NAN Archive

Loading

NAN Archive

Tag Aba

Defence/Security

Police confirm arrest of 6 suspected armed robbers in Aba

Robbery
By Ijendu Iheaka
Aba, Feb. 19, 2020 (NAN) Abia state Police Commissioner, CP Ene Okon has confirmed the arrest of six suspected armed robbers by a team of detectives at the Ndiegoro Police Division in Aba.

Okon commeded the Ndiegoro DPO, SP Alphonsus Ayang and his men for the feat, adding that the case would be handed over to the appropriate department for firther investigations.

“We are still investigating because we have to do that to know the culpability of the suspects.

“The team has done a beautiful work and what is remaining now is to hand it over to the body that can finish the work like the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) that can investigate robbery cases,” he said.

A police source, who pleaded anonymity, said the robbers were arrested by the Ayang-led team of detectives from Ndiegoro in two different locations within Ndiegoro and Ogbor-Hill axis of Aba with arms and live ammunition.

The source said the first gang was arrested at about 16:40 on the Feb. 16 around Ndiegoro axis while on a criminal mission.

He said the suspects were arrested with five locally made pistol with 13 live cartridges during his arrest.

He further said that on Feb. 17, at about 14:55, through information from their partners in crime, two other suspects were arrested, adding that one locally made pistol was recovered with them.

According to him, some of the suspects also admitted ownership of the recovered weapons.

He said their cases would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Umuahia. (NAN)
IEI/COO/ISMA
============
Edited by Cecilia Odey/Ismail Abdulaziz

Religion

Aba Catholic Dioceses receives Bishop after 5 years

Bishop

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba (Abia state) Feb. 11, 2020 (NAN) Aba Catholic Diocese in Abia, on Tuesday received Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Echema, Diocesan Bishop-elect at Christ the King Cathedral (CKC), Aba after five years without a bishop.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aba Catholic diocese has been vacant for about five years following the death of its erstwhile Bishop, Very Rev. Fr Valentine Ezeonyia in 2015.

Echema, ordained Reverend Father by the Owerri Catholic Diocese was earlier on Tuesday handed over to Aba Diocese in a service at St. James Catholic Church, Owerrinta ahead of his ordination on Thursday, Feb. 13.

During the mid-day service at CKC, Aba to welcome the bishop-elect, Echema thanked members of the church and priests who came to welcome him to Aba Diocese from Owerri Diocese.

He said that he was overwhelmed by their acts of service and love, stressing that they had not done so for him, but for God who owns all the glory.

The Aba Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev. Fr Innocent Ajuonu, said he was happy that Aba Catholic Diocese had received a Chief Shepherd, hence things would take a better shape.

He said it was not easy administering the diocese for five years without a bishop, but noted that the burden did not crush him because of the help of God, the laity and the clergy.

Ajuonu urged the bishop-elect to do his job as he was led because the good people of the diocese were willing to assist him to succeed in his ministry.

The cleric enjoined all Nigerians to honour the Church by being present at the ordination of the Bishop-elect on Thursday.

Earlier, Mr Cherechi Nwogu, the Aba South Transition Chairman, described the appointment of the Bishop-elect to the local government which is the base of Echema’s new ministry, as a welcome development.

He expressed delight over Echema’s appointment as the Aba Catholic Diocesan Bishop and assured him of their support and service.

NAN reports that Pope Francis had on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019 announced the appointment of Very Rev. Fr. Augustine Ndubueze Echema, of the Owerri presbytery as the new bishop of Aba diocese.

Until his appointment, Echema was a Professor of Liturgy in the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.

He was born on December 28, 1958 in Ohuhu Nsulu, in Isiala Ngwa North LGA in then Catholic Diocese of Umuahia but now of Aba.

He had his minor seminary formation at St. Peter Claver Minor Seminary in Okpala, Owerri, between 1972 to1977.

He completed his philosophical studies at the Bigard Memorial Seminary in Ikot Ekpene (1978-1982) and theological studies at same seminary in Enugu 1982-1986.

He was ordained priest on August 16, 1986, for the Owerri diocese. (NAN)
IEI/KOLE/MNA
=========
Edited by Remi Koleoso/Maureen Atuonwu