metro
Civil war: Gowon should apologise to Ndigbo
Civil war: Gowon should apologise to Ndigbo
The Senator representing Anambra Central, Chief Victor Umeh, has reacted to the recent television interview granted by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on the Nigerian Civil War, saying the 91-year-old former military leader should apologize to Igbo people for betraying the historic Aburi accord and starting a brutal conflict that was aimed at exterminating the Igbo people of Nigeria.
The 30-month civil war claimed millions of lives and destroyed the buoyant economy of the Eastern Region, considered to be the fastest growing economy in Africa the.
Recalling that former President Ibrahim Babangida had in his book stated clearly that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup, Umeh said it is unfortunate for Gowon to concoct lies against a tribe, even at his old age.
Senator Umeh, who spoke in an interview in Awka, said: “I listened to Gowon’s television interview and I felt so sorry for him for the things he said. Igbo people have suffered gravely because of that coup. I felt that with Babangida’s statement during his book launch, that it wasn’t an Igbo coup because he named Yorubas and Northerners that were part of the coup, it was a big relief and I challenge Gowon to write his own book so that Nigerians will read his own version.
“Maybe at 91 years he has forgotten what happened, but some of us who worked with Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu and interviewed him about the war, know that what Gowon said was a big lie.
“It was unfortunate for him to say that the war was not against the Igbo people of Nigeria and that he heard about the insurrection in Abeakuta and the assassination of General Aguiyi Ironsi from somewhere, only for him to later emerge as the Head of State after the counter coup.
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“He should apologize to Igbo people for the role he played in that civil war, instead of coming to insult the sensibilities of those who were the victims of the war.”
According to Umeh, the counter coup was the cleansing of the Igbo in the Nigerian Armed Forces, and challenged Gowon to name military officers from his region who were also killed in the counter coup.
“Igbo people were not only killed as military officers, their businesses were also destroyed across Nigeria. Gowon also misrepresented the Aburi accord, which to me, is the greatest travesty. I worked with Ojukwu for five years and I asked him questions about the Aburi accord and he told me that they all agreed on Confederation, which meant that the regions should be confederate units so that every region would continue to develop at its own pace.
“After the agreement, the Ghanaian leader, General Ankra, Gowon and Ojukwu, were at the back of the same car when they were being driven to the airport and Ankra took the hands of Gowon and Ojukwu and joined them and said they should go and implement the Aburi accord. Ojukwu told me that he told Gowon that if he announced details of the accord on their return, he, Ojukwu, would be the first person to nominate him as the Head of State of Nigeria.
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metro
Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty
Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected member of the gang that allegedly robbed clubgoers outside Ghost and Spirits Lounge on Ekoro Road, Abule Egba, Lagos.
The suspect was reportedly identified from video footage of the incident, which showed several people being attacked outside the entertainment venue in the early hours of the morning.
The Lagos club robbery reportedly occurred at about 4am on Saturday after some customers had left the lounge and gathered around their vehicles.
Footage from the scene showed several clubgoers sitting around a vehicle when the suspected robbers approached.
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One of the suspects, reportedly dressed in a green shirt and cap, appeared to move among the people before allegedly targeting one of the victims.
Another member of the group was reportedly seen in an SUV parked across the road before a gunshot was fired, causing some of the people at the scene to run for safety.
The suspect in the green shirt was then allegedly seen taking a wristwatch from one of the victims, while other members of the group reportedly collected valuables before escaping in their vehicle.
Following the incident, the management of the lounge announced a N5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators.
The reward and subsequent investigation helped the police identify and track one of the suspects, who was eventually arrested.
A police source said the suspect was in custody and being interrogated, with investigators seeking information that could lead to the arrest of the other alleged members of the gang.
The Lagos Police Command has also intensified efforts to locate the remaining suspects, who are reportedly still at large.
The incident has raised concerns among residents and nightlife customers in Abule Egba, particularly over the security of people leaving entertainment venues during the early hours.
Police authorities have urged residents with useful information about the suspects or the robbery to assist the investigation.
The arrested suspect remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court, while investigations continue into the alleged robbery and the identities and whereabouts of the other suspects.
Lagos Club Robbery: Police Arrest Suspect After N5m Bounty
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metro
Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos
Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos
A passenger has died after jumping from a moving commercial bus at Ogunlana Junction, inward Ojuelegba, in the Surulere area of Lagos.
The incident involved a Volkswagen commercial bus with registration number LND 130 XR, which reportedly crashed into a median pole around the Fallout area of Surulere.
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said preliminary security reports indicated that the driver was allegedly under the influence of alcohol and had been driving recklessly shortly before the crash.
According to the agency, motorists approaching the bus from behind had to exercise caution to avoid colliding with the vehicle as it reportedly moved erratically.
Amid the incident, a male passenger reportedly jumped from the moving bus, apparently attempting to escape from the uncontrolled vehicle. He sustained serious injuries after hitting the ground and later died from his injuries.
LASTMA officials conducting routine traffic surveillance along the Ojuelegba axis responded to the scene after noticing the crash. They secured the area, managed traffic and removed the damaged bus and the deceased passenger from the carriageway to reduce the risk of a secondary collision.
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Police officers from the Area C Police Division, Ojuelegba, provided security at the scene, while officials of the State Emergency Management Agency evacuated the remains of the deceased.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, described the incident as a reminder of the dangers associated with driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and operating vehicles that may not be mechanically fit for the road.
Bakare-Oki urged commercial and private motorists to conduct comprehensive checks on their vehicles before every journey, with particular attention to the braking system, tyres, steering mechanism and other critical safety components.
He also commiserated with the family of the deceased and reaffirmed LASTMA‘s commitment to responding promptly to road crashes, managing traffic and clearing accident scenes.
The agency urged motorists and other road users to report accidents, vehicle breakdowns and other traffic obstructions through its toll-free short code, 3367.
Passenger Dies After Jumping From Moving Bus In Lagos
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metro
Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops
Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops
Panic broke out in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sunday morning after a gas explosion rocked the Liberty Junction area, following a vehicle crash into a roadside gas retail outlet.
The incident occurred at about 6:15 a.m., sending a powerful blast through the area and causing nearby buildings to shake, while thick smoke and flames rose from the affected facility.
The vehicle reportedly veered off the road and crashed into the gas outlet, triggering the explosion and subsequent fire.
The impact affected several businesses around the junction, with reports indicating that nine shops were damaged or destroyed by the ensuing fire.
A nearby police traffic post was also reportedly uprooted by the force of the explosion, while other structures and sections of the surrounding area were damaged.
The vehicle involved in the crash was badly burnt in the incident. Emergency responders, however, reportedly rescued the driver and a child from the wreckage.
The injured driver was taken to a medical facility for treatment, while emergency personnel worked to prevent the fire from spreading to other shops and properties in the densely populated area.
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The explosion triggered panic among residents and commuters, with people reportedly rushing away from the scene as the fire continued to burn.
Emergency response agencies, including the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, were deployed to the scene.
Firefighters battled the flames for hours before the situation was brought under control.
The incident also caused significant traffic disruption around Liberty Junction and the Kubwa axis, as motorists slowed down and emergency responders worked at the scene.
Security personnel subsequently moved people away from the immediate area and helped manage traffic while the damaged vehicle and other debris were cleared.
Initial reports did not indicate a confirmed death from the explosion, although the driver was reported to have sustained injuries.
Authorities had yet to provide a detailed official account explaining why the vehicle veered off the road or confirming the full extent of the damage and injuries as of the time of reporting.
The incident has again drawn attention to safety concerns surrounding gas outlets located close to busy roads, shops and residential areas, particularly in densely populated parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Further assessment by relevant authorities is expected to establish the precise circumstances of the crash, the extent of the property damage and whether any safety breaches contributed to the incident.
Kubwa Explosion: Vehicle Crashes Into Gas Outlet, Damages Nine Shops
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