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Tag: Imo State

  • Buhari’s visit to Imo not for 2023 Presidency – Gov Uzodinma

    Buhari’s visit to Imo not for 2023 Presidency – Gov Uzodinma

    Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the state has nothing to do with the 2023 elections.

    Uzodinma said Buhari was simply on a working visit.

    The governor, who stated this while appearing on Channels Television, said Buhari commissioned projects while in the state.

    “Our people came out to receive the president who visited Imo State in solidarity with the governor of Imo State. It has nothing to do with the 2023 election or politics.

    “We only received the president who came on a working visit, commissioned projects and had an interaction with us,” Uzodinma said.

    Recall that Buhari was on a one-day working visit to Imo State on Thursday.

    While in the state, the president had promised to help Uzodinma fight insecurity.

    Buhari also met with Igbo leaders and stakeholders during a Town Hall meeting.

  • BREAKING: Gunmen attack oil workers in Imo, kill four

    BREAKING: Gunmen attack oil workers in Imo, kill four

    Unidentified gunmen have attacked some workers of Lee Engineering Company at Assa community in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, killing at least four persons.

    Reports gathered that the incident occurred on Monday morning when the gunmen ambushed the workers in the area.

    Reports also indicated that the workers were attacked inside a vehicle while going to their company in Assa community.

    Details of the story are still sketchy as the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Micheal Abattam, did not pick calls made to his telephone.

    Details later…

  • APC Suspends Congresses In Imo State

    APC Suspends Congresses In Imo State

    The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State has suspended the party’s ward, local government and state congresses scheduled for Saturday (Today).

    An FCT Federal High Court in Abuja had halted the exercises following a suit brought before it by a member of the party, Okey Anyikwa.

    Anyikwa, who is the APC chairman of Ideato South Local Government Area, had approached the Court for an injunction restraining the APC from going ahead with the Saturday’s congresses because of the judgment of the Appeal Court that upheld the tenure of the State Exco elected in 2018.

    Presiding Justice Valentine Oriji also threatened to invalidate the outcome of the congresses if the party disregards the position of the Court.

    In a statement signed by the Director General, APC Media Centre in the State, Cajetan Duru, the party urged members to be calm and comply with the court order.

    The statement said: “All Progessives Congress, APC, in Imo State by this statement wishes to acknowledge receipt of the order of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which has mandated cancellation of every arrangement for the Congresses slated for, tomorrow, Saturday, July 31, 2021.

    “However discomforting this development might be, as a law-abiding party, the State Caretaker Committee and the leadership of the party, rising from an emergency meeting this evening, direct thus: Consequent upon today’s Order of the High Court of the FCT, the Imo State APC Ward Congress is hereby suspended forthwith.

    “All officers, stakeholders and members of our party are also directed to comply with this resolution, maintain decorum and await further directive from the party.

    “It is important to clarify that this temporary setback is the handwork of enemies of our party, using one Okey Anyikwa, who parades himself as Chairman of our great party in Ideato South Local Government Area.

    “We, therefore, urge our teeming members to remain calm, law abiding and not to be irked by this unbecoming provocative activity of disgruntled elements,” the statement added.

  • Imo: Supreme Court to hear PDP suit seeking Uzodinma’s sack, Ihedioha’s return

    Imo: Supreme Court to hear PDP suit seeking Uzodinma’s sack, Ihedioha’s return

    The Supreme Court will soon fix a date to hear the motion filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) demanding the sack of Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma.

    The party, through its lawyer, Phillips Umeadi filed additional processes in relation to the motion filed in 2020.

    The PDP wants the Supreme Court to reverse its decision that removed Emeka Ihedioha as Governor months after he won the March 9, 2019 election.

    The respondents to the motion on notice marked: SC/1384/2019 are Uche Nwosu, Action Peoples Party (APP), Uche Nnadi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The PDP faulted the apex court for declaring Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner after disqualifying Nwosu on the grounds that he was nominated as the candidate of both the Action Alliance (AA) and APC.

    The opposition is demanding that the court declare that both the AA and the APC did not produce a candidate in view of Nwosu’s double nomination and his disqualification by the court on December 20, 2019.

    The PDP urged the court to order that Uzodinma was not a candidate by himself or of any party, and to order INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to him.

    The suit is seeking a certificate of return for Ihedioha as the duty elected Governor “having scored the second highest number of votes in the said election sequel to the judgment of this court in Appeal No: SC/1462/2019″.

    The PDP said the APC could not have substituted the Nwosu with Uzodinma as the candidate because such is not recognized under the Electoral Act.

    “Senator Hope Uzodinma could not have been a candidate in the election as an independent candidate as such right is not available to him.”

    “Emeka Ihedioha, who scored the second highest number of votes after Senator Hope Uzodinma, from the judgment of this court, ought to be issued a certificate of return by the fourth respondent (INEC) and sworn in accordingly”, the motion read in part.

  • Unknown gunmen killed in Imo gun battle

    Unknown gunmen killed in Imo gun battle

    The Police in Imo State repelled another attempt by unknown gunmen to attack the command’s headquarters in Owerri, the state capital, on Sunday,

    Five of the dozens of attackers were eliminated in a gun duel.

    Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, in a statement confirmed the officers recorded no casualty in the battle.

    The spokesman said the gunmen made efforts to access the police headquarters through the Works Layout around Avan Nursery and Primary School but were pushed back.

    “They came in a white Hummer Bus, five of the hoodlums were killed during an exchange of fire and others were injured.

    “The Hummer bus was recovered with four Ak47 rifles previously stolen from the police during a recent attack on its station”, Elkana added.

    Security operatives have been deployed to apprehend the fleeing hoodlums.

  • Again, Gunmen raze police station in Imo

    Again, Gunmen raze police station in Imo

    Gunmen have razed Amandugba Divisional Police Headquarters in Isu Local Government Area of Imo State.

    It was the fourth Divisional Police Headquarters razed in less than one week in Imo State.

    Reports had it that the attackers threw inflammable substances at the police facility, which triggered the fire.

    The development heightened tension in the state as resident complied with the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on Monday.

    A villager, who did not want his name mentioned, said:” Isu Divisional Police Headquarters is on fire now. Fire has engulfed the facility. The attackers threw explosives objects and it caught fire immediately.”

    Imo Police spokesperson, Bala Elkana, said he was going to get back when contacted but was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.

    Details shortly…

  • BREAKING: Security Operatives Kills Ahmed Gulak’s assailants in Imo

    BREAKING: Security Operatives Kills Ahmed Gulak’s assailants in Imo

    The Imo state Commissioner of Police, Abutu Yaro, has announced that combined operatives of the command’s Tactical Units, Intelligence Response Team, and Police Mobile Force have killed the suspected killers of a former Presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak.

    Gulak was on Monday morning killed in Imo State while on his way to Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri.

    A statement issued on Sunday night by the command’s Spokesperson, Bala Elkana, on behalf of the CP, disclosed that riffles, pistol, and ammunition were recovered from the slain suspects.

    The statement also disclosed that the vehicles the slain hoodlums used in killing the former Presidential aide were recovered by the command.

    He disclosed that the operatives overpowered the gunmen during the gun duel and two Armored Personnel Carriers used during the operation were riddled in bullets.

    The statement read “On 30th May, 2021 following distress received by the Command on the gruesome murder of Ahmed Gulak, Police Special Forces made up of Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Tactical Units from the command were deployed to the scene at Obiangwu Junction at Ngorokpala LGA of Imo state. The teams were given a clear instruction to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the act with a view of bringing them to justice.

    “Eyewitness account, especially the account given by the Driver of the vehicle that was conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport before the attack, gave a vivid description of the assailants and the vehicles they used in carrying out the attack.

    “The assailants were said to have used a Toyota Camry 2005 model with silver color; Toyota Sienna 1998 Model with golden color; Toyota Hilux with white color; and a Lexus RX 330 with golden Color. (Registration numbers are withheld for security reasons).

    “Having established the identity of the assailants and the description of the vehicles used in carrying out the attack, the teams further got details of the direction the hoodlums have taken.

    “With further leads, the team was able to establish the location of suspects. The suspects were rounded up at Afor Enyiogugu junction in Aboh-Mbaise Local Government Area. The hoodlums were met distributing onions to locals from a trailer they confiscated. The trailer was loaded with Onions from the Northern region of Nigeria.

    “On sighting the Police, the hoodlums providing security coverage to those sharing the onions opened fire on the Police teams. The gallant and battle-ready Police Officers swiftly returned the fire. The six hoodlums who carried out the killings and four other members of their gang were fatally injured. Three out of the four vehicles used in attacking Gulak were recovered.

    “Three AK 47 Rifles, one Pistol, five AK 47 magazines with ninety two rounds of live ammunition and criminal charms were recovered. During the encounter, two of the police armored personnel carriers were riddled with bullets but survived the gun battle.

    “The Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc commended the gallant effort of the team and admonished them to continue to protect the public space.”

  • Tension in Imo as gunmen engage police in Shootout

    Tension in Imo as gunmen engage police in Shootout

    There is palpable fear in Imo State on Tuesday as gunmen engaged police in a gun duel as they attempted to burn Orji Divisional Police Headquarters situated on Owerri-Okigwe Road in Owerri under reconstruction.

    Security operatives made up of soldiers, policemen and air Force engaged the hoodlums in shootout which resulted to casualties on the side of the hoodlums

    The situation caused panic in the area that forced two banks in the area to hurriedly close.

    Customers and passersby took to their heels as vehicles diverted while motorists scampered for safety after running out of their vehicles. The situation caused serious gridlock around the city

    Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the gunmen, numbering over 20 attacked the police station after blocking the expressway with their vehicles.

    Reacting, the police spokesman, SP Bala Elkanah said the police were able to repel the hoodlums before they could destroy the police station.

    Some hoodlums in their number launched an offensive on the reconstruction site of Orji Divisional Headquarters which was earlier burnt by hoodlums during the #EndSARS protest in 2020. A philanthropist contracted the reconstruction project.

    The hoodlums, who believed that the re-establishment of a functional police station may prevent them from carrying out their nefarious acts in Orji and environs, decided to invade the construction site.

    Before the arrival of reinforcement team, the hoodlums melted into the neighbouring townships area but abandoned their operational vehicles. The Commissioner of Police, Imo State, CP Abutu Yaro, fdc personally led an enforcement team to the scene.

    The whole area was cordoned and five suspects, namely Chigaemezu Sabastine ‘m’ 26 years old, Casmir Ibe ‘m’ 36years old, John Chinonso ‘m’ 24years old, Chukwudi Okoro ‘m’ 28years and Alozie Daberechi ‘m’ 25years old were arrested. No life was lost. Three vehicles were recovered.

    He said, mop up operation is ongoing to arrest more suspects and recover their firearms.

    It was not ascertained whether there was any casualty on the said of the security agents, but the police Spokesperson in the state, Bala Elkana, said that ” we are repelling them. The war is ongoing. There is heavy security operatives detachment deployed to the scene. We have taken the way to them. We are wining. There is high number of casualties on the side of the hoodlums.”

    It would be recalled that the same police Divisional headquarters was in 2020 burnt during the nationwide #ENDSARS protest.

  • Two unknown gunmen killed, rifles recovered in Imo – Police

    Two unknown gunmen killed, rifles recovered in Imo – Police

    The Police in Imo State has confirmed the killing of two unknown gunmen in a joint operation carried out by the Nigerian Army, Air Force and the Police in the State.

    CP Abutu Yaro, the Commissioner of Police in the State confirmed the incident on Thursday.

    He said they were killed in a gun battle between the military and the unidentified gunmen at Ikenanzizi in Obowo Local Government Area of the state.

    Yaro said that two rifles, five motorcycles, a Lexus jeep and one 18 seater bus were recovered from the gunmen.

    ”Two unknown gunmen were killed in the process and investigation is ongoing,” he said.

    He, however, explained that the team could only lay hands on one corpse because the hoodlums escaped with the second corpse.

    “We have one corpse but they escaped with the other one and it has been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre Owerri, morgue,” he said.

    Yaro urged residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities, adding that security agencies had brought the situation under “firm” control.

  • DPR Seals Filling Stations Selling Petrol Above Approved Price In Imo

    DPR Seals Filling Stations Selling Petrol Above Approved Price In Imo

    The Department of Petroleum Resources has sealed some petrol stations in Imo State, south-east Nigeria.

    On Friday, the Zonal Controller of DPR in Imo, Roseline Wilki, led a team of officials on a routine monitoring exercise in Owerri, the state capital.

    During the operation, some filling stations were sealed for selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, above the authorised pump price.

    “We are here to ensure that there is quality, to ensure availability of the product, and to ensure that you don’t have adulterated product and that there is no hoarding,” Wilki told reporters at one of the filling stations sealed.

    She added, “We are here to ensure that the operators are selling within the government approved pump price.

    “We will definitely sanction those that are not selling within the (government approved) pump price and for the adulteration; we will make sure that they (consumers) get the right product.”

    Wilki explained that the need to monitor some petrol stations became necessary because of the outcry over the increase in the price of petrol.

    She stated that the action of the erring independent marketers was against the directive of the Federal Government on the sale of the product.

    The DPR zonal controller urged the residents in the state to disregard any rumour of an increase in the pump price of petrol.

    She also advised them to report any independent marketer who sells above the normal pump price to the department and warned operators against hoarding and quality delivery.

    Wilki said, “Right from the depot, we are going to do carriages inspection and ensure that products that are being loaded are within the correct spec.

    “They (residents) should not rely on black market products because wherever they find that there are issues, they should not hesitate to report to the department, and we have offices in almost every state of the Federation.”