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12 A/Ibom communities displaced as soldiers smoke out militants

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2 years ago

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At least 12 communities in the Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have been displaced during last Tuesday invasion by soldiers over criminal activities in the area.

The Chairman of the LGA, Mr Anthony Luke, disclosed this in a message sent to the displaced persons after the raid.

According to him, the activities of hoodlums led to the displacement of the people from their homes as lives and property in the area were no longer safe.

Luke explained that heinous activities of criminals began in Essien Udim LGA on February 22, 2021, when the hoodlums attacked a police officers on patrol and their vehicle at Ikpe Annang junction, on Ikot Ekpene-Uyo Road

He recalled another attack on Nigerian Customs Service personnel at Nsasak junction on Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road before the hoodlums later set the Essien Udim Divisional Police Station at Nto Nsek ablaze and carted away a lot of ammunition.

“By their criminal activities, such as extortion, intimidation, robbery, and general abuse of the fundamental human rights of the people, the situation degenerated to a point that the people were living in fear,” the LGA chairman said.

He listed the communities affected by the military raid as Ntak Ikot Akpan, Ukana Uwa, Ikot Udo Ekpat and Ikot Otu.

Others are Ikot Afangna, Nto Nsek, Ikot Abia, Ikot Ankan, Ikot Ukpong Etor, Ikot Ada Utor, Nsasak and Ikot Akpan Essiet.

“Let me use this medium to express my deepest gratitude to the Catholic Bishop of Ikot Ekpene, Dr Camillus Umoh, for his magnanimity. The bishop has not only graciously offered accommodation in the Catholic Cathedrals for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), but has also promised to partner the council in taking care of the people until it is safe for them to return home,” he stated.

He said the state government was working to ensure that normalcy would return so that the displaced persons could go back to their homes.

 

 

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JUST IN: Old naira: IMF asks FG, CBN to extend February 10 deadline

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9 hours ago

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February 8, 2023

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called for the extension of the February 10 deadline to phase out the old naira notes.

The International monetary body made the call just after the Supreme Court had restrained the Federal Government and Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN) from enforcing the deadline.

The IMF, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by Laraba Bonet, said the plea was on the hardship Nigerians were exposed to over the issue.

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It said: “in light of hardships caused by disruptions to trade and payments due to the shortage of new bank notes available to the public, in spite of measures introduced by the CBN to mitigate the challenges in the banknote swap process, the IMF encourages the CBN to consider extending the deadline should problems persist  in the next few days leading up to the February 10, 2023 deadline”.

The IMF is the first international financial organisation to openly call for extension of the deadline for the deposit of old Naira notes.

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Cash crunch: Protesters defy police in Abeokuta, make bonfires on major roads

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1 day ago

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February 7, 2023

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Residents of Abeokuta, Ogun State, took to the streets on Tuesday protesting the scarcity of cash and the attendant pains.

Major streets affected by the protests are Aladesanmi, Fajol and Somorin in Obantoko area of Abeokuta as the protesters made bonfires and chanted anti-CBN songs
The Sapon branch of First Bank was also vandalised and the protesters tried to set it ablaze.
Ogun Police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the protest, saying police officers were on the ground to monitor the situation and prevent the destruction of property and loss of lives.
He said some group of boys were involved in the crisis.
The police later came to disperse the protesters but they regrouped as soon as the operatives withdrew from the scene.
The situation affected vehicular movement as motorists and pedestrians ran in different directions to avert being caught up in the chaotic situation.

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Court frees Diezani associate Omokore of $1.6bn fraud

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1 day ago

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February 7, 2023

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An Abuja federal high court on Tuesday discharged and acquitted Jide Omokore, chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, of $1.6bn fraud allegations.

Omokore, an associate of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, and David Mbanefo on a 15-count charge on July 4, 2016.

They were accused of fraudulently diverting the $1.6bn said to be part of proceeds of sales of petroleum products belonging to the Federal Government.

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