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Violence rocks Anambra By-Elections as thugs attack Deputy Governor, Commissioner

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• Anambra South Senatorial candidates of the contesting political parties
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• Soludo accuses APC guber candidate, Ukachukwu of sponsoring attack

Tensions heightened during the Anambra South Senatorial District by-election on Saturday as violence broke out, leading to alleged attacks on the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim and the Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odumegwu.

According to eyewitness reports, angry youths in the area confronted and held the deputy governor hostage, accusing him of engaging in vote-buying.

The mob also allegedly attacked Commissioner Odumegwu, who was said to have accompanied the deputy governor to the scene.

Reacting to the incident shortly after casting his vote in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area, Governor Charles Soludo condemned the attack, accusing Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the APC gubernatorial candidate, of masterminding the assault.

“This is an act of thuggery,” Soludo said. “Government officials, including the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner for Environment, were attacked. It’s unacceptable.”

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• Voters during Anambra By-Elections on Saturday

Adding his voice, Mazi Ejimofor Opara, National Publicity Secretary of APGA, also blamed the APC candidate for the chaos.

“That shows you that thugs are out to govern Anambra State and that is the kind of governor he would be if, in the unlikely event, he is elected,” Opara stated.

“I can confirm to you that the Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odumegwu, was attacked by APC thugs sent by their gubernatorial candidate. If not for the security operatives at his country home in Ezinifite, Aguata, it would have been a different story today.”

“How can Ukachukwu leave his home in Osumenyi, Nnewi South Local Government Area, and go to Ezinifite in Aguata to attack the Commissioner for Environment?” he asked.

In a swift rebuttal, Comrade Tony Uche, an aide to Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, denied that the APC candidate ordered any attacks. Instead, he accused the Deputy Governor and Commissioner of arriving in Osumenyi with a heavily armed security team to influence the outcome of the by-election.

“If you see the number of vigilante personnel that came with them, over twenty trucks, you’d understand the youths’ reaction,” Uche claimed.

“Ukachukwu never ordered anyone to attack the Deputy Governor or the Commissioner. The youths simply resisted what they saw as an attempt to hijack the election.”

As at the time of filing this report, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, had not issued an official statement on the incident.

Violation, vote-buying mar polls

However, The Advocate gathered from eyewitness reports that the Anambra South Senatorial District and Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-elections conducted on Saturday were reportedly marred by violence and vote-buying.

Reports from the two constituencies said voting started as early as 8.30 am at most polling units as electorates turned out in their numbers to cast their votes .

BiVAS used for the accreditation of voters performed optimally in many centers but there were isolated cases of malfunctioning and voters were compelled to vote manually with the approval of the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and the political party agents .

In Orumba North local government area voting started on time and security operatives were on hand to forestall the violence that would have erupted in Orumba North local government area following allegations that some officials of INEC were hoarding materials.

Later voting continued in earnest and people lined up to cast their votes .

At Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election it was reported that thugs were mobilized from Oba and Obosi in Anambra Central Senatorial District forcing voters to vote for a certain candidate.

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BREAKING: Tension as Video Shows Islamic Group Members Allegedly Calling for AK-47 to Kill Christians in Enugu, Jos

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The JIBWIS members on parade (Screenshot)
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Tension has heightened following the emergence of a viral video purportedly showing members of an Islamic volunteer group chanting lyrics calling for an AK-47 rifle to attack Christians in Enugu and Jos, the Plateau State capital.

The footage, which has sparked outrage and concern on social media, reportedly features members of the Agaji volunteer wing of Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), popularly known as Izala.

The video, shared by counterterrorism expert Zagazola Makama, gained traction on social media, particularly X, on Sunday.

It shows a group of young men dressed in brown uniforms and blue berets, with one of them leading a chant containing violent references to obtaining an AK-47 rifle to attack people described as “infidels” in the two cities.

In one section of the chant, the singer calls for a rifle to enable an individual to travel to Enugu and attack Christians while they are worshipping in church.

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“He should be given AK-47. He would then go to Enugu, the land of the infidels. On Sunday, when they are worshipping and clapping, he would then open fire, so that he can kill the infidels,” the lyrics state.

The chant subsequently references Jos, with another call for an AK-47 to attack people described as infidels.

“He asked to be given an AK-47 again, so that he can go to Jos and kill more infidels. That is the training,” the singer says.

The video has triggered widespread concern among Nigerians, with many calling on security agencies to investigate the footage, identify those involved and take appropriate action to prevent any potential threat to public safety.

The references to Enugu and Jos, alongside the explicit calls for armed attacks during Christian worship, have raised concerns about the safety of residents and worshippers in the affected cities.

However, as of the time of filing this report, the governments of Enugu and Plateau states, as well as the relevant security agencies, had yet to issue official statements on the video.

It remains unclear when and where the footage was recorded and whether the individuals featured in it have been identified by security authorities.

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala loses mother

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Late Prof Kamene Okonjo, Queen Mother, Matriarch of Umu Obi Obahai Royal family, Ogwashi Uku commu
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Prof. Kamene Okonjo, matriarch of Umu Obi Obahai Royal Family, mother of Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo ll, traditional ruler of Ogwashi Uku community in Delta has passed on.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the matriarch, and mother of the Director- General, World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, died on Friday at the age of 96.

The late Kamene Okonjo was the beloved wife of late Obi (Prof.) Chukwuka Okonjo, the immediate past traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Uku community, with whom she shared 66 years of marriage.

This is contained in a statement by Chief Ifeakanachukwu Emordi, Palace Secretary of the community on behalf of the royal family on Sunday.

According to the statement, the late Okonjo was an extraordinary woman, whose remarkable life was defined by intellectual brilliance, humility, compassion, dignity and an unwavering commitment to the advancement of humanity.

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“An internationally recognised and foremost sociologist, Prof. Kamene Okonjo distinguished herself through her outstanding academic accomplishments, intellectual contributions and lifelong advocacy for women’s rights and empowerment.

“She was a woman of exceptional intellect, yet possessed a rare gentleness of spirit, humility and grace that endeared her to everyone privileged to know her.

“Her achievements transcended the boundaries of Ogwashi-Uku and Nigeria, earning her admiration and respect within academic and intellectual circles internationally.”

The statement added that the late Okonjo represented the very finest qualities of scholarship, womanhood, motherhood and service to society.

“Beyond her considerable professional accomplishments, she was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a cherished pillar of the royal family.

“Her wisdom, kindness, quiet strength and exemplary character will remain an enduring inspiration to generations yet unborn.

“While we mourn her passing, we celebrate a life exceptionally well lived.

“At 96 years, Okonjo left behind an extraordinary legacy of scholarship, service, family values and advocacy for the dignity and advancement of women.

“We take comfort in our Christian faith and the assurance that she is resting peacefully with the Lord, haven completed her earthly journey with grace and distinction,” it said.

The statement said the entire Umu Obi Obahai family extended its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, her beloved children; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr Njideka Okonjo-Udochi, Onyema Okonjo and Chichi Okonjo.

The family also extended their condolences to their spouses, sons and daughters in law, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and the entire extended Okonjo royal family.

It also enjoined the people of Ogwashi-Uku to join the family in celebrating the extraordinary life and enduring legacy of their remarkable daughter, mother, scholar and matriarch, whose contributions to humanity would never be forgotten. (NAN)

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NCDC Reports Two Suspected Ebola Cases as Contacts Rise to 53

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The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has reported two suspected Ebola cases as the number of people being monitored following the country’s confirmed infection rises to 53.

The development has heightened the urgency of efforts to contain the virus and prevent further transmission.

The Director-General of the NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this on Sunday, October 25, 2026, during a press briefing in Abuja, where he provided an update on the country’s surveillance and response measures.

“We have established two additional suspected cases and 53 primary contact links. They are primary contacts. We have an isolation centre and a quarantine centre,” Idris said.

However, details surrounding the two suspected cases remained unclear, as other accounts of the briefing indicated that authorities had investigated two cases, including the confirmed infection in Abuja and a suspected case in Rivers State that subsequently tested negative.

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The reported suspected cases should therefore not be interpreted as additional confirmed infections without laboratory confirmation.

Providing details of the contact-tracing exercise, Idris said the 53 contacts comprised 44 people linked to the healthcare facility where the confirmed patient received treatment and nine others identified through further investigations.

The additional contacts included three members of the patient’s household, three healthcare workers who attended to her at an earlier medical facility and three personnel involved in collecting samples.

According to the NCDC, the identified contacts had been classified according to their exposure risks and placed under monitoring. None had tested positive for Ebola or developed symptoms as of the briefing.

Idris explained that public health teams would monitor the exposed individuals for 21 days after their last possible exposure, in line with established protocols for detecting and responding promptly to potential infections.

He also disclosed that approximately 12 public and private laboratories were available to conduct Ebola testing in Nigeria as authorities continued to strengthen the country’s diagnostic capacity.

The NCDC director-general urged healthcare facilities nationwide to reinforce screening, patient assessment and infection prevention measures.

He stressed the need to provide healthcare workers with adequate personal protective equipment and ensure the prompt reporting of suspected infections.

Idris further appealed to individuals contacted by public health officials to cooperate with investigators and provide accurate information about their movements, possible exposure and symptoms.

Nigeria confirmed its first Ebola case in the current regional outbreak on October 20, 2026, after a woman with a recent travel history to Uganda tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of the virus in Abuja.

According to the World Health Organisation, the woman developed symptoms on October 7 and sought treatment at a private health facility on October 11 before laboratory tests confirmed the infection.

The initial contact-tracing exercise identified 44 people, but the figure subsequently increased to 53 as investigations expanded.

The Federal Government has maintained heightened surveillance while strengthening laboratory testing, isolation arrangements and infection prevention protocols.

Health authorities have urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, cooperate with public health officials and avoid spreading unverified information as investigations and monitoring continue.

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