Author: straightnewsng.com

Akakan Umoh The schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped by suspected bandits in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State have been freed after about 56 days in captivity, the Presidency confirmed. A statement by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga said the victims were freed through the efforts of security agencies. “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Oriire, Oyo State, have been rescued by our security agencies,” Onanuga said. He stated that eight members of the kidnapping gang were arrested during the rescue operation and are now in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). Onanuga said the rescue…

Press Release Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has consoled families and individuals affected by the flash floods in different parts of the state, and called for concerted effort to prevent recurrence. Answering Government House Correspondents at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo, on his return to the state from official engagements, Friday, July 10, he described the incident as unfortunate, and assured that government has put modalities in place to manage the situation. Eno noted that while government was committed to its responsibilities, all hands must be on deck to prevent recurrence, by desilting drainages around their premises, and…

Aniefiok Christopher The major factors responsible for persistent flooding in Uyo Urban, Akwa Ibom State have been revealed with climate change, dumping of waste in drainage system, lack of drains and building houses on flood prone areas as the leading causes. Other causes are lack of government implementation of sanitation law, untimely desilting of drains, excessive/prolonged rainfall, inadequate awareness on flooding, poor sanitation habit and poor Urban Planning. Mr. Dickson Kennedy, a graduate of Urban and Regional Planning, who rolled out the causes of the flooding, mentioned flood prone areas in Uyo Urban to include IBB Avenue, Atiku Abubakar Road, Abak Road by…

Akakan Umoh The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has quizzed two suspects arrested over possession of a vehicle stolen from Delta State. This came as the command another significant operational success with the recovery of a stolen vehicle and arrested two suspects linked to vehicle theft and the unlawful receipt of stolen property. A press release signed by DSP Timfon John, the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer for the state Commissioner of Police said ‘‘Acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the command launched a swift intelligence-led operation which culminated in the arrest of one Isaac Akpan, 27yrs of Akwebom Village, Obot Akara…

Aniefiok Christopher Construction companies have begun desilting and opening of drains to clear floodwater and give the people in the flood-ravaged areas of Uyo new lease of life as directed by the State Government. This follows a directive by Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno that some construction companies should evacuate water from the affected areas, and restore normal water flow to prevent further escalation of the problem. Heavy downpour that spiraled into severe flooding swept several houses away and left many people homeless in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital and its neighbourhoods on Wednesday night and Thursday. Also read: Floods Hit…

Israel Umoh Torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Capital, forcing residents to flee their homes and leaving some homeless.          The flood submerged houses and roads, causing many in the affected houses to ‘swim’ out from the deluge for fear of being drowned. Unfortunately, the floods swept away household properties, vehicles and Keke tricycles and covered others, causing the affected to have suffered losses put at millions of Naira. The flood-ravaged areas were Udo Street bursting into Wellington Bassey Way, Abak Road by Port Harcourt to Ukana Offot Street, Nkemba Street, Iyah Street off Nkemba, Nsikak Eduok…

Akakan Umoh Oil prices rose more than a dollar a barrel in post-settlement trade on Wednesday after the U.S. military ​began launching fresh strikes on Iran. The United States launched major strikes on Iran after attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iran to target US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. The renewed hostilities have strained a fragile truce and driven oil prices to a two-week high. Consequently, both crude benchmarks had settled at their ‌highest in over two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened fresh strikes against Iran as soon as Wednesday night. Trump also said that an…

Prince Ukpong Idiong Jr. The cost of domestic air travel in Nigeria has become an issue that deserves serious public attention. For many travellers departing from Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State to Lagos or Abuja, the dream of convenient and affordable air transportation is gradually giving way to frustration as ticket prices continue to climb. At a time when many households and businesses are struggling with rising living costs, the aviation sector must not become another burden beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians. Perhaps, the clearest indication of this growing concern is the increasing number of…

Aniefiok Christopher  Senator Victor Umeh said South Africa is worse than ingrates, and  condemned xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, accusing some South Africans of forgetting Nigeria’s historical support during the struggle against apartheid. Speaking on the issue during an interview on Channels TV, the senator argued that Nigeria should take stronger action against South Africa, including reconsidering the continued presence of South African businesses in the country. “South Africans are worse than ingrates. We can send them away from here, including their businesses. Who cares? There’s nothing they are doing in Nigeria that we…

A commercial motorcycle operator has been sentenced to life imprisonment for raping a married woman and nursing mother in Uyo Local Government Area. Michael Effiong Japhet was convicted and sentenced by Akwa Ibom State High Court, on Tuesday, July 7, having been found guilty of rape and stealing punishable under the Criminal Code Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000. The incident occurred on February 23, 2015, after the victim, a fruit seller at the popular Ikot Oku Ikono Junction in Uyo Local Government Area, hired the motorcyclist to take her home to Ikot Ofon in Ikono, at the close of…