EEDC condemns machete attack on staff at Umuahia

 

Enugu Electricity Distribution Company PLC (EEDC) ON Monday condemned the gruesome attack of its staff in Umuahia, Abia state.

 

The company said her staff, identified as Obiajulu Atta, an Operations Technician attached to Umudike Service Center under Umuahia District, Abia State was attacked yesterday’s afternoon by a customer.

 

According to a release in Enugu by Emeka Ezeh, EEDC’s head of communications, the customer, whose full details are yet to be known was to be disconnected for nonpayment of electricity bill, and in the process he got infuriated, went for a machete and cut Obiajulu’s hand.

 

He said that First aid was immediately administered on the victim at a private Clinic and subsequently rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, for proper medical attention.

 

"There is no justification whatsoever for this horrible act and the Management of EEDC has vowed to apprehend the perpetrator of this crime and prosecute him accordingly".

 

Gov. Ugwuanyi inaugurates committee on Govt properties' status

 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has inaugurated the 9-man ad hoc committee he recently constituted to identify and determine the status of all properties belonging to the state government.

The committee headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, is also saddled with the responsibilities of determining the level of compliance with monetization of the Enugu State Government properties and identifying the state government landed properties in and out of the state.

Other terms of reference of the committee are “to verify the claims of individuals or corporate bodies to Enugu State Government properties; identify the level of indebtedness of individuals and corporate bodies to Enugu State Government with respect to government’s landed property allocations; and to make further findings and/or recommendations that are reasonably incidental to the attainment of the above objectives”.

Inaugurating the committee, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, explained that “consequent upon the creation of Enugu State from the then Anambra State, on 27^th August, 1991; and the exit of part of Ebonyi State from Enugu State on 1^st October, 1996, assets-sharing between Enugu State and Ebonyi State took place”.

The governor noted that some of the properties Enugu State also acquired, which “may be found in the state or other parts of the country”, have been monetized, stressing  the need to identify and determine the status of these properties owned by the state.

“This will aid government to know the exact number of properties it owns, status of these properties, proprietary and possessory rights of occupants to these properties and the necessary actions to be taken by the state”, he said.

The committee, which is expected to complete its assignment within two months of its inauguration, has the following members:  Mr. Livinus Okoro (Auditor General, Enugu State); Tpl. Charles Chuks Ngene (Deputy Director, Town Planning); Esv. Dennis N. Ezema; Surv. Kingsley Chime and Chief Jeff Ogbodo.

Others are, Mr. Joshua Udeh, Mr. Ebuka Odoh and Okeke Onuora Monday, Esq (SA to the Governor, SSG’s Office) who serves as the Secretary.

Responding on behalf of other members of the committee, the chairman, Prof. Okwueze, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for finding them worthy to serve the state in that capacity and pledged that they will discharge their duties diligently, in line with the terms of reference.

NGO, WINET takes campaign against rape, gender violence to Enugu communities

 

From; Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

 

Worried by the rising cases of rape and gender violence, a non governmental organization (NGO), Women Information Network (WINET) has taken the campaign against the vices to Enugu communities.

 

To this end, communities in Enugu State have been advised to design response systems to stem cases of rape and other sexual and gender-based violence.

 

They have also been told to mainstream Sexual and Gender -Based Violence (SGBV) issues into community events especially in the area of safety and security. 

 

A resource person, Mr. Larry Oguego gave the advice at a ‘Community Dialogue on Involving Men in Ending Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Enugu State’ at Umuchigbo Iji-Nike Community, Enugu East local government area of the state, during a sensitization event organized by Women Information Network (WINET), a rights group and nongovernmental organisation (NGO).

 

Oguego, a right activist said it is important to train boys and girls to understand the issues about violence against women and girls in the society because there are laws such as the Enugu State Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Law 2019 that protects victims.

 

According to Mr. Oguego, no one who does something wrong especially perpetrating violence against women and girls should be allowed to go free.

 

He said people should be made to face the consequences of their actions and emphasized that it is the duty of men and boys to protect women and girls.

 

The chairman of Umuchigbo Iji-Nike Community, Hon. Kenneth Mbah in a remark promised to organize a similar dialogue for a larger number of community members to sensitize them on Sexual and Gender Based Violence. 

 

Mbah said that the community has in a place a taskforce where people report such cases and expressed delight that WINET visited his community to enlighten the men on Sexual and Gender-Based violence which is very prevalent in the society now.

 

Earlier, the Executive Director of Women Information Network (WINET) Mrs. Miriam Menkiti said that her organization was involving men and boys in their campaign to end sexual and gender-based violence in Enugu State because they are mainly the perpetrators of SGBV.

 

While stressing that men have a role to play in ending the scourge, Menkiti said the WINET project titled ‘Sustained Enlightenment Campaign to end Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Enugu State’ was with a view to achieving increased enjoyment of human rights by women and girls and the advancement of gender equality.

 

She stated that the community dialogue was organized under the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Nigeria Project, fully supported by ActionAid Nigeria with funding from Global Affairs Canada.

 

Enugu Security Council meeting: Gov. Ugwuanyi expresses sadness over IPOB, security personnel clash, promises to get to the root of the matter

 

Pix: Gov Ugwuanyi addressing the press at the end of state security meeting on Tuesday

 

Sequel to the recent bloody clash between the Indigenous People of Ibiafra (IPOB) and security agencies in the state, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Tuesday, held an emergency Security Council meeting with all the heads of security agencies in the state in attendance.

Governor Ugwuanyi during the meeting reiterating his commitment to unravel the causes of the civil disturbances as well as put further machinery in motion to forestall future recurrence.

Addressing journalists after the meeting which took place at the EXCO Chambers of the Government House, Enugu, Gov. Ugwuanyi expressed sadness over the loss of lives during the untoward events.

The governor said that “as the Chief Security Officer of the state, I am at all times committed, to doing all within my powers, to ensure the security of lives and property in Enugu State”.

He added that “following the emergency Security Council meeting…, it has become necessary to give those responsible for getting to the root of these unfortunate developments a little more time to complete their work”. 

Gov. Ugwuanyi further said: “The events of the 23rd August, 2020 which culminated in the loss of lives of members of Nigerian Security Agencies and residents of Enugu State as well as recent reports of attacks on Railway Police Station, Ogui, on 28th August, 2020 and Unity Police Station, Abakpa, on 30th August, 2020 where weapons were reportedly carted away, have been matters of great concern to me”.

The governor therefore asked those in custody of weapons snatched from security agents to return them to the agencies or the nearest traditional ruler who will return same to the appropriate security agency.

While appealing for calm and understanding of all concerned “as we work together to sustain the long existing and cherished peace in Enugu State”, the governor disclosed that the State Security Council in the meeting approved the immediate joint patrol by all security agencies and a meeting with traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders to hold on Thursday, September 3, 2020, at the Government House, Enugu.

It would be recalled that the governor, in the wake of the civil disturbances in the state, summoned an emergency state Security Council meeting for September 1, 2020, where "all security agencies in the state are expected to brief His Excellency, the Governor, fully, on the immediate and remote causes of the clashes, as well as advance measures to avert such occurrences in the future.”