Awka, Anambra State capital, is again under the siege of gunmen, believed to be cultists.

At the last count, over 15 residents have been murdered in cold blood within the last two weeks, including some victims who cannot be identified as cultists, promoting the belief that what is happening could be targeted assassinations.

DAILY POST has followed the developments, and reports that the major problem seems to be a struggle for the control of revenue windows, especially collection of taxes from bus drivers and commercial tricyclists.

Investigation shows that no fewer than 15 persons have been gunned down in just two weeks in the city.

The orgy of killings started on Easter Sunday when as much as six youths were reportedly gunned down.

A source told DAILY POST that while the Easter merriment was being observed by Christians to commemorate the resurrection of Christ, the happiness of some people were cut short by gunmen.

“Some were felled at Okpuno area, behind Juhel, others were murdered around Eke Awka area and Obinagu,” a source said.

One of the incidents was said to have happened opposite Dike Park, around the Eke Awka Market, in Awka, the State capital.

According to sources, “The incident happened in the noon of Sunday, and also escalated to the Obinagu area, where some more persons were also gunned down by the cultists.”

It was gathered that one of the persons hit by the bullet was a staff of the Anambra State Judiciary, simply identified as Mr. Nwofor, who was said to be innocently going about his normal business before the cultists struck.

A resident of Awka, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “I suspected that there would be cult killings during that period. You know that most wanted cultists have left town, but during festive periods, they always come home to celebrate, and their rivals use the opportunity to pay them back for their past atrocities, which may include that they have killed their members.”

Just seven days after the Easter killings, three other persons also suspected to belong to secret cults were gunned down in the city.

Though security operatives could not confirm the number, a source said that two of the victims were killed in her presence.

The source said: “Two tricycles were driving recklessly along Zik Avenue at Eke Awka. They were pursuing themselves. Around Eke Awka market, the tricycle at the front got stuck in the traffic, and one boy inside it alighted and started running.

“Two boys in the tricycle behind also jumped down and pursued him. He ran towards Parkers’ area, along Zik Avenue, and diverted into a road by the right, into a mechanic workshop.

“The boys pursued him into the place, dragged him out and shot him to death. The incident caused pandemonium, and people were just running in all directions,” the source said.

Not done, two days after the same incident, another person described as Nwanayoeze, a popular Awka youth was gunned down around tricycle park, Unizik Junction.

Traders around Unizik Junction confirmed that Nwanayoeze was a very prominent youth in the entire area and also controlled revenue from tricycle operators in the area, and was feared by many people, even though they denied that he had any link with cultism.

The killings however did not abate. Thursday of the same week, a former president general of Amansea community in Awka North Local Government Area, Chief Cajetan Nwokike was killed.

On Friday also, at Unizik Junction, a man identified as Christian was gunned down. He is said to be an indigene of Enugu State, but manages a popular transport company in Awka that has fleets of luxury SUVs that ferry passengers to Abuja and Lagos.

He was gunned down in the presence of his co-workers by gunmen who came in a yellow tricycle. Eyewitnesses said the assailants were not in a hurry to leave after the assignment, as they entered the tricycle and drove away slowly.

Earlier on Wednesday evening, gunmen caused pandemonium at Aroma junction.

A youth from Amudo Village in Awka, and said to be a former tricycle operator before transiting into a revenue collector was gunned down.

A source said the assailants trailed him from the Ifite area of the state capital and shot him at close range at a filling station which serves as a popular bus stop for buses and tricycles.

Business outfits in the area were forced to close and roadside traders abandoned their articles and fled.

The major roads in the vicinity of the incident suddenly became empty, just as many people abandoned their cars and took to their heels.

Few hours later, residents of the town received news of another killing in the same junction. This time, an official of the Anambra Road Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) was the victim.

A source said: “The man who was killed is an ARTMA official. He stopped some people who were driving a Toyota Sienna vehicle with tinted glasses, and the people shot him and drove off. It happened just close to me as I was boarding a vehicle this morning to go to Nnewi.”

The developments have heightened tension in the state capital and beyond, with residents not sure of who would be the next target.

“Security agencies seem to be overwhelmed; everyone is in panic mode,” a distressed resident told DAILY POST.

In one of his responses to DAILY POST, Anambra State Police Command’s spokesperson person, SP Tochukwu Ikenga lamented that families of deceased people do not notify the police, so that investigation can commence.

He insisted that operatives were deployed to the areas of the incidents but no news of any killing was gathered.

DAILY POST however gathered that deceased person’s bodies are usually quickly removed by family members to avoid confiscation by police.

Meanwhile, in a recent press conference, the police stated its frustration, saying that most cult kingpins arrested by police were being freed by very influential people in the city.

The commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Aderemi Adeoye, who was represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, DCP Akin Fakorede, said: “When those things that have happened over a period of time begin to happen again, the question people should ask is Why?

“Could you imagine that the cultists we arrested, charged to court, and got remanded in prison custody that some powerful locals are going to the judiciary to lobby to get them released?

“And some have been released. And they are the ones unleashing this mayhem again! That is number one.

“Two, you must have heard of the AK-47 we recently recovered from a suspect in Awada. What the suspect told us was that they procured it for him to engage in a showdown with a rival cult group.

“Now, if that AK-47 was not recovered or had joined the recent cult-related clash, could you imagine what the casualty level would have been?

“We are already going after the cultists; and if we find that anybody is subverting justice, or is subverting due process, to get the cultists off the hook, they will face the music, notwithstanding whether the person is in the judiciary or civil populace,” he said.

Currently, major stakeholders in Awka who are worried about the orgy of bloodletting have started working towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

Three prominent sons of Awka, the member representing Awka South 1 constituency, Hon Henry Mbachu, the Managing Director of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) Mr. Ossy Onuko and the Transition Committee Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Mr Anagor ThankGod have teamed up to get security agencies to stop the killings.

Addressing newsmen on behalf of the three after a meeting, Onuko said “Finding a lasting solution to the security challenges is necessary as the elected and appointed officers owe it as a duty to the people to keep Awka safe not just for residents but for thousands of investors trooping into the city.”

DAILY POST, however, noticed on Friday evening that as a result of the frequent cases of killings, men of the Special Anti Cultism Squad (SPACS) have mounted guard at Aroma junction.

Meanwhile, a popular activist in Awka, Comrade Osita Obi, who spoke to DAILY POST, said it was unfair that Governor Soludo was yet to utter a word over the killings.

He said: “Soludo is doing very well in infrastructure, but protection of lives and property is the major reason we elect leaders. He needs to say something.”

An All Progressives Congress, APC, Ondo governorship aspirant, Wale Akinterinwa, has accused Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi State and Chairman of the party’s primary election committee of writing results.

He said the party did not conduct any primary election in all the 203 Wards of the state.

Ododo had announced the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the governorship candidate of the party after polling the highest votes at the primary election.

However, Akinterinwa described the APC’s primary election in the state as a show of shame.

The aspirant’s stance was contained in a statement signed by his campaign organisation spokesperson, Mr Segun Ajiboye.

According to the statement: “Without any fear of contradiction, we state here that no election was held in any part of Ondo on Saturday to elect the candidate of the APC.

“It is on record with incontrovertible evidence that nothing in the semblance of a primary election was held in all the 203 wards in Ondo.

“At best, what can be said to have happened was that the committee chairman, Gov. Ododo, arrived in the state at about 8 am on Saturday to write the result of an election that was never conducted.

“Saturday’s election presented our dear party with a rare opportunity to endear itself to the people of the state.

“All that was needed was for us to organise an election that would be hailed by all, even the opposition.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is advocating for the incorporation of punitive measures into the Minimum Wage Act to address non-compliance by state governors and local government administrators.

This push for stricter enforcement comes amid ongoing challenges with the implementation of the current minimum wage across various states.

Ambali emphasized the necessity of such sanctions to ensure compliance and protect workers’ rights across Nigeria.

The move by the NLC coincides with the scheduled meeting of the 37-member committee established by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to discuss the new minimum wage.

This panel, inaugurated on January 30, 2024, by Vice-president Kashim Shettima, includes representatives from federal and state governments, the private sector, and organized labor.

The committee’s task is to deliberate on findings from various sub-committees across the six geopolitical zones and formulate recommendations for a revised national minimum wage.

As discussions are set to proceed this week, the inclusion of penalties in the wage legislation will be a critical point of debate, aimed at fostering greater accountability and ensuring that all Nigerian workers benefit from fair labor practices and wage standards.

Ambali said, “When we look at the purchasing power in Nigeria, we can see a huge difference between 2019 and now. With the stoppage of the payment of the fuel subsidy, we can see an increase in the hardship of Nigerians.

“In the new minimum wage bill which will soon be signed into law by the President, we have put in some internal clauses to make it difficult for governors not to pay the new minimum wage. It is also good to know that some of the governors are also involved in the negotiation process.

“Labour itself has to be responsive. Once the National Minimum Wage Bill is signed into law juxtaposed with Labour’s responsiveness, we know they will pay. As you can see,0 even private companies have started increasing the salaries of workers and some of them are even paying wage awards for their workers.

“So in the bill, the clause involves sanctions and also talks about increased allocation to local governments so that nobody will have any excuse of not paying the approved rate.”

Meanwhile, the 37-member Tripartite Committee on Minimum Wage appointed by the Federal Government will hold a meeting this week to debate proposals by stakeholders on the new minimum wage.

An executive bill is also expected to be sent to the National Assembly as a form of amendment to the current Minimum Wage Act.

The minimum wage to be unveiled is expected to cushion the effects of the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit.

During the public hearings, different zones suggested different amounts for minimum wage. The South-West zone suggested N794,000; the North -East proposed the sum of N560,000 as minimum wage; North- West proposed N485,000; The North-Central proposed N709,000; the South-South demanded N850,000 while the South -East demanded N540,000.

The two wives of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, are reportedly trying to surpass each other as both of them lay claim to the Office of the Fist Lady of the state.

Both of them signed off as the First Lady of Osun State.

An X user @ remidotun86 had on Sunday shared the two different posters printed by the two women, Amb. Arelu Ngozi Adeleke and Mrs Titilola Adeleke, welcoming Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to the state.

Nigeria’s First Lady is billed to be in Osogbo, the state capital on Tuesday for the turning of sod of the Alternative High School For Girls at Oke D.O, Ilesha Road.

In the poster belonging to Titilola Adeleke, she wrote: “Official turning of the sod ceremony of the Alternative High School For Girls at Oke D.O, Ilesha Road, Osogbo”.

While Ngozi Adeleke wrote in her poster: “Welcome to the state of living spring. Experience the beauty of Osun State’s landscape” and signed off as the First Lady of Osun State.

Nigerian singer Tiwa Savage has said despite the “crazy” nature of men, women can’t do without them.

Savage, who recently released a collaborative song with Simi titled ‘Men Are Crazy,’ said she relished working with the ‘Duduke’ crooner.

Speaking recently on MTV Live, she described their collaboration as “magical” as she noted that Simi is “a queen in Afrobeats”.

She said, “My collaboration with Simi is titled ‘Men Are Crazy But I Still Want One In My Bed.’ The inspiration behind it is that men are crazy but we can’t do without them.

“Simi is somebody that I’ve always wanted to work with. She is a queen in Afrobeats so both of us coming together in such an amazing track is magical.”

Yinka Olomojobi, a law professor at Babcock University in Ogun, has been shot dead while resisting abduction.

Omolola Odutola, the Ogun police PRO, said two other persons were abducted in the Iperu area of the state at around the same time.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Friday around the Ajadeh Event Centre on Sagamu Road.

Odutola quoted eyewitnesses as saying that eight men dressed in black went into the relaxing lounge at 9:20 pm and opened fire indiscriminately.

She said the academic was shot in the chest for resisting abduction by the gunmen.

The PRO said the lecturer was rushed to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital (BUTH), where he was pronounced dead.

Odutola said one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident. She added that an investigation has commenced on the matter.

“A suspicious coincidence led the police to arrest one Awada Ishaya “m” of Plateau state who was employed two weeks ago when the event center was launched as a security man for further interrogation,” she said.

The PRO said the manager of a car stand known as Dare and one other yet-to-be-identified person were taken captive by the gunmen.

The PRO said efforts are underway to apprehend the rest of the culprits and rescue the kidnapped victims.

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has tackled the Federal Government over the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project. 

Obi expressed his concern in a statement via his verified X handle on Monday.

According to him, there is a pressing issue of numerous uncompleted roads scattered across the country, many of which, according to him, have become hazardous death traps and security risks. 

He maintained that embarking on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years will only worsen the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development. 

Obi suggested that given the state of the nation’s economy, prioritization and fiscal discipline should be the critical guiding principles, insisting that the project will worsen the already sagging debt burden.

The former Anambra State governor said most of those uncompleted roads have been under construction for several years and are unlikely to be completed any time soon due to poor and unplanned funding.

He said,“I have closely followed the comments and developments arising from the coastal (Lagos-Calabar) Super highway Project.

“While I’m hesitant to engage in contentious debates about its benefits, which I acknowledge, and the pricing, which I have serious concerns about, and believe should be thoroughly reviewed, I am compelled to raise essential questions about the timing and prioritization of such a monumental venture.

“At the forefront of my concerns is the pressing issue of numerous uncompleted roads scattered across the country, many of which have become hazardous death traps and security risks.

“It is disheartening to witness the plight of innocent Nigerians who traverse these dilapidated roads under perilous conditions, vulnerable to kidnappers and other dangers.

“Most of these roads, vital for economic growth, regional connectivity, and overall development, have been under construction for several years if not decades now and are unlikely to be completed any time soon due to poor and unplanned funding.

“The Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94,828,535,243.00, alongside other expected contributions from sources like the China-Exim Bank and the World Bank, will not be enough for serious work on all the critical roads, some of which I enumerated above, let alone their completion.

“So, why embark on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years? To do so will only exacerbate the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.

“It will merely worsen our already sagging debt burden. Given the state of our economy now, prioritization and fiscal discipline should be our critical guiding principles now.

“Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge prioritization of our existing uncompleted projects.

“We must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure, crucial for the well-being and safety of our society, before embarking on new projects, no matter their perceived benefits.

“Let’s prioritize the urgent needs of our people and ensure that our investments serve the collective good of the nation.

“In any development formula, the primary focus should be on completing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal new projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years.”

Nollywood veteran, Zack Orji has revealed how he underwent two brain surgeries in Nigeria.

Orji made this revelation in an interview with Channels TV on Sunday.

The Nollywood had slumped in the bathroom, leading to a critical medical emergency.

He said, “I can only say that it’s by the grace of God that I’m alive today because I passed out. I was out for like five and a half hours before help came.” 

His friend, Bala Ahmed, who was in the UK at the time, was alerted by people at Orji’s house. This prompted a swift response from colleagues who hurriedly came to his aid.

The actor said, “Benedict Johnson rushed to the house, and I was there on the floor, incoherent. I couldn’t even stand because when he raised me, I slumped again, and he had to call another colleague whom we call Labista. 

“So the two of them lifted me on their shoulders from the second floor to the ground floor and took me to the National Hospital,” Orji added.

Upon receiving the news, Orji’s wife, who was in Lagos at the time, flew to Abuja. On January 1st, the first surgery was performed by a neurosurgeon, Dr. Biodun Ogungbo.

“He’s an awesome guy,” Orji said. 

But, a month later, after scans revealed a residual blood clot, Orji underwent a second surgery performed by Dr. Ogungbo.

Meanwhile, Orji received support from prominent figures, including the President of Nigeria, the President’s wife, the Vice President’s wife, the President’s son, and various ministers.

He said, “But in all of it, I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in. The President of Nigeria, the First Lady, the wife to the Vice President, the President’s son, the Minister for Women’s Affairs, the Minister for Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, the Minister for Works, and a whole lot of other people.

“I was receiving calls from South Africa, from the UK, from the US. Some of them were willing to, they were asking me, how can we help? How can we be of assistance? So it was overwhelming the way people responded to the whole thing,” Orji said.

Orji, after his recovery in Nigeria, however, was advised to seek post-surgery assessment in the UK, where he consulted with Dr. John Yeh.

“I’m grateful to God Almighty and I’m also grateful to so many people who stepped in,” he said.

There are emerging indications that ticket prices by domestic airlines in Nigeria may soon experience a significant reduction due to the anticipated commencement of aviation fuel supply by Dangote Refinery.

This development comes as a relief to both operators and passengers who have been grappling with surging ticket costs driven by the high price of Jet A1 fuel.

The introduction of Dangote Refinery into the aviation fuel market is expected to stabilize and potentially lower the cost of Jet A1, providing a more cost-effective fuel source for domestic airlines.

The 12 scheduled airlines, including Air Peace, Aero Contractors, Arik Air, Max Air, Azman, Dana Air, Ibom Air, Green Africa, Overland, Rano Air, ValueJet and United Nigeria Airlines, on February 20, 2022, jointly agreed to increase airfares by 100 per cent to meet up with operational costs.

However, with operators looking at a possible crash in the price of Jet A1, passengers might experience a drop in airfares.

The Managing Director of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, told Vanguard that although the price of Jet A1 had been steady, airlines would appreciate a price decrease.

Sanusi said, “As operators, we have no idea of the refinery where marketers buy Jet A1, but what we look at is the price. If the price drops, whether it is from Dangote refinery or refineries outside the country, we will appreciate it.

”The price has been steady and that is what we use in making our projections. The price of jet fuel has been between an average price of N1,200 and N1,400 per litre.”

On whether the imminent supply could result in a price drop, he added: “It depends on what price Dangote refinery sells Jet A1. If it sells below the market price, then, of course, it would drop price.

”However, if it is not selling below the market price, there won’t be a drop in price. Meanwhile, it is dependent on what crude oil is being sold to him and how much it costs him to refine. What we think will bring down the price of Jet A1 is the cost of freight.

“If Port Harcourt, Warri and Dangote refineries could give us enough jet A1 for some time and we have steady prices, it will definitely have an impact on price. However, that won’t be possible in a few days. It has to be consistent for a few weeks and even months.”