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Electricity workers shut EEDC offices in Anambra over colleagues arrest

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Members of the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees on Thursday protested the alleged arrest and continued detention of five staff members by the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company.

‎The protest, which took place simultaneously at EEDC district offices in Awka, Onitsha and other locations across the state, saw workers blocking entrances and halting all operations.

‎The detained staff, including a mother of three, were allegedly arrested on July 31 by operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Awkuzu, on the orders of the EEDC management over alleged professional misconduct.

‎The aggrieved workers also lamented poor remuneration, harassment, lack of medicare, intimidation by the Enugu Disco, alleging that several workers have died and others rendered incapacitated due to the policies of the EEDC.

‎The EEDC, which is responsible for the distribution of power in the South-East states of Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi, is also being accused of operating an “oppressive working environment” for electricity workers across the South-East.

‎The protesting workers, who marched from the main entrance of the service and customer offices in Onitsha and Awka, round the neighbouring streets, disrupted operations and prevented access to the premises, while carrying placards with varying descriptions.

‎Some of the descriptions on their placards read, “Release our members unlawfully detained”, “Pay your staff very commiserate salary”, “Stop slavery of your worker”, “Electricity workers say no to intimidation and harassment”, “Stop breaking the terms and conditions of service”, among others.

‎Speaking during the protest, the Chairman, Ndukwu Bonaventure, said, “No one knows their whereabouts, including their family members, until we started making enquiries at police formations across the state.

”As a union, we went round the police formations across the state until we discovered them at the detention camp in Awkuzu SARS, and that was after five days when we had toured almost all the police formations across the state.

‎”Our members cannot continue working under the constant threat of arbitrary arrests. We will continue to pursue justice through peaceful and lawful means.

‎”While we condemned any acts of misconduct, we are insisting that disciplinary procedures must follow due process.

‎“We do not condone fraud or malpractice, but our members are not criminals and must not be treated like armed robbers. There are established internal procedures for handling such matters, and those must be respected.”

‎Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of NUEE in the state, Friday Idoko, lamented the poor condition of service by the management of EEDC, saying, “Last two weeks, I was almost electrocuted and I was admitted for one week and until I resumed yesterday, no member of management asked after me. An only son of his parents have died doing this job and nothing was done for his family.

‎“We are demanding for the release of five of our members now, not tomorrow. We know they have Police in their kitty and can control them the way they like we have nothing but they must release them or this work will be abandoned for them.”

‎Efforts to reach the Head of Corporate Communications at EEDC, Emeka Eze, for comment were unsuccessful.

Calls and messages to his phone went unanswered.

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PHOTOS: Nigerian bodybuilder, Akinwale Arobieke found de@d in UK

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A Nigerian bodybuilder who was jailed for harassing 15 men has been found de@d at his home in Liverpool.

Akinwale Arobieke, also known as ‘Purple Aki’, 64, was well known in his local community.

He was found at his home on Devonshire Road in Toxteth in what police believe were non-suspicious circumstances.

Merseyside Police said officers were called at around 8.30pm on Tuesday, August 26, after reports of a man in his 60s found unresponsive near Princes Park. He was pronounced de@d at the scene, and a file has been passed to the coroner, reports the ECHO.

Mr Arobieke was a notorious figure in Merseyside. In 2003, he was jailed for six years for harassing 15 men and was labelled a “modern-day bogeyman”.

He maintained he was the victim of a “modern-day witch hunt” by police following complaints he made against officers.

While still in prison, a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) was imposed, banning him from touching men’s muscles and visiting gyms.

In 2015, he was convicted of breaching the order after touching a young man’s muscles on a train from Manchester to North Wales. He successfully had the 10-year ban lifted the following year after representing himself in court.

In 2022, Mr Arobieke won a substantial payout from the police after suing the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police for malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office.

He claimed two officers carried out a campaign against him, and the settlement came just weeks before his trial was due to begin.

A Merseyside Police spokesperson said: “We can confirm that emergency services were in the Toxteth area following a non-suspicious death last night, Tuesday 26 August.

“At around 8.30pm, officers were made aware of a man in his 60s being found unresponsive at an address in Devonshire Road, Princes Park. He was sadly pronounced deceased at the scene.

“The man’s death is not suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

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PHOTOS: Nigeria, China sign $1m grant deal to support flood relief efforts

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered into an Exchange of Notes (E/N) agreement with the Government of the People’s Republic of China for a $1 million grant to support ongoing flood relief operations in Northern Nigeria.

The signing ceremony in Abuja was presided over by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, who described the support as a timely and generous intervention to address urgent humanitarian needs in flood-affected communities.

“This gesture reflects the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and China, built on mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared vision for sustainable development,” the Minister said.

He assured that the Ministry, working with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), will oversee the transparent and effective use of the funds. A joint monitoring and evaluation mechanism with the Chinese Embassy will also be established to ensure accountability and measurable impact.

The Minister further noted that the grant will complement Nigeria’s existing relief initiatives and help restore livelihoods in the hardest-hit areas, while also deepening China’s partnership with Nigeria across sectors such as infrastructure, trade, agriculture, and technology.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, You Dunhai, reaffirmed China’s solidarity with Nigeria, especially in times of crisis. Marking his one-year anniversary in the country, he highlighted the progress in bilateral relations, strengthened by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024.Plateau State tourism

He pointed to advancements in trade, investment, people-to-people exchanges, and multilateral cooperation, while reiterating China’s continued commitment to the partnership.

He also referenced President Xi Jinping’s June 2025 announcement granting zero-tariff access to all African exports, including Nigeria’s, as part of efforts to boost economic growth and job creation on the continent.

Expressing condolences over the recent devastating floods, Ambassador You said China, which is also grappling with flooding challenges, stands with Nigeria in solidarity.

“China-Nigeria relations are grounded in mutual respect, equality, and shared development goals,” he concluded.

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UN Security Council members, except US, call for Gaza ceasefire

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All members of the United Nations Security Council, except the United States, have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, citing a worsening humanitarian crisis and what they described as a “man-made famine” devastating the enclave.

At a joint press conference at UN headquarters, representatives expressed grave concern over newly released data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which confirmed famine conditions in parts of Gaza for the first time in the Middle East.

“We express our profound alarm and distress at the IPC data on Gaza, published last Friday,” said Trishala Persaud, Guyana’s deputy permanent representative to the UN. “This is the first time famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East region. Every day, more persons are dying as a result of malnutrition. Many of them children.”

Persaud stood alongside representatives from Slovenia, Algeria, China, Denmark, France, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, South Korea, Russia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, and the United Kingdom.

“This is a man-made crisis,” Persaud continued. “The use of starvation as a weapon of war is clearly prohibited under international humanitarian law.”

Ondina Drobic, Slovenia’s deputy permanent representative, stressed the need for urgent action, saying the group demands an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza, and a halt to Israel’s planned ground offensive in Gaza City.

“The humanitarian emergency must be addressed without delay and Israel must reverse course,” Drobic said. “We have seen what is possible to achieve during a ceasefire.”

The statement comes amid mounting international pressure following reports that famine has already claimed lives, particularly among children. Humanitarian agencies warn that the death toll could rise sharply if aid is not delivered at scale and military operations continue.

The US, a key ally of Israel, has repeatedly vetoed Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire, arguing that Israel has a right to defend itself.

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