The attention of the Imo State Police Command has been drawn to a false newspaper publication in the DAILY SUN Newspaper of 21ST June, 2022 captioned "SIT-AT-HOME: GUNMEN BOMB IMO MARKET" and online news captioned "BOMB EXPLOSION ROCKS IMO MARKET, SCORES INJURED, VEHICLES BURNT” written by one Stanley Uzoaru a reporter of Daily Sun Newspaper, alleging that "gunmen while enforcing sit-at-home order of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) yesterday, 20/06/2022, BOMBED the popular Izombe Central Market in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State; that they earlier warned the traders not to come out on Monday's but they ignored them. Irked by their defiance, the gunmen threw bomb inside the market and everybody started running for safety, they poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere went up in flame".
It is preposterous and most unfortunate that, a notable national newsprint will publish a sensitive story without ascertaining the true facts. The command is miffed and view this publication as malicious, false, misleading and a calculated attempt to undermine the already improved security situation being enjoyed in the state and also to dampen the confidence the Command has achieved with the good people of the state since the arrival of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc (+), few months ago.
May I at this juncture, state the true facts surrounding the incident that actually occurred on 20/6/2022 in Izombe Central Market. It is on record that there was no bomb explosion in Izombe Central Market on 20/6/2022, and there was no record at the disposal of the Command that, the traders were in anytime warned by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or it militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) not to come out on Mondays for their businesses. Moreso, the community has always engaged in their market business without fear of molestation from anybody.
However, preliminary investigation conducted by the Police Operatives on arrival at the market while responding to the distress on 20/6/2022 at about 1630hours, revealed that some overzealous miscreants came to the Izombe Central Market in Oguta LGA of Imo State, on a motorcycle, went to a stationed Bus where the conductor was canvassing for passengers traveling to Owerri and set it ablaze in the name of enforcing sit-at-home order in the Community and left almost immediately after the act. However, no life was lost and most of the people have left because it was the close of market.
The Command considers this publication not only unprofessional but also believes it's at variance with the ethics of the profession of journalism. To this end, the Nigeria Police, Imo State Command Owerri, Imo State, hereby demands a retraction/or correction of this offensive news publication in the Daily Sun newspaper of 20/6/2022, within Twenty-four hours of this Rejoinder of which, if this is not done, the Command will have no choice but to take appropriate legal action against the publisher.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, psc(+), commends the good people of Imo State for their unalloyed support given to the Command and enjoined them to disregard false news as it is capable of causing palpable tension as well as installing fear in Imolites both at home and in diaspora, that there is insecurity in the State. He then warned mischief makers and those whose stock in trade is to circulate fake news, to desist from it, else they will be made to face the full wrath of the law if caught.
CSP MICHAEL ABATTAM POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE COMMAND.
Grandmaster2022: Africa has 4 slots in this tournament. So they had qualified earlier for the world cup
Wrong. They have not qualified for the World Cup. This is the WAFU Zone B tournament. It is the qualifiers for the Under 17 AFCON. Each of the six zones received two spots in the U17 AFCON tournament.
The 6 zones are North, West zone A, West zone B, Central, Central East and South.
This is the West Zone B (WAFU Zone B) tournament (hosted by Ghana) and two teams will qualify for the AFCON.
The top four teams at the Under 17 AFCON in Algeria (which will take place from April 8 to 30 2023) will qualify for the Under 17 World Cup in Peru.
UPDATE: Golden Eaglets Secure 2023 U-17 AFCON Ticket After Comeback Win Vs Côte d’Ivoire
June 21, 2022 5:55 pm
The Golden Eaglets of Nigeria have qualified for next year’s U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, after defeating Côte d’Ivoire 3-1 in the first semi-final of the WAFU B tournament in Ghana.
Two well taken free-kicks from Emmanuel Michael in the first half and a second half header off Abdullahi Idris, earned coach Nduka Ugbade and his side their third consecutive win at the regional tournament.
Michael has now netted three free-kicks at the ongoing tournament.
The Eaglets will now face either Ghana or Burkina Faso in the final billed for Friday, 24 June.
The Eaglets got off to a poor start as Côte d’Ivoire opened scoring in the second minute from the penalty spot through Yan Diomandi.
Following a clumsy tackle on Diomandi inside the box, the referee pointed to the spot with the scorer sending the Eaglets keeper the wrong way.
In the 31st minute the Eaglets equalized thanks to a free-kick from Michael, whose effort close to the corner flag slipped past the Ivorian keeper.
Michael then made it 2-1 on 43 minutes from another free-kick this time from a central position, which beat the Ivorian wall before nestling into the back of the net.
Idris then made it 3-1 in the 61st minute as he rose highest to head in a swung in free-kick with the keeper stranded.
With 13 minutes left the Eaglets were awarded another free-kick but this time Michael’s attempt went narrowly wide.
In the 86th minute a beautiful team play from the Eaglets set up Precious Williams with a clear chance, but his effort went inches off target.
Elder0001: Naptu2 it's like you have a personal beef/issue with this ipob/esn people oh. The way you keep updating us back to back about them without pay ehn...
Anyways, how exactly are Peter Obi's supporters going to vote for him next year?
It's like I have a personal beef with Ameerah Sufyan. It's like I have a personal beef with Will Smith It's like I have a personal beef with the Super Falcons and women's football It's like I have a personal beef with Lagos robbers and criminals It's like I have a personal beef with Omojuwa vs Ezekwesili It's like I have a personal beef with Boko Haram' It's like I have a personal beef with any news story.
The leader of the Autopiloters faction of Ipob, Simon Ekpa, had earlier declared a sit-at-home protest for Monday and threatened to extend the protest to Rivers State.
Gunmen Bomb Imo Market, Injure Traders, Set Vehicles Ablaze Over Sit-at-home Order
The hoodlums on Monday carried out the dastardly act while they were said to be enforcing every Monday’s sit-at-home order.
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK JUNE 20, 2022
Gun-wielding hoodlums have reportedly bombed the Izombe market in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
The hoodlums on Monday carried out the dastardly act while they were said to be enforcing every Monday’s sit-at-home order which the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had since called off.
IPOB had in 2021 ordered every Monday sit-at-home across South-East and some parts of South-South to demand unconstitutional release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu who had been in detention at facility of the Nigeria secret police, Department of State Services (DSS).
Sources said the incident caused uneasy calm as the traders and customers in the market scampered for safety, according to Daily Sun.
One of sources said the gunmen had stormed the market, warning the traders of the implications of coming out on Monday for their business transactions.
Angered by their defiance, the hoodlums set two vehicles ablaze in the market which caused serious pandemonium before bombing the market.
The source disclosed that everybody in the market sensing danger scampered for safety, while many attempting to escape danger got wounded in the process.
Meanwhile, in the midst of the commotion, traders in the market seeking safety got wounded while struggling for survival.
“They came and threw a local bomb inside the market, everybody started running for safety, they poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere was in flame."
Sit-at-home: Gunmen bomb market in Imo, raze vehicles
Several traders sustained injuries from the incident.
By Chinagorom Ugwu June 21, 2022
Gunmen on Monday, bombed the popular Izombe Market in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria’s South-east.
The gunmen were said to be members of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) enforcing the suspended sit-at-home order.
They were said to have stormed the market earlier to warn the traders not to violate the order by opening for business on Monday, according to a report by Sun Newspaper.
But the traders defied the warning and opened the market for business, prompting the gunmen to attack them.
The gunmen set two vehicles ablaze in the market before bombing the place, the newspaper reported.
The frightened traders scampered for safety during the attack.
Some of the traders sustained injuries in the incident.
“They came and threw a local bomb inside the market and everybody started running for safety. They (also) poured fuel on two vehicles and everywhere went up in flames,” the newspaper quoted a witness as saying.
Background
IPOB, an outlawed group leading the agitation for creation of an independent state of Biafra from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria, had suspended its earlier Monday’s sit-at-home order, in preference for the order to be implemented only on the days its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, appear in court.
Despite its suspension, residents of the five South-east states – Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra – have been observing the Monday sit-at-home order, mostly out of fear.
Some residents and motorists, including commuters, have been attacked lately in the region by gunmen for stepping out of their homes on Monday and other declared sit-at-home days.
There has been growing insecurity in the South-east, with frequent attacks by armed persons.
IPOB has been accused of being responsible for the deadly attacks, but the secessionist group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks.
Leader of the outlawed group, Mr Kanu, is being detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for terrorism.
Translate the Hausa portion of the article. This is what it says (I have skipped the English portion because I assume that everybody can understand English).
They were dropped because of the covid lockdown in China. If you follow Desire's Instagram account you'll see that she has not been able to leave the house. They are on lockdown.
Desire has also tweeted to say that she had to drop out of the squad because of the border closure issues.
Desire and Chinwe can't travel because the part of China that they are in is under a lockdown order.
Politics › Re: Sit-At-Home: Gunmen Bomb Izombe Market In Imo, Raze Vehicles by naptu2(op): 3:41am On Jun 22, 2022
