From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha

Irate youths, yesterday, went on rampage in Onitsha, Anambra State when a lorry crushed to death a pregnant woman and her two children at a police checkpoint along Onitsha-Owerri Road.

It was gathered that the mobile policemen who were conducting stop and search, stopped a car while an oncoming  tipper lorry lost control and rammed into the parked car, killing a pregnant woman and her two children inside the vehicle.

The incident, a source said, angered the youths who mobilised and attacked the policemen. Failure of the youths to get at the policemen made them go on rampage during which they destroyed property where the security personnel ran for cover.

The incident caused gridlock for hours along Onitsha-Owerri Road.

An eyewitness,  Uche Amobi said immediately the accident happened, the angry youths  blamed the policemen for the accident.

“Immediately the accident occurred, the youths in the area attacked the policemen. The policemen who took to their heels, ran into Amazu motors premises. The youths pursued them into the premises. When they could not find the policemen, they got angry and went on rampage destroying property, including a shopping mall.”

It took the intervention of other policemen led by Onitsha Area Commander, Mr. Abubakar Yahaya, an Assistant Commissioner (ACP) to calm the situation.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nkeiruka Nwode who confirmed the incident said a lady and two children died in the accident and advised motorists to always have their vehicle papers and licenses intact and obey policemen at checkpoints.

He warned lorry drivers to always drive with care and not under influence of alcohol or other hard drugs.  Nwode said the corpses had been deposited at the morgue, he also condoled with the family.

 

… Stands still for Anglican Communion

From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi

The Anglican Communion, East of the Niger in Anambra State, yesterday, marked the 160th anniversary of Christianity in Igboland with the coming of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowder who introduced Church Missionary Society (CMS) to the Igbo ethnic nationality.

Anglican faithful trooped out in their thousands with live bands to mark the anniversary at All Saints’ Cathedral, Onitsha. 

The faithful  walked through major roads in the metropolis, while some celebrants used their private vehicles, blowing trumpets as they moved.

The event which started at 8am caused gridlock in the city for hours, though members of the Red Cross Society, the police, road marshals and other paramilitary outfits were on ground to contain the situation.

Addressing newsmen after the road walk, Bishop on the Niger, Rt Rev Dr. Owen Nwokolo said the celebration was significant in the sense that it brought to fore the gains of the missionary adventure in Igboland.

The bishop, who was represented by the Sub Dean of the church, Venerable Uzochukwu noted that it was because of the arrival of the missionaries that so many developments came into Igboland and other parts of Nigeria.

He said no meaningful development would have been possible if not for the early missionaries in Igboland and Nigeria, generally.

“It is because of the missionary adventure that we are able to enjoy things like cars, radio, television, and other modern technologies as we have them today.

“Without the missionaries, life would not have been meaningful to us.

“The entire place is transformed. And if the gospel can do this transformation in our lives in 160 years, nothing can be done without the gospel,” he said. 

Bishop Nwokolo explained that the coming of the early missionaries brought with it salvation to people of this part of the globe with the gospel of Jesus Christ without which nobody would have had hope of salvation in Christendom.

He, therefore, urged those who have not accepted Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour to do so and be sure of eternal life.