
News
119 Civilians, security personnel killed by gunmen in South East in 3 months – Report

An independent study conducted by Nextier SPD Violent Conflict Database into the activities of dissident groups in Nigeria’s South East region, particularly between 2021 and 2022, revealed how Non State Armed Groups, dubbed “unknown gunmen,” killed 83 civilians and 36 security personnel in the first half of 2022.
Aside from the death, another 73 people were said to have been kidnapped in 28 kidnapping incidents in the South East during the same time period.
According to the independent study, at least three civilians and one security personnel are killed each week as a result of the activities of the unknown gunmen in the region.
The situation is described as worse in Anambra State, where the total number of UGM-related deaths exceeds the South East regional average.
According to the report, Anambra state accounted for 31.5 percent of all kidnap victims and 40.9 percent of all civilians killed by the UGM in the first half of 2022.
According to the report, the NSAGs’ violent activities and subsequent deployment of state security personnel across Anambra State have caught civilian communities in the crossfire of NSAGs and state security forces, both of which are willing to punish civilians with violence if they suspect civilian collaboration with the opposing side.
“At first, some perceived the UGM as radical secessionist groups because they targeted and killed members of state security forces. Their activities were romanticised by some social media users who recorded and spread scenes of their attacks on state security forces on social media.
“A trend analysis of killings by the UGM as documented by Nextier SPD Violent Conflict Database shows that the targets of the UGM appear to have shifted to focus more on civilians. For instance, in 2021, security personnel accounted for 70.7 per cent of the total killings by the UGM, while civilians accounted for 29.3 per cent of total killings by UGM in Anambra State.
“However, by the first half of 2022, civilians accounted for 80.9 per cent, while security personnel accounted for 19.0 per cent of total killings by UGM in Anambra State.
“The same trend is observed in the larger data for the South East region. This suggests that more civilians are being targeted and killed by the UGM in the South East. The governor of Anambra State recently alleged that many of those parading as UGM are known persons indulging in self-serving criminal activities, including human organ harvesting,” Dr Chukwuma Okoli and Dr Ndu Nwokolo both key resource persons who carried out the study on behalf of Nextier SPD, submitted.
Both researchers agreed that since 2015, civilian communities in Anambra State, like other South East states, have found themselves victims of both the NSAGs and state security agencies, highlighting the limited autonomy of civilian communities in the ongoing violence in Anambra State.
They claimed that while the NSAGs extort the communities through the imposition of illegal taxes/levies on some communities, kidnapping for ransom, and murder, some state security personnel commit various forms of human rights violations in an attempt to decimate the NSAGs.
The report also revealed that many of these civilian communities have been unable to protect themselves from the violence of both armed groups, as well as maintain independent decision-making over their daily livelihood and conflict outcomes.
According to the research experts, “For instance, in addition to the kidnapping and killings by the NSAGs, the persistence of Monday sit-at-home in Anambra State even when the IPOB has announced its cancellation and despite an attempt by the state government to put an end to it attests to the limited autonomy of the civilian communities in the ongoing violent conflict.
“More so, a recent Nextier SPD Policy Brief reveals that civilian communities experience human rights abuse by some security personnel deployed to engage the UGM and cannot hold the security agencies accountable for such abuses by the security personnel.
“The recent discoveries of hideouts of some NSAGs, particularly the kidnappers in some locations within Anambra State and the allegation that some community members, particularly native doctors, were aiding the NSAGs indicate that there are persons in the communities collaborating with the NSAGs who have hideouts in the communities from where they operate.
“The inability of the civilian communities to expose or even expel the NSAGs who use their communities as hideouts in the communities even though civilians are increasingly falling victims to the self-serving criminal interests pursued by the NSAGs is another evidence of the limited autonomy of the civilian communities in the ongoing violent conflict”.
As a result, the report concluded that Anambra State is experiencing unprecedented violent conflict, and civilian communities are caught in the crossfires of the NSAGs and state security agencies due to their limited autonomy in the conflict.
It suggested that using nonviolent strategies to strengthen civilian communities’ autonomy would improve social cohesion and contribute to the de-escalation of violent conflict in Anambra State. (Daily Sun)
News
2027: Approach Peter Obi to return – Dan Ulasi tells PDP leadership


The former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chairman in Anambra State, Dan Ulasi, has suggested that the party should approach ex-Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi to return back to the party.
Obi was PDP presidential running mate in the 2019 election which the party lost to former President Muhammadu Buhari.
During the 2023 presidential election, the former Anambra State governor had dumped the PDP for LP.
Under LP, Obi ran for the Presidency as the party’s flag bearer but he came third behind the winner, President Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.
Lately there have been claims of disintegration within the PDP with former presidential running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa and Governor Sheriff Oborevwori defecting to the All Progressives Congress, APC, and more governors are also said to be planning their defection from the party.
Prior to their defection, Atiku and Obi had formed a coalition with other opposition personalities with the aim of ousting Tinubu out of power in 2027.
The PDP Governors Forum, however, vowed that the party will never join Atiku’s coalition.
However, Ulasi said Obi is a better choice should the former ruling party decides to build and consider its future.
Featuring on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Ulasi said: “Peter Obi is a factor of progress. In the last presidential election, he had over six million votes so if there are no inordinate ambitious people in PDP who don’t want to be overshadowed or position alluded, Obi is somebody the party should openly approach.
“We are talking about leadership for better government of Nigeria and not better person for Nigeria, not better party for Nigeria.
“There are individuals who have the characteristics of performance, who have integrity and honour. And Obi is one of the very few in this country with such qualities.
“So, if the party decides to approach him and solicit my advice, I have enough contacts and relationship with Obi to convince him on why it’s necessary for us to come together to stop the menace that is going on in Abuja presently.
“It will be shameful for PDP governors – for reasons best known to them to dump the party for APC – I want to see them in a press conference telling what are their achievements after eight years as governors.”
News
Akpabio leads Nigerian delegation to Pope Francis’ funeral


Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, is heading a high-level Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church, in Vatican City on Saturday.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Friday.
Tinubu sent the five-member delegation, which also includes the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu; President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji; Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Archbishop Matthew Hassan Kukah; and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese, Archbishop Ignatius Ayua Kaigama.
The statement added, “The delegation will formally deliver a letter conveying President Tinubu’s sympathy and condolences on Pope Francis’ passing to the Acting Head of the Vatican.
“On Monday, President Tinubu joined the Catholic faithful and Christians worldwide to mourn the death of Pope Francis, who he described as ‘a humble servant of God, a tireless champion of the poor, and a guiding light for millions.’”
Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, just a day after leading Easter Sunday celebrations at the Vatican.
Tinubu added that the Pope’s death, coming after the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, symbolises a sacred return to his Maker, offering renewed hope to Christians worldwide.
News
Armed herders hijack buses, kidnap 19 passengers in Benue


No fewer than 19 passengers travelling in two commercial buses were abducted on Thursday morning by suspected armed herdsmen in Jor community, along the Adoka-Naka road in Gwer West Local Government Area of Benue State.
The buses were ambushed in two separate but closely timed incidents along the same location, roughly three kilometres from Naka, the Gwer West LGA headquarters.
One of the vehicles was headed to Makurdi from Ankpa, Kogi State, while the other was travelling to Lokoja from Makurdi when they both ran into the ambush.
The Ter Tyoshin and chairman of the Gwer West Traditional Council, His Royal Highness Daniel Abomtse, confirmed the attacks.
“I was told that each vehicle had about 12 passengers on board. However, an elderly woman, a nursing mother with her two children, and one of the drivers were not taken,” he said.
These spared individuals reportedly alerted authorities at the Naka Police Station shortly after the incident. They have since been released by the police.
The Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, High Level Unit, Yakubu Onu, which oversees the main transport park operating on the route, also confirmed the abduction.
“The surviving passengers made their way to the police station and were later allowed to continue their journey,” he said.
“We are still awaiting updates from our members coming from Ankpa and have not heard from the kidnapped victims.”
-
News2 days ago
Peter Obi joins global leaders in Rome to pay last respects to Pope Francis
-
News2 days ago
BREAKING: Air Peace suspends flight operations nationwide
-
News2 days ago
Emergency rule: Fubara may shift ground after Tinubu’s UK meeting
-
News2 days ago
BREAKING: Delta Gov Oborevwori dumps PDP for APC
-
Politics2 days ago
Former Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa, defects to APC
-
News12 hours ago
Armed herders hijack buses, kidnap 19 passengers in Benue
-
International12 hours ago
Cardinal sacked by Pope Francis over financial scandal demands to be part of conclave to choose new pope
-
News2 days ago
Niger governor orders arrest of people with dreadlocks