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Ohanaeze: Ex-IGP Okiro set to emerge President As Schoolmate Confirms Rivers Origin
Elder Statesman and Schoolmate to Retired Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, at the University of Ibadan, Senator Andrew Uchendu, has diffused the controversy about Okiro’s state of origin, declaring that he is from Rivers State.
Senator Uchendu
Briefing newsmen, Senator Uchendu explained that he and Okiro met at the University of Ibadan in 1974, and where he served as the General Secretary of the National Union of Rivers’ State Students, while Okiro was the Treasurer.
The clarification was informed by a claim by some groups, including Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), describing Okiro as an indigene of Imo State which has had its fair share of Ohanaeze leadership, ahead of the election of the President General of Igbo-Socio-Cultural group holding on Friday.
“The retired IGP, Sir Mike Okiro, has been my friend for many years, right at the University of Ibadan, way back in 1974. We met formerly at the National Union of Rivers States Students, UI, Branch. I was the Secretary. One Late F.J. Kuruye was the chairman, and Mike was the Treasurer.
“I asked him then and he said he is from Egbema, and I know that we have a local government called Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema in Rivers State…When he was the Treasurer, he was an active member of the association and we ran a strong union, related very well and maintained the relationship till now.”
Speaking in the same vein, a South-South leader and businessman, Ambassador Fubara Dagogo, an indigene of Opobo, in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government corroborated the nativity of Okiro in Rivers State, stating that the retired IGP is a Rivers’ son. “People should differentiate between Ohaji-Egbema in Imo State and Ogba/Egbema/Udoni in Rivers State. It is the turn of Rivers State and we the Ijaw people and Ndigbo in Rivers State are happy and are solidly behind Sir Mike Okiro. It is a unanimous decision,” he said.
He alluded to the sterling record of Okiro, “as a retired service chief and former Chairman of Police Service Commission, which qualifies him to give quality leadership to Ohanaeze, and he will utilize the same to address security and socio-cultural needs of Ndigbo around the world.
Dagogo, a South-South leader and businessman, explains that the system in Rivers State is behind Okiro for the job. “We are happy with the response we are getting all over the country. We are happy that the Amnesty we enjoy today in Niger Delta was facilitated by our son as IGP during the tenure of President Umaru Yar’Adua The people of Rivers State.
“Mike Okiro will bring stability to the South-East. Can you bring a mechanical engineer to work as a chemist in the laboratory or surgeon in the theatre? You can’t take a medical doctor to decide a case in the courtroom. So, Okiro has the necessary education, skill, strategies, experience to mitigate the security challenges we are having in the South-East today. Go back to his history, his antecedents; he has done very well,” Dagogo.
Earlier, Okiro had received the endorsement of key stakeholders from Egbema in Rivers State.
The National President General of Ogbakor Egbema Alinso, Ifi Francis Igwebuike who addressed a media conference at Okwuzi community, Egbema in Ogba/Ndoni/Egbema Local Government Area of Rivers State, declared that Dr. Mike Okiro is eminently qualified for the position of the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo and should be supported by all lovers of Egbema ethnic nationality.
On his part, the Nzeobi of Egbema Kingdom in Rivers State, His Eminence, Eze Evaristus Amuda said Mike Okiro is a Rivers son, has right from childhood, as an Mgbede indigene of Egbema, Rivers State, and been contributing his quota for development of Egbema ethnic nationality.
Also speaking on the development, the Youth Leader of Ogbakor Egbema Alinso, Evaristus Nicholas called on Ndigbo to support the former Inspector General of Police, Dr Mike Okiro
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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