… 2yr-old brother burnt to death

…Suspect still at large – Police

Tragedy struck Fulani residents at their Ugwuachara, Ebonyi state settlement on Sunday, February 2, 2020 as a 12 year-old son of the Chairman of Fulani herdsmen, Alhaji Usman Kadiri set his father’s house ablaze, killing his 2yr-old brother who was inside the hut.

Unfortunately, his reason for setting their house ablaze was not known at the time of filing this report.

The suspect is identified as Abudmal Kadiri, while the 2yr-old deceased was identified as Idiris Kadiri.
Apart from loss of life, properties were lost and the nomads are now rendered homeless.

Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah confirmed the incident.
She said that the matter was reported to the police by their father, Usman Kadiri, who stated that the incident happened at about 12 noon of that Sunday.

She said that the suspect was at large, but assured that the police will track him down.

On being under age, she noted: “We still have a place where we keep underage children who have committed one offence or the other. That’s the Remand Home or Correction Centres. So he will be kept there pending when he is of age.

“His case has to do with arson which resulted to the death of his brother, so it’s not a common offence.

“The small boy has been burial based on Islamic culture.

“The person that committed the crime and the one killed are from the same parents, even one of the victims who came to the station yesterday said the only thing he had left was the cloth he wore to the station.

“Please stop playing with fire because it has no respect for anybody,” she advised.

Ohaukwu local government chairman, Barrister Clement Odah, has made it clear to those contesting with him for the Ohaukwu local government chairmanship seat, that he is the landlord while they are his visitors.

Odah stated this after purchasing his expression of interest and nomination forms at the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Secretariat, along Abakaliki-Enugu highway on Wednesday, February 4, 2020.

The Ohaukwu council chairman said he was intrigued to see others warming up to contest with him, noting that: ” having others from Ohaukwu contesting with me will make the contest keen.

“Like they say, an old broom knows the corners of the room very well. I’m the landlord and I’m there waiting for them. They are my visitors, there is no need to be scared, they should be scared themselves who are visitors, they will be coming to knock at the gate council headquarters while I’m already there and we are ready for election”.

He also pointed out that he has no issue with Chinedu Onah, who is representing Ohaukwu south constituency In the state assembly, as people are rumouring that the disagreement they had few months ago will work against him during the local government election.

“I don’t really have any issue with Onah, today he is my best friend. If you are following up the trend in Ohaukwu you will see that recently we organized Christmas/New Year party for the local government and ward executives.

“If you watch the pictures and the videos you will see myself and Hon. Onah in a very wonderful mood, together we were there to cheer up our party executives. We are best of friends, we have a very agreeable chemistry, and the misunderstanding has long been settled and we are even more closer now than we were before the misunderstanding” he added.

Odah also stated that having purchased his forms, he feels intrigued and elated; “the mood is that of positive anticipation, I have overwhelming support from my people. When I say overwhelming I mean support gotten from all the classes of people across the local government, which include stakeholders, Town Unions traditional rulers, women leaders, youths, to mention but a few. My people love me, they can’t wait to elect me, they will elect me 20 times if given the chance.

“I’m very confident that I will win the chairmanship position of Ohaukwu in the upcoming election” he stated.

Ebonyi state government has set up committee to profile interested rice, cassava and maize farmers for the 2020 farming season.

200 farmers who fall within the above mentioned categories are to be profiled in the 171 wards that make up Ebonyi state.

This was contained in a public notice signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation and Acting Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Barr. Uchenna Orji and Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and Rural Development, Barr. Samuel Okoronkwo.

The notice stated that the State Executive Council Sub-Committee on Profiling of Farmers has developed forms for distribution across the 171 wards in the state.

“The 2020 ward Agric Profiling officials made up of Liaison Officers, Management Committee Members,and Governor Umahi Empowerment Beneficiaries Association (GUMEBA) Ward Chairmen, have been designated to profile all interested farmers across the state. 200 farmers are expected to be profiled per ward for each of the respective crop commodities.

“All farmers who wish to be captured are required to fill the forms in the custody of the ward Agric profiling officials with one passport photograph and accurate BVN digits and must have not less than one hectare( 10,000 square meters) of land each, in order to qualify to access the 2020 State government agricultural funds.

“Completed forms are to be submitted in soft and hard copies to the State Executive Council Sub- Committee on Profiling of Farmers latest Friday 28th February, 2020. Arrangements have been made for the Ward Profiling Officials to enter all submissions in a data base provided in each Development Centre before the soft copies are excelled and transmitted to the state central data base”, according to the notice.

It also disclosed that no payment is required for the profiling and that all categories of employable citizenry are free to participate in the programme.

” Take advantage of this opportunity and participate in the agricultural interventions of the State Government. For inquiries call: 08030437431″, it stated

It was an exchange of slap at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), Ebonyi state on Tuesday February 4, between a medical doctor and a police officer serving with the state command who lost his daughter at the hospital.

The police officer whose name could not be ascertained at the time of filing this story, reportedly took his sick daughter to the hospital for treatment.

Information has It that a medical Doctor at AE-FUTHA had prescribed drugs for the officer’s daughter which was bought and injected on the girl.But another Doctor as gathered came in and prescribed another drug different from what his colleague had prescribed earlier.

He also questioned why the first Doctor prescribed the drugs for the baby.According to a close hospital source, the drugs prescribed by the second Doctor was later administered on the baby and the baby died some minutes after taking it.

It was scooped that after the injection, the baby started sweating uncontrollably which made the police officer to call the attention of the doctors but unfortunately the child died.“The policeman then confronted the first Doctor and held him on the neck over the death of his baby. One of the Doctors who was on duty came from behind and slapped the policeman and the policeman retaliated”, the source stated.

It took the intervention of the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Emeka Onwe Ogah, and officers from the police command to calm the situation.

Dr Ogah, in his response noted: “It is being handled, I’m just coming back from police station. The executive of Association of Resident Doctors and my own management team went to see the Commissioner of police.

“But one thing I have to say is that the man did not assault our Doctor because he was a police officer. He did it on his own because he was the one who brought the child to the hospital, because he is working with Ebonyi state police command, courtesy demands that we report him to his primary place of work. That is what is happening.

“We are happy that the CP is handling the matter well. We have had discussion with him and we have made our official complaint. He has immediately minuted it to the Deputy Commissioner of police in charge of intelligence to take up the matter and investigate let us see what has happened and the best way to handle it.

“I have appealed to the Resident Doctors to calm down, that management will see that justice is done. Our interest is to protect the lives of every person working here including our patients. any patient here is under our care”.

…Petition Abakaliki Catholic Bishop

Abakpa main market women on Wednesday, February 5, stormed Ebonyi State Government House, Abakaliki, in protest of alleged none inclusion in the allocation of shops at the Margret Umahi International Market.

The women numbering over 200 were seen wailing and rolling themselves on the ground at the Government House gate.

They lamented that those who were allotted shops at the International market were traders from villages as none of them got any shop at the market despite paying N50, 000 for form.

They disclosed that on getting to the International market on Monday, they discovered that women from villages were allotted shops in the name of Abakpa main market traders.

The women also claimed that market leaders were imposed on them and as such, they have been suffering betrayals.

One of the women who spoke on their behalf stated: “We are ready to move to the International market, and we like the structures the governor has put in place in the state.

“But we have been receiving conflicting reports about our relocation to the International market. Different people will come and say Governor said this and that, and what they are saying is different from what Governor Umahi told us in person.

“When we met with the Governor on December, he told us that we will move because where we are presently is not conducive. We said no problem, but what is the condition, especially for those who have shops at Abakpa main market. He said when we get there that those issues will be addressed.

“He also said he would give us shops at the International market without pay for one year and after that, we will negotiate how the payment would be and we accepted.

“But now, it’s not what the governor said that was done. Where Abakpa women were supposedly allotted shops have been taken over by others. When you go there to lock the shop you will discover that another person has already locked it. Traders from villages were there warning us not to touch any shop.

“We are asked to vacate our shops at the main market, but the ones that the governor promised to give us, we didn’t see.

“There have been announcements on the radio that market women have been given shops, and we have been asking who are these market women because none of us got shop at the International market.

“We are not treated well, Rev. Fr. Nwali on Monday told us that if we don’t know where to keep our goods that we should take it home that it’s not compulsory that we will all do business.

“That was when we said that the whole is getting out of hand that we should go to the Bishop, Abakaliki Catholic Diocese, Michael Okoro, and after that, we will come to government House to hear from the governor and to know if he had been the one sending all those that said they came to us in his name.

“If they want to give market women from villages the shops instead of us, let them go ahead, and let us continue staying at the main market, but if traders from main market will move to the International market, a place should be given to us.

“Akochi’s wife they are parading as our leader is not in the main market with us. She is not a market woman.
“We went there on Monday, and that market is not ready yet, there is no security, bank, dust everywhere, and the Monday deadline is already here.

”The governor should please bear with us and allow us to stay in the main market while he finishes building the International market. We are behind him and we support the work he is doing, but let him finish building the market and allot our own portion, that is why we are protesting today”, she stated

In their written petition to the Bishop, the women called on him to intervene on their behalf.

“We are being forced to move without proper allocation of shops and those allocated shops at the new market are not known traders from our market.
“The government apparently is reneging on its promise to allow us use the new market for one year without pay.

“Mrs Akochi is not known to have a shop at Abakpa market, and so, she is not our leader.

“The widows among us have lamented that shops left for them by their late husbands are being taken away without compensation”, they stated

In his response, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Utility, Abakaliki Urban, Saint Nchekwube Anakor, assured the women that their agitation will be taken care of.

He told them to come with the list of those who bought form for shops as well as the list of all the traders at the Abakpa main market to the International market on Thursday by 10am, so that the issue of not getting shops will be addressed.

“I need two lists, one for those who bought form and the other containing names of all the traders in the market.
“Tomorrow by 10am, come with your executive to the International market. I want you to know that you are still part of this government.

“We will meet there, but the most important thing is that you people will move, governor will not take your shops, and those who have shops will be given shops at the International market. In Ebonyi we deal on standard and that International market is the best in the country even in West Africa, so it will be good for you people to move to that place.

“There is no place such movement will occur that there won’t be complains, but we will look into your complains that is our assurance and we promise that everyone will get shop there on or before the deadline” he noted.

… Says disease still active in 6LGAs

The Commissioner for Health Ebonyi State, Dr Daniel Umezurike has confirmed that 23 persons have been infected by Lassa Fever virus in Ebonyi State following the recent outbreak.

Umezurike said that the state recorded only one death, adding that the disease is currently active in six out of the 13 local government areas in the state.

He revealed the six local governments to be Abakaliki, Izzi, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ohaozara and Ikwo.

The Commissioner stated this on Tuesday in Abakaliki while briefing journalists at the state Ministry of Health.

He further disclosed that the ministry has activated an emergency operations centre to coordinate the state’s response in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), partners and relevant stakeholders in the health sector.

Umezurike described Lassa fever as a viral hemorrhagic illness, transmitted to humans through contact with food or household ites contaminated by infected rodents.

… Says disease still active in 6LGAs

The Commissioner for Health Ebonyi State, Dr Daniel Umezurike has confirmed that 23 persons have been infected by Lassa Fever virus in Ebonyi State following the recent outbreak.

Umezurike said that the state recorded only one death, adding that the disease is currently active in six out of the 13 local government areas in the state.

He revealed the six local governments to be Abakaliki, Izzi, Ebonyi, Ohaukwu, Ohaozara and Ikwo.

The Commissioner stated this on Tuesday in Abakaliki while briefing journalists at the state Ministry of Health.

He further disclosed that the ministry has activated an emergency operations centre to coordinate the state’s response in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), partners and relevant stakeholders in the health sector.

Umezurike described Lassa fever as a viral hemorrhagic illness, transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected rodents.

… Establishes screening points

Following the recent outbreak of coronavirus in China and its wide spread to other countries, Ebonyi state government has set up a 7-man Committee to implement some preventive measures.

The committee which is headed by the Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Dr Kenneth Ugballa, will ensure that all major entrance ports into Ebonyi State shall henceforth be under Medical and Security Surveillance and that all returnees and Expatriates shall undergo medical Screening With a follow-up for two weeks.

In a release by the SSG, the Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, directed Ugballa to immediately procure 7 pick-up vans and 7 Buses to be deployed to all the 6 exit and entrance check- points including the treatment centre at Unity Square, Abakaliki.

The statement further reads, “State Government therefore, establishes screening Check points at the following entry Spots namely: Ishielu for Ebonyi/Enugu Boarder, Nwezenyi for Ebonyi/Ogoja-lkom axis, Abaomege for Ebonyi/ Itigidi-Ugeb axis, Nguzu Edda for Ebonyi Abiriba -Ohafia axis, Mile 2 Ishaigu for Ebonyi/Abia State Boarder, Umunagu-Mpu for Ebonyi/Enugu State. And a treatment Centre at the Unity Square Abakaliki.

“The novel coronavirus is carried by wild and farm animals, it is transmitted by air and causes fever, cough and difficulty in breathing.

“It is spread from animals to humans and from infected person to another.

“Furthermore, the public is enjoined to observe the following precautions.
“Improve on Personal & Environmental Hygiene and as well drink enough water each day.

“Regular hand washing and use of Sanitizers.

“When coughing or sneezing, cover the month and nose.

“Use medical mask to cover the mouth and nose especially in crowded events.

“Avoid unprotected contact with wild animals and also cook meats thoroughly.

“Avoid Travelling especially overseas for now.

“Any Returnee or Expatriate that has fever, cough and difficulty in breathing, should be reported to the Rapid Response Team at the Treatment Centre, Unity Square, Abakaliki.

“All Returnees and Expatriates must report at the ports of Entry for documentation and Surveillance.

“Public institutions, Eateries, Hotels, Banks, Markets and Worship Centres are to co-operate strictly with these Government policy response”.

Umahi also assured the people of Ebonyi State of his commitment to Public Health Safety and more Developments for the State.

Meanwhile, China has revealed that they have not found the cure for the deadly diseases, while World Health Organization (WHO) has declared it a Global Health Emergency.

Trade Unions in Ebonyi State College of Education, have appealed to Governor David Nweze Umahi, to convert the State College to Federal College of Education.

The Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU), comprising of Colleges of Education Academic Stall Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), in their congratulatory message to the Governor on the recent approval for Federal College of Education in Ebonyi, described the approval as a prayer answered.

The statement was signed by Comrade Osmond S. Oboke, Chairman, COEASU & JACTU, Comrade Kenneth Nwokah, Chairman, SSUCOEN, and Comrade Chibuike Omoha, Chairman, NASU.

They recalled the Governor’s appeal on November 15, 2017 during President Mohammadu Buhari’s official visit to the State, for the conversion of the state College of Education, Ikwo, to Federal College of Education.

They maintained that the prayer was answered recently when Ebonyi was included among the States that will have federal government approved Federal College of Education.

“Like the Biblical David, God has always granted speedy answers to your request based on your good intentions for Ebonyians. Although, a few parochial Ebonyians may have wished that you did not make such request then, but as a leader with foresight, you did it believing that Ebonyians will gain more from it than lose anything, as millions of naira that go to the college on monthly basis as subvention can be channeled effectively into other infrastructural development projects in the state,” they stated.

The Unions also hinted that with the Federal Government Education Intervention Programme, (TETfund), that the college has recorded monumental achievements most especially in the area of infrastructural development.

While they make case for the state college to be upgraded to federal college, they reiterated that the permanent site of the college could be sited anywhere in the state.

“Notwithstanding where the permanent location will be, we cannot think of a new site for the take-off of the Federal College outside the current location of the state college. In other words, the permanent location of the Federal College after conversion can be anywhere in Ebonyi state.

“Today, as we celebrate the approval of the establishment of FCE in our fast growing state as desired by His Excellency, Engr. David Umahi, Ebonyians are convinced, optimistic and persuaded that you cannot afford to put the existing infrastructures in the College into waste by establishing additional college bearing in mind that the students enrollment capacity for the state owned one will be drastically affected to a worrisome level of less than 100 students population, based on federal factors such as prestige and high differential tuition fee in favour of the federal college,” they pointed out.

They further argued that Alvan Ikoku and Ehe-amufu Federal Colleges of Education were State colleges before they were taken over by the Federal Government.

The Unions also enumerated the advantages to include, reducing the financial burden on the state government, automatic absorption of all the workers of the college, more employment opportunities for Ebonyians among others, while the disadvantages include that State will no longer be in control, Chairman and members of the Governing Council, Provost and Principal Officers of the College will not be entirely from Ebonyi state.

Below is the statement:

His Excellency,
Engr. Chief (Dr.) David Nweze Umahi FNSE, FNATE
Executive Governor of Ebonyi State,
Government House,
Abakaliki.

Your Excellency Sir,

CONGRATULATIONS FOR A REQUEST GRANTED/APPEAL RE: APPROVAL ON ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (FCE) IN EBONYI STATE

The Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU), comprising of the three Unions in Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo: Colleges of Education Academic Stall Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), on behalf of all our members and the entire college community heartily decided to use this medium to applaud you for your request that has been fulfilled today.

It is indeed a fulfillment of the scripture that “when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice… “(Proverbs 29: 2). Yes people rejoice partly because God answers every request borne out of good intention by such servant of His.

Recall, your Excellency, that during the official visit of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, in Ebonyi State on 15th November, 2017, based on
your vision and mission of taking Teacher Education in the College of Education sub-sector to the next desired level in Ebonyi State, you requested among other things from Mr. President, the conversion of the State College of Education, Ikwo to Federal College of Education (FCE). Details of this are contained in “The Punch” of 15th November, 2017 under the caption “Buhari in Ebonyi, urges Igbo to Reject Secession Propaganda”.

Like the Biblical David, God has always granted speedy answers to your request based on your good intentions for Ebonyians. Although, a few parochial Ebonyians may have wished that you did not make such request then but as a leader with foresight, you did it believing that Ebonyians will gain more from it than lose anything, as millions of naira that go to the college on monthly basis as subvention can be channeled effectively into other infrastructural development projects in the state.

Courtesy of the TETfund (the Federal Government Educational Intervention Programme), the college has recorded monumental achievement most especially in the area of infrastructural development from 40% level it was before to 90% presently.

Undoubtedly, the college ranks first in the South East in terms of structural edifice. In that regard, Ebonyians and the entire Nigerians are aware that you are a refulgent example which many leaders of this age wish to copy from when it comes to eschewing wastage of public infrastructures. Therefore, notwithstanding where the permanent location will be, we cannot think of a new site for the take-off of the Federal College outside the current location of the state college. In other words, the permanent location of the Federal College after conversion can be anywhere in Ebonyi State.

Today as we celebrate the approval of the establishment of FCE in our fast growing state as desired by His Excellency, Engr. Chief (Dr) David Nweze Umahi, Ebonyians are convinced, optimistic and persuaded that you cannot afford to put the existing infrastructures in the College into waste by establishing additional college bearing in mind that the students’ enrollment capacity for the state owned one will be drastically affected to a worrisome level of less than 100 students population, based on federal factors such as prestige and high differential tuition fee in favour of the federal college.

Of course, recent researches have shown that colleges of Education in the country now serve the educational need of the host states as less than 5% of the students come from outside the host state. For instance, as close as FCE Ehe-amufu is to Ebonyi State, it will baffle one to hear that less than 2% of the student’s population are Ebonyians while far away Alvan Ikoku, Owerri has much less. Recall Your Excellency Sir that Alvan Ikoku and Ehe-amufu Federal Colleges of Education were all State colleges before they were taken over by the Federal Government.

Therefore, against the backdrop of the obvious reasons from the issues raised above, the three unions and the entire college community venerate-fully appeal to His Excellency to magnanimously give executive consideration to his earlier request for conversion of Ebonyi State college of Education Ikwo to Federal College of Education for the benefit of all Ebonyians based on its advantages that outweigh the disadvantages as stated below.

The Advantages:
1. The State Government will be relieved of the financial burden of budgeting for and maintaining a College of Education. This will help the government to focus more on other developmental projects she is carrying out for the masses.
2. Automatic absorption (inheritance) of all the workers of the college.
3. Upgrading the College to Federal one means more employment opportunities for Ebonyians. This is because the Federal Government has carrying capacity with “strong financial muscles”.
4. Many programmes that meet the educational needs of the populace will be established and maintained with ease.
5. Salary structures of the existing workers of the College will change to Federal structures.
6. Promotions of workers will be with financial effects not notional effects.
7. Gazzetting and Conditions of Service which the college is yet to enjoy will greet the new status if upgraded or converted to Federal College of Education.
8. The presence and ranking of the College will be felt better across the globe if she is in the hand of the federal government.
9. To cap it up, generally, the College will enjoy federal fiats if the status changes to federal; etc.

Seemingly Disadvantages

1 . State will no longer be in control.
2. Chairman and members of the Governing Council, Provost and Principal Officers of the College will not be entirely from Ebonyi State; etc.

Thank you for your anticipated approval, Your Excellency.

Yours sincerely,

Comr. Osmond S. Oboke Comr. Kenneth Nwokah
Chairman, COEASU & JACTU Chairman, SSUCOEN
08064508308 08036698717

Comr. Chibuike Omoha
Chairman, NASU 08068396944

One Onyema Ofoke from Izzi local government area of Ebonyi state, was reportedly chained in a goat house by his brother in-law for allegedly causing nuisance in the compound after consuming some bottles of alcohol beverages.

According to the Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Utility, Capital City, Saint Nchekwube Anyigor, who disclosed the information, he said Ofoke had been locked up in the goat house for one week before their intervention.

The incident happened at no 7 Adol Awam street Abakaliki, and he was discovered on Saturday through a tip off.

In a video uploaded by the SA, Ofoke was asked where he defecates, he pointed at a custard bucket close by, stating that after defecation his captors would carry it out.

Ofoke’s right leg could be seen in the video chained to the window burglary.

Nchekwube also revealed that Ofoke’s sister upon arrest confessed that that particular room is where they keep goats, while thanking the DPO Kpirikpiri police station and others for their quick response.

“How will you feel when you are tied like a goat in a closed none ventilated thatch room for one week? This is what happened to Onyema Ofoke from Izzi as his brother in law and one other in conspiration with his father who married two wives, locked him up in a smelly small room at no.7 Adol Awam street mile 50 Abakaliki.

“The sister whom we arrested confessed that the room is where they keep goat.

“Thanks to the DPO Kpirikpiri police station, the DCO among others who responded to my distress call.