Crime
NELAN workers’ killing in Ebonyi: AESID demands full-scale investigation of Umahi, others
The Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in the Diaspora (AESID) has called for a full-scale investigation to unravel the cause of abduction and killing of five consultant Engineers working on the African Development Bank (AfDB) by some unknown gunmen.
The five engineers were working with an Enugu-based consultant engineering firm, were reportedly missing on November 3 after they were deployed to a road project at Effium in Ebonyi state in continuation of routine supervisory works.
The victims were identified as Mr. Nelson Onyemeh, Mr. Stanley Nwazulum, Mr. Ernest Edeani, Mr. IK Ejiofor and Mr. Samuel Aneke, respectively.
Expressing it worry, through a statement Monday in Abuja, AESID President Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, called on security agencies in Nigeria to thoroughly investigate and unravel those who have hands in the unfortunate incident.
The statement said: “We join the family and indeed, other civil society groups like Intersociety which have all spoken up on this dastardly act to not only condemn the sad incident but call on Governor Umahi to clear his name on the matter especially as he has been specifically mentioned to have been threatening the contractors.
“It is our principal belief that matters such as this, so long as it concerns our dear state and it’s people cannot be swept under the carpet through unofficial but surreptitious Executive antics. This is more so when a character like Umahi is involved.
“We therefore implore the varous security agencies in Nigeria to thoroughly investigate Umahi and those in his government who may have been suspected to have a hand in this unfortunate incident.”
While raising concern over the mysterious and suspicious deaths associated with the road project, the diaspora group “the mysterious deaths pervading this important road project, especially coming few months after yet-another suspicious death of Engineer Fidelis Nweze a Commissioner, who was before his death, was the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Project Implementation Unit for the AfDB- financed Ring Road Project.
“Already, these sad ugly incidents have put the Umahi government in a very bad spot, and to an extent, affected the overall public perception of our people as aggressive, savagery, beastial and anti-developmental progress.”
The statement also demanded that “governor Umahi and his government was yet to launch some deeply serious probe into the mysterious disappearance and killing of the said contractors. This is very important because media reports, including a detailed report on a popular Nigerian Television news Channel, ARISE all points accusing fingers to the threats from Governor Umahi on the lead consultant, Onyemeh.
“Specifically, those close to the murdered Civil Engineer who spoke to the Television’s Reporter, insisted that the relationship between Governor Umahi and NELAN had remained very frosty to a point that some of the vehicles assigned to them for the execution of the project were allegedly withdrawn, leaving them with only one Toyota Hilux for their routine operations.
“Shat despite the ongoing war between Effium Indigenes of Korri extraction and the Ezzas, there had never been reports of hostility and violence by the host community towards the construction and consultancy firms handling the said Ring Road project. It is therefore bewildering for Umahi to bring the crises narrative into the incident when the facts speaks, or suggests otherwise.
“And why has it been difficult for the various investigative security agencies in over six weeks to unravel the killers and at least exhume the bodies for full-scale autopsy? Or does the state not place premium on such investigations that can unravel the truth and expose the mystery?”
***CP restates commitment to safety of lives, property in Kogi
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
The Nigeria Police, Kogi State Command has confirmed the killing of two suspected kidnappers during a gun duel in Ankumi forest, near Obajana in Lokoja Local Government Area of the state.
A statement from SP William Ovye Aya, the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO) on Tuesday in Lokoja said that the two suspected kidnappers were fatally wounded in an exchange of fire with the Police and died as they were being taken to the hospital.
Aya said the operation which was in continuation of the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crime in Kogi State also led to the recovery of one AK 47 Rifle with two magazines and two live Ammunition.
He explained that the operation was consequent upon a tip off received on Monday, May 27 at about 11:30hrs, that some armed hoodlums numbering about three were sighted inside Ankumi forest.
“Immediately the Divisional Police Officer of Obajana Division, CSP Oguche Richard, mobilized his patrol team in collaboration with the Fulani Vigilantes and moved to the area at about 14:30hrs”, he said.
According to the PPRO, on sighting the team, the hoodlums opened fire on them, attracting corresponding response from the team resulting in a gun duel that lasted a while.
Aya said, “Due to the superior firepower of the Police team, two of the hoodlums were fatally wounded while the other escaped with bullet wounds.
“Items recovered from the scene include, one AK 47 rifle with two magazines and two rounds of live Ammunition. Effort is on going to trail and apprehend the fleeing suspect.”
The Command’s Spokesman further told newsmen that the suspects were confirmed dead in a hospital at Obajana and their bodies were brought to the command headquarters in Lokoja.
He said that the bodies were deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital morgue in Lokoja.
Aya further said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bethrand C. Onuoha, commended the officers for their unwavering commitment and dedication in sustaining the tempo in the ongoing onslaught against crime and criminality.
The Commissioner, he said, also assured Kogi people that the Police “is ever determined to sustain the tempo, in synergy with other Security Agencies, in ensuring the safety of lives and property in the state.” (Ends)
An unspecified number of workers of Dangote Cement Company Plc, Okpella, Etsako West local government of Edo state have been abducted after unknown gunmen Wayland the staff bus
The unfortunate incident was said to have happened on Monday.
The workers were in a staff bus conveying them back to Okpella town after the close of work when they were intercepted and abducted by the gunmen.
An eyewitness confirmed to this online newspaper that the incident happened after the gunmen laid ambush for the workers after emerging from the bush and forcing the bus to a halt at gunpoint before taking their victims into the bush.
“They were in a Coaster bus coming to Okpella after work when they were kidnapped by gunmen. But, we don’t know the numbers of the workers that have been kidnapped,” the source added.
The alleged rape of a female student of the Ajayi Crowther University by two security guards is not being treated with kids gloves as the authorities of the institution have commenced investigations
This was contained in a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Olufemi John Atoyebi.
Atoyebi said, “Management of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo received with shock a report of an alleged rape of one of our female students last night, Thursday May 9, 2024 by two members of our vigilance group.
“The Management promptly handed over to the police, the two people alleged to have committed the crime while the university has set up its own internal panel of inquiry to investigate the allegation.
“The Management wishes to assure all stakeholders that ACU will not tolerate any act of misconduct capable of tarnishing its enviable image.
“Raising Godly intellectuals is our primary goal in ACU and we will not allow any act of misconduct capable of diverting our attention from our goal.
“Heavy penalty awaits anyone who is found culpable after our thorough investigation.
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