• by Ohibaba.com

The funeral procession

Governor Peter Mbah made a speech

Peter Obi , other dignitaries with Chukwu’s family

Image credit: Peter Obi / X

A 10- days night of tributes in Lagos and Enugu for the former Super Eagles captain and head coach -Christian Chukwu, ended today with his burial at his country home, Obe, in the Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Chukwu, popularly called “Chairman”, died on April 12, at the age of 74.

Dignitaries at the burial were former Labour Party presidential candidate Mr Peter Obi., President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, represented by the Chairman of the Nigeria National League, Mr George Aluo, and Senator representing Anambra Central, Sen. Victor Umeh.

Others are members of the Enugu Executive Council, the retired Anglican Archbishop of the Enugu Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, ex-Rangers players, the former Chairman of the Enugu Sports Club, Chief Nnanna Atuonwu, and others.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said at the event: “For me, and I believe for so many as well, it is difficult for you to have met Chairman without being inspired by his simplicity and humility.

“Without a doubt, he was disciplined, dignified, polite, and empathetic,” Mbah said.

Consoling the family, Governor Mbah said, “As a government, we will always stand by you and ensure that Chukwu is immortalised, for indeed he served and loved Enugu and Nigeria with all his heart.

Let us be comforted by the remarkable memory and legacies he left behind,” he added.

Earlier in his homily, the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rt Rev. Samuel Ike, extolled Chukwu’s exploits, contributions and development to football in Nigeria and Africa.

He described him as a “strong man” that led his team on a journey and fought and won several battles, as well as a committed family man that loved his family and relations.

“Chukwu has won battles with Rangers, Super Eagles and others. The Lord has been gracious unto him through several battles; he was an all-rounded man, very generous, and his generosity extended to the family of St Philip’s Church, Obe,” Ike said.

In response on behalf of the family, Mr Chukwuemeka Chukwu Jr thanked the guests for honouring and paying their last respects to his father.

Chukwu was born in Enugu and is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest defenders of all time.Chukwu, revered for his leadership and defensive mastery, captained both Enugu Rangers and the Nigerian national team, leading the country to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.

The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, declared today Nigeria’s security forces capture two top leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Nigeria, following a months-long counter-terrorism operation.

Ribadu, at a press briefing held at the Office of the National Security Adviser in Abuja, said that those arrested are Mahmud Muhammad Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a, Abbas or Mukhtar, identified as the self-styled Emir of Ansaru, and his deputy, Mahmud al-Nigeri, also known as Mallam Mamuda.

Ribadu said the intelligence-led operation was carried out between May and July 2025 in collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.

According to Ribadu, Abu Bara coordinated terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria and masterminded high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies to finance terrorism.

He added that his deputy, Mamuda, led the “Mahmudawa” cell around Kainji National Park and trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors.

Ribadu said, “The targeted operation, which was conducted between May and July 2025, led to the capture of two top ANSARU leaders who have been responsible for masterminding several terrorist attacks against Nigeria over the past years.

The first is Mahmud Muhammad Usman (aka Abu Bara’a/Abbas/Mukhtar), the self-styled Emir of ANSARU.

He is the coordinator of various terrorist sleeper cells across Nigeria. He is also the mastermind of several high-profile kidnappings and armed robberies used to finance terrorism over the years.“

The second is Mahmud al-Nigeri (aka Mallam Mamuda), Abu Bara’s proclaimed Chief of Staff and Deputy.

He is the leader of the so-called “Mahmudawa” cell hiding out in and around the Kainji National Park, straddling Niger and Kwara States up to the Benin Republic.

Mamuda trained in Libya between 2013 and 2015 under foreign jihadist instructors from Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, specialising in weapons handling and IED fabrication.