By Emma Chukwuanukwu, Assistant News Editor
Alex Ekwueme Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organisation, will be holding its inaugural International Summit on March 31at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
According to the Director General of the foundation, Dr. Duke Igwilo, “Terrorist kidnapping and hostage-taking is now a critical issue in Nigeria. Having grown phenomenally since the mid 1990s, it is now a source of significant safety and security concerns across the country and adversely affecting the country’s economy by greatly undermining foreign investment.”
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Daily Independent
It is a cheerful news that elder statesman and former Vice- President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, has at last, settled for a foundation.
The Alex Ekwueme Foundation, a non-profit and non-governmental organisation, according to media reports, will be holding its inaugural International Summit on March 31, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The foundation, it was disclosed, would have its thrust on how to douse the ire of militancy, which has developed to dangerous dimension, in the country.
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Thisday - 02.25.2009
Like a bad dream, kidnapping which was first unleashed in Port-Harcourt on February 18 2006 by militants to press home their demands has now assumed a frightening proportion in various parts of the country. Not even the serenity and safety of Abuja is spared. Kidnapping has now become a veritable tool in the hands of hoodlums for making money.
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The media launch of Alex Ekwueme Foundation will hold on:
Thursday 5th, March 2009
Venue: Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja
Tony Edike - 23 February 2009
Enugu — THE aged mother of the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ernest Ebi was kidnapped Saturday night by unknown persons from heraged mother of the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Ernest Ebiof Imo State.
Madam Ebi said to be over 70 years, was kidnapped by a six-man gang, who stormed her home at about 7 pm Saturday in two unmarked private cars, a Toyota Cressida and a Mazda.
Sources close to the family said the woman was being driven into her compound when the assailants who were trailing the vehicle from a distance forced their way into the premises and forced her into their vehicle, leaving her driver behind.
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Written by Emeka Aginam - Thursday, 26 February 2009
With its resolve to promote peace, democracy, social justice and community development, how best to resolve kidnaping, hostage taking and local terrorism in Nigeria, will be the focus of a one day inaugural international summit to be hosted next month in Abuja by the Alex Ekwueme Foundation, a non- profit and non-governmental organisation.
Briefing newsmen in Lagos yesterday, on the summit, the Director General,Alex Ekwueme Foundation, Dr. Duke Igwilo noted with dismay that terrorism, kidnaping and hostage-taking have become critical issues in Nigeria that needs urgent attention.
Having grown phenomenally since the mid 1990s, the British based medical Doctor said that the social malady is now a source of significant safety and security concerns across the country, adding that it is adversely affecting the country’s economy by greatly undermining foreign investment.
Punch Newspaper - Thursday, February 5, 2009
By Agency Reporter
During the last Christmas celebrations, wealthy Nigerians who spent their vacations in the eastern part of the country spent a fortune on security. While many of them were budgeting for the yuletide, they also included the cost of securing police escorts and purchasing patrol vans. It was that bad in the eastern and southern parts of the country where it was very easy for the dare-devil kidnappers to snatch a man from his dinning table in the presence of his whole family members.
After a vacation marred by reports of kidnapping and ransoms, many heaved a sigh of relief on their return to Lagos. But behold, the kidnappers are prowling all over their haven.
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Thisday newspaper - 02.06.2009
Security agencies in Rivers State, working in close collaboration with the state Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, have come up with a fresh plan to stem the new spate of abductions in the state.
Before now, Amaechi, working with security agencies, had tried to curb the ugly act before the recent upsurge. Amaechi on Wednesday, held marathon meetings with security agencies in the state to fashion out a new plan and strategy against kidnappings.
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From Chika Amanze-Nwachuku in Lagos, Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt and Segun James in Yenagoa, 02.05.2009
Kidnappings seem to be on the upswing again in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, as gunmen on Tuesday night kidnapped Gladys, the wife of former Petroleum Minister and Amayanabo of Nembe, Dr. Edmund Daukoru.
It was barely one week after an eight-year-old boy was kidnapped and his 11-year-old-sister murdered in the city…
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By Umoren -
Sunday, February 01, 2009
One problem that has given the nation sleepless nights, in recent times, has been the vexing issue of kidnapping. Once, it was a method used by those in genuine struggle to the development of the Niger Delta; but not any more. Suddenly, kidnapping has become an advanced form of robbery!
Today, when a father refuses a son’s unreasonable request for money, there must be a “kidnapping” involving a member of that family, shortly after.
When a brother disagrees with a brother over land matters, there must be a “kidnapping”. Cult rivalry and gang supremacy soon ends in “kidnapping”. Suddenly, Nigeria has become one kidnapping ring!
In that kind of scenario, it is no surprise that some state hitherto free of the obnoxious activities of the so-called kidnappers are now being invaded. One of such states is Akwa Ibom State, where criminals from neighbouring states are said to be perpetrating evil. Sometimes, according to reports, they come in form of armed robbers; sometimes, in form of kidnappers. And there is the possibility of “political kidnapping”; just to settle scores!
However, the commendable measures adopted by the state to check the rising tide of crime in the state is what other states need to emulate.
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From Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 01.30.2009
Gunmen yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, killed an 11-year-old girl escorting his brother, eight-year-old Samuel Awolesun, to school and took away the boy, one of whose parents is said to be an employee of Shell Petroleum Devel-opment Company.
But it was a day of mixed bag of tragedy and relief as the hoodlums who kidnapped Total staff member Ngozi Ile on January 24, 2008 and Reverend Father Pius Kii last Sunday set them free in the early hours of yesterday just after the protest by the Catholic clergy in Port Harcourt, who insisted they would not pay any ransom for Kii’s release.
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Thisday Newspaper
From Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 01.27.2009
The increasing spate of kidnap of workers of Total Oil continued in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as one Ngozi Ile, a worker with the oil giant was in the early hours of Sunday kidnapped by unknown gunmen.
The kidnappers are already asking for N10 million ransom or $55,000 , whichever one her relations prefer , saying any of the two would be acceptable to them.
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Punch newspaper
Ibanga Isine, Chukwudi Akasike and Ibrahym Kazeem
Thursday, 22 Jan 2009
Heavily armed militants on Wednesday waylaid a vessel, MT Meredith, which was carrying over 4,000 metric tonnes of kerosene on the Bonny channel and kidnapped a Romanian who was on board.
A security source said the militants, who came with four speedboats, opened fire on the vessel as it was about to sail through the Bonny Fair Weather Buoy, thereby causing significant damage to it.
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Thisday Newspaper Nigeria
Ahamefula Ogbu - 01.18.2009
One person was killed when assailants kidnapped the crew of an oil-industry vessel in Nigeria’s restive Niger Delta region, a security official said Sunday.
But militants claimed the Nigerian military botched a mission to rescue two British oil workers held hostage for months.
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Nigeria-Tribune Newspaper
19.01.2009
One person was killed when assailants kidnapped the crew of an oil-industry vessel in the Niger Delta, a security official said on Sunday.
According to sources, unidentified gunmen attacked boats near a crude-oil loading installation late Saturday. A private security source said the gunmen had tried to board an oil tanker but failed and then attacked a smaller service vessel and one person was killed.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity. Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, confirmed that attack, saying the entire Nigerian crew of one boat had been taken hostage.
MEND said one of its “affiliates” launched the attack to press the message that the military could not protect the oil industry. Meanwhile, militants claimed that soldiers botched a mission to rescue two British oil workers held hostage for months.
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said in an electronic message on Sunday that the British hostages were not in a village raided overnight by the military.
The group said it separated the pair and moved them deeper into the creeks and mangrove swamps. The military authorities made no comment on any rescue operation.
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Once again, kidnappers on Tuesday morning, struck at Emonu-Orogun in Ughelli North Local Government area of Delta State and took with them Pa Jacob Odivwri Edjesa, the father of Eddy Odivwri, former Editorial Page Editor, and now member, Editorial Board of THISDAY Newspaper.
Pa Odivwri, 82, was abducted from his bedroom in the wee hours of last Tuesday, and has since not been found. His abductors left an MTN number with which they could be reached. They had earlier demanded that MTN recharge cards worth N20,000 be sent to them, before negotiation of the terms of release would be discussed.
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Vincent Ujumadu - Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria
Thursday, 15 January 2009
AWKA—THE spate of kidnapping in Anambra State appears to be on the increase, as the manager of Oba Microfinance Bank in Idemili South local government area of the state, Mr. Maduakonam Onugha has become the latest victim.
Maduakonam was kidnapped on Tuesday night while having dinner with members of his family at Oba. Vanguard gathered that a five-man gang of kidnappers went to his house in two vehicles and while three positioned themselves in strategic positions, two went into the house, where the family was eating and took the man away. His whereabout is not known yet.
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By Sun News Publishing
Monday, January 12, 2009
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that the collective effort of everyone particularly the local media was needed to check kidnapping and illegal bunkering in the Niger-Delta Region.
Dr. Uduaghan who disclosed this during a live television interview programme Head To Head at the weekend stated that the foreign media was portraying the Niger-Delta region in a negative light, which has not helped to ensure peace in the region.
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Guardian newspaper
Friday 9 January 2009
ALTHOUGH it was conceived and employed by Niger Delta militants as a strategy to press home their demand for an equitable distribution of the nation’s resources, KELVIN EBIRI, HENDRIX OLIOMOGBE and ALEX OLISE, write that kidnapping has become a booming business in Nigeria, as criminals across the country, now use it to extort money from their hapless victims’ families.
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BBC - 6 January 2009
Renowned Nigerian novelist Elechi Amadi has been kidnapped by unknown gunmen in the Niger Delta region, say officials.
Three gunmen took the writer away from his village home about 15km (nine miles) east of the oil hub of Port Harcourt on Monday evening.
It is the latest high-profile abduction of a prominent figure in the region by armed men.
The novelist has published three novels including The Concubine, which was made into a film.
His grand-daughter - who saw the kidnap at his home in Aluu in the Ikwere area of Rivers State - reportedly said no family member had been harmed.
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BBC - 6 January 2009
Piracy is common off Nigeria and often linked to militants
Pirates have seized a ship owned by a French company off the Nigerian coast, taking nine crew members hostage.
The company - Bourbon - said the captain had assured them that all crew members were unharmed.
Bourbon - which provides specialist boats for the oil and gas industry - said it was working to free the crew.
The hostages are from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon and Indonesia. Piracy is common in Nigerian waters, often linked to militants targeting oil companies.
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Daily Independent Newspaper 01 December 2008:
Jos Riots: Death Toll Hits 400
By Olusola Balogun, Ekene Okoro (Lagos), Adetutu Folasade-Koyi (Abuja) and Onoja Audu (Jos), (With Agency Reports)
Residents delivered more bodies to the main mosque in Jos on Sunday, bringing the death toll from two days of clashes between Muslim and Christian gangs to about 400 people.
Rival ethnic and religious mobs have burned homes, shops, mosques, and churches in the violence sparked off by the dispute over council elections.
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From Ahamefula Ogbu in Port Harcourt, 10.19.2008 Thisday newspaper
President of the Economic Community of West African States Commi-ssion, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, yesterday warned parties in the various conflicts in the region to sheathe their swords, saying armed conflicts will never lead to the development of the region.
The ECOWAS boss, who identified poor resource management and exclusion from development as major causes of conflicts in the region, said hostility is antithetical to conflict resolution.
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Introduction
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen:
We assemble here this afternoon in celebration; we assemble for an exhibition in celebration of Christopher Okigbo. This morning we had a literary feast; this evening we shall have a cultural feast; this afternoon-now-we will be having a visual feast. All these three sessions constitute the celebration Christopher Okigbo for today. But this celebration does not end today. It will continue in our homes, in schools, in every gathering wherever the poetry of Christopher Okigbo is read.
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Well-thought Out Provisions Of The 1995 Constitution: By Alex Ekwueme
May 29, 2005
I was an elected member of the 1994-1995 National Constitutional Conference, which sat exactly for one year (June 26 1994 -June 26 1995) and had reasonable time to discuss and ponder over many thorny issues that concerned the Nigerian polity. We were anxious that the military should disengage as soon as possible and hand over to elected civilian governments at all levels. At one time we passed a resolution, later rescinded, setting January 1996 as the date for hand over. The work of the National Constitutional Conference culminated in a two-volume report, Volume 1 of which was report of the constitutional conference containing the draft constitution 1995.
In December 1995 we held a very successful “All politicians summit” At Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos which I had the privilege to chair. I describe the summit as “very successful” notwithstanding its disruption by agents of the government. It was obvious that General Abacha was in no hurry to disengage. We then formed the Institute of Civil Society, which again I had the privilege to chair, one of whose objectives was to sensitize the Nigerian public on the need for an early return to democratic ethos as we considered military rule which is imposed on and not elected by the populace, a vicious form of colonialism. It eventually materialised that Abacha set October 1, 1998 as the date for the transition from military to civilian government. But it was soon clear, judging by the decisions of all the five registered political parties to nominate him as the sole presidential candidate that it was his wish to hand over from Abacha as a military head of state to Abacha as civilian president. Some of us did not think that this was the right thing for Nigeria and at a meeting of the “G34″ in April 1998, we decided to advise Abacha by a well considered memorandum not to countenance the prompting by sycophants that he should succeed himself. Within two months of the G-34 memorandum, Abacha was dead and so the question of self-succession also died a natural death.
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Written by Anayo OkoliÂ
 Umuahia—Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, has immortalized some eminent Nigerians by naming some buildings and roads on the campus after them.
The university said the gesture was in recognition of their contribution to the development of education in Nigeria. Read more »
By Obi Adimora
This was the tribute my late father, Justice Okechukwu Adimora, paid to Dr. Alex Ekwueme to mark his 60th birthday at his Oko country home.
Hyperbole comes easily at such moments, but the judgement would be endorsed by many who have worked with Dr. Ekwueme in the course of the different facets of his career.
Dr. Ekwueme will be 70 tomorrow. I could not have asked for a finer friend than him. I love him not only for the extreme richness of his intellectual itinerary, but above all for his courage and the constancy in his conviction and political choices, which have remained unchanged even when they were in contradiction with the main stream of opinion and fashion. Read more »
Alex I. Ekwueme
Hardcover, Nwamife Publishers, ISBN 9783360310 (978-33603-1-0)
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Alex I. Ekwueme
Hardcover, Nwamife Publishers, ISBN 9783117440 (978-31174-4-0)
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Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 04.03.2008
Read full news article on odili.net
Former Vice President and Chieftain of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), Dr. Alex Ekwueme has called onthe federal government not to name institutions and monuments in Nigeria after individuals that are beyond 70 years of age.
Speaking in Abuja yesterday when the Board of Trusteesof the Alex Ekwueme foundation was inaugurated, the former Vice President said when such institutions are named after individuals and later changed by new administrations, it becomes a source of embarrassments to the individuals concerned. Read more »
Please be informed that the inaugural meeting of the Board of Trustee of the
Alex Ekwueme Foundation has been scheduled as follows:
Date: Wednesday 2nd April 2008
Time: 12.00 Noon
Venue: Sokoto Room, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja
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