News
6 Persons Feared Dead In Ebonyi Renewed Communal Crisis
…Those Killed Were Taken To Military Checkpoint – Police
Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Not fewer than 6 Persons were said to have been killed by suspected warlords of the people of Ogwor Village in Ishiagu and Umobor village in Akaeze Community all in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The people of Umuobor, Akaeze and their neighbors, Ogwor, Ishiagu have been in a lingering communal crisis over land dispute for decades now with several lives lost and properties worth millions destroyed by the both warring communities.
It would be recalled that early last month, six persons were killed by the warlords who have continued the block the ever-busy Ishiagu/Okigwe express road killing innocent people.
A resident of the area, one F.N Igwe (PHD) in a WhatsApp post made today wrote, “Thank you your excellency,
Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, our peace loving Governor, for your golden silence and great efforts towards ensuring lasting peace and justice prevails between the warring communities of UMOBOR & OGWOR in IVO LGA.
“Just yesterday, a total of 4 persons were killed in Umobor Akaeze. Extra 2 corpses recovered today and taken to the ARMY CHECK POINT in Akaeze.
“Your excellency’s silence and remote actions has continued to achieve more gains with more killings, maiming and abduction of innocent people of Akaeze and Ishiagu communities, and even non Ebonyi person.
“We also wish to appreciate our stakeholders for their efforts in keeping the numbers on the increase. “It’s pertinent to appreciate all those who contribute handsomely towards the orchestration of more crisis, for their grave quest. Posterity shall be kind to everyone.
In an interview with journalists in Abakaliki, a members of the Local Government Vigilante outfits, James Okoro accused the two warring communities of hiring machineries to attack innocent people in their different farmlands adding that the warlords now attack and kill people who does not have any business in the land dispute.
“About 3 weeks ago, the council Chairman, Emmanuel Ajah convened a meeting of all the stakeholders of Ivo local government area and part of the resolution was that there must be a permanent peace between the warring communities of Umobor village in Akaeze and Ogwor village in community all in Ivo local government area.
“The stakeholders went back and informed their people that the two communities have resolved to give peace a chance. The next morning, the people believing that peace have returned, went to the farm only for them to be ambushed, attacked and killed by the warlords of the two communities.
“The suspected machineries employed by the two warring communities invaded a village called Amamaeze which has no business with the crisis and attacked the people there and killed innocent farmers.
“They machineries were said to have attacked the people of Umobor from the Ugwueke axis because the people of Ugwueke and Umubo has a common boundary. They invaded the farm, used machete to cut the people farm. As at the time they left, about 4 innocent person who does not have any link with the crisis have been killed.
“A man who was returning to his village after spending 3 months in the hospital having undergone an operation was attacked and killed. He was killed alongside the mother and the commercial motorcyclist that was conveying them back to the village.
“Unfortunately, some of the people who are being killed are not indigene of the villages involved in the land dispute. On Monday when a search party was sent to the farm, two other dead bodies were recovered from the farm.
“People who are not even from the area are now scared of going to the farm including road users because what they do is to block the road and kill anyone they see along the axis.
“The Umubo people had accused Ugwueke people of allowing the Ogwor people to attack them through their village. The Ugwueke people in response revealed that the attackers came with sienna Vehicles which they parked along the road and moved into the farmland were they attacked the innocent farmers.
“The people of Ugwueke also alleged that a top politician from Ishiagu had approached them to help them to fight the people of Umobor but they declined insisting that they and the people of Umobor does not have any crisis or dispute. From the look of things, the recent killing might be a sponsored attack.
Another community leader from the area who spoke on grounds of anonymity blamed the stakeholders of the local government for the continued killings and urged the State Governor to intervene in the lingering crisis
It is disheartening that innocent people are being killed every day yet the local and state government are not doing much to end the killings. The State Governor as the Chief Security officer of the State must take the needed necessary action to stop the crisis from escalating to what the State witnessed in the Ezza/Ezza-Effuim communal war.
“Let the truth be told, the disputed land does not belong to the two warring communities. The land originally belong to the people of Okwee who were chased out from the land by the Ogwor people and wanted to occupy the land but are being resisted by the Umobor people. So there might not be an end to the killings if Government fails to act now.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer PPRO DSP Joshua Ukandu said that he was called concerning the killing but was informed that the corpses of those killed were taken to the Army Checkpoint.
“I am yet to get the details of the killings but once am availed of the information, I will disclose it to the media immediately. Ends.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has approved the expansion of the Nigerian Army’s structure from eight to twelve divisions—a landmark move to enhance the country’s security architecture and improve the operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the President on (Information & Strategy) Bayo Onanuga says, “this approval underscores the President’s unwavering commitment to equipping the Armed Forces to address Nigeria’s evolving security challenges effectively and to strengthen national defence capabilities further.”According to the statement, “the expansion builds on the Administration’s sustained investments in the Armed Forces, including approval for the recruitment of 28,000 additional personnel, acquisition of critical military platforms and equipment, improvements in troop welfare, and ongoing support for operational readiness and force modernisation.”Under the new structure, the Nigerian Army will operate twelve divisions, strategically positioned across the country as follows:1. 1 Division Headquarters – Kaduna (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa States)2. 2 Division Headquarters – Ibadan (Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States)3. 3 Division Headquarters – Jos (Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States)4. 5 Division Headquarters – Makurdi (Benue, Nasarawa and Kogi States)5. 6 Division Headquarters – Port Harcourt (Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States)6. 7 Division Headquarters – Maiduguri (Borno and Yobe States)7. 8 Division Headquarters – Sokoto (Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States)8. 9 Division Headquarters – Ilorin (Kwara and Niger States)9. 10 Division Headquarters – Jalingo (Taraba and Adamawa States)10. 81 Division Headquarters – Lagos (Lagos and Ogun States)11. 82 Division Headquarters – Enugu (Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States)12. 83 Division Headquarters – Benin City (Edo, Delta and Bayelsa States).The establishment of the new Divisions in Makurdi, Ilorin, Jalingo and Benin City will significantly improve command and control, decentralise operational decision-making, strengthen border security, enhance the protection of critical national infrastructure, improve counter-insurgency and internal security operations, and ensure faster military response to emerging threats nationwide.Implementation of the new force structure will be done in two phases.
The Ndigbo Unity Forum (NUF) worldwide, a pan-Igbo socioeconomic pressure group, has urged the Federal Government to direct the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to supply Dangote Petroleum Refinery adequate crude.
The Chairman of NUF, Chief Augustine Chukwudum, made the call on Wednesday in Enugu while reacting to Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s move to start direct sales of refined Petroleum products in dollars.
It would be recalled that a top management official of the Dangote Group said that its refinery was receiving just four million barrels of crude oil monthly under the arrangement, instead of about 13 million barrels envisaged after President Bola Tinubu’s 2024 directive.
The refinery had attributed its decision to switch from naira-denominated fuel sales domestically to dollar transactions to the crude supply shortfall, saying it would also increase exports of refined petroleum products to earn foreign exchange.
Chukwudum called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently before things get out of hand and Nigerians suffer the more.
According to him, fuel price remains major determinant of prices of other commodities and services in the country as transport cost depends on.
“Things are bound to get worst if the Federal Government neglect to take immediate and decisive actions meant to better the life of the citizens.
“NUF is rasing this alarm because this administration is behaving as if they are not answerable to the people their are supposed to be serving.
“The Federal Government should direct NNPCL to supply all the crude oil needed by Dangote Refinery since the company has the capacity to meet local or domestic petroleum needs of the country.
“The government must stop all forms of fuel importation because that money been used for importation is a waste and put a pressure on our fragile foreign reserve as a nation,” he said.
The NUF boss noted that the refinery company must be allowed to pay in naira with this move, suffering of citizens would be curtailed.
Chukwudum also reiterated the call of the group for the Federal Government to set up judicial panel of inquiry to look into the account of NNPCL for some years now.
A commotion reportedly erupted at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State after some officials were accused of demanding ₦2,000 from applicants before processing voter registration and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The allegation surfaced in a video circulating on social media, which showed what appeared to be a heated confrontation between applicants and officials at the electoral commission’s office.
According to a resident who narrated the incident in the video, some INEC officials allegedly insisted that applicants pay ₦2,000 before their voter registration or PVC processing could be completed.
The situation reportedly escalated when one of the applicants challenged the alleged demand, insisting that voter registration and PVC-related services are free and should not attract any payment.
The applicant was said to have confronted the officials and attempted to record the exchange with a mobile phone, triggering a heated argument that attracted other applicants and bystanders.
Although raised voices and a commotion could be heard in the footage, the circumstances surrounding the incident could not be independently verified.
The video has since sparked reactions on social media, with many Nigerians condemning the alleged extortion and calling on INEC to investigate the incident and sanction anyone found culpable.
INEC has consistently maintained that voter registration services are free of charge. These include fresh registration, collection of PVCs, transfer of voter information, correction of personal details, and replacement of lost or damaged PVCs.
The commission has also repeatedly urged members of the public to report any cases of extortion, bribery or illegal charges involving its permanent or ad hoc staff during voter registration and PVC distribution.
As of the time of filing this report, INEC had not issued an official statement specifically addressing the allegations involving its Onitsha South Local Government Area office.
The incident comes as the electoral commission continues its nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.
INEC has also introduced an online self-service platform to enable prospective voters and existing registrants to complete several registration-related processes conveniently, while reiterating that voter registration services remain free of charge.
MainPower Electricity Distribution Limited (MEDL) has restored power supply to parts of Enugu metropolis, which witnessed darkness.
Some parts of Enugu metropolis, under the Band A tariff regime, during the weekend witnessed three consecutive days of blackout.
The Head, Communications of MainPower, Mr Emeka Ezeh, disclosed this in a statement he issued on Tuesday in Enugu.
According to him, MainPower wishes to inform its esteemed customers that power supply to the Gariki Injection Substation was successfully restored on Monday, July 20, at about 8:30p.m.
“This is following the successful resolution of a major fault involving the indoor 11kV breaker at the station.
“The fault, which occurred on Friday, July 17, affected electricity supply to customers served by the Army and Gariki 11kV feeders.
“Consequently, normal electricity supply has now been restored to all affected areas,” he said.
Ezeh appreciated residents and customers for their patience, understanding and cooperation throughout the outage.
He noted that the company remained committed to delivering safe, reliable, and improved electricity services to its customers and residents of the state.
It would be recalled that MainPower, which is a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), is in-charge of electricity distribution in Enugu State.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Four herders and several cattle were killed on Tuesday when suspected gunmen attacked a cattle camp in Ifite Awka Community, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
The incident has sparked concern in Awka, the state capital, as the attackers reportedly invaded the settlement and opened fire on the herders before fleeing the scene.
The attack has also prompted the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to appeal for calm among its members, expressing confidence that the perpetrators would be apprehended and brought to justice.
In a statement, the National Deputy Director-General of MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said the four deceased herders were members of the same family.
According to him, the incident occurred at the cattle camp of Alhaji Aminu Mohammed on Tuesday, July 21, 2026.
He said, “According to reports, unknown armed assailants invaded the cattle camp while the herders were peacefully engaged in their legitimate cattle-rearing activities.
“The attackers opened fire sporadically, resulting in the deaths of four herders, namely Mohammed Bujumi, Hassan Bujumi, Abubakar Bujumi and Sani Bujumi.
“Several cattle were also killed during the attack, while the assailants reportedly fled with some of the cattle carcasses towards the nearby Mgbakwu Community.”
Siddiki added that another herder, identified as Usman Iliyasu, narrowly escaped the attack.
MACBAN condemned the incident as “heinous and senseless,” calling on security agencies to immediately investigate the attack, apprehend those responsible and prosecute them.
The association also urged the Anambra State Government to take urgent steps to strengthen security and protect the lives and property of residents.
While appreciating the prompt intervention of the Joint Task Force and the state government in recovering the bodies of the victims, Siddiki appealed to MACBAN members to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands.
“We urge everyone to cooperate fully with the security agencies and allow the government to carry out the necessary investigations and take appropriate action to ensure justice is served,” he said.
Confirming the attack, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said a police-led joint security team responded to the scene following a distress call.
He said the operatives discovered the bodies of four male victims who had suffered fatal injuries.
“Preliminary observations revealed that the victims had their hands tied and sustained multiple injuries, including machete cuts and blunt force trauma. Also, two residential huts within the settlement were set ablaze during the attack,” Ikenga said.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that four dead cows were found within the vicinity, while two other cattle had been slaughtered, with portions of their meat removed.
He added that security operatives recovered sacks containing abandoned chunks of meat a short distance from the scene.
According to Ikenga, preliminary findings indicated that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, pump-action guns, double-barrel guns and machetes.
He said one survivor escaped unharmed and was assisting the police-led joint security team with useful information that could aid the investigation.
The Anambra State Police Command urged members of the public to remain calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing credible and timely information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
The Command said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.
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