Crime
Ebonyi: Ceasefire Agreement Fails As Police Confirm Abduction Of 4 Persons In Akpoha
OBINNA UCHENDU Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of 4 indigenes of Akpoha Autonomous community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State by yet to be identified persons while they were farming in the area.
Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Joshua Ukandu said, yes the Divisional Police Office, DPO Afikpo Division just confirmed to me now that 4 Persons were on Friday last week abducted but as at now, it is not certain the people that abducted the 4 Persons.
When I called him to confirm the information, he told me that they have visited the scene of the incident to ascertain what actually happened and to find out more about the situation. The Division have commenced a search for the abducted persons and it has not been established the people or persons behind the abduction.
Investigation and a search party has been deployed. They are also collaborating with the community leaders and traditional Rulers to unravel the reason behind the latest abduction. The command will reveal more details when investigation is concluded on the matter.
A Community Source who spoke to journalists on grounds of anonymity gave the names of the victims as Ugbo Oko, Otu Enya, Ebi Okoro and Comfort Igwe, a female and alleged that the 4 victims were abducted by Amasiri youths following the lingering communal Crisis between the two communities.
The Source stated that they have been facing serious intimidation and harassment in the hands of Amasiri people adding that a good number of their men and women has been abducted by the Amasiri youths and till date, they never returned.
The Source called on the State Governor Francis Nwifuru to urgently intervene in the lingering crisis to put to an end the indiscriminate abduction, killings and destruction of properties by the warring youths.
An indigene of Amasiri community who also spoke to LEADERSHIP on grounds of anonymity debunk the allegation that the missing 4 Persons were abducted by youths of Amasiri community adding that the people of Akpoha are the aggressors.
“We are peace loving people. The land in question belong to Amasiri people and the people of Akpoha are just trying to provoke our people to go into war with them but we have been restricting ourselves and claiming our youths down. Just early last week, they attacked and killed our people but we kept calm because the State Governor is already intervening in the crisis.
It would be recalled that in the second week of July 2025, leaders of Thoughts in the two warring communities of Amata Akpoha and Ezeke Amasiri Communities in Afikpo Local Government Area unanimously pledged to end any form of hostility in the lingering land dispute between the two warring communities.
The community leaders had commending the untiring efforts of the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru and the Afikpo Council Chairman, Mr. Timothy Nwachi in promoting peace and harmony and promised to ensure there is no further hostilities of any kind between the 2 neighbouring Communities.
They took the decision after series of intervention meetings with the State Governor and the Council Chairman.
The Council Chairman, Mr. Timothy Nwachi after the resolution appealed to them to take the massage home and warn their youths against any further hostilities, blackmails, attacks and counter- attacks to enable Government concentrate on resolving the matter within the shortest possible time.
“Pls ensure you drive the peace process to a successful end. Let me also make it clear that we have identified greed, ego, bitterness and rivalry spirit are some of the causes of conflicts in some Communities. I therefore urged you all to always toe the path of peace in all your dealings with one another.
Some of other resolution reached at the ceasefire agreement includes, that Nobody from either of the Communities should enter the disputed land for any activity until the matter is resolved
“A nomination of 15 representatives from each community to work with the government in resolving the dispute and a unanimous decision for an out-of-court settlement of the lingering crisis. Ends.
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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