Metro

Man Commits Suicide After Demolition Of His Hotel In Anambra

Published

2 days ago

June 29, 2024

Editor

Photo: File copy

A hotelier in Anambra State, Malachy Chukwu, has reportedly committed suicide over demolition of his property.

Chukwu took his life after discovering that his hotel had been demolished by suspected youths of Ifite-Nteje community in Oyi Local Government Area of the state .

Following the demolition and suicide,
members of the Divine Heaven Amalgamated Landlords Association, Ifite-Nteje in Oyi LGA on Saturday protested against the destruction of their property by suspected youths of the community.

The protesters, comprising men and women, said several buildings, including the hotel located on the Chinua Achebe Airport Road Ifite-Nteje, worth billions were allegedly destroyed by a group parading themselves as the executive members of Ifite-Nteje Development Union.

Chairman of the association, Chief Patrick Maduegbuna, appealed for Governor Charles Soludo’s intervention to avoid total breakdown of law and order.

Seriake Dickson: Masterminds of Oli theft from Lagos, Abuja
“The transaction took place in 2019 and the association started developing the place after payment. But all of a sudden, they started demolishing our property. They are saying the land deal had been revoked. They demolished houses, hotel and other buildings nearing completion.

“We called them to know what was the matter, they said we did not buy the land correctly, that we should buy it again and add money.

“We chose to protest rather than taking the law into our own hands. There are more than seven estates there. All we want is to have our property back,” he stated.

The association’s Secretary, Mr Nwako Maduka, said the landlords paid all the required dues and the documents were signed by the same people allegedly trying to revoke the land genuinely sold to them.

Chairman, Ifite-Nteje land management committee, Chief Ikechukwu Erikeife, said some young men who sold their plots were making efforts to sell the same land for the second time, noting that land grabbing to make money at all cost was the source of confusion in Ifite-Nteje.

He said that the parcels of land were acquired by the developers through the right source, promising to look into the situation as the protesters could not afford to buy the land for the second time.

But Secretary of ifite-Nteje land management committee, Mr Ngoesina Okechukwu, described those behind the allegations as meddlesome interlopers, saying Ifite-Nteje community has a way of hoisting leadership in a traditional way.

Okechukwu, a lawyer, said the estate developers followed the due process in the acquisition of the land from Ifite-Nteje.

He said: “I was in Abuja and heard about the protest organised by the opposition, who were claiming to be executive members of Ifite-Nteje Development Union.

“The same group was said to have claimed they had abolished the Ifite-Nteje land management committee and revoked the land sold to the landlords association.

“The Ifite-Nteje land management committee is a body constituted by the community with power of attorney which could sue and be sued.

“The court had taken judicial notice of the land committee as representative of Ifite-Nteje in so many cases, securing judgement for the entire Nteje community,” he explained.

It was gathered that about 70 associations acquired the vast land occupying strategic position along the airport road with most of the buildings destroyed at various stages of completion.

Metro

Trucks, Passengers Stranded On Auchi-Benin Highway For Days

Published

8 hours ago

July 2, 2024

Editor

Hundreds of articulated vehicles have been left stranded on the busy Auchi-Benin highway for over four days owing to the deplorable state of the highway.

The long queue of the stranded vehicles spanned over 10 kilometres from Aviele to Iyamoh axis of the highway.

The Aviele section of the road, like several other parts of the over 140km highway, has collapsed.

Some of the drivers, particularly those conveying perishable goods from the Northern part of the country to South, lament their loss.

A driver, Mallam Isa Adamu said he has spent four days on the road and had to dispose off his perishable goods cheaply in order not to incur complete loss.

Another driver, Murtala Isiaku said several of his livestock have died owing to long stay without food and water.

According to him, “I tried getting some edible grass for them here to survive, of course, it’s like several persons pursuing fewer materials.

“I am not the only driver carrying goats and other animals, we all have to struggle for the little available to take care of our animals.

“While some have sold off their goods cheaply, I have also seen some discharging their cows here to enter into the bush with the help of herdsmen they hired here.”

Meanwhile, a motorist with a popular transport line in Auchi who identified himself as Lucky, said the blockage has necessitated them to take a longer route to Benin from Auchi.

“For days now, we have not been able to go to Benin through Ekpoma because of the blockage.

“Several protests have been made to get government’s attention to fix this road, yet, things seem to be going from bad to worse.

“This bad Aviele section is only an addition to several other bad portions of the highway from Auchi to Benin.

“We are in for a terrible time this season as the rain is yet to set in fully,” he stated.

It will be recalled that on Monday, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi terminated the contract of the three contractors handling the project from Benin to Obajana in Kogi state for poor performance.

Metro

Bandits Terrorizing Benue Gunned Down In Shootout With Police

Published

10 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

Two members of the bandits terrorising the Sankera axis of Benue North East District have been killed in a shootout with the Police at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, of the state.

The gang members were killed following the invasion of their camp by police operatives who received credible intelligence on their hideout.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Superintendent, SP, Catherine Anene in a statement Monday in Makurdi said various arms and ammunition, camouflage uniforms, motorbikes, communication gadgets and other items were recovered from the bandits.

The statement read, “Benue state Police Command has continuously intensified efforts to clampdown on bandits in Sankera axis of the state in the last three months.

“Several operations carried out led to the arrest of suspects that have been charged to court while others were neutralized in the course of exchange of fire. Arms and ammunition have been recovered and many camps dislodged.

“As part of follow up operations, the Operation Zenda JTF invaded a criminal hideout at Tse Uza, Mbatyula Council Ward, Katsina-Ala LGA June 30, 2024. And upon arrival at the camp, bandits engaged the Police in a gun duel to resist invasion into their camp but were overpowered by the superior fire power of the Police team.

“Two of the bandits received gunshot injuries, they have been confirmed dead by a Doctor and their corpses deposited at the General Hospital Ukum, while other suspects escaped.

“Exhibits recovered from the camps includes, two Pistols loaded with ammunition, three locally made short guns, 13 motorcycles, camouflage uniforms, six walkie-talkies, one Toyota Corolla and one tricycle.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue state Command, Hassan Yabanet who commended the bravery exhibited by these officers, has also enjoined the people of Sankera to avail useful information to the Police about the suspects at large who may be seen with gunshot injuries. He also reiterated his commitment to fight crimes in the state.”

Metro

KEDCO Throws Dangote Varsity Into Darkness Over N248m Debt

Published

10 hours ago

July 1, 2024

Editor

The Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) has disconnected the power supply to Aliko Dangote University, Wudil, over an outstanding debt of N248 million.

The Managing Director of KEDCO, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Monday that the company had no choice but to take action.

He said that the institution only made payment of N20 million out of the outstanding N248 million.

Yusuf vowed that the power supply would only be restored if the management made “appreciable payment’.

He further explained that KEDCO was spending heavily to purchase power from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), hence the need to redouble efforts toward revenue generation.

“I urge all institutions, including federal and state entities, as well as agencies, to settle their outstanding debts.

“We have measures in place to ensure collection of monies owed us,” Yusuf said. (NAN)