• Ogalla: Mbah making unprecedented marks

• South East making tremendous progress – Gen. Musa

Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (rtd), has been described as a patriot, a man of courageous, and exemplary officer whose career was defined by selfless service to Nigeria and an enduring commitment to national security and human capital development.

The encomiums were poured on the ex-service chief during a reception organised in his honour by the Enugu State Government to mark the successful completion of his tenure as Chief of the Naval Staff.

Speaking at the event, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, at the weekend, Governor Peter Mbah said that the former service chief earned the love of his people and colleagues through impactful leadership that transcended the ranks he wore and the offices he occupied.

“Rank gives you authority. It does not automatically earn devotion. Office can command respect. But neither can command love. That is earned quietly, over time, through relationship and by the way you treat people when no one is watching,” he stated.

He commended Ogalla’s commitment to security and human capital development, highlighting the establishment of a naval base at Ogurugu, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, and Navy Secondary School, Umuopu, both in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State.

“An operational naval base strengthens security today, and a naval school will help shape tomorrow’s leaders. One protects the present. The other invests in the future,” he said.

Mbah urged Nigerians to emulate the Ex-Naval chief’s exemplary service at their various levels of leadership.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), stressed that Ogalla’s military career was marked by professionalism, discipline, courage, innovation, patriotism and unwavering commitment to peace, repositioning the Navy as strategic partner in protecting the nation’s maritime interests.

“He is someone that transforms. His genius, integrity, discipline, and commitment to excellence earned him the respect of colleagues, supporters, and the nation,” Musa stated.

The minister emphasised his faith in the strategic import of the South East to Nigeria and commended the progress made by the region in general and Enugu State in particular under Governor Mbah’s leadership in the last three years.

“We are proud of the South East. And my joy is that South East is getting it right. Within three years, we have seen massive changes across South East,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described Ogalla as a calm, humble, highly intelligent and dedicated officer whose exemplary leadership and professionalism had set a high standard in the Nigerian Navy.

Recalling their days together at the Nigerian Defence Academy and their decades of military service, Aneke said the former service chief’s character and achievements had inspired younger officers, noting that the outpouring of emotion during his pulling-out ceremony was a testament to the kind of leader he was.

“Sir, I want to thank you on behalf of the good people of Enugu State; you fought the good battle. You represented us well and we’re proud you’re our own,” he said.

He also commended Governor Mbah for organising the reception, saying, “If you don’t celebrate your own, nobody would do that for you.”

Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, commended Governor Peter Mbah for fulfilling his promise to honour Ogalla and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chief of the Naval Staff.

As the traditional ruler representing Ogalla’s senatorial zone, Igwe Asadu stressed that the event was a powerful demonstration of gratitude, noting that there was no virtue greater than honouring those who had served their people and country faithfully.

Responding, Ogalla expressed immense gratitude to Enugu State, his family, military constituency, and friends for the love shown to him.

“I must specifically thank the Governor for organising this event. I must say that I am overwhelmed by what I have seen here today,” he stated.

He commended Mbah for his massive development strides and for adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in the fight against insecurity.

“I believe that what our Governor is doing is unprecedented. And I believe that we need to give him maximum support to do for the people of Enugu State and Nigeria to grow.

“The modern concept of security is not just military might and weapons, but also human security, improving the capacity of the citizens, providing employment, providing education. And these are exactly what the Governor is taking as his priorities,” he emphasised.

He expressed special gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to rise to the pinnacle of his career and to actualise his dream to take the Nigerian Navy to greater heights.

The event was attended by serving and retired military chiefss and prominent leaders, including former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani; former Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Retd.); former Chief of the Army Staff and former Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.

Suspected bandits have launched a deadly attack on Lata Nna community in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing a woman, abducting another resident, and leaving several others feared dead.

According to multiple residents who spoke with Sahara Reporters, the attack was carried out on Sunday morning after the heavily armed assailants stormed the community, firing indiscriminately, which forced residents to flee into nearby bushes and other safe locations.

The residents decried the absence of security personnel, accusing the authorities of failing to protect the community despite repeated appeals over persistent security threats in the area.

One of the residents said, “Lata Nna is currently under attack right now by bandits.”

The latest assault comes barely a day after a resident identified as Mohammed Abubakar Ndakpada Lata was abducted by suspected bandits while returning from his farm, with his captors reportedly demanding ₦100 million ransom for his release.

A resident said the attackers killed villagers, adding that the exact number of casualties had yet to be established.

“Some people were killed. The victims were at the back of the village. They were just killed there,” the source said.

“As I’m speaking with you, I have not yet confirmed the total number of people killed. However, I can confirm that one Nupe woman was killed. She had gone behind the village to fetch firewood and was attacked.

“The woman is dead. People are now searching the area, and we will know later if there are more victims. As I’m talking to you, I cannot confirm that yet.”
The resident narrated how the attack caught the community by surprise, noting that there was no security presence when the gunmen struck.

“I was in the town when I suddenly heard gunshots. I was wondering what was happening because there is no security presence in our village,” the resident said.

“The gunshots were not from locally made guns. We believe the attackers came unexpectedly. The vigilantes responded, but before they got there, they confirmed that one woman had already been killed.”

The resident lamented that the latest attack was only one in a long series of invasions that have turned life in the community into a nightmare, saying kidnappings and killings have become almost a daily occurrence.

Responding to a question on whether the attack was the first on the community, the source said: “Just the day before yesterday, my uncle was kidnapped while returning from his farm. The farm is less than two kilometres from the village. Yesterday, the kidnappers called and demanded a ransom of ₦100 million.

“Yes, he is still in their custody. These attacks happen almost every day. We have repeatedly appealed to the government to establish a military camp in our community, but they keep telling us the process is ongoing. Meanwhile, people are being killed and kidnapped every day. I don’t know what is going on.”

Residents said the continued attacks have left the community living in fear, as armed bandits reportedly move freely through the area while villagers remain vulnerable to repeated kidnappings and killings.

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three women for their alleged involvement in child trafficking and the sale of a four-year-old boy for N2m.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were arrested by operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters at a motor park in Onitsha.

Ikenga alleged that the suspects belonged to a child trafficking syndicate that specialised in trafficking children and selling them to buyers for various sums of money.

According to him, the suspects were arrested during a raid on their hideouts on Saturday evening, while other members of the syndicate escaped. He added that some children were rescued during the operation.

The statement read, “The Anambra State Police Command, on the evening of July 11, recorded another breakthrough in its sustained fight against child trafficking with the arrest of three female suspects, Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, at a motor park in Onitsha by police operatives attached to Awada Divisional Headquarters.

“Preliminary information revealed how Chinasa Daniel allegedly brought two children, a two-week-old baby and a four-year-old child, on two separate occasions between June and December 2025 and handed them over to Hannah Ugah.

“Chinasa further disclosed that the four-year-old child was subsequently handed over to Florence Nnakuzie and allegedly sold for the sum of N2 million, while the two-week-old baby was allegedly sold to another woman, who is currently at large.”

According to him, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ikioye Orutugu, described child trafficking as a grave violation of human rights and a crime against humanity and directed the immediate transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, for a comprehensive and discreet investigation.

“The CP has also ordered operatives to intensify efforts to identify and apprehend every member of the trafficking syndicate and to commence coordinated operations aimed at locating, rescuing, and reuniting the trafficked children with their biological families.

“The Command appreciates members of the public whose timely and credible information led to the successful operation and urges residents to continue supporting the police with useful intelligence,” the statement added.