Crime
3 killed, The Nation vehicle burnt as sit-at-home in Southeast turns bloody
Security agents on Monday killed three hoodlums who were purportedly enforcing the suspended sit-at-home directive of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Imo State.
Another set of hoodlums burnt The Nation newspaper’s distribution car after trying to extort N100,000 from the driver.
The incident occurred in Awo Omamma, in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo.
Businesses and offices were shut again in the Southeast as residents stayed indoor for fear of being harmed or killed.
Not even the reassurances of governors and security agencies, as well as the threat of a sack or sanction, could make them come out.
Many said they would rather lose their jobs or daily income than die.
Transporters also stayed away, leaving residents who came out stranded.
IPOB had urged Ndigbo to stay home every Monday to protest the detention of its leader Nnamdi Kanu, who is on trial over treasonable felony charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The 6 am to 6 pm exercise was first observed on August 9, with several deaths recorded and properties, especially commercial vehicles, destroyed.
Despite the subsequent suspension of the sit-at-home based on an order from Kanu, residents had refused to come out on the last two Mondays. It was the same again yesterday.
Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi had threatened to sack civil servants who fail to report to work or sanction business owners who fail to open, but even a petrol station said to belong to him was shut yesterday. His workers were not convinced.
Soldiers killed three hoodlums said to be enforcing the sit-at-home at Umuonyewere, Umuowa in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area in Imo.
An eyewitness, who pleaded not to be named for safety reasons, said the hoodlums dispossessed residents of their valuables.
He said the security agents engaged the hoodlums in a gun duel at a filling station where they allegedly robbed a fuel attendant of his cash and phones.
Three of the hoodlums were gunned down; others fled into the bush.
Two vehicles, including a Toyota Rav4, two locally-made pistols, five bullet shells, hard drugs, charms, two plate numbers, among other weapons, were recovered from them.
Some of the residents expressed delight at the prompt response of the joint security team.
It was learnt that the hoodlums snatched a vehicle from Emmanuel Chima Ekeh in the Amafor community at about 6:00 am.
“They went on shooting sporadically in the community and stopped by a filling station where they claimed to be enforcing the sit-at-home.
“They assaulted the pump attendants, snatched his phone and all the money he had on him,” the eyewitness said.
The Commander, 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Brig.-Gen Raymond Utsaha, advised the people to be vigilant and report suspected criminals to law enforcement agencies.
The Nation van set ablaze
A Volkswagen car conveying copies of The Nation to the Southeast was burnt at Awo Omamma in Oru East Local Government Area.
The driver, Lateef Akanbi, said: “They flagged me down but when I noticed that they were armed hoodlums, not the police, I sped into the bush and hid.
“From a distance, I heard them saying: ‘Bring N100,000!’. I had no money with me, so, I did not come out. What I saw next was a cloud of smoke coming out from the vehicle. I then realised they had set it on fire.”
Police spokesman, Michael Abattam, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said an investigation had begun.
“They are thugs. We are investigating the matter,” he said.
Businesses, offices, roads and markets were again deserted in Imo, despite Governor Hope Uzodimma’s claim that the sit-at-home did not work in Imo.
Abakaliki, Ebonyi capital, was deserted. Most businesses did not open despite the threat by the state government that shop owners could lose the right of occupancy of their businesses should they not open.
At the international market Abakaliki, the majority of the shops did not open.
Banks remained shut; a few that had their gates open did not have customers to attend to.
A banker told our reporter that they were instructed to report for work but not to open till they were told to do so.
Some security agents were seen in their vans on patrol of major streets. Students for the National Examination Council (NECO) examinations were seen going to school in the morning.
Major transport companies did not open for business. Filling stations and major eateries did not open, including Brass Filling Station said to belong to Umahi.
Enugu residents urge govt to intervene
Some Enugu State residents urged the government to prevail on transporters and traders to end the sit-at-home.
They lamented that the exercise had impacted negatively on their well-being.
A doctor, Cosmas Anibeze, said: “This whole thing is taking a new dimension. Everyone is afraid of being attacked although IPOB, which initially imposed this order, later cancelled it.
“I think what the government needs to do is prevail on the traders and especially transporters to always come out because this economy depends on everyone to thrive.
“Four of my staff could not come out because there were no buses to convey them from their various locations.”
A trader, Josiah Udeh, attributed the situation to fear created by some mischief-makers as well as insistence by transporters to withdraw their services.
Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Calistus Onaga, appealed to agitators in the Southeast to suspend the sit-at-home.
He spoke at the opening of the Second Plenary Meeting of the Catholic bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) in Enugu.
He wondered why the agitators, who claimed to be protecting the interest of the poor masses of Southeast, would turn around to inflict pains on them.
Onaga said: “The various leaders of ethnic agitations and interest groups should take care not to employ methods to contradict their intentions in any way or try to reduce their intentions.
“They should take an example from those who have done that in the past. Martin Luther King who died for the Blacks did not punish those he was fighting for.
“Even Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu used his father’s wealth to look for our independence, yet he did not come back to demand return from any of us.”
“When you make us afraid, those you feel you are protecting, what will happen when you get the Independence?”
“This part of the world is known for business; this part of the world is known for education and you tell us to sit at home, doing what?
“What of the parents, who will need to sell their goods to train their children – you tell them to sit at home? Is that the way we can progress?”
Abia, Anambra residents stay home
Residents of Aba, Abia State and Umuahia, the state capital, again closed their shops, offices and markets.
Banks, federal, state and local government workers stayed away despite the assurances of their safety by the security agencies.
Security agents were spotted at different locations in their various patrol vehicles.
In Anambra, commercial activities were paralysed.
Banks, markets, shops and other commercial activities were grounded again in Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha.
It was learnt that there was a gun duel between some criminals and security operatives at Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area.
Police spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, did not confirm the incident.
Roads and streets in Onitsha, the commercial city and Nnewi, the Industrial town, were empty.
Markets in the two cities were under lock, including the Onitsha Main Market and Nkwo Nnewi.
A group, the Balance and Equity Group (BEG), appealed to IPOB leadership to ensure proper dissemination of suspension of the weekly sit-at-home.
Its Founder, Chris Arinze, urged IPOB to help save the region’s economy.
He said: “It’s very clear that Southeast governors can’t give a contrary order against that of IPOB for the traders and businessmen in Igboland to go back to their businesses on Mondays.
“Every genuine Igbo accepts that Igbos are not well-treated. There are injustices against Ndigbo and Mazi Kanu cannot be faulted on that, but IPOB needs to do something about this Monday weekly sit-at-home.
“Otherwise, people will continue to observe it from now to December or when Mazi Kanu is released and it is not good for our economy.
“It is, therefore, left for IPOB to order them back to their businesses through the mass media, as a show of love, respect and loyalty.”
Nation
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.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State Police Command, in a joint security operation with other security agencies, has neutralised four suspected gunmen allegedly involved in terrorising residents along the Ogboji-Ajalli axis of Orumba North and Orumba South Local Government Areas.
The operation also led to the recovery of a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), AK-47 rifles, improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and other incriminating items.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the security operatives acted on credible intelligence regarding the movement of heavily armed members of a suspected secessionist armed group operating in a Toyota Sienna vehicle.
According to him, “During the operation, security operatives neutralised four
members of the armed gang and recovered a cache of weapons, ammunition, explosive devices, and other incriminating items.”
Items recovered include one GPMG with 53 rounds of linked live ammunition, two AK-47 rifles, two magazines, 29 rounds of 7.62 x 39mm ammunition, 13 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, four undetonated IEDs, police camouflage uniforms and accessories, and a white Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KJA 919 KH (Lagos).
Other recovered items were 10 Android phones, two feature phones, a laptop computer, a Point-of-Sale (POS) machine, two power banks, assorted charms, two live cartridges, ATM cards, a National Identification Card, and a driver’s licence belonging to identified individuals.
Ikenga explained that the operation was carried out during a visibility and confidence-building patrol following intelligence gathered over time on the activities of the suspected criminals.
Preliminary investigations indicate that some members of the gang escaped into nearby bushes with varying degrees of gunshot wounds.
Consequently, the Joint Security Team has intensified combing and search operations in the area to apprehend the fleeing suspects and recover additional weapons and operational equipment.
The Anambra State Police Command reiterated its commitment, in collaboration with other security agencies, to sustaining proactive, intelligence-driven operations aimed at safeguarding lives and property across the state.
A tragic incident has occurred in Enugu State after a 16-year-old student, Chibueze Odo, was allegedly stabbed to death by his friend and roommate following a disagreement over a mobile phone.
Chibueze, a Senior Secondary School student of Ugbaike Technical Secondary School, Enugu-Ezike, in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area, was reportedly killed on Saturday evening in Obollo Afor, where he was also serving as a part-time apprentice.
According to reports, the suspect, identified as Arinze, allegedly invited the deceased to a location in Obollo Afor before attacking him. The victim sustained fatal stab wounds to the neck and died at the scene.
The suspect reportedly told police investigators that Chibueze had previously lost his phone, prompting him to lend the deceased a faulty spare phone for repairs and temporary use.
The deceased
He claimed that when he later requested the phone back, Chibueze demanded reimbursement of N14,500, covering repair costs and the purchase of a memory card.
Arinze allegedly told police that an argument ensued when he asked for the phone and Chibueze insisted on receiving the money before returning it.
According to the suspect’s account, he stabbed Chibueze after the disagreement escalated.
Sources close to the victim’s family said Chibueze, who hailed from the Ukwuagbudu area of Ugbaike, had left his workplace after being invited to the meeting where he was attacked.
The sources further disclosed that the suspect is believed to be from the neighbouring Umuogbo Inyi community in Enugu-Ezike.
Family members said the deceased was accompanied by two others, including his elder brother, Nnanna, shortly before the incident occurred.
The body of the victim has been deposited at Dr. Eze Mortuary in Obollo Afor for an autopsy, while police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
The tragic killing has sparked grief and outrage within the community, with residents calling for justice for the deceased student.
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