Crime
Land Dispute: 7 alleged missing in Anambra Community, it’s not true -Edison Motors
By Okey Maduforo Awka
There is growing tension in Ihiala community of Ihiala local government area of Anambra State the alleged missing of seven persons following land dispute between the family of Martins Okolie of Umuezehi and Edwin Obi, the owner of Edison Motors even as the later described the allegation as tissue of lies.
According to a petition signed by the family of Okolie against Chief Edwin Obi, the owner of Edison Motors which was sent to Anambra State Police Command, the family accused the transporter of being responsible for the disappearance of their kinsmen over land dispute.
“A former chairman of Ihiala local government area, who’s from the community, Chief Jude Obi, was kidnapped over two years ago and his whereabouts unknown since then. Few months ago, a prominent member of the community, Mr Stephen Nneji, was abducted and released after some ransom was allegedly paid. Nneji has fled the community with members of his family.
The family further accused Obi of using men of Anambra state police Command, purportedly from the IGP Monitoring Squad to abduct some members of the community intimidating and harassing others, including their patriarch, Martins Okolie, who is the most senior member of Umuezehi clan.
According to the petitioner, Obi had allegedly bought a land from a member of the kindred, but some members had disputed the sales, saying that it’s a family land, which was not supposed to have been sold by one person.
“When the issue became contentious and to avoid a breakdown of law and order, the kindred decided to refer the matter to the head (okpara) for adjudication, the petitioner said.
“The case arose over a land dispute between family members of Ogumorobi, One of the family members was said to have sold a land to Chief Edwin Obi, the Owner of Edison Motors, with Mr. Kevin Okolie as the agent. However one family members was said to have objected to the sales, asserting that the land is a family land, which should not be disposed of by one persons.
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“The aggrieved side of the family brought the matter to the family for dispute resolution as it has always been the custom and tradition of the people of Umuejimike, in Akwa Ihiala,”
“When the family could not resolve the matter amongst themselves, the case was referred to the head (Okpara) of the community, being Evangelist Martins Okolie”
“A meeting was called by the family head so as to look into the matter, following which some recommendations where reached, it would be note worthy that the other party refused to attend the meeting so as to resolve the dispute.”
However, the petitioner said that in the early hours of Wednesday, March 6, some hooded armed men stormed the community, and when they couldn’t break into the house of the head of the family, they proceeded to other houses where some men and women were abducted.
“It’s worthy of note that the head of the family wasn’t privy to the sales, nor did he, in any way benefit therefrom. He was only asked to adjudicate on the matter by leaders of the kindred.”
As of this time the whereabouts of more than seven persons both men and women picked up since Thursday night 6th march are unknown. The said Kevin Okolie is said to be bragging that on this matter he is going to make sure that more persons disappear from the village. Is either he is being used as a smoke screen for the purchaser of the land or he is acting alone.
But when contacted the owner of Edison Motors Chief Edwin Obi dismissed those allegations adding that the petitioners are running from the law because they are not innocent of the allegation leveled against them.
Edwin Obi Said he duly bought land from the family and all necessary documents signed before Chief Martin’s Okolie came into the picture.
” He is forming illegal court in his house, adjudicating on land matters. He’s not the owner of the land and the land sold is not a communal land but I bought directly from the family and his grouse was that the family sold the land to an outsider according to him.
He has no title on the land but he is just a land speculator and he is the one who is trying to intimidate me and I had to report the matter to the police and when police invited them, he started running.
He has been advised to stay away from the land because he has no title on the land and therefore should not meddle into the land. He has been at large and has been running away from the police since invitation was extended to him by the police and others earlier arrested by the police have all be released on bail except him who is running from police invitation.
By Our Correspondent
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Shehu Nadada, to Imo State to coordinate the search-and-rescue operation for 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members and other passengers abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.
The victims were reportedly abducted on Thursday, October 1, 2026, around Umunoha in Imo State.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, CSP Anietie Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, Nadada arrived in the state alongside two Commissioners of Police and immediately conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the incident and the ongoing rescue operation.
He also reviewed the operational strategies, deployment of personnel and available assets, while issuing additional directives aimed at strengthening the coordinated response.
The assessment was conducted alongside the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Audu Garba Bosso; the Commissioner of Police in charge of Federal Operations, CP Akpan Anifiok; the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Police Mobile Force; other service commanders and members of the management team of the Imo State Police Command.
Iniedu said the search-and-rescue operation had been intensified, with additional tactical teams and operational assets deployed to identified areas.
He added that the operation was being supported by intelligence-led tracking of the abductors and coordinated efforts with other security agencies.
Nadada assured members of the public that the police remained committed to securing the safe release of the abducted persons.
“The Nigeria Police Force is committed to securing the safe rescue of the 20 abducted persons and will sustain the operation until the mission is successfully concluded,” Iniedu quoted Nadada as saying.
The police boss urged members of the public and the media to remain calm and vigilant, while appealing to anyone with credible information that could assist the operation to contact the police or the nearest security formation.
He assured the public that all information received would be treated with strict confidentiality.
The police said further updates would be provided as the rescue operation progresses.
Five men have been arrested and arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Maiduguri, Borno State, after police allegedly found them wearing T-shirts bearing the words “Tinubu Must Go.”
The defendants were identified as Baba Aji Gremami, 44; Mustapha Abba Yemen, 28; Abbacha Mohammed Ali, 32; Adam Umar Gubio, 21; and Abdulhamid Mohammed, 21.
According to a First Information Report issued by the State Criminal Investigation Department, the incident occurred on September 25, 2026, near West End Roundabout in Maiduguri.
Police charged the five men with criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace and thuggery under Sections 60, 78, 79 and 392 of the Borno State Penal Code.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges when they appeared before Chief Magistrate Court I in Maiduguri.
Their lawyer subsequently applied for bail. The court adjourned the matter until October 6, 2026, to rule on the bail application, while the substantive trial has been scheduled for October 26.
The case has drawn attention because the alleged conduct involved wearing clothing displaying a political message.
Amnesty International criticised the prosecution, describing the arrests as arbitrary and arguing that peaceful political expression is protected by fundamental human rights. The organisation called for the immediate release of the five men and urged authorities to discontinue the case.
Amnesty International also expressed concern that the prosecution could have implications for political expression and opposition activities in Borno State.
The case has generated reactions on social media, with some commentators questioning whether the display of political messages on clothing should constitute a criminal offence.
There have also been allegations that a prominent politician in Borno State may have influenced the arrests. The allegation has not been independently verified.
Efforts to obtain a comment from the Borno State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Kenneth Daso, were reportedly unsuccessful as of the time of filing.
The defendants remain subject to the court process, and the allegations against them have not been established in court.
The Jigawa State Hisbah Board has arrested eight people in Kazaure Local Government Area over alleged homosexual acts, according to the board.
The board’s Public Relations Officer, Dauda Hadejia, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday, September 26, 2026.
Hadejia said the arrests followed a complaint filed by a 22-year-old man, who alleged that nine individuals had engaged in sexual acts with him on different occasions.
According to the statement, the complainant also claimed that he later contracted HIV, which he attributed to the alleged encounters. He reportedly appealed to the Hisbah authorities for justice, describing the alleged conduct as deceptive and harmful to his life.
Following the complaint, Hadejia said Hisbah operatives launched an investigation and began searching for the nine individuals named by the complainant.
“So far, eight suspects have been arrested, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the remaining suspect,” Hadejia said.
He added that the eight arrested individuals reportedly admitted during preliminary investigations to having engaged in sexual acts with the complainant.
Hadejia said the board had gathered information and evidence that would be presented before a court. He added that the investigation remained ongoing and that the suspects would be charged upon its completion.
The Deputy Commander-General of the Jigawa State Hisbah Board, Dr. Hussain Baban, reportedly urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s upbringing and the people with whom they associate.
He also called on members of the public to be mindful of the consequences of their actions and to uphold religious and moral values.
The board further expressed appreciation to the Jigawa State Government for its support and cooperation in carrying out its responsibilities.
A newly married couple, Funmilayo Bamidele and her husband, Reverend Abiodun David, have been abducted along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, a border route linking Kwara and Kogi states.
The couple were reportedly returning from their engagement ceremony in Eruku on Saturday evening when armed men intercepted their vehicle and abducted them alongside four other passengers.
According to sources, the vehicle was initially expected to take the Isanlu Road. However, the driver reportedly chose an alternative route to drop off the best man and other members of the group at Iyamoye in Kogi State.
The vehicle was subsequently intercepted by armed men along the Iyemero-Eruku Road, leading to the abduction of all the occupants.
A photograph of the newly abducted couple has since emerged following the incident, while details about the whereabouts of the other passengers remain unclear.
Confirming the incident on Sunday, Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, said soldiers had been deployed to search the surrounding bushes and rescue the victims while also pursuing the suspected kidnappers.
Ojo disclosed that the vehicle used by the victims was later found abandoned at a former police station in Ayetoro, Ekiti State.
He added that police operatives from Kwara, Kogi and Ekiti states were working jointly on the rescue operation because the incident occurred around the border communities of the three states.
Authorities have yet to disclose further details on the identities of the suspected abductors or whether any contact has been established with the victims.
At least five miners have been killed and two others injured after gunmen reportedly ambushed them at a mining site in Plateau State.
The incident occurred at about 1 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, in Marit village, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
According to community sources, the miners were carrying out their legitimate activities when they came under attack. The incident has plunged the community into mourning and renewed concerns over the safety of residents in the area.
Confirming the attack, the National Publicity Secretary of the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, said five people lost their lives while two others sustained injuries.
“It is a very sad and painful development. Our people are once again mourning the loss of lives to violence,” Tengwong said, while calling on security agencies to intensify efforts to protect communities and prevent similar incidents.
A community member, Simon Mundat, also described the attack as devastating and appealed to the authorities to strengthen security in the area.
“We are deeply saddened by this attack. We appeal to authorities to strengthen security in the area so that our people can go about their legitimate activities without fear,” he said.
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