Crime
Gunmen in military camouflages invade Community, kill 5, rape women
But police authorities in the state said they were not aware of the attack.
Irene Ugbo, PPRO, said, “We are not aware of such an attack. It has not been reported to us. The first place they ought to have reported is the nearest Divisional Police Officer. As of yesterday night, we didn’t get this information. But let me cross-check. I will revert…”
A community leader of Ukwa Ibom-Efik Eburutu, Chief Okon Odiong Ekpenyong Esu who signed a statement released to journalists in Calabar on Sunday said yesterday’s invasion was not the first time, disclosing that the invaders often come to mine the limestone in their community and to grab their land.
“Several of our people have been killed. So many are from Mbiabong. Mostly, the aged and children who could not run have been killed, while others have been kidnapped.
“The continuous aggression, wanton destruction of properties and killing of Mbiabong Ukwa people by the Isu Community in Abia State with the help of men in Military Uniform over the years, is one that has gone on without checks and help also seems not to be coming from anywhere to the helpless Mbiabong Ukwa people.
“They are strongly supported by the wealthy Isu leaders and other persons from Abia State in order to take over the rich limestone embedded in Mbiabong land by God.
“We don’t have a known common boundary with the Isu Community like the invaders, Isu would want people to believe. The constant killing and invasion of the Mbiabong Ukwa community to destroy properties is disguised in communal land conflict. It is a deliberate territorial land grabbing orchestrated by certain rich and wealthy people in Abia State and targeted at the limestone and other mineral resources in Mbiabong Ukwa land.
“The Saturday 11th of May, 2024 destruction of Mbiabong Ukwa by Isu Community which also saw the killing of Mr Ediong Ediong Essien and his wife, Madam Ekpitu Ediong Essien, another young boy Asuquo Ndem and many others kidnapped was made very possible because Mbiabong Ukwa in particular and the entire Ukwa Eburutu Community, in general, do not have motorable roads that people can use faster mobility to run, and no electricity for the people to charge their phones and call for help.”
According to the statement, “The masterminds of the invasion of our community are interested in the rich mineral resources of Ukwa Eburutu land. The attacks and killings have become unbearable.
“We call for help from both the Federal and Cross River State governments to avoid our total elimination by our neighbouring Igbo communities.”
According to him, the Isu people would come to Mbiabong Ukwa with arms to fish in their ponds and farm in their lands at intervals without their consent.
In a reaction, the Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, in the LGA, Williams Bassey in a statement, condemned the attack, calling for swift government intervention.
…Hails Gov Mbah’s investment in modern security infrastructure
The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has hailed the Governor Peter Mbah Administration for setting up what he described as a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for effective surveillance of the state.
Disu, who expressed surprise at the sophistication of the security infrastructure, wished every other state could come over to understudy the Command and Control Centre and set up one to boost security of lives and property in every part of the country.
The IGP spoke during a tour of the facility on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Centre for DNA Forensics and Criminal Investigation, Enugu, strategic partnership between the Mbah Administration and the Godfrey Okoye University to promote scientific evidence-based justice and war against criminality.
“I must confess that I am surprised we have this kind of facility here in this state because you know I worked for Lagos. I know we had something like this in Lagos, but the advancement of this present one amazed me.
“This is a control room that has a lot of facilities with the ability to see almost everywhere in this state. There is no place that is left ungoverned from the control room. We can see the forest. We can zoom in – I think over 40 per cent – to be able to see far away. We can zoom in close to 30 kilometers away. That is great security.
“I wish every state in Nigeria will come here and emulate what is happening. I have seen AI-embedded cameras. I have seen officers dedicated to certain areas of the state watching, seeing what is happening.
“I have also seen records of the successes recorded through this control room. One more time, I wish all the states in Nigeria will come around, see what is happening here and emulate it,” Disu said.
He equally commended the Distress Response Squad, a special police unit with over 150 security vehicles installed with AI-enabled cameras and also linked to the Command and Control Centre.
“I moved around. I saw the state’s DRS and then we put them to test. They did not know I was listening to them. We put them to test. We asked them to move to a certain part of the town and within two, three, four minutes, they were there. It shows their efficiency.
“Then I am sure you know I was the former commander of the Rapid Response Force in Lagos too and then I do not want to mention here which is better – whether the DRS here or the Rapid Response Force. But the most important thing is that they have shown efficiency. They have shown capacity and I thank the governor of this state for investing in security of the people of the state,” he stated.
It is recalled that the Command and Control Centre was formally inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu during his official visit to Enugu State on January 4, 2025.
Crime
Anambra Community Leaders Meet Police Over Murder of 23-Year-Old Female Student as Police Smash Cult Hideout in Awada
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Community leaders from Alor in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State have met with the Anambra State Police Command over the murder of a 23-year-old female student in her residence.
The meeting comes as operatives of the Command’s IGP-led Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) uncovered a suspected cultists’ hideout in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area.
The delegation visited the Police Command to discuss the ongoing investigation into the suspected murder of the student and to reaffirm the community’s support for efforts to bring those responsible to justice.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga:
“The visit was also aimed at supporting the Police investigation and ensuring that justice is served. During the engagement, the delegation provided useful information to assist investigators, reaffirmed the community’s commitment to collaborating with the Police, and expressed their collective resolve to support all lawful efforts geared towards uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident and bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
He added:
“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, during the interactive session, reassured the stakeholders of the Command’s commitment to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident and ensuring that all persons found culpable are brought to justice in accordance with the law.”
The Police Commissioner also urged members of the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and provide credible information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
Speaking after the meeting, the President-General of Alor Community, Mr. Emmanuel Ojukwu, commended the Police for their prompt response and professionalism in handling the case. He expressed confidence in the investigation and pledged the community’s continued cooperation to ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, operatives attached to the IGP Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), on the evening of June 20, 2026, recovered two AK-47 magazines, 60 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, and other police-related items during a sustained raid on a suspected cultists’ hideout at Nwaziki Street, Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area.
Although no suspect was arrested during the operation, the Police said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend the fleeing suspects, establish ownership of the recovered exhibits, and dismantle any criminal network linked to the items recovered.
ABUJA — The Senate has passed the State Police Bill, introducing a new policing structure across the country, but with strict provisions preventing existing local and regional security outfits from automatically transforming into state police agencies or bearing firearms.
The bill, which is part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, stipulates that security outfits such as Amotekun in the South-West, Ebube Agu in the South-East, Hisbah in parts of the North and other community-based security groups will not automatically assume the status of state police services once the law takes effect.
Under Section 25(5) of the proposed legislation, no existing state, local, community, vigilante, neighbourhood, traffic or other security outfit shall become a State Police Service merely by virtue of the constitutional amendment.
The provision further states that such organisations will not be permitted to exercise police powers or carry firearms unless specifically authorised under the Constitution and an Act of the National Assembly.
The clause is designed to ensure that any future state police formation follows a formal constitutional and legal process rather than evolving from existing regional security structures.
The Senate also included safeguards against abuse of the proposed state police system.
Under the bill, each state police service will be headed by a Commissioner of Police, appointed by the governor and confirmed by the State House of Assembly. Governors may issue lawful policy directives on matters relating to public safety and order.
However, the legislation expressly prohibits a state police commissioner from arresting, detaining, investigating or deploying force against any individual, political party or group merely for criticising the government, except in accordance with the law.
To strengthen accountability, the bill allows either the Inspector-General of Police or a State Commissioner of Police to seek a review of any directive considered unlawful or inconsistent with national policing standards. Such disputes may also be challenged in court.
The proposed law further provides that a state police commissioner cannot be suspended or removed arbitrarily. Removal must be based on stated grounds, follow the principles of fair hearing, receive a recommendation from the National Police Council and secure the approval of at least two-thirds of members of the State House of Assembly.
The legislation also outlines circumstances under which the Federal Police Service may intervene in the operations of a state police service. These include situations where public order has broken down, where a state police service becomes incapable of performing its duties, or where there is evidence of systematic abuse of powers, partisan intimidation, ethnic or religious persecution, or threats to national security.
Any federal intervention must be temporary, proportionate and authorised by the President, with the action remaining subject to judicial review.
The bill additionally proposes the establishment of a State Police Service Commission in every state to oversee recruitment, promotions, discipline and accountability within state police services.
Having secured Senate approval, the bill will now proceed to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for ratification. For the constitutional amendment to take effect, it must be approved by at least 24 state assemblies.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that a police officer was seen fraternizing with armed bandits in Katsina State, describing the narrative attached to a viral video as false, misleading, and deliberately intended to misinform the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Okokon Edem Iniedu, clarified that the armed individuals captured in the video are not bandits but duly recognized members of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) and registered hunters working alongside security agencies in Katsina State.
According to the police, the video showed a routine interaction between a police officer and community security volunteers who were on their way to a designated operational area in Musawa and Matazu Local Government Areas as part of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity and protect local communities.
The Force said any suggestion that the officer was collaborating with criminal elements is entirely false and malicious. It stressed that the volunteers featured in the footage are legitimate partners in security operations and are actively supporting law enforcement efforts in the affected areas.
The police further condemned what it described as the deliberate distortion of facts and the spread of misinformation capable of creating public panic, eroding confidence in security institutions, and undermining ongoing operations against criminal groups.
Reaffirming its commitment to community-based policing, the NPF urged Nigerians to disregard the claims attached to the video and rely only on information released through official police and government channels. The Force also warned that individuals involved in creating or spreading false information capable of threatening public peace and security could face legal consequences.
TheInsightLensProject.com is a data-driven open-source intelligence and analysis platform delivering insights on Nigeria, Africa, and global affairs.
A United States federal court has sentenced Franklin Ikechukwu Nwadialo, chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area in Anambra State, to five years in prison for his role in a romance fraud scheme that authorities said defrauded victims of more than $3.5 million. The sentence marks a dramatic fall for the Nigerian local government chairman, whose case drew attention on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, the 42-year-old was convicted for operating a long-running online fraud scheme that targeted vulnerable people through dating websites. Prosecutors said Nwadialo used fake identities and false stories to build trust with victims before persuading them to send large sums of money.
The court heard that Nwadialo spent nearly 15 years posing as a romantic partner on platforms including Match, Zoosk, and Christian Café. Using aliases such as “Giovanni,” he allegedly claimed to be a military officer serving overseas and relied on stolen photographs to support his false identity. Authorities said he requested money for fabricated military penalties, family emergencies, funeral expenses, school fees, and investment opportunities.
During sentencing in Tacoma, U.S. District Judge Tiffany M. Cartwright described the scheme as deeply damaging, noting that victims suffered serious financial, emotional, and psychological harm. Investigators said several victims lost their life savings, while one widow reportedly sold assets and eventually lost her home after sending money to the fraudster. Another victim believed she was in a genuine relationship with him for three years before learning the truth through an FBI investigation.
Federal prosecutors said Nwadialo deliberately targeted older and vulnerable individuals, including widows and divorcees seeking companionship online. The FBI, which led the investigation, said the scheme demonstrated how fraudsters exploit trust and emotional connections for financial gain. The case was prosecuted by federal attorneys Sok Tea Jiang and David T. Martin.
Nwadialo was arrested in Texas in 2024 after arriving in the United States and was later charged with 14 counts of wire fraud. His conviction and sentencing bring to a close a case that authorities say caused devastating losses to multiple victims, while also highlighting the growing global effort to combat online romance scams and other forms of cyber-enabled fraud.
TheInsightLensProject.com is a data-driven open-source intelligence and analysis platform delivering insights on Nigeria, Africa, and global affairs.
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