Crime
5-day sit-at-home: S’East ignores Simon Ekpa’s order
This was greeted by a spontaneous outrage as eminent Igbo personalities and organisations including Ohanaeze Ndigbo fumed.
The leadership of IPoB was the first to disown the purported sit-at-home order, saying it never emanated from the pro-Biafra movement.
IPoB in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, urged residents of South-East to ignore the order, describing it as mischievous and “anti-Biafra.’’
According to the state, ‘’IPOB never issued any sit-at-home order because we are not miscreants, senseless or jobless people.
“ Every Biafran resident in Biafra land should ignore such an order from untrained and brainless individuals whose agenda is to make Biafra agitation unattractive to our people. Every Biafran must go about their normal businesses.
“ IPoB which is concerned about our people cannot issue such a brainless and uncaring 5-day consecutive sit-at-home order to suffer our people during this critical time of the year.
“ The conception of 5-day consecutive sit-at-home order is to show the level of wickedness and hatred they have against our people. Their agenda is to create insecurity and unnecessary hardship.
“Our people should be prepared and ready to confront any fool who dares to enforce such wicked sit-at-home. Moreover, ESN operatives and IPOB volunteers will be out on these dates to protect our people and the markets.”
Corroborating the position of IPoB, apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, called on Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, and Senator Sam Egwu, to call Ekpa to order.
Ohanaeze cautioned him against issuing orders that hurt Igbo interest out of youthful exuberance, wondering if he is “ a hero or villain”.
The apex Igbo body also frowned at indiscriminate dishing of unguarded statements by various self-appointed Igbo youth leaders without due consultations, noting that even the late Biafra warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, widely consulted with the stakeholders of the defunct Easter Nigeria before declaring Biafra in 1967.
Elder stateman and former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife ( Okwadike Igboukwu), also reprimanded Ekpa and all those behind the viral video, warning them not to rock the economy of the South East.
Kanu himself disowned the viral video and urged the people to discountenance it.
Kanu, who spoke through his brother, Emmanuel Kanu, who visited him at the facility where he is currently detained, said he never authorised the order.
Meanwhile, findings showed that residents ignored the sit-at-home order and went about their lawful businesses.
Apart from the reported sporadic shooting in parts of Imo State last Friday evening, other parts of South-East have so far been peaceful.
Following the scenario, some are wondering if there is leadership tussle in IPoB.
Ekpa, who addresses himself as a disciple of Nnamdi Kanu in his broadcasts on Facebook and other social media platforms has a large followership.
However, all do not seem to be well following his ‘right wing’ approach towards the Biafra struggle since the rendition of Kanu from Kenya in June 2021.
His seeming militant position pitched him against the leadership of IPoB.
Ekpa and his fans see the leadership of the group under the interim command of Mazi Chika Edoziem-led Directorate of State ,DOS, as weak.
For instance, when the DOS ordered Monday sit-at-home to protest Kanu’s detention and later rescinded the order following public outcry, Ekpa and his ‘ far-right crew’ accused Edoziem of compromise.
He has since remained combative in his broadcasts and general approach most of which are considered to be endangering lives.
Meanwhile, IPOB has denied any leadership tussle in its hierarchy, explaining that Ekpa has never been its member.
Two police officers have been killed after suspected armed herders ambushed the convoy of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Ayilamo, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The latest attack occurred on Monday evening, barely four days after another deadly incident in the community reportedly left four policemen and seven residents dead.
Community sources said the DPO had travelled to Makurdi on official duty and was returning to Ayilamo when his entourage came under attack.
One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the victims were among newly deployed Mobile Police officers stationed in the area.
He said the officers were attacked at about 6pm while travelling from Ayilamo to escort the DPO back to the community from Makurdi.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Benue State Police Command, DSP Peter Aondongu, said two officers attached to the DPO’s entourage were killed in the attack.
“The DPO came to Makurdi to collect some things, and while returning to Ayilamo, he was attacked and lost two of his men in the attack,” Aondongu said.
The latest incident has raised fresh concerns over the security situation in Ayilamo, where repeated attacks have resulted in casualties among security personnel and residents.
The Nigeria Police Force has placed its formations nationwide on red alert following intelligence reports of planned terrorist attacks on worship centres, schools, NYSC orientation camps and other public places.
The alert followed fresh intelligence indicating increased mobilisation of terrorist elements for possible coordinated attacks on vulnerable targets across the country.
Police authorities also reportedly received intelligence on the movement of armed elements from Katsina through Kaduna towards Plateau State.
The operational order was contained in a police wireless message dated September 13, 2026, with reference number CB: 0900/FDPS/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL38/68, issued by the Department of Operations at Force Headquarters, Abuja.
Marked “Security General” and tagged “Treat as Very Important,” the message was circulated to Assistant Inspectors-General of Police overseeing Zones 1–17, Mobile Police formations, counter-terrorism and other specialised units, as well as Commissioners of Police in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The police directed formations to intensify vigilance and take proactive measures to prevent criminal and terrorist elements from carrying out attacks.
The warning specifically highlighted places of worship, educational institutions, NYSC orientation camps and other vulnerable public locations as potential targets.
A 16-year-old boy, Favour Ayogu, who was allegedly abducted in Igboeze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, has been rescued in Onitsha, Anambra State, after his abductors reportedly abandoned him near a security checkpoint.
Ayogu was rescued on the evening of September 13, 2026, by a joint security patrol team operating along Oguta Road, Onitsha.
According to the Anambra State Police Command, the teenager was found at Ekene Junction after unidentified persons reportedly pushed him out of a black Toyota Highlander SUV close to a security checkpoint.
The patrol team immediately intervened and rescued the victim, thereby preventing what the police described as further danger to his life.
Following the rescue, the Command said it had intensified surveillance and intelligence-led operations to identify and apprehend members of the suspected criminal gang responsible for the abduction.
The police also appealed to residents of Igboeze South and Ibagwa-Aka in Enugu State who may have useful information about Ayogu or his family to contact the nearest police station or the Anambra State Police Command in Awka.
The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, commended the security personnel involved in the rescue and directed officers to sustain strategic checkpoints, intelligence-led patrols and coordinated security operations across the state.
The Command assured residents and visitors that it would continue to intensify efforts to prevent criminal elements from using Anambra as a safe haven.
At least nine passengers have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a commercial bus at Dungus Junction in Kuru community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The attack reportedly occurred around 9:40 p.m. when the bus, which was travelling towards Jos, stopped at the junction to drop off some passengers.
Several other passengers were reportedly injured in the attack and rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Lawan Suleiman, a neighbour and teacher of one of the victims, identified the driver as Ibrahim and said three of the victims were from his community in Bukuru.
“The driver is Ibrahim and he was my student. Three of them are from our community here in Bukuru. Their bodies have been deposited at the hospital. But relatives are preparing to collect them for burial,” Suleiman said.
The bus was reportedly riddled with bullets, with bloodstains visible inside the vehicle after the attack.
Rwang Tengwong, spokesman for the Berom Youth Moulders (BYM), also confirmed the incident, saying the victims were passengers travelling to Jos when the attackers opened fire on the vehicle.
Tengwong said one of those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow.
“The incident happened around 9.40 p.m. The victims were all passengers travelling to Jos when the terrorists opened fire on the vehicle. Among those killed was a member of Operation Rainbow. It is a very sad development and we lament the loss of lives,” he said.
He added that some passengers sustained gunshot injuries and were taken to hospitals, while some of the injured reportedly later died.
The attack has raised fresh concerns over the safety of commuters travelling along the route at night amid continuing security challenges in parts of Plateau State.
As of the time of filing this report, the Plateau State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
The Enugu State Police Command has ordered an investigation into two separate incidents of alleged disruption of political gatherings in Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
The incidents reportedly occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Ndiuno-Obuoffia community and St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
According to the statement, armed hoodlums allegedly disrupted a National Democratic Congress (NDC) ward meeting at Ndiuno-Obuoffia with sporadic gunshots, leaving two attendees injured.
In a separate incident at St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani, hoodlums allegedly destroyed canopies and chairs arranged for a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rally.
The police said operatives were promptly deployed to both locations after receiving reports of the incidents to prevent further breaches of peace and track down the fleeing suspects.
The Command, however, noted that neither of the political gatherings had been formally brought to the attention of the police for security coverage.
CP Giwa reiterated his warning that all political activities in the state must be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.
He stressed that electoral offences are punishable under the law and warned political parties, candidates, supporters and other stakeholders against violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other acts capable of disrupting public peace or the electoral process.
The Commissioner urged political parties and other stakeholders to notify the police ahead of campaigns, meetings, rallies and other political gatherings to enable the Command to make adequate security arrangements.
He assured residents that the police would continue to maintain a peaceful and secure environment for lawful political activities while dealing decisively with anyone found violating the law.
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