Tag Archives: Owerri

Four persons feared dead in Owerri bank robbery

Posted on by
23

Four persons were feared killed on Wednesday during a robbery at a Zenith Bank branch in Owerri, Imo State.

The robbers, who had trailed a customer with a huge sum of money to the bank, located along Wetheral Road, opposite Dan Anyiam Stadium in the city, also suffered casualty as one of them was shot dead as security officers at the bank engaged them in a shot out.

According to a witness, the other casualties were three bank security guards and the customer who the robbers had trailed to the bank. About seven other persons were reportedly injured in the incident.

“The bandits on getting to the bank premises opened fire at the man as he was bringing out his money. As soon as that happened, security men at the bank responded by shooting down one of the robbers.

“On killing of the bandit, his gang members rained bullets on the security men, killing three of them on the spot’’, the witness narrated.

The source said that the robbers later fled with their heist in a Ghana-must-go bag.

The state Police Commissioner, Taiwo Lakanu, after the incident led officers to the scene in a convoy of three Toyota Hilux vans.

The police spokesperson, Andrew Enwere, confirmed the incident. He said a police officer gunned down one of the suspected armed robbers, while another police officer sustained injuries in the exchange of fire with the hoodlums.

Mr. Enwere, who condemned the act, advised the public to provide useful information to the police regarding the whereabout of the fleeing criminals who according to the police spokesperson fled with gun shot injuries.

The police headquarters and the Imo Government House are just about three minutes drive from the bank.

 

Source: Premium Times

Chaos in FUTO as students destroy facilities over school fees hike [Videos]

Posted on by
Reply

Emerging reports suggests that all is not well at the Federal University of Technology in Owerri (FUTO).

According to reports, students are protesting in a very violent fashion, against an increase in school fees.

Below are videos that affirm the protest.

Proper investigation into the cause of the riot, have shown that the school fees schedule for 2015/2016 academic session and that of 2016/2017 academic session.

FUTO School fees schedule for 2015/2016 Academic Session:

FUTO Year one (100L) School fees

Geology = (School fees) N50,800 + N40,000 (Acceptance Fees)

Total= N90,800

Other Departments = (School fees) N48,300+ N40,000 (Acceptance fees)

Total= N88,300

FUTO Year two & three (200l-300l) School fees

Geology = #35,800

Other Departments = #33,300

FUTO Year IV & V(400l-500l) School fees

Geology = #30,800

Other Departments = #28,300

FUTO School fees schedule for 2016/2017 Academic Session:

We got information that Fresh (100 Level) Students still pay an additional acceptance fee of NGN 42,500 making a total of NGN 124,000.

Students still have to pay huge amounts for accommodation and course registration. A student claimed that fresh students pay more than NGN 20,000 for various course registration apart from school fees and acceptance fees.

There was heavy police presence on campus to ensure that the students do not vandalize the school property or create any havoc during the protest.

The students decided they will go on a protest when the school management gave them an ultimatum to pay up today or pay a fine of additional NGN 10,000.

Naij.com recently reported that there was commotion at the Federal university of technology, Minna, Niger state after some students of the institution reportedly set ablaze the clinic on Bossom campus.

The students were said to have gone berserk after a 300l Chemistry Option student, Yeye, died due to lack of the health centre.

Yeye was said to have collapsed on field during training, around 5:08pm, and was rushed to the school clinic for treatment, but the members of staff at the clinic refused to do anything on him until his school ID card be provided.

Medical Doctor Shot In The Head During Protest In Imo

Posted on by
3

The planned peaceful demonstration by medical practitioners in Imo State turned awry, yesterday, as a Consultant Family Physician in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Dr. Bende Azudialo, was allegedly shot in the head by a policeman.

 

Screenshot_2016-02-05-10-46-10-1

 

The victim, Dr Bede Azudialor, a Consultant Physician with the Federal Medical Centre , Owerri, was allegedly shot in the head by anti-riot policemen drafted to monitor the demonstration by the doctors.

 

 

It was gathered that the victim was first rushed to the emergency unit of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, from where he was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU) and thereafter relocated to an undisclosed hospital.

 

 

During a press conference in Owerri, State Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, Dr. Hyacinth Emele, ordered a three-day warning strike with effect from today. Emele said: “If the policeman that fired the shot is not identified and prosecuted, doctors will commence indefinite industrial action.” Emele, who displayed the blood-stained overall worn by the wounded doctor, said a team of medical personnel were working on Azudialo.

 

 

“Following the shooting of our member, doctors in Imo State will from today commence a three-day warning strike during which the Nigerian Police Force must name the policeman that shut our member.

 

The warning strike beginning from Feb. 4, will last for three days and if after the expiration of three days, the person who shut at our colleague fails to come out, doctors will start an indefinite strike action’’, Akukwu said.

 

 

He urged the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase to compel the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Taiwo Lakanu , to produce the culprit who perpetrated the act.

 

 

Akukwu further urged President Muhammadu Buhari to thoroughly investigate the matter.

 

 

It was learnt that the march was organised by the NMA in Imo, to protest what they described as the “anti-life’’ policies of Gov. Rochas Okorocha.

 

 

The march was said to have started from the NMA office on Port Harcourt Road, Owerri at about 12 noon.

 

 

It was gathered that when the doctors got to Orlu Road junction, Owerri, anti-riot police in about 10 Hilux vans started throwing tear gas canisters on the group during which a gun was suspected to have been fired, which injured the doctor.

 

 

It was in the process of tear gassing of the group that Dr Bede Azudiaro fell down and raised alarm that he had been shut in the head, with blood gushing from his head.

 

 

Earlier, the state chairman of NMA, Dr Hyacinth Emele, had told journalists that the association was protesting against the concessioning of public health institutions by the state government.

 

 

“Despite NMA repeated advice, government went ahead to concession virtually all the state public health institutions from primary to tertiary (health centre, general hospitals and Imo State Specialist Hospitals, and Imo State University Teaching Hospital) and their management.

 

The state will stand to lose completely from the assistance of donor agencies and partners like the WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank, Global Fund among others that sponsor immunization, malaria, tuberculosis, family planning and HIV/AIDS services to these institutions.’’

 

 

The NMA chairman equally condemned the appointment of a non-doctor as Commissioner of Health and the merging of Ministry of Health and Women Affairs by Okorocha.

 

Emele also decried the use of armed thugs to attack workers at their duty posts.

 
“The use of task force to regulate medical practice in Imo is against Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.

 

 

The NMA chairman raised alarm over the illicit harvesting and trafficking of human organs currently on going in the state. “Lives of residents of Imo State are at great risk over this evil practice.’’

 

When contacted, the PPRO in the state (DSP) Andrew Enwerem said that the police only used tear gas to disperse the protesting doctors when they became riotous.

 

“Police did not shoot anybody and nobody who is shot on the head will ever remain alife.

 

“Let them produce a doctor’s report to confirm that it was a real case of shooting on the head. Anybody can pick any blood stained material from anywhere and claim that he was shot”, Enwerewhe said.

 

 

(NAN)

Passenger Dies Aboard Arik Owerri-Lagos Flight

Posted on by
13

A 57-year-old man, Albert Nnadi, was on Wednesday confirmed dead on board an Arik Air flight from Owerri to Lagos.
The passenger was said to have been found dead at the point when passengers were disembarking the flight at the Murtala Muhammed Domestic Airport Terminal One, Lagos.

 
The deceased, who was accompanied by one of his relatives, identified as Damien Nwachkwu, was said to be traveling to Lagos to seek medical assistance on obesity.
Arik Air in a statement by its Communications Manager, Ola Adebanji, confirmed the incident.

 
The statement said the passenger boarded the flight from Owerri in the company of a relative, adding that he started showing signs of uneasiness midway into the flight.

 
“The body of the man has been deposited in the mortuary by the Police, while investigation into the immediate cause of death is ongoing,” it said.

 

(NAN)

PDP Holds Factional Meetings In Owerri

Posted on by
Reply

The growing schism within the ranks of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State, further widened, weekend, following the holding of separate meetings by the party faithful in Owerri.

While a section of the party loyalists, who branded themselves “Coalition of True Imo PDP Democrats, CTIPD,” gathered in the cosy Aladinma Shopping Mall, the others converged at the State Party Secretariat, on Okigwe Road, Owerri.

It was gathered that the former Imo State governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, chaired the proceedings at the Aladinma Shopping Mall, the Expanded State Executive Council of the PDP controlled the events in the Secretariat, and had different agenda and resolutions.

Credit: Vanguard

Deputy Speaker Escapes as Party Supporters Clash in Owerri

Posted on by
1

Tension heightened in Imo State on Wednesday when supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rochas Okorocha, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate, Emmanuel Iheanacho  clashed during a scheduled debate organised by the Catholic Arch Diocese of Owerri.

Ihedioha and Iheanacho were almost lynched in the fracas that lasted for almost 40 minutes. The duo scampered for safety when the fracas broke out and were shielded and hauled into their waiting vehicles by security operatives attached to them.

The rampaging supporters of the three parties destroyed everything on sight and assaulted a Priest, Rev. Fr. Casmir Nze, who was scheduled to moderate the debate.

Read More: Nigerian Pilot

Bomb Blast Prevented In Owerri

Posted on by
1

Reports say that the Nigerian police on Wednesday night discovered and defused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted at a popular eatery located around the Ikenegbu area of Owerri.

Nigeria Telegraph reports that the anti-bomb squad of the Imo state police command on getting the news, arrived the scene and after several hours of probing, confirmed there was an IED capable of causing serious damage to lives and property in the area.

The explosives were hidden in air condition units at the lobby and the kitchen close to gigantic gas cylinders in Kilimanjaro fast food.

The Police Commissioner, Abdulmajid Ali, told journalists at the scene: “We received a call about 21.30 hours that bombs were uncovered at Kilmanjaro Fast Food. Men of the Bomb Disposal Unit moved in, discovered the explosives and defused them.”

The commissioner dismissed rumours making the rounds in the city that the explosives were planted by terrorists. He said  the manager of the eatery, who alerted the police, was called by unknown persons, demanding millions of naira, saying they had planted explosives on the premises and would detonate them if he did not meet their demand.

He said: “It was not a terrorists’ attack because Boko Haram insurgents will not demand money. We are investigating the incident.”

Ali therefore urged the residents to be calm, assuring them of adequate security by the police would especially during the Yuletide.

Credit: naij.com