Metro

Youths In Enugu Governor’s Community Protest alleged Land Grabbing, Others by Traditional Ruler, Ex PG

Published

3 years ago

August 16, 2023

By Our Reporter

… Accuses Igwe Of Selling Their Land To Gov Mba

Youths in Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State in their numbers recently protested alleged land grabbing and other offences committed by His Royal Highness, Igwe Godwin Okeke Arum and a former President General, PG, Mr Okeke Akpu.

Owo is the community where Enugu State governor, Peter Mba hails from.

In a viral video, the youths chanting solidarity songs with placards bearing different inscriptions as: “Okeke Arum, leave Owo Kingdom alone”; “Okeke Arum mind Mburu Owo Autonomous Community”, among others went round the community to register their annoyances against the Traditional Ruler, and Akpu.

Speaking, the current President General of Owo Town Union, Prince Augustine Nnajieze, said their protest was against alleged atrocities committed by the Igwe including turning the Community Neighbourhood Watch to his personal security and thugs by which he harasses and intimidates anybody against him.

“Okeke Arum is not the Igwe of Owo, but the Igwe of Mburu Owo Autonomous Community, yet he is forcing himself on the entire community. This man has committed so much atrocities in Owo Town. He has turned the Enugu State Neighbourhood Watch into his personal security and thugs. He uses the Neighborhood Watch to harass, intimidate and kill anybody who disagrees with him.

“The Owo community has no traditional ruler, but he wants everybody to come and bow to him. The very moment you don’t accept to bow before him, you become an enemy.

“Igwe Okeke Arum, sold a land that belongs to Asisi village to the governor, His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah and pocketed the money. The land was sold to the governor for 200,000,000(Two Hundred Million Naira) by the agreement of the whole community, but the man started spending the money, by constructing roads and other things without consulting the community.

“The community does not have a traditional ruler today, because of the man’s many activities. The Asisi village is in crisis because the man has been selling land that belongs to everybody. He sold the land where we have boundary with Ndiagu. If it were not for him, we don’t have any reason to be dragging land with our brothers in Ndiagu Owo.

“The former governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi once called him to leave Owo Town and mind Mburu Owo Autonomous Community, but he refused. The crisis in Ohani, Ogara and other clans over sales of community lands are from him.

“We are pleading with the Governor, His Excellency Peter Mbah to please deliver us from the hand of this man. His Excellency should please save us from the terror of this man, so that we can select the person that will be our traditional ruler by ourselves.”

Also, the people of Obeagu Ohani Owo (one of the clans that forms the Mburu-Owo Autonomous community) expressed displeasure and unwillingness to continue to be part of the Mbulu Owo Autonomous community.

Speaking, the Chairman Ohani Owo Development Association, Hon Emmanuel Egbo said that going by the “terror from the autonomous ruler, Igwe Okeke Arum, who terrorises people with his armed men and has never deem it fit to influence any little basic amenities like motorable road and electricity, which he is enjoying in his area,the people are no longer interested in being part of the autonomous community.”

He said the people were equally threatened with his divide and rule system which, according to him, “is only a ploy to weaken their strength in order to succeed in his unsearchable quest to grab the lands left behind by their ancestors.”

“What this man is doing is abominable, he is presently bulldozing people’s farmland, appropriating and selling same.

“I don’t know what he has in mind, because, he has some cronies among our people. Even, he locked the community head, and we have been on the case for sometime now.

Contacted via telephone, Igwe Okeke Arum declined comment, urging anyone who wants to know his side of the story to come to his house to interview him.

Metro

Police Arrest Mother, Daughter Over Alleged N18m Romance Scam

Published

52 minutes ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, NPF-NCCC, have arrested a woman and her daughter over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18 million.

The police disclosed that the arrests followed investigations into allegations bordering on computer-related fraud, identity theft, and money laundering after receiving intelligence from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU.

In a statement issued by the Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Uwana Imah, the suspects were identified as 39-year-old Urowhe Diana and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

According to the statement, preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident identified as Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large, allegedly collaborated with Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru to open and operate multiple bank accounts used in carrying out fraudulent transactions.

“One of the victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld,” the statement said.

The police further disclosed that proceeds from the alleged romance scam were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts belonging to Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

Investigators also alleged that the funds were later moved into an Ecobank account owned by Urowhe Diana, where the money was allegedly spent.

According to the statement, forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital activities allegedly linked both mother and daughter to the cybercrime operation, leading to their eventual arrest.

The police added that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Emmanuel Amanfo, who was described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru.

“Investigation into the matter is still ongoing, and the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations,” the statement added.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterated the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to safeguarding Nigeria’s cyberspace and tackling cybercrime across the country.

The NPF-NCCC also urged members of the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official online reporting portal and designated communication channels.

Metro

Edo Police Arrest Two Suspected Cultists

Published

19 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

The Edo State Police Command on Wednesday said two suspected cultists were arrested in Ohonre community, off Adolor College Road, Benin.

This was disclosed in a statement by the command Public Relations Officer, Eno Ikoedem, and made available to newsmen electrically.

Ikoedem said the arrest was possible due to operatives response to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

The statement reads: “The Edo State Police Command has recorded another operational breakthrough following the swift disruption of a suspected cultists’ gathering in Ohonre Community, off Adolor College Road, Benin City.

“On 21st May, 2026, at about 19:00hrs, operatives attached to Ugbowo Division who were on surveillance patrol responded to a distress report concerning the movement and gathering of some suspected cult members within the community.

“Acting promptly on the information, the police team mobilized to the location. On sighting the operatives, the suspects fled in an attempt to evade arrest. The operatives immediately gave them a hot chase, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Victor Peter ‘M’, 21 years and Iyemoma Ogbewe ‘M’, 35 years.

“A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of one cut-to-size gun believed to have been in their possession for unlawful purposes.

“Upon investigation, the suspects confessed to being members of the notorious Maphite cult group. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other fleeing gang members.”

She said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, commended the swift response of the operatives and reiterated the Command’s resolve to deny criminal elements any opportunity within Edo State.

He further urged residents to continue providing timely and credible information to the Police, assuring that all reports would receive prompt attention.

Metro

Troops Eliminate Two Terrorists, Foil Pipeline Attack

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2026

Editor

The Nigerian Army says troops have, in the last 24 hours, eliminated two terrorists, rescued four kidnapped victims and foiled pipeline attacks in a series of coordinated military operations across Taraba, Kogi and Rivers.

This is contained in operational updates issued to reporters on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to the reports, troops of 93 Battalion deployed at Akate in the Donga Local Government Area of Taraba engaged suspected terrorists in a forested area, killing two of them.

According to the report, items recovered from the scene include an AK-47 rifle, ammunition, magazines, mobile phones and other personal effects.

In Kogi, it said the troops of 21 Battalion, in collaboration with vigilantes, rescued four kidnapped passengers along the Anyigba–Itobe road in Ofu Local Government Area.

It added that the victims were reportedly abandoned by their captors while attempting to cross a seasonal stream due to sustained pressure from advancing troops.

According to the military, efforts are ongoing to rescue other victims still in captivity.

The report said that troops of 12 Brigade successfully repelled an ambush along Kabba–Okene road while withdrawing from an earlier operation, forcing the assailants to flee with gunshot wounds.

“Meanwhile, in Rivers, troops of 5 Battalion acting on credible intelligence, foiled an attempt by suspected vandals to detonate a crude oil pipeline in Ahoada West Local Government Area.

“The swift response of the troops disrupted the operation before it could be executed, with the suspects fleeing the scene,” it said.