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Ohaukwu Chairperson Commends Husband for Appointing a Widow as SA

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The chairperson of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Mrs. Chinenye Odah, has commended her husband, Barrister Clement Odah, for appointing a widow as Special Assistant on Women Affairs.
Mrs. Odah while interacting with The Voice last Thursday noted that the appointment was an indication of the local government chairman’s interest and regard for the women, adding that it also gave Ohaukwu women a sense of belonging in the present administration

Akaeze Building Collapse: It was Shocking Dragging My Nieces’ Corpses Covered By Debris- Deceased Uncle

 

“It gives me joy when I see women being appointed. When you empower a woman you empower a nation. I must commend him” she noted.
On the payment of bursary to female students from various higher institutions of learning in the local government, Mrs. Odah said her heart was filled with joy when she saw the joy on the faces of the beneficiaries especially the females.
“The money given to them will assist them in getting text books and few other necessities. If you see these students that day they were collecting the money, you will know that you wiped away pains from some people.
“Although, it’s not easy for the council chairman to see it as a necessity to help these students, God will always give him the strength and the wisdom that he needs to work. And these students are equally praying for him. They are now his children, and when your child is praying for you, you know that prayer will work. So I’m happy and I know that God who has given him the wisdom will still provide him with the resources to move Ohaukwu forward”, she stated.
She assured Ohaukwu women that the government will continue to do its best to make sure that they are carried along, and to also ensure they are not neglected in anyway as regards to government policies and programmes.’

Ukwuagba: Ohaukwu LG Boss Reacts to Assassination Attempt on Chieftain

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*Says govt. has exhausted all administrative measures to restore peace

chairman of Ohaukwu local government area, Barrister Clement Odah, has reacted to the recent assassination attempt on one of the chieftains of Ukwuagba community at the weekend.
Odah expressed shock that youths of the community attacked one of their leaders who he said has contributed a lot to the development of Ukwuagba.
He frowned at the unruly behavior of the people, stating that the police was seriously handling the matter and that they were looking up to the police to carry out proper investigation on the incident and bring to book those behind the heinous act.
The LG boss averred that the council was not happy with the happenings at Ukwuagba, adding that government has exhausted all administrative measures to restore peace in the area.
He said there are sixteen communities that make up Ohaukwu local government area, and that presently all of them are absolutely peaceful, stressing that if not for what is happening in Ukwuagba, that the council area would have been rated as the most peaceful local government in the state.
This newspaper had reported a town hall meeting of all the stakeholders, government appointees and elected persons in Ohaukwu local government area at Ukwuagba, called by the council boss where they chatted the way forward on the internal crisis ravaging the community.
At the meeting, the youths, elderly men and women were given the opportunity to voice out their grievances and possible solutions.
They all pointed out that they had fed badly under the leadership of their then Town Union executive led by Chief Joseph Odanwu, aka Onyeocha nweze and that their representatives in the government have failed them.
Before the visit to Ukwuagba, the local government council boss had set up a special panel of inquiry headed by Prof. Henry Adagba, to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the crisis and come up with recommendations on the way forward.
Speaking on the recent attack, Odah said that the panel has submitted its findings and recommendations, and one of the things they recommended was to dissolve the town union executive.
“The Panel came up with their findings, which was in line with our collective findings at the town hall meeting, that is to say, there is basically failure of leadership in that Community, specifically, and the town union executive and they recommended that they should be dissolved.
“Their recommendation was in line with the feelings of every stakeholder in Ohaukwu local government. I dissolved the town union executive and set up an interim management committee.
“The basic assignment I gave to the interim management committee is to restore Ukwuagba back to the part of peace and they are doing it. They would have succeeded in a very wonderful way except for one factor which is that we have young men who I believe were misguided.
“They constituted themselves as outlaws and they have no respect for institutions of government.
“Last week victims have made their complaints to the police and the matter is being investigated. But let me put on record that from the perspective of government, we have exhausted all administrative measures to restore peace in Ukwuagba community.
“After I made announcement of the caretaker committee and inaugurated them, we received suggestions from the leaders of the community to expand the committee by bringing in men of the clergy, more youths, Ukwuagba people in Diaspora, the vigilante and we included all these people. Anything that can bring peace in that Community, I was prepared to do it, I was to bend the rules by going back to the radio house to make an announcement incorporating the newly suggested names. More six names were added to the thirteen already on ground, making it nineteen man caretaker interim management committee. All these things were done to ensure that we work together with the community leaders to restore peace.” Odah stated.
On his part, Dr. Peter Okorie who was the aide to former governor Sam Egwu and was almost killed at the weekend by some youths from his Ukwuagba community, narrated his experience.
He said that his attackers numbering over twenty, well armed had wanted to drag him out of the vehicle before killing him, but that he instructed his driver to put the car on auxiliary gear which enabled them to jump the barricade and escaped.
Adding that the youths kidnapped his mechanic and the bus driver that went to carry the generator as well as two of his brothers.
The Voice, gathered that Okorie’s house in the village was mercilessly vandalized and destroyed, while some part was burnt down.
We scoped that looking at the building from outside, one would think is complete, but inside was completely vandalized and destroyed by the youths.
Source close to the community revealed that after Okorie escaped, the youths went to his house in the community, scaled through the fence and destroyed so many things inside. They allegedly looted his properties leaving the building empty.
According to Okorie; “I went to my house in the village to pick my generator for repair. We were trying to pull out the generator and a man came to my house crying.
“He said some boys have planned to assassinate me, their plan was to put a barricade on the road so that I will be compelled to stop for them. So, when we left my house I locked up my jeep doors from the inside. We got there, just 2 poles from my house, we saw the barricade and we stopped.
“They rushed to my car, trying to open the doors, but my doors were closed from the inside. When I saw that they were going to bring their guns to scatter the glass of the car. I told my driver to put the jeep on auxiliary gear and he jumped the barricade and we moved.
“As we moved, they jumped into their motorcycle and pursued us and just about two poles away from the scene, the motorcycle that they were coming with crashed. And so, we moved on and I was able to come out at the main road.
“They later went back to my house, as they failed to get me. They only succeeded in kidnapping the mechanic that came to loose the generator and the driver of the bus that came to carry the generator”
“Not that they attempted to burn down my house, they have burnt it. They looted my properties. The one they didn’t burn, they break through my boys’ quarters. They break through my four bed room bungalows and my duplex in the village. I’m giving thanks to God for saving my life. I know that if God wants to replenish the lost in three months, He will do it.
He petitioned the inspector general of police and the governor of Ebonyi state, for quick intervention and possibly stop further attacks on his family, stating that some people were arrested.
“Yes, some arrests have been made and arrest will continue to go on. Some people have been arrested and detained by police,” he stated.

Ebonyi Intercepts 2 Trailer Loads of Foreign Rice

Reign of Machete Attacks in Ishiagu Community over Quarry Company

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*As some youths allegedly attack community leader, supporters.

It was a reign of machete attacks at Ngwongwo community, in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, at the weekend, as some youths allegedly led by one Anthony Nwadankwa and others from Okwe community inflicted machete cuts on supporters of the community leader, Kelechi Ochuba.

It was gathered from some of the victims who were hospitalized at the Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, that they had gone to the community Chairman’s house to know why the violent youths stormed the chairman’s house on Sunday morning when people had gone to church and killed his goat and made away with his newly bought Kymco motorcycle under the pretence that he fought with his wife and should be fined.
The Voice scooped that the remote cause of the attack wasn’t the fight, rather power tussle over who takes control of the affairs of a Quarry Company in the community.
According to Aroh Orji Victor, they went to their chairman’s house on getting the information that some youths invaded his house, stressing that the chairman left for the police station to report the incident.
“We were there when he came back and was about telling us what happened at the police station when some youths from Okwe and Ngwongwo stormed the chairman’s place and started attacking us. Some youths from our community led by Anthony Nwadankwa went and hired some youths from Okwe community to come and fight us. We were taken unawares because we thought police would handle the matter when the chairman reported it.
“In our community, if a man fights with a fellow man, they will pay fine and it is chairman of the youths that will come for the fine, not ordinary persons. And what the chairman and his executive do is to ask him to pay fine of N5,000 not to kill the persons goat or carry his motorcycle, but once the fight is between a man and his wife, it’s a family matter and we don’t interfere”, he stated.
Aroh insisted that some prominent men in the local government are sponsoring the youths that attacked them. Stating that the same group has been terrorizing the community because of the quarry company on Ngwongwo land.
“When issues came up regarding the site, some Okwe youths said they were also connected to the land. We told them that when mineral resources leave a community to another community, that it’s those in the second community that can at their mercy wish to carry the previous community along. Since then, the group has been disturbing us in the company, to the extent they came and chased us away from the company and was even saying that government cannot do anything because their sponsor is the one giving government directives on what to do.
“Because of that, I no longer go to the company for two months now, sometime, even our people that were employed by the company, they chased them away so all of us came down to the village to face our farms and other businesses.
“Before now, government officials came and survey the land because they were claiming that Crush Rock’s land extended to the Sino Chino land. Government officials came and carried out a survey and beacons were placed, but the same group from Okwe came and removed the beacons and the DPO in Ishiagu, is not helping matters”, he narrated.
While another victim, Aja Paulinus Ezeikel, said they got a phone call telling them to come to their community leader’s place, Mr. Ochuba, that some youths invaded his house and made away with his motorcycle and killed his goat.“On getting there, chairman had already left for the police station, we were there when the chairman came back and wanted to narrate what happened to us, but some group of youths stormed the chairman’s house with machetes and other weapons including gun.
“They used axe and plywood with nails and designed my body. On my back it was axe they used, while the wound on my leg was inflicted with nail and plywood. We didn’t retaliate; rather, we had to flee for our safety.
“They destroyed over 60 pieces of plastic seats that the chairman uses for meeting as well as his shop, even the father’s tailoring machine’, he noted.
Adding that they were attacked by over 100 youths from Ngwongwo, and Okwe allegedly led by Barr. Uka.
It was gathered that the DCO came with other policemen to the incident scene to know what really happened and during the attack they had to run for their own safety.
“When police came, they said since we have involved the police they will kill us all in the presence of the policemen and nothing will happen. The DCO was there and when he saw that things had gone out of hand he left, Aja added.
He reiterated that the remote cause of the recent attack was the Pioneer Sino Chino Quarry Company in the area, stressing that he has been working in the company as a task force official, and that some Okwe youths have beaten him up severely and even destroyed some of his properties including setting ablaze his wives shop five months ago.
Another source from the community said that the SA to the Governor on Solid Minerals gave directive that all the parties involved should steer clear form the company pending when peace returns and a committee was set up to that effect.
“The commissioner of police also gave the same directive, but the Okwe youths and Barr. Uka led group allegedly flouted the order”, he stated.
Adding that Commissioner for Boarder Peace gave the same directive “But they flouted the order, the SSG also did the same thing that is the one we are facing now, and they still said who is government, that they have a superior power. It was from the company issue that they entered into community affair, chairman having problem with the wife. The primary cause of the attack is the quarry company not really the fight between chairman and his wife,’’ he added.
While on his part, Mr. Igwe Ejike, noted that the Uka led group is in opposition to the chairman of the community.
He also maintained that the main cause of the attack was the Sino Chino Company, adding that the youths have been destroying things in Ngwongwo community, that some of Okwe youths destroyed the health centre built in the area, and also destroyed things in their town hall.
He said that the Okwe community has its own chairman while Ngwongwo has its, but wondered why some youths from Okwe came to Ochuba’s house and killed his goat and took his motorcycle.
“They don’t have the right to fine our own chairman; we have vice chairman and secretary. Anytime there is fight between youths in the community, it’s only the youths of Ngwongwo that go to collect fine not external body. And how we do it is that if it’s when company supplies us electricity, we will just go and remove the peoples fuse, and when they come to meet us we will make peace between the two people but if it is robbery, we will hand such person over to the police, in all these instances, no outside was involved in settling the matter.
“But this time around, our chairman didn’t do anything, he didn’t fight with the secretary as they later claimed” he stated.
Igwe called on government to intervene on the issue as it is going out of hand.
The community Treasurer, Livinus Egbe, said some youths from Okwe have been terrorizing them, stressing they went and had agreement with Sino Chino, yet Ngwongwo youths ignored that.
He said that the claim that the chairman fought with his secretary was a fat lie, yet the group went and destroyed the chairman’s property.
The treasurer pointed out that those who witnessed what happened and told them that it was wrong were given serious injuries by the violent group.
He noted that the group has been planning evil against the chairman, revealing that the chairman bought some motorcycles that he wanted to distribute but was waiting for the problem with the company be resolved before distributing the motorcycles, “I think that was the issue” he added.

Egbe said some youths in the community who are against the chairman hired some youths from other communities to come and help them fight the chairman and his supporters.
Also, interacting with The Voice, Chukwuma Aroh, whose wife’s shop was destroyed narrated that the group was going about the street chasing people away, destroying peoples shop and his wife’s shop was affected.
He said on that faithful Sunday, when he came back from the church, the chairman called him and narrated how some youths came and killed his goat on the claim that he fought with the secretary and “he told them they didn’t fight. It wasn’t even the executive of the youths that came, but one ‘harmless’ that came with the youths. The chairman said in the process of killing the goat, they destroyed his motorcycle, and he reported the matter to the police, then DPO and Inspector Crime invited the other group to come and explain what happened. On getting there the DPO said you people should go and settle since the community chairman didn’t fight why not let peace reign. He said that the police were coming to see the place. I had to call the DCO when I came back from church and he said the same thing the chairman narrated.
“Meanwhile on their way back, the two groups started fighting at the Amagu side. After the fight they came back home but they the Barrister’s group had to call our neigbouring community to give them support, that was how they came the second time and started attacking those that were taken to Abakaliki for treatment.
“The worse is that if you report to Ishiagu police here they won’t do anything, day before yesterday, the same group was using gun and knife, going house to house destroying people’s things.
He maintained that trouble started when the group got information that the state government has inaugurated a caretaker committee that will take over the affairs of the quarry company, hence the group will no longer have power to collect money from trucks that load in the company.
“They are chasing people away from the company and this thing has paralyzed business in Ishiagu now, instead of loading hundred trucks a day its now below 50 trucks” Aroh added.
When contacted, Barrister Ukah, told The Voice that he was at the church when the incident happened and that he received a phone call from one of the youths and was told that the chairman fought with his wife and secretary and the youths came and took his motorcycle to the police.

He said on their way back from the police station, the chairman’s group ambushed them and his group had to go for reprisal which resulted to the attack.

He said he was not aware of any goat killed and that he was saying what he said was told as he wasn’t at the scene of the incident.
Dankwa said police was handling the matter and that they were invited to come on Thursday for the remote cause of the attack.
In her reaction, the state police public relations officer, DSP Loveth Odah, said that five persons were arrested and that those quizzed include the chairman of the community, the secretary, Barrister Nwadankwa and Nnaemaka Ezenta.
Odah noted that Barr. Nwadankwa and Ezenta were bailed as suspects while the Chairman and secretary of Ngwogwo community were released as complainants. Both parties are to produce members of their groups for interview on Thursday November, 14.
She said that; “They said the community has a conventional law that whosoever default must pay fine. The argument is that one faction was claiming that there are two factors of the law which said when defaulted, they should kill the defaulters goat and eat, while the other group said no, that the law said that when defaulted both parties will pay fine of five thousand naira each and one carton of beer. And after the judgment, anybody at faults pays while the other person’s money will be refunded.
“So they said the chairman beat up the wife but they are alleging that the secretary fought with the chairman too on a different occasion. The matter is village politics so we are leaving them to go home and resolve it internally and if they can’t settle, we will enforce the law, “she stated.

Akaeze Building Collapse: Fed Lawmaker Visits Deceased Family

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Hon. Makwe consoling the deceased family

The lawmaker representing Ohanivo federal constituency in the lower chamber, Hon. Livinus Makwe, has paid condolence visit to Sunday Okereke’s family.

This newspaper, reported that Sunday Okereke lost his three children in a tragic building collapse that occurred in Akaeze, Ohaozara local government area, on Friday, November 1, 2019.

His wife, Elizabeth Okereke and one child survived the collapse on that fateful night, while he was away for his vigilante work.

Hon. Makwe reacted to the incident while he was in Abuja as he commiserated with the family on getting wind of the tragedy. He also promised to visit them as soon as comes back from Abuja.

The lawmaker yesterday went to sympathetise with the family in person.

Makwe noted that what happened to the family was tragic while praying to Almighty God to comfort them.

“I was in Abuja when the incident happened and I sent my condolence message to the family and promised to visit when I come back from Abuja and that is why I’m here today.

“What happened to you is very tragic, to lose three children in one night is terrible, but I want you to meditate on the faithful man Job who faced devastating circumstances all at once, yet his faith in God was very strong.

“Seeing the faithfulness of Job, God blessed him more than he was blessed before. So don’t let the situation make you lose your faith in God. Even when we are not happy with what happened, but God will still bless this family with more children. You and your wife are still young and your surviving child will also be a source of blessing to this family.

“What happened did not only affect Okereke family, but the people of Akaeze, Ivo and Ebonyi state at large. It is not a good news, I know that at times you will wake up in the middle of the night or any other time because of the shock, but God through his spirit will help you to overcome.

“Accept the condolences of myself and my family” he stated.

He commended the local government chairman, Hon. Ogbonnaya Ude, and the coordinator of Akaeze for their quick responses and interventions to ensure that the victims are provided with the basic necessities such as a place to live and hospital bills.

He noted that even when he couldn’t present the matter on the floor of the national assembly, that he wrote to National Emergency Management Agency, for their intervention.

” Actually, I looked at the matter from different angles in respect to my being in the national assembly. I said should I bring it to the floor as a disaster, but I said it will not fly that way because it didn’t affect the entire community.

“But I did a letter to NEMA which is now under the ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management , hopefully, when I go back I will follow it up with them because this is a disaster and it’s something that calls for humanitarian intervention. The federal government has an Agency like that, they should be able to help once there is a disaster anywhere no matter the quantum.

” But the quantum of this one is more than what can happen to a community because a community can be flooded with no life lost, but here three lives were lost. So once we get anything from there we will still push it” he assured.

However, the federal lawmaker presented to the deceased father envelope containing an undisclosed sum of money.

Hon. Makwe was accompanied to the place by the local government chairman of Ivo, the coordinator of Akaeze DC, SA on Internal Security and Utility, Ebonyi South, coordinator of Echiele DC, PDP chairman of Ivo LGA among others.

Responding on behalf of the family, Chief Emmanuel Ude Okereke, thanked Hon. Makwe for his visit, he prayed God to continue to give him the wisdom to ensure effective representation as their representative in the national assembly.

He announced that the mother of the deceased who was receiving treatment after she escaped with her son has been discharged, adding that the coordinator of Akaeze paid the hospital bills.

Ebonyi Intercepts 2 Trailer Loads of Foreign Rice

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One of the impounded trucks

Ebonyi State Ministry of Internal Security and Boarder Peace, has intercepted two trailer loads of foreign rice being smuggled into the state on Tuesday evening.

The trailer was intercepted by members of Neighborhood Watch on duty at Afikpo Beach and was taken to the ministry.

Speaking to newsmen, the commissioner in charge of the ministry, Hon Stanley Emegha, confirmed the report.

He said that one of the trailers was loaded with rice and empty cartons of beer just to deceive people.

Stating that the smugglers came in through the Afikpo River which connects Ebonyi to Cross River up to Cameron.

Emegha lamented that hoodlums on some occasions smuggle in arms in the name of importing foreign rice into the state.

Another truck

“Some people may not be seeing the security implication of importing rice into the state. The implication is that some people use this avenue to smuggle in arms. If you watch, they go by night and when you search the things in the truck you will discover arms hidden under the bags of foreign rice.

“Hoodlums cannot operate without arms, and they carry more sophisticated weapons compared to what our securitymen are carrying. Most of these arms are smuggled in through this means” he stated.

The commissioner noted that apart from the security threats the importation of foreign rice poses, it also has health implication, as the rice is preserved with chemicals that are not good for human consumption.

He said before federal government banned importation of foreign rice, that Ebonyi state government had already placed a ban on the commodity in the state.

The commissioner maintained that the ministry is posied to rid the state of foreign rice because Ebonyi has a better rice.

He reiterated that Ebonyi is capable of producing rice that will feed the nation as it is presently ranking 3rd best rice producing state.

Emegha maintained that with the ban on importation of foreign rice that farmers will benefit and in turn be encouraged to produce more rice.

The commissioner said that four persons have been arrested and remanded by the police for rice smuggling.

Return of Ebonyi out of School Children, Commendable

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Recently, the Ebonyi State government through the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation Barrister Uchenna Orji, revealed the governments plan to return back to school out of school children in the state.
Orji stated this during an advocacy visit paid on him by Social Mobilization Technical Committee on UNICEF Programme in Ebonyi state, on Friday November 1, 2019.
He disclosed that the targeted number for a start is 50,000 out of school children. Noting; the governor is doing a lot in the area of returning out of school children back to school. We are targeting 50, 000 number for a start. We will make sure that we comb the entire state to bring back to school all the children who have been out of school because of the issue of finance and lack of orientation, he stated.
The Voice recognizes the fact that the State government has done tremendously well when it comes to issue of child abuse, female genital mutilation, violence against persons among other vices against children. Through the pet project of the first lady, Family Succor and Upliftment Foundation, several cases related to child abuses are being address. The state government has taken it upon itself to fight cultism in schools as well as community level, through series of campaigns and sensitization against cultism. As a result, the state is gradually breathing a sign of relief from the activities of cultists as many have denounced their membership and turned a new leaf.
Indeed, this newspaper believes that the move by the State government to return children who dropped out of school or couldnt attend at all due to finance or other challenges is a welcome development.
This shows that the state government has its people at heart and wants the best for the state.
However, we must advise that the promise of bringing back out of school children in Ebonyi state should not be dead on arrival; it should see the light of the day by making sure that our children who have taken to hawking and begging as only means of survival are taken from the streets.
The state government should set up a committee that would be charged with the responsibility of sorting out this category of children in various communities, who have reached the age of schooling but are yet to enroll, and children who dropped out of school due to lack of finance.
The state government should also encourage free education at the primary and secondary levels by providing even the materials these children would need to study with as some schools extort money from parents under the guise of buying such materials.
In some cases, some drop out due to the inability of their parents to pay for such little things. Government should take into consideration, that all hands are not equal, as most children come from homes where the can hardly afford one square meal a day talk more of paying school levies.
Government should not just bring back the school children, but ensure that these children are being monitored or supervised to ensure that they dont drop out again. This will go a long way in reducing the level of illiteracy in the State and checkmate the success of the program.

Igbo Youths Agitate for Peace

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Ohanaeze Youth Council, Ebonyi State branch has called for peaceful coexistence among the Igbo speaking tribe.
The state chairman, Comrade Obiya Sabastin Friday, made the call shortly after the State Executive meeting held in Abakaliki on Wednesday, November 6 2019, noting that the unity of Igbo race is tantamount to the regions development.
He noted that the youth apex body with the sole aim of bridging the gap between leaders and the led has strategise ways to correct the hiccups stirring the regions under development, pointing out that with the members of the body rooted in all parts of the state that unity of the people would be pursed with vigour and necessary steps to re-establish the common bond among them.
The State Chairman hinted that effort was on top gear to inaugurate all the Ward executives as a way to unify the people and help champion policies and programmes of the council, stressing that the council as non partisan organization would at all times ensure that the region return to its lost glory.
“We are rapidly growing in terms of new membership in the State, for now we have over 10,000 members in the State. What we are doing is purely non partisan, is not political and it is something to do with peace and tranquillity in the zone. People are happy with what we are doing and they are coming up en mass to be members,” he added.
Sebastian therefore called on the youths in the region to join the council as they agitate for unity among Igbo people.
Speaking to journalists, the chairmen representing the three senatorial zones, Comrm Nwele Christian for Ikwo, Comr. Igboke Chukwuma for Izzi and Ezennaya Chukwuezeke for Onicha, assured their full support in achieving the Objective of the council especially at the rural areas.
Adding that the council would sensitize the youths as regards to cultism, drugs and other illegal activities perpetrated by the youths which they said has done great harm to the state .
Comr. Ezennaya Chukwuezeke, stated; “We will do everything within our capacity to ensure that the goal is achieved. We have started making plans to reach the youths, enlighten then on the ills of drugs, cultism and also enlightened them to know that they are the leaders of tomorrow, and should avoid anything that would bring bad name to them, as well as to the Igbo nation”. He said

Akaeze Building Collapse: It was Shocking Dragging My Nieces’ Corpses Covered By Debris- Deceased Uncle

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*Says surviving mom yet to be told her 3 kids died in the collapse
*State govt. donates N500, 000, orders full investigation
*Building of 2bedroom flat for family by Council Boss on going

 

Sunday Okerekes elder brother has narrated how shocking it was for him to dig through the storm debris in search of survivors after the collapse of his younger brothers building.
In an interaction with The Voice, on Thursday Nov. 7, Okerekes elder brother narrated that his younger brother, Sunday whose three children were killed in the building collapse, is member of Akaeze community vigilante and had gone to his duty post the night of the incident.
He said that on that faithful day, there were strong winds and that while it was still raining, the four children and their mother had their dinner and went to bed: But at about 9:45pm while was yet to sleep, my people came and called me that Sundays house has collapsed and Sunday had gone for his vigilante work.
I quickly rushed out, and everywhere looked different. I didnt know where to start; I just looked for where to put my legs and began to dig through the debris of the storm. I was shocked when I saw the corpses of my nieces covered by debris and dust, I was hoping to get a survivor but that hope was dashed. I dragged out the corpse of the first person, God! It was terrible. I looked further and saw the lifeless body of another, I just removed the debris and dust and carried her out, and I later saw the corpse of the third person.
I didnt know that their mother and one other child managed to come out alive, it was my wife that told me to stop searching that they have seen the survivors and they were rushed to the hospital.
As Im speaking with you now, their mother doesnt know that three of her children are dead, they are still in the hospital receiving treatment and three of her children have already been buried he narrated.
While the deceased father, a commercial motorcyclist who spoke to The Voice described the situation as disheartening, stating that losing his children has been the greatest shock of his life.
Sunday said he doesnt know how to break the news to his wife, while thanking God that his wife and one child were spared in the disaster.
However, the state government has commiserated with the deceased family.
Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Dr Kenneth Ugbala, visited the bereaved family in company of the commissioner for Information, and state Orientation, Barrister Uchenna Orji, who is also from the local government area as well as other exco members.
On getting to the incident scene, the government officials were shown the graves of the three siblings and the on going building project at the same spot where the building collapsed.
Dr Ugbala who felt pity at the site of the incident pleaded with God to comfort the family and never to allow such tragedy to be recorded in the state again.
He ordered for immediate investigation to ascertain the root cause of the collapse, while he handed over an envelop containing N500, 000 to the family, promising them that Gov. Umahi will do more when he comes back from his oversea trip, as he will personal like to pay condolence visit to the bereaved family.
He also commended the Ivo local government chairman for running to the aide of the family as soon as the incident happened, likewise the Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre.
Indeed, it was surprising as the exco members got to the incident scene to discover that the local government council boss, Hon. Ogbonnaya Ude was already building two bedrooms flat for the family.
Ude said that the woman would need a place to enter when she comes back from the hospital to mourn her children and that since the council couldnt save the lives of the kids that it can at least provide a place where she can stay with the surviving child and her husband.
He expressed his sadness over the ugly incident, while thanking God that there were survivors.
The family was so happy to have received such kind gestures from the state government and the local government chairman.
The Voice reportedly gathered that the three siblings were been killed at the weekend in Akaeze, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, following the collapse of a building in the area.
The building as gathered had a thatched roof and had been in a very bad shape but the deceased father, Sunday Okereke, was adamant about it even when his wife, Elizabeth, raised concerns over it.
The family had gone to bed on Friday night hoping to wake up the following day hale and hearty but reverse was the case, as their only shelter collapsed and killed three members of the family, sparing the lives of their mother and one other child.
The names of the deceased were Mmesoma, 11 years old, Onyinyechi, 8 years, and John, 3years.
But the family could not afford the fund to make alternative arrangements for relocation as a result of hardship, according to a source.
The corpses were removed from the building by neighbors and have been buried while their mother and her only surviving son were still receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital as at the time of filing this report.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Loveth Odah, said the incident was yet to be reported to her office, assuring that as soon as she gets the report she will make the necessary details available to the press.
Stating; I called the DPO of Akaeze Development Centre and he said he will text me the details but he has not, I am still waiting for his text”.
Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Akaeze Development Centre, Onyebuchi Ogbadu confirmed the incident.
He said; When I received the information, I rushed to the place and saw that three kids died instantly while the surviving mother and one of the children were rushed to the hospital. It was very critical. The incident happened on Friday night.

Umahi to Ebonyians in Diaspora, Come Home and Invest

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By Ewa NworieEbonyians in diaspora has been asked to show appreciations to governor David Umahi for his infrastructural transformation,economic revamping and agricultural revolution by coming home to invest in the business friendly environment.The Special Assistant(SA) to the governor on Ease of Doing Business and Ebonyi in diaspora, Deacon Collins Agbo, made the call while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki,on the activities of his office.Deacon Agbo who said that Ebonyi state government has created enabling environments for business to thrive through the establishment of Tax Appeal tribunal to ensure that no investor was over taxed, called on both the foreign and local investors to come and have a taste of the new Ebonyi state which have become a business hub for investors.He disclosed that governor David Umahi in his full determination to make Ebonyi state,one of the fastest growing economy in the country,wants to synergize with Ebonyians in Diaspora for the quick development of the state.The SA,added that the efforts of the governor in Ease of doing business have started yielding fruits as Ebonyi state has become the investment destination for both the local and international investors.”The good news I would like you to take home and spread to the world is that those efforts of of His Excellency,in the area of Ease of Doing Business have started yielding results as Ebonyi state has become investment destination for both Local and International investors.”This is evident in the number of companies springing up in the state weekly,and the foreigners you see on our hotels and business environment daily.”Our office,in collaboration with the State House of Assembly,will immediately start the process of domesticating relevant laws and executive orders on Ease of Doing Business.”Ebonyians in the Diaspora can only show their appreciation,support and solidarity to Umahi’s wonders of infrastructural transformation,economic revamping and Agricultural turn around, by coming home to invest in the business friendly environment of Ebonyi state”,he stated.

Umahi to Ebonyians in Diaspora, Return Home and Invest

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… creates tax appeal tribunal

Gov. Umahi

By Ewa Nworie

Ebonyians in diaspora has been asked to show appreciations to governor David Umahi for his infrastructural transformation,economic revamping and agricultural revolution by coming home to invest in the business friendly environment.

The Special Assistant(SA) to the governor on Ease of Doing Business and Ebonyi in diaspora, Deacon Collins Agbo, made the call while briefing newsmen in Abakaliki,on the activities of his office.

Deacon Agbo who said that Ebonyi state government has created enabling environments for business to thrive through the establishment of Tax Appeal tribunal to ensure that no investor was over taxed, called on both the foreign and local investors to come and have a taste of the new Ebonyi state which have become a business hub for investors.

He disclosed that governor David Umahi in his full determination to make Ebonyi state,one of the fastest growing economy in the country,wants to synergize with Ebonyians in Diaspora for the quick development of the state.

The SA,added that the efforts of the governor in Ease of doing business have started yielding fruits as Ebonyi state has become the investment destination for both the local and international investors.

“The good news I would like you to take home and spread to the world is that those efforts of of His Excellency,in the area of Ease of Doing Business have started yielding results as Ebonyi state has become investment destination for both Local and International investors.

“This is evident in the number of companies springing up in the state weekly,and the foreigners you see on our hotels and business environment daily.

“Our office,in collaboration with the State House of Assembly,will immediately start the process of domesticating relevant laws and executive orders on Ease of Doing Business.

“Ebonyians in the Diaspora can only show their appreciation,support and solidarity to Umahi’s wonders of infrastructural transformation,economic revamping and Agricultural turn around, by coming home to invest in the business friendly environment of Ebonyi state”,he stated.

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