Author: David Akonuche

THE Enugu State Police Command has arrested one Obodoagu Wisdom, aged 18, for the alleged kidnapping and murder of his five-year-old second cousin. His alleged accomplice, one Sunday Michael, aged 24, a security guard at 9th Mile and a native of the Mayo-Belwa Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was also arrested. The suspects were said to have been apprehended on August 11 and 12, 2025, by operatives of the Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Tactical Squad, following intelligence gathered after ransom demands were reported. According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, on Thursday made available to News…

THE Anambra State Government has dismissed eight vigilante operatives accused of brutally assaulting a serving female member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Miss Edema Jennifer Elohor, in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of the state. The shocking incident, which was captured in a viral video, drew widespread outrage after the operatives, identified as members of Operation Udo Ga-Achi (Agunechemba Vigilante Group), were seen beating and stripping the corps member naked despite her presenting a valid NYSC identity card. Speaking on the development in Awka on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Community Security, Ken…

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested three top figures, including two Catholic nuns and a bank chief, over alleged fraudulent manipulation of shareholders’ records in a bid to evade repayment of a ₦1.2 billion loan. The arrested suspects are Rev. Sister Annette Ezekwem and Rev. Sister Getrude Okafor, both personnel of Madonna University, Elele, Rivers State, and Mr. Mark Egbegolu, the Managing Director of Mayfresh Mortgage Bank Limited, Aba, Abia State. Investigations revealed that the principal actor behind the deal, Professor Martin Anagboso, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Madonna University, had earlier been arrested by the EFCC two weeks…

THE Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed deep concern over the deteriorating state of the nation’s economy, worsening insecurity, and the continued decline in the education sector, urging government at all levels to urgently address the challenges to avert a deeper national crisis. Rising from its Standing Committee meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, on August 15, 2025, the Guild highlighted key resolutions on critical national issues, especially as they affect the media and the wellbeing of Nigerians. In a communiqué jointly signed by the President, Eze Anaba, and General Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, the editors lamented the hardship, rising…

EBONYI State governor Francis Nwifuru has rewarded D’Tigress forward Blessing Ejiofor with N30m and a duplex, while also approving a N50m basketball project in her honour. The gesture follows Ejiofor’s role in helping Nigeria’s women’s basketball team secure a record fifth consecutive Afrobasket title in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Governor Nwifuru, in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Saturday, described the player as a source of pride to the state and an inspiration to young girls. “I am delighted to once again celebrate and congratulate our very own daughter, Blessing Munachi Ejiofor, one of the champions who brought prestige…

THE Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has lifted the suspension of 81 government officials. In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor, the governor directed the commissioners, senior special assistants, special assistants, and permanent secretaries who were suspended on the 28th of July, 2025, to resume official duties immediately. Governor Nwifuru last month suspended the government officials. Among those affected in the wave of suspension are the Attorney General, 25 commissioners, 22 permanent secretaries, including 14 senior special assistants, and 24 special assistants. The officials had failed to attend an important…

LABOUR Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has once again reaffirmed his pledge to serve only a single four-year term if elected President of Nigeria, a commitment he says is rooted in integrity, accountability, and his personal leadership philosophy. Obi’s renewed position comes amid public skepticism and pointed criticisms, including one from the current Governor of Anambra State, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who recently dismissed such vows as unrealistic and even described them as requiring “psychiatric evaluation.” Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Sunday, Obi addressed the controversy head-on. “In my political life, my word…

EBONYI State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has suspended 87 high-ranking officials of the state government for their failure to attend an important official function. The suspended officials include 25 Commissioners, 14 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), 24 Special Assistants (SAs), and 22 Permanent Secretaries, marking one of the largest administrative disciplinary actions in the state’s recent history. In a statement released on Monday night by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Monday Uzor made available to News Point Nigeria, the affected officials are to proceed on a one-month working suspension without pay, effective immediately. The Governor’s directive, the statement noted,…

SEVERAL persons were feared dead on Friday night after a trailer lost control and rammed into them along the Chisco Park Junction in Amichi, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State. It was gathered that the fatal accident occurred around 9:30pm when the driver of the trailer experienced brake failure and crashed into pedestrians on the roadside, resulting in multiple fatalities. The incident which was also captured on the Amichi City-wide CCTV system, showed some of the knocked-down victims lying on the ground, while some residents and other road users were seen bemoaning the incident and offering rescue assistance…

TRAGEDY struck the Arondizogu axis of Ideato North Local Government Area in Imo State late Thursday night, as gunmen unleashed a brutal assault on three communities; Umualaoma, Ndiakunwanta, and Ndiejezie killing scores of youths and leaving several others critically injured. According to eyewitnesses, the attack, which occurred between 10pm and 11pm, saw three unidentified assailants riding a motorbike and opening indiscriminate gunfire on unsuspecting residents. Victims included shopkeepers, customers, and youths gathered outdoors to enjoy the night breeze or play the popular board game, draft. “They just rode in and started shooting at everyone. People were running, screaming, it was…

ANAMBRA State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has appointed Joachim Achor, from Abia State, as the Accountant General of Anambra in his effort for inclusivity in the civil service. Similarly, Soludo recently appointed Adebayo Ojeyinka, a native of Osun State, as a Permanent Secretary in a move the governor said further underscored his commitment to a diverse and competence-driven civil service. This appointment marks a departure from the longstanding tradition of reserving top government positions exclusively for state indigenes. In a statement on Thursday, Soludo’s Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, said these appointments were not politically motivated, but rather the outcome of…

THE Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru said his administration will not rush to a conclusion regarding the Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which ordered interim forfeiture of over N1billion linked to the Secretary to the Ebonyi State Government, Grace Umezurike, and her aide, Ngene Nwanna Onyeabor The Governor spoke on Sunday, during a Church service held at the Government House Chapel, at Centenary City, Abakaliki. This newspaper reports that the forfeiture order was granted by the judge, Maurine Onyetenu on July 8, 2025. The court order followed an ex parte application filed by the Economic and…

THE Labour Party (LP) statutory National Executive Committee (NEC) has elected Senator Nenadi Usman as the Interim National Chairman and Senator Darlington Nwokocha as the Interim National Secretary, among others, as members of the party’s interim working committee. Nenadi was elected on Friday during the party’s NEC meeting in Abuja. The interim working committee is expected to oversee all party activities till the party’s convention, when elections for a new NEC will be conducted Other resolutions reached during the meeting include the approval of the schedule for the conduct of ward congresses, local government area congresses, state congresses, Zonal congresses,…

THE Enugu State Police Command has arrested two sisters, Juliet Chukwu and Ngozi Nancy Chukwu, for allegedly masterminding the abduction of their elder brother, Mr. Friday Chukwu. Both suspects, who serve in Nigerian security agencies—Juliet in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Ngozi in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) were accused of arranging the kidnapping, which took place last month along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway near the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, in Nkanu West Local Government Area. According to sources familiar with the case, the sisters’ actions led to the payment of a ₦30…

ENUGU State Governor, Peter Mbah, has unveiled the state-owned airline, Enugu Air, describing it as a giant leap for the state and a gold standard for government-private sector partnership. The inaugural flight of the state-owned airline took off on Monday, marking what the governor called a historic moment for ‘Ndi Enugu’. Speaking at the launch, Mbah said the achievement aligned with his administration’s vision of transforming Enugu into a premier destination for investment, living, and tourism in Nigeria. “It is an honour to stand before you today, not only as a governor but as a fellow believer in the power…

THE Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has condemned the alleged killing of 13 Ebonyi indigenes in Anambra State, and called for calm and a swift investigation into the matter. According to a statement released by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Monday Uzor and obtained by Channels Television, Governor Nwifuru described the killing of the indigenes residing in Ogboji community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra as shocking. They were allegedly killed during their monthly town union meeting held last Monday. Nwifuru said such an unprovoked attack on law-abiding citizens who were simply holding a community meeting was…

NO fewer than 1,686 people were killed in at least 909 incidents of gang violence across Nigeria between January 2020 and March 2025, with the South-South and Southwest regions emerging as the most affected zones. According to a report SBM Intelligence released on Tuesday, Rivers State topped the fatality chart with 215 deaths, followed by Lagos (197 deaths) and Edo (192 deaths), all strongholds of longstanding cult and gang rivalries. The report added that these clashes often involved groups such as Vikings, Icelanders, Eiye, Aiye, Black Axe, and Greenlanders. The report indicates that the South-South region alone recorded over 750…

A WITNESS in the trial of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has testified that about 200 security agents were killed in the South East due to the activities of the IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN). The witness, whose identity was concealed, told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, that one Uzoma Benjamin, aka Onye Army, spoke about how they allegedly received directives from Kanu to kill security agents. The witness, who was led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), told the court they allegedly…

THE Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed claims that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is prioritising the South in infrastructure allocation across the country. While addressing the media during a two-day inspection tour of federal road projects in Rivers and Bayelsa states, Umahi described the claims as “misleading,” saying the North currently holds 52 per cent of legacy projects compared to the South’s 48 per cent. “Projects like the Sokoto-Badagry Road, Calabar-Abuja Highway, and Akwanga-Jos Road are ongoing in the North. When you measure by mileage and cost, the distribution is balanced,” Umahi said. He accused those behind…

POLITICIAN and former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of being hypocritical and playing politics rather than working to better the lives of Nigerians. He made the comment during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday as Nigeria marks Democracy Day on June 12. According to him, ongoing political activities in the country in the last two years are pointers to the next general election. Obi, who at first paid homage to the late MKO Abiola, said the politicians paid the ultimate sacrifice for democracy, adding that the current state…