Metro

111 Years After, Two Warring Ebonyi Communities Sign Ceasefire Agreement, Peace Pact

Published

2 years ago

September 5, 2023

Relative peace is said to have returned to the troubled communities of Abomege and Ishinkwo communities of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

Recall that the two affected communities had been enmeshed in the tussle for land ownership within the LGA, which has over time led to death and destruction of properties of the members of the affected communities.

These ugly developments were evident during the administration of former Governor Sam Egwu, Martin Elechi and David Umahi of the State.

But in a bid to lay to rest the over 111 years crisis in the Area, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru approved the setting up of a Peace Committee to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the crisis between Abomege and Ishinkwo communities in Ebonyi State.

The Committee led by His Royal Highness Ezeogo Ewa Elechi successfully interfaced with stakeholders from Abomege and Ishinkwo communities at different occasions as joint meetings of the affected community leaders and stakeholders took place, where each party had opportunities to hear the narrative of the other.

According to the Secretary of the Peace Committee, Prof Wilberforce Oti, a physical visit to the warring communities took place on 18th August 2023 and during the visit, the Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution, Hon Donatus Ilang appealed to communities to give peace a chance.

Also, a member of the Peace Committee, Bishop Lawson Elom commended the efforts of the Governor to inaugurate a high-powered committee made up of men of integrity, credibility and character and the need for everyone to cooperate with the committee to achieve a lasting peace.

Rev. Fr Marcel Ezenwa, another member of the Peace Committee reminded the people that war remains costly, hence whatever sacrifice that people needed to make to achieve peace was worth the while.

This is even as the Secretary of the Peace Committee, Prof Wilberforce Oti appealed to the people not to miss the opportunity presented to them to achieve peace, which other past committees couldn’t achieve.

Responding, the leaders and stakeholders of the two communities expressed their confidence in the integrity of the members of the Peace Committee and also their willingness to cooperate with the committee to provide a lasting peace in the troubled communities.

This was followed by a Ceasefire Agreement and Peace Accord signed by leaders and stakeholders of Abomege and Ishinkwo on 22nd August, 2023.

The Abomege delegates led by Comrade Ogbuagu Uchenna, the President General of the Town Union, and Ishinkwo delegates led by His Royal Highness J. Nnanna Ikegwu Obinire 1 Of Ishinkwo both made commitments to ensure the reign of peace in their Communities.

The Chairman of the Peace Committee, HRH Ezeogo Ewa Elechi explained that with the efforts made so far by members of the committee, including the cooperation of the Abomege and Ishinkwo communities, there was every indication that the crisis which has lasted since 1912 and claimed many lives and properties, was about to become a history as both sides of the divide had seen the need to live in peace.

Metro

NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine-laden Vessel From Brazil, Detains 20 Filipinos (VIDEO)

Published

12 minutes ago

November 21, 2025

Editor

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says it has intercepted a vessel carrying 20 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Apapa seaport in Lagos.

The spokesperson of the agency, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement, on Friday.

According to Babafemi, the vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, with registration number 9760110, arrived from Santos in Brazil.

He further stated that NDLEA officers discovered the class A drug buried under the ship’s cargo on Sunday, 16 November 2025.

The NDLEA spokesman added that the master of the vessel, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 other Filipino crew members were taken into custody for investigation.

Babafemi maintained that the agency filed an ex-parte application in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, seeking detention of the vessel and crew.

Metro

Bandits Place N100m Ransom On Each Abducted Victim Of Kwara Community

Published

24 minutes ago

November 21, 2025

Editor

Bandits who abducted over 30 residents of Eruku community during a church service on Tuesday have placed a ransom of N100m on each victim.

Some family members who were allegedly contacted by the daredevil bandits on phone revealed this on Thursday.

The bandits, during the bloody attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State on Tuesday, killed three persons, abducted over 30 worshippers, and looted their valuables in the church during the service.

Olori Eta of Eruku, Chief Olusegun Olukotun, who confirmed the latest development on the ransom demand from the bandits, disclosed that four members of his family were among those whisked away.

He recounted that “He was inside the church with five relatives when the gunmen struck, but I managed to flee with one ward by jumping through a window at about 6:06 p.m.”

Olukotun said the abductors had already begun placing calls to different families.

“From what we gathered from the kidnappers’ camp, they have grouped the victims according to their relations and are now calling our people through each of the groups.

“Some people in the community have received calls from the kidnappers demanding N100m for each person, but as regards my own people, I have not received any call concerning them, so I am still waiting,” he stated.

The community leader also emphasised the urgent need for stronger security deployment in Eruku, a border town with Kogi State long vulnerable to criminal incursions.

He urged the government to upgrade the local vigilante outfit with modern defensive equipment capable of matching the firepower of the attackers.

Metro

JUST IN: Court Rules Judgment In Kanu’s Terrorism Trial

Published

1 day ago

November 20, 2025

Editor

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has said that the judgment in the trial of the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, will be delivered in the defendant’s absence.

Advertisement
Omotoso gave the ruling during the resumed trial of Kanu on Thursday following what he described as Kanu’s unruly behavour in court.

The judge had earlier ordered the IPOB leader to be removed from the courtroom after he became unruly midway through proceedings on Thursday.

Omotoso had ruled and dismissed three fresh motions filed by Kanu after the case was adjourned for judgment and dismissed them for being unmeritorious.

As the judge moved to deliver the ruling earlier, scheduled for Thursday, November 20, Kanu argued that the court could not proceed because he had yet to file his final written address.

Raising his voice, Kanu accused Omotosho of being biased and claimed that the judge did not know the law.

Kanu was later moved out of the courtroom, while the judge proceeded to deliver the final judgment in his absence.