Panic, Confusion In Imo Community As School Boy Launch
Rocket. September 27, 2013 is a day residents of the sleepy rural community of
Umuchima, Ubaha, Okigwe Local Government Area of
the state will not forget in a hurry. On this fateful day, a very unusual but
deafening noise suddenly rented the air, accompanied by a rare spectacle that
threw all and sundry into panic as they scampered into safety. The strange
sound was later traced to the family home of a visually-impaired pensioner, Mr.
Augustine Eke. What further heightened people’s anxiety was when they also
noticed a thick smoke coming from the hapless man’s compound. They had every
reason to believe that Boko Haram insurgents had invaded the community.
News
quickly spread that a rocket had landed in Eke’s compound. They were right but
it was not coming from Boko Haram! Indeed it later turned out that there really
was no cause for alarm as the rocket was nothing but a practical expression of
the technological talents of an ex-student of Federal Government College,
Okigwe, Gideon Chiadikobi Emenike and his friend, Chibuisi Nwafor. The duo
fabricated and launched a rocket that travelled over five kilometres into the
sky before crash landing. The exploits of these youthful Nigerians may never
have come to light but for the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammed
Katsina. Again, if they had been treated like common criminals, the story may
have taken a different shape.
Truth is that Katsina moved journalists to Okigwe
for on-the-spot assessment of the exploits of the young lads. Giving account of
what happened to newsmen, the Commissioner of Police said although the boys who
fabricated the device were reckless, preliminary investigations did not raise
any serious security concern. The CP’S account: “We have identified the launch
site and where the rocket crash landed. I know that the young chaps used simple
components in activating this element. It is a combination of computer
accessories and a highly inflammable substance. “I will not, for security
reasons disclose all the details we have concerning the device. What I want you
to understand is that one of the components is something very common, something
you and I use on a daily basis- sugar. We know sugar is highly inflammable. It
is this sugar and some other components that propelled this device you hear
that crash landed in Okigwe. “Although the young boys can be said to be
excessively reckless, preliminary investigations have not shown any criminal
motive behind the adventure.
I see the development as an excursion into the
world of science and technology by some adventurous, skillful and intelligent
young boys with incredible creativity. “This endowment propelled them into
designing their own style of spacecraft. When they launched this thing, there
was about 30 minutes dream journey into space. The element eventually lost
focus and crash-landed here (pointing at the point). We thank God that there
was no fatal consequence to either life or property. “The element has been
deactivated by our bomb disposal unit. I can tell you that the contraption does
not contain any toxic or radioactive material. I like to authoritatively inform
you at this juncture that the boys’ conduct was not an act of terrorism. It was
a mere adventure by two young boys. “Let me also say that people should feel
free and go about their normal business. We have taken possession of the whole
area. Everything has been cleared, cleaned and rendered safe for human
habitation. Apart from the initial pandemonium and fear created in the minds of
the people in the neighbourhood, everything ended well. “The boys are just
between 16 and 17 years old.
They only tried out their learning while in the
secondary school. They wanted to know if they can practicalise the theories
they learnt in school. The dream of these young boys is to design a spacecraft.
It was launched without funfair. “The device went some kilometres into the sky
before crash-landing. Let us not forget that the command has some formidable
structures on ground. We have since commenced the sweeping of Imo State of all
explosive ordinances. I want these boys to be encouraged. May be, who knows
tomorrow, at my old age, I may be the lucky one that would fly in the
spacecraft made by these young lads. “So, I would rather not think of punitive
measures against the boys. I would rather dwell heavily on protection,
rehabilitation and encouragement of these young boys. Those who ran away are
free to come back. From this moment, we have ended this case. Gideon speaks:
“My name is Gideon Chiadikobi Emenike and my friend’s name is Chibuisi Nwafor.
I studied in Federal Government College, Okigwe and I graduated last year. This
project started when I was still in school. I was told to build a project in
school for a competition. “In my SS1, I built a helicopter. In my SS2, I was
told to build another project. I built this rocket and we went for a
competition in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. I came second in the competition with the
project. This was at the national level. “We also went for another competition
organised by the Society for Science and Technology. I also came second. I also
went for Olympiad and I equally came second there. I was told that I was going
to represent Nigeria in Brazil but later, my principal said that I was no
longer going to represent the country. “I still don’t know why the principal
cancelled the trip. This frustrated me somehow but later, I picked up from
where I dropped and started again. I now met my friend at a learning centre. I
found out that he has for things related to science. We now pooled our brains
together. “That was how we planned to build a rocket and a satellite, as well
as sending it into space.
It was an amateur satellite because you know we have
not yet university graduates. We just graduated from secondary school last
year. “We have done this for now. I was really challenged when I heard that
other countries were planning to launch satellites into space. It made me to
think deep. This is what pushed to do what you are seeing today. If government
can adopt our technology, we can help them to actualize their dream of
launching a satellite. “This particular project was a mere attempt to reach a
particular altitude. It was not fashioned to remain in space. This project came
through after several experiments. If the Federal Government can sponsor us, we
can take Nigeria to any level they want. The boy’s father speaks “My name is
Friday Mgbemena Emenike. My son is curious about science.
He got admission in
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, the last time. I tried to make him to study
medicine but he rejected it and preferred to read aeronautic engineering. That
was why he refused the admission. That is why he is still at home. “He got an
opportunity to travel to Brazil but the principal of his former school
frustrated the move. He is intelligent. I am aware of this incident. When it
happened, I didn’t feel too good till I learnt that the thing did not kill
anybody and that it did not destroy anything. That increased my joy and I
described it as the first victory. “The question which Vanguard Metro and well
meaning people of Imo State are asking is whether the Federal and State
governments have taken note of the success recorded by these boys. What they
will do with these boys thereafter equally remains a huge guess.
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