Search This Blog

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

We Won’t Allow Boko Haram Enter Abia, Says Muslim Cleric


As the terrorist Islamic sect, Boko Haram, continues to spread terror in some parts of the country, the Chief Imam of Abia State, Sheik Ali Ukiwo, has vowed that the Muslim faithful in Abia would resist any attempt by the terrorists to infiltrate the state.
He gave the assurance yesterday when he led a delegation of the Muslim faithful to pay a Sallah homage to the Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, saying that Boko Haram and all it represents have nothing to do with the Islamic religion.

The Muslim cleric explained that the assurance had become necessary in view of the intermittent rumours that the dreaded sect had entered Abia thereby raising suspicion that Muslims in the state might have compromised in accepting the terrorist brand of Islam.

“Boko Haram is a satanic group. We don’t know where they are coming from,” Sheik Ukiwo declared, adding that true Muslims should not be associated to the terrorist sect.

According to him, there was no reason to link the Boko Haram terrorism with Islam since the sect has declared war on everybody irrespective of the faith one professes hence they spare only their own members.

“Ninety per cent of their victims are Muslims; 90 per cent of those in the refugee camps are Muslims. Then if they (Boko Haram) are Muslims, why are they killing their brothers?’ he argued.
Sheik Ukiwo decried the politicisation of the security challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency, saying that Nigerians should put away their differences and unite against terrorism.
“(Boko Haram) are enemies of Nigeria, which we must all unite to resist or else they will cause divisions among us and impose their evil agenda on the country,” he said.

The Muslim cleric lauded Orji for his youth employment programme, which has helped in reducing crime in Abia, adding that the Muslim community in would ever remain grateful for the good gestures of Governor Orji to Abia Muslims.

In his response, the Abia governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Mr. Cosmos Ndukwe, urged Abia Muslims to continue to live in peace with one another as government and people of Abia would always accommodate every religion.
He called for peaceful co-existence among all Nigerians irrespective of faith and creed, noting that the Boko Haram terrorists were evil doers who continue to wallow in their foolhardiness of shedding blood instead of coming to terms with the fact that “it is illusory for anyone to think that he will make heaven by killing others.”

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Breaking News: Security Operatives Bust Kidnap Gang In Abia, Kill 3... NURTW boss Rescued Unhurt


A combined team of security agents destroyed a kidnap gang in Abia on Sunday, killing three members and freeing their victims unhurt.

The gang, according to reports, had last Thursday abducted the state chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Sunny Nwakodo, and was responsible for shooting of state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Kenneth Nwosu, who later died of the gunshot wounds.

A combined team of the Army and Department of State Security Services (SSS) however apprehended the gang after raiding a bush at Umuariga village, Umudike in Ikwuano local government where the abducted NURTW chairman was held.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr. Eze Chikamnayo while briefing newsmen in a press conference in Umuahia, the state capital said, "the gang, which didn’t give up without a fight lost three members in the ensuing shootout. The slain members of the gang were identified as Ogbuonye Daniel Ogbonna, Uchegbu Oscar Ugochukwu and Oleka Damian Chibueze, while other gang members are still on the run".

The security operatives recovered one AK 47 rifle, two magazines and 22 rounds of ammunition from the scene of the shooting.