By Our Correspondent

Tension and grief have enveloped Effoi Village in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State following a tragic mob attack that claimed the life of a middle-aged man, Godwin Ikott Bassey, amid allegations linked to his elder brother, Dennis Ikott Bassey.

The incident, which has sent shockwaves across the community, was reportedly triggered by the unresolved disappearance of a villager, a development that has fueled anger among local youths for years.

Sources within the community disclosed that the mob, allegedly acting on suspicion and pent-up frustration, stormed the residence of the Bassey family in search of Dennis Ikott Bassey, who has been accused of having a connection to the long-standing case.

Unable to find their prime target, who was reportedly said to have fled to Benin City, Edo State, for safety, the assailants descended on his younger brother, Godwin Ikott Bassey, fatally attacking him in what eyewitnesses described as a brutal act of mob justice.

It was gathered that Dennis Ikott Bassey, now on the run, had long been on the radar of irate youths over a lingering community-related dispute said to have spanned over 10 years.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, told our correspondent that Dennis Ikott Bassey once served as the youth leader of Effoi Village, a position that placed him at the centre of several sensitive community matters.

The source further revealed that suspicion surrounding his alleged involvement in the unresolved disappearance had continued to grow, eventually boiling over into violence.

The unfortunate incident, which occurred on May 15, 2025, has since deepened divisions within the community, with many residents expressing fear over possible reprisals and further unrest.

In a tragic twist, the violence did not end with the killing of Godwin, as his aged mother reportedly slumped and died shortly after receiving news of her son’s gruesome death.

Residents described the elderly woman’s death as heartbreaking, noting that the emotional trauma proved too overwhelming for her to bear.

Further findings revealed that the late Godwin Ikott Bassey was a well-known automobile mechanic in the area, respected for his quiet lifestyle and dedication to his trade.

However, it was further gathered that the assailants allegedly trailed Dennis to Benin City, where they reportedly unleashed another wave of violence in an area within the metropolis where he was believed to be hiding.

The police authorities in Edo State, upon enquiry by our correspondent, confirmed the incident, stating that no arrests had been made in connection with the development.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach local law enforcement authorities in Akwa Ibom State were unsuccessful, while the whereabouts of Dennis Ikott Bassey remain unknown, with community members calling for calm and a thorough investigation into the incident.

By Qosim Sulaiman

Palpable tension engulfed the residents of Nkwogwu community, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State following the killing of an elderly man, Pa Albert Nwanchukwu, believed to be a police informant.

The assailants, numbering about eight, who reportedly stormed the home of the late Nwanchukwu at about 10pm on Tuesday, 22 April, 2025, were said to have met him where he was relaxing in his compound and immediately opened fire on him.

According to our source who pleaded anonymity, before his assassination, the late Nwanchukwu, had reportedly went to a police station in the locality to inform them of the activities of the gunmen, just as he pleaded to the police to get them arrested.

Our source disclosed that the late Nwanchukwu never knew that some policemen are accomplished in the act, adding that the policemen no doubt informed the gunmen who in anger came and killed him.

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Our source narrated: “They were about eight in number. They came with different weapons – guns, machetes. They were all masked except their leader.

“It was late but the floodlight from the streetlight was bright. They drove dangerously and went straight to Mr Albert Uwandu Nwachukwu house. The man was relaxing in the front of his house. Immediately they saw him, they opened fire,” he died on the spot”, an eyewitness who saw the entire scene from the balcony of his house recounts.

Our source added: “Further investigations proved that the spy had informed this notorious gang of late Pa Nwachukwu’s visit to the police, thereby leading to the attack on his household.”

After killing the man, the gang reportedly went inside the house searching for other family members.

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While it was evident that the gang intended to eviscerate the entire members of the family, three of his children – Victor Onyedikachi Nwachukwu, Promise Rita Nwachukwu Yakubu and Blessing Nzebechi Nwachukwu escaped.

“I saw the three of them. They ran through the back door. Since that time, we have not seen them again”, the same eye-witness disclosed to our correspondent.

This particular incident has thrown the entire community and Aboh Mbaise Local Government in general, into mourning.

While some questioned the safety of police informants, other believed the incident shows the rot in the police force of the country.

Expressing his disappointment in the police, the chairman of Aboh Mabise LGA; Honourable Barrister Iheukwumere Henry Alaribe vowed a major crackdown on the unknown gunmen.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma promised a total clampdown and return of sanity to the community.

By John Omoruyi

The Nigeria Police authorities have declared a serving officer, Sergeant Advocate Onairia, wanted following his alleged refusal to honour a deployment to a counter-insurgency operation in Borno State and his subsequent disappearance without authorisation.

Police sources disclosed that the officer was posted to Maiduguri as part of a joint military operation combating Boko Haram insurgents but reportedly declined the assignment over fears for his safety.

According to information made available, Onairia was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on October 17, 2011, as a recruit constable and later rose to the rank of Sergeant.

He was said to have been mobilised to the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) Unit in 2017 and had since been serving under the Edo State Command.

Prior to his posting to Edo, the officer reportedly served in both Akwa Ibom and Delta State Commands.

Sources further revealed that a formal signal conveying his transfer to Maiduguri, Borno State, was issued on August 1, 2023, directing him to join the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East.

However, instead of complying with the directive, Onairia allegedly rejected the posting and subsequently absconded from duty. He was reported to have fled to an unknown destination on August 2,, 2023, without official clearance, an action said to be in violation of police regulations.

The SIB Unit, where he was last attached in Edo State, operates under the supervision of the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The development comes amid ongoing security operations in the North-East, where Nigerian security forces continue to intensify efforts to combat insurgency and restore peace in the region.

It would be recalled that police officers who engage in similar acts often face severe disciplinary measures upon arrest, in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Police Act.

A case in point is Inspector Chinedu Okorie, who reportedly faced disciplinary action after rejecting a similar deployment to Maiduguri, a region considered high-risk due to ongoing insurgency.

Investigations revealed that Okorie, who had absconded from duty for over four years, was eventually apprehended by the authorities. He was subsequently dismissed from the Nigeria Police Force and arraigned before a competent court, where he was convicted and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment with hard labour for violating provisions of the Police Act, 2020 (as amended).

This development also comes against the backdrop of longstanding allegations of torture and other human rights abuses within the Nigeria Police system, including cases involving serving officers.

Such practices, often aimed at extracting confessional statements, have drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights bodies.

Reported methods include severe physical beatings, suspension of suspects in stress positions, and the use of teargas in confined spaces.

Other allegations involve prolonged detention without access to legal representation, deprivation of food and sleep, threats and intimidation, and exposure to harsh conditions intended to break detainees’ resolve.

These concerns continue to raise serious questions about the protection of fundamental human rights and the integrity of the justice system.

As of the time of filing this report, police authorities had commenced efforts to locate and apprehend the officer, urging members of the public with useful information on his whereabouts to assist law enforcement agencies.