Anambra Police Rescue Kidnap Victims, Recover Heavy Weapons, Arrest Bishop’s Alleged Killer

By Our Correspondent

In abid to rid Anambra State of criminal activities,the State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on kidnapping, cultism, child trafficking and violent crimes across the state, including the rescue of abducted victims, recovery of sophisticated weapons and the arrest of a domestic worker allegedly involved in the murder of his employer, an Pentecostal bishop.

Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Awka on Tuesday, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, said the Command remained committed to intelligence-led policing and sustained operations aimed at protecting lives and property in the state.
The CP disclosed that operatives on May 10, 2026 rescued four kidnapped victims, including the Chief Medical Director of Crown Hospital, Nkpor, three days after they were abducted.

According to him, the victims were rescued after a fierce gun battle between police operatives and members of the kidnapping gang at their hideout in Obosi.
He said two armed suspects were neutralised during the operation, while police recovered a locally-made pistol, 100 rounds of live General Purpose Machine Gun ammunition, 23 expended ammunition and three vehicles, including a silver Lexus RX 350 belonging to one of the rescued victims.
Orutugu, however, said the operation claimed the life of a police officer who sustained fatal injuries during the exchange of gunfire.
“The officer paid the supreme sacrifice in active service to the nation. The Command honours his courage, gallantry and dedication to duty,” he stated.
He also appreciated the Anambra State Government for promising support to the deceased officer’s family and for covering the medical expenses of two injured officers currently receiving treatment.
The commissioner added that operatives cordoned off the building where the victims were rescued following attempts by angry residents to burn it down.
In another operation carried out on May 7, 2026, police operatives conducted strategic clearance raids in Owerre-Ezukala, Orumba South Local Government Area, targeting camps linked to a proscribed secessionist group.
The CP said the operation followed intelligence reports that some fleeing gang members were attempting to regroup after an earlier joint security raid destroyed their camp.
He identified one Nnamdi Nkemdilim Ogbonna, aged 37, as a suspected top commander of the group currently in police custody.
Items recovered during the raid included one General Purpose Machine Gun with about 2,000 rounds of live chain ammunition, two fabricated rocket launchers with 25 propellers, 10 improvised explosive devices, one locally-made Beretta pistol, two pump-action guns, three hand grenades, 10 rounds of K2 live ammunition, a gas cylinder and a black Ecolac box.
“The operatives dislodged the armed criminals and sustained operational dominance in the area to prevent any regrouping,” Orutugu said.
The Command also recorded another breakthrough following the arrest of one Favour Izunna, also known as Njoku, aged 22, who was allegedly linked to the Vikings Confraternity cult group.
The suspect allegedly led police operatives to the recovery of a pump-action gun, seven live cartridges, a locally-made Beretta pistol and five rounds of 7.5mm live ammunition.
Police said the suspect confessed to participating in several killings in Obosi and surrounding areas, including those of Emeka Chukwuka and Chinelo Onyeka.
The CP said efforts were ongoing to arrest other fleeing gang members and dismantle the cult network.
In a separate development, Orutugu paraded arrested domestic staff member allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry, Asaba, Delta State.
The police commissioner said the suspect, who reportedly served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic aide, allegedly conspired with other criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Toyota Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
He said operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, tracked and arrested the suspect alongside another individual alleged to have attempted to purchase the stolen vehicle in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area.
According to the CP, the stolen Prado Jeep was successfully recovered while investigations continued to arrest other suspects connected to the crime and unravel the full circumstances surrounding the murder.
Orutugu advised residents to exercise caution in employing domestic staff, drivers and other household workers.
He urged the public to properly profile and verify the identities of domestic employees while remaining vigilant to suspicious conduct and activities.
On crimes involving children and vulnerable persons, the police commissioner disclosed that five suspects had been remanded at a correctional facility over cases involving sexual offences and child abuse in Awka.
Among the suspects, he said, was a father accused of having an unlawful sexual relationship with his biological daughter in Oko.
“The Command views crimes against children and vulnerable persons as grave violations and assures the public that all cases involving sexual abuse and child-related violence will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted,” he said.
In another operation, police arrested a female suspect identified as Chinazo Winners Anyasirikwu over alleged child trafficking activities in Aguata Local Government Area.
The operation led to the rescue of 12 children — seven girls and five boys aged between one and 20 years — believed to be victims of child stealing and trafficking.
Police said the rescued children had been placed under protective care while investigations continued to uncover other members of the trafficking network.
The commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to sustaining operations against criminal elements across the state and urged residents to continue supporting security agencies with credible information.
He also commended the support of the Nigeria Police Force, the Anambra State Government, sister security agencies, community leaders and residents in the fight against crime.

By Our Correspondent

Following speculations on the political ambition of former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of 2027 election, the former President on Monday urged the Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to stop him from contesting the 2027 presidential election, following the absence of the plaintiff and other parties at the hearing.

Jonathan’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), made the request before Justice Peter Lifu after the plaintiff, lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, failed to appear in court for the scheduled proceedings.

Also absent were the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who are listed as the second and third defendants in the suit.

Uche argued that since all parties had already exchanged processes and joined issues in the matter, the suit should either be struck out or dismissed for want of diligent prosecution.

The senior advocate further asked the court to award a cost of N5 million against the plaintiff, insisting that as a legal practitioner, Jideobi ought to have either appeared in court or formally communicated any reason for his absence.

However, Justice Lifu declined the application to dismiss the case.

The judge held that there was no proof before the court that hearing notices had been served on INEC and the Attorney General ahead of Monday’s sitting.

Justice Lifu said the court would “bend backwards” one final time in the interest of justice to accommodate the absent parties and ensure fair hearing.

He subsequently adjourned the matter until May 15 for definite hearing and directed that hearing notices be served on the plaintiff and the absent defendants.

Jideobi had approached the court seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate in the 2027 presidential election.

The plaintiff is also asking the court to bar INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.

At the centre of the legal dispute is the interpretation of Sections 1(1), 1(2), 1(3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution regarding presidential tenure limits.

According to the plaintiff, Jonathan allegedly exhausted the constitutional limit for occupying the presidency after completing the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and later serving a fresh four-year term following his victory in the 2011 presidential election.

An affidavit filed in support of the suit by Emmanuel Agida stated that Jonathan assumed office as president on May 6, 2010, a day after Yar’Adua’s death.

The deponent added that growing speculations surrounding Jonathan’s possible participation in the 2027 presidential election prompted the legal action.

“The plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president,” the affidavit stated.

The plaintiff further argued that unless the court intervenes, a political party might nominate Jonathan in violation of constitutional provisions.

Agida also contended that if Jonathan contests and wins the election, he would be taking the presidential oath of office for the third time.

According to the affidavit, the suit was instituted in the public interest to preserve the supremacy of the constitution and safeguard Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

Jonathan had earlier said he was still consulting on whether to contest the 2027 presidential election.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

Counsel to the Opu Nembe Kingdom, Barrister Chigozie Inwere, has berated the use of technicalities like frivolous interlocutory appeals to delay the dispensation of justice while substantive cases remained pending.

The Nembe Kingdom in Nembe and Brass Local Government Areas in Bayelsa is seeking legal redress for pollution occasioned by oil spills from Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 in 2019 and 2020 to the tune of over N122 billion.

OML 29 is operated by Nembe Exploration and Production Ltd, formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Company Ltd.

The plaintiff had in its originating summons made a typographical error in the spelling of the oil firm’s name in the suit and Aiteo filed a motion for preliminary objection urging the court to dismiss the case on grounds of the error.

The trial judge dismissed the motion and held that it cannot dismiss the substantive case on grounds of typographical error and subsequently granted a motion for the plaintiffs to correct the error.

Aiteo subsequently filed an interlocutory appeal at the Port Harcourt Division of the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the trial court.

The plaintiff’s counsel described the appeal filed by Aiteo Eastern and Exploration Company against the ruling of the Federal High Court in Yenagoa as another critical phase in the kingdom’s ongoing pursuit of environmental justice over alleged oil spill incidents in the kingdom.

Reacting to the appeal, Inwere, who stood in for lead counsel Iniruo Wills, said the substantive environmental issues before the court must not be overshadowed by procedural contests and technicalities.

“These repeated incidents show a pattern of evading operational failure and environmental neglect. Communities have suffered years of pollution, loss of livelihoods, and delayed justice. The courts must ensure that substance prevails over technical delays, and that accountability is finally achieved,” he noted.

The trial court had also affirmed that environmental justice claims arising from alleged oil pollution could not be defeated by technical irregularities and subsequently granted an application correcting the corporate identity of the defendant in the suit.

Inwere explained that he matter of preliminary objection is now before the Court of Appeal as Aiteo seeks to overturn the ruling of the lower court and potentially suspend further proceedings in the substantive case.

Meanwhile, the main suit remains pending before the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and is scheduled for hearing on June 15, 2026.