Crime
Senator Utazi laments killings in Uzo-Uwani
The lawmaker that represented Enugu North Senatorial District in the 8th Senate, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, CON, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Peter Mbah to urgently halt the ongoing bloodbath in Uzo-Uwani Local Government of Enugu State. He said the needless killings in the agrarian communities of Uzo- Uwani, as seen in the slaughter of four people in Nimbo last Sunday have turned the area to a killing field and engendered panic among residents.
Responding to the tragic killings of four people in Nimbo by suspected herdsmen on Sunday, Senator Utazi, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, disclosed that the building of a Mobile Squadron Base at Nkpologu, which would have served as a swift response unit in the face of such security threats was politically thwarted by the past administration of Enugu State, thereby exposing the vast areas of Uzo Uwani to kidnappers and violent herdsmen.
The lawmaker expressed sadness that since the 2016 massacre at Nimbo, no week has passed without reports of killings and maiming of natives by rampaging herdsmen.
Senator Utazi, who was the Minority Whip in the 9th Assembly, recounted that in the wake of the 2016 massacre in Nimbo, he brought the matter to the Senate Plenaries, which prompted former President Muhammadu Buhari to dispatch IGP Solomon Arase to the scene. He noted that the IGP approved the commencement and building of the Mobile Squadron Base at Nkpologu and handed the letter personally to him to deliver to the Governor.
“Once on receipt of the letter, he convened a meeting to change the location to his preferred site and in the process robbed Uzo-Uwani LGA a project that would have put paid to the constant killings of our people,’ he said.
The Senator noted that the prosecution of the five suspects apprehended in connection with Nimbo killings suffered setbacks due to lack of fund by the Enugu State Government for diligent prosecution of the matter in court.
He further recounted that the former Governor set up a panel of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the 2016 Nimbo killings, but there were no follow-ups on the matter and his personal attempts to bring the issue to Governor’s attention met vicious attacks from political sycophants and hired online mob. He argued that if the suspects arrested in 2016 killings were properly prosecuted, last Sunday attack could as well be averted.
Utazi explained that Uzo-Uwani has the largest landmass east of the Niger, with numerous water bodies and fertile lands which are major attractions to herdsmen.
‘That the Eastern Region Government sited Adarice Farm Settlement at Adani by Dr M.I Okpara, then Governor, was not by accident or lobby. It was because Adani and environs had comparative advantage over all other parts of the eastern region for agriculture”, he added.
In spite of the huge agricultural potentials of the area, the lawmaker noted with dissatisfaction that this year ranks as the worst farming season in the history of Uzo Uwani. According to him, natives, farming settlements and migrant farmers have since abandoned their farms for fear of death in the hands of gun-weilding herdsmen.
“Adani, the seat of farming in Enugu State, is now a shadow of its former self. Opanda Nimbo, a cosmopolitan town thickly populated by migrant farmers from all parts of Enugu State and beyond is now totally deserted because of kidnappers and violent herdsmen’, he stated.
Senator Utazi advised Governor Mbah not to follow the unacceptable path of his predecessor in offfice in finding a lasting solution to the constant killings of natives on regular basis.
The Senator also called on Mbah to facilitate the handing over of Nkpologu Divisional Police Station to the police in order to make the place functional.
He explained that he built the station, as well as residential quarters, and provided a functional borehole and Hilux vehicle as his contribution to fighting insecurity in Uzo-Uwani.
Utazi equally advised Governor Mbah to revisit the report of the panel of inquiry on the 2016 Nimbo killings and possible publish a white paper on it. He urged the Governor to direct the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to track the matter of the five suspects arrested in connection with the 2016 Nimbo massacre and ensure diligent prosecution until justice is duly served.
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.
-
Business4 days agoNo Bad Blood Over New Cement Factories, But Our Mining Rights Run Till 2045 — Ibeto Tells Ebonyi Govt
-
Sports4 days agoEnugu Speaker’s boxing talent hunt unearths 5 budding stars
-
News4 days ago
Nigeria at 66: Macmaduson Concepts Limited Sends Independence Day Greetings to Clients
-
Politics5 days agoEBONYI 2027: The People, Not Individuals Will Decide Who Becomes Governor – Igwe
-
Crime5 days agoFive Arrested By Police For Wearing ‘Tinubu Must Go’ T-Shirts
-
News4 days ago66th Independence: Elder statesman wants policies to reduce hardship, calls for peace
-
Politics4 days agoEbonyi Guber: ‘Our People Deserve Better Government,’ Odii Insists
-
News4 days agoNigeria @66: Democracy Evolving, Says Anambra APC Chairman Anosike