UMUAHIA – Two members of a criminal gang, who attempted to attack an army unit and collect their arms in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the Abia State, have been killed by soldiers in the city.
However, during the operation that lasted for over 30 minutes, some innocent passersby were unfortunately affected during the crossfire that ensued between the security agents and the gang.
Disclosing this to journalists in Umuahia, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, said what the criminals were doing is to mop up arms for various attacks in the city, adding that their attempt was rebuffed by security agents who successfully neutralised two of their members.
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He stated that though the soldiers displayed a high degree of gallantry in their conduct, some innocent passersby were unfortunately hit by stray bullets.
“It’s not that the criminals are allowed to have a free day, a lot of them are being captured, and still being picked up from different places.
“There is a lot that government is doing to ensure the security of lives and property in the state. There are certain things you don’t disclose to the public. When you pick them up you carry secret investigation to ensure their collaborators and sponsors are brought to book,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, has said that state government is committed to offsetting all outstanding salary arrears owed various tertiary institutions in the state estimated at about N18 billion.
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Briefing newsmen in Umuahia, Kanu opined that the payments would commence in August 2024 with a monthly payment of N1.5 billion. This, he revealed, will be spread to 12 months.
He maintained that the payment is a decisive step to address the longstanding issues of monthly salary payment of staff of Abia State University, Uturu. In a meeting held with University’s Governing Council and Vice Chancellor recently. Governor Alex Otti had reportedly assured them of his readiness to pay them their outstanding salaries. .
According to the Commissioner, the governor during the meeting directed the Accountant General of the state to ensure the immediate payment of all outstanding monthly salaries of ABSU staff for both verified and unverified staff within the week.
“That meeting offered the governor, the opportunity to bring those lingering issues to an end.
“In the course of the meeting, he directed the Accountant General to ensure that within the week, all outstanding salaries are paid and this will apply to both those that have been verified and those yet to be verified.
“The governor directed that the verification team be relocated to Abia State University to conclude all outstanding issues of verification of staff,” Prince Kanu opined.
In his comment, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara said that there was no going back on ABSU’s payment, even as he put the actual amount to be “seventeen billion, six hundred and twenty nine million, seven hundred and sixty-seven thousand three hundred and forty-two naira nine kobo.”
However, he said, the actual figure to be paid monthly to ABSU staff to clear the arrears is one billion, four hundred and sixty-nine million one hundred forty-seven thousand, two hundred and seventy-eight naira, twenty kobo.
