News
Ebonyi Market Women Protest High Taxation, Block State Secretariat Gate
Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Irate Ebonyi Market Women in their numbers, Monday besieged the Ochudo State Secretariat few meters away from the New Government House Abakaliki to protest what they described as high taxation by the agents of the present administration.
The women, who are mainly yam sellers at the Margaret Umahi International Market, Abakaliki, capital of the State, marched from the market down to Ochudo Secretariat.
The protesting women said that they have suffered arbitrary increase in tax within a short period of time which is making live unbearable for them.
The women who were said to be heading to the Governor’s office at the new Government House were blocked by some security agents who on sighting them locked the gate leading to the secretariat.
The Leader of the protesters, Mrs Imo Nweze accused revenue collectors of indiscriminately hiking the revenues daily adding that drivers have refused transporting their goods to the market due to high fees they are also made to pay at the entrance gate of the market before they are allowed to drive into the market.
“We are yam sellers. Previously, we were staying at one spot, but we were asked to move to another spot. Later, they completed the construction of the open stalls and asked us to move into it and we obeyed the government.
“However, due to the fact that the open shops were not conducive to our products, we were experiencing heavy loses. Before you will sell 100 tubers yams, 40 to 50 tubers would have gotten spoilt because the shop is not conducive for such crops”
“We went and asked the market leaders to allow us to stay outside around the stall and they agreed. From then, revenue people came and started charging us N50 daily.
“From N50 naira they increased it to N100, from N100 they increased it again to N200 and we were begging them that it is too costly. When this government came on board, it was increased again to N300.
“It was very difficult. Most of these women are widows, it is from the same business they train their kids in school, pay house rent and buy food to eat and take care of other expenses. So it became very difficult for us to pay.
“It was so difficult that we had to be dipping our hands in the union purse to make up whatever the women can afford and pay so that we don’t have problems. With government .
“In our meeting last week, we calculated and found out that we have spent over N2.5m of union funds to augment the tax we were paying and our union account is almost empty”
“On Saturday, they came and said we will now be paying N400n daily. That is N2800 weekly or N145600 a year for one person and that is to much for us to pay”
“If we ask drivers of buses and worries to takes us to the market they will say no, that they are being charged between N10,000 to N20,000 before they are allowed to enter and offload.
“This has led to the drivers increasing their fairs making it difficult for us to make any reasonable gains”
“So we have come to complain to Our Governor, Francis Nwifuru and his wife, Mrs Mary-Mauduline Nwifurụ to come to our aid. We elected him into office and we know he will not allow us to suffer like this”, she said.
Addressing the protesting women, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Grace Umezurike commended them for being peaceful.
She noted that the governor and the wife were not around but sent her to stand in for him and receive them.
“I have noted your complaints and I promise you that I will transmit them to the governor immediately and I am sure he will swiftly attend to them”, she said.
Speaking to reporters, Commissioner for Markets Development and Parks, Nwogo Obasi said that he will liaise with Board of Internal Revenue in the state to find out if there is any such increase.
“If there is no increase then we will summon the agents in charge and they will be suspended. The governor is very much interested in the welfare of the people and have always advocated for lesser taxation of very low income earners”, he said.
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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