Fear has gripped the residents of Irete autonomous community in Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State, after a violent attack by armed hoodlums.

The assault, which occurred on the night of September 11, 2024, has left one person dead and several others injured.

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The victim, Miss Ugochi Agbanyi, succumbed to severe injuries inflicted by the attackers, while her brother, Uche Agbanyi, remains in critical condition at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri (FUTHO).

A local villager, speaking anonymously to Sunday Vanguard, explained that the community has been facing repeated attacks by armed criminals, suspected to be herdsmen.

The situation escalated when the local security outfit engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun battle as they attempted to rob and loot properties in the area.

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The attackers, forced to retreat, fled into the nearby bushes along the Nworie River, violently attacking anyone in their path.

Among the victims were Ugochi and her brother, Uche, who were initially taken to a local hospital but later transferred to FUTHO due to the severity of their injuries.

Unfortunately, Ugochi did not survive.

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On the night of September 13, the attackers continued their reign of terror, assaulting a resident and stealing his motorcycle near AA Rano filling station and Disney Hotel, further heightening security concerns in the once peaceful community.

Residents are now living in fear, unable to go to their farms or feel safe in their homes.

They have called on the Imo State Government and security agencies to intervene and prevent further attacks.

At the time of reporting, the Imo State Police Command has yet to issue an official statement on the matter.

The family of Daniel Ogoh, a 27-year-old postgraduate student who recently returned to Nigeria from the UK, has issued a distress call after he went missing shortly after his arrival.

Daniel, who is 6.1 feet tall, arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on May 5. Although he was listed on the arrival manifest and cleared by airport immigration, he has not been seen since his arrival.

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His family reports that despite their efforts to contact him and locate him through his phone, all attempts have been unsuccessful.

Daniel’s uncle, Mr. Imade Osamede, confirmed that there were no issues with Daniel’s immigration clearance, and no criminal records were associated with him.

The family is deeply troubled by his disappearance and has launched a search while notifying law enforcement agencies. Despite these efforts, no leads have emerged.

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“This situation is both baffling and heartbreaking. It is inconceivable that someone could arrive from Europe and simply vanish without a trace in their own country. This has caused immense emotional distress to his parents and the entire family,” Osamede said, visibly shaken.

The family has appealed to the public for any information regarding Daniel’s whereabouts. Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station or reach out to the family at +2349035440301 and +2348167082786.

Severe flooding has struck the Azuoto, Okpuitumo Community in Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, causing widespread destruction to farmlands and property valued at millions of naira.

According to local resident Mrs. Chinyere Nworie, the flood submerged her rice, yam, and cassava farms, adding that the community, located near the Azuoto and Ebony Rivers, experiences this devastation almost yearly due to its proximity to these water bodies, which connect to the River Niger.

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“This latest flood occurred on Saturday after a heavy downpour the day before,” Nworie explained. “Our farms have been completely submerged, and no fewer than 96 households have been affected by the disaster. We suffer from flooding every year, especially when the rains cause the Ebony River to overflow its banks.”

Another resident, Mr. Amauche Agbo, expressed his dismay, calling the situation “unfortunate.”

The affected residents have called on government authorities at all levels to provide relief materials to help them recover from the disaster.

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In response, Uche Oba, the Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said the agency had begun assessing the extent of the damage in the affected communities.

Oba acknowledged that flooding has become a recurring challenge in the area and remains a significant concern for the state government.

Prof. Bart Nnaji

A land dispute between Distinguished Professor Bart Nnaji, renowned Nigerian engineer and former Minister of Power, and a group of squatters in the Onuogba Nike community in Enugu East Local Government Area has escalated following claims by the squatters that they were victims of land grabbing.

The squatters held a press conference in Enugu on Thursday, September 12, 2024, making sensational allegations against Prof. Nnaji, but these claims have been largely dismissed by media houses as baseless.

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Reports indicate that only a few outlets published the squatters’ accusations, while many journalists declined after determining the story lacked merit.

According to insiders, the squatters are themselves guilty of illegally occupying the land, which Prof. Nnaji legally owns.

Prof. Nnaji acquired the land in 2005 from the original owner, Chief Hyacinth Alinta, who had a Certificate of Occupancy.

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The land had previously been sold to Chief Alinta by the original owners from the Onuogba community.

The dispute arose when a group of migrants from Ezza Nkomoro in Ebonyi State began squatting on the property, resisting efforts to remove them. Legal battles over the land, initiated by Chief Alinta and inherited by Prof. Nnaji, were finally resolved in 2013 in favor of the landowner.

Despite winning the court case, Prof. Nnaji opted for a compassionate approach after the intervention of the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Callistus Onaga.

He delayed his plans to develop the land, allowing the squatters the opportunity to either purchase the land or vacate it peacefully.

In a press release made available to DAILY GAZETTE on Saturday by Prof. Nnaji’s media assistant, Chijioke Ogbodo, none of the squatters took advantage of the offer, and they remained on the land for more than 11 years.

The situation took a tragic turn in 2023 when a local contractor, Mr. Sunday Ozoemena, who had been advising the squatters to negotiate peacefully with Prof. Nnaji, was murdered.

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Mr. Ozoemena, a community member, had been contracted to build a perimeter fence around the property. His murder is currently under investigation.

Despite these challenges, both Prof. Nnaji and Bishop Onaga continued to show patience, offering the squatters multiple chances to either pay for the land or accept financial support to relocate.

In August 2024, the squatters were given a final deadline to register their intent to purchase the land through their local Parish Priest, with Prof. Nnaji offering financial assistance of up to N1 million for those willing to move.

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However, no one responded to the offer until eviction processes began.

The squatters maintain that the land is their ancestral home, but they have been unable to provide any documentation to support their claim.

The court ruling in 2013 firmly established Prof. Nnaji’s ownership of the property, refuting the squatters’ claims.

The delay in vacating the land has hindered Prof. Nnaji’s development project, which includes plans for an automotive parts manufacturing facility and an independent power project in Enugu, in partnership with South Korean investors.

Ogbodo emphasized that Prof. Nnaji’s goodwill has been repeatedly exploited, but after years of patience, he is now moving forward with the legal and moral steps to regain possession of his land.

Sources within the community suggest that some of the squatters have been misled by individuals who sold the land illegally.

The Catholic Parish Priest, who has been mediating the conflict, remains a reliable source for independent verification of these developments.

The land dispute continues to generate tension, but Prof. Nnaji’s legal ownership is not in question, and efforts to develop the property are expected to proceed after years of delay.