Despite ongoing security challenges in the southeast, including the weekly Monday sit-at-home, Igbo leaders and stakeholders failed to raise the issue of Nnamdi Kanu’s release at a Town Hall meeting with President Bola Tinubu over the weekend.

The meeting, which many expected to provide an opportunity to address Kanu’s continued detention, saw no mention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and his incarceration.

This silence is at odds with the expectations of many in Igbo land, who hoped that the event would allow for a public statement on Kanu’s situation.

Numerous Igbo leaders believe that the release of Kanu, who has been detained since 2021, is crucial to restoring security and peace in the region.

While many have personally visited him in detention, others have independently appealed to President Tinubu for his release.

Just a day after assuming office as the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo two weeks ago, Nze Fidelis Ozichukwu had urged Tinubu to release Kanu in order to end insecurity in the South-East.

Additionally, during the last meeting of the South-East Governors Forum in Enugu late last year, a resolution was made to meet with President Tinubu to advocate for Kanu’s release.

However, during the town hall event attended by governors, political leaders, traditional rulers, and Christian leaders in Enugu, no mention was made of Kanu’s imprisonment or its effects on the region.

The town hall coincided with President Tinubu’s one-day working visit to Enugu State, where he inaugurated projects executed by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration.

The event was attended by several prominent Igbo figures, including Abia State Governor Alex Otti, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kanu, Senators, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, and Obi of Onitsha, Nnaemeka Achebe.

In his speech, former Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo praised the Tinubu administration for completing the Port Harcourt to Aba section of the Eastern rail line.

He urged the President to prioritise completing the remaining portions of the rail link, highlighting its potential to boost Nigeria’s non-oil exports and overall economic growth.

Enugu indigene Chris Ugoh also spoke, emphasizing the potential of the Anambra River Basin for power generation and industrial feedstocks.

He called on the federal government to develop this resource to benefit the South-East and other regions, including the Middle Belt and the North.

On the security front, Onyemuche Nnamani, National Commissioner representing the South-East in the Police Service Commission, recommended that the federal government adopt modern security strategies for the region.

He pointed to the successful statewide CCTV system and patrol cars with surveillance cameras in Enugu State. Nnamani also urged the de-emphasis of checkpoints and roadblocks, stating, “It is inefficient and exposes our security personnel to attacks by non-state actors.”

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The Nigeria Police Force in Ebonyi State has arrested 17 individuals in connection with the brutal killing of Uromchi Okorocha, who was accused of using witchcraft to cause deaths in the Enohia Itim village, Afikpo Local Government Area.

The arrest occurred on January 3, 2025, after the suspects mobilized to apprehend Okorocha and set him on fire before police arrived on the scene.

According to Police Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi, the suspects took the law into their own hands, bypassing legal authorities to execute what they deemed as justice.

The police arrived too late to prevent the mob from killing and burning Okorocha.

In a separate operation in Imo State, police operatives engaged in a gun battle with kidnappers in the Ohaji Local Government Area on January 4, resulting in the death of two suspects and the rescue of four hostages.

The operatives also recovered weapons, including an AK-47 rifle and ammunition, from the kidnappers’ hideout.

Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, condemned the act of jungle justice and reiterated the importance of relying on the rule of law and police authority for justice.

He assured the public that the force remains committed to public safety and tackling violent crimes.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Phesgo cancer treatment drugs.

The alert follows a report from a doctor at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), who raised concerns about the authenticity of a batch of the drug.

NAFDAC informed healthcare providers of the suspected counterfeit Phesgo 600mg/600mg, labeled with batch number C5290S20.

The marketing authorization holder, Roche, was also notified of the issue after the doctor reported the drug but did not return any physical samples for investigation.

Instead, images of parts of the product, including a vial and a 10ml folding box, were shared with Roche for comparison.

NAFDAC emphasized that the counterfeit batch resembles a previously reported fraudulent batch, C3809C51, which could pose serious risks to patients.

The agency urged healthcare professionals and the public to remain vigilant and avoid administering or purchasing the affected drug until further investigation is complete.

The Acting Chairman of the Katsina State chapter of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Surajo Rufa’i, has been killed in an attack by suspected bandits in Mai-Rana village, Kusada Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The deadly assault occurred late on Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. at Rufa’i’s residence.

Sources report that two other individuals were also killed during the attack, while several others sustained injuries.

The attackers also kidnapped Rufa’i’s two wives and his daughter, an undergraduate student. However, Rufa’i’s first wife was later released by the assailants.

The police confirmed the incident, with spokesperson Abubakar Sadiq noting that the bandits were tracked to Kofa village, where a gunfight ensued.

The bandits, outgunned by police forces, fled the scene, but two more individuals were fatally shot during their escape.

The remains of Rufa’i and the other victims were buried on Sunday morning in accordance with Islamic rites. Efforts to arrest the fleeing assailants are ongoing.

Rufa’i had recently taken over as the acting chairman of MACBAN’s Katsina chapter following the mysterious disappearance of Mannir Atiku Lamido, the previous chairman and national vice president of the association.

Lamido vanished without a trace in June 2024 while traveling to Kaduna, and his whereabouts remain unknown.