Vanguard, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013—13
Police, suspected Kelvin gang in gun battle …2 killed, 4 arrested BY EMMA AMAIZE
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ARRI—A GUN battle between the police and a gang of robbers believed to be members of arrested kidnap kingpin, Kelvin Oniarah’s gang, yesterday, left two people dead, in Delta State. Two of the gangsters were gunned down by the police during the battle, while others fled with bullet wounds. Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, who confirmed the death of two suspects, said that four supposed members of the gang were apprehended. Among them were those that cut off the finger of a high court judge, kidnapped in Edo State. He said they were rounded up during a mop up operation by the police. One AK-47 rifle, number 5825006074 with 19 rounds of live ammunition, one pump action gun with seven live cartridges and a Toyota car were recovered from the suspects. During yesterday’s battle, he said, members of the kidnap/ robbery gang parked their vehicle, a Toyota Camry, at the premises of a haulage compa-
ny, Warri, at 11.00 am. “The attention of 31 Police Mobile Force, personnel on duty at the company premises was drawn and as the policemen were approaching the vehicle, the suspects
zoomed off. “They were given a hot chase and the criminals suspecting that the police were closing in, opened fire. There was an intense exchange of gun fire and two of the sus-
NIM CONFERENCE: From left: Dr. Michael Olawale-Cole, President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Institute of Management,NIM, (Chartered); Lady Valerie Ebe, Deputy Governor, Akwa Ibom State, representing, Governor Godswill Akpabio and Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, Head of Civil Service of the Federation, representing, President Goodluck Jonathan, at the annual National Management Conference of NIM at Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
A-Ibom civil servants agonise over delayed salaries BY TONY NYONG
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YO—CIVIL servants in Akwa Ibom State are lamenting delay in payment of salaries, particularly that of September. The delay, which the civil servants said was as a result of the state government failing to save for the rainy day, has been partly attributed to the Federal Allocation Account Committee’s inability to remit allocations to states. Three weeks ago, the state Ministry of Finance said that civil servants should not expect payment of salaries regularly due to delay in the remittances of federal allocation. State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Mr. Unyime Usoro, condemned the statement, saying that the position was unacceptable to workers in the state.
pects were killed. Mopping up operation by the police on the remnants of the gang is yielding fruits and the haulage company’s case has been referred to Enerhen Police Station for further investigation,” he added.
Defending labour ’s decision, Usoro said that the statement by government would not only send out wrong signals, but implied that either the administration was not saving for the rainy day or was not generating internal revenue. The reaction of the state
NLC, culminated in the Office of the State AccountantGeneral taking a position that the state will pay workers salaries as they continue to receive in piecemeal, what comes in from FAAC. Just last week, some ministries and agencies were paid their September salary according to what the state gov-
ernment claimed was piecemeal remittance of the state’s allocation. Other workers have been left at the mercy of when the next FAAC allocation will come to the state. The state Finance Commissioner, Mr. Bassey Albert, and spokes person of the government, Aniekan Umanah, could not be reached as they neither picked their calls, nor responded to text messages.
Edo PDP, APC chieftains in war of words BY SIMON EBEGBULEM
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ENIN—CHIEFTAINS of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and those of All Progressives Congress, APC, in Edo State, yesterday, engaged themselves in a war of words over the proposed sale of Edo House in Lagos by Governor Adams Oshiomhole. The governor had explained that the state Executive Council took the decision, because the property was abandoned by previous PDP governments,
when they were in power in the state, adding that the government will use the proceeds to build a five star hotel which will generate revenue and employment for people of the state. But a PDP governorship aspirant in the 2012 governorship election in the state, Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon, described the action as shameful, saying: “Why will a cabinet that has the likes of Idahagbon and Professor Ihonvbere allow that? This is not about Oshi-
omhole, it is not about who is the governor, it is about our history, it is about our tomorrow and our children.” But a chieftain of APC, Chief Francis Inegbeneki, who flayed PDPs’ criticisms, said “PDP government sold all the government houses and plots in GRA and they never even advertised it. Oshiomhole advertised the Edo House for sale because he means well for the people and we are confident that the money will be used to develop Benin City.”
NAIG fracas: Congress urges truce BY EGUFE YAFUGBORHI
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ARRI—CONGRESS of the National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, has called for truce over divisions generated by a fracas at the association’s August meeting in Warri. In a communique at its September congress in Ugbuwangwe, Warri, the body condemned the crisis in the association and implored the NAIG President, Ms. Tenumah Naomi Alero to seek an amicable settlement. The congress passed a vote of confidence on the president and nominated three members, Collins Edema, Toju Ben and Tosan Omaghomi to assist her in the interim pending a by-election.
Pa Nkwocha passes on at 92
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HIEF Michael Nkwocha of Enugwu Ukwu, Anambra State, is dead, aged 92. He was a former Chairman of Nigerian Peoples Party, NPP, and later National Party of Nigeria, NPN, caucus in Anambra Central Senatorial District and Chairman of Njikoka Local Government Area of the party, in the Second Republic. His remains will be laid to rest in his residence at Enugwu Ukwu, Anambra State on November 8.
Late Chief Nkwocha