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A joint security task force invaded and arrested about 200 members during Catholic Mass in Okpo, Ogbaru Anambra

Published

9 years ago

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According to Daily Sun;

At least two members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were feared killed and over 100 others arrested yesterday in the commercial city of Onitsha, Anambra State when MASSOB members clashed with security operatives dur­ing activities marking the 16th anniversary of the group.

The thanksgiving services which held in all the states of the South East during the weekend, also led to the arrest of scores of MASSOB members in Aba and Nnewi, according to Daily Sun reports.
The group’s coordinator for Anambra North zone, Emman­uel Omenka, told Daily Sun on phone that the clash took place during the thanksgiving mass held at St. Lwanga Catholic Church, Okpoko, New Haven in Ogbaru Local Government Area. According to him, a joint security task force had invaded the venue and arrested about 200 members.
Omenka alleged that the joint security task force used brute force on them and told them point blank that they were carry­ing out the Federal Government directive on the clampdown on the group.
Also in Nnewi, Anambra State, members of the group also clashed with the Police in Nnewi, leaving five persons wounded and over 50 arrested in the church.
Regional Administrator, MASSOB, Anambra South, Mr Mrs. Virginia Ubazuonu said members were attacked without while in the church to thank God for sustaining them this far.
Daily Sun learnt that trouble started after MASSOB mem­bers had arrived the church and got seated. However, some of the members who arrived later were accosted by the police at the Traffic Light, a stone’s throw to the residence of late Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu residence.
On getting information that their members were being ar­rested at the Traffic Light, other members in the church were said to have mobilized to know why there were problem with the police without any provoca­tion. There was a clash and the police started shooting which lasted for nearly thirty minutes. In the process, three MASSOB members were said to have sustained bullet wounds and the two people arrested were handcuffed by the police were rescued by their members who assisted them to the church for safety while the wounded were taken to an undisclosed hospital. She said the police later rein­forced with over ten trucks and arrested over 50 of her members at the church gate.
“They were shooting at us but we were approaching them until we rescued our members. We did not provoke them. But they decided to attack us,” one of the MASSOB members at the scene of the incident.

Meanwhile, Aba zone of the movement, yesterday were undeterred by police presence as they held their scheduled thanksgiving service.
The Movement effectively beat police strategy as it suc­cessfully held the service in three churches in the city.
The police had as early as 6.00am, stationed armoured personnel carrier (APC) and fierce looking mobile and regu­lar policemen in and around the Christ the king (CKC) Catholic Church where MASSOB had initially planned to hold the ser­vice.
Daily Sun gathered that members of the Movement got information days earlier about the police plan not to allow them access to CKC and made alternative arrangements for dif­ferent venues which they kept to themselves.
But unknown to the police, as they were keeping watch over CKC and its environs, members of MASSOB were at three different churches within the Obohia Road/Crystal Park Hotel axis holding the thanks­giving service. The celebration was also peaceful in Okpoko, Anambra State when MASSOB members marched through the streets, in disguise without put­ting on MASSOB regalia or symbol. However, they chant­ed freedom songs. They later converged on a secluded field where they hoisted the Biafran flag, displayed banners and ad­dressed journalists.
MASSOB zonal leader for Anambra Central, Chief Vin­cent Iloh in a speech said that it calls for celebration and glory to God that the struggle which started on 13th September 1999 has clocked 16 despite several bruises.
He announced the news of death of one of their member, Bartholomeo Onyeagba alleg­edly shot by the police in Awka that morning and another mem­ber also killed in Nnewi. He disclosed that they will continue fighting for the liberation of Ndigbo. He said that the strug­gle for self determination is a legal fight noting that those who fought for the independence of Nigeria from British colonialists were not hounded every time like their group.

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Eniola Badmus assumes office as aide to speaker Abbas

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11 hours ago

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July 26, 2024 2:38 pm

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Eniola Badmus, the Nigerian actress, has officially assumed duty as the aide to Tajudeen Abbas, the speaker of the house of representatives.

In May, the actress confirmed her appointment as the special assistant on social events and public hearings to Abbas.

In a post via Instagram on Thursday, Badmus shared photos of herself and Abbas at a meeting.

The film star disclosed that the meeting was with Godswill Akpabio, the senate president, at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja.

“This week @speakerabbas and President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), inaugurated the governing council of the institution, earlier this week in Abuja,” she wrote.

“NILDS, as the research and academic arm of the National Assembly, is a pillar of knowledge, a capacity-building powerhouse, and a think tank dedicated to advancing our legislative processes.

“NILDS’s mandate was to provide technical and analytical support as well as comprehensive, reliable legislative research to legislators, their aides, committees, and the bureaucracy of the legislative in Nigeria and beyond.

“Over the years, the Institute has significantly contributed to strengthening legislative institutions through its rigorous research, legislative support services, training program, and policy analysis.”

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Chris Brown, Yella Beezy sued for $50m over assault

Published

3 days ago

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July 24, 2024 9:59 am

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Chris Brown and Yella Beezy, the US artistes, are being sued by four men who claimed they were violently attacked and left hospitalised after a concert in Texas on July 20.

According to TMZ, Brown’s entourage lieutenant Sinko Ceej and Live Nation are also facing the lawsuit filed by the alleged victims.

The suit was filed in Houston on Monday by Larry Parker, Joseph Lewis, Charles Bush, and Damarcus Powell.

The plaintiffs are seeking $50 million in damages for alleged monetary losses, pain and suffering, disfigurement, mental anguish, and past, present, and future medical expenses.

They accused the defendants of “throwing chairs at them and repeatedly kicking, stomping, and beating them”.

The plaintiffs said they attended Brown’s ‘11:11 Tour’ at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. After the show ended, they claimed that they were invited and escorted backstage along with 40 women to Brown’s VIP area.

The lawsuit claimed that Brown entered the area after 30 minutes but the alleged victims were tired of waiting and proceeded to leave.

Before leaving, Bush said he approached the singer to shake his hand and congratulate him on a good show.

The lawsuit said before Bush, Parker, Lewis, and Powell could leave, someone from Brown’s entourage said: “Man, you don’t remember you two were beefing?” The singer then allegedly told his crew to attack Bush.

The plaintiffs alleged that they were assaulted in a hallway by almost ten members of Brown’s entourage.

According to the suit, Brown and his crew allegedly punched Parker in the face and chest, kicked him in the head for over 10 minutes, and stomped him, causing him severe bodily injury.

Powell and Bush were said to have been punched in the shoulder and chest by the singer and his entourage.

Lawsuit documents said Bush, Powell, Lewis, and Parker all received severe injuries to their heads, necks, shoulders, and backs and are still receiving medical treatment.

In addition to the $50 million in damages, the plaintiffs have also filed restraining orders against Brown, Beezy, and Sinko Ceej to “preserve evidence”.

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Celebrities

Brain Jotter meets ‘Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo’ singer Mike Ejeagha

Published

4 days ago

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July 23, 2024 9:25 am

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Brain Jotter, the Nigerian skit maker, has finally met with Mike ‘Gentleman’ Ejeagha, the ace highlife singer.

‘Ka Esi Le Onye Isi Oche’, a song by Ejeagha, started to gain widespread popularity earlier this month after Jotter adopted the soundtrack for his hilarious dance moves.

The dance moves involve two or more people facing opposite directions and walking towards each other. They then meet at a point where they do the funny leg dance before one starts chasing after the other while a part of the chorus “Gwo Gwo Gwo Ngwo” is played in the background.

The song has also been recreated over 20,000 times on TikTok with many Nigerians, including celebrities, joining the challenge.

On Sunday, the skit maker sought to meet with the highlife legend, adding that he wanted to gift him the sum of N2 million.

But in an Instagram post on Monday, Jotter shared a photo he took with Ejeagha while expressing joy in finally meeting him.

“So happy I did this. Story coming soon,” he wrote.

Ejeagha is considered one of the pioneers of the highlife genre in Nigeria and was influential in the evolution of music in the Igbo language for over 6 decades.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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