News

Wigwe’s kinsmen promise to probe cause of death ‘traditional way’

Published

1 year ago

February 15, 2024

The people of Isiokpo kingdom in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on Wednesday vowed to use traditional means in investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of their son, Herbert Wigwe, in a helicopter crash in the United States of America.

Wigwe, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, was killed alongside his wife and son in a crash while travelling from Califonia to Nevava.

But peeved by his death, the Isiokpo’s traditional leadership, during a procession to begin eight days of mourning declared in Wigwe’s honour, said on Wednesday that they would deploy the ancient tradition to unearth the circumstances leading to his demise.

“We must get to the root of the whole thing. Isiokpo is an ancient city. We must go back to our traditional way and find out what really killed Herbert Wigwe,” the traditional ruler of Isiokpo, Blessing Wagor said.

Our correspondent who visited the community on Wednesday observed that markets, shops and other business premises in the kingdom were shut, while the people wore black attires to mourn the death of Wigwe.

Many people in Omueke, Wigwe’s hometown and other communities in Isiokpo described him as generous, calm and friendly,

The procession that went round the communities terminated at the palace of the traditional ruler of Isiokpo, Blessing Wagor, who was seated with his council of chiefs to receive hundreds of mourners.

The crowd of mourners sang and called on God to intervene and help the community cope with what they described as an ‘unbelievable and incalculable’ loss.

Speaking, the monarch, King Wigor, described Wigwe as a special man to the community, saying he was championing the development of Isiokpo before his shocking demise.

Wigor further said Wigwe lifted many young men in the area from poverty and fulfilled many promises he made to the community.

He, however, expressed dismay that the community was anticipating the fulfillment of many other promises, including the provision of electricity he made to the people that would have affected more lives positively before his death.

The monarch stated, “Who will now complete the ongoing electricity project he initiated? Who will give us light?”

On some of Wigwe’s legacies, he said, “He is a special man to us. We are crying and mourning him. God knows everything. I won’t ask God why. We hand over everything to God. May God give us the mind to endure it.

“We relied on him. He came to develop Isiokpo. He was a wonderful person to us. He left many legacies in the community. He cited a university here. He made many promises. He promised us plenty of things. We are in tears.

“The light project that he promised us is still ongoing. Who will give us light again? He has gone, and we are in pain. What happens to our Christmas rice and bonus? He used to supply rice all over Isiokpo.

“We enjoyed him, and his death is painful. He was humble, honest and respectful.”

While stating that Wigwe would not be buried anywhere outside Isiokpo, he noted that the community was waiting for his remains to be given a traditional burial befitting him.

He, however, said the community would return to its traditional practice to ascertain the real cause of death of Wigwe.

“We must traditionally bury him. He cannot be buried outside Isiokpo. He must be buried here. The Isiokpo must find a way to probe his death.

“We must get to the root of the whole thing. Isiokpo is an ancient city. We must go back to our traditional way and find out what really killed Herbert Wigwe.

“If his death is natural. We will know. If it is from a human, we will know.”

The king said Wigwe’s death had taught many to work hard and make a positive impact in their communities, adding that if Wigwe had not left such legacies, the entire Isiokpo would not be mourning him.

He added, “This death is an example to all of us. You must make impact in your community. If Herbert is not a good man, this crowd will not gather here today. We can’t be here crying. Let’s follow Herbert Wigwe’s footsteps.”

The President of Isiokpo Youth Council and the Co-ordinating Chairman of all the Ikwerre community youth leaders, Apostle Peter Ezemoye, said the death of Wigwe should be thoroughly probed to find out its real cause.

Ezemoye said, “We are not too comfortable with the stories. We, the youths of Isiokpo, are using this opportunity to call on the Federal Government, the state and the National Assembly to look into this and follow up on investigations to know what actually happened.

“We are not buying into the stories. It is a great loss to us, and we can’t just lose a brother and father like that. We want the Interpol and the Nigerian government to find out what actually happened.

“I am not a pilot, and I am not an engineer, but in my layman’s understanding, when the weather is bad, you don’t take off. So the engineering crew and the helicopter company should be investigated. We need a thorough investigation to see what really happened.”

He flayed the death of Wigwe, describing it as shocking, pointing out that the entire community had been crying since the sad news was confirmed.

He said, :Wigwe was my boss; the news of his death came as a shock. I worked closely with him. We planned with him over the years with the things he brought down to Isiokpo. Education is the key of every society. He had the idea of turning the town into the envy of many people.

“He made many promises to us. We have been crying all these days. We took to the streets today to mark the respect and love we have for him. Today is Valentine’s Lovers Day. You can see the crowd, the entire Isiokpo, the King and chiefs, including the women, are here today in solidarity.

“But one thing is key. What is happening today shows the impact he made in Isiokpo, Ikwerre and Rivers at large. Other communities came here to partake in the procession. The only way we can honour his death is to ensure that his legacies are sustained. That is the best way anyone can mourn him.

“We must protect all and ensure we actualise all his dreams and aspirations. His dreams and his name shouldn’t be allowed to go into extinction. We are mourning him for eight days.

“But after today, activities will go on in the community on a low key. Wigwe did a lot for the community.”

News

PDP headache: I’m simply victim of proxy war against Wike, Anyanwu admits

Published

22 minutes ago

March 23, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Samuel Anyanwu, said on Saturday that the campaign to remove him from his post stemmed from his friendship with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike.

Anyanwu, who was restored to the position on Friday by the Supreme Court following protracted litigation, said he has all this while been a victim of some PDP members’ proxy war against Wike.

Reflecting on the battle to save his political career, the PDP scribe said he would always “feel justified that I have fought for a good cause.”

“I fought a battle for the truth, and that’s just the truth. As for those who assume or believe that I’m their enemy, I’m not anyone’s enemy,” he revealed.

He described his judicial triumph as a victory for the people, for the entire party, and for justice.

I’ve met virtually everyone in the National Working Committee, in the PDP Board of Trustees, in the National Executive Committee and I have not won or triumphed over anyone.

“I have always believed that justice must prevail. The only thing that has just been proven is that no single person totally determines anyone’s fate in life.

“As for me today, I am not celebrating but I am happy that God has vindicated me such that even tomorrow, if I decide to resign or leave, I will always feel justified that I have fought for a good cause.

As for those who assume or believe that I’m their enemy, I’m not anyone’s enemy.

“I know that many of my friends who appear to be fighting me have only been fighting a proxy war. But let me emphasise this: what is most important is the party.

Since the day that I joined the PDP, I have never left the PDP for another party or come back to rejoin; I have always remained in PDP.

News

NDLEA arrests Indian lady with 72 parcels of heroin in chocolate wraps at Kano airport(PHOTOS)

Published

53 minutes ago

March 23, 2025

ADMIN

. Recovers tramadol pills concealed in gas cylinder, cocaine, skunk in Kano, Lagos raids

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have intercepted a 42-year-old Indian lady, Ms. Neetu Neetu at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano, with 72 parcels of heroin factory sealed in wafer wraps and packaged as chocolates.

The class A drug consignment weighing a total of 11 kilograms was recovered from Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search, following processed credible intelligence, during an inward
clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand via Vietnam and Doha at the arrival hall of the Kano airport on Friday 14th March 2025.

The arrest of Neetu signifies a growing attempt by drug trafficking organisations to hire white ladies and foreign nationals to move illicit drugs through the Nigerian borders, a bid that vigilant NDLEA operatives have consistently frustrated with the aid of modern technological tools and proactive intelligence, says Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) in his immediate reaction to Neetu’s arrest.
In another interdiction operation in Kano, NDLEA officers on Thursday 20th March arrested a 45-year-old suspect, Michael Ogundele with a 50-litre steel gas cylinder at Gadar Tamburawa, along Zaria- Kano road. Based on credible intelligence, welding tools were later used to cut the giant cylinder after which 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in it were extracted.

While Sunday Ogar, 40, was nabbed at Gunduwawa area of Kano on Wednesday 19th March with 27kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, a female suspect Khadijah Abdullahi, 40, was arrested with 424 bottles of codeine-based syrup at Lungun Bulala Yalwa area of the state on Tuesday 18th March.

In Lagos, the duo of Olumuyiwa Kolawole and Samod Adisa were nabbed with 67.5kg skunk in Mushin just as 100.8kg of same psychoactive substance was recovered from the store of two fleeing suspects in Anifowoshe area of Mushin while Isah Idris was arrested in Apapa with 4.5kg skunk; 600grams of tramadol 225mg and 30litres of codeine syrup on Tuesday 18th March. Another suspect, Yahaya Mohamed, was arrested same day in Ikotun area of the state with different quantities of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.
Across the country, NDLEA Commands and formations continued to intensify their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) social advocacy sensitization engagements in schools, markets, motor parts, work places and worship centres in the past week.

These include: WADA sensitisation lecture to students and staff of Chrisland School, Ikeja, Lagos; Hakimi Secondary School, Mokwa, Niger state; Marist Comprehensive College, Nteje, Anambra state; Ikole City College, Ikole Ekiti, Ekiti state; Government Day Secondary School, Sunane, Sokoto state; and Government Day Secondary School, Jada, Adamawa state, among others.
While commending the officers and men of MAKIA, Lagos, and Kano Commands of the Agency for the arrests and seizures, its Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted with satisfaction the balance in drug supply and demand reduction efforts of all the formations nationwide, even as he charged them not to relent.

News

Experts reveal why 13,171 Nigerians were denied asylum requests

Published

59 minutes ago

March 23, 2025

ADMIN

No fewer than 13,171 Nigerians who sought refugee protection in Canada from January 2013 to December 2024 were rejected, official data showed.

Specifically, in 2024 alone, 811 Nigerians who applied for refugee protection were turned down by the Canadian government.

The development comes as official data from the Refugee Protection Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada put Nigeria among the top five countries with the most rejected claims, ranking 5th.

Others are Mexico with 2,954 rejections, India (1,688), Haiti (982), and Colombia (723).

The IMRB grants refugee protection in Canada if the RPD satisfactorily confirms that an applicant or claimant meets the United Nations definition of a Convention refugee, “which has been incorporated into Canadian law, or that the applicant is a person in need of protection.

The officer decides whether the claim is eligible to be referred to the IRB.

“If the claim is eligible, it is sent (“referred”) to the RPD to start the claim for the refugee protection process,” an application guideline by the Refugee Board reads.

An analysis of the rejections since 2013 showed that 127, 241, and 248 Nigerians were denied protection in 2013, 2014, and 2015, respectively, under the new system for determining refugee protection claims made in Canada—which took effect on December 15, 2012.

Also, 476, 917, and 1,777 claims were rejected in 2016, 2017, and 2018, respectively.

2019 saw the highest number of rejected claims, with 3,951 Nigerian applicants turned down.

Meanwhile, 1,770, 1,686, 728, 439, and 811 persons were denied protection in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively.

Nevertheless, 10,580 Nigerians were granted refugee status within the decade under review, with at least 2,230 from January to December 2024.

Commenting, Imaobong Ladipo-Sanusi, the executive director of the Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation, said that irregular migration is motivated by economic hardship, the leading cause of rejections.

“Most times, many Nigerians miss it when they don’t understand the laws governing refugee status as adopted in their chosen destination.

“Every country has its regulations for absorbing people into its system,” he stated.

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