Tag: Anambra

Police Brutality: Obiano Condemns Killing Of Motorcycle Rider In Anambra

File photo of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano

 

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has condemned the unfortunate killing of a motorcycle operator allegedly by the police at Igboukwu in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, calling for calm.

The incident in the area had sparked anger leading to the burning down of Igboukwu Police Station completely.

Obiano, who spoke on the State Broadcasting Television on Thursday, said that the burning down of police stations, vehicles, and destruction of property cannot solve the problem.

He disclosed that the policeman responsible for the shooting at Igboukwu has been taken into custody, stressing that the state government would assist the family of the deceased by providing them with necessary emotional and financial support.

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Meanwhile, the State Police Command has explained that that the tragic incident was a result of accidental discharge when the police were trying to enforce the ban on the movement of motorcycles after 9 pm.

In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, the Commissioner of Police, John Abang appealed for calm and assured the public that justice would be done in the case and the outcome of the Police investigation shall be made public.

The youth leaders in Aguata Local Government Areas noted that the angry mob was provoked further when additional two young men were gunned down today by the police leading to the burning down of about four other police stations including Ekwulobia Police station and the Ekwulobia Anti-Cult station.

Oldest Surviving War Veteran, Nwobosi Dies At 81

The late Colonel Emmanuel Nwobosi

 

The last of the original war veterans, Colonel Emmanuel Nwobosi is dead.

Nwobosi, who participated in the 1966 coup, died on Tuesday morning at the age of 81 years.

He passed away at his country home in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government of Anambra State after a brief illness.

Nwosobi’s son, Emmanuel confirming the incident on behalf of the family, saying the family will give details of his funeral arrangement later.

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The deceased who was Captain in the Nigerian Army and Colonel in the defunct Biafran Army was also the Chief of Staff to the late Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu.

Meanwhile, Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano has commiserated with the Nwosobi family over the loss of the colonel.

Obiano who paid a condolence visit to the family said his death is a sad one for the Igbos everywhere.

Obiano Compensates Anambra Police Officers With N50m 

 

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has compensated officers of the State Police Command affected by the #EndSARS protest and families of those who lost their lives.

The governor doled out a N50 million donation on Thursday to police divisions that were outstanding in their resistance to attacks on their facilities will be part of the beneficiaries.

Speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the State Police Command in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state, Obiano commiserated with the officers for the recent loss of lives and destruction of their facilities.

“I want to sympathise with you for the loss of four men, the injuries sustained by 17 of your men and of course the quantum of destruction on personal assets and the rest,” he said.

“I am also here to motivate you. If you work for somebody and that fellow appreciates that, it gives you more encouragement to work.

“It is to show that I appreciate the police in Anambra State. You people have done very well. If there are some people that haven’t, it is very few.”

Governor Obiano also asked the police officers to effectively police the state and rid communities of criminally-minded elements as the yuletide approaches.

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano gives N2m cheque each to families of police officers affected by the recent #EndSARS protest during a visit to the headquarters of the State Police Command in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state on November 12, 2020.

 

On his part, the Commissioner of police in the state, John Abang commended the governor for the kind gesture.

The commissioner, however, begged the governor for more support, calling for the construction of police stations that were destroyed and giving grants to the families of officers who lost their lives.

“While trying to recover from this onslaught and to pick the pieces of our lives, we humbly beg the following prayers to Your Excellency:

“Support for the families of our fallen heroes, a modest grant to police personnel who lost valuable household assets in the attack on their barracks, provision of patrol vehicles to enable us to resume our patrol duties effectively, rebuilding and renovation of our stations and barracks as soon as possible,” he said.

CP Abang thereafter led the governor and other police personnel to observe a minute silence for those officers that lost their lives during the #EndSARS protest.

See Photos Below:

Obiano Declares 24-Hour Curfew In Anambra

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano

 

The Anambra State Willie Obiano has announced a 24-hour curfew starting from 8 pm today.

Governor made the announcement during a Special Broadcast on Thursday.

He directed all schools and markets to be closed as well as gatherings to be banned.

Governor Obiano noted that all law enforcement agencies have been directed to commence enforcement but with a caveat to resist the temptation of applying unnecessary force in the course of carrying out their duty.

He assured both indigenous and non-indigenous people of the state of their safety and security while tasking all stakeholders to put hands on deck to check unrestrained emotions in order to avoid self-inflicted injury or break down of law and order.

The governor while ending his broadcast said that he has set aside Two hundred million naira for compensation of victims of police brutality that was recommended by the Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

He added that arrangements have been captured in the 2021 Appropriation Bill which will be presented to the State House of Assembly in few days.

#EndSWAT: Youths Protest In Anambra, Demand Prosecution Of Former CSP James Nwafor

Anambra youths protest against police brutality

 

Youths in Anambra State have joined the ongoing protest calling for an end to police brutality.

The protesters took to the streets of Awka the state capital, marching from Aroma junction to the Government House alongside blocking the expressway with tryes.

The Anambra youths are also demanding the prosecution of a former commander of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state, CSP James Nwafor.

CSP Nwafor is being accused of killing several youths and extorting from the citizens.

The protesters arriving at the Government House demanded to see Governor Willie Obiano to present their demands and the names of those who have been killed from police brutality.

But the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solomon Chukwulobelu, who received the protesters commended them for their peaceful conduct, giving assurances that the governor will hear all their demands.

See Photos Below:

 

#EndSARS: Nigerians Protest Against Rights’ Infringements In Anambra

Thousands of #EndSARS protesters on Saturday occupied the gate of the Anambra State Police Command Headquarters in Amawbia area of the state.

The protesters, who are mostly youths and others are calling for the dismantling of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigeria Police Force meant to tackle violent criminal activities in the country.

They carried placards and raised their voices to the national outcry for SARS to be ended in Nigeria, adding that the security outfit no longer serves the purpose for which it was created.

Addressing the aggrieved citizens, the Commissioner of Police in the state, John Abang, assured them that the Federal Government will consider their matter accordingly.

See Photos Below: 

Newborn Baby Found In Anambra Gutter After Downpour

The baby said to have been recovered from a gutter in Awka, the Anambra State capital. Credit: Anambra State Police Command.

 

A day-old baby has been found in a gutter in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

The baby who was abandoned in the gutter by an unknown person was said to have been picked after an early morning downpour in the area.

This was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed.

Mohammed said the incident occurred at Abuja Estate near the Government House in Awka.

The police spokesman said a good samaritan resident in the area reported the incident to the police around 8.25 am on Saturday.

“On Saturday at about 8.25 am, a Good Samaritan resident at Abuja Estate behind NSCDC office Awka reported at B Division Police Station Awka that on the same date at about 7.30 am, a day-old baby boy was wrapped up in a cloth and abandoned inside a gutter at the same area by an unknown person,” he said.

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“All efforts made to trace the mother of the baby proved abortive. The scene was visited by police operatives attached to JWC and the baby who is in good health condition was rescued and handed over to Time to Fort Care specialist medical centre Awka for safekeeping.”

According to Mohammed, the Ministry of Social Welfare children and women Affairs had been contacted and the baby would be handed over to them for proper care.

The PPRO said efforts were ongoing to trace the mother of the baby to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Man Allegedly Kills Mother, Two Children In Anambra  

Trailer Crushes Seven People To Death In Onitsha
Anambra shares borders with Delta state to the south-west.

 

Tragedy struck in Nnewi area of Anambra State after a 47-year-old man allegedly killed his mother and two of his children.

Channels Television learned that the suspect, Emeka Ezimadu, committed the act with a machete while they were sleeping.

The incident was said to have occurred on Thursday night at Okpuneze Uruagu in Nnewi North local government area of the state.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, confirmed the incident.

He said the police have arrested the man and commenced an investigation into the incident.

“On the September 17, at about 11:55 pm, Police operatives attached to Nnewi Division arrested one Emeka Ezimadu ‘m’ aged 47years of Okpuneze Uruagu in Nnewi North LGA of Anambra State,” he said.

The police spokesman said no explanation was obtained as to the cause of the ugly, adding that the suspect, who owns a sabbath mission, was suspected to be mentally unstable.

Apart from killing his 85-year-old mother,  the suspect also attacked two other children said to be battling for their lives in a hospital while his wife reportedly escaped.

Police Call For Identification Of Missing Boy Found In Anambra

Police-Policeeeee
A file photo of a police patrol van.

 

The police have found a missing boy said to have trekked from Nnewi to Awka, the Anambra State capital.

In a statement on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Haruna Mohammed, identified the boy as Akachukwu Gabriel.

Mohammed, a Superintendent of Police (SP), explained that Akachukwu was found by a team of policemen while on patrol on Wednesday along the UNIZIK Junction area in the state.

According to him, the three feet tall boy who is about 11 years and dark in complexion was trekking to Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.

The command’s spokesman noted that Akachukwu (as of the time of this report) is in the protective care of the police and called on his biological parents and close relations to come and identify him.

A photo released by the police authorities in Anambra State shows Akachukwu Gabriel.

 

Read the full statement from the police below:

ANAMBRA STATE POLICE COMMAND DIARY:

FOUND CHILD

On the 12/8/2020 at about 6:30pm Police patrol team attached to 29 PMF Awka while on patrol along UNIZIK junction found a male child of about 11 years old who gave his name as Akachukwu Gabriel. He is about 3 feet tall, dark in complexion and speaks Igbo language fluently.

The boy said he trekked from Nnewi to Awka en-route Abakaliki, in Ebonyi State where he allegedly hails from.

He is presently in the protective care of B’ Divisional Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Awka, pending identification of his parents or guardian.

In view of the foregoing, you are kindly requested to disseminate this massage through your medium to enable the biological parents or close relations identify him.

Anyone with useful information about the found child should report at B’ Divisional Police Station or contact PPRO Anambra State Police Command through GSM no 08060970639, please.

SP Haruna Mohammed PPRO Anambra State Police Command,

For-Commissioner of Police Anambra State Command.

INEC Is Committed To Introducing Electronic Balloting For Anambra Elections Next Year – Mahmood

INEC Chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu. Photo: Sodiq Adelakun/Channels Television June 30, 2020

 

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, has said that the commission remains committed to improving electoral processes in the country.

According to him, one of the things it plans to implement in the coming year is the introduction of electronic balloting.

Yakubu said the commission intends to introduce this during the Anambra elections, taking place in 2021.

“The commission is committed to introducing at least electronic balloting in the major election we are going to conduct next year, which happens to be the Anambra governorship election and thereafter, with the support of the National Assembly, we hope that the legal environment will improve such that we can also go ahead to collate and transmit results electronically”.

The INEC boss said this on Tuesday during a town hall meeting tagged Fixing Nigerian Elections, adding that “at present, the law doesn’t permit that because the system is essentially manual”.

He made the comments while responding to a question about what he would like to improve about the electoral system in the country.

“There are quite a number of issues, one of which is the deployment of technology,” the INEC boss said.

“We would like a situation where the electoral legal environment is reformed in such a manner that will continue to deepen the deployment of technology in elections.

“I am happy with what the commission has done since 2010. Recall that there is a trajectory. We started in 2010 with the biometric register of voters and so in 2011, the Commission essentially updated the biometric register and we did the same thing in 2014 and in 2017 and in 2018 over a period of 16 months in which we added 14.2 million Nigerians to the register.

“The second is biometric accreditation of voters and there was an innovation introduced in 2015, the smart card readers that go along with the permanent voters’ card.

“We have achieved that. We are looking forward (particularly with the 2015 amendment) to the electoral Act that empowers the commission to deepen the use of technology, in voting, particularly in the era of electronic voting, to see how far we can go a notch higher,” he added.

Obiano Confirms 32 Active COVID-19 Cases In Anambra

A file photo of Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.

 

 

The Anambra State government has confirmed 32 active cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) and nine deaths in the state.

Governor Willie Obiano made the announcement in a special broadcast to residents on Wednesday at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia in Awka, the state capital.

He explained that the new cases were discovered as a result of the increased testing campaign across the state.

The governor disclosed that out of 302 samples sent for testing, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has released the results of 230 people with 53 of them confirmed positive.

He noted that 13 patients have been discharged and seven cases were receiving treatment at one of the state’s Protective Care Centres, with nine persons dead.

Governor Obiano, however, reassured the people of Anambra not to panic, saying the government was on top of the situation.

He reminded them of the COVID-19 law in the state and appealed to the residents to observe the law diligently.

The governor asked the people to maintain a high level of vigilance to enhance the chances of surviving the pandemic.

He warned that individuals found in public places without wearing face masks would be arrested by the security agencies and prosecuted accordingly.

Police Allegedly Push 80-Year-Old To Death In Anambra

Residents of Agulu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State lament the death of an 80-year-old woman allegedly killed by the police on June 10, 2020.

 

Tragedy struck in Agulu community in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State on Wednesday when policemen allegedly pushed an 80-year-old woman to her death while trying to make an arrest.

Channels Television gathered that the area has been thrown into mourning after officers of the Special Anti-Cult section shoved the elderly woman.

According to family members, the policemen stormed the family’s compound early in the morning to arrest the deceased grandson for cult related matters.

The old woman was reported to have been pleading to the officers to let go of the grandson, who is a sickle cell patient before she was shoved aside by the officers and fell to her death.

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Reacting to the incident, the President-General of Agulu People’s Assembly, Anene Orakwelu the State Police Command to open an investigation into the incident.

Orakwelu said the police authorities have assured the community that the incident will be probed with a view to bringing the culprits to justice.

“The DPO, Anaocha and the Commander, Anti-Cult have assured us that no stone will be left unturned in unveiling whatever thing that happened here,” he said.

The deceased until her death was a farmer who had already prepared bags of cassava she would take to the market on that fateful day.

However, her death didn’t allow that to happen.

Residents of the community called on the police authorities to ensure that justice is served.