He was a son! He was a brother! He was a husband! He was a father! He was an uncle and above all he was a high chief, a royal father to so many people, the people of
Obe, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. He was their traditional ruler! He was abducted! He was probably tortured! He was slaughtered! To add insult to injury, the lifeless body of the dead Royal Father was found, dumped in a dumpster like an ordinary garbage! This gruesome act was carried out by a band of ruthless marauding beasts with no regard to the decency of life! To them, life is worthless and a human being, an ordinary dirt to be dumped in a refuse site. It all happened in Enugu State, Nigeria!
Icheoku condemns this wanton act of gruesome murder in the strongest term possible!
His name,
His Royal Highness Igwe Uche Nwachime! Igwe Uche Nwachime was
killed in cold blood by some evil-men on Monday December 1st, 2008 in Enugu State, Nigeria. Igwe Uche Nwachime's body was discovered, following a search party organized to locate the missing high chief, at a dumpster (refuse dump-site) on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu State, Nigeria! Until his death,
Igwe Uche Nwachime, was the proprietor of
Mac Royal Hotel, Presidential Road, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. The people of Obe
mourns and so does
Icheoku, for the crass lawlessness pervading Nigeria and now, particularly Enugu State. Igwe Uche Nwachime was a victim of a society on the brink of becoming a failed state where insecurity and lawlessness rule supreme!
It would appear that the season of kidnapping has arrived in Enugu State, Nigeria! The proprietor of
Grand Riveri Hotel, Enugu was
kidnapped a week ago but was later released alive, after the
payment of N5 million ransom. Mr. Paul Edemobi, the proprietor of
Paul and Grace Foundation and the younger brother of the Nigeria's Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC),
Dr. Dora Akunyili, was also
kidnapped in Enugu on Monday, December 1st, 2008 from his 10B Savage Crescent, GRA Enugu. His captors are
demanding N30 million ransom for his release.
Icheoku hereby call on the governor of Enugu State,
Sullivan Chime to immediately reign-in these marauding beasts,
fermenting terror in Enugu State.
Icheoku says,
these incessant abductions, torture and murders is unacceptable and demands a ruthless response from the authorites in Enugu State! These deviants have laid complete siege in Enugu State and gradually enveloping the entire state in an insecurity and paralysis fog and should be stopped forthwith! No one feels safe in Enugu State, anymore! A very drastic,
take no-prisoner action is what is required of a visionary government, to check-mate this horrendous acts before it turns into an all-out anarchy. If this menace is left unchecked, it could spill over, spreading like a harmattan-fire, leading to copy-cat criminal misbehaviour that might
make Enugu State hellishly unlivable. This is particularly so during this Yuletide season, with so many Enugu State indigenes returning home from all across the world, to celebrate the season with their families and friends in Enugu State.
Icheoku says,
enough of this insecurity madness in Enugu State, Governor Chime!
He was a son! He was a brother! He was a husband! He was a father! He was an uncle and above all he was a high chief, a royal father to so many people, the people of Obe, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. He was their traditional ruler! He was abducted! He was probably tortured! He was slaughtered! To add insult to injury, the lifeless body of the dead Royal Father was found, dumped in a dumpster like an ordinary garbage! This gruesome act was carried out by a band of ruthless marauding beasts with no regard to the decency of life! To them, life is worthless and a human being, an ordinary dirt to be dumped in a refuse site. It all happened in Enugu State, Nigeria! Icheoku condemns this wanton act of gruesome murder in the strongest term possible! His name, His Royal Highness Igwe Uche Nwachime! Igwe Uche Nwachime was killed in cold blood by some evil-men on Monday December 1st, 2008 in Enugu State, Nigeria. Igwe Uche Nwachime's body was discovered, following a search party organized to locate the missing high chief, at a dumpster (refuse dump-site) on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Enugu State, Nigeria! Until his death, Igwe Uche Nwachime, was the proprietor of Mac Royal Hotel, Presidential Road, Enugu, Enugu State, Nigeria. The people of Obe mourns and so does Icheoku, for the crass lawlessness pervading Nigeria and now, particularly Enugu State. Igwe Uche Nwachime was a victim of a society on the brink of becoming a failed state where insecurity and lawlessness rule supreme! It would appear that the season of kidnapping has arrived in Enugu State, Nigeria! The proprietor of Grand Riveri Hotel, Enugu was kidnapped a week ago but was later released alive, after the payment of N5 million ransom. Mr. Paul Edemobi, the proprietor of Paul and Grace Foundation and the younger brother of the Nigeria's Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili, was also kidnapped in Enugu on Monday, December 1st, 2008 from his 10B Savage Crescent, GRA Enugu. His captors are demanding N30 million ransom for his release.
Militants Seize Senator Maeba's Mother
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Police kill one kidnapper, rescue Akunyili’s brother
Austine Unoarumi Port Harcourt and Nnamdi Mbawike in Enugu
December 5th, 2008
From kidnapping toddlers to expatriates, driven by princely ransom pay-offs, militants in the Niger Delta region have now started seizing septuagenarians with the nabbing of Senator Lee Maeba's ailing mother yesterday in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, kidnapped younger brother of the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Dora Akunyili was freed yesterday, after police in Enugu engaged the gang in a marathon gun duel, killing one of the suspects.
The abduction of the mother of Senator Lee Maeba, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial district which reportedly occurred at the early hours of yesterday was at the lawmaker's village, Leeway at Nkana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
As press time, it was reliably confirmed that no contact has been made with the abductors as ransoms has always been a necessary pre-condition placed.
According to LEADERSHIP findings in Port Harcourt, the attack on the 70- year old woman was carried out by a 5-man gang, who after horse-whipping the septuagenarian to suppress her resistance, forced her into a '' wheel barrow '' and drove her to an unidentified destination.
In his reaction, Senator Lee Maeba who described the incident as an act of ''gross rascality'' disclosing that his aged - mother has been suffering ill- health.
It could be recalled that wife of the Rivers State Commissioner for Sport, Joy Iyaye who was kidnapped some two weeks ago by some unknown gunmen in Port Harcourt has finally regained her freedom.
Speaking on the development, the State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyayi expressed gratitude to the state government, the media and other well-wishers who stood by the family during the period.
It was also not clear if any ransom was paid to secure the release of the wife of the State Commissioner for Sports. But, a source who spoke on anonymity told LEADERSHIP that the sum of ten million was initially demanded by the abductors.
Meanwhile LEADERSHIP gathered that the rescue of Dr Anayo Edemobi, Akinyili's younger brother followed a tip off by an unidentified person.
The rescue operation was carried out by the men of the dreaded Special Anti Robbery squad led by its OC, Mr. Jude.
The suspected kidnappers had prior to their arrest, demanded a ransom of N50 million from relatives of Dr Edemobi.
Briefing newsmen on the development, the State Commissioner of Police Mr. Sanni Magaji disclosed that Dr Edemobi was rescued from the popular Ebeano Tunnel, Enugu where the suspected kidnappers kept him.
He confirmed that men of "his command arrested three of the suspected kidnappers, adding that one was killed during the gun battle between them and the police while another got injured "
"As you are aware, Dr Edemobi was kidnapped at about on Sunday. His whereabouts was not known until on Thursday when a good Nigerian gave us useful information. Acting on the tip off, my men rescued Dr Edemobi from the tentacles of the kidnappers at Ebeano Tunnel," Magaji told newswmen.
Police Rescue Akunyili’s Brother from Kidnappers
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The Enugu State Police Command yesterday rescued Dr. Paul Edemobi, the younger brother of the Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili, who was kidnapped by gunmen on Monday.
The gunmen had demanded a N50 million ransom for his release.
The rescue operation at Ebeano tunnel, Ogui, Enugu, hideout of the gunmen, by the police resulted in the death of the leader of the kidnappers and the arrest of two others.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Enugu, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed Edemobi’s rescue, said the police took the action following a tip-off from a peace-loving Nigerian.
He said the police had mobilised its personnel after receiving the information which culminated in Edemobi’s rescue.
An eyewitness said the police had on arriving the Ebeano tunnel condoned off the area and the kidnapper, sensing danger, attempted to escape and subsequently had a shoot-out with the police.
The eyewitness said the shoot-out precipitated the death of the leader of the kidnappers.
After the operation, the police took the kingpin to a mortuary, while the arrested suspects and Akunyili‘s brother were taken to the Police Headquarters, Enugu.
Kidnappers to get death penalty in Enugu
ReplyDeleteChukwudi Achife, Enugu
In a resolute bid to prevent the rising wave of kidnapping for ransom from taking root within its territory, the Enugu state government, yesterday, declared that it would seek enactment of a law that would prescribe capital punishment for kidnappers in the state.
The decision, which was taken at a meeting of the State Executive Council, came on the heels of the shock that trailed abduction and dramatic rescue of the younger brother to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Dora Akunyili in Enugu between Monday and Thursday this week.
Disclosing this to newsmen, Dr. Jude Akubuilo, special adviser on special projects and Diaspora matters to Governor Sullivan Chime, said the measure was to demonstrate the state’s ‘zero tolerance’ to kidnapping, which he said was a "cankerworm capable of derailing current successful efforts by the government to re-engineer the state and restore it to its former glory."
He said the government has also given marching orders to security agencies in the state to deploy their resources towards discovering and preventing kidnapping gangs from operating in the state, adding that the government has also pledged to give the agencies whatever assistance they needed to achieve the objective.
Akubuilo noted that apart from the danger posed to the security of innocent members of the society, kidnappings could also become a tool for unscrupulous opponents of the government to cause instability in the state and attempt to distract the government from its decided course of improving the quality of life of the citizens.
He stated that the proposed bill would also seek the confiscation of the property of anyone convicted of the offence of kidnapping or conspiracy to commit it.
"The State Executive Council has resolved to introduce a bill before the State House of Assembly that would make kidnapping a capital offence, that is, one that would attract death penalty.
‘This is in view of the grave danger that the cankerworm poses to the stability, security and rapid advancement of this state. As everyone knows, this state has been enjoying a high level of security since the coming of the administration of Gov Sullivan Chime and that in turn has led to an explosion in commercial and recreational activities around the state and we are determined not to let anyone or anything destroy or undermine that situation."
Going further, he said, "In taking this decision, the State Executive Council, also took cognizance of the fact that unscrupulous and conscienceless opponents of government could take advantage of the rampancy of the offence to spread terror and instability in the state in a bid to discredit and disconcert the state government and confuse the people. We are also determined not to let that happen, hence this stiff measure."
Akubuilo further enjoined citizens of the state to promptly report any person or activity suspected to be linked to kidnapping, or similar offences, adding that the government was also considering offering rewards for information that could lead to the foiling of any kidnapping plot and the early arrest of the conspirators.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the government to ensuring that citizens enjoy maximum comfort and security during the Christmas season, adding that it was leaving no stone unturned to achieve the goal.
He said government’s moves in this direction was necessitated by the expected influx of people into the state within the season, more so when the state capital is now dotted with hundreds of posh hotels and relaxation centres and had continued to enjoy an unprecedented level of security
Kidnapping now capital offence in Abia
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Wednesday, 14 January 2009
Umuahia— Governor Theodore Orji of Abia has signed the 2008 Abia Criminal Code Law that stipulates death penalty for kidnapping. Speaking after signing the law yesterday in Umuahia, Orji said it was to stop kidnapping for ransom.
He said anyone caught and found guilty would not only die, but forfeit his property to the government.
“This is one of the measures to tackle kidnapping and deal decisively with the culprits.
“Those apprehended were not prosecuted because this law had not been in existence, but today anyone found guilty of kidnapping will bear the brunt of the law,’’ Orji said.
Also, addressing newsmen, the Deputy Speaker, House of Assembly, Chinedum Elechi, said that the previous punishment for kidnapping for ransom was 20 years imprisonment.
He said the amendment became necessary following the incessant cases of kidnapping recorded in recent times, which had caused image problem to the government.
He regretted that some persons had turned into a cartel by engaging boys who did the dirty deal for them as proceeds from the act were shared.
“Now, the law has been amended to make it a capital offence for offenders,’’ Elechi said.
He stressed that the law did not only target the kidnappers, but also conspirators in the game.
The state has recorded several incidents of kidnapping of residents of the state and in one incident, the kidnap of Chief John Iruke, the state offered a reward of N1 million for information on his abductors.
Amaechi:Why I Want Kidnappers Hanged
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Lilian Agih, Abuja
March 2nd, 2009
Following concerns expressed by Amnesty International over his decision to push for capital punishment for kidnappers, Rivers State governor, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has again adduced reasons why kidnappers should be made to pay the ultimate price.
Amaechi, who spoke at the weekend in a meeting with top officials of Amnesty International at the body's international secretariat in London, expressed conviction in his decision, maintaining that there was need to apply punitive measures to arrest the trend.
The human rights body, led by its deputy director, Africa Programme, Tawanda Hondora, expressed concern over the governor's decision to push for capital punishment for kidnappers in Rivers State, but Amaechi was emphatic in his stance.
His words: "I appreciate your concerns, but what you don't know is that we are faced with a very unusual and peculiar criminality that kidnapping in the Niger Delta has become. Strong punitive measures must be put in place to stop these criminals from kidnapping. And the law must be enforced when these crimes are committed. The other day a little girl was killed as the kidnappers made away with her brother.
"Armed robbery is when you take away material things from someone with the use of force. And what is kidnapping? Using force to take away human beings. So, why should the punishment for armed robbery be death and the other is not?"
The governor, who was accompanied by his media consultant and key adviser, Mr. David Iyofor, allayed the fears of the organisation that the kidnappers might decide to kill their victims if they knew that they would get death sentence for kidnapping.
He said, "The criminals are in the business for the money. If they kill their victims, how will they get the money? They need their victims to be alive so that they can collect huge ransom money. And don't forget that this thing has become one massive operation, with a lot of money spent in kidnapping and keeping a victim, and they will need to make money from the victim by way of ransom. And they can't get that if they kill their victims"
Amaechi, who also spoke on the demolitions going on in Port Harcourt and the proposed development of waterfronts and the fate of its present inhabitants, made it abundantly clear that the state government was only demolishing illegal structures that violate the Port Harcourt master plan, in accordance with the laws of the state, and that it was fences of buildings that were mostly affected.
On waterfronts, he noted that the state government would value and pay compensation for properties of the present inhabitants in order for them to relocate to other parts of the state before development of the waterfronts commences.
"We understand that they are poor and may not be able to afford another accommodation; that is why we are putting all these measures in place. And Amnesty International is free to come to Rivers State at any time to assess the situation. It is even better to visit and see than rely on information that seems to be usually inaccurate or, at best, exaggerated", Amaechi concluded.
Rivers kidnappers to face death penalty as assembly passes bill
ReplyDeleteWritten by Uboks Gab, Port Harcourt
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
In line with the content of the Kidnapping and Prohibition Bill 2009 any person or group of persons caught in the act of kidnapping in the state would be made to face optimal judicial penalty of death.
This was the collective decision of the 32 member Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday, as it took a second look at the bill passed earlier last month.
Representing the bill on the floor of the assembly, the Deputy Leader of the House, Hope Ikiriko told members that there were typographical errors discovered in the bill that was passed into law and sent to the governor of the state for his accent.
Ikiriko said it was the errors that warranted the leadership of the assembly to bring the bill back to the floor of the house in order to correct the spotted printer’s devil found in the first copy of the bill.
Deliberations and fine-tuning of the bill had given members the opportunity to effect further amendments on it, and such amendments were targeted at the capital penalty for offenders of the anticipated criminal law of the state.
Thus, rather than the initial penalty of life imprisonment earlier associated with the bill, anyone who indulges in kidnapping or found to have sponsored same would be made by the law enforcement organ of the state to face death sentence.
Governor Rotimi Amaechi was said to have insisted that death penalty be meted out to those who might be found in the kidnap business.
The governor was also said to have reminded the lawmakers that there was no marked difference between armed robbery and kidnapping, as both crimes involved the use of fire arms and ammunitions and possible harming, injuring and maiming of victims.
The bill having been passed, it was gathered that, would be sent for executive assented in order to ensure that it comes into operation as one of the major ways of checking kidnapping and other related crimes in the state.
The assembly had earlier said it would use its legislative instruments to also grant what it called total amnesty to any genuinely repentant militant or group of militants in the state that genuinely dropped arms and decided to live a new life style.
He's nt gone, he will be back 1 day
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