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One Knocked Unconscious, Many Injured As Ebubeagu Attacks Labour Party Rally In Ebonyi

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2 years ago

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Many members of the Labour Party (LP) in Ebonyi State have been injured following an attack on the party’s rally venue by gunmen in the state.

 

It was gathered that the incidence occurred at Okposi, Ohaozara Local Government Area on Saturday.

 

The gunmen, the party alleged, are members of Ebonyi State Command of Ebubeagu South-East security outfit.

 

Ebubeagu is a security outfit in the South-East that is backed by the Ebonyi State Government and other state governments in the region.

 

The security outfit, according to the Labour Party House of Assembly Candidate for Ohaozara East Constituency, Hon. David Ogbonna, allegedly pushed a woman and she hit her head on a hard concrete surface.

 

He said the woman was rushed to hospital where she has remained unconscious as doctors battle to save her life.

 

Ogbonna also alleged that the attackers shot at the party faithful and inflicted varying degrees of gunshot injuries on at least three of them.

 

He alleged that they were led by the Chairman of Ohaozara Local Government Area, Consider Ajah.

 

Ogbonna said: “We scheduled a meeting with our supporters in Okposi community today. Mr Nkemkanma Kama was supposed to be there. We were to receive defectors from PDP, APA and other parties.

 

“On the road that led from the local government, we saw many car parked on the road including a Mercedes Benz belonging to Consider, the local government Chairman.

 

“I told people that this is the chairman and asked if they have any programme where we are going, they said they don’t know.

 

“As we were going, they suddenly passed us with speed. When we got to Okposi, we saw them barricading the entire road. We made a detour towards Onitsha local government because we didn’t want our security to have any altercations with them.

 

“We stopped at a place and made calls and then decided to go back and asked them why they are barricading the road leading to where we are having our programme.

 

“When we got there, we didn’t see them. We proceeded to the venue. When we got there, we saw people on the floor. They shot directly at people. Then a woman who ran into an upstairs, they pursued her to the three storey building and pushed her from there and she fell down.

 

“She was rushed to the hospital and the report we are getting is that she is unconscious. We saw people with bullet wound injuries. We have taken them to hospital,” he said.

 

In a statement he issued on Sunday, Mr Ogbonna further narrated how the security outfit invaded the venue.

 

He wrote: “Yesterday, as party faithful gathered at our (Labour Party) office at Mgbom-Okposi, waiting for the arrival of the Labour Party Candidate for Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo federal constituency – Nkemkanma Kama , the Men of Ebube-Agu Security Network led by Ohaozara Local Government Chairman invaded the venue.

 

“As they entered the venue, our campaign office, our supporters on the road waiting for our arrival erroneously thought we were the ones possibly because of the exotic car of the Local Government Chairman, they rushed to warmly welcome ‘us’ only to meet young men numbering over 40 wielding all kinds of automatic guns who came down from the fully loaded Toyota Hiace Bus and Sienna buses and opened fire on Innocent people.”

 

He said they shot at the people and chased both men and women at the venue, making efforts to apprehend as many as they could.

 

“Ogbonna said three persons have so far been confirmed shot on their legs, one had his Femur (bone of the thigh) shattered and had been transferred to an Orthopedic Centre.

 

Continuing he said: “As at this early hour of 13th November 2022,   three of our supporters from Uburu who came with Labour Party Candidate of Ohaozara West are yet to be home and their phones have not been reached.

 

“We are yet to establish a contact with the Personal Assistant (PA) of Labour Party Candidate for Ohaozara East Constituency. His phone has not been reachable since he ran away from the event venue yesterday.

 

“Two of our supporters from Ugwulangwu are yet to be home and their phones not reachable.

 

“Six Women supporters from Ugwulangwu and one of our Women Leaders from Okposi who ran for their lives yesterday in the process lost their Handbags containing Phones and other valuables, and some cash.

 

“The Woman supporter from Okposi who was pursued, fell head-down on her way to safety and has remained unconscious. However, Doctor confirmed she”s still alive.

 

Ogbomna also alleged that all canopies, tables and unnumbered chairs at the venue were badly damaged

 

“The music box (Speakers) of the DJ was shot at by the Ebube-Agu, damaging them near-irreparably and even confiscating some of his equipment.

 

“The Drums of the cultural women dancers from Afikpo were destroyed, and some seized.

 

“The drum boxes of the drummers who were on the road, waiting for our arrival, were destroyed and drummers beaten mercilessly.

 

“As at yesterday night, three of our boys (supporters) from Ugwulangwu reported that Men of Ebubeagu visited their compounds, asking after them. As we write now, they have relocated out of the community for fear of their lives,” he said

 

But the Chairman of the local government, Mr. Consider Ajah, denied leading an attack on the Labour Party supporters.

 

He, however, admitted that Ebubeagu officials went to the area to stop the people gathered there from blocking the road, which is a federal highway.

 

“We did not attack anybody. They were blocking the road which is a federal highway and we had to intervene to prevent them from disrupting people’s movement,” he said.

 

Ajah further noted that the organisers did not get approval from the local government before holding the rally.

 

“We have a law that before you hold any form of gathering, you must get approval from the local government for security purposes. But they did not do that.

 

“We have no interest in what any other party is doing but they should do the right thing at all times,” he said.

 

Ajah”s reaction conflicts with that of the Commander of Ebubeagu, Nnanna Friday, who vehemently denied that Ebubeagu was in the area.

 

“We did not attack anybody. They should stop mentioning Ebubeagu every time they have problems among themselves.

 

“They may have been attacked by their fellow members who they may have had a disagreement with and they now turn around and blame it on Ebubeagu.

 

“They did same thing recently in Izzi and we later discovered that they were attacked by their members,” he said.

 

Police spokesperson in the State, Chris Anyanwu, said he was not aware of the incident.

 

He promised to make enquiry and get back to our Reporter later. He was yet to do so as of the time of this report.

 

The outfit has become notorious for indiscriminate arrest, torture, and even extra-judicial killings in the state, leading to calls by opposition parties and rights groups for it to be disbanded.

 

Last month, the group abducted a senatorial candidate of the Labour Party for Ebonyi South District, Linus Okorie.

 

After his family and associates raised an alarm, he was hurriedly taken to the Police, which later arraigned him in court.

 

Three days ago, the group abducted Mr Abịa Onyike, who is the Spokesperson of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) Governorship Candidate in the state, Ifeanyi Ọdịi.

 

Mr Onyike was taken to the group’s office where he was allegedly tortured for over an hour before he was released.

 

Last month, the group allegedly attacked the convoy of the Governorship Candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Izzi local government area.

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BIG STORY

Governor Abdulrazaq Commits To Hosting 2025 BON Awards, Makes History As First To Host Consecutive Editions [PHOTOS]

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43 mins ago

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November 27, 2024

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Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has announced his agreement to host the 2025 edition of the Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards in Ilorin, making him the first Governor in the event’s history to host it for two consecutive years. The Governor expressed his admiration for the 16th BON Awards, praising the event’s vibrant atmosphere and the engaging after-party that showcased the rich cultural and creative potential of Kwara State.

Held at the state-of-the-art Sugar Factory Film Studio in Ilorin, the BON Awards brought together top talents and stakeholders from Nigeria’s movie industry. Governor Abdulrazaq, who personally presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Nollywood icon Kanayo O. Kanayo, commended the organizers for their professionalism and the remarkable success of the event.

“The BON Awards have shown the immense possibilities of Ilorin as a center for creativity and entertainment. I was thrilled by the energy, talent, and warmth that defined this year’s edition. The after-party further reinforced our vision of Kwara as a hub for the creative economy, tourism, and hospitality,” the Governor said.

Governor Abdulrazaq emphasized his desire for Ilorin to become the permanent venue for the BON Awards, citing the city’s unique blend of modern infrastructure, serene environment, and rich cultural heritage.

“I would be honored to host next year’s edition of the BON Awards and beyond. Ilorin is ready to offer unmatched facilities and an enabling atmosphere to support events of this magnitude. With landmark projects like the Sugar Factory Film Studio, Visual Arts Centre, and remodeled Kwara Hotel, we are poised to set a new standard for hosting creative events,” he added.

The Governor extended his appreciation to the Nollywood stars and stakeholders for their significant contributions to the Nigerian creative industry and their warm embrace of Kwara as a destination for film and entertainment.

“We invite the creative community to consider Kwara not just for future productions but also as a home for their endeavors. Together, we can build a creative hub that reflects our shared aspirations for excellence and innovation,” he concluded.

The 16th BON Awards, which featured celebrated actors such as Femi Adebayo, Mercy Aigbe, Toyin Abraham, and many others, was a resounding success, with winners and attendees alike applauding the state’s infrastructure and hospitality.

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BIG STORY

Port Harcourt Refinery Operating At 70% Capacity, To Blend 1.4m Litres Of Petrol Per Day — NNPC

Published

53 mins ago

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November 27, 2024

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced that the rehabilitated old Port Harcourt refinery is currently operating at 70 percent of its installed capacity.

The Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) operates two refineries: the old refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd), and a new refinery with an installed capacity of 150,000 bpsd.

In a statement on Tuesday, the energy company stated that it plans to increase operations to 90 percent of the refinery’s capacity.

“The Board and Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) express heartfelt appreciation to Nigerians for their support and excitement over the safe and successful restart of the 60,000 barrels-per-day Old Port Harcourt Refinery,” the statement reads.

“This achievement marks a significant step forward after years of operational challenges and underperformance.

“We are, however, aware of unfounded claims by certain individuals suggesting that the refinery is not producing products. For clarity, the Old Port Harcourt Refinery is currently operating at 70% of its installed capacity, with plans to ramp up to 90%.”

‘NAPHTHA TO BE BLENDED INTO PETROL’

According to NNPC, the refinery has started producing daily outputs of straight-run petrol (naphtha), which is blended into 1.4 million litres of petrol.

The national oil company also stated that the refinery has begun producing 900,000 litres of kerosene per day and 1.5 million litres per day of diesel.

NNPC further mentioned that 2.1 million litres of low-pour fuel oil (LPFO) will also be produced daily at the refinery, with additional volumes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to be refined at the plant.

“It is worth noting that the refinery incorporates crack C5, a blending component from our sister company, Indorama Petrochemicals (formerly Eleme Petrochemicals), to produce gasoline that meets required specifications,” NNPC said.

“Blending is a standard practice in refineries globally, as no single unit can produce gasoline that fully complies with any country’s standards without such processes.”

Additionally, NNPC stated that significant progress has been made on the new Port Harcourt refinery, “which will begin operations soon without prior announcements.”

“We urge Nigerians to focus on the remarkable achievements being realized under the able and progressive leadership of President Bola Tinubu and to support efforts aimed at delivering more dividends to the nation,” the company added.

According to the statement, malicious attacks on “clear progress” only undermine the “significant strides made by NNPC Ltd and the country.”

“Let us move forward together in building a stronger and more self-sufficient energy sector,” the company said.

Earlier today, NNPC confirmed that the refinery officially commenced crude oil processing, resuming the loading of petroleum products into trucks.

Earlier reports had it that NNPC was struggling to finalize the turnaround maintenance at the refinery. According to documents seen by TheCable, one option being considered was retrofitting the refinery into a blending plant.

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BIG STORY

NOVA Bank Achieves Global Cybersecurity Milestone With ISO 27032 Certification

Published

15 hours ago

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November 26, 2024

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NOVA Bank has achieved a major milestone in its commitment to safeguarding customer data and digital operations by attaining the globally recognized ISO 27032 Cybersecurity Standard certification. This significant achievement positions NOVA Bank among the elite financial institutions in Nigeria with such a distinction.

The ISO 27032 certification focuses on fortifying cybersecurity measures, ensuring robust protection for data, systems, and online transactions amid an ever-evolving cyber threat landscape. In addition to this achievement, NOVA Bank is already certified in ISO 27001 for Information Security Management and BCMS 22301 for Business Continuity Management, further underscoring its dedication to operational excellence and security.

Speaking on the achievement, Acting Managing Director and CEO of NOVA Bank, Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu, described the certification as a pivotal moment for the Bank and its customers.

“This certification underscores NOVA Bank’s unwavering dedication to maintaining the highest global standards in cybersecurity. As we continue to innovate with customer-centric retail products, cybersecurity remains at the heart of our operations. Our customers can rest assured that their data and transactions are protected by some of the most advanced security frameworks in the industry. Trust is built on security, and NOVA is committed to providing a secure, reliable, and innovative banking experience,” Mrs Iloghalu stated. The Bank’s Executive Director for Operations and Information Technology, Dr. David Isavwe, who also serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN), emphasized the broader implications of the certification.

“The ISO 27032 certification highlights NOVA Bank’s proactive approach to addressing cybersecurity challenges. It demonstrates our readiness to protect against evolving threats and our ability to adapt to the dynamic landscape of digital banking. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering secure and uninterrupted services to our valued customers,” Dr. Isavwe remarked.

This milestone aligns with NOVA Bank’s overarching strategy of integrating cutting-edge technology with its trademarked Phygital model—seamlessly blending physical and digital banking experiences, while maintaining an unwavering focus on customer trust and satisfaction.

As the bank prepares to launch a series of innovative retail banking products, this certification highlights its dedication to prioritizing cybersecurity, ensuring a secure and seamless banking experience for all its customers.

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