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Tag: Awka

  • Anambra Tragedy: Deceased Lady Laid to Rest, Family Expresses Grief and Neglect

    Anambra Tragedy: Deceased Lady Laid to Rest, Family Expresses Grief and Neglect

    By Daniel Edu

    Chinyere Awuda, the Anambra lady whose lifeless body was discovered near an abandoned swimming pool on the premises of a well-known hotel in Awka, has been laid to rest in Awuda, Nnobi community, located in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. The 30-year-old graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University met her tragic demise on July 15, allegedly due to a severe beating she received during a birthday celebration at the hotel. Her funeral took place on Saturday, September 9, drawing former schoolmates, friends, and grieving family members who fondly remembered her as a calm and beloved individual.

    Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Awuda, the heartbroken parents of the deceased, were unable to contain their tears as they expressed their profound sorrow over the loss of their daughter. They expressed their anguish over what they considered an “undeserved death” for their beloved child.

    In their own words, they shared, “She was our fifth child. The news of her sudden death came to us as a rude shock. We never expected that her promising life with a bright future would be cut short in such a manner. We heard that she was beaten to death by a group of boys, and her lifeless body was discovered near an abandoned swimming pool in the hotel where she had gone with her friends to celebrate someone’s birthday. Although the police claimed that an autopsy revealed she drowned, we firmly believe she was killed, as they have refused to release the CCTV footage of the incident. What can we do? We have entrusted justice to God. We will dearly miss our affectionate and caring daughter.”

    Adding to the family’s distress, Chinyere’s elder brother, Ekene, expressed regret over his sister’s untimely death and voiced his frustration that neither the police nor the hotel management had shown any compassion to the grieving family during this difficult time.

    “It is truly unfortunate that my sister met her end in such a tragic manner after toiling to earn her university degree. The police maintain that she drowned in the water, but we firmly believe she was murdered. It is disheartening that her killers remain at large, and both the police and the hotel management have demonstrated no empathy toward our family, even though they are fully aware of her burial today. Our sorrow stems from the fact that our sister’s death was unjust, and it appears to be shrouded in secrecy by both the police and the hotel management. We have chosen to leave retribution in the hands of the divine,” he lamented.

    The funeral of Chinyere Awuda serves as a somber reminder of the unresolved questions and heartache surrounding her tragic passing, as her family continues to seek justice and closure.

  • Awka, Onitsha, others shut down as Anambra residents comply with IPOB’s Sit-At-Home order

    Awka, Onitsha, others shut down as Anambra residents comply with IPOB’s Sit-At-Home order

    Major and minor cities in Anambra State, including Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and others were on Monday totally shut down in compliance with the directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    The group had called for a shutdown of businesses in southeast states every Monday until its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is in the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) is released.

    There had been confusion yesterday as to whether the exercise would hold or not. This was because of a counter directive by Kanu’s brother who said the exercise had been called off to allow students sitting for the NECO examination to do so.

    However, spokesperson of the group, Emma Powerful, quickly refuted the claim, saying the order was sacrosanct.

    Monday’s sit-at-home registered heavy compliance in Anambra, with banks, schools, markets, shops, eateries and other businesses deserted.

    Our correspondent who moved around to monitor the level of compliance found that even although markets were open, traders refused to resume business.

    The Anambra State Government had earlier threatened to withhold August salaries of workers who failed to resume for duties on Monday.

    At the state secretariat complex, it was also observed that most workers came to work because of the order but they left almost immediately after signing the attendance register.

    Motor parks were also deserted as motorists and passengers alike stayed away, leaving streets deserted.

    In Nnewi, a source confirmed that two persons were killed very early in the morning at Izuchukwu junction for daring to come out. Their identities and that of their attackers were however not revealed.

    Reports had it that police patrol vehicles were on every major street, sitting civilly in their vehicles, providing protection for the few people that were courageous enough to leave their houses.

    A market leader at Eke Awka market, who did not disclose his name said: “The leadership of the market did its best by opening the market, but traders refused to come.

    “You can see that some of the traders opened, but there are no customers. I think it is rather out of fear that people did not come to the market, and not because they want to comply with IPOB directive.”

  • Tanker explosion: Welder burnt to death, 3 sustain burns in Awka

    Tanker explosion: Welder burnt to death, 3 sustain burns in Awka

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Tuesday confirmed the death of one person, while three others sustained various degrees of burns in a petrol tanker explosion at a welder’s workshop in Amawbia area of Awka in Anambra.

    The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Andrew Kumapayi, who confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka said that the explosion was caused by welding repairs being carried out on the tanker.

    “An explosion occurred at a welders’ workshop around Amawbia Bridge in Awka at about 3.00p.m from a tanker loaded with petrol.

    “The explosion occurred when a welder (nameswitheld) in the workshop was carrying welding repairs on the tanker loaded with fuel.

    “The welder was confirmed dead, while three people who were around the scene of explosion sustained various degrees of burns and have been taken to the hospital.

    “The remains of the deseased had been deposited at the mortuary,” he said.

    Kumapayi said that the state fire service had, however, succeeded in putting off the fire from the explosion. (NAN)