* His Eminence, Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke has returned from his trip to Rome for the burial and funeral of His Holiness, Pope Francis, as well as the election of a new Pontiff – Pope Leo XIV.
His Eminence arriving at the Cathedral expressed his joy at seeing the flock of God entrusted to his care happy and well nourished, not minding his absence in the diocese for a little while.
Okpaleke appreciated all in whose care he left the diocese for their work of shepherding the flock of God in the diocese.
* The newly elected Traditional Ruler of Oba community, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Engr Augustine Chinedu Emelobe, EzeOkpoko II of Oba has rolled out plans to make Oba a center of innovation in Africa.
Igwe Emelobe maintained that a Radio and Television stations would be established soon in his community.
The Igwe -Elect made his intentions known recently while addressing Oba Congress during the annual general meeting held at Oba Civic Center, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State.
According to Igwe Emelobe, we want to announce to you with joy that we have currently obtained and hold a TV & Radio operational License, a 5000kw capacity that can cover the entire South Eastern States, South South States and parts of North Central States.
* Police Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu acting on credible information on Friday, stormed a criminal hideout in Uke, Idemili North LGA.
During the raid, four suspects were arrested including a lady.
According to a press statement signed by
SP. Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, Anambra Command,
“three vehicles were recovered namely: one black Lexus GS 350 with Reg. No: ENU 561 LY, one ash colour Toyota Camry with Reg. No: UWN 614 HK and one navy blue colour Toyota Corolla with Reg. No: UMZ 135 AD.
One HP Laptop, one car spraying machine, motor wires, and pieces of methamphetamine popularly known as Mkpurummiri were also recovered at the scene.
* Governor Chukwuma Soludo has appreciated President Bola Tinubu for granting all the requests made during his one day state visit to Anambra State.
Soludo was speaking at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Onitsha, during a funeral mass for Late Mrs Ludumila Mba, mother to the Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Patrick Aghamba.
The Governor itemized the requests to include the including Anambra to the gas pipeline, the national rail master plan, fixing the Onitsha river port and constructing the road that links Anambra West to Kogi- a road that once it is built, a trip to Abuja will take three instead of nine hours.
He who stated that the reason he came to serve in politics is for the good of the common man, stressed that politics is not about protesting or name calling but about aligning and negotiating with the center.
* Pain and agony were visibly seen and observed on the faces of youths of Nimo Community, Njikaoka Council Area, especially over the death of a community indigene, Identified as Mr. Ifeanyi Odibelu shortly after his alleged ordeal, in the hands of Nigerian Police Force, allegedly orchestrated by some community members.
The youths wore black, carrying banners and leaves parading round the community with the deceased body, including taking the corpse to the houses of his alleged killers, as shops in the community were also observed to be closed over the young man’s burial.
Speaking during the protest, Nimo community youth leader, Mr. Chijioke Ezedinachi, explained that the deceased was an active youth member who disappeared for days without any knowledge of his whereabout, until a search was started only to discover that he was arrested and taken to State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Awka for no crime stated, alleged to have been by the scheming of few persons, including the traditional authority of Nimo, revealing that he died on Sunday, after days in detention and what he described conspired release on Saturday.
The deceased sister, Ukamaka Odibelu who could not hold back tears, noted that his late brother was in his late thirties, as she called him on the said day but his line was switched off only to hear later that some persons picked him up at ‘Ezi Elias’ where he drives Motorcycle and after searching for days in different police stations, he was discovered to be in Awka under police custody dying upon his release.
* Christ the king College Onitsha and Modebe Secondary Onitsha, will lead other schools from Onitsha South Council Area to the zonal finals of 2025 Anambra Solution Sports Initiative (ANSSI) competition.
The two schools booked their places in the zonal finals in U-14 and U- 18 categories of male football.
In athletics, all the schools that took part qualified in various races which include 60m, 100m, 150m, etc.
* In a joint coordinated operation, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy have uncovered a massive illegal artisanal refinery and illegal petrol station at Y-Junction, Nkwelle Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The breakthrough was achieved following a credible intelligence of suspected illegal dealings in petroleum products within the area.
Confirming the operations, the State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Anambra State Command, Commandant Maku Olatunde said the team conducted raids on the locations, intercepted and arrested a suspect while others fled the scene.
While receiving the suspect and the exhibits; 49 kegs of 25 litres, suspected adulterated Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), four drums of 200 litres each, suspected adulterated Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), and one pumping machine recovered from the scene and handed over to NSCDC for prosecution, the NSCDC State helmsman said the command remain committed to free its areas of operations from all forms of illegal dealings on petroleum products and other related activities and commended the Nigerian Navy and Nigerian Army that supported the operations.
Commandant Maku warned operators and perpetrators of illegal oil refineries and fake PROTEAN actors to steer clear of Anambra State, vowing they would be tracked down and made to face the full wrath of law.
* The Association of Non-Indigenes Anambra State (ANIAS) has expressed appreciation to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, for warmly welcoming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the state during his recent visit.
The association commended Soludo for his visible strides in the development of Anambra and urged him to further strengthen ties with the presidency to attract more transformative projects to the state.
In a statement, ANIAS President Prince Chigozie Nweke encouraged the Governor to use his esteemed office to forge a strategic alliance with President Tinubu for the realization of a railway project that will link Onitsha to Nnewi and extend to other manufacturing and commercial hubs within the state.
According to the group, this railway line will significantly boost economic transportation and enhance trade across the region.
* The Commissioner of Police, CP. Ikioye Orutugu says the Command is willing
to address social issues and improve the security well-being of community members through promoting mutual understanding and respect between law enforcement and traditional/cultural practices in the State.
CP. Orutugu made the statement while receiving Nzukọ Odinani Welfare Association on a courtesy visit to the Command.
The Police boss noted that understanding and respecting local customs and traditions will help build trust and facilitate effective policing.
The Chairman Nzukọ Odinani Welfare Association, Nze Dikeato Onyebuchi Izuegbu in his remark, appreciated the CP for his commitment to community engagement and pledged to work with the Command to expose individuals who prepare criminal charms and perform unlawful traditional practices in the State.
