Uche, who looks every inch like a young lady, disclosed that he worked as a dancer in a popular club at First Avenue, Festac.


Okpala and his victim Uche
Narrating what transpired that fateful day, he at first denied the obvious, stating that while he was discussing with Mr Ogochukwu Okpala inside his car, he mistakenly fell on him, exactly at the time the police arrived. But later countering the claims himself, he gave what he described as the true version of the story.

“ I came for a fashion show at the Heaven’s Club and after the show, this man(pointing to Mr Okpala) told me I was a good dancer and  that he would like to see me outside in order for me to teach him how to dance. I said okay but that I won’t teach him without being paid. He promised to pay me  N3,000.

“Before that day, I had met him before at the club. I was actually introduced to him by one Josephine, with whom I was squatting until she lost her job.

“Immediately I entered the vehicle where he was seated at the owner’s corner, he grabbed me and pulled me close to him, saying I was a handsome boy and I replied by telling him that was not the first time I had heard comments like that. Almost immediately he started kissing me and  then removed my belt. I was on him when the police arrived the scene,” he informed.

Asked if he was  gay, he replied, almost tears: “ I have never done a thing like this before.  Immediately he grabbed me, I told myself that he was gay but I did not resist him because of the money he had earlier promised to give me. Aside this, was also his promise to take me back to school.

“I gave in  because I am an orphan. My mother died while giving  birth to me, while  my father died two years ago, as a result of which  I could no longer continue with my education. I had to drop out in Junior Secondary School 1(JSS!) After the death of my father, I started staying with a lady named Destiny. But when she lost her job, she told me she could no longer accommodate me and she later went clubbing.It was even Destiny that first introduced me to this man . I have not done this before. This is my very first time”.

But on his part, 40-year-old   Okpala wore an injured expression as he vehemently denied indulging in the act, and gnashing his teeth to underline the anger he felt for the teenager.

According to him: “The police arrested me because they accused me of kissing this boy”. Asked to prove his innocence, he stated thus: “Actually I had gone to the club to ease off when I met Uche dancing and I told him I liked the way he was dancing and that I would like to meet him when next I visited the club. That was in February. So on Easter Monday, he called me on my phone to ask if I was coming and I answered in the affirmative.  So when I got to the club, I parked and asked him to come and meet me in the car and when he came, we started discussing, in the process of which the police came and arrested both of us”.

Vanguard Metro gathered that when the arrest of Mr Okpala, a staunch member of a popular church in Igando area of Lagos, filtered in, a senior officer in the Nigerian Navy(names withheld) stormed the station to effect his release. But the officer, it was gathered, expressed shock and disbelief when the suspect reportedly admitted in confidence to have attempted to handle with the teenager inside his car.

Also in police custody is Mr Okpala’s driver who was inside the car when the alleged deed was being perpetrated. Although the driver denied seeing what was happening at the back seat between his boss and the teenager, but he admitted to have heard the sound of a belt being loosened.

According to the driver who identified himself as Chukwuebuka Okechukwu: “On that day, my Oga informed me that I would be taking him somewhere later that day. As we were going, his phone rang and after the call, he asked me to take him to Heaven’s Club. Getting close to the club, this boy came and sat with him at the back. I just sat there because he never told me to get down and I did not look back to know what was going on. The only sound I heard was that of a belt that was being loosened. There was also no discussion between them . And almost immediately, the police arrived[/b]
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/04/12/caught-in-the-act-man-40-in-a-love-tango-with-15yr-old-boy/