Enugu Police Commissioner, Giwa
The Enugu State Police Command has strongly denied reports suggesting it summoned the Chairman of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area over the formation of a vigilante group aimed at combating herdsmen violence in the region.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, and made available to DAILY GAZETTE, the police described the reports as “misleading” and “a calculated attempt to distract from an active investigation” into the gruesome killing of eight individuals in the Opanda community.
According to the statement, on March 15, 2025, the Command received a report concerning the disappearance of eight male Muslim worshippers in Opanda, a community in Uzo-Uwani LGA.
A subsequent search led to the discovery of five bodies on March 16, all bearing gunshot wounds and machete cuts.
The burnt remains of the remaining three victims were recovered later, alongside seven expended cartridges.
A key witness, a surviving child, claimed the attackers were members of a Neighbourhood Watch Group and identified one of the suspects who fled on a motorcycle.
Security operatives later intercepted the motorcycle, but the rider managed to escape.
Shortly after, the local government chairman reportedly contacted the operatives, requesting the release of the seized motorcycle.
Due to this alleged involvement, the Chairman was invited to provide a statement and assist with the production of the suspect in question.
The Command clarified that the invitation had no connection to the establishment or operation of the Neighbourhood Watch, a government-recognized security initiative in the state.
“The reports are not only misleading but appear designed to derail the course of justice,” SP Ndukwe stated, adding that the investigation focuses strictly on criminal accountability, not the legality of the vigilante group.
Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, also addressed the controversy, warning individuals spreading false information to desist from further dissemination of misleading narratives.
“The investigation will be conducted with fairness, transparency, and a strong commitment to justice, without bias to tribe, ethnicity, or religion,” CP Giwa affirmed.
He further reiterated the Command’s dedication to law enforcement across the state, vowing to pursue all criminal cases without fear or favour.
The Police Command called on members of the public to disregard misinformation and allow law enforcement to carry out its duties professionally and without interference.
