News
NUJ splits into two ..as Association of Nigeria Journalists emerges
…says NUJ president now a sole administrator
There seems to be more trouble within the Nigerian Union of Journalists(NUJ) under the leadership of Mr Chris Isiguzo, as a large number of journalists across the country have decided to form a new association known as Association of Nigerian Journalists(ANJ).
According to the Proterm Executive Secretary of the new group, Mr Benson Agwu, the decision to float a new association was born out of the high-handedness and desperate desire for personal vandetta exhibited by NUJ President, Mr Chris Isiguzo since his assumption of office.
He said that the main aim of the association was to restore the dignity of journalism practice in Nigeria which had been wrecked by Isiguzo whose academic qualification had remained a suspect.
Part of the resolution of the group during its first meeting which held virtually reads: “Concerned practising Journalists across Nigeria have risen from emergency virtual meeting and keenly observed with disgust that for over two years running, the way and manner the incumbent leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has drifted from the dictates of our noble professional union and journalism practice to desperate aggressive pursuit of personal vendatta against practising members on one side and States Executive Council (SEC) members on the other side.
“This is besides the ochestration of ranckerious acrimony by the leadership against its membership. This in no mean saying the fact that all these have ravaged the spirit of unionism at the union’s eachelon council.
“The NUJ President has become a sole administrator and nobody in either the NEC or CWC dare to speak out. The NEC and CWC seem to have been subsumed and conquered by the President whose academic qualification has remained a suspect.
“The NUJ constitution has long been abandoned, just as leadership is being imposed on all the Councils where the State Executive Councils (SEC) or State Working Committee (SWC) do not curry the favour of the union’s national leadership. And nobody can say a word for fear of being suspended indefinitely.
“A case in point is how the Council Chairman of Zamfara State was recently forced to resign to avert impeachment on him secured by the NUJ national President.
“The chairman of Kaduna was forced to apologise to the Leadership of NUJ for sharing a news story questioning veracity of the certificate with which the incumbent President tendered and on which he vied and was returned as elected President of the NUJ. Yet, the issue of his qualification cannot be discussed because if any NEC/CEC dares raise it risks indefinite suspension.
“Anarchy has taken over. Impunity is now the order of the day. Unfortunately no journalist is at home to save the once hallowed union. Court judgements against the union are not obeyed neither are they discussed at NEC/CWC meetings. Yet, there are over 15 cases pending and petitions at the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
“That it is hereby resolved that a new umbrella body of practising journalists be registered as Association of Nigerian Journalists, ANJ. That it is detestable to note in particular, that from the outset of the incumbent leadership no Chapel or State Council in the South East have held free elections.
“This is outright undemocratic and runs foul of union practice across the globe. The case is not different at the South West zone; the NUJ President must at all times install SEC members that shall abide by his biddings. These have plunged the Oyo, Ogun, Imo, Enugu States among other Councils into unnecessary acrimony and resources waste in a letigious sojourn.
“That this is the first in history of the NUJ that an incumbent leadership is under criminal investigation by the ICPC and upon that NUJ NEC/SWC leadership has been on trial in several courts over his alleged certificate forgery but the entire NEC/CWC members look elsewhere in search of sinecure where none exists.
“That the leadership of NEC inordinately secured the suspension of an incumbent Vice President, South East, denying the zone fair representation at the NEC, an act which a court of competent jurisdiction has quashed and awarded a paltry sum of N5m as cost of litigation, but the NEC in utter disregard of that court order ignored its compliance and neither has there been any appeal in that respect, NEC chose to tow the line of criminal neglect of a subsisting court order.
“At the recent NEC meeting in Asaba, Delta State, the same President opted to clamp another suspension on the Vice President of zone B for yet to be disclosed aggression, but was compelled to rescind its move by a rumoured move to pass a Vote of no Confidence on its leadership. To counter such move, NUJ leadership lobbied for a reverse, and instead a voice vote of Vote of Confidence was reluctantly adopted to save a face.
“Therefore, it is with utter dismay that some practising journalists across the nation opted for the registration of another umbrella body that shall champion the professionalization of journalism practice in the country rather than the present use of the union as a venture for ego trip and personal aggrandizement at the detriment of other media practitioners at large.
He further revealed that registration into the new association was on across states councils for interested members who share the same discerning view of the veterans. He said that contacts of the different states councils will soon be made public for interested members.
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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