News
Empty streets, markets as residents comply with IPOB’s sit-at-home order in south-east
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Streets in some parts of the south-east have been deserted.
There is no vehicular movement in vast swathes of the geopolitical region as residents comply with the sit-at-home order issued by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In certain neighbourhoods, you could hear a pin drop in the distance.
Traders have also not opened for business due to fear of attacks by the sit-at-home enforcers.
Last week, IPOB declared May 30 as a sit-at-home in the south-east to honour “our heroes and heroines” who died in the civil war between 1967 and 1970.
“Annually, 30th of May is solemn memorial day for Biafrans. To honor our heroes and heroines. Biafrans are asked to observe this one (1) day sit-at-home in reverence to the spirits of our departed heroes who fought for us to be alive today,” Emma Powerful, IPOB spokesperson, said in a statement.
“Every Biafran in Biafra territory is expected to sit-at-home on this day and reflect on the danger of the forced unity called Nigeria that have taken millions of lives of Biafrans.
“To that effect, IPOB directs all schools, government offices, Private offices, Banks, transport unions, market unions and private individuals to shut down all operations in honor of our our heroes and heroines on Thursday, May 30, 2024.
“IPOB directs all the residents of Biafra Land to stay indoors from 6am to 6pm on the 30th of May 2024. IPOB warns residents in Biafra to avoid loitering about on this day.
“Those who intend to travel to and fro Biafra land must do so before the evening of May 29th.”
The group is known for forceful and violent enforcement of its sit-at-home directives.
SKELETAL MOVEMENT IN EBONYI
Residents and traders in some south-east states, including Imo and Ebonyi, told TheCable on Thursday morning that there is no vehicular movement and that the streets are empty, with people remaining indoors for fear of being attacked.
A community leader in Ikwo, the largest LGA in Ebonyi, told TheCable that there was panic buying on Wednesday as people planned not to go out today.
“As I can see, the traffic is not as usual, only few and skeletal movement is happening within,” the community leader who craved anonymity said.
“There is a lot of panic such that some of the occasions that were scheduled today were postponed. Today was to be the local government delegate and councillorship primaries, but to that effect it was postponed for 31st.
“The reason I believe is not that the state government is afraid but then, to avoid casualties. You wouldn’t know when an untoward event can occur and some people will be affected.
“Of course, some shops are closed, some busy areas are not as it usually was. That is how my own area is.
“I haven’t seen any student move around. A lot of people that were meant to come from outside south-east — for fear of being attacked, had to leave yesterday.”
EMPTY STREETS, MARKETS IN IMO
A trader in Owerri who wished not to be named, expressed support for the sit-at-home order.
“I like what is happening today. Biafrans are marking their day. You can see no market today, no vehicular movement. It is like that in all Biafran states. We want Biafra to come and it will surely come,” the trader said.
“Nigerian government is suffering us. We are hungry and poor now. The president should change his style of leadership. People are dying of hunger and the government is not doing anything to alleviate our suffering.”
‘DISREGARD IPOB SIT-AT-HOME ORDER’
Meanwhile, police commands in the various south-east states have asked residents to ignore the sit-at-home order and go about their normal businesses.
Henry Okoye, the police spokesperson in Imo, said the order was “unlawful”.
Okoye said Aboki Danjuma, the commissioner of police in Imo, has strategically deployed security operatives to all nooks and crannies to ensure public safety.
Similarly, the Anambra police advised residents to shun the sit-at-home order.
“The Anambra State Police Command has become cognizant of the activities of criminal elements disseminating, threatening voice-overs and violent videos in an attempt to enforce illegal sit-at-home directives and instill fear among the residents of Anambra,” Tochukwu Ikenga, police public relations officer in Anambra, said in a statement.
“It is imperative to inform the public that actionable intelligence indicates that these individuals, in their bid to enforce the unlawful sit-at-home order, fabricate threatening voice-over recordings and circulate outdated videos of violent incidents, some of which did not occur within the state or even the country.
“The Command is fully aware of these secessionist activities and urges the law-abiding citizens of Anambra to disregard such propaganda.
“Rest assured, the Police, along with other security agencies, have mobilized law enforcement resources to ensure the safety and security of every citizen in the state.”
News
EFCC warns casino operators, real estate agents against money laundering
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The Economic and financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has warned designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) money laundering.
Businesses referred to as DNFBPs include casinos, real estate agents, dealers in precious metals, dealers in precious stones, lawyers, notaries and other independent legal professionals.
Speaking during a one-day sensitisation programme organised by the special control unit against money laundering, (SCUML) for DNFBPs, Michael Wetkaz, director of EFCC in Lagos, said businesses should not create room for criminally-minded people to thrive.
“The financial institutions, to a large extent, have been regulated; and the issues of terrorism have been of great concern, globally,” he said.
”As a result, nations have tightened measures to ensure that the bad people have very limited space or even no space to operate, thereby helping to improve safety and security.
“But if you allow these criminal activities to pass through your businesses, it will worsen the insecurity situation in the country.”
He said the business operators should do their part and report financial activities that may threaten the security of the country.
“Please, do your part and report activities that you are obligated to report. We are doing our part to sensitize you,” he said.
“We are doing our part to sensitize you. We do this, so you know what we are supposed to do and you are not caught on the wrong side of the law. We should all work together to make it difficult for the bad actors.”
News
FRSC to clamp down on vehicles without speed limit devices
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The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, says it will start arresting drivers and impounding vehicles without speed limit devices in the state.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Mrs Joyce Alexander, said this at a news conference on Friday, in Awka.
Alexander said that records had shown that the majority of road crashes were caused by speed violations resulting in tyre bursts and loss of control.
She said the enforcement became necessary as drivers speed recklessly, overload their vehicles and transport people, animals and goods, regardless of the consequences.
“The policy thrust of the new Corps Marshall is to rejig operations, reassess and reevaluate them for better performance in Anambra.
“I want to put FRSC on a central map in Anambra, create impact and reduce road crashes and disobedience to traffic rules.
“We will commence minimal enforcement to achieve this. Motorists have been mandated to fix speed limit devices but some have not complied.
“We will start arresting defaulters and make them pay fines. We will insist they install the device before we release their vehicles,” she said.
The Sector Commander said a joint task force would be constituted in collaboration with other sister agencies to decongest and ensure sanity on the roads during the ‘Ember’ months.
She said the Corps would also work with the media to amplify public sensitisation and enlightenment on traffic regulations.
“We will be working with the state government to ensure the roads are motorable, obstructions removed and road signs installed in appropriate areas.
“The endgame is to have a situation where road users arrive at their destinations alive and safe,” Alexander said.
Deputy Corps Commander Jude Nnamani urged the public to cooperate with FRSC to reduce crashes in the state.
News
EFCC hands over 53 recovered vehicles, $180,300 to Canadian police
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over $180,300 recovered funds to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
The commission also said 53 vehicles stolen from Canada and brought into Nigeria were recovered nationwide have been handed over to the Canadian police.
At the handover ceremony on Friday, Ola Olukoyode, EFCC chairman, said the recovered assets—which were stolen by wire fraud and romance scam—would be returned to the victims.
Out of the total sum, $164,000 was reportedly stolen from Elena Bogomas, a Canadian national, in a romance scam, while $16,300 was from one Sandra Butler.
“It is common knowledge that financial crimes have taken a new turn all across the globe. It has become a global problem,” Olukoyode said.
“What affects one country in a matter of time, will affect other countries. The people who perpetrate these crimes, they do it in such a way that we discover that their activities are quite borderless and boundless.
“They employ all kinds of means to ensure that they move across various jurisdictions. That’s why it has become very necessary and imperative for us to collaborate with our friends across the world. People share the same objective and mandate with us.
“The Canadian royal mounted police has been collaborating with us and the demonstration of that collaboration has resulted in a lot of recoveries.
“As an agency and as a country, we are always ready to fight financial crime. Nigeria shouldn’t be seen as a hub. It is also to demonstrate that the government of Nigeria will never tolerate acts of financial crimes.
“We have recovered money, financial assets, and also we have recovered vehicles on behalf of the victims in Canada. As a matter of fact, a total of 53 vehicles were recovered on behalf of the victims. Also, in one instance, we had $164,000 U.S. dollars given to a Canadian victim known as Eleanor Bogomas. And also, we have here, another sum of $16,000 U.S. dollars stolen from another victim known as Sandra Butler.”
Nasser Sadiou, liaison officer, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Robert Aboumitri, first secretary of the Deputy High Commission of Canada, were present at the event.
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