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Showing posts with label Odukpani News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Odukpani News. Show all posts

Friday, August 6, 2021

August 06, 2021

JUST IN: Ayade Sacks Aide On Forest Security, 'General Iron' Accused Of Masterminding Killing Of Suspected Witches & Wizards

 

'General Iron'

By Obio Monday


The governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade has approved the immediate sack of his Special Adviser on Forest Security, Mr. Thomas Obi Tawo, aka 'General Iron' with immediate effect.


This was disclosed by the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita in a statement on Friday made available to GRASSROOT REPORTERS.


The governor directed Mr. Tawo to handover all government properties in his care to the office of the Chief of Staff to the governor.


Mr. Tawo was last year, accused of masterminding the lynching of suspected witches and wizards in Boki Local Government Area of the state.


A group, Advocacy for Alleged Witches, had called for the arrest and prosecution of Mr. Tawo.


The group also called for the sack of Mr. Tawo.


Its Chief Executive Officer, Leo Igwe, said:

 "The attention of AFAW has been drawn to an incident of witch persecution in Cross River State. In this case, a local mob lynched the alleged witches. Some of the victims have died while others are in the hospital nursing their wounds. 


"The unfortunate incident took place in Boki LGA in Central Cross River State. At least a dozen persons, mostly women who were alleged to be witches and wizards, were set ablaze at the instance of an adviser to the state governor who hails from that area. This adviser has been identified as Thomas Obi Tawo (aka General Iron). This incident happened on Tuesday, May 19, 2020."


Also, Mr. Tawo was last month, accused of beating to a pulp, former Cross River State lawmaker, Mark Obi Esq.


It was gathered that Hon. Obi was beaten by thugs led by General Iron and was rushed to the hospital.


Some of 'General Iron's victims

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Wednesday, August 4, 2021

August 04, 2021

Unpaid Salaries: UNICAL Teaching Hospital Suspends Medical Internship Programme, Cites Insecurity

Ucth interns protesting nonpayment of their salaries


The management of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) has suspended for one month, the current medical internship/housemanship programme run by the hospital, GRASSROOT REPORTERS can report.


A medical internship programme is a compulsory one-year programme for medical and paramedical graduates who have completed their medical degree programmes but does not yet have permanent license to practice unsupervised.


The hospital's decision may not be unconnected with the series of protests carried out by the interns following the nonpayment of their over eight months salary arrears.


The medical Interns comprises of house officers (doctors), medical laboratory scientists, pharmacists, nurses, dental therapists, radiographers amongst others.


GRASSROOT REPORTERS gathered that some of the interns were last week, invited by the State Security Services (SSS) following a WhatsApp message by an intern allegedly suggesting the kidnap of the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, until their salaries are paid. The interns  were however released after being questioned by the security agency.


Announcing the suspension of the programme in a circular signed by the Director of Administration, Ededet Eyoma,  dated August 2, 2021, and obtained by GRASSROOT REPORTERS, the hospital said the decision was occasioned by the security challenges currently faced by the hospital and the activities of the current interns.


The circular read in part:

"I am directed to inform the hospital community that the internship programme of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital has been suspended for one month with effect from 2nd August, 2021. This is consequent upon the security challenges experienced in recent times, occasioned by the activities of the current interns".


He further added that the reason for the suspension was to enable the management of the hospital to find lasting solutions to the issues involving the current internship programme in the hospital.






 

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Wednesday, May 22, 2019

May 22, 2019

Seven killed in renewed Oku Iboku/Ikot Offiong communal crisis

File
Seven persons have been reportedly killed in a renewed communal clash between Oku Iboku community in Itu local government Area of Akwa Ibom state and Ikot Offiong in Odukpani Local government area in Cross River state.
The dispute between the two neighbouring communities which has lasted for over a hundred years and has claimed hundreds of lives so far resurface Tuesday night.
The reoccurring skirmish is over the ownership of some fishing communities on the bounds of Calabar-Itu river. Those killed are mostly fishermen.

Chief Effiong Eneh, a local fish merchant lamented that the war “has defied all known traditional and political solutions even before the creation of Akwa Ibom state out of the old Cross River in 1987”.
Eneh said the incident, which he described as sad, happened late Tuesday night, explaining that “the deceased left for their fishing business at about 10:00am”.
Those killed, he added, “are all from Oku Iboku including three brothers from same parents”, adding that “three dead bodies have been recovered so far”, while mostly youths were still waiting for the remains of the other four to float to the seashore.

Lamenting the incident, Bassey Offiong Willams, a native of the neighbouring Ayadehe community, told reporters that “because of the crises which have claimed several lives, people were warned not to go deep into the sea for fishing”.

He blamed Soldiers standing guard around the troubles river for the problem, alleging “the soldiers always allowed the militants from Ikot Offiong to penetrate into our territory with their flying boats but would not allow Oku Iboku fishermen to do same”.
Mr. Ekikere Umoh, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Governor, Obong Moses Ekpo, whose office oversees boundary issues involving states, said he was yet to be fully briefed on the incident.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Odiko Macdon, a Police Superintendent, said “we have already commenced preliminary investigation into the incident”.
He suggested what he called “pro-active measures by politicians and security agencies to bring a lasting peace to the crises”.
“I think politicians should come up with a political solution to the problem”, he said.
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Tuesday, May 7, 2019

May 07, 2019

NDLEA destroys Indian hemp farms in Odukpani community

File
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Command in Cross River says it has destroyed 10 hectares of Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) farms in the state.
The Commander of the agency in the state, Mrs Anthonia Edeh, made this known in a statement on Tuesday in Calabar.

Edeh said that the destroyed farms were located at Esuk Odot community in Odupkani Local Government Area.
She also disclosed that four suspects were arrested in the farm while they were harvesting the illicit weeds.
“The four suspects are Mr Emmanuel Usen, 40; Mrs Effiom Emmanuel, 37; Mr Abraham Emmanuel, 18 and Okon Effiong, 27.

“Processed hemp totalling 194.8kg, 14.5kg of cannabis seeds and 14.5kg of fresh cannabis weed, with grand total of 223.8kgs were seized from the suspects, while 10 hectares of hemp cultivation were destroyed, ‘’ Eneh said.
She commended operatives of Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) for their support and cooperation in the successful operation.
“I must commend men of the NSCDC for this operation code-named `Fob Ikon-Ekpo’.
“This kind of synergy, if sustained, will go a long way in curbing all forms of criminality, especially illicit drug trafficking and abuse in Cross River, ‘’ she said.

The commander decried the continued activities of hemp cultivators in the state in spite of regular sensitisation and awareness campaigns by NDLEA.
She, however, said the agency was ready and will do everything within its powers to ensure that Cross River was not a safe haven for unscrupulous illicit hemp farmers.
Edeh appealed to community heads, chiefs and youth leaders to remain vigilant and always be mindful of who they leased their lands to, warning that “ignorance will not be an excuse when indicted’’.
According to her, anyone found culpable will be prosecuted as accomplice regardless of how highly placed.
She said that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation.
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Friday, May 3, 2019

May 03, 2019

Niger Delta ministry empowers Odukpani youths and women, Bakassi returnees

By Obio Monday


Niger Delta Minister, Usani Usani
58 women and youth of the Bakassi and Odukpani local government areas of Cross River state have been trained in fishery and poultry in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs said it is in pursuant of federal government policy on youth employment and income generation to forestall restiveness and create jobs in the Niger Delta Region.

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, represented at the ceremony by director of economic empowerment, Mr Ibrahim Akanya said the programme was put together to support the youths and women who are in need of empowerment.
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In a statement by deputy director press, Stephen T. Kilebi, the minister charged the trainees on utilising the empowerment package wisely.
He urged them to put the skills acquired to good use by establishing businesses and become employers of labour.
He said some trainees who in the past were serious and developed themselves are now consultants and are engaged as resource persons in some of the ministry’s empowerment programmes.

One of the participants, Elder Edet Okon who commended the ministry for the initiative appealed that the empowerment programme should continue. He said the starter pack be reviewed upward in subsequent training programmes.
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Sunday, April 28, 2019

April 28, 2019

21 persons escapes death in an auto crash along Odukpani-Itu Road

By Obio Monday
28/04/19
Scene of the accident
Twenty one persons escaped death by the whiskers in an auto crash involving a passenger bus belonging to a popular transport company and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) . The incident happened few meters away from Oduyama Market, along Odukpani-Itu road in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

An occupant of the bus, Miss Emmanuella Isoni, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, told our correspondent that the bus was heading to Port Harcourt from Calabar. She further narrated how the incident happened " After we finished saying our prayers in the bus and a short preaching,  and we said Amen to the prayers,  not up up to 3 minutes later, a sport utility vehicle rammed into our bus  just at a little bend. Our bus tumbled several times. I'm happy nobody died. ".

She said all the passengers including herself sustained injuries and are being treated at an undisclosed hospital. She thanked God for sparing her life and that of other passengers.

See photos from the scene of the accident:








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Wednesday, April 10, 2019

April 10, 2019

Ukwa Eburutu people set to celebrate its annual festival of victory


The people of Ukwa Eburutu in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State has concluded plans for its annual festival of victory codenamed 'Ukwa Day'. The event is scheduled to begin on the 7th of April with a football competition between the different clans in Ukwa, followed by the main event on the 12th of April, 2019. 
The Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Mr. Samuel Nkwo, disclosed this to our correspondent in Calabar.

Ukwa Day as it is commonly called is a day set aside by the people to commemorate the victory of the community in several communal wars against their neighbouring communities, honour their departed heroes and also showcase the rich cultural heritage of the people.
Activities lined up for the epoch making event include solemn assembly, football competition, walk against violence, carnival and cultural display and gala night/talent hunt.

The town is already in celebratory mode when our correspondent visited. Many sons and daughters of the community both at home and in diaspora are making plans to attend the event. Speaking to our correspondent, an indigene of the community Mr. Alex Imoh, who reside in Calabar described the mood of the people as 'ecstatic'. 'Many people within and outside Calabar are trooping in numbers to attend the event' he said.  Another  indigene of the community, also a resident of Calabar, Miss Ana Owot said the festival is not just the celebration of victory but an event in which the rich cultural heritage of Ukwa Eburutu people and the Efiks are displayed. It attracts people from far and wide. I wish to call on the state government to include Ukwa Day in its calendar and sponsor subsequent editions', she said.
Ukwa Eburutu is one of the 12 ancestral clans in Efik Eburutu.


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Friday, April 5, 2019

April 05, 2019

Akwa Ibom community invades Mbiabo village, kills 2

File

 Two persons were confirmed killed during a renewed communal clash between the people of Oku Iboku in the Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Mbiabo in the Odukpani Local Government area of Cross River State .

The Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River State , Irene Ugbo, who confirmed this to newsmen in Calabar , said security personnel had been deployed in the areas .
“ Peace has been restored in the war - torn areas . Our men are there to protect lives and property . We warned the perpetrators to think twice as anybody caught would be dealt with , ” she said .

One of those killed was a class teacher , while the other victim was a young man .
It was gathered that several people were injured while many had been rendered homeless .

An eyewitness , who gave her name as Atim Umo, said she lost her aunt , who was the class teacher .
Umo stated , “ The Oku Iboku people crossed the river to our community and killed my aunty , a primary school teacher in Mbiabo . Our house was razed down and my brother escaped with severe injuries. ”
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