News
ECTDA demolishes multi million residential building in Enugu
The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, on Thursday pulled down a multi-million naira residential edifice belonging to the Chancellor of Coal City University, Mr. Chinedu Ani.
ECTDA said the property was illegally constructed on the road linking Ekulu GRA through Onoh quarters to Oshimili and Enugu-Onitsha expressway, adding that the property was also built on Ekulu River waterway and obstructed free flow of the river.
Chairman of ECTDA, Dr Josef Onoh who spoke to newsmen shortly after the demolition said that the owner of the proper , Ani, was given an approval in 2016 to build on 5800 square meters in his own property, a residential house and a swimming pool, but that the owners of the estate petitioned the agency, alleging that Mr. Ani developed beyond the size of the land he bought from them.
“On my assumption of office, Rockonoh properties petitioned the ECTDA again and told us that the development constituted a nuisance and that the owner went ahead after approval to develop 5800 square meters, he went ahead and developed past one hectare of land without title documents.
“What we did is development control which is the sole responsibility of Capital Territory. We wrote him a letter on the 18th December 2020 and he did not respond to any of our letters, then we got submission on all the parties involved and we found out that from all the records in the capital Territory that he blocked a public access road that had a bridge and converted it to his private property. The road linked GRA to Trans-Ekulu and we are having traffic problems in Trans Ekulu. He converted Ekulu River into a fountain and a pool inside his house which was not part of his approval,” Onoh narrated.
He further disclosed that he personally went to Ani but that Ani refused to respond or make any submission until the agency obtained a court order asking Ani to comply, yet he disregarded the court order.
“To my shock he (Ani) barged into this office with a team of thugs and policemen and told me that he is untouchable, that he has made money and that he is highly connected and that if I tried to do development control in his property, he would have me killed. The law of the capital territory makes it clear that if you threaten officials of the capital territory in the discharge of their duties and you are found guilty, it’s six years imprisonment.
“We wrote to him again February 2021to submit all title documents showing that he has approval to develop one hectare of land aside from the one he purchased, but he could not provide any single approval, rather he disregarded and undermined the authority.
“Instead of him complying he went again and started building another duplex behind the house without approval and we wrote him again on the 2nd of March and the Governor gave me this job and asked me to adhere strictly to the master plan of the city and he complied and have carried out this job without any fear and despite intimidation. On March 5th 2021 we gave him final demand notice,” Onoh explained.
Narrating his own side of the story, Ani said that he was shocked that the ECTDA pulled down his house despite Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s intervention, noting that he vacated the court order for demolition of the property.
He accepted that there was a road that transverse through the area before he built on the land, but that the Rockonoh Company that sold the plot to him gave him a go ahead to close the road.
“The Onohs sold the land to me and they told me that the road was created by their father when RCC came to construct the estate and that their father dismantled the bridge before they sold to one Walter Aneke who sold to me and before I bought the land I went to them and asked them if I should I acquire this place because I remember that while I was a child there used to be a road there, the only problem is that they wanted money from me,” Ani said.
Chief of Staff to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Dr. Festus Uzor who intervened and aborted further demolition of the property refused to make comment on his mission to the site of demolition.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
Six members of the Indigenous People Of Biafra IPOB have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Police .
The six persons led by Mr Chukwuebuka Ohaechesi, include Emma Okonkwo, Jude Uwa, Gentle Okoro, Uchenna Dike, and Emmanuel Nwankwo who are said to be at large.
The were said to have fled to neighboring states in the South East hence signaling the other four Police Commands in the geopolitical zone to assist in the manhunt for them
The Police accused them of executing protests against the detaintion of the leader of IPOB Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is currently serving jail terms in Sokoto Correction Center.
According to a statement issued by the Abia Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, ASP Eguavon Omokaro, the individuals are suspected members of IPOB who have allegedly participated in protests at various times and locations within the state.
The statement alleged that the protests were organised in connection with the continued detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and demands for justice through the judicial process.
The Police Command further stated that these protests have allegedly resulted in breaches of peace and disruptions to law and order in Abia State. Consequently, the Police Intelligence Department reportedly concluded that the named individuals were among the principal organisers and coordinators of the demonstrations.
The statement further alleged that; ;
“It should be noted that on every 30th day of May, these men and their cohorts convene for the so-called remembrance of Biafra, holding clandestine meetings at various locations in the name of the emancipation of the Biafran Republic and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.”
According to the police, the six individuals were invited on several occasions for questioning in relation to the allegations against them.
The statement indicated that the first invitation was issued on 18 December 2025, followed by a second invitation on 7 February 2026, and a third invitation on 3 March 2026.
The police alleged that the individuals failed to honour all three invitations.
The statement further asserted:
“These individuals were invited by the police on several occasions. Firstly, on 18 December 2025, they failed to honour the invitation. Again, they were invited on 7th February 2026 and failed to appear. Finally, they were invited on 3 March 2026, and they also failed to present themselves before the police.” It stated.
As a result, the Abia State Police Command announced that all six individuals had been formally declared wanted.
The police appealed to members of the public to provide any reliable information that could lead to their arrest and prosecution, stating that informants would be suitably rewarded.
The declaration of the six individuals as wanted persons is linked to allegations of their participation in pro-Biafra activities, demonstrations concerning the detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and their alleged association with IPOB, an organisation that has been the subject of extensive scrutiny and security operations by Nigerian authorities.
In a statement shared on social media, VeryDarkMan argued that Wike may not fully understand the pain and trauma experienced by parents of abducted children and affected teachers. He claimed that the minister’s children were educated abroad, away from the security challenges facing many Nigerian families.Nigerian entertainment news
The activist stated that insecurity, kidnapping, and attacks on schools remain serious national concerns and should not be dismissed or reduced to political issues. He stressed that the fears and frustrations of parents whose children face security threats deserve greater attention from public officials.
VeryDarkMan further warned that political power is temporary, urging leaders to remain accountable to the people and sensitive to the challenges confronting ordinary Nigerians.
DSS Detains Novelist Okey Ndibe at Lagos Airport, Awaits Clearance from Abuja
Renowned Nigerian novelist, journalist, and academic, Okey Ndibe, was reportedly detained by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon his arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Monday morning.
Ndibe disclosed his situation in a message sent while in custody, stating: “I’ve been with the SSS now for more than an hour. They’re waiting for clearance from some oga before they let me go.”
According to sources close to the writer, his detention follows a pattern that dates back to previous administrations, including that of former President Goodluck Jonathan, during which he was frequently stopped and questioned over his critical commentaries on Nigerian governance and public affairs.
However, associates noted that Ndibe has largely stepped away from active commentary in Nigerian media over the past two years, focusing instead on writing books and his academic responsibilities at University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he teaches.
A close friend of the author and former Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C. Don Adinuba, said similar incidents had occurred several times in the past. He explained that airport DSS officials typically contacted their superiors in Abuja before eventually releasing Ndibe.
“It is a pity that this agency doesn’t update its database to enable officers on duty at the airport to know that the agency no longer regards Prof. Ndibe as a security threat to the administration,” Adinuba said.
He added that on previous occasions, the DSS had apologized to the respected author after determining that his detention was unwarranted.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official statement from the DSS regarding the circumstances surrounding Ndibe’s latest detention. The development has raised renewed concerns about the treatment of government critics and the continued use of security watchlists affecting returning Nigerians.
Hegseth made the disclosure during a press conference at the White House on Wednesday, where he said the directive was issued about a year ago after Trump became aware of attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
He explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets, adding that intelligence gathered during the mission contributed to the killing of Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, identified as ISIS’s second-in-command, during a joint operation involving U.S. and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.
“Maybe a year ago, he heard the call of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS in Nigeria, and he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians,’” Hegseth said.
According to him, the operation yielded significant results in the fight against terrorism in the region.
“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.
Hegseth added that working on the Intel gathered, they have killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria.
The U.S. defence chief described the operation as part of the Trump administration’s broader commitment to counterterrorism efforts and the protection of vulnerable communities.
“So there are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the President empowers the Department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” Hegseth stated.
ISIS second in command, Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was killed in a coordinated U.S.-Nigeria military operation in northeast Nigeria earlier this month.
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