At least 18 individuals were killed in a series of coordinated machete attacks across multiple communities in Orsu Local Government Area, Imo State, on Sunday.

The affected areas include Umukabia, Eziawa, Ihitte Nasa, Umuhu, Amaoku, and Amaebe.

The victims, who suffered severe machete wounds, were discovered in various locations, sparking alarm and anger among the local population.

The killings followed the annual masquerade festival held in Umuhu, Amaoku, Amaebe, and nearby areas.

After the festivities, locals, including holiday returnees, gathered at a drinking establishment, where all nine people inside, including customers and staff, were later found dead, each with deep machete cuts.

A source, speaking under the condition of anonymity, reported, “All nine people in the joint were killed, either patrons or workers, and their bodies were covered in machete wounds. It’s strange, as no sounds of gunshots or commotion were heard nearby. We suspect that members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) may have been responsible for these attacks.”

Additionally, three bodies were found in Umukabia, five in Eziawa, and another five in Ihitte Nasa, all with similar machete injuries.

Shockingly, no one reported seeing the attackers, nor did anyone notice them leaving the scene.

Orsu has been plagued by violence and the influence of IPOB and ESN for years, leading to the displacement of many residents.

However, recent military operations had helped reclaim some areas, allowing for the return of displaced locals.

A police source speculated that the attackers were likely aiming to instill fear and drive people out once again.

The police have confirmed the killings, and Imo State’s Police Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, stated that investigations are ongoing.

He added that a special security team, led by Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma, has been established to investigate the deaths.

Okoye urged residents to remain calm while the authorities work to resolve the situation.

A young couple, Princess and Prince, have been arrested by the Delta State Police for staging a fake kidnapping in an attempt to extort N2,000,000 from Princess’s family.

The police made the arrest following the bizarre incident, which occurred on December 30, 2024, according to a statement from the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe.

The plot unfolded when Princess visited her boyfriend, Prince, and convinced him to call her parents, claiming that she had been kidnapped.

Following her instructions, Prince contacted the family and demanded a ransom for her release.

In the statement, SP Edafe revealed, “The two suspects are dating, and on December 30th, the girl visited her boyfriend and asked him to contact her parents, falsely stating she had been abducted and demanding N2,000,000 for her release.”

The mother, believing her daughter had been kidnapped, reported the incident to the police. However, authorities quickly uncovered the scheme, much to the mother’s shock.

“This is what some children are doing these days,” the statement added, highlighting the deceptive nature of the crime.

The Oyo State Government on Tuesday opposed the bail applications of Ooni of Ife’s former queen, Naomi Shilekunola, Hamzat Oriyomi, and Fasasi Abdullahi, a school principal, after they were remanded in custody in connection with a deadly stampede during a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan.

The incident, which occurred on December 24, resulted in the tragic deaths of 35 children.

At the hearing held at High Court 8 in Ibadan, the defendants’ lawyers requested bail, but the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, argued against the application.

Aikomo asserted that the defense had failed to present valid reasons to justify bail and dismissed claims of government persecution as baseless.

The defense, however, contested the detention, labeling it unconstitutional and citing procedural flaws in the remand process.

They also argued that the “holding charge” used to keep the suspects in custody was not recognized by Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

Waheed Olajide, representing Fasasi Abdullahi, challenged the legality of the detention, emphasizing his client’s poor health and the need for medical attention.

Similarly, Silekunola’s lawyer, Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN), argued that the detention violated constitutional provisions, as the holding charge was not supported by the law.

The court has adjourned its ruling on the bail applications until January 13, 2025.

The federal government has begun paying the long-overdue allowances of retired military personnel following a protest at the entrance of the Ministry of Finance in Abuja.

The demonstration, which lasted several hours, saw the retirees barricading the entrance with canopies and chairs from as early as 7am, preventing ministry staff from entering the premises.

This protest comes after a similar one in December 2024, when retirees shut down the ministry over the government’s failure to settle their claims.

For months, the retirees were told that there were no funds available to clear their entitlements, despite official approvals for the payments.

The retirees were owed salary increments ranging from 20% to 28% for the period between January and November 2024, along with other benefits, including palliatives from October 2023 to November 2024.

They also demanded an additional N32,000 to be added to their pensions, a bulk payment of the Security Debarment Allowance, and a refund of pension deductions for soldiers who were medically boarded.

Despite the government paying 50% of the owed entitlements after the December protest and promising to settle the remaining balance, the retirees claimed that the promise was not fulfilled, prompting their return to the streets on Tuesday.

A team of security officers, along with senior ministry staff, attempted to persuade the retirees to end the protest, but they remained firm in their demand for credit alerts before leaving.

Their stance changed only when the Chairman of the Military Pension Board, Air Vice Marshal Paul Irumheson, addressed the protesters and confirmed that the funds for their payments had been transferred to the board.

“We have received the funds for your entitlements, and you will begin to see your alerts shortly. Please leave now as we are working to ensure everyone is paid,” Irumheson said.

Following this announcement, the retirees began receiving their payment alerts, prompting them to dismantle the protest setup and return to their homes.

Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, spokesperson for the Coalition for Concerned Veterans, confirmed that retirees were receiving their payments, while Aliyu Umar, another community leader, expressed frustration over the government’s earlier claims that there were no funds.

“Now that the money is here, we ask, why did we have to protest to receive our entitlements?” Umar said.