Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the EFCC, on Thursday, April 6, 2023, arrested 33 suspected Internet fraudsters in Owerri, Imo State.

The suspects are Chukwu Frank chinonso, Nnaji Ifeanyi Christian, Ezeji Princewill Chimezie, Ogbonna Georgewill Ndubuisi, Onuoha Daniel Chimaobi, Ekwusa Gerald Idiakachi, Echefulachi Divine Echefulachi, Ike Simon Chisom, Ike Michael Chimezie, dike Princewill Chinanu , Okorie Gabriel Chigoziie, Matthew Izu Ofoha, Osakwe Godswill, Dickson, Nlemadim Godstime Izuchukwu and Njoku Gerald Chukwuebuka.

Other are Ubeachu Cannan Ikedi, Duru Ebuka Emmanuel, Ajoko Nzubechi God’swill, Onyimadu Alozieuwa Franklin, Akubueze Uchechukwu Franklin, Manji Gotom Sabastine, Uwandu bright Ogochukwu, Ubah Kingsley Chidozie, Chibueze Nelson Kennedy, Okwute Johson Onyedikachi, Ebuka Wisdom Obioma, Obiechefu Nmesonma David, Nwoke chibuzo Favour, Mensah Chisaraokwu Kelechi, Chigaemezu John Bright, Chikwado Christain Nmesoma,Nwoke Chukwuemeka and Christopher.
The suspects were arrested in a sting operation following actionable intelligence.

Items recovered from them include 43 mobile phones, 8 laptops, 1 POS and four luxury cars.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.

chinonso Alozie

CHRISTMAS and New Year celebrations are two festivals that the Igbo of South-East region do not joke with. They look forward to this period with excitement.

They see it as a period to return to their homes to relax, meet with their kits and kin at home. It is also a period when they usually fix various activities, including development initiatives for the good of their communities. Above all, the period serves them as holiday period, time to rest after vigorous one year struggle in various fields of endeavour.

But the high level of insecurity that has bedeviled the zone; bad state of the economy and hyper inflation in the country, will not allow them enjoy all that this time around as it has been woes all round.

[We're not traveling home this season- Anambra residents

In Anambra State for example, residents of Awka, the state capital, who spoke to South-East Voice said they have shelved any travelling plans. Mr. Okechukwu Nwadike, a civil servant in Awka said this year will be the first time he will not be celebrating Christmas in his home town, Ogbunike, since he became an adult.

“I usually take my family to the village on the 23rd of December every year and we remain there till the second week of January. It is the only period my children enjoy the rural life and they always look forward to it.

“However, this year is different because of the insecurity in all parts of Igbo land. It will amount to taking unnecessary risk to expose my children to a situation where they won’t mix freely with other children in the village. I have already informed my relatives that we are not coming home and they understand, as they too will not be returning to the village.

“Thank God for technology as we have decided to conduct our family meeting on our WhatsApp platform. We are also making contributions to support the less privileged in our village as we do every year through mobile banking donations,” Nwadike explained.

A university lecturer, Dr. Jones dike said he is not planning anything special for the Christmas because the resources are not available. While thanking God for making it possible to celebrate another Christmas, he said the entire family is yet to recover from the effects of the eight months strike by ASUU which, he added, impoverished him.

“I parked my car during the strike because I could no longer maintain it and although work has resumed, I am yet to put the car on the road as there is no money to do so. Therefore, I cannot be talking of travelling for Christmas in my present situation. My daughter who is an undergraduate is yet to pay her school fees because I cannot afford it for now.

“My happiness is that everybody in the house understands the situation we are in. This is the first Christmas I have not joined the frenzy of contributing to buy cow, but I do not mind because that is what the country has reduced us to.”

A tricycle operator in Awka, Mr. Christian Nwatu said with a bag of local rice at N36,000 and a litre of fuel at N260, he is not planning to travel this year. Nwatu said: “I usually travel from Anambra State to my state, Ebonyi, every Christmas with at least a bag of rice and other things. This year is totally different because apart from the heavy tax Governor Soludo has imposed on us, the cost of fuel to drive my Keke to Ebonyi will be too much. Besides, with all the news about kidnappings and unknown gunmen everywhere, it is better I remain where I am, hoping that things will be better in future.”

Hell may not be worse than Nigeria— Abia residents

Abia residents are lamenting the biting economic hardship in the land with many ruling out any plan to travel to the village for Christmas and New Year holidays.

Mrs. Chinenye Okeke is a fashion designer from Anambra State but based in Umuahia. The mother of three lamented that “things are very hard this time,” saying the possibility of her travelling home for Christmas holiday is still “50-50.

“We are just surviving by God’s grace. The cost of things has tripled. Last year we were crying that things were hard, now it is hellish. In fact, I don’t know if hell will be worse than living in Nigeria. Do you talk of money for food or how to even cook the little one you see? Before, charcoal was cheap but now, both charcoal and kerosene are not affordable. What about gas? I haven’t seen this type of hardship in my entire life. Only God can help us. Next week is Christmas and I have not bought anything for my children unlike before. My travelling home is dependent on the availability of funds,” she lamented and appealed to government to spare no efforts in coming to the aid of parents to cushion the effects of the excruciating hardship in the land.

Mrs. Okeke suggested that government should waive the next term school fees in all public schools and give subsidy to those in private schools as a way to empathize with parents and guardians.

Another fashion designer, Mrs. Christiana Ibeabuchi, also expressed frustration over the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

“Even customers bringing clothes to be sewn for them are not willing to pay because there is no money anywhere. They are only willing to pay about 70% of the real charge and we have no choice but to accept the much they can offer because they are our customers and this hardship is everywhere.”

A business centre operator on Awolowo Street by Niger Road, Umuahia, Chimdi Ejirika, said he had already made some adjustments in his budget for Christmas.

“Last year, I bought a bag of rice for N28,000 but now, it sells for close to N50,000. I have a baby of one year and six months and the dress I bought for her for N2,500 last year now sells for N9,000. If you travel to the village, you will see some old women and family members you must assist and if you fail to give them something, they might label you a stingy person. So, what do you do?

“That is why I have decided not to travel this time. Maybe by January, I will travel; things are really hard in the country but for me as a Christian, Christmas is not all about spending; it is a time for sober reflection to know if the Saviour has been born in my life. I am being careful.”

Residents also lament the rising cost of foodstuff like rice, beans, garri, tomato, vegetables and other essential ingredients in the market. A visit to major markets and motor parks in Aba and Umuahia revealed that the markets and motor parks are witnessing low activities unlike previous years. Prices of foodstuff have skyrocketed beyond the reach of consumers while cost of transportation has increased by over 50% for inter and intra city routes.

A lecturer at the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, who pleaded anonymity, said he can no longer afford the cost of taking his family of five to his community in Ohafia Council Area on account of the rising cost of foodstuff and transportation.

“I can’t afford to take my family home for the Christmas and New Year celebrations because of the cost of foodstuff and transportation to Ohafia town and finally to my village and back to Aba. It is better we stay in Aba to celebrate. To visit my village for the celebration, I have to buy foodstuff. Prices of rice, beans, yam, spaghetti and other items are clearly out of the reach of the ordinary man. The cost of transport is getting higher and you must buy clothes for the children and gifts for people in the village. I can no longer afford to charter a vehicle as I used to do in the past. In January 2023, the children will be returning to school to continue with their studies. So, you can see that I need nothing less than N500,000, if I should take my family to the village for the Christmas and New year celebrations.”

In Enugu, a resident, James Jonah expressed worry over the cost of things and insecurity in the state. Jonah, a businessman at the Ogbete market, said prices of items are beyond the reach of many. Besides, the exorbitant cost of items, the level of insecurity in the land is scaring people from travelling home for the celebrations.

“The South-East region is not what it used to be because of insecurity. Criminal elements have taken over our communities, kidnapping and killing, and government is not doing anything serious to rescue the situation. My brother who resides in the USA planned to come back home to celebrate Christmas with us this year but due to the security situation, we advised him to shelve it. We are not going to the village. Our area, Igbo-Eze North is no go area now.

“As a businessman, I was not able to buy the usual Christmas clothes for my children because of the economic hardship. I have explained to them that we are going to have low celebration. I felt bad when I went to buy rice but couldn’t afford to buy 50kg of local rice. I could not imagine that the cost of 50kg of local rice is N38,000. We started having this hardship and inflation problem since 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari took over as president.

“Nigeria is doomed if we fail to vote in the right person that will bring this country out of this hardship. We never had it this bad in this country”, he lamented.

In Imo State, the residents who have been under the siege of criminal elements, are not eager to travel, especially to the hinter lands, some of which have been deserted by their people.

According to a resident of Owerri, Onyekachi Iwu: “We are afraid; we thought the insecurity was over. We were planning to come back for this year’s Christmas until this Simon Ekpa started this rubbish of attacks in the name of sit-at-home order. You saw how the entire Igbo land went up in flame. It was like a war zone. What we thought was over returned with several destructions and killings.”

Abraham, from Orsu Local Government Area of the state, said: “The fear is much. We are in deep fear. Something must be done to bring back the people’s confidence.”

The EFCC Enugu Zonal Command on Wednesday April 27, 2022, arrested 29 suspected internet fraudsters in a sting operation at 247 Suite, Bishop Court, Aladinma Extension, Owerri, Imo State.
Intelligence report received by the commission revealed that the suspects were specialized in defrauding unsuspecting foreign nationals of their hard earned money.

The suspects are: Iwueke Kingsley Clinton Ikechukwu, Nwafor Ikechukwu Okoha, Edokpayi Clifford Osamudiamen,Collins Arinze Chuwkwudiama, Chimezie Chukwuma Victor,Odo Chinedu Daniel, Humphery Chibueze Daniel, Henry Chibueze Bright, Akumadu Calvin Ifeanyi, Obilor Paul Ozioma, Chikezie Ekene Noble,Chigaemezu dike Stanley, Kelvin Chibuzo Okafor and Oparaji Prince Uchechi.

Others are: Ejimonyeokwu Jessy chinonso,Bosco Ndubuisi Chimuanya, Amaechi Michael Ikechukwu, Amma Wisdom Uzor, Duru Chibuike Augustine, Solomon Clinton Chidozie, Duru Francis Chiemela, Ugo Victor Losisochukwu, Ibe Justice Chijindu, Iwuji Blaise Chimereucheya, Onyedibe Chukwuebuka Godwin, Dim Kizito Nnaemeka , Pastor Ikechukwu Goodness and Collins Arinze Chukwudiama.

Intelligence indicate that they are involved in various forms of computer-related frauds targeting mostly foreign nationals.

Some of the items recovered from the suspects include two cars, several mobile phones and laptops.

Militant30:
chinonso dike, the potopoto Anambra boy can not grow up with his outdated stupidity
It will continue to pain you that Rivers State is more beautiful than your Anambra.
Stupid boy

Biafrarep:

ontinue digging your own grave chinonso dike the notorious fraudster and blackmailer. The long arms of the law will eventually caught up with you. It's a matter of time!

Biafrarep:


chinonso dike the notorious criminal, you're dum.b

Biafrarep:


chinonso dike the notorious fraudster and blackmailer. You've been spamming everywhere with fake news and even accusing Nigerian police falsely.

I'm sorry for you because you're too dum.b to understand the number of count charges you're liable to be prosecutted for.

Don't think that nairaland anonymity can save you because your IP and phone number is enough to nab you.

Biafrarep:

chinonso dike the fraudster, everyone knows you sleep and wake up on the Anambra thread like your life depends on it. Anyone who can reason psychologically knows you're seriously suffering already. You must be feeling like a child whose lollypop was forcefully taken away ;Dou're a 50 years old man without any wife nor children, and you have no life outside nairaland. So, for me to have chased you out of this thread and reduced it to my advert page is definitely causing you serious griefYou must be feeling like a junkie now, in need of a fixD

Biafrarep:

chinonso dike the fraudster, everyone knows you sleep and wake up on the Anambra thread like your life depends on it. Anyone who can reason psychologically knows you're seriously suffering already. You must be feeling like a child whose lollypop was forcefully taken away ;Dou're a 50 years old man without any wife nor children, and you have no life outside nairaland. So, for me to have chased you out of this thread and reduced it to my advert page is definitely causing you serious griefYou must be feeling like a junkie now, in need of a fixD

i08068198016:
[s][/s]

[s]Hahaha monkey I.know exactly how you are hurt after we exposed your poor family.

Imo thread has been hijacked, nothing is gonna happen there ever again.

Tochukwu, for anything to happen in that thread imo people must sacrifice you, if not, nothing for you guys there going forward :[/s]D

Biafrarep:

hino is now giving advice about not giving someone attention, wonders shall never end chinonso dike the old fool, you used to sleep and wake up on this thread. Bullying everyone into that tries to make comment into submission, but I have chased you out and converted it to my advert page

i08068198016:


Stop giving him attention. The war has shifted to Imo thread where I have bought land.

Biafrarep:
You're finally running mad, quoting and replying yourself? Is that not insanity chinonso dike the notorious criminal? ou will soon die of heart attack because I can feel your frustrations from here. The same Anambra thread you turned to your personal property has been converted to my advert page FREE OF CHARGE!!! ahaha, chinonso dike aka Chino the notorious criminal is already in the mud.

i08068198016:


[s]
His Wife cheated on him to have this baby. Chai Biafrarep you be jew man [/s]

Biafrarep:

So, you can cry like this? Na wa o. chinonso dike the old fool, you're messing with the wrong guy because I've got a very thick skin!! eanwhile, all your trashy posts are now boring. Don't you have something creative and more livelyD

Biafrarep:

You're already miserable and frustrated at 50 years with no wife nor kids. Poverty has reduced you to a state of hopelessness and you think only criminal activities can put food on your table.
chinonso dike the notorious criminal, your days are numbered. Lekwa gi, Lee 6 feet

post=108807055:
Na wa oh you guys even smoke Nkpuru mmiri even on Christmas day, see how you guys are messing this thread up on Christmas day, are you guys this bored Make I wire sidechicks to keep your body and soul busy

i08068198016:
[s]Tochukwu owerri is a glorified village that's why millions of imo indigenes are living in Anambra. Rent is very cheap in owerri because the town is useless and worthless shithole.

Tochukwu you will die miserably. Your useless father died poor and you shall die poor too because you are living in Owerri village.[/s]

[s][/s]

Biafrarep:


You're a fifty years old shrink still living in his father's dilapidated house in the village. Poverty has really messed you up kpata kpata. Imagine how the fool is busy opening threads and cloning people's monikers.

It's obvious you're frustrated due to poverty and hopelessness. chinonso dike, kill yourself and end your miserable existence

…Another police station attacked in Imo, two officers injured

…Imo govt fingers former gov for raging attacks

…DSS alerted police, Uzodimma before Imo attacks; it’s not true – IMSG

…Consult me on how we kept Imo peaceful, Okorocha tells Uzodimma

…Imo monarch, chiefs kidnapped after attending traditional wedding

…Tension in Aba over shooting around police station

…Abia shuts school after discovery of ‘explosive devices’ in classroom

…Police barricade roads to correctional centre, Police HQ

…Cults clash claims three lives in Rivers; LG chairman kidnapped

By Marie-Therese Nanlong, chinonso Alozie, Ugochukwu Alaribe, Davies Iheamnachor & Steve Oko

The raging storm of insecurity blowing across the country took a dangerous turn, yesterday, sweeping across Imo, Abia and Rivers states, leaving blood, tears and tension on its trail.

In continuation of their attacks, which started on Monday and Tuesday, hoodlums attacked a police station in Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.

Two police officers were injured during the attack, three vehicles were damaged, while no fewer than four persons were said to have been abducted by the gunmen

Gunmen also kidnapped the traditional ruler of Umueze Nguru in the Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Eze Charles Iroegbu, and members of his cabinet who accompanied him to a public function in the state.

There was tension in Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, following reported sporadic shooting by police personnel around Azikiwe Road and Jubilee Road just as a bag containing suspected explosive devices was discovered in a primary school in Umuahia, the Abia State capital

The Police have barricaded all roads leading to the Correctional Centre and the Police Area Command in Aba.

The flames of insecurity took a bloody turn in Rivers State where a battle for supremacy by cults for the control of an area led to the loss of three lives.

Imo mayhem

In Imo, suspected hoodlums, Wednesday night, attacked a police station in Mbieri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area and injured two police officers in a gun battle.

Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Orlando Ikeokwo, told newsmen in Owerri that the incident occurred at about 11:30 pm.

He said no officer got missing or kidnapped in the attack, adding that the hoodlums were repelled by the officers on duty.

The PPRO said: “Mbieri Divisional Police headquarters was attacked at about 23:30 pm but successfully repelled. Two officers injured are currently receiving treatment. The police station was not set ablaze. No officer missing or kidnapped.”

However, an eyewitness told Vanguard said that no fewer than four persons were kidnapped.

“The hoodlums arrived in two vehicles and as they tried to enter the station, the policemen on duty started shooting at them. The shooting lasted for more than 40 minutes.

“At the end, as they were about going, we saw three persons they dragged into their vehicles around the police premises, including the ones already in their vehicles shouting for help.”

Asked how many persons he saw, he said: “I saw four persons and I also heard a female voice shouting for help. We don’t know whether they are police officers because they were in mufti. They may be some persons they kidnapped along the road as they were coming to attack the Mbieri police station. “When the gunfire became too much, the hoodlums jumped into their vehicles with those they kidnapped and drove away,” he said.

Fish out perpetrators, Imo govt urges security agencies, fingers ex-governor

Reacting, Imo State government, through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said: “We have urged security operatives in the state to expedite their investigations into the recent attack on Police and Nigerian Correctional Services facilities by hoodlums to ensure the perpetrators are fished out and made to face justice.

“The government also called on the security agencies to beam their searchlight on all possible suspects and avoid the temptation of focusing in only one direction to ensure that the brains behind the mayhem are fished out and prosecuted accordingly.

“The government directed the security agents to expedite their investigation and make sure that no stone is left unturned and to beam their searchlight in all possible suspected areas and ensure that those who perpetrated this dastardly act are fished out and brought to book as quickly as possible.”

In the last 72 hours, many police stations had been attacked in Imo State. They include Imo State Police headquarters, Ehime Mbano Police station and Mbieri Police station. Also attacked was the Owerri Correctional Centre.

Emelumba, yesterday, blamed a former governor of the state for Monday’s attacks on some federal facilities in Owerri.

He alleged that the former governor engaged thugs whom he had earlier granted amnesty to unleash violence in the state to prod the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Imo.

Addressing a press conference in Owerri, Emelumba averred that all that took place in the state on Monday had the imprimatur of the former governor.

According to him, the fact that the former governor sponsored some northern youths who called for the declaration of a state of emergency in Imo barely hours after the attacks made him a culprit.

Chief Emelumba alleged that the former governor wants to get back at Governor Hope Uzodinma for insisting on the implementation of the white paper that indicted him.

The commissioner said all that happened on Monday were orchestrated to portray Uzodinma as an incompetent governor as a prelude to the declaration of a state of emergency in Imo by the Federal Government.

Consult me on how we kept Imo peaceful, Okorocha tells Uzodimma

However, immediate past governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has advised Governor Uzodinma to tow the path of consultation rather than confrontation in solving the security challenges in the state.

Okorocha, now a serving senator, said despite the challenges of IPOB and other agitators during his tenure, he was able to keep the state peaceful because he consulted widely with relevant stakeholders.

Speaking at Kuru, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State during a condolence visit to the family of late Mrs. Felicia Biskanga, Okorocha said except justice was allowed to reign and poverty stamped out, the workload on the military and the Police would yield little or no results.

His words: “The security situation in Imo State, the security situation in Nigeria as a whole, the security situation in all nooks and crannies of our society is not palatable. We are passing through a very difficult moment in the history of our nation.

“The recent attack on the Police headquarters and the Correctional Centre in Imo State, the unending herdsmen crises, the banditry, the unending Boko Haram, and kidnapping are all products of poverty and injustice and I think time has come for us, political leaders, to tell ourselves the truth and address this ugly situation and help our men and women of the armed forces and the police who are currently fighting the symptoms and not the disease of poverty and injustice.

“What I will ask Imo State government to do is: the location of the prison and the Police headquarters is wrong. I had built the best prison or Correctional centre command, I built the best police command in the Federal Republic of Nigeria but they left them to waste; they are not being used.

“If people were there, these people wouldn’t have had that kind of access. It has a large expanse of land, staff quarters, the capacity for inmates there is 3,200 as against where they are now, which has about 1,200 and they squeeze 10 inmates in a place.

“My message to him is that he should face the challenge of leadership and consultation at this time. It is very important because if the governor consulted me and said how did you handle IPOB during your time that there was peace in Imo State, how did you handle the issue of kidnapping, how did you handle the issue of agitators? I would have told him.

“During my time, we collected more than 100 AK-47 rifles from the youths who came for exchange willingly, just by talking to them. We must always understand that these children are our children.

“We are overloading the military and the police in trying to help the situation when we have not tackled the issues of injustices in this country and the issues of poverty.

“As long as these continue in the form and shape it is going on, and as long as young men wake up in the morning and there is no job and poverty is ravaging the system, there is little or nothing the armed forces can do because it is a growing thing. The young men are coming out of schools, they are not getting jobs, we must address that.”

‘DSS alerted Police, Uzodimma, one week before Imo attacks’

Meantime, Dennis Amachree, former assistant director of the Department of State Services, DSS, said yesterday that the agency informed the police and Governor Uzodinma of an impending attack on the police command and prison facility a week before the incident.

On Monday, gunmen attacked the federal prison and police command headquarters in Owerri and freed 1,844 inmates.

Again on Tuesday, gunmen attacked another police station located in Ehime Mbano LGA in the state.

Speaking when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, Amachree said there was “enough actionable intelligence” gathered by the DSS before Monday’s attacks but the police and the governor did not execute it.

“You know in our lackadaisical way, when intelligence come they throw it by the side and then when something happens, everybody runs around.”

Amachree said the police are the “actioning party” that should have taken steps on the security intelligence, adding that Mohammed Adamu, former Inspector-General of Police, did not get his facts right before alleging that the masterminds of the attacks were members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Amachree not speaking for DSS – Imo govt

Countering the former DSS chief, Imo State Government said Amacheree was not speaking for the DSS.

In a statement, the Information Commissioner, Declan Emelumba, said any official statement from DSS, should come from the current director of DSS and not from an individual speaking for himself.

“The ex-director of DSS is certainly not in position to speak for DSS, he is not in service. If there is anybody who can make that statement it is the current director of DSS. We have not heard from DSS.”

Asked if there was any such alert, he said: “As far as we are concerned, there is no such letter or alert. The man is speaking for himself and not DSS.”

Imo monarch, chiefs kidnapped after attending traditional wedding

There was palpable fear in Imo State on Wednesday night after gunmen kidnapped the traditional ruler of Umueze Nguru in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of the state, Eze Charles Iroegbu.

UPDATED: Owerri prison attack: They threw explosives at us ― Police officer
Photos of burnt police vehicles at the Imo police command.
The gunmen also kidnapped the cabinet chiefs of the kingdom who accompanied the monarch to a public function in the state.

The respected monarch, who is owner and chief executive officer of All States Mass Transit, and his cabinet chiefs were kidnapped after attending a traditional wedding in Mbano.

They were in three vehicles and were heading back to the kingdom when the gun-wielding men waylaid them and diverted their movement, Vanguard learned, yesterday.

The development has caused panic in the community.

“His Highness and his cabinet chiefs were on their way back from a traditional wedding ceremony in Mbano when they were kidnapped. This is unbelievable and there is fear and panic everywhere,” a community source said and expressed worry that the kidnappers had not established communication since they struck.

Contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said he could not confirm the abduction.

Tension in Aba over shooting around police station

As the waves of insecurity spread, there was tension in Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, following reported sporadic shooting by police personnel around Azikiwe Road and Jubilee Road.

Policemen barricaded all roads leading to the Correctional Centre and the Police Area Command in the city.

Vanguard gathered that there was heavy shooting at the Aba Area Command and another at Bata junction.

Residents of the adjoining roads to the two facilities have been barred from leaving their houses, while shop owners were forced to leave the area.

Barricades guarded by the Police were observed at Okwu na Uka street, Pound and Hospital roads as well as the area near the Aba General Hospital.

A police source told Vanguard that the barricades were not unusual, considering the recent attacks on police formations in the South-East zone.

According to eyewitness account, trouble started around 8:am when a team of armed police men stormed the vicinity and started shooting into the air.

It was not yet clear if there were any human casualties.

An eyewitness, simply identified as Longinus, a tricycle operator, said he parked his keke ( tricycle) and was eating in a restaurant when a team of policemen stormed the area and started shooting.

According to him, people scampered for safety amid the raging gunfire.

He said that on his return to the scene after the shooting, he discovered that people’s vehicles, including his keke, had been destroyed by the police for yet to be explained reasons.

The tricycle operator claimed that the invading police team also took away his keke to an unknown destination.

His words: “We were here and suddenly a team of policemen came to this place and started shooting. People ran away for safety. I was eating at a nearby restaurant.

“Everybody ran for safety as they threw teargas. We thought it was over, until they went and reinforced, came back and started destroying peoples vehicles. My keke was destroyed and they took it to their station.”

He said the action of the police was unprovoked as residents around the area had no knowledge of what might have led to the act.

Another version had it that police personnel went on rampage, smashing windscreens of vehicles and destroying people’s property claiming to be searching for members of the IPOB; and the personnel of Eastern Security Network, ESN.

The incident happened shortly after a reported sporadic shooting around Aba Area Command.

Police were said to have cordoned off all roads leading to the scene and subjected passersby to thorough security checks.

Following the gunshots, traders and people around the vicinity scampered for safety, while shops around Hospital Road by CPS, and Jubilee Road were shut down in the ensuing confusion.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said a team of policemen went for arrest at Ama Ogbonna, Aba when the operatives came under attack. He said they later called for reinforcement before the situation was brought under control.

“Meanwhile, necessary measures have been taken to protect the pupils and staff of the school with security sweeps ongoing, while the school is temporarily closed.

“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed security agencies to embark on proactive checks in other vulnerable locations out of abundance of caution.

“While we are grateful to God that there is no harm to life or property, we urge citizens and residents to continue to maintain vigilance and report suspicious situations to security agents.”

Three feared killed as cultists clash in Port Harcourt

In Rivers, three people were feared dead at old Port Harcourt township area of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State as cultists clashed in in a supremacy battle over who controls the area.

The development has thrown residents of Bende, Victoria and Bagham streets into palpable fear.

A source, who witnessed the deadly clash, said it started around 8:00pm, adding that one dike, and Biggy were among the people feared killed.

The source said: “Yesterday, around 8:00pm, we heard gunshots. When we came out later at Bagham Junction, we saw one person that was shot in the chest, dead.

“I couldn’t identify him because it was dark. I also heard that one person called Biggy, was shot at Victoria Street and a business man called dike was also shot. I don’t know if the business man died.”

He lamented that cultists terrorising the area move uninterrupted with guns in search of their targets, and urged the security operatives to be proactive in their duties.

The source said: “The truth is that these cultists come for their target. Some times, we see them pass with guns. Some time it’s stray bullet that pick some persons. Our concern is that security should be proactive. They pay attention more to other issues than human lives.”

Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, SP. Nnamdi Omoni, said the number of casualties could not be ascertained at press time.

Omoni disclosed that shooting was following a cult war, adding that police had restored calm in the area.

“I can confirm that there was cult clash yesterday at the town axis of Port Harcourt. Two rival cult groups engaged themselves in a senseless war of supremacy.

“On getting the distress call, we mobilised and we chased them and we were able to recover one of their pistols. The manhunt for the cultists continues.

“So far we have no case of reported casualty. The Commissioner of Police has declared war against the criminals.”

Gunmen kidnap LG boss in Rivers

In a related development, unidentified gunmen abducted the chairman of Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State, Mr. Philemon Kingoli in the early hours of Wednesday along the Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of the state.

This came a few weeks after gunmen abducted the traditional ruler of Ikuru town, HRM King Aaron Miller, in Andoni Local Government Area of the State as well as a senior lecturer at the Department of Linguistics and Communications Studies, Dr. Jones Ayouwo.

However, the duo have regained freedom, with a trending video from the monarch’s kidnappers calling on politicians and royal fathers to enthrone peace in Andoni.
Police arrest 3 community leaders over alleged jungle justice

At press time, reason for abduction of the LG council chairman is yet to be known as the gunmen have not established contact with relatives of victim.

Meanwhile, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the kidnap of Kingoli, said the command is making efforts to secure unconditional release of the LG boss.