Crime
2 soldiers killed, 32 vehicles, burnt as gunmen invade Anambra
Gunmen went on the rampage in Anambra State between Sunday and Monday as they killed two soldiers, kidnapped a lawmaker, set ablaze a local government secretariat, an office of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, a magistrate’s court building as well as over 32 vehicles.
The attacks came less than three days after the state Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, visited the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, in the custody of the Department of State Services.
The gunmen on Sunday shot dead a vigilante at the Eke Oko community in the Aguata Local Government Area.
The victim, who was on a motorcycle, was putting on a mobile police T-shirt when the gunmen overtook and shot him dead.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Toochukwu Ikenga, said policemen recovered the victim’s lifeless body.
“Preliminary information shows that the yet-to-be-identified victim is not a member of the Nigeria Police Force,” he added.
Gunmen also stormed the Idemili North LGA secretariat in Ogidi on the same night and set ablaze the secretariat office and a magistrate’s court on the council premises.
Sources said the hoodlums burnt all files and property in the secretariat.
Over 32 vehicles parked inside the secretariat were also reportedly razed.
The police spokesman, Ikenga, attributed the incident to unidentified arsonists.
It was gathered that the gunmen proceeded to the Ogidi district office of the EEDC, not far from the secretariat and set it ablaze.
Our correspondent learnt that about 32 utility and operational vehicles were burnt during the incident, including other assets and equipment on the premises.
It was also gathered that having gained access to the office complex by pulling down part of the wall, the criminals attacked a security guard manning the office.
They reportedly inflicted machete cuts on the guard’s head, leg and arm, as they demanded his gun, while his other colleagues ran for their lives.
Confirming the incident, the Head, Corporate Communications, EEDC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, expressed displeasure that efforts made to reach the Anambra State Fire Service did not yield any positive result.
Ezeh said members of staff who were on ground were helpless, as they watched the office building and other assets go up in flames.
He said, “It later took the intervention of the Commissioner for Utilities, Mr Julius Chukwuemeka, around 9.05am to bring the fire service team down to the scene of the incident.
“This is a big loss to EEDC, and a great setback to the efforts being made by the company to strengthen its network and improve the quality of service to its customers within Ogidi and Anambra State at large.”
In another development, a group of gunmen kidnapped a member of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Dr Okechukwu Okoye.
The lawmaker, popularly known as Okey Di Okay, was kidnapped late on Sunday while driving in his Sienna car.
Confirming the incident, the police spokesman, Ikenga, said the lawmaker’s black Sienna bus, which he was driving before the incident, had been recovered, adding that the command had launched a manhunt for the kidnappers with the aim of rescuing him.
In another separate attack, a group of hoodlums, wielding weapons, including guns, opened fire on a military checkpoint at the 3-3 Estate in Nkwelle Ezunaka, near Onitsha.
The soldiers were said to have retaliated, as a gun battle ensued thereafter.
Two soldiers died in the shootout.
According to sources, the shooting started around 10pm on Sunday and lasted till early Monday, with bullets flying in the air and dropping on rooftops.
A resident, who did not want her name mentioned, said the neighbourhood was scared throughout the night as gunshots rent the air.
She said, “Yesterday night at housing estate gate, unknown gunmen attacked the military men securing us. There was three hours of gunfire. My estate was hot from 10pm to 12am.”
It was learnt that the gunmen also visited the Government Reserved Area in Onitsha, where they shot intermittently.
Also confirming the incident, Ikenga said, “Information before me shows that on May 15, 2022, around 9.30pm, there was a shooting incident along the Onitsha-Otuocha Road by 3-3 area.
“The command, on receipt of the information, quickly deployed personnel in the area and operations are still ongoing.”
Meanwhile, the police have killed two gunmen said to be enforcing the sit-at-home in the state.
The incident happened along the Umunze Road, Orumba South LGA with the operational vehicle of the hoodlums recovered.
Confirming the development, Ikenga said, “The Anambra State Command operatives on a crime prevention patrol in the early hours of today, May 16, 2022, along Umunze Road, Orumba South LGA, engaged gunmen allegedly enforcing sit-at-home in Anambra State.
“The operatives neutralised two of the miscreants and recovered a white Toyota Hiace bus with no number plate.
“Further details show that these miscreants were obstructing the movement of innocent road users going for their businesses. The hoodlums forcefully collected their motorbikes and tricycles, chased away the passengers and set the motorcycles and tricycles ablaze.
“Meanwhile, the police have intensified efforts towards prevention of crimes and normalcy has returned.”
PUNCH
…Hails Gov Mbah’s investment in modern security infrastructure
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has hailed the Governor Peter Mbah Administration for setting up what he described as a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for effective surveillance of the state.
Disu, who expressed surprise at the sophistication of the security infrastructure, wished every other state could come over to understudy the Command and Control Centre and set up one to boost security of lives and property in every part of the country.
The IGP spoke during a tour of the facility on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, Enugu, strategic partnership between the Mbah Administration and the Godfrey Okoye University to promote scientific evidence-based justice and war against criminality.
“I must confess that I am surprised we have this kind of facility here in this state because you know I worked for Lagos. I know we had something like this in Lagos, but the advancement of this present one amazed me.
“This is a control room that has a lot of facilities with the ability to see almost everywhere in this state. There is no place that is left ungoverned from the control room. We can see the forest. We can zoom in – I think over 40 per cent – to be able to see far away. We can zoom in close to 30 kilometers away. That is great security.
“I wish every state in Nigeria will come here and emulate what is happening. I have seen AI-embedded cameras. I have seen officers dedicated to certain areas of the state watching, seeing what is happening.
“I have also seen records of the successes recorded through this control room. One more time, I wish all the states in Nigeria will come around, see what is happening here and emulate it,” Disu said.
He equally commended the Distress Response Squad, a special police unit with over 150 security vehicles installed with AI-enabled cameras and also linked to the Command and Control Centre.
“I moved around. I saw the state’s DRS and then we put them to test. They did not know I was listening to them. We put them to test. We asked them to move to a certain part of the town and within two, three, four minutes, they were there. It shows their efficiency.
“Then I am sure you know I was the former commander of the Rapid Response Force in Lagos too and then I do not want to mention here which is better – whether the DRS here or the Rapid Response Force. But the most important thing is that they have shown efficiency. They have shown capacity and I thank the governor of this state for investing in security of the people of the state,” he stated.
It is recalled that the Command and Control Centre was formally inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu during his official visit to Enugu State on January 4, 2025.
Crime
Anambra Community Leaders Meet Police Over Murder of 23-Year-Old Female Student as Police Smash Cult Hideout in Awada
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Community leaders from Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have met with the Anambra State Police Command over the murder of a 23-year-old female student in her residence.
The meeting comes as operatives of the Command’s IGP-led Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) uncovered a suspected cultists’ hideout in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area.
The delegation visited the Police Command to discuss the ongoing investigation into the suspected murder of the student and to reaffirm the community’s support for efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga:
“The visit was also aimed at supporting the Police investigation and ensuring that justice is served. During the engagement, the delegation provided useful information to assist investigators, reaffirmed the community’s commitment to collaborating with the Police, and expressed their collective resolve to support all lawful efforts geared towards uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
He added:
“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, during the interactive session, reassured the stakeholders of the Command’s commitment to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that all persons found culpable are brought to justice in accordance with the law.”
The Police Commissioner also urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and provide credible information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
Speaking after the meeting, the President-General of Alor Community, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, commended the Police for their prompt response and professionalism in handling the case. He expressed confidence in the investigation and pledged the community’s continued cooperation to ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, operatives attached to the IGP Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), on the evening of June 20, 2026, recovered two AK-47 magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and other police-related items during a sustained raid on a suspected cultists’ hideout at Nwaziki Street, Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area.
Although no suspect was arrested during the operation, the Police said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspects, establish ownership of the recovered exhibits, and dismantle any criminal network linked to the items recovered.
ABUJA — The Senate has passed the State Police Bill, introducing a new policing structure across the country, but with strict provisions preventing existing local and regional security outfits from automatically transforming into state police agencies or bearing firearms.
The bill, which is part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, stipulates that security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in the South-East, Hisbah in parts of the North and other community-based security groups will not automatically assume the status of state police services once the law takes effect.
Under Section 25(5) of the proposed legislation, no existing state, local, community, vigilante, neighbourhood, traffic or other security outfit shall become a State Police Service merely by virtue of the constitutional amendment.
The provision further states that such organisations will not be permitted to exercise police powers or carry firearms unless specifically authorised under the Constitution and an Act of the National Assembly.
The clause is designed to ensure that any future state police formation follows a formal constitutional and legal process rather than evolving from existing regional security structures.
The Senate also included safeguards against abuse of the proposed state police system.
Under the bill, each state police service will be headed by a Commissioner of Police, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly. Governors may issue lawful policy directives on matters relating to public safety and order.
However, the legislation expressly prohibits a state police commissioner from arresting, detaining, investigating or deploying force against any individual, political party or group merely for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law.
To strengthen accountability, the bill allows either the Inspector-General of Police or a State Commissioner of Police to seek a review of any directive considered unlawful or inconsistent with national policing standards. Such disputes may also be challenged in court.
The proposed law further provides that a state police commissioner cannot be suspended or removed arbitrarily. Removal must be based on stated grounds, follow the principles of fair hearing, receive a recommendation from the National Police Council and secure the approval of at least two-thirds of members of the State House of Assembly.
The legislation also outlines circumstances under which the Federal Police Service may intervene in the operations of a state police service. These include situations where public order has broken down, where a state police service becomes incapable of performing its duties, or where there is evidence of systematic abuse of powers, partisan intimidation, ethnic or religious persecution, or threats to national security.
Any federal intervention must be temporary, proportionate and authorised by the President, with the action remaining subject to judicial review.
The bill additionally proposes the establishment of a State Police Service Commission in every state to oversee recruitment, promotions, discipline and accountability within state police services.
Having secured Senate approval, the bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for ratification. For the constitutional amendment to take effect, it must be approved by at least 24 state assemblies.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a police officer was seen fraternizing with armed bandits in Katsina State, describing the narrative attached to a viral video as false, misleading, and deliberately intended to misinform the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, clarified that the armed individuals captured in the video are not bandits but duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working alongside security agencies in Katsina State.
According to the police, the video showed a routine interaction between a police officer and community security volunteers who were on their way to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas as part of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity and protect local communities.
The Force said any suggestion that the officer was collaborating with criminal elements is entirely false and malicious. It stressed that the volunteers featured in the footage are legitimate partners in security operations and are actively supporting law enforcement efforts in the affected areas.
The police further condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating public panic, eroding confidence in security institutions, and undermining ongoing operations against criminal groups.
Reaffirming its commitment to community-based policing, the NPF urged Nigerians to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely only on information released through official police and government channels. The Force also warned that individuals involved in creating or spreading false information capable of threatening public peace and security could face legal consequences.
TheInsightLensProject.com is a data-driven open-source intelligence and analysis platform delivering insights on Nigeria, Africa, and global affairs.
A United States federal court has sentenced Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, to five years in prison for his role in a romance fraud scheme that authorities said defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million. The sentence marks a dramatic fall for the Nigerian local government chairman, whose case drew attention on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the 42-year-old was convicted for operating a long-running online fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable people through dating websites. Prosecutors said Nwadialo used fake identities and false stories to build trust with victims before persuading them to send large sums of money.
The court heard that Nwadialo spent nearly 15 years posing as a romantic partner on platforms including Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Using aliases such as “Giovanni,” he allegedly claimed to be a military officer serving overseas and relied on stolen photographs to support his false identity. Authorities said he requested money for fabricated military penalties, family emergencies, funeral expenses, school fees, and investment opportunities.
During sentencing in Tacoma, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the scheme as deeply damaging, noting that victims suffered serious financial, emotional, and psychological harm. Investigators said several victims lost their life savings, while one widow reportedly sold assets and eventually lost her home after sending money to the fraudster. Another victim believed she was in a genuine relationship with him for three years before learning the truth through an FBI investigation.
Federal prosecutors said Nwadialo deliberately targeted older and vulnerable individuals, including widows and divorcees seeking companionship online. The FBI, which led the investigation, said the scheme demonstrated how fraudsters exploit trust and emotional connections for financial gain. The case was prosecuted by federal attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.
Nwadialo was arrested in Texas in 2024 after arriving in the United States and was later charged with 14 counts of wire fraud. His conviction and sentencing bring to a close a case that authorities say caused devastating losses to multiple victims, while also highlighting the growing global effort to combat online romance scams and other forms of cyber-enabled fraud.
TheInsightLensProject.com is a data-driven open-source intelligence and analysis platform delivering insights on Nigeria, Africa, and global affairs.
-
Politics4 days agoSenator dumps APC, alleges injustice, internal crisis in ruling party
-
News4 days agoCourt Orders DSS Probe as Prosecutors Link VeryDarkMan to Alleged Leak of Coup Trial Evidence
-
Crime4 days agoU.S. Court Jails Anambra Council Chairman for $3.5 Million Romance Scam
-
Crime4 days agoViral Katsina Video Misleading, Armed Men Are Registered Vigilantes – Police
-
News4 days agoBREAKING: Senate passes Bill to Establish State Police in Nigeria
-
Politics4 days ago2027: Ebonyi Communities Endorse PDP Governorship Candidate Odii
-
Crime4 days agoAnambra Police Kill Four Suspected Gunmen, Recover GPMG, AK-47 Rifles, IEDs
-
Crime3 days ago
Senate Bars State Police From Bearing Arms, Allows Governors to Appoint CPs