Author: Editor
Ugo Nosiri, Owerri Yet to be identified gunmen have kidnapped Gregory Madu, a journalist working with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Owerri, Imo State. Report says Madu was kidnapped on Thursday by the hoodlums at Irete in Owerri West Council area where he went to inspect a land. According to sources, Madu was recently posted to the state from Abuja where he worked. Confirming the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye said the abductors had called, demanding ransom. He, however, added that the State command has commenced an investigation to unravel the mystery behind his…
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Former Minister for Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, has been nominated to chair the proposed South-East Development Commission, SEDC, board as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, again tinkered with the original list of nominees earlier presented to the Senate. He replaced Chief Emeka Atuma initially pencilled down for the job. This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Dayo Onanuga. According to the statement, the updated list has new appointments “aimed at strengthening the Commission’s capacity to drive development in the South-East region.” The statement read: “The President…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Trailblazing scholar and communications guru, Professor Chinyere Stella Okunna, will be honoured at 19th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (WSAIR2024). The award marks the grand finale of the two-day virtual Amplify In-depth Media (AIM) Conference and Awards, hosted by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ). Okunna, the first female Professor of Mass Communication in Sub-Saharan Africa, and current Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) of Paul University, Awka, will receive the Lifetime award for journalistic excellence. WSCIJ also announced that Beko, Ransom-Kuti will be honoured at the event with the Human Rights Defender Award posthumously. The event…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Gunmen have attacked a police checkpoint at Ajili, the headquarters of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State and injured two persons the process. One of those injured is a police officer, while the other is a vigilante. They were conducting a routine stop and search when they were attacked, yesterday. The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, who confirmed this in a statement said the injured security operatives are currently responding to treatment in an undisclosed hospital. “In the late hours of Thursday 5th December 2024, the Anambra State Joint Security Team intercepted…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State has taken a significant steps towards combating gender-based violence (GBV) with the successful conclusion of the Anambra Unite Conference 2024. Held on Wednesday December 4, 2024, the conference brought together stakeholders from various sectors to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Participants included 16 traditional rulers, commissioners, representatives of government ministries, departments, and agencies, security, town union leaders, women leaders, youth leaders, civil society organisations, persons with disabilities, and the media. The conference, organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and the VAPP Law Implementation Committee with theme: “Towards a Beijing +30:…
Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, said that 23 persons lost their lives from 48 confirmed cases of Lassa fever between January and December 2024 in the state. Governor Nwifuru made the disclosure during the official closure of Medecins Sans Frontiers’ (Doctors Without Borders) Lassa fever project in Abakaliki and handover of supported activities to the State Ministry of Health. He stated that record has showed that in 2024, Nigeria recorded over 4,726 cases of Lassa fever with very significant death rate. He revealed that in Ebonyi, out of the 48 confirmed cases and the demise of 23…
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, has expressed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s commitment towards ensuring that Anambra regains its grip on the entertainment industry, particularly filmmaking, and making both an integral part of branding Anambra as a tourism destination rather than a departure lounge. Speaking at the ongoing film training session in Anawood Film Village, Awka, when he visited the participants along with the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Patrick Agha Mba, and the Commissioner for Culture, Entertainment, and Tourism, Comrade Don Onyenji, Mefor, who maintained that entertainment and filmmaking are integral parts of Soludo’s agenda,…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu A Coalition of media watchdog organisations, including the League of Public Affairs Analysts and South-East Media Professionals Network, has petitioned the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), calling for action against Arise TV and Dr. Reuben Abati for unprofessional and divisive comments made during the Arise TV Breakfast Show on 21st November 2024. In a statement made available to newsmen in Enugu and signed by Dr Ambrose Igboke, Chairman of Association of Public Affairs Analysts in Enugu State, the coalition stated that the comments by Abati was inciting and have raised serious concerns. According to the statement: “The petition…
Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has tasked media practitioners in the South-East on responsible and balanced reporting on operations and activities of the Nigerian Army. Oluyede gave the task in Enugu on Thursday in an address at the Nigerian Army Civil-Military Cooperation Quarterly Media Chat for the 4th quarter of 2024, with the theme: “Military and Media Relationship: A Panacea for Enhenced National Security and Development.” The COAS, represented by Maj.-Gen. Hassan Dada, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, noted the need to strengthen collaboration and create opportunities for…
By Ugonna Agu, Emma Nwazue & Alfred Ajayi In this Report, Ugonna Agu, Emma Nwazue & Alfred Ajayi set out to uncover the stories behind the rising number of missing persons in the South-East. What they discovered is an intricate nexus of insecurity, unethical policing methods, poor record keeping and the needed closure for distressed families of victims. Nnaawa Kamalu, the fourth child and first son in a family of seven was loved by all who hoped to see him become a successful man someday in life. On September 3, 2022, Nnaawa resumed the day’s work without any premonition of the…