The Abia State Police Command, on Thursday, confirmed two people killed and more than 10 hospitalised when a tragic gas explosion rocked a Chinese firm, Inner Galaxy Steel Company, in Asa, Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.

According to the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, the Chinese firm’s Chief Security Officer informed it after the incident on Tuesday.

The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday morning, was reportedly triggered by a faulty gas valve, causing widespread damage within the facility.

Responding to enquiries on Thursday, the Mayor, Ukwa West LGA, Dike Briggs Nwankwo, recounted the immediate steps taken by his office upon receiving news of the incident.

Nwankwo, who suspended all official engagements to visit the scene, described the devastation caused by the blast.

“The social media was flooded with various reports, some claiming that as many as 20 people had died. I immediately left my office and rushed to the factory. When I arrived, I was taken straight to the affected section, where I saw that the explosion had completely ripped apart the roof,” he said.

He disclosed that a CCTV footage reviewed by the factory’s management and local authorities confirmed that the explosion occurred while a customer was handling a gas cylinder valve, stating, “Twelve people were affected, two have died, and the remaining 10 are receiving treatment at a hospital in Port Harcourt. As of this morning, I can confirm that they are responding well to treatment.”

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State, Okechukwu Okorie, has resigned from his position as Chief of Staff to Lucky Johnson, the lawmaker representing Isuikwuato Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly.

Lucky Johnson, who was previously a member of the PDP, left the party this week to join the Labour Party, citing internal crises within PDP and his admiration for Governor Alex Otti’s performance as his reasons.

However, in reaction to the development, Okechukwu Okorie, who also serves as the chairman of PDP in Isuikwuato, resigned from his role as Johnson’s Chief of Staff.

In his resignation letter, Okorie stated: “I submit my resignation from the position of your Chief of Staff, effective today, 25th March 2025, due to political differences.

“I have come to the conclusion that the political direction you have taken does not align with my personal values and principles as a committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

“As a result, it has become clear that stepping down from my role as your Chief of Staff is the most appropriate course of action.”

Okorie, who also serves as the chairman of all PDP local government chairmen in Abia State, reaffirmed his unwavering loyalty to the party.

After 11 months of relentless struggle to secure justice for their teenage son, Chinedu Ukwu, who was brutally stabbed to death in the Arochukwu area of Abia State, his family has finally decided to lay the 18-year-old to rest.

The family informed TheNigerian Metro on Thursday that their slain teenage son would be laid to rest on Saturday (tomorrow).

Three suspected cult members, identified as Okorafor, John, and Chenemerem Nwosu, allegedly brutally stabbed 18-year-old Chinedu Ukwu to death on April 3, 2024, after he resisted their attempts to initiate him into their cult forcefully.

A TheNigerian Metro report dated May 3, 2024, detailed how vigilantes and hunters, acting swiftly on the night of the incident, successfully apprehended Nwosu and Okorafor just hours after the murder and handed them over to the police in the Arochukwu community.

The family was devastated when a police officer informed them that one of the two suspects, Okorafor, had escaped during a jailbreak on April 14, 2024.

Outraged, they condemned the Abia State Police Command for failing to conduct a thorough investigation into their son’s murder. Meanwhile, the command’s spokesperson, Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the escape and assured the public that efforts were underway to recapture the fugitive.

“About the information you requested, we are aware (of the escape), and efforts are ongoing to pick up the suspect. Efforts are ongoing to re-apprehend the suspect; we will not start something that we will not finish. With time, we will arrest the suspect,” she had said.

However, to this day, only one suspect remains on trial in court.

On Thursday, a family member known simply as Ezuma, shared details of the burial arrangements with our correspondent in a WhatsApp message, “This is just to update you on the case regarding the late Chinedu. The case was transferred from Umuahia to Arochukwu.

“His parents have been attending court sessions intending to get justice for the late boy, although only one person is in the correctional centre custody. The burial takes place this Saturday, March 22, 2025.”

Cultism-related violence remains widespread in Abia State, claiming numerous lives. Among its victims was Emmanuel Uche, a final-year student at Abia State University, who was shot dead by suspected cultists.

While the motive behind his killing remains unclear, the police command confirmed the arrest of one suspect, Emmanuel Victor, in connection with the alleged murder.

A Magistrate Court sitting in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State last Thursday remanded the traditional ruler of Okai Item, His Royal Highness Eze James Ogbonna and two others in the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Umuahia, the state capital, over a case of alleged murder.

Eze Ogbonna and one Igwe Anyim and Ndukwe Sunday Igara were brought before the court in connection to the alleged gruesome killing of 20-year-old Ndukwe Isaac by angry youths of the community.

TheNigerian Metro reports that the father of the deceased, Mr Isaac Maduka, a native of Umuikpa Akanu, had cried out for justice over the incident which occurred on January 28.

The presiding magistrate, His Worship Elizabeth, however, ordered the prosecuting attorney to remit the case file to the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Although the prosecuting counsel, U.Ekpo, argued that having already filled the information before the court, he ought not to remit the case file again, he accepted the order in the interest of public peace.

Ekpo said the prosecution had shown much seriousness in the case by filing information before a high court, which he said would enable the defendants to appear and take a plea.

But the counsel for the defendants, J. Osisiogu, said the prosecution counsel did not serve any information to any of the defendants even as of Thursday when the matter was going on.

The case was adjourned to March 27 for a hearing.

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The Abia State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has expelled Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, accusing him of anti-party activities.

His expulsion was announced by the Abia State PDP Chairman, Abraham Amah, on Tuesday in Umuahia, following the adoption of the report of a disciplinary committee set up by the party in the state to investigate Wabara’s alleged anti-party conduct.

According to the Abia State PDP chairman, the investigative committee thoroughly reviewed Wabara’s earlier suspension before deciding to expel the PDP BoT Chairman.

He explained that the expulsion was due to Wabara’s endorsement of Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, for a second term in office, which the PDP considered an act of disloyalty to the party.

The party has, therefore, urged the PDP National body to nominate another person for the position of BoT Chairman.

As of the time of this report, Senator Wabara or his supporters had yet to issue any statement regarding his expulsion.

The member representing Isiala Ngwa South constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Rowland Dennis, has visited Governor Alex Otti to pledge his support and loyalty.

The legislator defected on Tuesday, joining the Labour Party (LP) after being suspended by his ward for alleged anti-party activities.

His defection has already been condemned by his former party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Pictures released by the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha to journalists confirmed that Otti recieved the new LP member who came to visit him.

However, details of the meeting between the governor and the lawmaker was not made known by the CPS.

Abia State government has raised the number in the ongoing teachers recruitment exercise in the state from 2,500 to 5,000, indicating a 100 percent increase.

It shortlisted 9,371 applicants for computer-base test and made Igbo Language a compulsory subject from primary school up to Senior Secondary 2.

The information commissioner, Okey Kanu stated these while briefing the media on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, the capital.

Kanu said the increase followed rising number of enrollments into the schools “driven by the government’s newly introduced free and compulsory basic education policy”.

The commissioner further announced that the government had reintroduced the study of History at the basic and secondary education level with immediate effect.

He explained that this became necessary to preserve the state’s rich historical background for future generations as any society focused on progress must prioritise its history

“We believe the state has a rich historical background which we are proud of and we intend to tell our children and succeeding generations our history”, he said.

Contributing, his Basic and Secondary Education counterpart, Goodluck Ubochi said a new curriculum had been introduced for History which would be implemented in the next academic year.

“One good thing is that a state has the right to adjust a curriculum as it suits it. So, we’ve rejiged the curriculum to bring those historical facts of which we are known for into it.

“This would enable a child who goes through secondary education to be able to know the basic history that differentiates and unites Igbos with other citizens of the country,” Ubochi said.

Hundreds of people of Azumini Ndoki, Ukwa East local government area, Abia State have protested peacefully against alleged territorial encroachment by the Akwa Ibom State government.

The protesters, displaying placards with various inscriptions, accused the Akwa Ibom State government of extending a road project into the community based on a verbal approval by the Abia State government.

They lamented that to the best of their knowledge, there is no formal agreement or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Abia and Akwa Ibom State governments on the project.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, some of the community leaders, including Ogbo Ubani, pointed out the need for proper documentation of the project to avoid future boundary disputes between the states.

Ubani said the people are apprehensive about the project because of boundary disputes they are at present having with their neighbours in Akwa Ibom State “and don’t want to add another one to them”.

Contributing, the president, Azumini Welfare Association, Azubuike Nwankwo, noted that the people insisted on such agreement not verbal “which could be denied any moment”.

Nwankwo maintained, “With no such agreement or a MoU, we’re worried that we may wake up one day to find that we have been ceded to Akwa Ibom State by our own state government.”

In a reaction, the secretary of the community’s interim administrative committee, Fidelis Nnah, faulted a reported payment of compensation by the Akwa Ibom State government to owners of properties along the road.

The legal practitioner, therefore, questioned the rationale behind Akwa-Ibom State government revoking properties in Abia State territory and paying compensation for them.

“Such payment, in fact” according  to the secretary, “should be the sole responsibility of the Abia State government where Azumini belongs not Akwa-Ibom State at all.”

Addressing the protesters, the mayor of the area, Chibunna Akara urged them to remain calm and peaceful, and not to take laws into their hands to express their grievances.

Represented by the secretary to the council, Iheanyi Adindu, he assured them that their message would be conveyed to the Abia State government for amicable resolution of the matter.