Tag: Calabar

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EDUCATION HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE

Operatives raid baby factory in Calabar, rescue 24 pregnant ladies

Pregnant widow demands justice over husband’s murder in Lagos
File photo

‘Operation Akpakwu’ a security outfit of the Cross River Government has raided a suspected baby factory operating within Anantigha area of Calabar South, rescuing 24 pregnant ladies, 11 children and arrested two suspects.

The security outfit was formed by Gov. Ben Ayade of the state to tackle all forms of illegality, especially kidnapping.

The Officer Commanding 13 Brigade Provost, Maj. Stanley Ikepeme, did the handing over of the suspects to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on behalf of the the 13 Brigade Commander, Brig.-Gen. Mohammed Abdullahi on Wednesday in Calabar.

He said that the Nigeria Army would not relent in its task of ensuring that peace and security reign in the state.

The official from NAPTIP, Mr Oba Jacobs, who received the victims and suspects, stated that the suspects would be investigated and charged to court.

NAPTIP seeks inter-agency cooperation in war against human trafficking
NAPTIP

Jacobs urged the public to keep esye on their neighbors and report suspicious activities to the agency for proper action.

“As an agency, we have the mandate to arrest and prosecute. We also urged the public to assist us with useful information that would lead to the arrest of this category of people involved in this kind of racket,” he said.

He said that the agency had a facility in Calabar where suspects would be kept until proper investigation would be conducted and those found wanting would face the wrath of the law.

One of the suspects alleged to be the owner of the baby factory, Mrs Fedelia Daniel, denied any knowledge of the factory.

One of the teenagers who claimed to be carrying a five months pregnancy, Stella John, said she was introduced to the place by one of her friends whose name she refused to mention.

John disclosed that she used to received the sum of N2,000 on weekly basis for her upkeep.

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NEWS & LIFE

EU-ECOWAS, LITE Africa begin destruction of 260 arms, 5510 weapons in Calabar

EU-ECOWAS, LITE Africa begin destruction of 260 arms, 5510 weapons in Calabar

The European Union, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Leadership Initiative for Transformation and Empowerment (LITE Africa) have begun the destruction of 260 arms and 5510 weapons in Calabar.

The arms and weapons were surrendered by ex Bakassi strike force militants and members of cult groups in the state.

Speaking on Monday in Calabar, Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River, said that the destruction of the arms and weapons would further give residents of the state the desire to work closely with the state government and security agencies.

Ayade, who said there were over 33 illegal routes in the state, lamented that suspected armed smugglers were proliferating the state with arms through the routes.

He commended security agencies in the state for working tirelessly to secure the state in collaboration with the Operation Akpakwu security outfit established by the state government to fight criminality.

“I want to appeal to the Federal Government to capture the ex Bakassi militants under the Federal Government Amnesty programme. These youths who have surrendered their arms deserves an empowerment and better rehabilitation to keep them off the creeks,” he said.

Ayade, who carried out the symbolic destruction of the arms, urged those who were yet to surrender their arms to do and embrace peace for the growth of the state.

Mr Joel Bisina of LITE Africa, who spoke on behalf of EU-ECOWAS, said that one cannot underestimate the dangers of illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons and the negative impact they have on peace and stability in various communities.

Bisina said that small arms and light weapons had continued to have devastating effects on socio-economic situation in Nigeria and the West African subregion.

“In Nigeria, the commercial transaction in small arms and light weapons has been on the increase since the end of the Nigerian Civil War. The trend has continued despite the illegality of the trade.

“The wide availability, stockpile and illicit flow of such weapons tend to escalate conflicts; undermine peace agreement, intensify violence and impact on crime, impede economic and social development, increase poverty and hinder democracy and good governance.

“In a bid to promote peace, reduce armed conflict and small arms proliferation in the region, LITE Africa and the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, with support from the EU/ECOWAS is working to strengthen the efforts at preventing further proliferation and trafficking of illicit arms in Nigeria,” he said.

Mr Dickson Orji, a representative from the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons, said that the committee was set up in 2013 with a mandate to be the focal point in the efforts by Nigeria to stem the tide of proliferation of illicit arms.

Orji said that the Nigerian component of the EU-ECOWAS small arms under the current pilot phase focuses in the seven states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Cross River and Akwa Ibom.

Mr Austin Ibok, Special Adviser to Ayade on Amnesty and Rehabilitation, said that 150 ex militants who have surrendered their weapons would undergo skills acquisition training under the EU-ECOWAS sponsorship.

Ibok said that the move was aimed at reducing youth restiveness through civic engagements and reducing crime rate in the state to the barest minimum.

Heads of the Police, Navy, Air Force, Army and Security Advisers in the state were present at the event.

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NEWS & LIFE

Trafficking: Immigration rescues 3-week-old baby in Calabar

Trafficking: Immigration rescues 3-week-old baby in Calabar
Suspect and the child

The Marine Patrol team of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) in Cross River has rescued a three-week old baby suspected to be a victim of child trafficking at the high sea.

The Cross River Comptroller of NIS, Mr Okey Ezugwu, who briefed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the incident in Calabar, said that the suspected child trafficker, Mrs Maureen Awokara, was arrested on Dec. 19 at the high sea.

Ezugwu said that the suspect was arrested by the marine officers on patrol following her inability to give a comprehensive explanation on the true ownership of the baby.

“A few days ago, our officers at the marine patrol at the international waterways intercepted one Maureen Awokara, who claimed to be a native of Imo state with a three-week old child.

“During the arrest, she came up with all stories that were not adding up. Initially, she said the child belongs to her sister, yet we have carried out a preliminary investigation and all the lines she gave us to reach the sister, (name withheld), is not connecting.

“At this point, we are going to hand her over to NAPTIP for further investigations. Preliminary investigation gives us every reason to believe that the little child is been trafficked.
“The suspect claim she is going to Cameroon, Gabon and wherever. We are suspecting a cartel deal, because over time, we have had a lot of surveillance and serious checks at our border basis and the airport, making it impossible for any of them to use these routes.

“We are looking at a situation where they have now device a means of using the waterways, using small boats to take away this little children along,” he said.

He further explained that effort by the command to get in contact with other family members to ascertain if the family members were in agreement for her to take the baby away have proved abortive because the suspect was not willing to give them useful information on the matter.

Ezugwu told NAN that the NIS marine patrol team will continue to police the waterways with a view to ensure that all forms of child trafficking and other act of criminality are suppressed.

He urged parents to always watch over their children and shun any form of allowing their children to be trafficked for monetary purpose.

Responding, Awokara, 40, told NAN that the baby belongs to her younger sister who could not afford to take care of her after delivery on Dec. 2.

She told NAN that the younger sister decided to give her the child because she has been married for 18 years without a child.

“She gave me the baby in Imo state; since they brought me here, I have been trying to get in contact with her but her number isn’t connecting.

“The only time her number went through, I only heard a man’s voice, which was not her own,” she said.

When NAN sought to know if the father of the child was also in agreement for her to take the baby away, Awokara said that the father of the child denied the pregnancy even before delivery.

“My younger sister is between 18-20 years. This is not her first time of giving birth; but, we don’t know were the first child is as we speak,” she said.

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NEWS & LIFE

Minister inaugurates newly refurbished general hospital Calabar

Minister inaugurates newly refurbished general hospital Calabar
Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora,

The Minister of State for Health, Sen. Adeleke Mamora on Saturday, inaugurated the newly refurbished General Hospital, Calabar, Cross River.

Speaking during the ceremony, Mamora said, reviving the general hospital was very important because most of the prevailing ailments being experienced in the nation’s health facilities could be better managed at the primary and secondary level.

He maintained that both the primary and secondary health institutions were critical and necessary for the achievement of universal health coverage which should be the intention of any government.

“I have gone into the hospital, the emergency, patients waiting room and theatre and I am convinced that the government of Cross River really means well for its people.

“For me, it is a testimony of the commitment of the government of Cross River to healthcare of its people, particularly at this level of the general hospital which is like a link between the primary and tertiary health facilities,” he said.

In her remarks, the Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu said the rehabilitation of the hospital was part of the state government’s effort to ensure quality healthcare delivery in the state.

Edu said in 2016, the state government instituted a state health insurance scheme called “Ayade Care” to cater for the health needs of residents of Cross River.

She, however, said the scheme could not take off properly due to the condition of the health facilities in the state, hence signalling the need to put the facilities in good shape if the purpose of the scheme must be achieved.

While thanking the minister and his entourage for doing the honours of inaugurating the institution, she said his action would never be forgotten.

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NEWS & LIFE

Calabar: Police arrest mastermind of CICC looting, recover over 1,000 chairs

Ekiti records 10 serial kidnappings, as police begins manhunt over latest victim
Police

The Cross River State Police Command on Monday announced the arrest of one Johnson Richard-Inem, the alleged mastermind of the Oct. 24 looting and vandalism at the Calabar International Conference Centre.

The Command also disclosed that items including chillers, over 1000 pieces of customised chairs and customised designer carpets, among other items, were recovered from the suspect.

The State Police Commisioner, Mr Abdulkadir Jimoh, told journalists on Monday in Calabar that Richard-Inem, who is an automobile mechanic, was arrested at Esuk Otu, behind NTA Calabar, with the items.

“We arrested the suspect based on actionable intelligence during the house-to-house search which started on Sunday in the state.

“We have put plain cloth personnel in place to cultivate intelligence and to ensure that all perpetrators and receivers are arrested and brought to book.

“Anyone who still has looted items in their possession is warned to return them within the next 24 hours. So far, we have recovered over 1000 customised chairs, chillers, rug carpets, air conditioners and many other items.

“We are not resting on our oars; we also want to urge traditional rulers and religious leaders to make announcements in their various domains by urging those who took government property to return them immediately,” he said.

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NEWS & LIFE

12 illegal tax operators arrested in Calabar

Edo revenue board warns against illegal tax collection
TAX

The Cross River Anti Tax Enforcement Team, on Monday began its operation in Calabar with the arrest of 12 suspected illegal tax collectors.

Mr Ani Essien, a Special Adviser on Security to the Governor who led the team, said the enforcement became necessary to ensure total compliance with government directive on tax exemption in the state.

It will be recalled that Gov. Ben Ayede-led administration recently issued an order tax exemption for the poor in the state.

“On the order of the governor, we decided to comb the streets of Calabar metropolis to effect arrest of those engaging in illegal sales of tickets, collectionn of tolls and taxes from the poor citizens.

“The governor had exempted a category of citizens from paying tax, but the government is disappointed that some people are still collecting taxes and illegal tolls from low income earners.

“So our department, the Special Services, in collaboration with Anti Tax Agency, went to the street to clean it up of illegal taxation.

“It is going to be a continual exercise, knowing that these illegal operators come out in the morning, afternoon and evening.

“So far, we have arrested about 12 of them and they will be arraigned before a special court for prosecution.

“Already, there is a law against it which makes provision for the prosecution of the suspect. All we need to do is to trigger it and the sitting of the special court will commence soon,” he said.

Also, speaking, Bishop Emmah Isong, the Chairman of the agency, said the enforcement team was set up to arrest those still flaunting governemnt’s order on illegal tolls.

“Those arrested will not escape the arm of the law and are going to be immediately prosecuted at the special court,” he said.

Isong enjoined the people to go about their lawful businesses and report to the agency, anybody found selling tickets, collecting taxes from commercial motorcyclists and taxi drivers or other low income earners.

The enforcement team also included representatives of the Police, other security operatives and the National Union of Road Transport Workers, among others.

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Medical Women, CSO’s protest over kidnapping in Calabar

Medical Women, CSO’s protest over kidnapping in Calabar
Medical Women, CSO’s protest over kidnapping in Calabar

The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Cross River Chapter and other women organisations on Tuesday embarked on a peaceful protest against kidnapping in the state.

The other women groups include International Federation of Women Lawyers, Holy Child Old Girls Association, Nigerian Women of Journalists and Presbyterian Women.

The peaceful protest, which was organised by the Medical Women Association in the state, went round major routes in Calabar metropolis.

Speaking, Dr Bassey Nakanda, President of MWAN in the state, said the protest was to draw the attention of the state government, security agencies and other stakeholders on the need to end cases of kidnapping in the state.

According to Nakanda, medical women had continued to suffer incessant kidnappings in the state with the recent one of Dr Vivien Otu, who was kidnapped on Aug. 28, in Calabar and released on the night of Sept. 3.

“Medical women and others have become victims of kidnapping in Calabar and this act is totally condemnable. When it comes to kidnapping, the trauma that women go through lives with them forever; they are beaten, raped and humiliated.

“We are all aware that they have been several cases of kidnapping in Calabar and as women, we need to stand up, speak and fight for ourselves. Calabar used to be the most peaceful state in Nigeria but we are now leaving in fear.

“We need to visit the government, royal fathers and security agencies to register our complaints,” she said.

At Watt market roundabout, she spoke and called on the state government to provide security for all residents in the state.

“The government owe us a responsibility of security and they have to rise up to that responsibility,” she said.

She called on all residents in the state to always report abnormal movements of suspected persons around them to security agencies.

Mrs Agnes Otu from Holy Child Old Girls Association also called on the state government and relevant security agencies to be proactive in safeguarding lives and properties of the residents.

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EDUCATION NEWS & LIFE

11 suspected cultists arrested with drums, wooden gong during Calabar initiation

Organisation decries high rate of cultism, kidnapping in Jos
Organisation decries high rate of cultism, kidnapping in Jos

The Cross River Police Command have arrested 11 persons during an initiation into a cult on Bishop Moynag Avenue, State Housing, Calabar.

The command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo, said in a statement in Calabar on Sunday that the suspects were nine men and two women.
He said that the suspects were arrested on Aug. 14 through “human and tactical intelligence information” deployed by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulkadir Jimoh.
Ugbo said that the suspects were arrested by operatives from the Special Anti Robbery Squad and officers from the Federal Housing Police Division.
“On Aug. 14 2020, a team of SARS operatives and men from the Federal Housing Police Division through an intelligence from the Commissioner of Police swung into action and arrested 11 suspected cultists during initiation.
“Items recovered from them include talking drum, wooden gong, two kegs of concoction and a bottle of Gordon drink .
“The suspects confessed to the crime. Investigation is still ongoing to unravel other cult members.
“To this he end, the Commissioner of Police once again warned all members of any cult groups or anyone having intention to engage in any cult related activities to desist from such”.
The police command said its “Operation Murky Waters” was still ongoing and was determined to neutralise all illegal activities and those behind them.
Ugbo, however, enjoined peace-loving residents of Cross River to go about their normal businesses without fear of any kind.

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NEWS & LIFE

FG begins reform of Calabar, Kano special economic zones

200,000 more Nigerians benefitted from payroll support programme – Presidency
Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum

The Federal Government has begun the process of reforming the Calabar and Kano Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in line with the approved processes for economic reforms.

Amb. Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, made this known on Thursday in Abuja at the Contract Execution Ceremony and kick-off meeting on the Calabar and Kano SEZs.

It would be recalled that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) at its meeting held on June 12, 2018, approved the reform of two Federal Government owned SEZs in Calabar and Kano.

The minister noted that in line with NCP approved process for economic reforms, the next step was the engagement of Transaction Advisers who would guide the reform process.

Katagum noted that the transaction adviser was selected through a competitive tendering process.

“The procurement process commenced with the short-listing of nine firms from the national database to compete for the provision of transaction advisory services for the reform of the two SEZs.

“Request for Proposals (RfPs) were subsequently issued out to the short listed nine firms on Aug. 16, 2018,” she said.

The minister said that at the deadline for the submission of their response to the RfP on Sept. 14, 2018, five out of the nine shortlisted firms submitted proposals.

Highlighting responses received from the firms, she listed the five shortlisted firms that responded as Cordos Capital Limited, Ernst and Young, KPMG, PWC and Zenith Capital while four firms did not respond.

She also listed the firms that did not respond as Chapel Hill Denham, Coronation Merchant Bank, Stanbic IBTC and Vetiva Capital.

Katagum said an eight-man evaluation team, comprising representatives of the ministry, Ministry of Justice, Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), was constituted to evaluate the technical proposals received.

She explained that Quality Based Selection (QBS) method was adopted for the procurement process and a minimum benchmark score of 75 per cent as specified in the Request for Proposals (RfPs) was used to select the winning bidder.

She said at the conclusion of the evaluation, Ernst and Young emerged as the best qualified firm with a total score of 83.85 per cent.

According to the minister, the selection of Ernst and Young firm was subsequently approved by the National Council on Privatisation.

“Today’s signing ceremony brings to an end the Consultant Procurement Phase of the Transaction.

“It is the sincere expectation of the TIC that the Ernst and Young Consortium will add immense value to the ongoing revitalisation processes on the SEZs,” she said.

The minister urged the firm to cause a major breakthrough in the country’s effort at engendering massive industrial revolution and inflow of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).

Responding, Mr Damilola Aloba, Partner, Strategy and Transactions, Ernst and Young Consortium, expressed delight for being appointed as transaction adviser on the concession of the two SEZs.

Aloba said Nigeria presently has about 34 SEZs, with the benefit of creating jobs, catalysing economic growth and contributing tremendously to the economic development of the country.

According to him, the SEZs support import substitution, facilitate export and economy diversification.

He said the first thing was to carry out due diligence on the two zones intended to find out financial, legal, environmental, real estate and human resource due diligence.

In addition, he said it would also carry out evaluation of the two SEZs and business and assets valuation of the zones, including outline business case toward assessing authentic impact and benefits of the zones.

The expert further said it would develop a strategy to sensitise the whole world about the benefits and pictures of each job in the SEZs, adding that there would be extensive bidding processes to determine right technical, managerial and financial capabilities.

“After these, the actual concession process will commence for the investors or potential concessionaire through due diligence,” he said.

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EDUCATION HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE

Taxi drivers withdraw services in Calabar

NMA begins indefinite strike, appeals to Ayade to review curfew
C/Rivers Gov, Ben-ayade

Commercial taxi drivers in Calabar on Monday withdrew their services to protest alleged illegal taxation by some thugs and local government officials in the state.

Due to the protest a lot of commuters were stranded at bus stops in Calabar while many trekked to their different destinations.
The protesters who carried placards with inscriptions such as “stop harassing us”, “illegal taxation is a crime in Cross River” among others.

The protesters alleged that some people were often harassing drivers in the metropolis to pay some taxes and levies against the tax exemption law of the state.

Gov. Ben Ayade had constituted the Cross River Anti-Tax Agency to ensure that all low income earners in the state including taxi and tricycles operators were exempted from paying all forms of taxes and levies.

Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, the representative of the protesting drivers, Mr Edem Asuquo, said drivers were caught on a daily basis for dropping and picking passengers at different spots in the city.

“They take you to their Centres and collect N25,000 or N15,000 from you, which is the least.

“So we decided to march to the governor’s office to protest and hear from him directly and know if he is the one sending these people to harass us or not.

“This is why we withdrew our services today,” he said.

In his response, Bishop Emmah Isong, Chairman, State Anti-Tax Agency, said the protest was good and a welcome development.

“The governor exempted these classes of people from taxation and, then, some politicians and local government officials kept taxing them.

“We, the Anti-Tax Agency have tried everything to tell the local government authorities not to tax them.

“So the people should take their destinies in their hand by protesting for their right, it is good for the state, so long as they are peaceful and do not destroy any property.

“They have been using security agencies to harass the drivers, security agencies that refused to cooperate with the Anti-Tax Agency are cooperating with politicians to harass and exploit the poor,” he said.

He advised residents of the state to know their tax exemption rights and pursue them vigorously adding that it must not be the job of the Ant-Tax Agency alone.

NAN reports that due to the protest, a lot of commuters were stranded at bus stops in Calabar while many trekked to their different destinations.

When contacted on telephone, Nkese Emeyo, the media officer, Calabar South Local Government Area, said that the LGA had nothing to do with the extortion.

“My Chairman placed a revocation notice to all contractors collecting taxes for the LGA. So, there is nothing like tax from our Council.

“We are not getting anything from anybody and we have not sent anybody to get tax from drivers.’’ She said.

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