Chekwas Okorie, Convener and National Chairman of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue (IAD), has stated that the Igbo people have been confronting existential challenges since the end of the Nigeria-Biafra war in 1970.

Speaking on Wednesday, he highlighted that Igbo communities across the 13 states where they are indigenous, as well as the 23 other states and the Federal Capital Territory, have faced ongoing socio-political and economic struggles.

In a statement issued on behalf of the group, Okorie said:

“The Igbo have survived, thrived, multiplied, and prospered only by the special grace of God and our resilience, determination, and never-say-die spirit.”

“Millions of our people were compelled to seek better opportunities abroad, including education and skills acquisition, to improve their well-being and support families back home.”

Okorie emphasized that this large-scale migration has resulted in Igbo settlements in almost every country in the world.

He also noted that the Igbo diaspora contributes about 75 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange remittances annually.

Expressing concern over political disengagement among the Igbo, Okorie said many have lost confidence in their citizenship, resulting in low participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.

He added that this apathy has contributed to poor leadership recruitment at the national, state, and local levels, worsening the community’s challenges.

“We can reverse our situation without violence. We are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria, with extensive networks of associations both at home and in the diaspora.”

“We are like a sleeping giant that only needs to awaken to reclaim our rightful place in the country,” he said.

The Igbo Agenda Dialogue, inaugurated in August 2025, is a non-partisan socio-political platform aimed at uniting all Igbo associations, unions, and organizations into a cohesive political force.

The group plans to host the first-ever Igbo Political Summit in the first quarter of 2026, during which it will unveil the Igbo Charter, following in the footsteps of the historic Ahiara Declaration.

Okorie called on all patriotic Igbo citizens, youth associations, unions, and institutions to support the IAD’s mission of reawakening Igbo political consciousness.

“We have the capacity to redraw the Nigerian political map by taking control of our destiny. A unified and proactive political strategy in the 2027 general election can attract both local and international attention to the Igbo Nation. The time is now or never,” he urged.

The Oyo State High Court has dismissed a bid by former All Progressives Congress (APC) local government chairmen in Osun State to overturn a court order freezing disputed council funds held with the United Bank for Africa (UBA).

Justice Ladiran Akintola, delivering judgment yesterday, struck out the application filed in the case Attorney-General of Osun State & Anor v. UBA PLC.

The ousted chairmen, identified only as “Persons Affected,” had sought permission to challenge an ex parte order issued on September 26, 2025, which froze the funds, aiming to have it revoked.

The applicants argued that the freezing of the accounts had disrupted grassroots governance across Osun State and violated provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

However, none of the former officials or other principal parties attended the court proceedings.

The Osun State Attorney-General was represented by Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, with E.Y. Ajayi and D.G. Egunjobi, while UBA was represented by Oluwatomiwa Fadeyi.

In his ruling, Justice Akintola described the application as entirely without merit, noting that the sacked chairmen were “strangers to the suit” because they had previously withdrawn their request to be joined as parties.

Consequently, the court held that they had no legal standing, or locus standi, to challenge the freezing of the accounts or to seek the dismissal of the main suit.

The executive chairman of Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, Hon. John Ogbodo, says his administration is taking proactive steps to ensure safety and smooth traffic flow during the upcoming Christmas season.

Ogbodo stated this in Agbani while addressing members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, Police, Civil Defence, the Federal Road Safety Corps, and the Department of State Services (DSS).

He emphasized that community security and road safety remain top priorities for his administration, especially during the festive period when commercial activities, nightlife, and holiday travel surge.

“Our communities must remain safe throughout this Christmas period. We are taking every measure to reinforce security and prevent any breach,” Ogbodo said.

He highlighted that high-capacity surveillance drones recently deployed by the state government would enable real-time monitoring of high-risk areas and help law enforcement respond swiftly to incidents.

The chairman also announced the formation of a multi-agency traffic task force, comprising Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, Civil Defence, and Neighbourhood Watch members.

The task force will focus on traffic hotspots, including Ozalla Four Corners, Orie Mba Akpugo, Agbani Road, and the Agbani–Amurri stretch, to prevent accidents and ease congestion.

ACP Alibi Lateef, Agbani Area Commander, urged residents to remain vigilant, while DPO Igbokwe Eze warned that illegal activities such as the use of explosives or other criminal acts would not be tolerated.

The Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mrs. Ozioma Okeke, commended the council’s preparedness, noting that last year’s traffic management success was achieved through strong collaboration between the council and security agencies.

Ogbodo further assured that members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group would receive their stipends promptly, emphasizing that adequate welfare encourages commitment and effective service.

Officials from the Civil Defence and DSS also encouraged community volunteers to assist in ensuring smooth traffic flow and quick reporting of suspicious activities.

A Catholic priest has recounted a harrowing experience before the Federal High Court in Abuja, describing how terrorists armed with explosives attacked St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, on June 5, 2022, killing over 40 parishioners.

Giving his Evidence-in-Chief in the ongoing trial of five alleged Al Shabab members accused of masterminding the attack, the priest, identified only as “SSA” for security reasons, said the assailants detonated at least three explosives inside the church.

The priest told the court that the attack occurred toward the end of the First Pentecost Sunday service, when the congregation was singing the closing hymn.

He said sporadic gunshots caused panic, and worshippers scrambled in chaos.

“I was performing the last rites when I heard a loud sound. At first, I thought someone had fallen, but then two members of our congregation quickly locked the main entrance, and an elder told me, ‘Father, we are under attack,’” he recounted behind a protective shield.

He added that he initially hesitated to leave the sanctuary, especially because of the children, but eventually helped move them to a safer area attached to the church.

While in this “safe place,” he continued to hear gunfire and explosions, including one that landed very close, causing the ground to appear to open beneath them.

“After the attackers left, I saw my choir master shot in the chest. I prayed for him and rushed him to the hospital.”

“On stepping out, I saw several deceased parishioners. I called for anyone able to drive to help transport the injured to medical facilities,” he said.

The priest described the immediate aftermath as chaotic, with emergency wards at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, quickly overwhelmed by casualties.

He personally made several trips to ensure victims were taken to hospitals, noting the overwhelming wailing and grief among survivors.

During cross-examination by defence counsel Abdullahi Mohammad, he said he could not identify the attackers due to the chaos and his focus on rescuing victims.

Trial Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, for further proceedings.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Thursday opened its case against five individuals accused of carrying out the June 5, 2022, attack on St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State, which left over 40 worshippers dead and around 100 injured. The hearing commenced before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The defendants are Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza (25), Al Qasim Idris (20), Jamiu Abdulmalik (26), Abdulhaleem Idris (25), and Momoh Otuho Abubakar (47).

All pleaded not guilty after the charge, recently amended to correct minor errors, was read in court.

The DSS called its first witness, a Catholic priest who presided over the service on the day of the attack.

He recounted how, as the Pentecost Sunday service was concluding, he and the congregation were caught off guard by loud noises, gunfire, and explosions.

The priest described the chaotic scene, including efforts to move children and other worshippers to a safe location attached to the church.

He witnessed several deaths and injuries firsthand and helped transport casualties to nearby hospitals.

During cross-examination, the priest stated that he could not identify the attackers or determine their number due to the chaos.

Justice Emeka Nwite approved an accelerated hearing and adjourned the case to January 13 and 14, 2026, at 12 noon each day for continuation.