News
Anxiety in Anambra over disappearance of Anglican Archbishop
The sudden disappearance of the retired Archbishop of the Niger Province and Bishop of Nnewi, Most Rev Godwin Okpala, has continued to generate tension, anxiety and concerns among residents and critical stakeholders in Anambra State.
Okpala and his driver were said to have gone missing since Friday, December 6, after they went on a trip to the Umuchu community in Aguata Local Government Area of the state, but failed to arrive at their destination.
Our correspondent gathered that despite efforts by the church to establish contact with the 75-year-old cleric and his driver, no communication has been received and their whereabouts as well as the vehicle they were travelling in have remained unknown, 10 days after.
The Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Rt. Rev. Ndubuisi Obi, who confirmed their disappearance to journalists, issued an appeal for intercessory prayers on Saturday, the following day, urging the faithful to seek divine intervention for the safe return of the Archbishop and his driver.
Obi said the matter had been reported to the police and that the church was awaiting the safe return of the cleric. But when contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, promptly said the command did not receive any such information.
Despite the anxiety the disappearance of the cleric is generating, the church has yet to make any official statement on the matter, thereby fuelling tension among its faithful.
Our correspondent who visited the Nnewi Diocese on Sunday, observed that activities were still in full swing despite the cleric’s disappearance.
Every effort to speak with the church’s officials proved abortive as no one was willing to comment on the development.
There has however been no communication from the abducted cleric or any call for payment of ransom by abductors since he went missing.
Following the development, some elders and stakeholders in the state under the aegis of ‘Elders and Stakeholders of Non-Indigenes of Anambra State, on Monday, lamented the continued insecurity in the state.
The group, which spoke through its leadership, Alhaji Abubukar Sani, Chairman and Chief Adebayo Adewusi, Secretary respectively, after a meeting in Onitsha, asked the state governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to declare a state of emergency in at least 15 out of the 21 local government areas in the state.
Sani and Adewusi said, “Many locations, including Onitsha, which hitherto were safe, have come under the attack of kidnappers and other criminals. The criminals in the state have no respect for any individual.
“For almost one week now, the retired Anglican Archbishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Godwin Okpala, was abducted at Ezinifite in Aguata Local Government Area of the state. They have kept him in their den allegedly in the Umunze /Ogbunka areas.
“The 75-year-old cleric and his driver have been with unknown captors for 10 days now. This is unfair, inhumane and sacrilegious. They should release them. People should add their voice to the campaign to end kidnapping in Igboland.” (PUNCH)
News
Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager denies diverting $345,000, says Chinwo received $625,000 and now trying to claim ownership of catalog he fully funded
Mercy Chinwo’s former manager, Ezekiel Onyedikachukwu, has denied allegations of diverting $345,000 in funds, responding to claims made by the gospel artist’s camp.
In a series of social media posts, the manager called out Chinwo for attempting to claim ownership of a catalog that he allegedly funded fully.
According to the manager, he has sent up to $625,000 to Chinwo, despite the singer’s claims of unfair treatment.
In his post, the manager explained that, under a 50/50 earnings agreement with Chinwo, he was entitled to both royalties and remittances from their business dealings.
However, he accused Chinwo of using law enforcement and religious affiliations to manipulate the situation.
The former manager further claimed that he had invested a significant amount of time, money, and efforts into building Chinwo’s platform, providing financial support, and even securing housing for her before her success.
He also detailed his legal struggles, including an incident where he was allegedly extorted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) while being detained for nine days.
In his final remarks, the former manager invited Chinwo to post her bank statements and songs recorded three years before her signing as further evidence.
See his posts below………
Tragedy struck in the Amai community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, as a 70-year-old man, Mr Aghanti, and his 50-year-old daughter, Mrs Atagoshi, were reportedly beheaded over a land dispute.
The gruesome incident occurred after the suspect allegedly lured the victims into the bush under the pretext of discussing the land issue.
Their headless bodies were later discovered in the bush.
Reports said the woman, a secondary school teacher, had earlier purchased a piece of land in the community, which some individuals subsequently claimed.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, revealed that the assailant invited the victims to the bush, where the heinous crime was committed.
Edafe said, “The suspect called the woman, saying he wanted to discuss the land issue. He then took her and her father into the bush, killed them, and beheaded them.
“On the same day, vigilantes apprehended one Emeke with two human heads. He was mobbed and set ablaze by angry residents. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the human heads belonged to the father and daughter.
“Their headless bodies were found in the bush.”
Edafe added that the main suspect is currently on the run, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.
No fewer than 50 persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion on Saturday.
The incident happened on the Dikko-Maje road opposite Badeggi fuelling station in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger.
Federal Road Safety Commander (FRSC) in Niger State, Mr Kumar Tsukwam, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.
He said a loaded petrol tanker fell at the scene of the incident with people scooping the spilling fuel, unaware of the impending danger.
Tsukwam said those who went to scoop fuel were engulfed by the flames just as those who went to rescue them were also affected.
He said more than 50 people lost their lives in the tragic incident.
Tsukwam, however, gave an assurance that personnel of the corps and other sister agencies were on ground for the rescue mission.
Tsukwam confirmed that his men were on the scene, working tirelessly to rescue those trapped.
Similarly, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba-Arah, Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said the explosion occurred at about 9.am on Saturday.
He said the incident happened when a tanker loaded with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) crashed, and an attempt was made to transfer its contents to another tanker.
In the process, the PMS came into contact with a generator used to effect the transfer, triggering an explosion that claimed more than 50 lives.
He added that many other persons were injured, while properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
Baba-Arah said NSEMA, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Suleja LGA Emergency Committee and volunteers, were carrying out search, rescue and recovery operations.
He said the injured have been moved to the hospital for treatment while efforts eere being made to recover the corpses of the deceased.
NAN reports that more details are expected as the response operation is still ongoing.
He urged residents of the area to remain calm and cooperate with emergency responders as they work to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
Mercy Chinwo’s ex-manager denies diverting $345,000, says Chinwo received $625,000 and now trying to claim ownership of catalog he fully funded
70-yr-old man, his daughter beheaded over land dispute in Delta
Petrol tanker explosion claims 50 lives in Niger
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