₦airaland Forum

FG Urged to Reveal Names of Citizens in Detention

Titus Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has challenged the Federal Government to publish a comprehensive list of Nigerians currently held in detention across the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and titled “Midweek Musing: The Arithmetic of Abandonment ,Can the Government Still Count Its Captives? A Call for Candour on Nigerians Still in Kidnappers’ Dens,” Ejiofor called on the Federal Government, through the Office of the National Security Adviser and relevant security agencies, to release a detailed and verifiable statistical account of Nigerians presently held in captivity nationwide.

He urged the government to provide clear records indicating :The total number of persons currently in kidnappers’ dens;The number rescued within the past year;
The number confirmed deceased;
The number whose status remains unknown;The states and localities most affected; andThe operational measures currently being deployed to secure their release.

Ejiofor who is Dunu–Ezeugosinachi noted that transparency is not a sign of weakness but a fundamental instrument of accountability in a democratic society.
According to him, families of victims deserve the dignity of official acknowledgment and consistent updates regarding the fate of their loved ones.
“Even if their loved ones remain in captivity, they must at least know that the State has not consigned them to bureaucratic oblivion,” he stated.

He further argued that while government may face enormous security challenges, it owes citizens a minimum obligation of documentation and disclosure.
“A government that cannot protect every citizen must, at the very least, be able to count them. If we cannot secure them, can we not at least number them? Or has the arithmetic of governance also become a casualty of insecurity?” he asked.
Ejiofor’s call comes amid growing public concern over rising cases of abductions and insecurity across various parts of the country, with many families reportedly left without reliable information about the status of abducted relatives.


Read the full statement:


MIDWEEK MUSING THE ARITHMETIC OF ABANDONMENT:CAN THE GOVERNMENT STILL COUNT ITS CAPTIVES ?
A Call for Candour on Nigerians Still in Kidnappers’ Dens

Is it now heretical to enquire whether the Government has lost count of the very citizens it is constitutionally bound to protect? Or are we to assume that statistics, like the victims themselves, have simply vanished into the forests?

Under the grundnorm of our country, the sacred foundation upon which our constitutional democracy rests, the raison d’être of government is unmistakably clear. The social contract between the State and the citizen is not ornamental prose; it is a solemn covenant. Citizens surrender certain freedoms and entrust sovereign authority to government in exchange for security, order, and protection. Of these obligations, none is more pivotal than the protection of life and property.

Yet, across the length and breadth of the Federation, kidnapping has metastasised into a grotesque industry. From agrarian communities to bustling townships, no demography is spared. Only yesterday, reports emerged of another brazen attack in Abia State, where jihadist terrorist reportedly abducted residents and razed property. A fortnight ago, the nation recoiled at a chilling video displaying over 170 captives said to have been taken from Woro community in Kwara State , their abductors not merely committing crime, but curating theatre.

The audacity is as disturbing as the violence. These criminals do not merely operate in shadows; they taunt, they publicise, and they mock. They release videos as though issuing quarterly performance reports, while the State appears content to issue press statements of “ongoing efforts.” One is tempted , albeit reluctantly, to ask whether the kidnappers now possess a more reliable database of Nigerians in captivity than the institutions funded to prevent such captivity.

Consider the sequence in Kaduna State: after the ceremonious reception of 183 worshippers who regained their freedom, relief and applause briefly filled the air. Yet scarcely had the echoes of celebration faded before fresh abductions were reported in the same state. In Enugu, Katsina, Benue, Adamawa, Niger, and Borno, similar narratives persist, communities attacked, families shattered, numbers announced, numbers forgotten. The list grows; the accounting appears not to.

This is not a partisan lamentation. It is a constitutional enquiry.

I therefore respectfully call upon the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly through the Office of the National Security Adviser and the relevant security agencies, to publish a comprehensive and verifiable statistical account of Nigerians presently held in captivity across the Federation.

Let the nation know: the total number of persons currently in kidnappers’ dens; the number rescued within the past year; the number confirmed deceased; the number whose status remains unknown; the states and localities most affected; the operational measures presently deployed for recovery.

Transparency is not an act of weakness; it is an instrument of accountability. Families of victims deserve the dignity of acknowledgment. Even if their loved ones remain in captivity, they must at least know that the State has not consigned them to bureaucratic oblivion.

A government that cannot protect every citizen must, at the very least, be able to count them.

If we cannot secure them, can we not at least number them? Or has the arithmetic of governance also become a casualty of insecurity?

History will judge not merely the ferocity of criminal gangs, but the fortitude, or otherwise , of those entrusted with sovereign power. Silence is not strategy. Opacity is not security. And statistics withheld are trust eroded.

The Nigerian people do not ask for rhetoric. They ask for truth.

And truth, like security, is not optional in a constitutional democracy.

Ejiofor Defends U.S. Troop Presence in Nigeria, Says Critics Fear Exposure

Titus Eleweke South East Editor

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the recent deployment of United States troops to Nigeria following bilateral security engagements with the Federal Government as a positive development for the country.
In a statement issued on Monday and titled “MONDAY MUSING: WHEN ALLIES ARRIVE — WHY THE DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES TROOPS SIGNALS A TURNING POINT IN NIGERIA’S WAR AGAINST TERROR,” Ejiofor said the engagement represents a significant step in the right direction.

He criticised individuals opposing the Nigeria–United States security collaboration, expressing hope that the partnership would help expose those responsible for the spate of killings across the country.
According to him, if the deployment of foreign ground forces serves as a deterrent against terrorist networks, then it is a welcome and necessary intervention.
Ejiofor who is Dunu–Ezeugosinachi noted that the reported arrival of experienced American troops,supported by advanced logistical capabilities and operational resources,signals not merely military reinforcement but a demonstration of strategic seriousness. He added that the move indicates that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer viewed as a domestic challenge alone, but as a destabilising phenomenon with regional and global implications.
“Security collaboration between sovereign nations is neither novel nor sinister,” “It forms the foundation of contemporary counter-terrorism operations. The alliance between the United States and several African nations in confronting insurgent networks is well documented. Why, then, should Nigeria be treated as an exception, particularly when the scale of bloodshed has reached intolerable proportions?”he stated.
The human rights lawyer further argued that the collaboration has the potential to strengthen intelligence gathering and operational precision; disrupt terror-financing networks; expose enablers and logistical backers operating behind carefully curated façades; curb incessant attacks on defenceless worshippers and rural communities; and restore confidence in the State’s monopoly on the legitimate use of force.

He observed that the swift and vocal objections from certain ideological quarters have been particularly revealing.
According to Ejiofor, some fundamentalist voices,whose doctrinal rigidity, he suggested, has often coincided with escalating insecurity are now demanding exhaustive details of bilateral security arrangements and, in some instances, declaring the collaboration “unacceptable.”

He maintained that Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity has regrettably been exploited for political gain.
“Fear has been monetised. Outrage has been curated. Tragedy has been rehearsed,” he said.
According to him, the time has come to end the cynical weaponisation of bloodshed for sectarian advantage or ideological posturing.

Ejiofor added that if the collaboration with the United States succeeds in exposing not only the foot soldiers of terror but also their financiers, recruiters, propagandists, and ideological incubators, it will amount to far more than a military intervention. Rather, he argued, it would signify the dismantling of an entrenched ecosystem of violence,an outcome he suggested may explain the discomfort in certain quarters.
He added that if the deployment contributes to reducing incessant attacks on vulnerable communities, securing citizens of all faiths, and restoring deterrence against terrorist networks, it will indeed mark a decisive and commendable step forward.
“History,” he said, “will not remember those who issued the loudest objections, but those who stood firmly for the protection of human life.”


The full statement reads:

There are moments in the life of a nation when rhetoric must finally give way to resolve. The recent deployment of troops from the United States of America, following bilateral security engagements with the Federal Government of Nigeria, appears to mark one such moment.

For years, Nigerians, particularly vulnerable Christian communities in parts of Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Niger and other affected states , have endured a cycle of carnage so relentless that it risks becoming normalised. Churches attacked during worship. Villages razed in the dead of night. Innocent citizens abducted and paraded in macabre propaganda videos by marauding extremists. And yet, in the face of this grim reality, we have often been treated to familiar refrains: “The situation is under control.” One is tempted to ask — under whose control?

The reported arrival of experienced American ground troops, supported by logistical capabilities and operational resources, signals not merely military reinforcement but strategic seriousness. It suggests that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer to be viewed as an unfortunate domestic inconvenience, but as a destabilising phenomenon with regional and global implications.

Security collaboration between sovereign nations is neither novel nor sinister. It is the very architecture upon which contemporary counter-terrorism operations are built. The alliance between the United States and various nations across Africa in confronting insurgent networks is well documented. Why then should Nigeria be treated as an exception, particularly when the scale of bloodshed has reached intolerable proportions?

If anything, this collaboration has the capacity to:Strengthen intelligence gathering and operational precision;Disrupt terror financing networks;Expose enablers and logistical backers operating behind carefully curated façades; Curtail incessant attacks on defenceless worshippers and rural communities; and Restore confidence in the State’s monopoly of legitimate force.

What has proved particularly revealing, however, is the swift and animated objection from certain ideological quarters. Some fundamentalist voices, whose doctrinal rigidity has too often coincided with escalating insecurity, now demand exhaustive details of bilateral security arrangements and, in some instances, declare the collaboration “unacceptable.”

Unacceptable?

One must admire the audacity. For years, innocent Nigerians have been unacceptable collateral. Worshippers have been unacceptable targets. Entire communities have been unacceptable casualties. Yet it is the prospect of international cooperation to curb these atrocities that suddenly triggers constitutional purism and procedural anxiety.
It is legitimate to scrutinise foreign military presence. It is prudent to insist upon sovereignty safeguards. But it is disingenuous to weaponise sovereignty as a shield for impunity, or worse, as a bargaining chip for political relevance.

Nigeria’s prolonged insecurity has, regrettably, been exploited as political capital. Fear has been monetised. Outrage has been curated. Tragedy has been rehearsed. The time has come to halt the cynical weaponisation of bloodshed for sectarian leverage or ideological posturing.

If the collaboration with the United States succeeds in exposing not only the foot soldiers of terror but also the financiers, recruiters, propagandists and ideological incubators behind them, then it will represent far more than a military intervention. It will mark the dismantling of an ecosystem of death.

And perhaps that prospect explains the discomfort in certain circles.

If this deployment contributes to minimising incessant attacks on Christian communities, securing vulnerable populations of all faiths, and restoring deterrence against terror networks, then it is indeed a step in the right direction.

History will not remember who issued the loudest objections. It will remember who stood for the protection of human life.

Power Over People: Nigerian Politicians Ignore 400 Deaths in a Week ,Ejiofor



Titus Eleweke


Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and Lead Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has expressed deep concern over the killing of more than 400 Nigerians within a single week, lamenting what he described as the political leadership’s alarming indifference to the scale of the tragedy.
Ejiofor decried the fact that, rather than urgently addressing the worsening insecurity responsible for these deaths, Nigeria’s political class appears preoccupied with strategising for victory in the 2027 general elections.
The lawyer made these remarks in a statement released on Saturday, titled “Weekend Musing: When the State Negotiates with Terror and Campaigns on Corpses.”
“Nigeria has lost well over 400 prospective voters in a single week,” “Four hundred citizens who might have queued peacefully in 2027 now lie in shallow graves. As the attacks continue, one is compelled to ask: how many Nigerians will still be alive to exercise their franchise by 2027, if death continues to enjoy such unfettered electoral advantage?”Ejiofor stated.
He recalled that only days earlier, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, was broadcast nationally welcoming and celebrating the “release” of 183 abducted worshippers.
According to Ejiofor, the public might be forgiven for mistaking the spectacle for a diplomatic triumph, until it is remembered that the abductors’ initial demand was a relatively modest ₦28 million, reportedly claimed as compensation for damaged motorcycles, before negotiations progressed to what was described as “serious business.”
“Today, we are told—without explanation—that the captives regained their freedom through the ‘efforts’ of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services,” “How many terrorists were neutralised in this operation? None are named. None are paraded. None are prosecuted.”he said.
He added that the captives returned “newly clothed, well presented,” while Nigerians were subtly cautioned against asking what sums may have exchanged hands.
“One suspects,” Ejiofor continued, “that the truth will only surface when these merchants of terror decide to weaponise it.”
The human rights lawyer further argued that there has been no moment in Nigeria’s political history when the sovereignty of the state has been subjected to such a sustained, organised, and unapologetically destructive assault as the one currently unfolding.
“What distinguishes this moment,” he said, “is not merely the scale of the carnage, but the chilling predictability of the state’s response—or, more accurately, its ritualised indifference.”
While insecurity ravages the North-West, North-Central, and North-East, Ejiofor noted that Nigeria’s political elite appears engrossed in an entirely different project.
According to him, the Senate is preoccupied with “brazen and diversionary manoeuvres” designed to undermine the Electoral Act, rehearse the choreography of electoral manipulation ahead of 2027, and facilitate mass defections into what increasingly resembles a one-party state
The time for euphemisms is over. Nigeria requires an immediate, uncompromising national security emergency declaration, followed by decisive, transparent, and ruthless dismantling of these terror networks. Not tomorrow. Now. Because death has become so routine that it is now reduced to statistics, and statistics, as history teaches us, are the final stage before conscience collapses.

Read parts of the statement:

"The pattern is now tediously familiar. Terror strikes. Lives are extinguished. Communities are erased. The Presidency issues a solemnly worded press statement, condemning the attack, sympathising with the bereaved, mourning the voiceless dead, and, as if by incantation, announces the “deployment of security forces.” The curtain then falls. The cycle ends. Until the next massacre.

While Nigeria bleeds under a coordinated onslaught by bandit–jihadist terror networks, its political leadership appears curiously preoccupied, not with saving lives, but with perfecting defections, rehearsing electoral manipulations, and choreographing a glide into a one-party state. This is not merely a failure of governance; it is a masterclass in state acquiescence to mass death.

One is compelled to ask: if the Nigerian state is not complicit by conduct, omission, or deliberate acquiescence, what becomes of the intelligence warnings routinely issued ahead of these attacks? Why are the monsters not intercepted before they strike? Why do they move with uncanny precision, unchallenged and unhindered, save perhaps by those within the security architecture whose silence is more eloquent than words?

Pause, truly pause, and consider this: how is it that nearly every major terrorist operation succeeds, cleanly and conclusively, without resistance, interception, or consequence? Is this operational genius, or institutional connivance?

Yet, even as jihadist terror sweeps through the North-West, North-Central, and North-East, Nigeria’s political class appears enthralled by a different project altogether. The Senate busies itself with brazen, diversionary manoeuvres aimed at subverting the Electoral Act, rehearsing the choreography for the rigging of the 2027 general elections, and perfecting a mass defection into what increasingly resembles a one-party state.

For context, lest we forget priorities; Nigeria has lost well over 400 prospective voters in a single week. Four hundred citizens who might have queued peacefully in 2027 now lie in shallow graves. And as the attacks continue, one wonders,how many Nigerians will still be alive to exercise their franchise by 2027, if death continues to enjoy such unfettered electoral advantage?

Only days ago, the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, was broadcast nationally welcoming and celebrating the “release” of 183 abducted worshippers. One might be forgiven for mistaking the spectacle for a diplomatic triumph, until one recalls that the abductors’ initial demand was a modest ₦28 million, ostensibly compensation for damaged motorcycles, before negotiations could proceed to “serious business.”

Today, we are told, without explanation, that the captives have regained freedom through the “efforts” of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services. How many terrorists were neutralised in this operation? None are named. None are paraded. None are prosecuted. The captives return, newly clothed, well-presented, and we are politely advised not to ask what sums may have changed hands. One suspects that the truth will only surface when these terror merchants decide to weaponise it.

Meanwhile, the people of Woro Community in Kwara State announce, publicly and desperately, that they are exhausted from burying their dead. Community figures place the death toll at over 300, a figure far removed from the sanitised arithmetic of officialdom. These were Nigerians. Indigenous people. Christians and Muslims alike. Voters, many, perhaps, loyal affiliates of the ruling party. Their crime was existing.

Almost concurrently, Benue State burns. In Gwer West Local Government, government sources timidly admit to 20 lives lost in a market shooting. Twenty voters whose PVCs will never again be required. While the dead are still being counted in Benue, Katsina erupts, with over twenty more citizens slaughtered, triggering public protests that speak louder than any official condolence.

And through it all, the political elite remain steadfastly focused, receiving defectors, manipulating statutes, and plotting electoral dominance, as though governance were a private inheritance rather than a public trust.

So, one must ask: with this velocity of killing, is the survival of Nigerians now subordinate to the survival of political ambition? Is the primary duty of the state; security of life, now a negotiable afterthought?

Why, for instance, does the Federal Government deploy battalions of soldiers to Woro community after they have been decimated? Why is protection retroactive? If intelligence existed, as we are repeatedly told, would a fraction of those troops not have saved hundreds of lives before the bloodletting?
Are soldiers now assigned to guard graveyards and deserted villages, offering security to silence?
Has the Nigerian state, perhaps subconsciously, accepted the superior firepower of bandit-jihadist networks, now financially fortified by ransoms, often paid, directly or indirectly, by the same government sworn to defeat them?
Today, Nigeria sleeps with one eye closed, not from caution, but from exhaustion.

Ejiofor: Killing of 162 Civilians in Kwara Was a Calculated, Ideological Attack





Titus Eleweke



Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and Lead Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the killing of over 162 innocent Nigerians in Woro Village, Kwara State, as not merely a tragedy but a monumental moral collapse of the Nigerian state.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Thursday and titled “A Nation Bleeding: The Genocidal Massacre of Over 162 Innocent Citizens in Kwara State and the Urgent Need for Immediate State Action,” Ejiofor said Nigeria must confront the disturbing question of whether the lives of its citizens still hold any value within the corridors of power.
According to him, when death on such a massive scale becomes possible, predictable, and recurrent, the failure can no longer be described as accidental. Rather, it is systemic, profound, and deeply shameful.
Ejiofor condemned, in the strongest and most unequivocal terms, what he described as the barbaric and genocidal massacre of over one hundred and sixty-two innocent Nigerians in Woro Village, allegedly carried out by armed bandits and jihadist terrorists.
Ejiofor who is Dunu-Ezeugosinachi, Oraifite stressed that the atrocity represents far more than a breakdown of Nigeria’s security architecture.
“The incident constitutes a crime against humanity, an unambiguous act of terrorism, and a damning indictment of the Nigerian state’s inability or worse, unwillingness to safeguard human life,” he said.
The human rights lawyer called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently invoke his constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State, arguing that the gravity of the situation leaves no room for hesitation.
“The delay in taking decisive action is long overdue. This is not a political manoeuvre, but a moral, constitutional, and existential necessity,” “The scale, coordination, and sheer savagery of this massacre incontrovertibly demonstrate that conventional security responses have failed. Extraordinary threats demand extraordinary action.”Ejiofor stated.
He further rejected any attempt to characterise the killings as random or spontaneous criminal violence, insisting that the attack was deliberate, calculated, ideologically driven, and terror-induced.
“This massacre bears the unmistakable hallmarks of jihadist expansionism steadily encroaching upon western Nigeria and other parts of the country,” “To trivialise or sanitise such horrors under the convenient label of ‘banditry’ is to insult the memory of the dead and embolden the perpetrators of these crimes.”Ejiofor warned.


The statement reads:

There comes a moment when casualty figures cease to be statistics and become an indictment. Woro Village marks such a moment. The killing of over 162 innocent Nigerians is not merely a tragedy; it is a moral collapse. It is the point at which a nation must confront the unbearable question of whether the lives of its citizens still carry weight in the councils of power. When death on this scale becomes possible, predictable, and recurrent, the failure is no longer accidental, it is systemic, profound, and shameful.

I condemn, in the strongest, clearest, and most unequivocal terms, the barbaric and genocidal massacre of over one hundred and sixty-two innocent Nigerians in Woro Village, Kwara State, carried out by armed bandits and jihadist terrorists. This heinous atrocity goes far beyond a failure of security architecture; it constitutes a crime against humanity, an unambiguous act of terrorism, and a damning indictment of the state’s inability, indeed, unwillingness, to safeguard human life.

That defenceless men, women, and children could be methodically slaughtered in such staggering numbers within a sovereign republic ought to jolt the conscience of the nation to its very foundations. We have crossed a perilous moral threshold. The grim arithmetic of death has become routine. The counting of corpses is now treated as an administrative exercise. What was once shocking has become familiar. This is a national tragedy of the highest order, and it is wholly unacceptable.

Let it be stated plainly and without euphemism: this was neither random violence nor a spontaneous outbreak of criminality. It was calculated, ideologically driven, and terror-induced. It bears the unmistakable hallmarks of jihadist expansionism steadily encroaching upon western Nigeria other parts of the country. To trivialise or sanitise such massacres under the convenient label of “banditry” is to insult the memory of the dead and embolden those who perpetrate these crimes.

Nigeria now stands accused, not merely by its citizens, but by history itself, of counting the deaths of its own people through denial, inertia, and fatal hesitation. When more than 160 lives can be extinguished in a single community and the nations responds with bureaucratic platitudes, and weary resignation, then the sanctity of human life has been dangerously devalued.

This moment calls not for rhetoric, but for resolve; not for condolences, but for courage; not for routine responses, but for decisive and extraordinary measures.

Accordingly, I call upon the President to urgently invoke his relevant constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in Kwara State. The gravity of the situation unmistakably demands such decisive action, and the delay in doing so is now long overdue, though not as a political manoeuvre, but as a moral, constitutional, and existential necessity. The scale, coordination, and savagery of this massacre incontrovertibly demonstrate that ordinary security responses have failed. Extraordinary threats demand extraordinary action.

Furthermore:
1. There must be an urgent and reinforced deployment of security and intelligence assets to Kwara State and its adjoining regions.
2. A transparent, independent, and time-bound investigation must be conducted, with its findings made public.
3.The Federal Government must abandon evasive language and formally acknowledge the terrorist and ideological character of these attacks, confronting them with the seriousness they demand.
4.The families of the victims must receive immediate humanitarian relief, adequate compensation, and sustained long-term support, far beyond perfunctory expressions of sympathy.

Let it be understood: silence in the face of mass slaughter is no longer neutrality. Minimisation is no longer caution. Bureaucratic language is no longer restraint. They have all become forms of complicity.

Nigeria must now decide, urgently, clearly, and without moral ambiguity, whether the lives of its citizens still matter. History will show no mercy to indifference, and posterity will not absolve excuses.

The dead of Woro Village demand more than tears.
They demand truth.
They demand courage.
They demand action—now.

Onitsha South Councillors,Stakeholders Endorse Emeka Orji for Second Term

Titus Eleweke

The councillors and critical stakeholders of Onitsha South Local Government Area have unanimously adopted and endorsed the Mayor of the Council, Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji, for a second term in office.
This collective decision followed a comprehensive review of his performance in office and a broad consensus that he should be given the opportunity to consolidate and complete the numerous people-oriented projects and reforms initiated under his administration.
In a communiqué issued by the Onitsha South Congress of Councillors after its meeting held on January 31, 2025, the councillors formally announced the adoption of Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji for a second term, citing his outstanding leadership, competence, and track record of service delivery.
The councillors and other stakeholders clarified that there is no established zoning arrangement or political formula governing the office of the Mayor or any other political position within Onitsha South Local Government Area. Consequently, the emergence of the incumbent Mayor followed a transparent, competitive, and merit-based nomination process.
They noted that Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji was duly nominated by party stakeholders and accredited delegates, alongside other qualified aspirants including the current Deputy Mayor purely on the basis of merit, capacity, and popular support, rather than zoning, sectional interests, or political sentiment.
According to the communiqué, the endorsement of the Mayor for a second term is neither sectional nor exclusionary, but rather a reflection of the collective will of the people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, individuals from all parts of Onitsha South Local Government Area, including all urban council areas, freely and actively participated in the nomination process under fair, open, and transparent conditions,” the councillors stated.

The Congress further explained that it had objectively reviewed the performance of the current administration over the past years and found Hon. Emeka Joseph Orji eminently qualified and deserving of a second term.
The assessment revealed notable and measurable achievements, particularly in the areas of:
Infrastructure development,
Urban regeneration and renewal,
Environmental sanitation,
Enhancement of security,
Recovery and protection of public and council properties,
Preservation of open spaces,
Firm enforcement of law, order, and civic responsibility
The councillors emphasized that these achievements have positively impacted governance, service delivery, and public order across the local government area.
In view of these accomplishments, the Congress unanimously affirmed its unalloyed and unequivocal support for the continuity of the present administration for at least the next two years, in the overriding interest of stability, sustained development, and good governance in Onitsha South Local Government Area.
They further commended the strength of character, resolve, and political will demonstrated by the current administration, particularly in matters of law enforcement and maintenance of public order, describing it as exceptional and second to none.
The Congress warned that any proposed departure from, or abrupt change to, the current administration—as being advocated by a few individuals—would be counterproductive and capable of undermining the stability and progress recorded so far.
Such actions, they noted, would neither serve the best interests of Onitsha South Local Government Area nor those of its peace-loving and law-abiding residents.
The councillors and stakeholders also expressed their deep appreciation to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, for his numerous laudable projects within and around Onitsha South Local Government Area, as well as for his consistent support to the Council.
They acknowledged and commended the Governor’s unwavering commitment to grassroots development and respectfully called for continued collaboration and partnership between the state government and the local government for the overall benefit of the people.

IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor Demands Release of Igbo Youths Held at Wawa Barracks

Titus Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation to urgently intervene and order the immediate release of hundreds of Igbo youths being unlawfully detained at the Wawa Barracks.


Ejiofor made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday titled “Midweek Musing: When Justice Looks North and Blinks South — The Irony of Selective Prosecution and the Silent Suffering of a People.”

He lamented that the detained youths have spent an unreasonably long time in custody without trial,describing their continued detention as a grave violation of their constitutional rights.

According to the human rights lawyer, there appears to be a disturbing disparity in the application of justice between Nigeria’s regions, particularly between the South-East and the North.
He alleged that individuals from the North who were implicated in acts of banditry and terrorism during the tenure of former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, were never prosecuted, while Igbo youths are routinely arrested, blindfolded, and consigned to prolonged detention.

Ejiofor stated that Nigeria has tested the patience of the Igbo people for far too long and that the continued detention of these youths lacks any legal or moral justification.
He further referenced recent revelations from the Department of State Services (DSS) that emerged during the ongoing prosecution of the former Attorney-General, noting that these disclosures have shocked many Nigerians. According to him, during Malami’s tenure, the former Attorney-General allegedly failed, refused, or neglected to prosecute individuals predominantly of northern extraction whose names had been publicly listed years earlier by security agencies as alleged financiers of terrorism.
“These were not mere rumours or street gossip,” “They were conclusions reportedly reached through extensive intelligence investigations.” Ejiofor stated.

He noted that the irony of the situation is impossible to ignore.
He explained that those individuals were accused of funding some of the most violent non-state actors destabilising Nigeria, including Boko Haram, ISWAP, armed bandit groups, and allied jihadist networks.

Despite claims that their activities were supported by credible and verifiable intelligence, Ejiofor said prosecutions were mysteriously abandoned, investigative files were closed, and some of the suspects were quietly cleared.
“One is compelled to ask,” he queried, “was terrorism suddenly eradicated, or was it simply forgiven?”

A Different Standard in the South-East
Ejiofor contrasted this situation with developments in the South-East, where, he said, young people are routinely arrested and detained for extended periods based on mere suspicion, association, or profiling. While acknowledging the importance of allowing judicial processes to run their full course and avoiding premature conclusions, he maintained that the nature and content of the charges disclosed so far raise deeply troubling questions about fairness, equity, and the impartial application of justice in Nigeria.
He urged the Federal Government to act decisively, restore public confidence in the justice system, and end what he described as the selective prosecution and systemic injustice suffered by the Igbo people—beginning with the immediate release of all unlawfully detained youths at the Wawa Barracks.



Read the full statement:


MIDWEEK MUSING

WHEN JUSTICE LOOKS NORTH AND BLINKS SOUTH

The Irony of Selective Prosecution and the Silent Suffering of a People

There are moments in a nation’s history when the law, instead of standing tall as the blind guardian of justice, appears to tilt, ever so subtly towards convenience, geography, or ethnicity. Nigeria, regrettably, seems to be living through one such moment.

Recent revelations emanating from the Department of State Services (DSS), in the course of the ongoing prosecution of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, have startled many Nigerians. While it is both prudent and responsible to refrain from drawing premature conclusions, given that judicial processes are still unfolding, the content of the charges so far disclosed, raises deeply troubling questions. Questions not merely of legality, but of conscience, consistency, and credibility.

Terror Financiers Known; Yet Untouched
One limb of the allegations reportedly suggests that, during his tenure, the former Attorney-General failed, refused, or neglected to prosecute individuals whose names, obviously, predominantly of northern extraction, had been published years earlier by security agencies as financiers of terrorism. These were not whispers from street corners, but conclusions reportedly drawn from extensive intelligence investigations. The irony is difficult to ignore.
These individuals were alleged to have funded some of the most vicious non-state actors tormenting the Nigerian state: Boko Haram, ISWAP, armed bandit groups, and allied jihadist networks. Their alleged activities were said to be backed by verifiable intelligence. Yet, prosecutions were abandoned, files closed, and clean bills of health quietly issued. One might ask: was terrorism suddenly cured, or merely forgiven?

A Different Standard in the South-East
Now, let us juxtapose this with what transpired in the South-East.


Speaking not from hearsay but from direct professional experience, I can state, without fear of contradiction, that my law office personally defended hundreds of Igbo youths, fathers, mothers, and breadwinners who were arbitrarily arrested across the South-East. Some were seized on their way to burials, others at their workplaces, and a few; only the “fortunate” ones, were eventually brought before the courts.

They were charged with offences grandly labelled as terrorism, membership of terrorist organisations, illegal possession of firearms, and other elaborately framed but manifestly unfounded allegations. Some of these charges were instituted before the Federal High Court in Abuja, at the instance and upon the advice of the very office of the former Attorney-General of the Federation, now under scrutiny.

After full trials, every one of those cases collapsed. The accused persons were discharged and acquitted. No evidence. No links. No crimes known to law.

Yet the damage had been done.

Some of the accused died in custody. Others spent months and years incarcerated, their lives and livelihoods destroyed; only to be told, belatedly, that they had committed no offence at all.

Meanwhile, the alleged real sponsors of terror, those whose activities shook the nation, remained free, visible, and curiously untouched.

Wawa Barracks: Detention Without End
Even more disturbing is the fate of hundreds of Igbo youths who have now spent four to six years in detention at the notorious Wawa Barracks, Niger State.

Their “offence”?

Some of them travelled to Abuja in 2021 to observe court proceedings relating to the trial of Nnamdi Kanu. They were not arrested at the court premises. Their vehicle was trailed to Lokoja, where they were apprehended while returning home to the East.

To this day, they remain in detention, without trial, without conviction, without justification known to law.

In a country governed by a Constitution, one struggles to understand how solidarity became a crime, or how spectatorship in a courtroom mutated into terrorism.

Justice Must Not Wear Regional Glasses
It bears repeating: this commentary is not an attempt to prejudge ongoing proceedings. Rather, it is a call to national memory in a country that too often forgets yesterday’s truths by tomorrow morning.

Selective justice is not justice.
Delayed justice is not justice.
Ethnic justice is a contradiction in terms.

A system that prosecutes the weak with enthusiasm while shielding the powerful with silence does not fight terrorism; it rebrands it.

A Final Appeal

I therefore, respectfully but firmly call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation to urgently intervene and order the immediate release of the hundreds of Igbo youths still languishing in unlawful detention at Wawa Barracks.

They have waited long enough.
Nigeria has tested their patience long enough.
The law has no justification left

BREAKING:Sit-at-Home Storm: Emma Powerful Steps Down as IPOB Spokesperson


Titus Eleweke

Comrade Emma Powerful, the Spokesperson, Media, and Publicity Secretary of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has formally resigned from his position.
His resignation followed the controversial sit-at-home order issued for Monday, February 2, 2026, which the leadership of IPOB reportedly considered detrimental to the development of the South-East region.
As a result of the directive, the IPOB leadership barred him from further speaking on behalf of the organization.
In his resignation letter, released on Saturday night, Emma Powerful stated that after deep reflection, consultation with his conscience, and careful consideration of recent developments within the movement, he had decided to step down from his role, effective Friday, January 31, 2026.
He said that the decision was not taken lightly.
“I have served with commitment, discipline, and loyalty, believing strongly in the ideals of justice, equity, and truth that originally inspired my involvement,” “However, the unfolding realities, internal contradictions, and emerging approaches being adopted in recent times have made it increasingly difficult for me to continue in this capacity in good conscience.”he said.
He further noted that continuing in silence or acting as though everything was normal would amount to a betrayal of his principles.

“It has become clear to me that remaining silent or proceeding as though all is well would constitute self-betrayal and a departure from the values I stand for. I believe that every individual must know when to step aside rather than compromise deeply held convictions,” he stated.
Emma Powerful announced that January 31, 2026, marked his final day of issuing any statements or press releases in any capacity connected to IPOB, warning that any publication or communication bearing his name after that date should not be attributed to him.
He expressed gratitude to those who supported his work and stood by him throughout his tenure.
“I remain grateful to all who believed in my work, supported my efforts, and stood for truth at various times. I wish everyone well as they navigate the path ahead. History will judge us all,” he added.

BREAKING: IPOB Bans “Emma Powerful,” Goes Fully Official


Titus Eleweke

The Directorate of State (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally disbanded the use of the pseudonym “Emma Powerful”, directing that all official IPOB press releases must henceforth be issued only on the organisation’s official letterheaded paper.

This decision was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by Mazi Chukwukadibia Edoziem, Head of the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

According to the statement, the DOS explained that the pseudonym Emma Powerful, which had been operationally used by the IPOB Publicity Secretary for disseminating press releases, has been abused, misused, and compromised, thereby posing serious risks to the movement.

The statement noted that IPOB considers it critically imperative to make these clarifications as part of its commitment to ensuring that the global IPOB movement operates in line with globally recognised and accepted institutional best practices.

The DOS outlined the following considerations:That Emma Powerful was originally an operational pseudonym used for IPOB press releases.
That any statement issued under the name of the Indigenous People of Biafra carries enormous responsibility for IPOB and its leadership.
That the pseudonym has been abused, misused, and compromised.

That the continued use of the pseudonym presents clear and present dangers to IPOB as a movement and to the Biafran self-determination struggle.
That certain individuals and groups have subtly deployed the pseudonym as a tool to disrupt the prevailing peace and security currently enjoyed by both Biafrans and visitors in Biafraland.

Consequently, the Directorate of State of the Indigenous People of Biafra resolved as follows:
In line with organisational standards, all press statements representing the official position of IPOB must henceforth be released exclusively on IPOB’s official letterheaded paper.

Arising from the abuse, misuse, and compromise of the pseudonym Emma Powerful, IPOB shall no longer use this name in issuing its press statements.

For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of clarity, any press statement released under the pseudonym “Emma Powerful” going forward does not emanate from IPOB leadership and does not represent the position of the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS).

Furthermore, the Directorate of State categorically stated that it did not authorise any individual or group whatsoever to issue a lockdown or sit-at-home order across Biafraland on Monday, 2 February 2026

IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor:Feb 2 Sit-at-Home Order Fake,Emma Powerful Platform Breached




Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has urged Ndi-Igbo to completely ignore what he described as a fraudulent sit-at-home order allegedly scheduled for Monday, 2 February 2026.

Ejiofor who is Dunu-Ezeugosinachi stated that the source behind the directive, operating under the alias “Emma Powerful,” has been compromised and is now acting against the collective interest of Ndi-Igbo.

He said that IPOB had long denounced all sit-at-home orders and has no connection whatsoever with the purported directive.

In a strongly worded statement titled:
“WEEKEND MUSING: A PHANTOM COMMAND, A HIJACKED MEGAPHONE, AND THE FINAL UNMASKING OF PURVEYORS OF FAKE NEWS UNDER CORRUPTED ALIASES – ‘EMMA POWERFUL on Saturday’,”Ejiofor addressed a publication that circulated widely, alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by “Emma Powerful.”

“Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake—a phantom, a calculated falsehood,” Ejiofor declared.

According to him, following careful inquiry and diligent verification,particularly in light of the fragile but hard-won calm gradually returning to the region it became glaringly evident that the so-called “Emma Powerful” platform has been fatally compromised.

Ejiofor revealed that the peaceful global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally and decisively disowned the fabricated publication. IPOB, he said, has categorically distanced itself from the false sit-at-home order and has directed Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear or intimidation.
He further warned that any publication attributed to “Emma Powerful” should henceforth be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.

“It is no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to ‘ignore’ publications from this source,” “The time has come for clarity and firmness.”Ejiofor stressed.
He stated that the platform known as “Emma Powerful,” in its present corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to the peace, progress, and collective well-being of Ala-Igbo.
Ejiofor urged IPOB, as a peaceful global movement, to go further by publicly and definitively explaining to Ndi-Igbo why the platform has become unreliable, compromised, and hostile to the collective interest of the people.
“Silence, ambiguity, or polite distancing only leaves room for continued abuse and misinformation,” he warned.


The statement reads in full

Why Ndi-Igbo Must Ignore This Fraudulent “February 2nd Sit-at-Home” Order

Once again, the well-worn theatre of misinformation has opened its curtains, this time with a particularly lazy script and an insultingly predictable cast.

It is no longer news that certain segments of the Nigerian media have perfected the unedifying art of publishing first and verifying later, if at all. So long as a headline screams, trends, and generates clicks, accuracy becomes an inconvenient afterthought. Truth, it appears, is optional; virality is king.

Predictably, these outlets recoil in visible excitement whenever any information, real, recycled, or recklessly fabricated, is loosely attributed to “Emma Powerful.” The mere scent of that name, regardless of authenticity, is enough to guarantee instant circulation, feverish readership, and uncritical acceptance. One might almost admire the efficiency, if it were not so dangerous.

Late yesterday, a report was widely circulated alleging that a total lockdown of Ala-Igbo had been ordered under the guise of a sit-at-home directive purportedly issued by “Emma Powerful,” slated for Monday, 2 February 2026.

Let it be stated clearly, unequivocally, and without ambiguity: this directive is fake, a phantom, a calculated falsehood.

Upon careful inquiry and diligent verification, especially considering the delicate and hard-won calm presently returning to our homeland, it became glaringly obvious that the so-called “Emma Powerful” platform has been fatally compromised. It has been hijacked by vested interests whose business model thrives on fear, disruption, extortion, and the cynical exploitation of vulnerable communities.

The peaceful global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has formally and decisively disowned this fabricated publication, categorically distancing itself from the false sit-at-home order and directing Ndi-Igbo to go about their lawful and normal activities without fear.

Going forward, the message from IPOB is unmistakable:
Any publication attributed to “Emma Powerful” should be treated with extreme suspicion, if not outright contempt.

Frankly, one cannot but express astonishment, bordering on disbelief, that at such a critical juncture, when relative peace is cautiously resurfacing in Ala-Igbo, anyone would recklessly circulate information capable of reopening wounds and inviting criminal infiltration. History has taught us, at unbearable cost, what happens when fake directives fall into the hands of violent opportunists masquerading as enforcers.

It is therefore no longer sufficient to merely advise our people to “ignore” publications from this source. The time has come for greater clarity and firmness. The platform known as “Emma Powerful,” in its current corrupted state, has positioned itself as an adversary to Ala-Igbo’s peace, progress, and collective well-being.

The peaceful global movement must go further by publicly and definitively explaining to our people why this source has become unreliable, compromised, and hostile to our collective interest. Silence, ambiguity, or polite distancing only leaves room for further abuse.

A masquerade that dances with fire should not be mistaken for a messenger of truth.

AlaIgboFirst

FG Charges Ozekhome: The Cost of Conscience in Nigeria — Ejiofor

Titus Eleweke

Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the charges brought by the Federal Government against Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, as part of the heavy price activists often pay for strengthening democratic institutions and standing firmly on the side of justice.
Ejiofor made this assertion in a statement titled “Wednesday Musing: Activism, the Price of Conscience, and the Theatre of Persecution — When a State Puts History on Trial and Calls It Justice,” in reference to the case Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
He stated unequivocally that human rights activism has never been a “tea party.”
According to Ejiofor, the charges against Chief Ozekhome are born out of orchestrated hostility and represent yet another manifestation of the burdens human rights defenders are compelled to bear in the course of their work.
He noted that since the gravamen of the present charge traces its origin to the judgment of the United Kingdom First-Tier Tribunal concerning No. 79 Randall Avenue, London, it is both necessary and instructive,particularly for readers unfamiliar with the decision to highlight its most salient findings.
He lamented that certain actors have deliberately skewed the narrative surrounding the case in order to mislead the public.
Ejiofor further observed that activism, by its very nature, is an inconvenient vocation—one that unsettles entrenched power, interrogates authority, and steadfastly refuses to genuflect when the State chooses impunity over justice.
“Across jurisdictions and generations, history records a consistent pattern: those who insist on holding governments accountable are rarely thanked. Instead, they are repaid with suspicion, vilification, and, more often than not, persecution carefully camouflaged as lawful scrutiny,” he said.
He explained that from the grim era of military absolutism to Nigeria’s present, fragile democratic experiment, the nation’s political evolution has been shaped and at critical moments rescued—by men and women courageous enough to resist arbitrary power.
Ejiofor recalled that during the pro-democracy struggles of the 1980s and 1990s, a constellation of resolute voices rose in opposition to decrees, edicts, unlawful detentions, and the violent subversion of the people’s mandate.
“Among them were individuals who would later ascend to the highest offices of the land, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who himself paid dearly through forced exile, persistent harassment, and profound political sacrifice,” he stated.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with such political actors, Ejiofor said, were uncompromising legal sentinels—Gani Fawehinmi, Beko Ransome-Kuti, Olisa Agbakoba, Mike Ozekhome, Femi Falana, and numerous others—who weaponised the law itself against tyranny and dictatorship.
He emphasized that this was an era when activism was neither fashionable nor monetised; it was not curated for social media applause. It was costly. It was dangerous. And it was real. Some activists paid with their lives. Some were driven into exile. Others were maimed, detained, or imprisoned after deeply questionable trials.
Ejiofor further highlighted that Gani Fawehinmi, of blessed memory, went even further by challenging not only military juntas but, whenever conscience demanded, the Nigerian Bar Association itself—whenever he perceived a departure from its foundational ideals. That, he said, represented activism in its purest form: principled, solitary, and unyielding.
It is against this historical canvas, Ejiofor said that the present ordeal of Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, must be situated and properly understood.
He described Ozekhome as one of the trailblazers of Nigeria’s human rights movement, noting that he was a co-founder of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in 1987 and has remained steadfast in the defence of civil liberties ever since.



Read parts of the statement:

THE FALSE NARATIVE ABOUT THE LONDON TRIBUNAL JUDGMENT

Since the gravamen of the present charge traces its origin to the judgment of the United Kingdom First-Tier Tribunal concerning No. 79 Randall Avenue, London, it is both necessary and instructive, particularly for readers unfamiliar with that decision, to draw attention to its most salient findings. Some people deliberately skewed the narrative.

The dispute before the Tribunal arose from an objection to the registration of the property by Chief Ozekhome and Mr Tali Shani who had given it to him for legal services rendered for him and General J.T. Useni (of blessed memory) , purportedly raised on behalf of a phantom individual styled “Ms. Tani Shali.”( the Applicant). Chief Ozekhome was the Respondent.

At page 33, paragraph 123 of the judgment, the Tribunal completely trashed Ms Tali Shani's case and false evidence against Ozekhome and held:

“In short, I believe barely a word of the documentary and oral evidence which has been put forward on behalf of the alleged Applicant (Ms Tani Shali). I do not accept that ‘she’ was ever a real living person. I do not accept that ‘she’ therefore died, whether in hospital or in a mysterious car accident on the road to Abuja. I certainly do not accept that ‘she’ purchased this property in London in 1993 in her ‘hey days’.”

The Tribunal went further. At paragraph 125, it found that:

“A large number of documents in this case purportedly establishing the identity of Ms Tami Shani , have been produced or procured by forgery or deception", including all identity documents, witness statements purportedly made by her and General Useni; fabricated medical letters, a fraudulent death certificate, and even a fictitious notice of her funeral and burial rites. They also included false identity documents, NIN, and ECOWAS Travel document.These findings were made against the Applicant, a fanthom not existent woman,and not against Ozekhome or his witness, a living man who testified before the Tribunal. Indeed, it was Ozekhome who wrote to various government agencies which held these documents to be fake and forged.

Crucially, and fatally for the false narrative undertaken by Ozekhome’s haters and traducers, the Tribunal made a clear and unequivocal distinction between the fictitious Ms.Tani Shali who purported to be General Useni’s mistress so as to make false ownership claim of the property, and the real Mr. Tali Shani who duly gave evidence of ownership on behalf of Ozekhome ( the Respondent).

At paragraph 168, the Tribunal tellingly held:

“Unlike the fictitious ‘Ms. Tali Shani’, a man going by the name of Mr. Tali Shani exists and gave evidence before me in that name.A certified copy of an official Nigerian passport was produced both to the Land Registry and this Tribunal, stating that Mr Tali Shani was born on 2nd April 1973.I do not have the evidence, or any sufficient basis, to find that this document - unlike the poor and pitiful forgeries on the side of the "Applicant"….is forged, and I do not do so.”
It is therefore unfortunate that inspite of these clear findings, some people still deliberately twist this particular finding to impute forgery of the passport on Ozekhome, when ownership of same was claimed by a living person who gave evidence and was believed by the Tribunal.

Indeed,the Tribunal completely exonerated Chief Ozekhome of any wrongdoing when it further found, at paragraph 200, that:

“There is no question of this being some sort of attempt by the Respondent ( Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN) to steal the General’s property without his knowledge.”
It further found that General Useni indeed owned the property,albeit registered in a false name of Mr Tali Shani; and that Useni obviously desired to and indeed transferred it to Ozekhome using the name Tali Shani ( par 202). It also found that Ozekhome’s knowledge as regards ownership of the property through the title deeds only commenced in 2019,and not 1993 when it was first bought.

THE MOST REVEALING IRONY

I recall vividly the only occasion Chief Ozekhome was invited by the ICPC, an invitation he dutifully honoured. He was informed categorically that the Commission’s initial position was that no such human being as Tali Shani existed at all. That illusion is instantly shattered by the fact that the said Mr Tali Shani who is a breathing living individual gave evidence before the London Tribunal on June 11,2024,and also made statement before the EFCC which had actually detained and interviewed him before the sudden emergence of the the ICPC on the scene.

One would reasonably expect that a serious investigative body would have referred to its sister agency and not commenced another fresh investigation probably to "shine".

Instead, in what can only be described as prosecutorial haste bordering on institutional embarrassment, the ICPC sprinted to court clutching a charge founded upon a premise already disproved by the findings of the London Tribunal.

One is tempted to ask, with measured sarcasm: was the investigation concluded before it began?


CONCLUSION: A CALL FOR SOBRIETY, NOT SENTIMENT

Against this overwhelming factual and judicial backdrop, the present prosecution appears less a quest for justice than an unfortunate misadventure in optics and reputational attrition against Ozekhome.

It is my firm, considered, and dispassionate view that this is precisely the type of case the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation would be well advised to urgently review and withdraw the charge from court.This would serve the public interest far better than persevering in a cause targeted at an individual.

Justice is not served by insisting on attempts at deliberately damaging Ozekhome’s high reputation and towering image.
The rule of law is not strengthened by vendetta.
And history is rarely kind to institutions that mistake persecution for prosecution.

This is my humble view

Monday Sit-at-Home Has No Legitimacy, Authority Today, IPOB Lawyer Ejiofor

Titus Eleweke


The lead counsel of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has declared that the Monday sit-at-home enjoys no legitimacy, commands no authority, and has no justification—legal, moral, or otherwise today.
In a statement on Tuesday, responding to the closure of Onitsha Main Market, Ejiofor described the sit-at-home as a “parasitic enterprise” that thrives on intimidation, coercion, and the deliberate instillation of fear among innocent citizens.
According to Ejiofor, “for the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of those who persist in convenient amnesia, the sit-at-home was formally, expressly, and unequivocally cancelled by the global peaceful movement, IPOB.

This cancellation was neither implied nor tentative, it was categorical. From that moment, the directive ceased to exist—in law, in logic, and in moral persuasion.”
“What followed thereafter was neither civil disobedience, nor political protest, nor ideological resistance. Instead, it was a criminal resurrection of a dead directive, hijacked, grotesquely distorted, and violently enforced by lawless elements led by Simon Ekpa, who thrive not on principle but on fear, extortion, and bloodshed. I have consistently maintained that the continued ‘enforcement’ of a directive that no longer exists kept alive solely through threats rests on no ideological premise, no legal footing, and certainly no moral authority.”
Ejiofor noted that this violence does not represent any IPOB policy.
“It is a parasitic enterprise, feeding on intimidation, coercion, and the deliberate manufacture of terror among innocent citizens,” he added.

The statement reads in full:
My position on the so-called Monday sit-at-home has been unambiguous, consistent, and a matter of public record from the very outset.

For the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of those who persist in convenient amnesia, the sit-at-home was formally, expressly, and unequivocally cancelled by the global peaceful movement - Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). That cancellation was neither implied nor tentative; it was categorical. From that moment, the directive ceased to exist in law, in logic, and in moral persuasion.

What followed thereafter was not civil disobedience, not political protest, and certainly not ideological resistance. What followed was a criminal resurrection of a dead directive, hijacked, grotesquely distorted, and violently enforced by lawless elements, ably led by Simon Ekpa , who thrive not on principle but on fear, extortion, and bloodletting.

It bears repeating: this violence is not a continuation of any IPOB policy. It is a parasitic enterprise, feeding off intimidation, coercion, and the deliberate manufacture of terror among innocent citizens.

My position has therefore never wavered.

I have consistently maintained that the continued “enforcement” of a directive that no longer exists, kept alive solely through threats , rests on no ideological premise, no legal footing, and certainly no moral authority.

It is against this backdrop that the decision to shut down the Onitsha Main Market must be interrogated with sobriety, proportionality, and an unflinching fidelity to the rule of law. Collective punishment of traders and law-abiding citizens, who are themselves hostages of fear, cannot, and must not, masquerade as security policy. It is neither strategic nor just.

Security governance, if it is to deserve the name, must be precise, intelligence-driven, and squarely targeted at the actual architects and executors of violence. To shutter an entire economic nerve centre in response to criminal threats is to punish productivity while emboldening lawlessness.

Any response that collapses the distinction between criminality and commerce risks achieving the perverse: legitimising the tactics of violent actors while penalising innocent enterprise.

My position, therefore, remains firmly and irrevocably unchanged:

The Monday sit-at-home enjoys no legitimacy, commands no authority, and possesses no justification whatsoever, legal, moral, or otherwise.

Why Abia Is Better Under Dr. Alex Otti

By Titus Eleweke

Recent comments credited to a former governor of Abia State and current senator representing Abia North, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, have once again brought public attention to the leadership of Governor Alex Otti. Speaking from his Igbere hometown, the former governor claimed that Governor Otti is “doing nothing” in Abia State and that he is merely painting roads allegedly constructed during his own tenure in 2007, asroads he could not specifically name.
Such statements, coming from a ranking senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, deserve scrutiny not emotion.
Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu further argued that the funds received by Governor Otti within four months exceed what he himself received in eight years as governor. This comparison is not only misleading but economically flawed. Anyone with a basic understanding of inflation and economic realities knows that money has no static value across time.
In 2007,One million naira had far greater purchasing power than it does today.
A golf car cost about ₦200,000 then ; today it sells for over ₦8 million.
A bag of cement was under ₦1,000; today it hovers around ₦11,000.
A tricycle (Keke Napep) cost less than ₦500,000; today it is above ₦4 million.
So where exactly lies the basis for such comparison?
This kind of rhetoric is unfortunate, especially from a senator expected to elevate national discourse. Even more puzzling was the claim that he worked for Governor Otti’s victory in 2023 but would no longer do so, preferring instead to work “for his party.” One must ask: what kind of interest drives a senator Orji to openly speak against the success of a sitting governor from his own state? Is governance now a partisan vendetta rather than a collective responsibility?
The truth remains clear to Ndi Abia: Dr. Alex Otti’s victory was divinely ordained. It was a mandate to reclaim the lost glory of Abia State,glory that had been systematically eroded by years of governance driven by personal enterprise rather than public good.
Today, Abia belongs to Ndi Abia, not to a privileged few.
Governor Otti came to power without the traditional political baggage—no godfather, no entrenched party machinery, no burden of maintaining questionable political chieftains. Against all odds, he emerged under the Labour Party, propelled by the will of the people and, many believe, by divine intervention.
For the first time since the return of democracy in 1999, Abians are witnessing governance that is inclusive, purposeful, and people-centered. The dividends of democracy are no longer restricted to political elites; they are reaching the streets, the markets, and the ordinary citizens.
Umuahia is wearing a new look,one befitting a state capital,Aba the same. Across Abia, there is visible evidence of planning, execution, and accountability. This is not accidental governance; this is leadership driven by vision.
Indeed, Dr. Alex Otti is arguably the only governor in Abia State who consciously dreamed of leadership, worked towards it, and now governs with a clear understanding of why he is in office. Others stumbled into power by political accident and used it mainly for wealth accumulation, leaving the masses to suffer.
It is therefore understandable why some former power brokers are uncomfortable. When a system built on personal gain is dismantled, resistance is inevitable. But Abia is God’s own state, and history shows that when the time comes, God raises leaders without apology.
The true Ndi Abia stand solidly behind Governor Alex Otti. Those attacking him most loudly are those whose interests are purely self-serving.
Let it be said clearly: Alex Otti will win Abia again, even without a political party,if such were allowed. Abians are wiser now. They can no longer be induced with a 20kg bag of rice to mortgage their future.
Abia has seen the difference.
Abia has tasted governance.
And Abia will not go back.


Titus Eleweke
Journalist, based in Anambra State

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor at 51: A Relentless Voice for Justice and Human Dignity


By Titus Eleweke

At 51, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor stands as a compelling testament to the enduring power of conscience, courage, and fidelity to the rule of law.
By the immeasurable and unfailing grace of God, we mark the birthday of a friend, a comrade, and one of Nigeria’s most resolute human rights advocates,a man whose life’s work has been consistently defined by service to the oppressed, the neglected, and the voiceless.
Sir Ejiofor’s legal career is not merely a profession, it is a vocation grounded in moral conviction and public duty. For decades, he has devoted his intellect, time, and personal safety to the defence of fundamental human rights, frequently offering pro bono legal representation to the poor and marginalized individuals who would otherwise be excluded from access to justice in a deeply unequal legal system.
In a society where legal redress often remains elusive to the powerless, he has served as a steadfast bridge between the law and the people it was designed to protect.
His role as lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) exemplifies his unwavering commitment to principle over convenience.
He assumed this responsibility without financial consideration and sustained years of arduous legal battles anchored in constitutionalism, due process, and the supremacy of the law.
Through his persistent advocacy, numerous individuals,both members of IPOB and other Nigerians subjected to unlawful detention have regained their freedom. In doing so, he has reaffirmed the law as an instrument of liberty rather than repression, and as a safeguard against executive arbitrariness.
What truly distinguishes Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor is the universality of his struggle. His pursuit of justice is devoid of ethnic, religious, or political bias. It is firmly rooted in equity, fairness, and the inherent dignity of the human person. In courtrooms and public discourse alike, he has consistently deployed the law as a tool for restoring hope where despair once reigned, insisting that no citizen should be silenced by fear, intimidation, or state overreach.
A dogged and fearless advocate, Sir Ejiofor has repeatedly placed himself in harm’s way in defence of a more rational, humane, and just society. His sacrifices reflect a profound belief that the law must function as a shield for the weak and a restraint on the abuse of power. In an era marked by shrinking civic space and mounting assaults on civil liberties, his courage serves as both a rebuke to impunity and an inspiration to principled resistance.
As Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor marks his 51st birthday, we honour not merely the passage of years, but the enduring impact of a life committed to justice. We wish him continued strength, sound health, and renewed courage to persevere in the noble struggle for a Nigeria where justice is not selective; where citizenship carries equal worth; and where all people can live freely without fear, without intimidation, and without the indignity of being treated as lesser citizens.
At 51, his legacy continues to inspire. His struggle endures. And the cause of justice is stronger because of it.

Titus Eleweke is the Publisher of Insideoutnews Online Publication in Nigeria.

Northern Killings: Ejiofor Condemns Attack on Intersociety Boss


Titus Eleweke South East Editor


Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has condemned recent attacks on Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).

The attacks accuse Umeagbalasi of allegedly exaggerating documentary evidence of persecution and terrorism in Northern Nigeria.
Ejiofor described the attacks as unacceptable, stating that they represent a further descent into what he termed “the theatre of the absurd.”
He noted that some overzealous propagandists have gone as far as suggesting without evidence, logic, or even minimal restraint,that Umeagbalasi’s documentary work formed the exclusive basis for recent policy actions allegedly attributed to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
Ejiofor made these remarks in a statement titled “Monday Musing: When Power Confuses Noise for Truth — Paid Lobbyists, Media Charlatans, and the Futile Hunt for Journalistic Sources in a World at War with Terror,” which was issued on Monday.
According to him, such claims raise serious questions about the integrity of public discourse.
He asked pointedly: when did advocacy degenerate into farce, and when did journalism become answerable to lobbyists rather than facts?
He further queried:“Are we seriously being invited to believe that the President of the United States,presiding over the most sophisticated intelligence architecture in human history, encompassing the CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, satellite surveillance systems, human intelligence networks, and allied security apparatuses across continents—would predicate consequential military or diplomatic decisions on a single documentary or civil society report originating from Nigeria?”
Ejiofor also posed a fundamental question to critics: whether there is, or is not, documented and ongoing persecution and mass killing of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, this reality has been independently reported and corroborated by reputable international bodies, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and multiple United Nations agencies.

The statement reads in full:

There is a peculiar arrogance that often accompanies paid advocacy when it strays beyond its lawful and ethical brief. It is the arrogance that assumes repetition can transmute falsehood into fact, that intimidation may substitute for reason, and that the ancient and jealously guarded protections of journalistic independence can be suspended at the whim of power brokers masquerading as moral arbiters.

Over the past twenty-four hours, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, Chairman of Intersociety and a longstanding civil society advocate, has found himself at the centre of a carefully choreographed media lynching. His alleged offence is the claim that he exaggerated documentary evidence concerning the scale of Christian persecution and terrorism in Northern Nigeria. In a further descent into the theatre of the absurd, some overzealous propagandists have even suggested, without evidence, logic, or the faintest blush of restraint, that his documentary work constituted the exclusive basis for recent policy actions attributed to the President of the United States, Donald Trump.

One is compelled to ask: when did advocacy degenerate into farce, and when did journalism become answerable to lobbyists?

THE THEATRE OF THE ABSURD
Are we seriously being invited to believe that the President of the United States, presiding over the most sophisticated intelligence architecture in human history, encompassing the CIA, FBI, NSA, DIA, satellite surveillance systems, human intelligence networks, and allied security apparatus across continents, would predicate consequential military or diplomatic decisions on a single documentary or civil society report originating from Nigeria?

If this proposition were to be taken seriously, one might reasonably wonder why trillions of dollars are expended annually on intelligence gathering, when apparently a Google search and a Nigerian documentary would suffice.
Sarcasm aside, the suggestion is an insult not only to intelligence institutions, but to elementary common sense.
Let us, therefore, return to facts, those inconvenient intruders into propaganda.
1. Is there documented, ongoing persecution and mass killing of Christians in Northern Nigeria?
Yes. This reality has been independently reported by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and multiple United Nations agencies.
2. Is Northern Nigeria afflicted by Boko Haram, ISWAP, jihadist bandits, and insurgent networks?
Yes. The North-East, North-Central, and North-West remain theatres of sustained asymmetric warfare.
3. Has Nigeria cooperated with the United States and other foreign partners in counter-terrorism operations?
Yes. This cooperation is neither clandestine nor controversial; it is acknowledged state policy.
4. Does Nigeria require foreign intelligence, logistics, and military assistance to combat terrorism effectively?
Again, yes.
These are not opinions. They are empirical realities.

SO, WHY THE NOISE?
Why, then, the orchestrated outrage?
Why the sudden hostility toward an Onitsha-based activist?
Why the manufactured controversy?

The answer, though uncomfortable, is painfully obvious.
Those who profit, financially, politically, or strategically, from insecurity will always resent transparency. Those whose relevance depends on controlled narratives will instinctively recoil when external scrutiny threatens to expose domestic complicity, incompetence, or collusion.

To such actors, foreign collaboration is dangerous, not because it destabilises Nigeria, but because it destabilises their revenue streams, influence networks, and carefully curated falsehoods.

Terrorism is inherently transnational. Its funding, ideology, logistics, and recruitment pipelines do not respect borders. To insist that Nigeria must confront such a hydra alone is either naïve patriotism or calculated dishonesty.

International collaboration in intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism training, surveillance, and targeted operations is not a surrender of sovereignty; it is an assertion of survival. Those who oppose it without offering credible alternatives are not patriots, they are enablers by omission.

LET JOURNALISM BREATHE

Journalists are not court clerks for lobbyists.
Civil society advocates are not foot soldiers for propaganda houses.
And the law does not contort itself to accommodate intellectual laziness or paid indignation.

The attempt to trivialise the legitimate investigative work and documented successes of Emeka Umeagbalasi is an assault not merely on one advocate/activist, but on the very oxygen of democracy. Today it is Emeka Umeagbalasi; tomorrow it will be any voice deemed inconvenient to entrenched power.

History is rarely kind to those who choose silence in the face of terror, or complicity in the presence of truth.

Let journalism breathe.
Let the law speak.
And let those who profit from chaos tremble at the prospect of light.

IPOB Lawyer Slams Former Governors Over Otti Attacks, Says Plot Won’t Fly



Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned recent attacks on Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, by former governors of the state, describing their actions as the desperate manoeuvres of a failed political class and a strategy dead on arrival.
Ejiofor described the critics as a coalition of former devourers of Abia’s common patrimony, illusionarily assembled in a bid to wrest power from a performing incumbent.
According to him, their campaign is not only hollow but fundamentally disconnected from the political reality in Abia State.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Ejiofor declared that Abians are, for the first time in decades, tasting the true sweetness of democracy not as rhetoric, but as a live reality.
He warned that anyone plotting to reverse the gains recorded under Governor Otti’s administration should “submit himself to medical, if not moral, examination.”
The human rights lawyer stated that if Dr. Alex Otti were to contest an election today even as an independent candidate he would still be running against no one but himself, given the vacuum of credibility on the opposing side.
According to Ejiofor, many of those attacking Governor Otti are failed leaders whose records, in a just society, would place them behind bars rather than on political podiums.
He further warned Abians not to allow former governors,some of whom defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to dodge accountability and imprisonment to derail the good work currently underway in the state.
“I recall predicting, with clinical precision, the outcome of the Anambra State gubernatorial election, noting that Governor Chukwuma Soludo campaigned not on promises but on visible performance. That election was, in effect, a referendum. The same logic applies in Abia today.
Having tasted deliverance, Abians will not return to Egypt. They have moved on.” he added.
Ejiofor said it would take either a complete stranger to Abia State or a wilful amnesiac to be unfamiliar with the state’s chequered and regrettable political history in the not-too-distant past.
For decades, he noted, Abia,aptly called God’s Own State was governed less as a commonwealth and more as a private estate, carved up among successive administrations whose legacies were defined not by development, but by plunder.

According to him, a disturbing pattern emerged,officials who served under successive PDP administrations,many of whom later sought ideological refuge in the APC for political oxygen and judicial soft-landing were repeatedly hauled before Nigeria’s most relentless anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
What continues to perplex Nigerians, and Abians in particular, he said, is not merely the monumental scale of the looting, but the astonishing audacity with which many of these individuals still roam freely, strutting through public spaces as though immunity were a birthright.
Even more troubling is their ability to secure elective offices, where flamboyance often substitutes for accountability.
Even more perplexing, Ejiofor argued, is the brazenness with which these same political relics now challenge an administration whose performance has been openly acknowledged even by the President and Commander-in-Chief as exceptional in the delivery of democratic dividends.
“One is compelled to ask: is this courage, or simply the desperation of men whose political pensions and relevance are under existential threat?” he asked.
Ejiofor recalled that under previous administrations, Abia consistently ranked among the worst-performing states in the federation, collapsed infrastructure, unpaid salaries and pensions, decayed healthcare systems, moribund educational institutions, and an economy hovering near rigor mortis.
Today, however, under the leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, Abia State is witnessing what Ejiofor described as a renaissance so profound that observers have half-jokingly referred to it as the Dubai of the South-East.
Roads long abandoned, he said, have been resurrected, Aba,the commercial heartbeat of the South-East has been reclaimed, re-engineered, and restored to productive life.
"Economic confidence has surged. Security has improved measurably. Civil servants now receive their salaries promptly. Contractors are held to standards, not sentiments. For the first time in a long while, Abians are witnessing governance at its peak.
Ejiofor posed a simple but troubling question for critics:“Is Dr. Alex Otti achieving what his predecessors swore was impossible?” he stated.
According to him, the answer though inconvenient for detractors is straightforward,prudence, transparency, discipline, and vision.
Yet, in what he described as a tragicomic twist, a handful of political fossils men whose public records read like draft charge sheets have summoned the audacity to threaten this progress.
They forget, he noted, that Nigeria’s current President has repeatedly affirmed that development is non-negotiable, regardless of party affiliation, with Anambra State standing as living proof.
Ejiofor lamented that today, political hirelings and charlatans,individuals who ought, by every moral and judicial reckoning, to be answering sterner questions have rediscovered their voices, chanting the hollow chorus of “change” as though Abians suffer from collective amnesia.
To imagine, he said, that the people of Abia will quietly surrender their reclaimed future to predators who once mortgaged it is not only insulting but delusional.
As the Igbo wisely say:“Ihe eji n’aka ejighi ugegbe enyo ya.”

Ejiofor asked pointedly:“On what platform, with what record, and by what moral authority do these former governors seek a ‘change’ in the status quo, after plunging Abia into suffocating debt and institutional decay?”
He listed some of the unprecedented achievements recorded under Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s administration to include:Massive road reconstruction across Aba, Umuahia, and major arterial routes,
Restoration of Aba as a functional industrial and commercial hub,
Prompt and consistent payment of workers’ salaries and pensions,
Transparent budgeting and strict fiscal discipline,Revitalisation of healthcare facilities and public schools,
Improved security architecture and community-based policing
Renewed investor confidence and private-sector participation,
Zero tolerance for fiscal recklessness and opaque governance.

“The list is long,” Ejiofor said, “and it is visible for all Abians to see.”
He called on Abians and the Nigerian public to continue to rise against corruption, speak against it, and condemn it wherever it appears and whoever wears its mask.
According to him, those who once served Abia and failed it together with their fellow travellers,must understand one thing clearly, the era of impunity is over.
“Progress has found a governor.
Abia has found its feet.
There shall be no retreat.” h added

Ocha Brigade Weighs Launch of NANS Units in Anambra Higher Institutions

Titus Maduako Eleweke

The Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (Ocha Brigade) has indicated plans to establish National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)–Ocha Brigade units in various higher institutions across Anambra State.
This was disclosed on Friday when a delegation of NANS, led by the National Clerk of the Senate, Comrade Daniel Vyonku, paid a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the Ocha Brigade, Comrade Celestine Anere. During the visit, the delegation conferred on Anere the prestigious honour of Lifetime Membership and Patron of NANS.
Anere, who expressed delight over the recognition, thanked the students’ body for finding him worthy of the award.
He assured the delegation that the Ocha Brigade would intensify efforts to address the poor welfare and environmental conditions prevalent in private students’ hostels across the state.
According to him, poor sanitation in student areas is not just a students’ problem but a broader public health concern affecting the entire Anambra State.
“I have heard your concerns, and they are not new to the Ocha Brigade. We are already working on them. Unfortunately, some students’ union leaders are not serious about achieving a livable and healthy environment for students,” Anere said.
He revealed that the agency had previously attempted to establish NANS–Ocha Brigade units in higher institutions across the state but met with little cooperation from some NANS officials.
“We visited several institutions, but the response from NANS officials was discouraging. I want to see a situation where we partner effectively with students in various schools to achieve a clean and healthy environment for everyone in the state,” he added.
Anere agreed with the student leaders that many house agents and landlords are more interested in increasing rents and levies than maintaining proper drainage systems and healthy living environments.
“They do not care about the environment where students live. Unfortunately, students themselves are often docile and fail to report or complain about the poor conditions of their hostels,” he noted.
He stressed the need for collaboration between the Ocha Brigade and students to ensure habitable environments, especially in private hostels.
“Many people build hostels without understanding how to maintain them; their only interest is collecting money. Students must be responsible enough to alert the agency so that appropriate action can be taken,” he said.
Anere further stated that NANS leadership must be proactive in championing students’ welfare and protecting them from hazardous living conditions.
“As comrades, NANS leaders must be ready to truly work for the welfare of students. You must genuinely represent their interests,” he stated.
The Ocha Brigade Managing Director expressed regret that environmental hazards are more prevalent in student communities largely because students are reluctant to speak out about their plight.
He disclosed that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is deeply committed to students’ welfare, particularly regarding the environments in which the students live.
He also noted that the governor is resolute in eradicating not only cultism but other criminal activities within higher institutions across the state.
Anere announced that the Ocha Brigade would soon write to the heads of all higher institutions in Anambra State to reintroduce the NANS–Ocha Brigade initiative.
“We want to make hostel environments more habitable, especially those located off-campus,” he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the NANS delegation, Comrade Daniel Vyonku, while presenting the award to Anere, appealed to the agency to intervene more decisively in students’ welfare across the state.
He lamented the deplorable condition of many students’ hostels, noting that students cannot live in such unhealthy environments and still perform effectively academically.
Vyonku urged the Managing Director to extend the mandate of the Ocha Brigade beyond urban areas to student communities.
According to him, the two most critical challenges confronting students are poor public health hygiene and the exploitation of students by landlords and house agents who fail to provide basic facilities and welfare.
He stated that since the primary mandate of the Ocha Brigade is to ensure a clean and healthy Anambra, its enforcement should be extended to student-populated areas such as Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, and other higher institutions across the state.
Vyonku called on the agency to ensure that hostel managers provide standard waste bins and designated waste disposal points, warning that poor waste management could lead to serious health challenges among students.
He also urged the Ocha Brigade to regulate the activities of house agents in student communities to curb exploitation.
“We plead that the Ocha Brigade works with local students’ unions to register and vet agents operating within student zones to prevent fraud and double letting. We also want the agency to act as a mediator between students and landlords when hostels are delivered in poor and uninhabitable conditions despite full payment,” he said.
He further appealed for the recruitment of students as health ambassadors within their hostels to report environmental violations directly to the agency.
Vyonku also called on the Ocha Brigade to deploy its mobile court system to swiftly penalize landlords who ignore health warnings or agents who defraud students.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo for a livable and prosperous Anambra State.
He stressed that by sanitizing hostels and regulating agents, the state would ensure that students can focus on their studies in a safe, healthy, and affordable environment.
The NANS Clerk explained that the National Service and Security Award is not given lightly but reserved for individuals who view security not merely as a job but as a foundation for national development.
He stated that under Anere’s leadership, the Ocha Brigade has restored order by transforming chaotic public spaces into organized and productive environments.
Vyonku further noted that the agency has fostered strong synergy between security agencies and the civilian population, setting a standard of discipline that serves as a blueprint for young leaders nationwide.
“To the National Association of Nigerian Students, Chief Celestine Anere represents the ‘Senior Advocate of the Youth.’ By accepting this lifetime membership and the role of patron, he is bridging the gap between the current administration and the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He described a patron as a father, guide, and protector, adding that by embracing Anere, Nigerian students are aligning themselves with a leader who understands that without security, education cannot thrive, and without discipline, dreams cannot be realized

Oil Community Stakeholders Flay Arrest Of Gov Eno's Critic, Demand Justice


Torrents of condemnations from a coalition of youth groups, civil society and socio-cultural organisations have condemned the arrest Wednesday of one of the fiercest critics of Governor Umo Eno's style of governace, Princess Godknows Udoito, a lone protester who had been accusing the administration of discrimination in the spread of development projects across the State.

The suspect, our Correspondent learnt, had been invoking curses on the Governor on social media for allegedly neglecting the Ekid land where he (the governor) lived and established businesses in the hospitality industry and other ventures before becoming Governor in 2023.

However, her arrest, according to community stakeholders including the Ekid People's Union (EPU) led by the National President, Dr. Samuel Udonsak; the Secretary -General, Bassey Dan Abia Jnr; the Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman and former minister of Lands Housing and Urban Development, Chief Nduese Essien, followed her disagreement with the Governor, for alleged seizure of the Stubbs Creek Forest Reserve, without compensation.

Also, calling for her immediate release, the EPU, the Network Advancement Program for Poverty and Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR) led by it founder and Executive Director, Alhaji Emem Edoho, and other community stakeholders condemned the arrest.

While describing it as an unfair treatment devoid of the due process of law, as according to them, everybody has right to hold opinion on public issues, the leaders called for immediate release of Lady Udoito, for onward prosecution in the law court.

"Princess Godsown Udoito, is a courageous advocate for land rights and environmental justice. Her detention embodies the struggle against oppressive rule and the fight for freedom.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that," the group quoted the late Martin Luther king in his advocacy for justice and freedom for human rights.

"We stand with Princess Udoito, shining a light on the injustices surrounding the Stubbs Creek forest Reserves," they affirmed, and quoted Frantz Fanon's disposition that - "Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it," to back up their stance.

"We, therefore, strongly demand immediate release of Princess Udoito and arraignment before a court of law for fair trial, if charges exist," Edoho stressed, citing Article 9, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Section 34, Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights to buttressed his position.

Outrage as IPOB Lawyer Condemns Release of Confirmed Bandits





Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and Lead Counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has strongly condemned the recent release of 70 confirmed bandits and jihadist terrorists by the Katsina State Government, describing the action carried out under the euphemistic guise of a so-called “peace accord” as a dangerous encouragement of crime and criminality.
In a statement titled “MIDWEEK MUSING: WHEN TERRORISTS ARE NEGOTIATED WITH AND THE INNOCENT ARE IMPRISONED—KATSINA STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE TRAGIC INVERSION OF JUSTICE, MORALITY, AND SOVEREIGNTY,” issued on Wednesday, Ejiofor said the development ought to send “cold shivers down the spine of every conscientious Nigerian.”
According to him, the action is not merely troubling but represents an ominous signal of a perilous policy direction,one which, if left unchecked, is capable of igniting widespread instability across the entire Northern region and, by extension, imperilling the already fragile cohesion of the Nigerian state.
Ejiofor argued that any government which elects to negotiate with terrorists, reward violence with legitimacy, and replace justice with political expediency is not brokering peace but rather institutionalising insecurity.
“The message being conveyed is unmistakable,” “Arms, bloodshed, and lawlessness have now become viable bargaining tools in engagements with the Nigerian state.”he stated.
He further noted that Nigerians are not only entitled, but morally compelled, to ask,loudly and persistently whether this disturbing action enjoys the tacit approval or silent acquiescence of the Federal Government and the nation’s security agencies.
According to him, the absence of a firm, unequivocal repudiation of the policy lends disturbing credibility to the inference that an official imprimatur may hover over this reckless and dangerous enterprise.
Ejiofor maintained that the Federal Government owes Nigerians not hollow platitudes, but a clear, candid, and constitutionally grounded explanation for this alarming contradiction in security governance.
He lamented that, while armed insurgents whose hands are stained with the blood of security personnel and defenceless civilians are courted with negotiations and reintegrated into society, thousands of innocent Igbo youths, mothers, and sisters continue to languish in unlawful detention across Nigeria.
According to him, the so-called “offences” attributed to these detained Igbo citizens are unknown to any law, save for the misfortune of wrongful ethnic profiling and prejudicial categorisation.
Ejiofor further recalled that only days ago, it was officially reported that the State Security Service (SSS) confirmed the death of one Mrs. Calista Ifedi while in detention at the notorious Wawa Barracks detention facility in Niger State.
Mrs. Ifedi, he stated, was arrested on 23 November 2021 alongside her husband not for any offence recognised by law, but merely on the allegation that they sold food to individuals labelled as IPOB members.
Regrettably, throughout the entirety of their unlawful detention, neither Mrs. Ifedi nor her husband was ever arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction. He said instead, they were detained at the unfettered discretion of one of the most notoriously brutal Directors-General the Service has known, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, alongside numerous other innocent Igbo citizens.

The statement reads in full:

The recent release of seventy (70) confirmed bandits and jihadist terrorists by the Katsina State Government, under the euphemistic cloak of a so-called “peace accord,” ought to send cold shivers down the spine of every conscientious Nigerian. This development is not merely troubling; it is an ominous signal of a perilous policy trajectory, one that, if unchecked, is capable of igniting the entire Northern region and, by extension, imperilling the already fragile stability of the Nigerian state.

A government that elects to negotiate with terror, reward violence with legitimacy, and substitute justice with expediency is not brokering peace; it is institutionalising insecurity. The message is unmistakable: arms, bloodshed, and lawlessness have now become viable bargaining instruments in dealings with the Nigerian state.

Nigerians are therefore entitled, indeed compelled, to ask, and to ask loudly, whether this aberration enjoys the tacit blessing or silent acquiescence of the Federal Government and the national security agencies. The absence of a firm and unequivocal repudiation lends disturbing credence to the inference that an official imprimatur may well hover over this reckless enterprise. The Federal Government owes Nigerians not platitudes, but a clear, candid, and constitutionally grounded explanation.

THE CRUEL IRONY: FREEDOM FOR BANDITS, CHAINS FOR THE INNOCENT

While armed insurgents, whose hands drip with the blood of security personnel and defenceless civilians, are serenaded with negotiations and ushered back into society, thousands of innocent Igbo youths, mothers, and sisters remain unlawfully detained across Nigeria.

Their crime? None known to law, save for the misfortune of wrongful ethnic labelling and prejudicial categorisation.

Only days ago, it was officially reported that the State Security Services confirmed the death of Mrs. Calista Ifedi, while in detention at the notorious Wawa Barracks detention facility in Niger State. She had been arrested on 23rd November 2021, alongside her husband, not for any offence known to law, but merely on the allegation that they sold food to persons labelled as IPOB members.

Throughout the entirety of their unlawful detention, neither Mrs. Ifedi nor her husband was ever arraigned before any court of competent jurisdiction. Instead, they were detained at the unfettered discretion of one of the most notoriously brutal Directors-General the Service has known, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, alongside numerous other innocent Igbo citizens.

This egregious violation of human rights was conceived, endorsed, and executed under the despotic regime of the late Muhammadu Buhari, whose state governor is today, ironically, unleashing deadly jihadists onto the streets of Nigeria under the guise of a “peace deal.” It was further consummated by the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, who is now confronting allegations of monumental corruption he perpetrated during that infamous era.

It took the more humane and enlightened administrative reforms of the current Director-General of the State Security Service, Mr. Tosin A. Ajayi, particularly the initiative to profile detainees with a view to releasing those illegally held without trial, before Mr. Ifedi eventually regained his freedom. Tragically, he was informed only two days ago that his wife had died during their incarceration. One can scarcely imagine a more harrowing injustice, nor a more broken man.

For years, I have persistently raised alarm over the fate of hundreds of innocent Igbo citizens incarcerated at Wawa Barracks, Kainji, Niger State, subjected not to open and transparent trials, but to secretive, pseudo-judicial processes that mock every tenet of constitutional democracy and the rule of law.

Yet, in the face of this manifest injustice, a deafening silence prevails.
Our so-called political leaders from the South-East appear far more animated by the permutations of 2027 electoral arithmetic than by the immediate agony of their unlawfully detained kinsmen. While they calculate future ambitions, the architects and sponsors of real terror are rewarded with peace deals, handshakes, and freedom.
I hereby call, with utmost urgency, on Igbo political leaders, particularly the Governors of the South-East states, to rise above lethargy and the complicity of silence. They must investigate, interrogate, and demand accountability concerning the continued detention of their people: men and women whose only offence is wrongful labelling, unlawful detention, and punishment without trial.
Let it be stated without equivocation: where culpability is established, prosecution must follow; openly, transparently, and before a duly constituted court of law. Anything short of this amounts to executive lawlessness thinly disguised as security policy.

THE IMPLICATIONS: A STATE SURRENDERING ITSELF

The implications of the Katsina State Government’s actions are stark and deeply unsettling. A state that negotiates with terrorists from a posture of fear rather than authority is conceding its sovereignty. It signals an effective surrender of governance to marauders and indicts the capacity of the national security architecture to safeguard lives, property, and democratic order.

History teaches, often cruelly, that appeasement of terror does not extinguish it; it emboldens it. A day may come, sooner than anticipated, when these same terrorists, having tasted power and legitimacy, will overrun state institutions and assume de facto control of governance. When that day arrives, no peace accord will save us.

Most chillingly, reports now suggest that further negotiations are underway for the release of additional incarcerated terrorists. As the elders would say: “Ụka agwụla.”

Nigeria today sits precariously upon a keg of gunpowder. If this perilous initiative is not promptly halted by the Federal Government, the grim prospect looms of entire swathes of the federation being ceded, piecemeal, to jihadist terror.

Time, as ever, will be the final arbiter.

CSO Demands Transparency In Mgt Of A/Ibom Oil Community Funds



A Civil Society Organisation (CSO) committed to poverty and disaster management in the Niger Delta oil bearing communities has underscored the importance of effective management of the oil resources accruable to the region by the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) set up to custody the cash for development purposes.

Though the Network Advancement Program for Poverty & Disaster Risk Reduction (NAPPDRR) has expressed its unwavering support for the management team named - EMOIMEE, an acronym representing the oil local government areas of Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ikot Abasi Mkpat Enin and Esit Eket, it stressed the need for financial transparency to douse the prevailing tension.

A communique by leaders of the CSO signed by Hon. Emem Edoho, founder and Executive Director; Otuekong Ime Robson, Manager, PIA Monitoring/Accountability and Prince Uwem Edukere, Manager, Community Development, commended the commitment to transparency and accountability in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and NUPRC Regulations.

"After reviewing the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM) report, NAPPDRR applauds the achievements of EMOIMEE HCDT, including the establishment of ICT centres, solar-powered water projects, medical facility upgrades, oil palm processing mills, and various training programes benefiting women, youths, and persons with disabilities.

"We condemn attempts by influential individuals and traditional rulers to hijack the HCDT for selfish interests, undermining the progress made.

"We urge all stakeholders to support Mkpisong Sir Bassey Dan Abia, Unwana Evans Ekwere, and Engr. Emmanuel Sam, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to transparency."

"NAPPDRR warns those seeking to derail the HCDT's development initiatives to desist, emphasizing its commitment to holding leaders accountable and ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks," the communique stated.

He listed other achievements of the HCDT to include; ICT centres in the three geo-political zones, solar-powered water projects in all Esit Eket communities, medical facility upgrade at Polyclinic at Uquo community, oil palm processing mills in three zones, manpower training in oil and gas fields
entrepreneurship training for PWDs, women, and youths
as well as cholarship awards to postgraduate students

Insecurity Has Become Nigeria’s New Normal – Ejiofor

Titus Eleweke



Renowned human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has lamented what he described as the normalisation of abnormality in Nigeria, warning that insecurity has become an accepted and entrenched feature of national life.
In a statement titled “Midweek Musing: A Year Reviewed , Nigeria’s Political Pilgrimage Through Turbulence, Policy Myopia, and the Undying Mercy of God,” Ejiofor said that it would be both intellectually dishonest and morally evasive to examine Nigeria in 2025 without placing insecurity at the forefront of national discourse. According to him, insecurity remains the single most destructive variable in Nigeria’s political, social, and economic equation.
He noted that across the country, lives have been brutally cut short, homes destroyed, families torn apart, schools forced into silence, farms abandoned, and commercial activities strangulated. Childhood innocence, he said, has been violently interrupted, while national development has once again been deferred.
Ejiofor argued that insecurity in Nigeria is no longer an episodic or temporary crisis.

He said that it has evolved into a permanent condition of national existence, leaving deep and indelible scars on the collective memory of the people.
More troubling, he observed, is the growing audacity of those who enable violence.
According to him, the sponsors, financiers, apologists, and ideological midwives of terror,particularly across vast regions of Northern Nigeria have become increasingly emboldened, visible, vocal, and disturbingly confident.
He described as scandalous the grim reality that some of these actors are not strangers to the Nigerian state. Instead, he alleged, they include individuals who once occupied sensitive government and military positions custodians of public trust who now appear to have defected, morally if not physically, to the camp of chaos.
“One would have expected outrage,” “Instead, Nigerians were offered silence. One would have anticipated decisive action; what the nation received was equivocation.”Ejiofor stated.
Turning to the economy, Ejiofor painted a bleak picture, noting that key indicators tell an unambiguous story of widespread hardship.
Hunger, he said, has become democratised, while poverty is no longer selective.
According to him,inflation stalks households with predatory persistence, even as wages remain frozen in a different decade.
According to Ejiofor ,Nigeria in 2025 is governed not by economic empathy but by theoretical abstractions—policies seemingly crafted for academic journals rather than for markets, factories, or family kitchens.
Presiding over this grim national theatre, Ejiofor added, is a legislature that has regrettably abdicated its constitutional responsibility.
He questioned whether the National Assembly still functions as an independent arm of government or merely as an annex of the executive. Constitutionally empowered to make laws and check executive excesses, he said, the legislature in 2025 has perfected the art of rubber-stamping.
“Bills arrive. Bills pass. Questions are discouraged. Dissent is treated as heresy,” he added.



The statement reads in full:

As the curtain gently falls on the last of the 365 days that constituted the year now slipping into history, it is both fitting and necessary that we pause, not merely to reminisce, but to introspect deeply, to audit our national journey, and to interrogate the trajectory of Nigeria’s political and socio-economic development in 2025.

By a curious convergence of dogged human resilience and divine indulgence, our aspirations were not extinguished. We survived. And in Nigeria, survival itself has increasingly become a testimonial of grace.

Above all, therefore, we lift our hearts in gratitude to the Mighty Man in Battle, whose mercy triumphed where policy failed, whose providence prevailed where governance faltered, and whose grace preserved lives in a season when death stalked the land with unsettling familiarity. As we step into a new year pregnant with expectations, we do so prayerfully, hoping for unprecedented glory and uncommon accomplishment, even against all odds.

Insecurity has indeed become the normalization of abnormalities. It would be intellectually dishonest, and morally evasive, to discuss Nigeria in 2025 without foregrounding insecurity, the single most devastating variable in the national equation.

Lives were brutally truncated. Homes were shattered. Families dismembered. Schools silenced. Farms abandoned. Commerce strangulated. Childhood innocence violently interrupted. Development, once again, deferred.
Insecurity has ceased to be an episodic crisis; it has matured into a permanent feature of national life, its devastating footprints indelibly etched into the sands of our collective memory. More troubling is the audacity of its enablers. The sponsors, financiers, apologists, and ideological midwives of terror, particularly across vast swathes of Northern Nigeria, have grown emboldened, visible, vocal, and disturbingly confident.

Even more scandalous is the grim reality that some of these actors are not strangers to the state. They are individuals who once occupied sensitive government and military positions, custodians of national trust, who now appear to have defected, morally if not physically, to the camp of chaos.
One would have expected outrage. Instead, we were offered silence. One would have anticipated decisive action. What we got was equivocation.
On the economic front, the indices tell a grim and unambiguous story. Hunger has become democratised. Poverty is no longer selective. Inflation stalks households with predatory persistence, while wages remain frozen in a different decade.

Nigeria in 2025 was governed not by economic empathy, but by theoretical abstractions, policies apparently designed for economic journals, not for markets, factories, or family kitchens.
And presiding over this grim theatre is a legislature that has, regrettably, abdicated its constitutional soul.
Legislature or Annex of the Executive?
The National Assembly, constitutionally empowered to make laws and checkmate executive excesses, has in 2025 perfected the art of rubber-stamping. Bills arrive. Bills pass. Questions are discouraged. Dissent is treated as heresy.

The Tax Reform Act, scheduled to take effect in January 2026, stands as a chilling monument to this abdication. Marketed as reform, it threatens to become a fiscal guillotine, poised to decapitate struggling businesses, escalate unemployment, and send hunger to unprecedented heights.

As if this were not alarming enough, credible allegations have emerged, raised openly by a member of the House of Representatives, that the bill currently in circulation differs materially from the version actually passed by the legislature. Predictably, instead of transparency, the response has been suppression. Debate is muted. Inquiry discouraged. Accountability deferred.

While the heinous activities of Fulani jihadist groups continue to spread with the velocity of light across the length and breadth of the country, the state’s response remains lethargic, asymmetrical, and suspiciously selective.

Communities bleed. Villages vanish. Yet decisive, commensurate security action remains elusive. The impression, dangerous as it is persistent, is that some lives matter less, some regions count for less, and some crimes enjoy official amnesia.

Ironically, it took what has now been described as a “US Christmas gift” a decisive international shake-up, to disrupt the entrenched inertia and rattle the status quo. This intervention, though external, has exposed what domestic willpower failed to confront.
Across 2025, Nigerians bore the brunt of: Harsh fiscal and tax policies introduced without adequate social buffers; Subsidy removals without cushioning mechanisms; Currency instability that punished importers, manufacturers, and consumers alike; Security strategies heavy on rhetoric, light on results; and A legislature unwilling to interrogate executive power
Collectively, these policies have deepened inequality, shrunk the middle class, expanded poverty, and weakened national cohesion.

Yet, in spite of it all, we are alive.
And for that singular miracle, we return all glory to God Almighty, whose mercy sustained us when governance did not, whose grace shielded us where institutions failed, and whose hand preserved a nation wobbling on the edge of exhaustion.

As we step into this New Year, we earnestly pray for leaders with conscience and courage; policies tempered with compassion; security rooted in justice, not sentiment; and the healing of our land.

May this New Year usher in unprecedented glory, restored hope, and a rebirth of national purpose.
Amen.

Uturu Turns Up as LP Chieftain Rolls Out Rice, Cash for Otti's Support

Titus Eleweke



A chieftain of the Labour Party (LP) in Abia State, Hon. Kelechi Odeme, has donated 500 bags of 50kg rice and over ₦1.7 million in cash to party members and support groups in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, as part of activities to galvanise grassroots support for Governor Dr. Alex Otti.

The rice distribution commenced ahead of the Christmas season, while the cash donations were presented during a well-attended political gathering organised by Odeme at his country home in Iziama Achara, Uturu.
The event brought together members of the Labour Party and the Arise for New Abia movement across Uturu.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Odeme emphasised unity among all political support groups, stressing that their collective efforts are focused on sustaining the transformational leadership of Governor Otti.
“We are not gathered here as different factions, but as one family, united in appreciation and support for our hardworking governor, Dr. Alex Otti, who is delivering quality governance to Abia State,” he said.
He noted that key grassroots structures including Onu Ugu, Women in Politics, and Abia Arise are aligned in their support for the governor’s reform-driven administration.
According to Odeme, Abia State is witnessing unprecedented progress under Governor Otti, adding that the people are determined to ensure his re-election to consolidate on the gains already made.
“Abia has never experienced governance of this quality. We will do everything possible to return Governor Otti for a second term so he can complete the good work he has started,” he said.

He further assured the people of Uturu that all promises made by the governor to the community would be fulfilled, describing Otti as a leader who keeps his word.
“Dr. Alex Otti is not a man who makes promises and fails. Our responsibility is to support him and ensure his return. Those of us living in Abia can testify that he is far better than those before him,” Odeme added.
During the event, Odeme donated:
₦1 million to Abia Arise in Uturu,₦300,000 to Onu Ugu
₦100,000 to Women in Politics
₦100,000 to Ugo Abia
₦100,000 to women leaders
He explained that the essence of the gathering was to mobilise all Uturu stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections, stressing that the community must speak with one voice in support of Governor Otti.
While acknowledging that some developmental projects may not yet be very visible in Uturu, Odeme expressed confidence that the governor would extend more infrastructure and social interventions to the area.
Welcoming members of Arise for New Abia, the Deputy Mayor of Isuikwuato LGA, Hon. Ifeanyi Njoku, said the gathering was an opportunity to celebrate the governor’s achievements across the state.
“We are here today to appreciate the wonderful work Governor Alex Otti is doing in Abia.
He is building roads, schools, and paying salaries promptly. He represents the new Abia, and the masses are happy.
Ndi Uturu must support him,” Njoku said.
He added that the Isuikwuato Local Government Council, under the current mayor, is replicating the governor’s developmental model, citing the construction and commissioning of 14 boreholes and the Ihuku–Achara River Bridge.
According to him, Hon. Odeme’s gesture was a demonstration of gratitude to Governor Otti for his positive impact on the state.
He said that as part of the appreciation, Odeme also distributed 500 bags of rice to the less privileged in Uturu.
The Deputy Coordinator of Arise for New Abia in Isuikwuato LGA, Hon. Innocent Uwaezuke, thanked attendees and described Abia Arise as the political structure driving Governor Otti’s re-election.
“Abia Arise is the engine of Governor Otti’s second-term project. Uturu is central to that project. Governor Otti is performing excellently, and very soon Uturu will be among the major beneficiaries,” he said.
Also speaking, business mogul and LP chieftain Chief Kenneth Nwaro commended Hon. Odeme for promoting unity, noting that political division would undermine Uturu’s collective aspirations.
“The message today is unity. If Uturu is divided, we cannot achieve our political goals. Governor Otti has redeemed the image of Abia State nationally. Before now, Abia was considered one of the worst-performing states, but today it is respected again,” Nwaro stated.
He urged Ndi Uturu and Isuikwuato to remain steadfast in their support for Governor Otti, warning that abandoning the current administration would be a costly mistake.
“We must follow him so we can benefit like others. Together, we will build and grow the Labour Party in Uturu,” he said.
Chief Nwaro also supported the four wards in Uturu with ₦200,000.
In his remarks, former Zenith Labour Party House of Assembly candidate Pastor Eugene Chuwar called for unity within the party to attract development to Uturu.
He observed that while many roads in Isuikwuato may have been rehabilitated, Uturu still awaits major road projects, expressing optimism that increased political support would draw the governor’s attention to the community.
“What Uturu needs is strong unity behind Governor Otti. Elections are over; personal differences must be set aside for the interest of the community and the state,” Chuwar said.
He disclosed that despite contesting against Hon. Ifeanyi Njoku during the elections, both leaders are now working together for the progress of Uturu and Abia State under the Labour Party.
Chuwar donated:₦200,000 to the four wards,₦100,000 to Onu Ugu
₦100,000 to Ugo Eze
₦100,000 to Women in Politics
The event attracted numerous Labour Party stakeholders from Uturu, all of whom reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Governor Dr. Alex Otti and ensuring his re-election in 2027.

IPOB Counsel Ejiofor Raises Red Alert Over Alleged Threats to His Life, Family


Renowned human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised a grave alarm over what he describes as credible and escalating threats to his life and that of his family members.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Desperate and Sinister Plot to Invade My Home and Attack My Family,” issued on Friday, Ejiofor placed the Nigerian public and all relevant security agencies on red alert, warning that sustained pressure for the withdrawal of security personnel from his residence was driven by a clearly sinister agenda.
According to him, any attack on his home during the ongoing festive period is likely to be deliberately misrepresented to the public as the work of hoodlums or so-called “unknown gunmen,” despite being the result of a premeditated plot.
“As I write this statement, let it be clearly recorded that my residence is now more vulnerable than ever,” . “If any harm befalls me or any member of my household, certain individuals must be held accountable.”Ejiofor stated.

He specifically named Mr. Ikenna Ofodeme, Mr. Vincent Dike, and Mr. Ugochukwu Nnajiofor (popularly known as Man Pass Man) as persons who should be held responsible should anything untoward occur.
Ejiofor further disclosed that he has already furnished relevant security authorities with the identity of what he described as the unnamed principal — the “Oga” allegedly orchestrating the entire plot.
“Should anything happen to me, he shall be the first required to render explanations to the world,” he warned.

The lawyer explained that he had earlier raised a public alarm after receiving what he described as manifest and credible threats to his life and the safety of his family.
That alarm, he said, triggered widespread concern and messages of support from Nigerians across different sectors of society. Regrettably, rather than abating, the threats intensified.
“It is common knowledge that I am currently at my ancestral home in Oraifite, Anambra State, with my family for the Christmas and New Year festivities,” Ejiofor said.
Given the prevailing security challenges in the state and the persistent threats against him, Ejiofor stated that he formally contacted a top-ranking commander of the Anambra State Vigilante Group (AVG), popularly known as Udo ga Achi, and requested lawful security coverage for his residence.
He said following this request, duly constituted AVG personnel were officially deployed to his home.

According to him,they arrived on Tuesday in an official operational vehicle, visibly armed in line with their mandate and carrying valid identification.
Ejiofor emphasised that the deployment was lawful, transparent, and procedurally sound.
“As those familiar with my lifestyle can attest, I do not habitually move with security escorts, nor do I ordinarily request protective details during personal or social engagements, especially during festive periods, except when it becomes absolutely necessary,” he noted.
However, he alleged that the presence of the AVG operatives unsettled certain individuals whose plans were allegedly thwarted by the visible security.
“Within forty-eight hours of their deployment,” Ejiofor explained, “the Commander who assigned them received a series of calls from Mr. Ikenna Ofodeme.”

He said the conversation later expanded to include the State Commander of the AVG, Mr. Vincent Dike—who also serves as President-General of the Oraifite Improvement Union and Mr. Ugochukwu Nnajiofor.
According to Ejiofor, the recorded discussion involved aggressive questioning as to why security personnel were deployed to his residence.

According to Ejiofor,the AVG Commander was allegedly ordered to withdraw the personnel immediately, with threats that Mr. Nnajiofor’s group would invade the residence and forcibly disarm them if the order was not obeyed.

"All appeals for the security personnel to remain until the end of the festive period were reportedly rejected" he added.
Ejiofor said it was repeatedly asserted that an unnamed “Oga” in Oraifite had issued a directive for their total withdrawal.
Upon learning of this development, Ejiofor said he promptly alerted the public to the threats against his life and to prevent a possible confrontation between AVG personnel and their superiors, he reluctantly advised that the operatives be withdrawn.
The personnel were withdrawn the following day, leaving his household “significantly more exposed and vulnerable.”
He said the events later took a more alarming turn.
Ejiofor disclosed that after he published a social media alert warning of threats to his life, credible intelligence reached him that Mr. Ofodeme was mobilising the police to raid his residence under the cover of darkness.
He alleged that false and malicious reports were made to the police, claiming that the AVG personnel earlier stationed at his home were impostors armed with AK-47 rifles and terrorising the neighbourhood.
Ejiofor commended the Anambra State Police Command, under the current Commissioner of Police, for refusing to act on misinformation.

According to him,a fact-finding visit to his residence revealed that the premises were peaceful and that all AVG personnel had already been withdrawn.
"Police officers reportedly expressed shock upon discovering that those urging them to storm the residence were fully aware that the vigilante operatives were legitimate, had personally communicated with the deploying commander, and knew the personnel had already left — facts deliberately concealed from the police.
Despite this, the individuals allegedly persisted in urging a police raid based on false pretences.
“I thank God that the officer who visited my home, unannounced, saw through these lies with professional clarity,” Ejiofor said
The IPOB lawyer reiterated his warning to the public and security agencies that the agitation for the withdrawal of security from his residence was not accidental but driven by a clear and dangerous motive.
He expressed gratitude to Nigerians who have reached out with prayers and words of encouragement.
“May God continue to protect us all.” he said.

Nigeria: A Nation on Trial for the Sins of the State


By Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq. (KSC)

Nigeria today stands in the dock of international opinion, once again compelled to defend itself against the ignominious designation of a “Country of Concern.” This branding did not emerge in a vacuum. It is rooted in persistent, well-documented reports of targeted killings of Christians, mass displacement of communities, and the unchecked atrocities of Islamist fundamentalist groups whose campaigns of terror have endured with wearying consistency and near-total impunity.
From Boko Haram to ISWAP, from loosely labelled “bandits” to ideologically baptised jihadists, the terminology may have shifted, but the carnage has remained grimly constant.
At the height of Nigeria’s security collapse, the situation deteriorated to such an extent that former U.S. President Donald Trump openly threatened the deployment of American special security forces on Nigerian soil to neutralise terror networks,an extraordinary proposition that spoke volumes about international frustration with Nigeria’s internal security architecture.
Today, however, the theatre of conflict has shifted. Guns and drones have yielded to pens and proclamations.
The battleground is no longer Sambisa Forest or the North-East; it is the visa counter.
A Diplomatic Cold War and Its Civilian Casualties
Many analysts correctly argue that the diplomatic cold war between the United States of America and Nigeria is far from resolved. The latest punitive measures signal escalation rather than détente. Yet, as is so often the case in international politics, the consequences are not borne by erring governments or failed institutions, but by already beleaguered citizens.
In a paradox that borders on policy irony, the United States has chosen to respond to Nigeria’s institutional failures by imposing further hardship on ordinary Nigerians—citizens already desperate enough to be “japa-ing” in droves, fleeing insecurity, unemployment, and systemic decay in search of dignity, safety, and opportunity abroad.
The implications of this policy shift are profound and far-reaching. Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 10998, the United States Government has announced a partial suspension of the issuance of certain visa categories to Nigerian nationals, effective 1 January 2026.
The affected categories include:
Non-immigrant visitor visas (B-1/B-2);
Student and exchange visas (F, M, J);
Select immigrant visa categories.
To be clear, this does not amount to an absolute travel ban. Nigerians in possession of valid visas issued prior to 1 January 2026 remain exempt and may continue to travel under existing conditions. Yet for first-time applicants, such semantic reassurances offer little solace when confronted with a newly erected diplomatic brick wall.
What has been insufficiently communicated to the Nigerian public is the policy logic underpinning this decision. The United States grounds its action primarily in national security and counter-terrorism concerns.
According to the proclamation, the sustained presence and activity of extremist groups,particularly Boko Haram and ISWAP—complicate effective vetting and information-sharing, thereby heightening the perceived risk associated with admitting Nigerian travellers. The White House frames the restrictions as part of a broader strategy to safeguard U.S. national security and enforce immigration compliance, arguing that unrestricted entry from countries deemed to have documentation or screening deficiencies poses unacceptable risks.
Yet this justification is neither new nor uncontested. As far back as early 2025, U.S. policy had already restricted Nigerian non-immigrant visas to single-entry permits with a three-month validity, invoking the much-contested doctrine of “reciprocity.” Nigeria vigorously disputed both the factual basis and proportionality of that claim.
More troubling still is the selective application of this logic. Nigeria’s visa overstay rates are not extreme when compared to several countries that remain untouched by similar sanctions. Overstay statistics, in and of themselves, do not necessarily indicate criminality or malicious intent. Economic hardship, limited opportunities, and entrenched structural inequality rather than subversive ambition are far more accurate explanations for many overstays.
To conflate desperation with danger is to indulge in a most convenient form of policy laziness.

While national security and immigration compliance are undeniably legitimate policy concerns, the substitution of broad, indiscriminate restrictions for targeted, intelligence-driven measures is not only disproportionate—it is diplomatically counterproductive.
Such policies may project toughness, but they lack nuance. They punish the innocent, alienate allies, and risk reinforcing the very instability they purport to prevent. A diplomacy that sacrifices fairness on the altar of fear achieves neither justice nor security. It breeds resentment, deepens mistrust, and further marginalises populations already crushed under the weight of failed governance.
In the final analysis, nations, like individuals, are judged not merely by the threats they confront, but by the fairness and wisdom of their responses.
History, as always, will render its own verdict.


Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, is an Abuja based human rights lawyer

FRSC Sector Commander Visits Ocha Brigade MD, Pledges Stronger Ties in Anambra

Titus Eleweke

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, on Tuesday led a delegation of senior officers on a courtesy visit to the Managing Director of the Ocha Brigade, Mr. Celestine Anere.
The visit took place at the Ocha Brigade Headquarters in Agu-Awka, the Anambra State capital.
According to the FRSC Sector Commander, the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the FRSC and the Ocha Brigade, as well as familiarizing both agencies with strategies to improve road safety, traffic management, and enforcement on Anambra State roads and federal highways.
Corps Commander Asekhauno commended the Ocha Brigade personnel for their commitment to maintaining a clean and orderly environment across the state, noting that illegal street trading and roadside activities significantly slow down traffic flow and increase the risk of road accidents.
She emphasized the need for effective enforcement to curb indiscriminate parking, road obstructions, and unsafe commercial activities on highways.
The Sector Commander further pledged the FRSC’s support in building the capacity of Ocha Brigade personnel, particularly in traffic control and road safety management.
“We are willing to come in and train your personnel on proper traffic management and safety enforcement. This collaboration is important if we must reduce congestion and crashes on our roads,” she said.
According to her, the visit was part of efforts to build synergy for a safer and healthier Anambra State, assuring the Ocha Brigade of FRSC’s readiness to provide technical support and assistance to enhance enforcement activities aimed at achieving a clean, orderly, and traffic-free environment.
Speaking to our reporter after the meeting, the Managing Director of the Ocha Brigade, Mr. Celestine Anere, described the visit as a strategic courtesy call to strengthen partnership and align operational efforts between both agencies.
“The FRSC Sector Commander paid us a courtesy visit today to familiarize herself with our operations and to discuss practical ways we can work together. We had extensive discussions on synergy and how to jointly ensure that federal highways and Anambra State roads are decongested from street trading, illegal roadside activities, and indiscriminate parking of vehicles,” Anere said.
He noted that indiscriminate parking and roadside trading not only obstruct traffic flow but also pose serious environmental and safety hazards to residents and road users.
According to him, both agencies are committed to enforcing traffic regulations and environmental laws to prevent road congestion, accidents, and health risks associated with unregulated street activities.
Anere further disclosed that the Ocha Brigade and the FRSC have already been working together at locations such as the Bridge Head and other critical traffic points in the state, yielding positive results in traffic control and compliance.
“With this visit, we are confident that our partnership will be strengthened. Together, Ocha Brigade and the FRSC will develop a more coordinated approach to enforcement, road safety education, and traffic management to keep Anambra State safe, clean, healthy, and free from avoidable congestion,” he added.

Oraifite on Edge as Legal Battle Erupts Over Development Ban


There is growing panic and tension in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, following a legal action instituted by Engr. Hon. Sir Humphrey Nsofor against Sir Vincent Dike, the President-General of the Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), over the alleged unlawful suspension of approvals for new commercial development projects within the community.
Engr. Nsofor, through his solicitors, I. C. Ejiofor & Co., Legal Practitioners, filed the action at the High Court of Anambra State, Nnewi Judicial Division, challenging a public announcement dated 18 September 2025, which was issued and widely circulated by Sir Vincent Dike in his capacity as President-General of the OIU.
In the said announcement, Sir Dike allegedly unilaterally proclaimed a suspension of all approvals for new commercial development projects in Oraifite.
In the originating processes, Engr. Nsofor contended that the President-General of the Oraifite Improvement Union lacks the constitutional, statutory, or legal authority to enact, proclaim, or enforce any directive capable of regulating land use or development activities within the community.
He maintained that no town union, communal association, or its officers possess the power to impose development bans or issue directives binding on residents, investors, contractors, or government agencies.
The suit, No. HN/409/2025, asserts that all matters relating to land administration, development control, physical planning, and approval of building or commercial projects are, by law, vested exclusively in the Governor of Anambra State, acting through the Anambra State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and other duly constituted statutory bodies.
This authority, he argued, is derived from the Land Use Act, Cap L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as well as relevant Anambra State planning and development legislation.
According to the claimant, the impugned announcement has already triggered serious and far-reaching consequences within Oraifite.
He stated that contractors have abandoned project sites, financiers have reviewed or withdrawn funding commitments, and investors and residents alike have been plunged into uncertainty and apprehension.
“These disruptions are not speculative,” Engr. Nsofor averred, “but are direct, foreseeable, and continuing consequences of an unlawful, ultra vires, and provocative proclamation that has no foundation in law.”
He further contended that the announcement, if allowed to subsist, amounts in substance to a forceful and unlawful assumption of control over communal and privately held land, as well as an unauthorised interference with proprietary interests, achieved not through lawful processes but by executive fiat.
Engr. Nsofor described the action as a grave affront to the rule of law, warning that it represents an unconstitutional encroachment on proprietary rights guaranteed under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which affirms the right of every citizen to acquire and own immovable property in any part of Nigeria.
“Such conduct,” he argued, “sets a dangerous precedent capable of crippling lawful development, private enterprise, and sustainable economic growth within Oraifite, while undermining confidence in legally established institutions of governance.”
Statement reads in full:
The attention of the public is respectfully drawn to a pending legal action instituted at the High Court of Nnewi, in Suit No: HN/409/2025 by Engr. Hon. Sir Humphrey Nsofor, a distinguished engineer of national repute, former Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, and a highly respected son of Oraifite in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State.

This action, filed on his behalf by his solicitors, I. C. EJIOFOR & CO., Legal Practitioners, arises from a “public announcement” dated 18th September 2025, issued and circulated by Sir Vincent Dike, the President-General of the Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU). In the said announcement, he unilaterally proclaimed a suspension of all approvals for new commercial development projects within Oraifite, allegedly pending the formulation of an “Oraifite Land Use Policy,” and further insinuated that the Anambra State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning had been urged to halt statutory approvals in deference to this directive.

For the avoidance of doubt and in the interest of public clarity, no town union, communal association, or its President-General possesses any constitutional, statutory, or legal authority whatsoever to regulate land use, suspend development approvals, or issue directives binding on the Anambra State Government or any of its agencies. All matters relating to land administration, development control, and planning approvals are, by law, vested exclusively in the Governor of Anambra State, acting through the Anambra State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and other duly constituted statutory bodies, pursuant to the Land Use Act and relevant state legislation.

Engr. Hon. Sir Humphrey Nsofor is the lawful owner of land situate at his ancestral home in Oraifite, part of which is being earmarked for legitimate commercial development, but is presently threatened by this unlawful declaration by the President-General of the Oraifite Improvement Union. He has commenced lawful processes toward securing statutory approvals from the appropriate government authorities. However, the impugned announcement has already precipitated grave consequences: contractors have downed tools, financiers have reviewed or withdrawn funding commitments, and investors, as well as residents, have been plunged into uncertainty. These disruptions are not speculative; they are direct and foreseeable consequences of an unlawful, ultra vires, and provocative proclamation.

More troublingly, Engr. Nsofor contends that the said announcement, if left unchecked, amounts in substance to a forceful occupation, unlawful control, and unauthorised alienation of communal and private land, achieved not by law, but by fiat. Such conduct constitutes a grave affront to the rule of law, an unconstitutional encroachment upon proprietary rights guaranteed under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and a dangerous precedent capable of crippling lawful development, private enterprise, and economic growth within Oraifite.

It is for these compelling reasons, and not as a matter of publicity or public agitation, that the Plaintiff, acting strictly through due process, has approached the High Court for redress. The reliefs sought include, inter alia, declaratory and injunctive orders mandating the immediate withdrawal of the unlawful announcement, restraining any further interference with statutory planning and development processes, and affirming that only constitutionally and legally empowered government authorities may regulate land use and development approvals in Anambra State.

This action is not borne out of personal interest alone. It is a principled effort to protect the collective rights of law-abiding landowners, developers, and investors in Oraifite, and to reaffirm the supremacy of the law over arbitrary, self-help measures and unauthorised communal proclamations.

Engr. Hon. Sir Humphrey Nsofor remains steadfastly committed to due process, lawful development, and the sustainable socio-economic advancement of Oraifite. He respectfully calls on all stakeholders to remain calm, to eschew acts capable of undermining constituted authority, and to allow the Court, the proper arbiter in a constitutional democracy, to determine the issues placed before it.

Teachers Revolt: 4,000 Petition Gov Eno Over Unpaid Promotions



No fewer than 4,000 public secondary schools' teachers employed by the Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) during the 2017/18 recruitment exercise, have lamented non - payment of the backlog of promotion arrears for four years and 10 months.

The affected teachers under the aegis of Concerned Akwa Ibom Teachers Forum (CAITF), in a letter of appeal addressed to the Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, lamented that many of them were wallowing in poverty and heavy debt burden, following government's inability to address the welfare challenges confronting the affected teachers employed during the period.

The protest letter dated Friday, December 17, 2025, to the Governor, through the Ministry of Education, supervised by the Commissioner, Prof. Ubong Essien, the agrieved teachers, lamented that such neglect has impinged negatively on their morales.

The leaders of the group spoke on condition of anonymity, as the Public Service Rules (PSR) forbids them from public protest and open expression of critical views against government as their employer, appealed to Pastor Eno, to act fast, as such insensitivity to their plights could lead to compromising the ethical standards of their job as trainers of future leaders.

Entitled; "Petition On Non - Payment Of Promotion Arrears Owed To Teachers Employed In 2017/2018," which was made available to Journalists in Uyo, the State capital at the weekend, the protesting teachers narrated their harrowing experiences after being elevated to the next levels without the commensurate cash attachment.

"We respectfully write on behalf of teachers employed by the Akwa Ibom State Secondary Education Board (SSEB), in the 2017/2018 recruitment exercise to formally complain about the persistent delay in our promotions and the outright non-payment of promotion arrears.

"In line with the Public Service Rules (PSR), Sections on Advancement and Promotion, officers are entitled to promotion as and when due, and where promotion is delayed through no fault of the officer, financial benefits must take effect from the due date.

"We were due for promotion from Salary Grade Level 8 to Level 9 in January 2021, but our promotion letters were not released until December 2023. No arrears were paid for the period of delay.

"Subsequently, we became due for promotion from Salary Grade Level 9 to Level 10 in January 2024, yet promotion letters were again delayed until December 2025, with no arrears paid.

"These actions contradict established Public Service practice and violate our rights as workers under the Public Service Rules (PSR), the Labour Act, which guarantees fair remuneration, and
the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Section 17(3)(a), which mandates just and humane conditions of work.

"Promotion without arrears amounts to denial of earned entitlements and has caused us serious financial hardship, especially in the face of rising living costs.

"We, therefore, respectfully appeal to Your Excellency, known for your commitment to worker's welfare and good governance, to kindly intervene in this matter by approving the following:

"Payment of all outstanding promotion arrears from January 2021 to November 2023 (GL 8–9), payment of all outstanding promotion arrears from January 2024 to November 2025 (GL 9–10), and timely measures to ensure timely promotion of teachers henceforth.

"We trust in Your Excellency’s well-known commitment to justice, fairness, and workers’ welfare and believe your intervention will restore our morale and strengthen our dedication to service," the petitioners stated.

Idemili South Takes Top Prize at Nonye Soludo Volleyball Clash

Titus Maduako Eleweke


The Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State has emerged overall winner of the 2nd edition of the Nonye Soludo Female Volleyball Competition, carting home a cash prize of ₦750,000.
The annual volleyball championship, initiated by the Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, is designed to promote unity, entertainment, and talent discovery, while providing a pathway for young female athletes to progress to national and international volleyball platforms.
The competition, which took place at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, featured teams from 16 local government areas across the state.
In a thrilling and highly competitive final match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, Idemili South defeated Njikoka Local Government Area to clinch the championship title.
Earlier in the day, Anaocha Local Government Area defeated Aguata Local Government Area to secure the third-place position.
The tournament attracted key sports stakeholders, including the Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission, Mr. Patrick Onyedum, coaches, sports administrators, and volleyball enthusiasts.
Individual Awards and Team Accolades
Outstanding performances were recognised at the end of the competition.

Stephine Nwadinobi from Idemili South was recognized as Best Attacker,
Cynthia Uzuegbunam from Njikoka as Best Setter, Chinecherem Nwazupu from Anaocha as Most Valuable Player (MVP).


The Njikoka LGA team was honoured as Best Behaved Team,Aguata LGA got Best Coach Award.

Speaking at the event, the First Lady of Anambra State and founder of the Nonye Soludo Healthy Living Initiative, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, commended the players, coaches, coordinators, and officials for a well-organised and highly competitive tournament.
She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to discovering and nurturing raw talents from the grassroots, stressing that sports development remains a key component of youth empowerment in Anambra State.
Dr. Soludo personally presented:
₦750,000 to Idemili South ,1st place position,₦500,000 to Njikoka ,2nd place position and ₦250,000 to Anaocha 3rd place position.
According to her, the competition was organised to foster fun, bonding, and healthy living during the festive period, while also providing opportunities for young athletes to build sustainable careers in volleyball.
She pledged her continued support for the growth of volleyball in the state.

Chairman of the Anambra State Sports Commission, Patrick Onyedum, described volleyball as the strongest and most organised sport in the state, followed by football.
He explained that upon assuming office, he conducted extensive research which revealed that volleyball has the most structured grassroots development system in Anambra State.
“We have a centre in Onitsha, popularly known as Washington, where we groom young talents from primary and secondary schools. Most of the players from Idemili South are products of the Anambra Sports Solution Initiative, which focuses on grassroots development. We catch them young,” he said.

Onyedum noted that the volleyball programme runs annually and has consistently produced talented players.
He added that following discussions with the First Lady, she embraced the idea of organising an annual female volleyball competition to further strengthen the sport.
According to him, volleyball remains the only sport in the state with a well-defined grassroots breeding and training structure, while football still struggles with organisation.

Speaking on the future of volleyball in the state, Onyedum highlighted Anambra Queens as the only female volleyball team in the entire South-East.
He noted that the team was promoted from Division One to the Premier League in October 2022 and has remained there since.
“Since 2006, we have identified our challenges and we are determined to solve them. Anambra State is blessed with abundant volleyball talents,” he said.
He expressed confidence that by 2026, Anambra State would produce the best volleyball team in Nigeria.
However, he regretted that due to limited slots, many talented players from the state currently represent other states at national competitions.
“At the finals today, almost all the players are professionals playing for other states. We are producing talents for other states to recruit. Unfortunately, we cannot retain all of them,” he stated.

The Mayor of Idemili South Local Government Area, Mrs. Amaka Obi, speaking through Valentine Mbadugha, praised the resilience and discipline of the team, attributing their victory to consistent training and the impact of the Anambra State Sports Development Initiative (ANSSI), a brainchild of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

Head Coach of the Anambra State Volleyball Team and Coordinator of the Nonye Soludo Volleyball Competition, Coach Uche Okafor, disclosed that 36 matches were played during the tournament, with four teams from the state’s four zones advancing to the semi-finals.
Coach Okafor expressed concern that many talented players from Anambra State now represent other states at major national competitions.
He appealed to the Sports Development Commission and the state government to improve players’ welfare through proper remuneration to reverse the trend.

One of the players, Chiamaka Okeke of Njikoka LGA, alongside the captain of the Idemili South team, Favour Ani, thanked the Wife of the Governor for the initiative, describing it as a major boost to female volleyball in the state.
They, however, appealed to the state government for improved allowances, recognition, and welfare packages to enable them proudly represent Anambra State at national competitions

A Dangerous Romance with Terror in the Guise of Hybrid Security


By Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq., KSC

Arming Miyetti Allah,affiliated herders with rifles to collaborate with vigilantes in a so-called joint operation in the forests of Kwara State, under the banner of a “hybrid forces” strategy against banditry, is not innovation. It is institutional amnesia masquerading as security policy.
It represents the tragic legitimisation of the very monsters whose ideological offspring have, for years, ravaged farmlands, sacked ancestral communities, and left blood-soaked trails across Nigeria’s rural landscape. It is a reckless security experiment that must be reviewed immediately and abandoned without sentimentality.
Across contemporary Nigeria, insecurity has metastasised into the most dominant national emergency of our time. From the North-West and North-East, through the North-Central, and spilling relentlessly into the South-East and South-West, no region has been spared. Despite enormous budgetary allocations, repeated policy interventions, and visible exertions by the Federal Government, the end still appears frustratingly distant.
A growing school of thought shared quietly by many Nigerians and voiced openly by a courageous few attributes this grim persistence not merely to capacity deficits, but to active internal sabotage. It has become an open secret that elements embedded within the system, including compromised security actors, profit from the chaos: feeding off ransom economies, illicit arms trafficking, and displacement-driven land grabs. This corrosive internal betrayal explains why well-intentioned efforts are so often neutralised before they can bear fruit.
It is precisely for this reason that many Nigerians continue to urge the Commander-in-Chief to wield the full weight of executive authority without fear or favour, regardless of whose ox is gored.
Against this backdrop, it is imperative to confront one of the most enduring and destructive sources of Nigeria’s insecurity: the organised violence perpetrated by armed herdsmen operating under the umbrella of Miyetti Allah.
For years, communities in Benue, Plateau, Southern Kaduna, Nasarawa, parts of Enugu State, and several locations in the South-West have endured coordinated attacks attributed to these armed groups. Farms have been forcefully seized, entire villages emptied, livelihoods obliterated, and defenceless farmers murdered in cold blood. These are not isolated incidents. They constitute a clear and recurring pattern—repeatedly documented, consistently denied, and tragically normalised.
In response to this existential threat, many abandoned communities were compelled to establish local vigilante structures to defend their lives and ancestral lands. These indigenous security formations did not arise from rebellion or lawlessness, but from sheer necessity in the face of state failure.
It is therefore both ironic and deeply alarming that the same State that failed to protect these communities is now contemplating the arming of Miyetti Allah–affiliated elements with prohibited firearms, under the guise of security collaboration.
We must not forget that at a point, even the State Security Service found it necessary to take into custody a prominent leader of this organisation for open incitement and alleged involvement in terrorist activities—a matter that ultimately found its way to the courts. These are the same actors who conveniently mutate in nomenclature: from “killer herdsmen,” to “bandits,” and now to the freshly baptised label of “jihadists.”
Granted, the Office of the National Security Adviser is constitutionally empowered to deploy creative and adaptive strategies, including the arming of vigilantes, to confront insecurity. However, what legal, moral, or strategic logic justifies incorporating herdsmen linked to Miyetti Allah into such operations?
You do not fight banditry by arming the ideological cousins of bandits.
You do not extinguish fire by handing petrol to the arsonist.
In Kwara State and its environs, credible indigenous security structures already exist including Amotekun and state-backed vigilante groups.
These formations understand the terrain, know the communities, and can identify the perpetrators. These are the forces that deserve strengthening and institutional support not groups whose antecedents inspire fear rather than public confidence.
It bears repeating: Miyetti Allah has, over time, functioned as a breeding ground from which armed herdsmen graduate into bandits, kidnappers, and trans-regional criminal networks. Any decision—whether by omission or commission—to arm such elements with prohibited firearms under a so-called “hybrid forces” arrangement is not merely baffling; it is dangerously counter-intuitive.
This contradiction compels critical questions:
Why were these armed herdsmen later arrested by state authorities?
Why was their arrest publicly celebrated?
And if they were truly safe and reliable partners, why the sudden recoil?
Something is fundamentally wrong.
Nigeria must draw a clear and uncompromising red line.
All members of Miyetti Allah, or any affiliated structure, who have been armed under any security arrangement must be immediately disarmed, disengaged, and excluded from all present and future security collaborations. They are not part of the solution; they constitute a foundational pillar of the problem.
No nation defeats terrorism by outsourcing security to its ideological incubators. No State restores public confidence by blurring the line between protector and predator. And no government wins the war against banditry by legitimising the very networks that sustain it.
If Nigeria is serious about reclaiming its forests, securing its farmlands, and restoring the dignity of rural communities, then this dangerous experiment must end now before it matures into yet another avoidable chapter of national tragedy.
History will be unforgiving.
The people are watching.
And posterity will ask who spoke when silence was safer.

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Esq., KSC
Renowned human rights lawyer, Abuja

Playtime Gets Boost: NASWA Playground Launched at Onitsha Army Barracks

Titus Maduako Eleweke

There was glamour and celebration at the Onitsha Army Barracks in Anambra State as the Nigerian Army Soldiers’ Wives Association (NASWA) officially unveiled a newly constructed playground designed to promote relaxation, recreation, and bonding among military children.

The unveiling ceremony, which took place at the Command Playground within the barracks, was performed by the Commanding Officer, 14 Field Engineer Regiment, Onitsha, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Kpamber.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Patrick Akobo, Diocesan Merit Award (DMA) Public Affairs Analyst, to journalists in Awka, the Anambra State capital.

Speaking during the unveiling, Lieutenant Colonel Kpamber reflected nostalgically on his childhood days in the barracks, recalling that there were no purpose-built recreational facilities for children at the time.

He explained that this experience inspired his decision to go beyond routine duty by providing a befitting playground where children within the barracks could play safely and happily. He added that the facility would also benefit families, noting that mothers naturally prefer to remain close to their children during playtime.

According to the Commanding Officer, the playground is equipped with modern recreational facilities, including an elevated centre stage, a water fountain, a basketball court, a chess-playing area, and various children’s playground equipment catering to all age groups