By Sebastine Chukwuebuka Okafor, 

A few days ago, social media was flooded with reports about a demonstration by the good people of Eha-Amufu in Isi Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State over the persistent attacks they suffer from bandits.

I use the word bandits because, oftentimes, when some of these attackers are apprehended or killed, evidence has shown that not all of them belong to the tribe traditionally associated with cattle rearing.

To me, this demonstration was a desperate attempt to draw the attention of the state government, as well as leaders at all levels, to their plight.

These people are losing their loved ones daily. They are being killed, raped, and driven from their ancestral land by these attackers, yet there seems to be no immediate solution from any quarter.

They have done their best to defend their land, but their enemies keep increasing.

In one of the recent attacks, Eha Amufu lost one of its heroes, known as Sharia. His death deepened the fear and helplessness in the community.

Yet, they continued to endure the suffering until it became unbearable. Imagine the horror of a loved one being raped and left with a long stick inside her – ihe o jiri bụrụ nwanyị (the very thing that makes her a woman). That is not an experience anyone would wish on even their worst enemy.

When the demonstration took place, I felt for these people because they are a part of me.

I came to Eha Amufu in 1995, completed my nursery and primary school there, and began my secondary education before leaving in 2006.

What baffled me, however, was the statement made by the local government chairman, Mr. Not Always in the Office, regarding the protest.

He attributed the demonstration to misinformation allegedly spread by political actors from Mgbuji and Eha-Ohuala.

According to him, the real issue was not the security crisis but false claims about farm estate, ranching, and produce city projects.

He even went as far as calling the protest a war against Mr. Tax Collector, Nwoke Owo.

To make matters worse, the media handlers of Nwoke Owo blindly accepted this narrative and vigorously promoted it.

They even went on to stage a counter-protest, turning the crisis into a poorly scripted drama. One would wonder what inspired the rented crowd they used for this charade.

But before long, another massive demonstration erupted, prompting the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Eha Amufu to step in and calm the situation.

The people of Eha Amufu are not just crying for attention; they are crying for survival. Their lands, homes, and dignity are being taken away, yet the response from those in power has been nothing but deflection and propaganda.

Instead of addressing the grave security challenges, the local government chairman and his team have chosen to engage in rhetoric, pointing fingers at imaginary political enemies while the real attackers continue their atrocities.

How can a government that swore to protect lives and property turn a blind eye to such carnage? This is not just negligence; it is a betrayal of the highest order.

It is even more unfortunate that certain media handlers of Nwoke Owo, rather than providing objective reports or advocating for urgent intervention, have resorted to misrepresentation and mockery.

Their attempt to downplay the suffering of the people by staging a counter-narrative is not only insensitive but also shameful.

How do you justify the rape, murder, and displacement of thousands of innocent people? How do you twist the truth when mass graves and shattered families stand as undeniable evidence of the horror Eha Amufu has endured?

No amount of propaganda can erase the pain and trauma of these victims.

At this critical moment, what Eha Amufu needs is not blame games but real solutions.

The state government, security agencies, and relevant stakeholders must rise to the occasion and provide lasting interventions.

While the Anglican Bishop of Eha Amufu has made efforts to calm the situation, peace cannot be achieved through mere words.

Concrete actions must follow—adequate security presence, intelligence-driven operations, and genuine dialogue with affected communities.

Nwoke Owo must understand that leadership is about responsibility, not theatrics. If nothing is done urgently, history will remember those who ignored the cries of the oppressed and sided with falsehood over justice.

It is imperative that Nwoke Owo takes immediate steps to address the security situation in Eha-Amufu through diplomacy and strategic intervention before the crisis spirals out of control.

IBB, 

The family of the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, has strongly criticized former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, over claims made in his recently released book, A Journey in Service.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Mohammed Abacha, the family denounced Babangida’s assertion that the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election was the responsibility of General Abacha.

They described the claim as false and an attempt to rewrite history, insisting that the blame for the annulment rests solely on Babangida’s administration.

The statement emphasized that Abacha, though a senior military officer at the time, was neither the Head of State nor the Commander-in-Chief when the election was nullified.

“General Babangida, as the then Head of State, wielded absolute executive power and was fully responsible for the decisions of his government. Any attempt to shift this burden onto General Abacha is a deliberate distortion of historical facts,” the family stated.

The Abacha family further urged Nigerians to reject what they termed as “revisionist narratives” aimed at manipulating public perception for political reasons.

“The legacy of our late father must not be tainted by baseless accusations designed to absolve those truly responsible,” they warned.

Additionally, the statement referenced a past incident where Abacha allegedly played a crucial role in securing Babangida’s safety when the former president’s life was under threat.

“It was General Abacha who came to his rescue, ensuring his security at a critical moment,” the family claimed.

Expressing disappointment with Babangida’s book, the Abacha family lamented that A Journey in Service failed to provide an honest and objective account of past events.

They concluded with a pointed remark, citing a public commentator who noted that “honesty, sincerity, and integrity are virtues not commonly associated with the author.”

Gunmen have killed the leader of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Kwara State, Alhaji Idris Abubakar Sakaina.

The attack occurred around 10:00 p.m. on Saturday outside his residence in Oke Ose, Ilorin.

According to sources, the assailants shot him at close range and fled without taking any of his belongings, leaving the motive for the attack unclear.

A witness, Aina’u Sarki, revealed that she was with the deceased just minutes before the incident.

“I left him only 20 minutes earlier when I got a call informing me he had been shot,” she said.

Confirming the killing, the Special Assistant to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Inter-Community Relations (Fulani), Muhammed Abdullahi, stated that the police had launched an investigation.

“Yes, he was killed in front of his house on Saturday night. We are currently preparing for his burial, and the authorities have begun looking into the matter,” he told Daily Gazette.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, Ejire-Adeyemi Toun, acknowledged the incident but had yet to provide further details at the time of reporting.

The late Sakaina, aged 32, was a former Special Assistant to the Moro Local Government Chairman and also served as a Fulani youth leader in the state.

Tragedy struck in Nnewichi, Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as three siblings were found dead inside a deep freezer under mysterious circumstances.

The victims, identified as Chikaima (9), Chimziterem (8), and Chimdirim (5), were reportedly killed by unknown assailants who then stuffed their bodies inside the freezer.

The shocking incident has left the community in grief, with many demanding justice for the slain children.

During a requiem mass held in their honor at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Ekwulobia Diocese, Cardinal Ebere Okpalaeke, likened the tragedy to the biblical story of Cain and Abel, describing it as a cruel act of inhumanity.

He further stated that the young victims, whose lives were cut short in such a brutal manner, had become martyrs.

The burial, which took place on Saturday, was marked by an outpouring of emotions as family members, friends, and community residents wept uncontrollably while bidding the children a final farewell.

Many called for a thorough investigation to uncover the perpetrators and ensure justice is served.

Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has revealed that his administration withdrew from an existing loan agreement with the World Bank to prevent the state from being trapped in long-term debt.

Speaking on Sunday while addressing members of the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah’s media team during their inspection of the ongoing Government House and Governor’s Lodge project in Awka, Soludo emphasized that his government has refused to borrow from any financial institution or even access federal loans available to states in 2024.

He stated that despite this decision, his administration had undertaken ambitious projects that were at various stages of completion.

According to Soludo, Anambra is the only state that opted out of a World Bank loan deal that had been signed before he took office.

“I reviewed the loan terms and found them unsustainable. It would have been easy to continue with it since future generations would bear the burden, but it was a bad deal for Anambra. Last year, N438 billion was shared among 35 states, yet Anambra was the only one that declined to take it. I need funds, but I will not mortgage my state’s future,” he stated.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s effort to provide Anambra with a permanent Government House and Governor’s Lodge, 34 years after the state’s creation.

“This is a landmark project with about 34 buildings, constructed to stand the test of time. In 200 years, they will still be standing strong, just like the White House in America,” he said.

On infrastructure, Soludo noted that his administration has completed 410 kilometers of roads out of a total of 750 kilometers under construction, focusing on areas that have never had tarred roads before.

Beyond infrastructure, he mentioned significant investments in education, healthcare, youth empowerment, and restoring societal values by promoting dignity in labor over the growing “get-rich-quick” culture.

“When I took office, I promised Anambra people transparency, and I have shown them where every kobo is being spent,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the visiting media team, Kamen Ogbonna commended the governor’s achievements, particularly his ability to execute large-scale projects without borrowing.

“The scale of the Government House and Governor’s Lodge shows why previous administrations avoided it, but Soludo has taken on the challenge,” Ogbonna said.

Nollywood actors Steve Alajemba (Uwaezuoke) and Collins Monago, who were part of the tour, also praised Soludo’s work and urged the people of Anambra to support him as he seeks re-election in the November 8 governorship poll.