…Govt to foot medical bills of the wounded

…Awards scholarships, jobs to bereaved

…Community wants neighbourhood watch strengthened

Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, has described the recent attack that resulted in the death of four natives in Nimbo as unacceptable to his administration, vowing that enough was enough, as government would track down and bring the attackers to book.

He described the attack as a collective tragedy to the entire state, assuring that the government would work with community and security stakeholders to strengthen security not only in Nimbo, but also the entire Uzo Uwani LGA.

This was even as the Nimbo community called for the strengthening of its Forest Guards and Neigbourhood Watch, stressing that their attackers always came from neighbouring states, taking advantage of the remoteness of their community.

An enraged Mbah spoke during a visit to Nimbo community on Monday, accompanied by the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kanayo Uzuegbu; State Director, State Security Services, Theresa Egbunu; Garrison Commander, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Brigadier General Murtala Abu; and Coordinator of Enugu State Forest Guards, Matthew Obodoechi.

He said: “Let me assure you that enough is enough. I don’t think that we would allow our hospitality to be taken for granted. We expect people, who have come to mingle with us, to also play by the rules and laws of our land.

“I don’t think that we really do have any reason to exist as government if we cannot guarantee the safety of our people because the primary purpose of government is to guarantee the security and the welfare of its citizens. So, a situation where our people would go to bed with their two eyes open must end. And it must end immediately.

“I want to assure you that we are going to deploy everything within our powers; and I mean everything: the law, the forces, everything that is necessary in order for us to guarantee your security.

Governor Peter Mbah addressing the people of the affect community during his visit on Monday.

“We are truly pained by such dastardly killing by people who trespass, come into the locality of our people, who are living quietly within their environment, and open fire on them. That is inexcusable and unacceptable, and we are going to identify, track these culprits, pursue them wherever they are, capture them, and ensure that we bring them to justice.”

Governor Mbah, who had earlier visited and condoled each of the bereaved families before holding an interactive session with the community leaders and members, promised to work on their recommendations and requests for representation in government and strengthening of their local security resources.

“We have listened to you on the issues you raised about making sure that the people of Nimbo are integrated into government. We are going to do just that. Your voice has been heard.

“I also would want to inform you that we shall not abandon you in this time of need. Going forward, the government will be responsible for the victims who are being treated, including those going back to the orthopaedic hospital. We will bear the cost.

“All the survivors of victims of this dastardly act, we are going to ensure that their suffering is abated. We are going to make sure that the kids do not suffer anymore than they have already suffered by losing a father. We will ensure that they go to school through our scholarships and those who need job, we are going to give them job.

“But more importantly, let it be known that enough is enough, and we will never have to go through this again,” Mbah said.

Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the community earlier, the President-General of Nimbo, Mr. Clement Akachukwu, said their attackers had preyed on their community for decades due to the remoteness of Nimbo.

While thanking Governor Mbah for his prompt response, he called on the government to strengthen Nimbo Neighbourhood Watch and Forest Guards to complement the security agencies. He called for the inclusion of the community in government appointments, as they had no voice in government.

“You can see for yourself that Nimbo is living at the outskirt of Enugu State. We live directly in the border area, and they come in any time and kill and go back.

“It has repeated itself again and now, not only one person, but four were killed. About two months ago, they kidnapped a number of people, but they were rescued, although the kidnappers escaped. It has been like this for years, even before I was born.

“So, we only need one thing. We have community vigilantes. If only they can be strengthened and if more can be brought and paid well to do the work because we need 24-hour vigilance here. These attackers know all the routes in the villages and bushes so well. We need our local vigilantes to be strengthened because they can match them. The width and length of our farmlands are so massive” Akachukwu stated.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has barred some microfinance banks, including Moniepoint, Opay and Kuda, from opening new accounts and accepting new customers over allegations that they were being used to funnel cryptocurrency and manipulate the naira’s value.

Sources confided in The Gazette anonymously since they were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter, asserting that the CBN deemed the new-account-ban necessary to curb money-laundering activities which have seen the naira again plunge against the dollar in recent days.

The naira, as of Monday evening, traded at N1350 against the dollar, which is a regression against the steady climb that the Nigerian currency has made over the past few weeks as it traded to N950 in early April.

“Hello! We’ve temporarily paused new sign-ups on our platform,” Moniepoint wrote in a message on its platform for intending customers on Friday. “This means that you’ll be unable to open a new account at the moment. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Following the drastic depreciation of the naira in February which nearly exchanged at N2000 to a dollar, CBN, in collaboration with anti-graft commission, EFCC, cracked down on Binance and detained its executives Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla over accusations of naira manipulation.

The Nigerian government demanded that Binance release the names of its top 100 users and their transactions to negotiate the release of the detained executives.

The former Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has advised the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello to come out of his hiding and surrender himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Ortom gave the advice Sunday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Regional Headquarter in Makurdi during the thanksgiving service organized by his former appointees to mark his 63rd birthday anniversary.

He said it was improper for the former governor to go into hiding when called upon by the anti graft agency to clarify issues bordering on his tenure as governor.

He noted that the act of evading the invitation of the anti graft agency and trying to flee would bring shame and disgrace to former governors.

Ortom said, “let me use this opportunity to advise my younger brother and friend, former governor Yahaya Bello not to disgrace former governors.

“If you are called to come and account for your stewardship by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, go there.

“You do not need to hide from EFCC, you do not need to resist arrest or anything. Go there and explain. EFCC are human beings who are doing their work.

“If they are making inquiries, the laws are there. I have tried to get him on phone, I could not, I tried those around him, I could not. I want him to note, wherever he is, if he can hear me from there, he should go before the EFCC.”

The former governor who lauded his former appointees for celebrating him at 63 said “I did not know that I am still being appreciated after leaving office. This gesture may make me come out of my hibernation.”
He said being in power as governor for eight years was not an easy task given the challenges and restrictions imposed on you and those who wanted to see you, while in power, by security details.
He said “you live like a prisoner, you are restricted and many people you would want to see, you are unable to see them while those that want to see you will not be able to see you because of the security restriction. And some will hate you thinking it was deliberate.

“I know that it is not everything I did that favoured everyone and it was not everything I did that favoured me also, that is the fact.

“That is why I always encourage everyone of us to pray for leaders, pray for our President, Governors, political office holders and others including the clergy.
We are all prone to make mistakes as human beings because we are not perfect, prayer is very important.”