South East
Kidnapping:Chinese Nationals Threaten To Leave Nigeria Unless …
As incidents of kidnapping continue unabated in parts of the country without any solution in sight, more than 500 Chinese nationals working as engineers and technicians in Innoson Motor Assembly Plant at Nnewi Anambra State, and those at flat sheet plant Emene industrial Layout, Enugu, Enugu State, have threatened to leave Nigeria emasse if the suspects apprehended by men of the Anambra state police command over their alleged involvement in the kidnapping and killing of their brother, Mr. Feng Shyenyi, were not duly prosecuted..
The Chinese Nationals who made the declaration, Friday while speaking to newsmen at the office of the Center for Victims of Extra-Judicial killings and Torture (CVEKT Africa) on Edinburgh Road, Enugu, through their spokesman, Mr Tang Tao, regretted that between 2007 and now, some of the people directly and indirectly involved in the kidnapping and killing of their compatriot are still working the streets as free men.
They noted that if those involved were not punished according to the law of the land, and if they leave the country emasse the over N250 million Innoson Motor Assembly plant at Nnewi, would collapse, thereby making the over 300 staff at the plant jobless.
This, they went on , would in no small measure simultaneously worsen the already bad economy of the state and that of the federal government.
The aggrieved Chinese nationals therefore called on both the Enugu and Anambra State governments, the Federal Government and the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure that all those involved in the kidnapping and killing of their colleague and brothers, Mr Shyenyi, were brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
This, they reasoned, is the only sure way of assuring them of their safety in Nigeria, describing the kidnapping and subsequent killing of their brother as “very unfortunate”.
Speaking to newsmen later, the Executive Director, Center for Victims of Extra-Judicial killings and Torture (CVEKT Africa) Rev. Fr. Tony Amarube, noted May 29, this year, turned out to be a “watershed” in the kidnap saga.
His words. “On this day, exactly, two years and two months after the kidnap event, the leader of the gang, Innocent Orji, alias “General” was apprehended by the Anambra State police and he has confirmed the death and burial of the second Chinese whose corpse has recently been exhumed and recovered by police.”
Rev. Fr. Amarube recalled that on March 17, 2007, two Chinese nationals and one indigenous staff of Innoson group, Nnewi, Anambra State were kidnapped at the premises of Innoson Motor Assembly plant by a group of criminals “operating under the guise of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
According to him, confirmed reports have it that the three members of staff of Innoson Group were kidnapped and driven blindfolded to an unknown destination where they were subjected to various degrees of torture, adding, “Infact, on a particular day, some of them almost gave up the ghost but for God.”.
The kidnappers, he alleged, demanded millions of naira ransom for the release of the indigenous employee, pointing out that after the kidnappers subsequently accepted to collect N10 million, they agreed to release him, while they held back the other two Chinese nationals.
“Following the refusal by the kidnappers to let the foreigners go after several months, a joint team of the military invaded their forest hideout at ‘Ekoli Edda’, Ebonyi State and rescued one of the Chinese while the hoodlums escaped with the second Chinese.
Using the forum to commend the Nigeria Police, Anambra State Command in particular for the major breakthrough Rev.. Fr. Amarube further congratulated them for their demonstration of commitment and sincerity of purpose and enjoined them not to relent.
“Our worry is that this dastardly act and those behind it may be swept under the carpet, given that between 2007 and now, some of the people directly and indirectly involved in the commission of this crime were still working the streets free men even as there seems to be sustained efforts to hijack this weighty criminal case. Even charging those arrested by the police to court was reluctantly done, and the pace of the dispensation can better be described as snail pace. We understand the gang leader , Innocent Orji has made useful confessions, including exposing a popular Nnewi based businessman as the man behind them, in addition to confessing several other crimes he has committed with his gang.
Also in a petition to the Centre for the Victims of Extra Judicial Killings and Torture CVEKT, dated July 7, 2009, one of the kidnap victims, Mr Sylvester Unigwe,called on the center to intervene , as kidnapping has become a daily event in “our state.”
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.