Members of the Neighbourhood Watch in Amagu Iwollo Oghe community, Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State, have allegedly beaten a young man, Mr. Nosike Madueke, popularly known as Wojuwo, to death over a false theft allegation.

Community sources told SaharaReporters that the vigilante group was led by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the community, Mr. Chukwuebuka Hillary Ngwueche, also known as Osuofia.

According to one of the sources, the incident occurred on Monday, August 25, 2025, when the local security men attacked Madueke with “dangerous weapons” after he was accused of stealing a box of clothes belonging to Mrs. Nneka Nwankwo.

The source explained that Nwankwo had earlier hired Madueke and his co-workers to repair or dig her septic tank and soakaway, but later raised an alarm claiming her box of clothes had gone missing.

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“Instead of handing Madueke over to the appropriate authority, especially the police, they decided to jointly and severally take the laws into their respective hands by arresting Madueke, dragging him to his house for a search, bringing out his clothes, and burning all the clothes,” the source said.

“They tied Madueke on both his hands and legs and started profusely, taking turns by using offensive weapons such as guns, machetes, and irons, to beat him up till he died.”

“This happened in public at Iwollo Oghe Square. How can a trained CSO and his men kill a whole human being on a mere allegation by a woman of stealing her cloth, which was later found,” the source said.

“The young boy was from Imeziolo, Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State.”

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According to another source, this marks the third time residents of Iwollo Oghe, either directly or through its purported security outfits, have been linked to the killing of people from the deceased’s community.

“Sometime in 1987, they shot Hyacinth Adinde with a gun and asked the people of Madueke community to do their worst.

“Also, years later, they killed Engr. Christopher Aniagbaoso, and yet they asked the people of the community to do their worst.

“The people of Iwollo Oghe are in the habit of killing the people of Imeziolo on mere suspicious grounds,” the source alleged.

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“We call on the Enugu State command to do justice to this case as information reaching us revealed that the men are on the run after killing the young boy,” the source added.

A video obtained by SaharaReporters showed the deceased being beaten with sticks by men believed to be members of the Neighbourhood Watch, who were seen parading him along a community road.

Moments later in the footage, his lifeless body appeared on the ground, surrounded by residents, some of whom lamented, “See how they killed somebody’s only son for nothing.”

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According to a source, the case has since been reported to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) of the Enugu State Police Command.

However, repeated attempts by SaharaReporters to obtain the reaction of the Police Command were unsuccessful.

Calls to the mobile phone of the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, went unanswered, and a WhatsApp message sent to him also received no response as of the time of filing this report.

The Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad has apprehended four persons in Achalla, Awka North Local Government Area, for allegedly impersonating SASA operatives and conducting illegal operations.

The suspects, who were reportedly parading the streets of Achalla wearing uniforms and carrying fake anti-tout identity cards, were arrested following complaints from residents who claimed they had been harassed and extorted.

Speaking to journalists on the development on Wednesday, the Director General of Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, Monday Onwe, condemned the alleged impersonation, stressing that his office did not know about any anti-tout initiative in Achalla.

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Onwe emphasised that the authority to establish such a formation rests solely with the state governor, Chukwuma Soludo.

He said, “The alleged activities of this group, including intimidation and extortion using dangerous implements, are unacceptable and damaging to the integrity of the original Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad.

“We remain committed to a full investigation, and anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in a competent court of law.”

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He further warned that fraudulent use of the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad name to defraud the public would not be tolerated, assuring residents that the state government remains determined to protect communities from criminal exploitation.

“If you wish to become a member of the anti-touting squad, please be informed that you must undergo mandatory training before acceptance.

“No individual will be admitted into the squad without completing the required training and meeting the set standards.

“This process is for discipline, professionalism, and efficiency in service,” The PUNCH quoted him.

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 42-year-old woman, Mrs Sanmori Taiwo, and her 62-year-old husband, Pastor Sanmori Joshua, for allegedly faking her abduction to extort N10m from relatives abroad.

According to a statement released by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olushola Ayanlade on Wednesday, the drama played out on August 23 at the couple’s residence on Road 5, PowerLine, Ondo City.

According to him, Taiwo deliberately secluded herself in a room while her husband reached out to her relatives, claiming she had been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

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“Suspicious of the claims, one of the relatives, Mr Fasegha O. Joseph, through a written petition, reported the matter to the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, who directed the Command’s Special Anti-Kidnapping Squad (SAKS),” Ayanlade said.

He explained that operatives, backed by Enu-owa Division in Ondo City, stormed the couple’s residence where the woman was found.

“She falsely claimed to have just been released by kidnappers after a ransom of Five Million Naira was allegedly paid,” the police spokesman added.

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Ayanlade further disclosed that during interrogation, the woman owned up to staging the abduction to raise money.

“Upon further interrogation at the Command, Mrs Taiwo confessed that the abduction was staged as a self-kidnapping scheme, masterminded to extort money from her relatives abroad under the pretense of securing her release. She further admitted that her motive was to settle debts and provide for her personal needs,” he stated.

The police said the couple remain in custody and would face charges after investigations.

“We will diligently unravel all forms of criminality, whether real or staged, in order to preserve peace, protect lives, and safeguard the integrity of communities within the state,” Ayanlade added.