News

Sit@home: Stop threatening our traditional ruler, Aguleri Community warns Simon Ekpa

Published

1 month ago

August 16, 2023

The Aguleri Community Assembly in Anambra East Local Government Area, has told Simon Ekpa, the Finland-based, self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to stop threatening HRH, Dr Michael Idigo, the traditional ruler of the town.

The Community sent this message at a press conference jointly held by the Aguleri Town Union leadership and Aguleri Royal cabinet at the Palace of Eze Idigo on Wednesday.

The community said Eze Idigo did not at any time visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the detained Leader of IPOB, or spoke to him on the protracted sit-at-home issue in the Southeast and so there was no need for any form of threat by Ekpa.

Chief Ifeanyi iloakasia, President-General Aguleri Community Assembly who spoke on behalf of the Community, said they were taken aback by the threat from Ekpa on their traditional ruler.

Iloakasia said it was Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the traditional ruler of Enugwu Aguleri, one of the villages of the larger Aguleri Community, that made the visit and public announcement.

He said “Chukwuemeka Eri had the right in his capacity as ‘Eze Akajiovo’ and as a concerned stakeholder in the Southeast to visit Nnamdi Kanu and make public statements thereon without being subjected to the unwarranted backlash that we have witnessed.

“Aguleri Community Assembly has noted with displeasure and bewilderment, the various comments made by Simon Ekpa and some other members of the IPOB against Igwe Aguleri over his purported meeting with Nnamdi Kanu at Abuja.

“That Igwe Idigo, Ezeudo Aguleri, did not at any time visit Mazi Nnamdi Kanu at Abuja whether alone or in company of anybody.

“That Igwe Idigo, Ezeudo Aguleri, is probably being mistaken for Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Akajiovo, who visited Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and made public statements thereafter,” he said.

When contacted, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri said he visited Kanu and had received a similar threat but was not fazed by it.

He said he had fruitful discussion with detained Kanu who reiterated his message for an end to the sit-at-home order on Mondays in the Southeast.

Headline

Navy disowns list of successful candidate for Batch 35 recruitment

Published

5 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Alero Danjuma

The Nigerian Navy (NN) has disowned the purported list of successful candidate for its Basic Training School (NNBTS) Batch 35 Recruitment, saying it is fake.

Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, the Director of Naval Information, said this in a statement in Abuja.

Ayo-Vaughan said the exercise was conducted in three centres across the country, namely; Lagos, Rivers and Kaduna States.

He described the information, being circulated recently as fake, and handiwork of fraudulent miscreants who were trying to dupe some unsuspecting applicants.

He said the list of successful candidates had not been released and that no form of invitation for training, via text message had also been disseminated by the Nigerian Navy.

‘’The alarming rate of circulation of fake information by unscrupulous individuals, regarding enlistment or recruitment into Navy is quite worrisome.

‘’Efforts are on to track and arrest the miscreants.

“Members of the public especially prospecting applicants who participated in the said recruitment are strongly enjoined to always authenticate information from the NN official website, https://www.navy.mil.ng, and other official social media handles, as well as other credible mainstream media platforms.

“Similarly, miscreants and mischief makers are warned to desist from this unwholesome practice, otherwise they will face the full wrath of the law,” he said.

Ayo-Vaughan said the text message, had invited unsuspecting applicants to report for military training at NNBTS Onne, Rivers, following their purported selection.

He said the criminals further claimed in the text message that the exercise would commence on Oct. 6.

Headline

Gov. Alia condemns kidnapping of commissioner, one other

Published

5 hours ago

September 25, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

Gov. Hyacinth Alia has strongly condemned the kidnaping of Mr. Matthew Abo, his Commissioner for Information, culture and Tourism, and former Chairman Ukum Local Government Area (LGA), Mr. Iorwashima Erukaa.

This is contained in a press statement on Monday, signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi.

According to the statement, while Mr Abo was kidnapped by unknown gunmen in his Sankara home at about 8pm on Sunday, September 24, Mr. Erukaa was taken away by a yet-to-be identified gunmen on Saturday, September 23.

The Governor, who described the act as barbaric and unacceptable, has directed security agencies to immediately commence operations to ensure the safe release of the duo.

He called on the people of the State to remain calm, as his administration would do everything possible to make the State safe for all.

“The kidnappers have made contacts with the family of Mr Erukaa but are yet to contact Mr Abo’s family,” the statement stated

Several gunmen had stormed the the commissioner’s residence in Zaki-Biam, Ukum LGA and kidnapped him.

Eyewitnesses who spoke to NAN, said that the kidnappers who came on four motorcycles, ordered everyone in the house, including the his wife and children, to lie face down and took him away to an unknown destination.

The witnesses said the abductors compelled the commissioner at gun point to sit behind the rider of one of the motorcycles while a gunman sandwitched him.

Mr Abo was sworn in as a member of the Benue State Executive Council on August 29.

He hails from Ukum Local Government Area of Sankera axis, a major flashpoint of criminal activities with rampant killings and kidnappings for years now.