Boy shoots cousin dead in Imo

Sorrow, tears and agony engulfed Dikenta Autonomous Community, Avutu in the Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State, following the brutal killing of an 11 year old boy, Jonathan Osuocha by his 16-year old cousin, Chinaza Osuocha.

It was gathered that the issue started from a misunderstanding between the father of the deceased, Ifeanyi Osuocha and his younger brother, the father of the assailant, Ahamefula Osuocha who works as a hunter and a palm-wine tapper.

It was also gathered that Chinaza invited his cousins, Jonathan and Chika to his father’s house. And after sending them to fetch water for him, he entered his father’s room and brought out his father’s hunting gun.

Chinaza pointed the gun at Jonathan, pulled the trigger and the bullet shattered Jonathan’s head. He died on the spot.

Investigations further revealed that after Chinaza was arrested and taken to the police station for interrogation he confessed that it was his father, Ahamaefula that told him to kill his brother with the gun before leaving with a promise that he would give him an undisclosed amount of money when he returned.

Speaking to our correspondent , the father of the deceased, Remigus Ifeanyi Osuocha disclosed that seven of his children had died mysteriously in the past without a trace of the cause.

He said, “God blessed me with nine children. It was so sad that I have lost seven of them. None of them was sick before dying.

“Although, I am not accusing anybody, I know somebody or something was responsible for the death.
“My younger brother, Ahamefula had attempted shooting me in the past before one of my in-laws who was present saved me.

“Just tell me, what I have done to him that should warrant him to kill my son and who knows if he will later kill this only one that remains”

-Punch

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Customs seize fake drugs, furniture worth N226m

843 cartons of fake drugs and another containing furniture were seized by Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “C”, Owerri, Imo State. It says it has seized two trucks with a Duty Paid Value of N226,830,000.

It was also said that the cartons of imported fake drugs comprised 696 packs of fake Lubumol and 153 packs of Tramodol analgesics, amounting to a DPV of N163,260,000. Briefing journalists at the premises of the NCS Imo-Abia Command, Owerri, where the exhibits were displayed, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller David Dimka, said the consignments were confiscated on Eleme-Aba road on September 22, 2015.

He further said officers and men of the unit, who monitored the nefarious activities of the die-hard smugglers, equally seized 303 cartons of glass dining table, 1,936 pieces of side stool with a DPV of N63,120,000 . Dimka warned that the NCS would ensure smugglers and their collaborators were flushed out from their hideouts in the country.

“We are worried at the upsurge of smuggling in this country despite the obvious penalties for culprits. The NCS is not sleeping and will ever remain awake to its responsibilities and the persistent cases of smuggling shows how terrible, greedy, and deviant people can be.

“Since the smugglers have learnt how to fly without perching, we, with the NCS have also learnt how to shoot without missing,” Dimka said.

Dimka handed over the drugs to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, through the Imo State Coordinator, Mr. Mmamel Victor, for further investigation and action. He said the driver of the truck conveying the drugs had been arrested and was being investigated.

-Punch

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Customs seize fake drugs, furniture worth N226m

843 cartons of fake drugs and another containing furniture were seized by Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone “C”, Owerri, Imo State. It says it has seized two trucks with a Duty Paid Value of N226,830,000.

It was also said that the cartons of imported fake drugs comprised 696 packs of fake Lubumol and 153 packs of Tramodol analgesics, amounting to a DPV of N163,260,000. Briefing journalists at the premises of the NCS Imo-Abia Command, Owerri, where the exhibits were displayed, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller David Dimka, said the consignments were confiscated on Eleme-Aba road on September 22, 2015.

He further said officers and men of the unit, who monitored the nefarious activities of the die-hard smugglers, equally seized 303 cartons of glass dining table, 1,936 pieces of side stool with a DPV of N63,120,000 . Dimka warned that the NCS would ensure smugglers and their collaborators were flushed out from their hideouts in the country.

“We are worried at the upsurge of smuggling in this country despite the obvious penalties for culprits. The NCS is not sleeping and will ever remain awake to its responsibilities and the persistent cases of smuggling shows how terrible, greedy, and deviant people can be.

“Since the smugglers have learnt how to fly without perching, we, with the NCS have also learnt how to shoot without missing,” Dimka said.

Dimka handed over the drugs to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food Drugs Administration and Control, Dr. Paul Orhii, through the Imo State Coordinator, Mr. Mmamel Victor, for further investigation and action. He said the driver of the truck conveying the drugs had been arrested and was being investigated.

-Punch

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Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Imo

Gunmen, suspected to be cultists, on Saturday morning killed a Catholic priest and lecturer in the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Rev. Fr. Desmond Osuagwu in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The priest, who is a member of the congregation of the Claretian Missionaries, Eastern Province, Nigeria, was said to be heading for the St. Mark’s Catholic Chaplaincy, Obinze Barracks, where he served as a Chaplain to conduct the day’s Eucharistic mass for the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

It was gathered that the assailants waylaid him on the road at a pathway before Avu junction, along the Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, dragged him out of his SUV before he was killed by stabbing him in his neck and his stomach.

A reliable source told our correspondent that the suspected cultists dragged him into a nearby bush, tied him on a tree and killed him. According to the source, the assailants did not take any money from the priest’s car.

Osuagwu, who hails from Obowo Local Government Area of the state, was until his untimely death, the Director of Students Industrial Works Experience Scheme at the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo.

The cleric, who celebrated his 25 years anniversary as a priest last year, was reported to be among the top contenders for the position of Superior-General of the Claretian priests, slated to hold sometime in 2016.

The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the incident. He said, “We heard the information that morning and immediately moved our men to the scene of the incident. The state police command is intensifying all efforts to see that the perpetrators of the dastard action are brought to book. We must surely get them.”

-Punch

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Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Imo

Gunmen, suspected to be cultists, on Saturday morning killed a Catholic priest and lecturer in the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, Rev. Fr. Desmond Osuagwu in Owerri, the Imo State capital. The priest, who is a member of the congregation of the Claretian Missionaries, Eastern Province, Nigeria, was said to be heading for the St. Mark’s Catholic Chaplaincy, Obinze Barracks, where he served as a Chaplain to conduct the day’s Eucharistic mass for the men of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

It was gathered that the assailants waylaid him on the road at a pathway before Avu junction, along the Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, dragged him out of his SUV before he was killed by stabbing him in his neck and his stomach.

A reliable source told our correspondent that the suspected cultists dragged him into a nearby bush, tied him on a tree and killed him. According to the source, the assailants did not take any money from the priest’s car.

Osuagwu, who hails from Obowo Local Government Area of the state, was until his untimely death, the Director of Students Industrial Works Experience Scheme at the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo.

The cleric, who celebrated his 25 years anniversary as a priest last year, was reported to be among the top contenders for the position of Superior-General of the Claretian priests, slated to hold sometime in 2016.

The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Andrew Enwerem, confirmed the incident. He said, “We heard the information that morning and immediately moved our men to the scene of the incident. The state police command is intensifying all efforts to see that the perpetrators of the dastard action are brought to book. We must surely get them.”

-Punch

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