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Abia Corpses: Obey Otti, vacate Lokpanta Cattle Market now, rights group tells cattle traders
FENRAD has therefore called on cattle dealers to vacate the market without further delay in line with the plan by Governor Alex Otti to make the place a daily, non-residential market that would be fenced and locked up after business, among other innovations to rid the area of criminal elements.
The group lamented the market which was established for the purpose of promoting cattle and foodstuffs enterprise, has now turned into a den of hostage takers who run a kidnapping and abduction industry that has thrived for decades.
In a statement issued on Thursday, FENRAD’s Executive Director, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, condemned the gruesome activities of the faceless gangs which had been extended from Lokpanta and Umunneochi to Ihube, Uturu, Okigwe and Isuikwuato axes.
According to the statement, the Foundation had in an earlier release had urged the then state government to end the kidnapping of Abia State University, Uturu (ABSU) students and lecturers which became an industry following the 2020 lockdown.
The statement reads in part: “The bigger question now is: if this number of headless and lifeless humans, likely Abia indigenes and others, was found only recently, how many more may have been killed in the intervening years following the lockdown when this menace began to rear its ugly head or the years before?
“The Foundation recalls the experience of His Eminence, Samuel Kanu, Prelate of Methodist Church, Nigeria who was abducted alongside Dennis Mark, the Bishop of Owerri, then the Prelate’s chaplain.
“Upon release, the Prelate had narrated his ordeal and told newsmen that his abductees were Fulfulde-speaking herdsmen. Again, local intelligence has it that some natives, working in cahoots with these herdsmen, provide information on some victims and are beneficiaries of this trade in abduction.
“What is deeply worrying about the whole development is that within the Lokpanta and Umunneochi radius are military and police checkpoints, yet citizens cannot travel through the Enugu-Port Harcourt road in peace.
‘ It should be recalled that sometime last year, angered by the growing inability of these security agencies to check this menace, Umunneochi youth threatened to sack the military. There is now need to protect Abia forest margins, as these coordinates may be hosting killer herdsmen.
“It is on this note that the Foundation salutes the bold step taken by Governor Alex Otti by insisting that the Lokpanta market be transformed to a daily market and not to serve as an encampment or brothels where (who knows?) forced organ harvesting and other illicit trades are carried out.
“It is a shame that some anarchists are citing irredentism or forced removal of the Hausa community in Abia just to demarket the state government. This should not be condoned. There is nowhere in the world where markets serve as settlements or a base for hoodlums. The fact that the presence of heavy-duty trucks by the roadside slows traffic on the road is another unacceptable thing that must not be seen on any expressway.
“We commend this bold and salutary move by the state Governor; the Foundation calls on all traders to vacate the market as there are lots of residential areas still habitable in Abia State. That fact that the killings and decapitation happened and were not reported, neither by the traders nor market occupants, only leaves much to be desired.”
A cleric, Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, has raised alarm after another child was reportedly abandoned at his residence on April 23, 2026.
According to him, the incident occurred earlier in the day when the young boy was discovered at his gate. He stated that he has immediately notified the police and is making arrangements to hand the child over to the appropriate authorities.
The cleric explained that he is unable to take in new children at the moment due to ongoing registration processes with the Ministry of Social Welfare. He stressed that accepting the child would violate existing legal requirements guiding child care and protection.
He further disclosed that his facility is already accommodating over 500 children, making it necessary to strictly adhere to regulations before admitting more.
Chinyere also expressed appreciation to the Federation of International Women Lawyers and the Ministry of Social Welfare for educating him on proper legal procedures.
He reiterated that the child would be transferred to the custody of the Ministry, emphasizing that compliance with the law remains his top priority.
Adewole Emmanuel, a 400-level medical student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has died after reportedly collapsing moments before his final session examination.
Emmanuel’s death was announced on Thursday in a statement by the Ife University Medical Students Association.
The association lamented the sudden departure, describing Emmanuel as a solid pillar of his class.
The statement read in part, “Under the cover of dark clouds, we write to you with the heaviest of hearts to inform you of the passing of one of our own, an integral part of the association and a solid pillar of his class.
While describing the deceased as “a colleague, friend, roommate, and a Part 4 medical student with an undeniably bright future until the time of his passing”, the association added that “This incident is not only sad, but crucially painful as we lost a rising star and a loving member of the IFUMSA family.”
“In honoring his dearest memories, we kindly ask the general public to do without speculations and respect the privacy of the family during this vulnerable period.”
Speaking under condition of anonymity, a senior member of the association said the student died on Wednesday without an underlying ailment.
“He died yesterday. But he hadn’t been sick. He just collapsed and couldn’t be resuscitated,” the source said.
“We were about to write our final exam for the session. And during the process of waiting for the exam, he suddenly collapsed in the college and died.
“It’s just unfortunate as he didn’t have any underlying medical condition. We have contacted his family already.”
..As court srikes out charges against CEO, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Ogbuanu, 3 others, Awards N1m cost against her
An Enugu State Magistrate Court has struck out a four-count criminal charge brought against a Lagos-based cleric and Chief Executive Officer, Energy FM Enugu, Pastor Basil Ogbuanu, and three of his workers.
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The court also awarded a N1m cost against Mrs. Patricia Nwobodo, the wife of a former governor of Old Anambra State, Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, for her failure to prosecute the case.
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The ruling, delivered by His Worship D.K. Ekoh at the Enugu South Magisterial District, followed the persistent absence of the complainants since the inception of the matter in January 2026.
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The defendants, Ezeh Patrick Muoneke, 46; Arinze Onoja, 26; Sedro Theodore, 28; and Basil Ogbuanu, 56, were arraigned on January 20, 2026, on charges bordering on conspiracy, deprivation of liberty, and assault.
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The four- count charge levelled against them read:
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“That you Eze Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Only a ‘m’, on the 16th day of January, 2026 at about 1300hours at Patin-Son Estate, Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu within Enugu Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit misdemeanor to wit: Deprivation of Liberty and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count 11: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Mrs Patricia M. Nwobodo ‘f’ against her will from 11hours to 13hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State 2004.
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Count 111: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’, Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore ‘m’ and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully confine the movement and detain Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ against his will from 1100hours to 1300hours and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 316 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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Count IV: That you Ede Patrick Muoneke ‘m’ Arinze Onoja ‘m’, Sedro Theodore and Ogbuanu Basil ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully assault Police Constable Ugwu Emmanuel ‘m’ by beating him all over his body and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 252 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. 11 the Revise Laws of Enugu State, 2004.
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However, during the proceedings on April 15, 2026, the police prosecutor, B.C. Nnadozie, admitted that he had not seen the complainants since the matter started.
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Nnadozie told the court that he could not “manufacture oath” or serve witness statements on the defence as he had no contact with the nominal complainants.
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Counsel for the defendants, Emeka Oko, urged the court to dismiss the charge, noting that his clients, who are busy artisans and a Lagos resident, had suffered by traveling to Enugu for a case the complainants were not interested in pursuing.
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Delivering his ruling, Magistrate Ekoh lambasted the conduct of the complainants, describing it as a clear indication of their lack of desire to prosecute the matter.
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“A complainant whose complaint was investigated and to her knowledge is aware of the charge proffered against the defendants decides to stay in her luxury home without prosecuting her complaint, should as well pay damages to the person(s) she wrongfully complained against”, he said
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The court subsequently struck out the charge and ordered that the defendants must not be re-arrested on the strength of the same complaint.
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The trial Magistrate also granted the application for N1m cost against the complainant to be paid to the defendants.
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