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Tag: Anambra community

  • JUST IN: Many feared dead as gunmen storm Anambra community 

    JUST IN: Many feared dead as gunmen storm Anambra community 

    …police confirm the incident 

    Residents of Ekwulobia in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State fled in panic on Wednesday morning as armed men stormed the area, firing gunshots indiscriminately.

    Eyewitnesses said the attackers, dressed in mafia-style outfits, arrived in Sienna vehicles and unleashed terror, shooting sporadically and causing chaos across the town. 

    According to sources, several people sustained injuries, vehicles were set ablaze, and some residents were reportedly killed. 

    It was gathered that many locals abandoned their homes in search of safety, while security operatives were said to be initially absent.

    A resident who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity criticised the effectiveness of security operations such as Agunechemba and Operation Udo Ga Achi initiated by the government. 

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    He blamed the attacks on Biafra agitators and faulted the Police and other security agencies for failing to prevent the invasion.

    “I advise our people to remain indoors. These attackers are more powerful than all the security outfits combined. Governor Soludo needs to find a lasting solution,” the source said.

    He also suggested that the attack might have been triggered by the governor’s recent comments in the United States, where he reportedly blamed killings and kidnappings on people of Igbo extraction.

    Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident. 

    According to the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, two civilians were killed in the attack, while one of the gunmen was neutralised and four vehicles recovered.

    “Our Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, is a field man. He will not allow hoodlums to overrun Anambra State. Our men have taken control of the area,” Ikenga assured.

  • One killed as gunmen attack Anambra community

    One killed as gunmen attack Anambra community

    As Cardinal Okpalaeke and other eminent persons in the world are in Rome for the burial of Pope Francis, gunmen were in his community in Anambra State,  killing and burning vehicles.

    Amesi community in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State is also the home town of the former governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Valentine Ozigbo.

    The gunmen, who stormed the community on Friday, burnt some vehicles and destroyed the town hall, and in the process, one person was killed.

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    The attack has heightened tension in the state community.

    However, the identity of the victim has not been revealed by the security operatives, while three vehicles and two motorcycles were burnt.

     Ozigbo has therefore called on the state governor to come to the aid of the community

    He said: “Anambra is still bleeding, our towns, our villages, our people—still live under the shadow of fear. We must listen. And we must act.”

    One of the residents who pleaded anonymity said, “This cannot continue. We deserve to sleep without fear. We deserve leaders who will fight for our safety, not merely manage our pain.”

  • Tension in Anambra community over abduction of lawmaker

    Tension in Anambra community over abduction of lawmaker

    •Suspect disguising as IPOB member arrested

    There is tension in Anambra State over the kidnapping of the member representing Onitsha North constituency in the House Assembly, Justice Azuka.

    The incident happened at 9.45pm on Tuesday on Ugwunakpamkpa Road while the lawmaker was on his way home.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Tochukwi Ikenga,said: The “Anambra Police Command has activated plans for the possible rescue and arrest of the kidnappers of Mr Justice Azuka, State House of Assembly member representing Onitsha North Constituency.’’

    “The report of the sad event reveals that on 24/12/2024 by 9:20pm, while returning home at Ugwunapampa road, he was abducted by yet unidentified persons.

    “The Command is already working on some clues for possible rescue and arrest of the kidnappers,” he said.

    Also, the state Police Command has arrested Chukwuma Obi, 32, from Umuagu Village, Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, in connection with an alleged case of attempted kidnapping and extortion.

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    In a statement, Ikenga said the arrest was effected on Tuesday by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Squad, Enugu-Ukwu.

    He said Obi had demanded a ransom of N1.2million through threats of abduction, claiming to be a member of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    He said the victim reported receiving a message from Obi, threatening abduction unless the ransom was paid into an account.

    Ikenga said: “During interrogation, Obi confessed to the crime and is assisting the Police in identifying and apprehending other gang members involved in the criminal activities.’’

    “This arrest follows a similar case last month, where the Command apprehended a couple specialising in sending threatening messages and extorting victims under the guise of planned abductions.’’

  • Anambra community places N10m bounty on suspected killers of over 20 persons

    Anambra community places N10m bounty on suspected killers of over 20 persons

    The Ezinano community in Anambra has announced a N10 million reward for any useful information that would enable the police to nab suspected cultists for killing over 20 persons in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nibo incident which occurred two weeks ago was followed by that of Ifite, a neighbouring community where seven persons were also killed under similar circumstances.

    Mr Jeff Nweke, leader of the Ezinano community in Awka South Local Government Area of the state announced the reward on Saturday during the town’s empowerment programme at the community Square in Awka.

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    “We are donating the sum of N10m to help the police and other security agencies arrest the killers of over 20 persons in Nibo and Ifite communities.

    “The money will go to any person or group that will give the police and other security agencies useful information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators of the dastardly acts,” he said.

    Nweke who decried the killings, said it was strange in the area, and enjoined the police to collaborate with the people to fish out the culprits for prosecution.

    The community leader who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Shield Security outfit in Awka, lamented the high level of moral decay among the youths and tasked parents to do more in inculcating good morals into their children.

    He also announced N50m as part of the initiatives of his leadership to empower indigent women in the community to improve their farming activities.

    According to him, the money would help the women set up fish and poultry farms to support their families and boost socio-economic activities in the area.

    He also said that another N50 million would be distributed to the women in December to further empower them.

    Nweke whose community leadership tenure would end next month, urged his people to extend similar support to his successor to ensure continued development of the town.

  • Tension in Anambra community over traditional stool tussle

    Tension in Anambra community over traditional stool tussle

    Fear has gripped residents of Oba in Idemili South local government area of Anambra State over alleged plot to attack the community by some hoodlums over traditional stool.

    Residents fear if allowed to happen, the September 3, 2024 mayhem, where policeman was killed and police station, Civic centre as well as  cars burnt will be a child’s play.

    During that raid by unknown persons, all the documents of the community were destroyed.

    A source in the community, told The Nation the attack was masterminded by some persons in Oba and not gunmen as people believed

    Their worry is that since the incident over a month ago, security operatives have kept mum while the community has been in turmoil.

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    As a result, some respected leaders of the community are appealing to President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police and other leaders in the country to come to the aid of Oba town

    The battle for the traditional stool of Oba community has become so tense that prominent and influential sons of the land are allegedly  being threatened by some persons.

    The former traditional ruler, Igwe PC Ezenwa, who was installed in 1976, died in 2018 with peace eluding the community since. 

    The Nation gathered that a Screening Committee was inaugurated to select the suitable person for the position, headed by Augustine Agha.

    During the exercise, two persons, it was learnt, were screened and selected, while the others were disqualified for various reasons

    When contacted, Agha told The Nation his work had ended and the Committee dissolved by the President General of the town, Tony Ejiofor, an Engineer.

    Speaking with The Nation, Ejiofor, narrated how the Committee was formed and how it assisted him in screening the aspirants where two persons emerged

    Not satisfied with the outcome, he said, three persons went to court while, according to him, the trial judge has fixed the judgement on the case for December 4,2024

    “That is the situation now. I believe in truth and I like following the right path. Let us wait for the decision of the court ” Ejiofor told The Nation.

    Chairman of one of the nine villages in the community and a Federal Character Commissioner, representing Anambra state, Rev Uche Ukadike, said he would not discuss the issue on phone

  • Death of hotel owner over property destruction sparks protests in Anambra community

    Death of hotel owner over property destruction sparks protests in Anambra community

    Members of Divine Heaven Amalgamated Landlords Association, Ifite-Nteje in Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State yesterday protested the destruction of their property by some suspected youths in the community.

    A hotel owner identified as Malachy Chukwu, whose hotel was destroyed by the errant youths, was said to have taken his own life.

    The protesters, comprising men and women, trooped out in their hundreds, displaying placards that bore various inscriptions.

    They alleged that many buildings, including a hotel located at the Chinua Achebe Airport Road Ifite-Nteje, worth billions of naira, were destroyed by a group parading themselves as the executive members of Ifite-Nteje Development Union.

    The Chairman of Divine Heaven Amalgamated Landlords Association, Chief Patrick Maduegbuna, appealed for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s intervention to avoid total breakdown of law and order in the state.

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    He said: “The transaction took place in 2019 and the association started developing the place after payment.

    “But all of a sudden, they started demolishing our property there, saying the land deal had been revoked. They demolished houses, a hotel and other buildings nearing completion.

    “We called them to know what the matter was and they said we did not buy the land correctly, that we should buy it again and add money.

    “We chose to protest rather than take the law into our own hands. There are more than seven estates there. All we want is to have our property back.”

    Also speaking, the association’s secretary, Mr Nwako Maduka, said the landlords paid all the required dues and provided the documents signed by the same people who were trying to revoke the land sold to them genuinely.

    The Chairman, Ifite-Nteje Land Management Committee, Chief Ikechukwu Erikeife, said some young men who previously sold their own plots were making efforts to sell the same land the second time, adding that land grabbing in order to make money at all cost was the source of confusion in Ifite-Nteje.

    He said the parcels of land were acquired by the developers through the right source, promising to look into the situation as the protesters could not afford to buy the land the second time.

    The Secretary of ifite-Nteje Land Management Committee, Mr Ngoesina Okechukwu, described the brains behind the disturbances as meddlesome interlopers.

    Okechukwu, a lawyer, said the estate developers followed the due process in acquiring the land from Ifite-Nteje.

    He said: “I was in Abuja and heard about the protest organised by the opposition, who were claiming to be executive members of Ifite-Nteje Development Union.

    “The same group was said to have claimed they had abolished the Ifite-Nteje Land Management Committee and revoked the land sold to the landlords association.

    “The Ifite-Nteje Land Management Committee is a body constituted by the community with power of attorney, which means it can sue and be sued.

    “The court had taken judicial notice of the land committee as representative of Ifite-Nteje in so many cases, securing judgment for the entire Nteje community,” he explained.

    Our correspondent gathered that about 70 associations acquired the vast land occupying strategic position along the airport road and that most of the buildings destroyed were at various stages of completion.

  • Anambra community declares war on criminality, vows to sack hoodlums

    Anambra community declares war on criminality, vows to sack hoodlums

    The Obosi community in Idemili North local government area of Anambra state has warned criminals terrorising residents to desist or flee the community for their own good.

    The Central Executive Council of Obosi Development Union (ODU) declared war on criminal elements giving the town a bad name.

    Speaking during a protest on Wednesday, October, October 18, president general, Chimezie Obi regretted incessant embarrassment and other atrocities the hoodlums had meted on the community, warning that residents would not tolerate anything that would dent its image.

    He revealed that the majority of the culprits were mostly foreigners, warning them to pack their loads and leave the community, vowing to go after them until they were sacked from the town.

    Obi said: “We’re out to end roadside extortion, robbery, kidnapping, human trafficking, money laundering, among other vices. We’ll deploy effective tactics and strategies to achieve our goal in the fight.”

    The former president general of ODU and the commander of Obosi Central Security, Dan Chiemezi described the planned strategy as an invocation of already tested and trusted tactics.

    Read Also: Gunmen flee as police foil operation in Anambra community

    He assured that the committee had already established a well-structured security architecture, noting that there is no escape for any fleeing criminal.

    He noted: “We call on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and other well-meaning Ndi Obosi both home and abroad to partner with the Union in the fight to secure our hometown for the betterment of all,” he said.

    In their separate speeches, two kingmakers, Chief Udemba Hyacinth and Isiowo Youth Chairman, Nze Greg Chinedu commended the leadership of the community for its good Initiative, describing it as a unique move to take the community back from hoodlums.

  • Anambra community accuses police of shielding kidnap suspect

    People of Okpalaegwu kindred in  Amawa Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State have raised the alarm over alleged attempt by the police to shield suspected mastermind of the kidnap of their son, Emeka Okoye from facing the law.

    The worried community members sent a distress call to the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar Adamu, asking him to direct the Nigerian Police, Zone 9 Headquarters, Umuahia, Abia State to charge the suspect to court. The people, suspecting compromise on the part of the officers handling the matter without the knowledge of the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Zone 9, asked the IGP to call for the case file for onward charging of the matter to court.

    They specifically asked the Acting IGP to direct the ‘Police Crack Squad’ and “Anti Vice Squad” of the Zone 9, to without further delay, charge to court the case its investigation had been allegedly completed since January. They alleged that “the principal suspect and mastermind of Mr. Okoye’s kidnap, has been boasting in Ogbunike, that justice is for a common man or poor fellow, and that the case will not see the light of day.”

    The kinsmen had earlier in a petition through their lawyer, Chief C. Obiwenite Obimuanya, to the AIG Zone 9 Umuahia, dated 12 April 2019, complained against the delay in charging the alleged mastermind and principal suspect, who is also Mr. Okoye’s relation to court.

    The petition partly read: “Emeka Okoye was kidnapped in October 2018, tortured and constrained to sign a document against his will by his kidnappers before he was released on 7th October, last year after the person that instigated his kidnap confirmed that the signature on the document he was made to sign is his (Emeka’s) signature.

    “The kidnappers told him that they were sent by their boss whom he (Emeka), has been disloyal to and warned him to desist from disobeying their boss or they will kill him, before forcing him to sign a document for them.” The principal suspect was said to have been arrested and investigated by the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu, Anambra State, “but at the point of being charged to court, by SARS, Awkuzu, the suspect wrote a counter-petition to Police Zone 9 Umuahia, to thwart his being charged to court, and the case file was transferred to Umuahia.”

  • Women threaten ‘nude protest’ over killings in Anambra community

    A group of women in Obosi community, Idemili North local government area of Anambra State has decried incessant killings in the area by unknown assailants.

    The women, under the umbrella of “Obosi Concerned Women,” called for immediate redeployment of the Divisional Police Officer, Obosi Police Division, SP Usman Ibrahim Oboshi over alleged incompetence.

    Speaking through their leader, Mrs. Elizabeth Ajanuonwu, the aggrieved women threatened to demonstrate naked at the State police headquarters if the DPO was not redeployed and replaced within a short time.

    They asked the Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar, to replace him with “a more humane and dedicated officer”, claiming he has been unable to adequately police the area.

    Read Also: Culture, feast of masquerades in Anambra

    She insisted the removal of the police boss was the only way to resolve the impasse.

    According to her: “Presently, cult groups such as Supreme Vikings Confraternity, Neo-black Movement, Eiye Confraternity, and similar groups have freeway in the community due to inadequate policing.

    “The most feasible way to check the trend is to urgently redeploy the DPO in Obosi Division and bring in a more dedicated senior police officer to head the police station.”

    The Nation reliably gathered between December 2018 till date, about four persons have been reportedly killed in mysterious circumstances throwing the residents of the area into panic.

  • Anambra community gets monarch after 34 years

    There was jubilation in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, following the election of Chief Godson Onyediri as the traditional ruler.

    The emergence of Onyediri, reportedly ended a 34-year-old crises which had rocked the community since the last traditional ruler, the late Igwe Felix Olikagu, celebrated his last Ofala festival in 1984.

    It was gathered that there had been one crisis after another, with interest groups propounding theories and permutations to favour their claims to the throne.

    Committees were reportedly set up to seek ways forward until a combined body of clerics intervened and brokered peace among the warring parties.

    Onyediri polled 1,148 votes to win the election, while his closest rival, Prof. Onyekonwu got 622 votes.

    Onyediri thanked the people and other contestants for their peaceful disposition to ensure a peaceful conducted poll. He appealed for all to close ranks for the growth and development of the community.