Crime
Ezza Women Stage Overnight Traditional Protest, Give Politicians Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Violence
Elderly women from the Ezza Nation in Ebonyi State have staged an unusual overnight traditional protest against alleged political violence in Onueke, Ezza South Local Government Area of the state.
The women warned those they accused of sponsoring the violence to end the bloodshed or face what they described as the “wrath of the ancestors.”
The protesters, drawn from the 12 tribes of the Ezza Nation and joined by representatives of communities regarded as offspring of Ezza’s brothers, began their procession from Eke Imeoha Market Square between 2am and 4am.
They sang, wailed and performed traditional rites as they moved through Nchonu, Onicha Igboeze, Nkerefi in Enugu State and Ugwulamgwu.
At Nchonu, a sacred site associated with Ezekuna, regarded in Ezza tradition as the progenitor of the Ezza Nation, the women reportedly stripped naked before performing traditional rites.
The spokesperson for the women, Mrs Angelina Ucha, said the act was part of the traditional requirements for approaching the sacred site and was not intended as a publicity stunt.
The women accused unnamed individuals and their alleged sponsors of fuelling political violence and demanded an immediate end to the killings.
They also demanded traditional appeasement involving a giant native cow, a white hen and alligator pepper, with the rites to be performed at Ezekuna’s graveside.
Ucha said the group had given those responsible for the alleged violence seven days to “do the needful.”
She stressed that the protest was not in support of any political party or candidate but was aimed at protecting the lives of Ezza people.
“We are tired of seeing our children die because of politics. We are tired of useless shedding of blood,” Ucha said.
She called on politicians, traditional rulers and religious leaders to intervene and prevent further violence.
According to Ucha, the women deliberately excluded those of child-bearing age from the traditional procession because of cultural purity requirements associated with the rites.
She said the latest action was not the first time Ezza women had resorted to traditional intervention during periods of crisis.
Ucha recalled similar processions in 2003 and 2010, when the women reportedly marched to Nchonu over what they considered serious threats to the Ezza community.
She also recounted an alleged incident involving a former governor at a traditional chieftaincy ceremony, which she attributed to ancestral intervention. The claim reflects the women’s traditional beliefs and has not been independently verified.
The women urged politicians and their supporters to end violence, intimidation and retaliation, warning that political positions were temporary while lives lost could never be recovered.
They also called on religious leaders to intensify their campaign against political violence and promote reconciliation among opposing groups.
The seven-day ultimatum has become the central message of the protest, with Ucha warning that those allegedly responsible for the violence and their sponsors should make peace with the land and carry out the demanded traditional rites.
“Politics will come and go. Positions will come and go. But the blood of our people cannot be brought back once it is shed,” she said.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has uncovered 399 fully assembled Jojef firearms and assorted rifle parts following the detailed examination of a seized shipment at the Tin Can Island Port Command.
The NCS made this known in a statement issued by its National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Sunday in Abuja.
Maiwada said the seizure was confirmed after Customs completed the coupling and examination of the arms shipment, which was initially discovered as crates of knocked-down firearm components concealed inside a container.
According to him, the NCS Comptroller-General, Bashir Adeniyi, had earlier disclosed the interception of the container containing the concealed firearm components, which were initially identified as Jojef pump-action rifle parts.
Adeniyi said further examination uncovered 89 frames, 16 heat shields, 10 trigger pins, three pistons, 25 locking lugs and 80 charging handles.
Other recovered components include 39 pistol-grip screws, 34 springs, 57 trigger groups, 66 foregrip latches, 45 foregrips or handguards, four pistol grips and five barrels.
The Comptroller-General warned that criminal networks could exploit Nigeria’s borders, ports and airports to smuggle prohibited items into the country ahead of the next general elections.
“We are about entering a major election cycle, and we know that by this period, men of the underworld will want to use our borders, our ports, our airports to bring in items like this,” he said.
Adeniyi said the NCS would intensify surveillance and enforcement operations to prevent the movement of illicit arms and other prohibited items through the country’s entry points.
He reaffirmed the service’s commitment to intelligence-led enforcement, stronger border surveillance and collaboration with sister security agencies to dismantle arms-trafficking networks.
The NCS chief specifically cited collaboration with the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW), under the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), as part of efforts to safeguard national security.
He said the seized firearms would be handed over to the NCCSALW after the completion of the inventory and assessment.
Adeniyi said the seizure underscored the commitment of security agencies to removing dangerous weapons from circulation and ensuring that those behind the trafficking network were identified and brought to justice.
The traditional ruler of Ekwulobia, His Royal Majesty, Igwe (Engr.) Emmanuel Chukwukadibia Onyeneke, has announced the suspension of the community’s New Yam Festival, earlier scheduled for September 4, following the abduction of one of its prominent sons, Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor, the Chief Executive Officer of Jesco Oil.
The monarch said the community could not proceed with the celebration while Ezeokafor remains in the custody of his abductors.
He expressed concern over the incident and called for prayers for the safe release of the businessman.
The traditional ruler urged members of the community and well-wishers to pray for divine guidance, protection and the safe return of Chief Sir Joseph Ezeokafor.
The suspension of the festival underscores the community’s concern over the safety of its abducted son.
Unconfirmed sources say the kidnappers are demanding a whopping N20 Billion as ransome.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Italy-based businessman, Joseph Cyril, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, after he allegedly ingested 98 wraps of cocaine while attempting to travel to Italy through Addis Ababa and France.
Cyril was intercepted at the airport’s departure hall on Sunday, August 2, during the outward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET930.
He was subsequently placed under excretion observation and passed 98 wraps of cocaine weighing a total of 1.51kg.
According to the NDLEA, investigations revealed that Cyril arrived in Nigeria from Italy on July 13 and allegedly ingested the drugs at a hotel in Awka, Anambra State, before travelling to Enugu to board his flight.
The suspect reportedly told NDLEA operatives that he had operated a business in Italy for several years and agreed to traffic the consignment for €3,500 to raise money to relocate to Germany, where his family lives.
In Lagos, NDLEA operatives also foiled an attempt to export 1.2kg of cocaine concealed in 25 phone chargers destined for Saudi Arabia through a courier company.
Similarly, 500g of cocaine hidden in the false bottom of a backpack and allegedly bound for Italy was intercepted at another logistics company on August 3.
The agency also seized 2.3kg of “Loud”, a potent strain of synthetic cannabis, which arrived from the United States at a shipping company on August 4.
Along the Akure-Ilesha Expressway, NDLEA officers on patrol intercepted a truck carrying 1,633kg of skunk concealed in bags of rice shafts on August 4. Two suspects, Buba Jamilu, 40, and Sanusi Ibrahim, 30, were arrested.
A further 147kg of skunk was recovered from Ita Ogbolu Forest during a raid conducted the previous day.
In Oyo State, a tip-off led NDLEA operatives to a drug warehouse in Elebure village, Orire Local Government Area, on August 3, where 731.03kg of various illicit drugs were recovered.
A suspect, Felicia Thompson, 57, was arrested, while her alleged partner, Thompson Vincent Nwaka, remains at large.
In Edo State, NDLEA officers, supported by soldiers, recovered 65 jumbo bags of skunk weighing 604.5kg at Ewe Luleha, Owan West Local Government Area, on August 5.
In Abia State, a drug joint operator, Chibuike Charles, 31, was arrested during a raid in Osisioma Local Government Area on August 6, with 7kg of skunk recovered.
In Lagos, a long-wanted drug dealer, Adome Claude Sikuru, was arrested at the Fibre Market drug enclave in Badagry on August 8, following a three-month manhunt. A total of 88.5kg of skunk was recovered from him.
At Tincan Port, a joint operation involving the NDLEA, Nigeria Customs Service and other security agencies uncovered 73 cartons containing 442 packets of cannabis-infused cookies and gummies weighing 309.4kg.
The consignment, concealed in a 40-foot container, was intercepted on August 4, while a suspect, Larry Nnaji, was arrested in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, NDLEA commands across the country continued their War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation campaigns in schools, worship centres, workplaces and communities.
The campaigns were held at Islamic High School, Saki, Oyo State; Holy Ghost Academy, Nkpor, Anambra State; and Madarasatul Hidayatul Aulad Islamiyya, Gaya, Kano State.
The Rivers State Command also conducted a WADA advocacy visit to Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt.
NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), commended officers of the Directorate of General Investigations (DOGI), Akanu Ibiam International Airport (AIIA), Ondo, Oyo, Edo, Abia, Seme and Tincan commands for the successful operations.
He urged them to remain committed to the agency’s balanced approach to drug control.
The Osun State Police Command has arrested the state Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Asejoorin, following a shooting incident at an All Progressives Congress (APC) rally in Ilesa, Osun State, on Saturday.
The incident reportedly occurred during an APC campaign activity in the Ilesa metropolis following a confrontation between some supporters of the party and members of the Accord Party.
Gunshots were heard during the clash, leaving at least four people injured.
The victims, who sustained varying degrees of injuries, were taken to a hospital for medical attention. No death had been reported as of the time of filing this report.
One of those injured was identified as 14-year-old Ilesanmi, who was reportedly hit by a stray bullet while at his mother’s shop. The bullet struck him in the thigh.
An eyewitness, Kola Adeoti, said the incident occurred after some Accord chieftains were confronted during the rally.
He alleged that security personnel attached to the Accord members fired at APC supporters, triggering panic and protests in parts of Ilesa.
Following the incident, police officers were deployed to the area and the scene was secured. Investigators also recovered items believed to be connected to the shooting, including spent cartridges and caps reportedly belonging to personnel of the Amotekun security outfit.
The state police command confirmed that Asejoorin had been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
According to the command, his arrest was part of efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the shooting and determine those responsible for the violence.
Police personnel reportedly moved to the scene shortly after receiving information about the incident.
The area was cordoned off as officers gathered evidence and commenced preliminary investigations.
The arrest of the commissioner comes amid growing concern over the use of firearms during political activities in the state.
The police are expected to question those arrested and examine the evidence recovered from the scene as investigations continue.
The injured victims remain under medical care as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the events that led to the confrontation between the political groups.
The Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Court sitting at the High Court in Awka, Anambra State, has convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old final-year Mass Communication student, Wisdom Edem, to a total of 35 years in prison for raping a 10-year-old girl, sexually abusing her and inflicting physical injuries on her.
Edem was sentenced to 25 years for rape, five years for sexual abuse and another five years for inflicting physical injury.
Justice Peace Otti delivered the judgment on Wednesday in Charge No. A/3C/2024, The State v. Wisdom Edem.
The three-count charge included rape, contrary to Section 34(2) of the Child’s Rights Law of Anambra State, 2004, and inflicting physical injury, contrary to Section 4(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of Anambra State, 2017.
The prosecution, led by the Principal State Counsel of the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Chinelo Akorah, called six witnesses and tendered several pieces of evidence, including the defendant’s confessional statement and the victim’s medical report.
According to the charge sheet, the 10-year-old victim told the court that Edem deceived her into coming to his house under the pretext of participating in a comedy skit.
The victim said she had previously acted in skits with Edem and others, so she went to his house accompanied by her younger sister.
On arrival, Edem reportedly sent the younger sister home to get a change of clothes for the victim and subsequently asked the girl to enter his room, claiming that other people were waiting there.
However, the victim said she found no one in the room. Edem allegedly locked the door, raped her and caused her to bleed.
A medical doctor who examined the victim on the same day testified in court and confirmed that she had sustained bleeding and injuries.
In his defence, Edem denied wrongdoing and claimed that the girl had seduced him. He alleged that she removed his clothes, inserted his penis into her vagina and screamed. He further claimed that she told him she was 14 years old and had a boyfriend.
The court rejected the defence, holding that a child is incapable of giving consent to sexual activity under the law.
Justice Otti also described the offence as premeditated and carefully planned.
The judge noted that Edem had not even paid the child for the purported comedy skit, adding that he had instead exploited the situation to sexually abuse her.
The court held that the victim’s testimony was fully corroborated by the defendant’s confessional statement, which admitted that she came to his house with her younger sister.
The prosecution’s case was further strengthened by the testimonies of PW2 to PW6, including the police officer and vigilante member who participated in the defendant’s arrest.
Although Edem had been on bail and was present throughout the trial, he was absent when the judgment was delivered.
The court, relying on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, proceeded to deliver judgment in his absence.
Justice Otti subsequently issued a bench warrant for his arrest and ordered that he be declared wanted, with his photographs circulated to the police and published on the internet.
The court held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt through the victim’s testimony, corroborating evidence and the defendant’s own confessional statement.
The judge also directed Edem’s university not to issue him a certificate until he completes his prison sentence.
In addition, the court ordered him to pay a fine of N200,000 as compensation to the victim for the physical injuries inflicted on her.
The Principal State Counsel and the Publicity Secretary of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) were commended for their efforts in securing the conviction.
The judgment reinforces Anambra State’s stated zero-tolerance policy towards sexual and gender-based violence and its commitment to ensuring that perpetrators are prosecuted and punished in accordance with the law.
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