Crime

“Spike in IPOB Attacks in Enugu Shows Mbah Isn’t Ready for Leadership”, CSO Declares

Published

3 years ago

June 28, 2023

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The current spike in attacks by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Enugu since the state governor, Peter Mbah, announced an end to the Sit-at-home order in the state three weeks ago has been attributed to the lack of preparedness for leadership by the new helmsman.

According to a civil society organisation based in Enugu, the Oriental Lawyers for Justice (OLJ), the worsened security problem has seen at least eight kidnappings in the capital in the last two weeks plus the attack on the New Haven station of the Pinnacle Oil and Gas Company owned by the governor in the early hours of Wednesday last week “show that, contrary to the assertions of those who packaged him for the recent election which he nevertheless lost, Mbah is just another politician and wheeler-dealer rather than a clear-headed leader with a focus on how to get our dear state cracking in the right direction”.

Commercial drivers protested in their hundreds on Tuesday (yesterday) against the new spate of kidnappings on the Enugu–Nsukka Road, as three kidnaps were recorded on Thursday, last week, alone.

If he had prepared himself for high office, the OLJ said in a statement signed by JohnBosco Aninwede, its president, and Mrs Ifeoma Ejike, the secretary, he would have learned from the experience of Governor Chukwuma Soludo of neighbouring Anambra State who in his inaugural speech in March, 2022, announced a war against so-called freedom fighters in the bush, only to face an unprecedented rise in attacks by IPOB members throughout the state, especially in his Isuofia hometown and Aguata Local Government Area whose headquarters was bombed.

“There is no doubt that IPOB has been responsible for the attack on Mbah’s private petroleum firm, as the perpetrators came in a large number of tricycles and armed with rifles, charms, and the notorious red headband worn by the Eastern Security Network (ESN), IPOB’s military wing”, declared the OLJ.

“And everyone knows that Pinnacle is targeted because of Mbah’s moves against IPOB”.

The nongovernmental organisation said that Simeon Ekpa, a top IPOB leader based in Finland, has openly mocked Mbah for lack of legitimately because he didn’t win the Enugu governorship election.

The lawyers argued that no serious leader would announce the cancellation of the stay-at-home order which is enforced with savagery throughout the Southeast every Monday without providing enough security forces on the ground and without constituting his cabinet because tackling profound insecurity is not a one-man show.

“By the time he announced an end to the order by the nonstate actors, the new governor had appointed only the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, and no other person into his administration”, noted the Oriental Lawyers for Justice.

“It was after he had begun to implement the order which failed spectacularly on the first Monday that it occurred to him to consult stakeholders in the state like traders, transporters, religious leaders, traditional rulers, students, town union officers, and the rest to brief them on his plans”.

They added that Mbah was marketed beyond his knowledge and skills by his handlers who “tried to mesmerise our people with his personal wealth and his manifesto promise to increase Enugu’s economy from $4bn to $30bn within four years, even though he has never supplied information on how he plans to achieve this feat”.

The lawyers observed that though they are against IPOB for its streak of violence and such illegal acts as the curfew it imposes on the Southeast weekly, “Mbah has gone about cutting down the secessionist group to size the wrong way because of his poor poor skills as a public leader.

“If he had genuinely won the March 18 gubernatorial election, he would have acted more rationally, and not in this knee-jerk manner meant to get accepted by the Enugu people who rejected him and his Peoples Democratic Party resoundingly in the 2023 general elections.”

Crime

JUST IN: DSS Arrests Notorious ESN Commander, Suspected IPOB Member (Photos)

Published

19 seconds ago

March 7, 2026

Charles Flames

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Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday 6, at Eha-Amufu and Umuhu in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Enugu State, arrested a suspected notorious Eastern Security Network (ESN) commander, Sabastine Odo Odam, and Ejike Daniel, a suspected member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Security sources revealed that the arrest followed months of sustained intelligence gathering on activities of the suspects.

The arrests came on the heels of series of violent attacks on police stations and killings between 2024 and 2026, all in Isi-Uzo LGA.

“Both men have confessed to being masterminds of a chain of attacks on police stations and carting away of weapons. The attacks include the February 26 killing of 11 labourers, and that of five policeman between December 24, 2025 and January 26, 2026.

“The arrests represent a major success for the DSS in the fight against insecurity in the southeast and country at large,” remarked the source.

Residents of Isi-Uzo LGA expressed excitement as news of the arrests filtered in. Many noted that the arrests will restore some peace to the affected communities.

Both suspects are currently in the custody of the DSS and awaiting arraignment in court, the source added.

Crime

JUST IN: Court Acquits Suspended DCP Abba Kyari in NDLEA Non-Declaration of Assets Charge

Published

2 days ago

March 5, 2026

Charles Flames

45 Views

A Federal High Court in Abuja has discharged and acquitted suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Abba Kyari of a 23-count charge alleging non-declaration of assets, brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, March 5, 2026, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the prosecution failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt against Kyari and his co-defendants, including his two brothers.

The judge held that the NDLEA did not provide sufficient evidence to prove that the disputed properties allegedly linked to Kyari belonged to him or that he failed to declare them. He described aspects of the case as unsubstantiated and lacking credible proof.

This acquittal pertains specifically to the asset declaration and related allegations. Kyari continues to face separate ongoing charges, including those related to drug trafficking matters.

Kyari, once celebrated as a top police investigator, has been suspended amid multiple legal battles. The ruling marks a significant development in one of his high-profile cases.

Crime

NDLEA Arrests Fugitive Drug Lord Wanted in UK After 15 Years on the Run

Published

3 days ago

March 4, 2026

Charles Flames

47 Views

In a major victory for anti-narcotics efforts, Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has captured a long-sought fugitive drug lord, 58-year-old Uzoma Valentine Ilomuanya, who had evaded authorities in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom for more than 15 years.

Ilomuanya was apprehended in Lagos on Monday, February 23, 2026, during a meticulously coordinated operation carried out by officers from the NDLEA’s Special Operations Unit.

The arrest marks the end of an extended pursuit tied to Ilomuanya’s alleged deep involvement in international drug trafficking. His criminal record spans continents:

He was first arrested in the UK in February 2003 for drug trafficking, convicted, and sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment, though he served only two years before a successful appeal led to his release.

Undeterred, he faced another arrest in the UK in July 2011 on drug-related charges. Granted administrative bail, he absconded and fled back to Nigeria.

In Nigeria, Ilomuanya’s activities continued. In November 2018, NDLEA operatives raided two clandestine methamphetamine laboratories linked to him one in his hometown of Obinugwu, Orlu Local Government Area, Imo State, and another at his residence on No. 3 Barrister Declan Uzoma Close in Lagos.

Authorities seized 77.960 kilograms of methamphetamine along with sophisticated production equipment. He was charged in a Federal High Court in Lagos but jumped bail and disappeared, remaining at large until his recent capture.

NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), hailed the arrest as a “significant breakthrough” in the agency’s ongoing campaign against drug cartels.

“This arrest serves as a stern warning to those who think they can hide behind borders to escape justice,” Marwa said. “Whether you jump bail in London or set up clandestine labs in your village, the long arm of the NDLEA will eventually catch up with those who choose to undermine the health, security, and future of our nation.

“He emphasized the agency’s dedication to international partnerships, stating, “We remain committed to our international collaborations to ensure that Nigeria is not used as a sanctuary for global drug lords.

The NDLEA under our watch will continue to strengthen intelligence-led operations, deepen international cooperation, and ensure that those involved in the illicit drug trade are brought to justice.

“Marwa also praised the Special Operations Unit officers for their professionalism, resilience, and diligence in tracking down the suspect, reaffirming the agency’s resolve to dismantle drug trafficking networks operating in or through Nigeria.

The arrest underscores growing success in cross-border law enforcement cooperation and intelligence-driven crackdowns on high-profile narcotics figures.