Death Toll In Owerri Collapse Building Rises To Five!

One of the rescued victims of early Sunday, August 13, 2017, building collapse at 9 Egbu road, close to Fire Service Junction and opposite Owerri Area Police Command Headquarters, Owerri, Imo state, south-east Nigeria, identified as Chinedu Isiogugu has died, bringing the casualty toll to five. 

Scene of the incident

The 26-year-old died at about 3am, Monday, after undergoing a successful surgery on his legs. Four people, two adults and two babies were confirmed dead at the scene of the incident on Sunday. 

The deceased, a native of Anambra state, and a P.R.O of CDS Charity organisation, during his National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) year, and another Corp. member went into a coma having being trapped for about eight hour in the collapsed building.

Late Chinedu Isiogugu 

The state government has instructed that all on-going constructions in the state go for re-verification before completion.

Devastating Landslide: Israel To Send Aid To Sierra Leon!

Israeli government has instructed it's Foreign Ministry to send aid to Sierra Leon "in any way, and as soon as possible" . Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gave this instruction following an overnight landslide and torrential flooding which left homes and roads submerged, in a hillside, in the Reagent area, outskirt of the capital city, Freetown, Monday, August 14, 2017. 

According to report, so far, over 300 bodies have been recovered while the casualty toll is expected to rise as a lot of people is believed to be asleep when the mudslide happened. 

Sierra Leon Military personnel are helping with rescue operations in the affected area.

Charlottesvilles Crash: State Of Virginia Declares State Of Emergency!

Virginia's governor Terry Mcauliffe declared a state of emergency to aid bring back peace in the state following the crash against peaceful protesters in Charlottesvilles. 

A 20 year-old man identified as James Alex Fields Jr. from Muamee Ohio, has been arrested and charged in connection with the car-crash that resulted in the death of a 32-year-old woman, and several others hospitalised, Saturday, in a gathering peacefully counter-protesting against a 'white supremacist' rally in Charlottesvilles, Virginia.

According to reports, a group of touch-carrying white nationalists, protesting the planned removal of a status of the Confederate, Gen. Robert E. Lee, Friday night, marched across the University of  Virginia's campus, Charlottesvilles, shouting the slogan "white lives matters.". 

Report has it that some of the protesters were seen wearing Nazi regalia and making the "heil Hitler" salute. 

Condemning the incident, Terry Mcauliffe told the 'white supremacists group: "There is no place for you here, there is no place for you in America", "Shame on you. you pretend you are patriots, but you are anything but a patriot". 

Richmond FBI said it is opening a "civil right investigation" of the accident.

Asaba/ Anwai Road: A Recipe For Disaster!

The pictures below is the current state of the Anwai road, the express way leading to the Delta State University, Anwai campus, Asaba, Delta state capital. 

This road, around Ibori Gulf Club, and not far from the Delta State Government House, Asaba, equally leads to Ugbolu, Illah, Ebu, and other communities in and around Delta State, south-south Nigeria.

 These pictures show the extend of damage caused by erosion. 

If left unchecked, this is a good recipe for disaster.

South African Government Needs Take A Very Strong Stand Against Women Abuse- Police Minister!

"Women in our country are clearly under siege and it is a time that government take a very strong stand against woman abuse". Fikile Mbalula, South Africa's Minister of Police alerted following the killing of a 26 year -old South African woman identified as Aviwe Jam jam. 

late Aviwe Jam jam (left) and the accused

It was reported that the mother of a two-year-old was in a relationship for several years with her abusive boyfriend. Despite warnings from her family, Aviwe, peharps blinded by love or out of fear, continued in the relationship. 

The abusive boyfriend had attacked Aviwe's step-father in his home, when he (the boyfriend) went looking for Aviwe and thought the family was hiding her. Unknown to Aviwe's family the Police has been looking for the accused in connection with other cases.  

The last straw was drawn when Aviwe, a tourism graduate, tired of the abuse, told her mother that she had left for Pretoria because she was hiding from her boyfriend. Aviwe was however, reported missing on July 22, 2017, when her family could not locate her whereabouts.  

Search by the Police led to the discovery of a body later identified by her family, as Aviwe's, after it was discovered at the Vygieskraal Stadium, Athlone, on July 29th, 2017, barely 24 kilometers from her home. 

The arrested boyfriend is currently being investigated in connection with Aviwe's murder. It was believed that he had assaulted and beaten her to death.

New Face Of Onitsha!

"Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a frame work to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship, and strengthen governance". - Ban Ki-Moon. 

The above quote comes to mind when ever I come across efforts by governments particularly, to deliver on feasible growth initiatives. Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra state, east of the Niger, known for its signature hustle and bustle...now wears a new look. 

I have not been to this city in about 7-years but my recent visit to Upper-Iweka road, left me speechless. From the double-lane express way with massive drainage system, to the cleanliness and orderliness ....for a moment I thought I was in another city. 

I did not go round the city, but the little I saw from the Niger Bridge head into Onitsha metropolis..down to the fly-over is impressive. 

Kudos to Governor Willie Obiano...do keep this transformation running..through Anambra state. 

St. Philip's Mass Murder: Aftermath Of Business Deal Gone-South!

Authorities states that about 11 people were killed during the mass shooting at St. Philip's Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria.   Sunday, 6th August, 2017. About 18 worshippers reportedly sustained sever injuries. 

St. Philip's Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu

Parishioners gathered for the 6:am Mass, into the service, at about the time for "Prayer for the Faithful", unknown men drove into the Church premises in an SUV, eye-witness reports that after the gunmen recognised a vehicle in the parking lot, a gunman went into the Church and shot at an elderly man identified as Pa Ikegwuonu, father of Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, a South African based business man reported to have built St Philip's Catholic Church, scene of the incident, and one other Church in the community. 

Not done, the "cap-wearing" gunman shot sporadically at other worshippers. The shooting left several people killed and more others injured including Pa Ikegwuonu's wife. 

The killing has been attributed to counter-stroke between two indigenes of Ozubulu community reported to be Drug-barons. One of the dealers was named as Chief Aloysius Ikegwuonu, son of one of the casualties, Pa Ikegwuonu.

Remains of deceased persons have been deposited at a nearby morgue while the injured persons are receiving treatment at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital, Nnewi. 

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano,  and all state holders have condemned the act and promised to continue to offer all forms of necessary assistance to security agencies as they track down the perpetrators.