The murder of a woman identified as Mrs. Pat Ngwu from Ndiuno
Nchatancha community in Emene, Enugu has sparked off violent
demonstrations in Enugu.
The woman was reportedly abducted from her farmland by suspected
bandits on Wednesday and found dead in a bush near a stream in the
morning.
Eyewitness accounts said several machete cuts were found on the
lifeless body of the woman who went to her farm Wednesday afternoon
with a wheelbarrow to harvest cassava but never returned home.
The Enugu State Government, in a statement, by the Secretary to
the State government, Prof Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, condemned the
murder.
It said: “The Enugu State Government condemns in its entirety
the alleged murder of a woman in a farmland at Nchatancha community
in Emene, Enugu East Local Government Area.
“We condole with the family of the deceased and hereby charge
the security agencies to commence a full scale investigation into
the unfortunate incident with a view to apprehending and
prosecuting the culprits.”
It was gathered that when the deceased could not return home,
her husband raised alarm and a search party was organised to look
out for her.
The search in the farmland and nearby bush Wednesday night
yielded no result as only the wheelbarrow and her machete were
seen.
According to the eyewitnesses, information was received from
passers-by on Thursday morning that the mutilated corpse of a woman
was dumped by Asata river.
When the youths rushed to the place, they discovered that it was
the missing woman that was killed.
“We found several machete cuts on her body including the head
and neck with her pant removed and we are suspecting that she must
have been attacked and raped by bandits in the bush,” a native of
Nchatancha said.
However, the development led to a violent protest in Nchatancha
and Obinagu communities as youths from the area, who were extremely
angered, took to the streets.
They marched through the streets and blocked the Enugu
-Abakaliki highway at Eke Obinagu market area and Annunciation
Hospital junction, burning tires and beating people including
travelers.
Some vehicles were reportedly damaged by the youths, who
threatened to go after the bandits wherever they reside within the
community to revenge the woman’s death.
Security operatives from Emene Police Division were said to have
brought the situation under control and later took the corpse of
the woman to Annunciation Hospital Mortuary in Emene.
Contacted, the spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, SP Ebere
Amaraizu, said the command has already commenced investigations
into the murder of the woman.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Suleiman Balarabe, has
directed full scale investigations with a view to establishing what
actually happened and persons involved and their motives amongst
others.
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New Environment Ministers Pledge to unveil problem-solving
programmes, policies
The newly-appointed Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammed
Mahmoud Abubakar, has disclosed that he will assiduously work with
all key stakeholders to design problem-solving programmes and
development-targeted policies that will help tackle ecological
problems and other environmental issues and concerns across the
country.
Dr. Mahmoud, who stated this upon his resumption of office at
the Ministry today, assured that he will work together with the new
Minister of State, Barr Sharon Ikeazor, to take the Ministry to an
enviable ‘Next Level’ as championed by the Buhari-led
administration.
He also assured that he will run an open-door policy of
welcoming diverse recommendations, views and suggestions by
stakeholders, stressing that FMENV is a strategic Ministry that has
the potential to fast-track socio-economic growth, while enhancing
well-being of populace.
The new Minister of Environment noted that concerted efforts is
required by stakeholders, Boards and Parastatal under FMENV,
together with development partners to achieve Mr. President’s
vision for the Ministry.
On her part, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, the new Minister of State
for Environment, said though the task ahead may be onerous, their
duo (herself and the Minister) are imbued with requisite leadership
and administrative pedigree to deliver ‘excellently and
brilliantly’ so as to take the environment sector to a greater
height.
She solicited cooperation from Heads of departments, boards and
agencies under the Ministry, while assuring them of her total
support.
Welcoming the two Ministers, the Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, pledged the unwavering support,
cooperation and synergy of staff of the ministry and its agencies
towards the attainment of set objectives.
Saghir El Mohammed
Director Press