The Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has rejected the proposal currently before the House of Representatives for the creation of 31 additional states, arguing that the imbalance between the North and South must first be addressed.

In a statement issued in Abakaliki, the Deputy National President of the Ohanaeze faction, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, insisted that equity and justice demand the creation of two additional states in the South to bring parity with the North, ensuring both regions have 19 states each.

He described the ongoing state creation proposal as lacking credibility and failing to meet fundamental criteria for establishing viable political entities.

Isiguzoro criticized the move as premature and ill-conceived, stating that it casts doubt on the integrity of the House of Representatives and undermines its role in governance.

“The suggestion to create an unwieldy number of new states is, frankly, premature and displays a level of immaturity unbecoming of our representatives.”

“Such proposals do nothing but cast a shadow over the stature of the House of Representatives and compromise its essential role in governance,” the statement read.

Ohanaeze reaffirmed its stance that any discussion on state creation should first address the historical underrepresentation of the South, which currently has 17 states, compared to 19 states in the North—a disparity Isiguzoro labeled unacceptable.

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show political will and moral strength by correcting this imbalance, emphasizing that the North has leveraged its numerical advantage to gain political and economic benefits.

“In this context, we urgently appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to summon the political will and moral strength necessary to correct this longstanding imbalance in state representation”.

“The political and economic advantages enjoyed by the North, due in large part to its nineteen states, must be counterbalanced by the creation of two additional states in the South,” the statement continued.

Ohanaeze proposed that one of the two new states should be created in the Southeast, which remains the only geopolitical zone with five states, compared to seven in the Northwest.

“Our immediate recommendation is that the first of these new states be established in the Southeast, which currently consists of just five states. It is imperative that the Southeast achieves parity with other geopolitical zones, particularly the Northwest, which boasts seven states,” Isiguzoro stated.

The second state, according to Ohanaeze, should be allocated either to the Southwest or the South-South region, as part of a broader strategy to address longstanding grievances and ensure a more equitable distribution of power.

“Moreover, we propose that the allocation of the second new state be judiciously considered for either the Southwest or the South-South region”.

“This strategic adjustment is not merely a numeric correction; it represents a critical step toward addressing the long-standing grievances of the Southern populace and fostering a more equitable distribution of power across the federation,” the statement added.

Despite its objections, Ohanaeze Ndigbo commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for dismissing the proposal, arguing that it does not meet constitutional requirements.

“We commend the leadership of the House, particularly the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for his forthright dismissal of this proposal, which fails to meet basic constitutional requirements. His remarks serve not only as a necessary disclaimer but as a vital effort to preserve the integrity and dignity of our legislative institutions,” Isiguzoro said.

Reiterating its commitment to fairness and justice, Ohanaeze called on President Tinubu to take decisive action in creating two new states in the South.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving fairness and equity for our people. We assert that the time has come for President Tinubu to take decisive action and create two additional states within the Southern region. It is a clarion call for justice, equality, and national unity,” the statement concluded.

A major confrontation is brewing within the Nigeria Police Force as six senior officers accused of falsifying their ages and manipulating service records are now demanding that Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun retire alongside them.

The officers: Idowu Owohunwa, Simon Lough, SAN, Benneth Igweh, Aina Emmanuel, Salama Wakili Abdul, and Adepoju Olugbenga, are refusing to step down despite surpassing the mandatory retirement criteria of 60 years of age or 35 years in service.

Egbetokun had earlier directed that the officers appear before a disciplinary committee at the Force Headquarters in Abuja between Monday, February 10, and Thursday, February 13.

Sources revealed that the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) intends to demote or dismiss them.

“The goal of the IGP Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) is to reduce the ranks and/or dismiss them outright,” a source disclosed.

However, the officers are resisting retirement, insisting that Egbetokun must also step down since he has exceeded the mandatory retirement age but remains in office due to an extension granted by the President and the National Assembly.

They argue that any decision taken by Egbetokun since his official retirement date—September 4, 2024—is invalid.

“The senior police officers invited to appear before a disciplinary committee are threatening the police IG Egbetokun, saying that he must retire along with them since he has also passed his retirement and only saved by the President and the National Assembly,” a source said.

“They also said that every action taken by Egbetokun since last September 4, his official retirement date, is illegal, including, but not limited to, the issuance of retirement letters to them, which they have refused to honour.”

Additionally, they claim that the directive requiring them to appear in their official uniforms for the disciplinary hearing contradicts their purported retirement, implying that the police hierarchy still recognizes them as active officers.

“They are also saying that if he ordered them to arrive in uniform for disciplinary action after they have been purportedly retired, then he is accepting that they are still in service,” another source added.

Reports indicate that nearly 500 officers have been implicated in allegations of forgery, age falsification, and bypassing service regulations.

While some have quietly retired, others have taken their grievances to the National Industrial Court.

“There are also others who went to the National Industrial Court on Friday, with the IG’s lawyer promising not to retire them,” a source confirmed.

On Saturday, Egbetokun had directed the senior officers refusing to retire to appear before a disciplinary panel.

A police signal dated February 7, 2025, and obtained by the outlet, stated:

“INGENPOL directs you warn and release AP. No. 50645 Idowu Owohunwa, AP/NO. 50703, AIG Benneth Igweh, AP/NO. 41704, CP Aina Emmanuel, AP/NO. 41741, CP Salama Wakili Abdul, AP/NO. 46522, Adepoju Olugbenga Adewole, AP/NO. 57917 DCP Simon Lough, SAN, serving yours to appear before the Force Disciplinary Committee (FDC) sitting from 10/02/2025 to 13/05/2025.”

“Time 1000HRS; venue IGP’S Conference Hall, 7th floor, Force Headquarters, Abuja. They are to report in their clean working dress; note daily dress code to be strictly adhered to. Treat as very important please.”

Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise within the Force, as over 200 senior officers were refusing to retire despite evidence of falsified birth records.

Some have served up to 44 years, far exceeding the legal service limits.

Sources further revealed that Deputy Inspector General of the Federal Investigation Department, Dasuki Galandanchi, who is also due for retirement, is demanding a two-year extension, citing the precedent set by Egbetokun’s extension.

“Galandanchi is stating that if he must retire, Egbetokun must also retire,” a police insider noted.

On July 23, 2024, the Nigerian Senate passed the Police Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, extending Egbetokun’s tenure beyond September.

President Bola Tinubu had earlier proposed the bill to modify the Police Act of 2020.

Despite this, IGP had reportedly ordered the immediate retirement of senior officers who had exceeded the age or service limit.

The directive, outlined in a February 1, 2025 letter signed by CP Bode Akinbamilowo, Deputy Force Secretary, was addressed to top-ranking officers nationwide.

The letter referenced a decision by the Police Service Commission (PSC) to enforce retirements. It stated:

“Accordingly, the Commission at its 1st extraordinary meeting of the 6th Management Board held on Friday 31st January 2025 has approved the immediate retirement of those officers who have spent 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.

“Any omission discovered subsequently on this issue also falls within this approval.”

A full list of affected officers includes Simon Asamber Lough, who should have retired on January 8, 2022, and Benneth Chinedu Igweh, due for retirement on January 5, 2023.

The Police Service Commission had formally approved the immediate retirement of senior officers exceeding the age and service limits.

The decision was made during its first extraordinary meeting, chaired by DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd), alongside other commissioners, including retired Supreme Court Justice Adamu Paul Galumje.

The PSC’s spokesperson, Ikechukwu Ani, confirmed the decision:

“PSC rose from its first extraordinary meeting with the approval for the immediate retirement of senior police officers who have spent more than 35 years in service and those above 60 years of age.”

Despite the PSC’s decision and IGP Egbetokun’s directive, the affected officers remain defiant, setting the stage for a major institutional crisis within the Nigeria Police Force.

The leadership of the Nigeria Police Force has been thrown into confusion following a fresh legal dispute as several senior officers have challenged their premature retirement at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

The suit, registered as NICN/ABJ/21M/2023, was brought before Hon. Justice O. A. Obaseki Osaghae by Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Egong Egwu Egong, Edwin Okoro, and three others.

They claim that the Police Service Commission (PSC) wrongly calculated their service years based on a controversial circular, counting from their initial entry into the force instead of their admission date into the Police Academy.

In response to the suit, the police legal team has undertaken to maintain the “status quo” until a final decision is reached, effectively pausing the planned retirement of the senior officers.

This development has reportedly unsettled the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who had been preparing for their departure.

Earlier, the Industrial Court ruled that the officers’ service years should be determined from their academy entry date, and no appeal has been filed against the judgment.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Adeleke Agbola, representing the claimants, pressed the court to ensure strict adherence to its ruling.

“The judgment of the court is that the date is when the policemen got into the Academy. There is no appeal against the judgment. I urge the court that status quo be maintained pending the hearing of this committal proceeding to determine if there has been a breach on the basis that the judgment of the court must be obeyed,” Agbola emphasized.

On the other hand, Ade Adedeji SAN, counsel for the PSC, reassured the court that the commission was taking necessary steps to comply with the ruling.

He reiterated that the judgment remained unchallenged, making it binding.

“We have taken steps to obey the court’s judgment. The judgment is not challenged as there is no appeal. It is final. The circular has nothing to do with the claimants. It is without prejudice to the parties in this matter. We do not intend to do anything to overreach the court. We intend to comply with the judgment of the court and have sworn to the affidavit in this regard. All the claimants have been posted. I give an undertaking that all the defendants are law-abiding and will comply with the judgment, and the rule of law,” Adedeji assured.

Despite these assurances, Agbola urged the court to schedule a hearing on committal proceedings to determine whether there had been any violation of the judgment.

Following these submissions, the court adjourned the case to March 18, 2025, for a report on full compliance with the ruling or a hearing on the committal proceedings.

A well-known celebrity native doctor, Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki n’Oba, has been arrested by Agunechemba, a local vigilante group in Anambra State.

His arrest was confirmed on Saturday in a video shared via the Anambra State New Media handle on Facebook.

The incident took place in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area.

According to the post, “Akwa Okuko Tiwaraki n’Oba denies Okeite and has been detained for further investigation by the security agency.”

Sources indicate that after his arrest, he was taken to the office of the Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim, for questioning.

In a widely circulated video, the deputy governor is seen interrogating him.

While responding to the allegations, Akwa Okuko stated, “I have long stopped doing ‘Oke Ite’. That thing is not a charm. We just gave it the name ‘Oke Ite’ because we put it in a pot.”

Reacting to his explanation, the deputy governor insisted on further investigations, saying, “We need to take him to where he does these things. We will investigate him, and of course, we need to know where he does these things.”

Akwa Okuko has been a controversial figure in recent times.

In July 2023, he was abducted by gunmen and reportedly spent days in captivity before being released after a ransom was allegedly paid.

Additionally, there are accusations that he provides charms for criminals, including kidnappers disguising as internet fraudsters.

To curb crime in the state, the administration of Governor Charles Soludo enacted the Anambra State Homeland Security Law in 2025.

The law imposes stringent penalties on native doctors involved in the preparation or administration of charms such as ‘Odeshi’, ‘Okeite’, and ‘Mkpu Egbe’.

A devastating gas explosion in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State, has left traders and residents counting their losses after fire engulfed several shops, vehicles, and food supplies.

The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Abdullahi Baba-Arah, confirmed the incident on Sunday, noting that while there were no reported casualties, the scale of destruction was extensive.

According to witnesses, the explosion occurred around 11 p.m. on Saturday when a gas tanker was offloading at a local filling station.

The resulting blast sent shockwaves across the town, causing panic among residents as flames spread rapidly.

Musa Aliyu, a resident, described the scene as terrifying.

“The fire was so intense that its flames could be seen from different parts of town. People ran out of their homes in fear. We thank Allah that no one was injured, but the destruction is enormous,” he said.

The fire reached a nearby petrol station, engulfing shops and parked vehicles before firefighters could bring it under control. By the time emergency responders arrived, much of the damage had already been done.

In response to the disaster, residents have called on authorities to enforce stricter safety regulations at gas and petrol stations to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, has been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Owerri, Imo State.

His whereabouts remain unknown since the incident occurred on Saturday, February 8, 2025.

According to a statement released by the Igbo National Council (INC) and signed by its president, Chilos Godsent, the abduction took place around 7:00 pm at Works Layout in Owerri.

“On Saturday, 8th February 2025, at about 7:00pm, we heard the sad news that gunmen dressed in black and numbering up to seven arrived on a Sienna and a Lexus SUV and forcefully arrested the President of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) – Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka in a Neo Mafia Gestapo manner at Works Layout Owerri Imo State.”

Since his abduction, all attempts by members of the Ohanaeze Youth Council, his family, and associates to reach him have been unsuccessful.

His mobile phones were switched off immediately after the incident, raising further concerns about his safety.

“Since this sad news, attempts by teeming Members of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Family members, Friends, and Associates to reach him through his Mobile lines to ascertain his way about have failed because all his Mobile lines were switched off immediately the ugly incident took place.”

In response, the Igbo National Council has called on the Nigerian Police Force in Imo State to take urgent action to uncover the identities of the assailants and ensure Igboayaka’s safe return.

“On the foregoing, the Igbo National Council (INC) wish to call on the Leadership of the Nigerian Police Force Imo State Command to immediately swing to action to determine the identity of the gunmen that forcefully took the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) – Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka captive on the evening of Saturday 8th February 2025 in Owerri Metropolis and thus make same Public.”

The INC further expressed deep concern over the situation, noting that the incident has left his supporters, relatives, and the wider Igbo community in distress.

“The Igbo National Council INC notes that his followers, family, friends, and associates have been thrown into confusion since the ugly incident and would like to know his way soonest.”