Author: Editor

By Zainab Suleiman Okino In the face of unimaginable adversity, Alice Loksha and Ganiyat Popoola’s unbroken spirits shine like beacons of hope. Alice was a nurse working with UNICEF when she was kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in March 2018 in Rann, Borno State. The attack occurred at an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp where she was providing humanitarian assistance. During the same attack, two other aid workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – Hauwa Liman and Saifura Ahmed Khorsa were also kidnapped. Sadly, both ICRC workers were later killed by their captors. Alice’s story came…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Barely days to mother’s burial, a Port Harcourt-based Anambra–born Architect, Asomba Andrew Egbuonu, has been killed by gunmen at Nnewi. It was learned that before his death, Egbuonu was a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute Architects (FNIA). FNIA general secretary, Chike Chamberlain Ibeanu, who announced the death said Egbuonu was killed while finalising arrangements for his mother’s burial. Ibeanu wrote: “Distinguished colleagues, it is with a painful and heavy heart that I announce the death of our brother, Arc. Asomba Andrew Egbuonu FNIA. “He died on Sunday, 17th November, 2024, following complications occasioned by gunshot wounds he sustained…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Stakeholders in Ebonyi State have called for concerted efforts in the fight to end open defecation in the state. They made the call during a two-day stakeholders consultative meeting on the review of of the State’s Water Resources Policy. The meeting was held with the support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nigeria State Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State State) Activity in Abakaliki, capital of the state. Speaking on the State of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), General Manager of Ebonyi State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (EBRUWASA), Agwu Joseph, said the Agency has…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki  The Senate Deputy Majority Whip, Onyekachi Nwebonyi, has been accused of complicity in a recent crisis in Ugboenyim, a border town between Benue and Ebonyi State. This is as many people were injured in a recent clash between two factions in the community over leadership control of the town.  Ugboenyim, an Izzi speaking community, is anthropologically Ebonyi State and geographically Benue State.  The people are however under Ado Local Government Area,  Benue State, and southern senatorial zone of the state.  The two factions have been in power tussle since 2006 over the control of the community, which…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has accused Lagos of plotting to “colonise” the northern region. He placed National Assembly members from the North on an alert over attempt to hurt the economy of the Northern region. Kwankwaso urged them to stoutly resist any policy that is not in the economic interest of the North. The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) presidential candidate in  2023 who spoke at the convocation ceremony at Skyline University in Kano, also accused Lagos of meddling in the  emirate tussle rocking Kano State. Kwankwaso who expressed disappointment over the leadership…

  Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia  Unknown gunmen, Sunday night, killed a Police escort attached to the Member representing Isiala Ngwa North and Isiala Ngwa South federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe. A Hilux Toyota van conveying the late cop and his colleague was ambushed while they were returning to Umuahia. The lawmaker was not with them when the incident occurred at Ubakala, near the Umuahia South council headquarters. A statement by the Police on Monday evening, gave the name of the deceased personnel as  Inspector Bala Mohammed. A statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Maureen…

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki  Ebonyi State Government has tackled the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for criticising the re-inauguration of Chuba Okadigbo Airport runway last week by wife of President Bola Tinubu, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, after its upgrade. PDP, through a  statement signed by Moses Idika, the head of media of the 2023 governorship candidate of the party, Chief Chukwuma Odii, accused the government of wasting Ebonyi resources on the Airport by spending about N20bn to rehabilitate its runway. But the state government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Jude Okpor, said the…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu  The Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Most Rev.Calistus Onaga, has decried the shedding of blood especially politically motivated killings in the South-East. Onaga spoke on Sunday while delivering a sermon during the Thanksgiving Mass and Empowerment Programme of Sen. Kelvin Chukwu, Senator representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone in Enugu. The bishop urged the perpetrators to retrace their steps. According to him, anyone engaging in such unholy act will never go unpunished as they must face the consequences and wrath  of God. “No matter the level of acrimony or quarrel, no one has the right to terminate…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu The Jands Travel Business School in collaboration with Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) and the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), has completed arrangements for South-East Tourism Conference fixed for November 28-29 2024. Briefing newsmen on the preparations for the event, Mrs Chioma Obi, Director of Jands Travel Business School, Convener of the event and Enugu State Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agencies (NANTA), said that a committee on the awards ceremony has been set up with Ambassador Emmanuel Ossai as its coordinator.  Obi further said that the workshop…

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka Hoodlums believed to be the dreaded unknown gunmen Monday launched deadly attacks in two Anambra communities killing unconfirmed number of persons in the process. The attacks which reportedly occurred between 8:00 am and 10:00 am, targeted Abatete and Ukpo communities, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. In Abatete town, gunmen stormed the area and attacked security personnel attached to the community’s President-General (PG). In a hail of bullets, three security operatives were killed, while the PG, whose identity remains undisclosed, was critically injured and rushed to a nearby hospital. Shortly after the Abatete incident, there…