FEATURES
On Sunday, The United States suspended visa issuance at its embassy in Colombia, part of a series of harsh measures after Bogota refused military deportation flights, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
“Measures will continue until Colombia meets its obligations to accept the return of its own citizens,” Rubio said in a statement.
Buhari’s Admission That Only God Can Solve Nigeria’s Problem A Sign That APC Has Failed – Opposition Parties
AFOLABI
Major opposition parties have criticized former President Muhammadu Buhari for urging Nigerians to seek divine intervention to revive the country, instead of admitting the failures of successive All Progressives Congress (APC)-led governments.
Buhari’s remarks, made in Hausa during an APC stakeholders meeting in Katsina on Saturday, have sparked widespread reactions, particularly on social media.
The former President had stated, “Only God who created Nigeria can solve the problems of Nigeria,” encouraging his supporters not to give up on the country.
The National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, in an interview with Punch described Buhari’s comments as a clear reflection of the APC’s inability to address the nation’s pressing issues.
He said, “Well, it’s an admission that the APC government has totally failed Nigerians, and they have led us down to an economic downturn. This statement by the former president shows that even the current administration is confused.
“It also means they have no clue about what they have been doing all this while. It’s like a trial-and-error process. What we need is the right set of leaders. The APC has failed and cannot provide the leadership required to turn the fortunes of this country around.”
The Peoples Democratic Party shared the same sentiment.
In a phone chat with Punch, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the PDP, Timothy Osadolor, said Buhari’s remark was also an indictment on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He said, “First and foremost, I think Nigerians should commend Buhari for being honest about the state of the nation and the reality of today’s government. Buhari, however, failed to mention that he laid the groundwork for this government and its ineptitude. It is a continuation of his past leadership failure.
“Again, it’s a vote of no confidence in President Tinubu, which further reaffirms what we have been saying that the man is just there giving people colourful speeches and doing nothing. It is not a time to criticise Buhari for what he said or why he said it. It is a wake-up call to this government and all Nigerians to salvage this country from going the way of South Sudan.
“This is what happens in countries where leadership fails. So we must not give in to partisanship or nepotism. President Tinubu only consolidated on the ineptitude of Buhari who was just fortunate enough to lead this country.
“Therefore, all men of goodwill must stand up and salvage what remains of this country before things fall apart. Nigeria can only get it right if the leaders are there.”
Similarly, the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, said he wasn’t surprised by Buhari’s speech because he was one of a few well-meaning Nigerians who knew he had nothing to offer the country.
Ahanotu added that it was high time Nigerians gave the younger generation a chance to correct the ills of the past.
He said, “The truth is that I am not a fan of Buhari and never expected him to do well. So, I am not surprised that he did nothing for eight years. But my point is that we are in a country where, before a new president takes over, there is always a perception that he will do better. Unfortunately, after each successive regime, there will be lamentation that he didn’t do well.
“However, we have options in Nigeria, I keep saying it. Until we include a younger generation of leaders, we cannot enjoy the dividends of democracy that are happening all around the world. So, there is no point lamenting because there is another Sheriff in town.
“But just like all the letters former President Obasanjo wrote to him, Buhari neither heeded nor implemented any of the advice. So, if the ex-president decides again to write Tinubu today, he is also at leisure to listen or not to any of the counsels. This is because successful APC governments don’t listen to people they consider outsiders.
“This is why I said Buhari’s lamentation does not make any sense to me. It’s not something I even want to talk about because it is their system. Don’t forget this current President was among those who protested and fought in NADECO for the government to do the right thing. But today, it’s not safe or healthy to protest in Nigeria.”
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday fixed February 27, 2025, for the arraignment of Gbolahan Obanikoro, the son of Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, and four others for alleged N1,356,057,330.43 fraud.
To be arraigned alongside Obanikoro are Adejare Adegbenro, 51; Balmoral International Limited; M.O.B. Integrated Limited; and DDSS International Company Limited.
The police charged them with five counts, bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretenses, false representation, and fraud.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa set the date on Friday after the defendants failed to appear for their scheduled arraignment.
When the case was called, the prosecution counsel, Momoh Bello, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of the defendants.
Following the absence of the defendants, Bello then asked the court for a bench warrant against them, saying that they had all been served.
But counsel for the fourth defendant ( M.O.B. Integrated Limited), Joshua Abel, opposed the bench warrant prayer.
He told the court that the fourth defendant is a company and that the fourth defendant received service late on Wednesday and he was informed of the case late on Thursday.
Abel also told the court that most of the defendants, who are directors of the firm, were not in the country.
“I have not had the opportunity to go through the case before the directors can be arraigned,” he said.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa then asked the prosecutor for the proof of service and date of service.
He said, “I want proof of service and the date of service. The record of this court shows that service was effected on the third and fourth defendants. It’s less than 48 hours that they have been served; one of them was served yesterday. The first and second defendants are natural persons and there is no proof of service on them.
“The law says personal service. You can go and regularise service on the defendants. There is no proof that the first and second defendants have been served. However, there is proof that the third and fourth defendants have been served. The prosecution is directed to serve the first and second defendants,” the judge ruled and then adjourned till February 27, 2025, for the arraignment of all the defendants.
The Inspector General of Police, through the Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos, accused the defendants and others at large of conspiring amongst themselves between May and September 2013 to fraudulently obtain the sum of N1,356,057,330.43 from Access Bank Plc (formerly Diamond Bank).
They were accused of allegedly misrepresenting themselves to the bank’s staff and officers, claiming they were involved in the business of importing cars from Dubai for sale in Nigeria, and that the money was needed to finance the importation of a set of brand-new cars for resale.
The defendants are also being accused of converting, transferring, retaining, or taking possession of the funds, knowing or having reason to know that such funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The police further alleged that they unlawfully converted the sum of N1bn belonging to the bank for personal use.
According to the police, the offences committed contravened Section 8(i)(a) and punishable under Section 1(3), 1(i)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offenses Act, No. 14 of 2006, and Section 18(2)(b) and (d) and 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
A former lawmaker of the Nigerian Senate, Shehu Sani has reacted to te ongoing crisis at the Lagos House of Assembly.
Sani while addressing the impeached Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, has called for calm.
Obasa was impeached by lawmakers of the Lagos House of Assembly while he was away in the United States of America.
He was immediately replaced by the deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Upon his return, Obasa said his removal was unconstitutional and as such he remains the speaker of the Lagos Assembly.
However, advising Obasa, the former Kaduna lawmaker said this is a time for the embattled Speaker to move on.
Sani in a post on X said, “Hon Obasa should just thank his God, accept his fate and calm down. Its a rare privilege to occupy that seat and serve for that long.
“Not everyone can be that lucky in life.Allow the Honorable lady speaker to do her job; if he is actually good, posterity will vindicate him,” Sani posted.
A nurse, identified as Chiemela Nonye, has accused Chief Superintendent of Police Nkiruka Ugwu, attached to Area ‘M’ Command, Idimu, Lagos, of paying her to bear false witness in a rape case, alleging that the senior police officer is threatening to kill her, if she mentioned her name in an on-going investigation of rape, at the Area ‘D’ Command, Mushin.
However, when CSP Ugwu was contacted, she said “I told her (Nonye ) never to involve my name. She can’t try it. Why would she involve my name? Am I fighting her with Amuche? She should go ahead and do whatever she wants to do. If it is my case she wants, I am ready for her. She cannot try to mention my name.”
On the allegation of locking the mother of the minors shop , with an instruction to touts to kill her if she dared to open the shop, she said, ” I have nothing to say. They can all go ahead with whatever they want to do. I am not a sister to Amuche. God forbid, I am not.”
Nonye was arrested by the Police at the Area D Command, in Mushin, on January 22, 2025 following a petition by one Mr Ekwenyu Uchenna.
The petitioner stated that Nonye bore false witness against him, by claiming she witnessed his defiling of three teenage siblings in April 2024.
Consequently, the petitioner was reportedly arrested and detained for seven days at the Alausa Police Division, from where he was transferred to the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID in Abuja, where he spent additional three weeks in detention.
Uchena, told Vanguard that he was moved from the FCID Abuja, to the State Criminal Investigation, SCID, Panti, Yaba, Lagos where a discreet investigation was carried by detectives who said there were no facts to prove he penetrated the minors and was subsequently released. According to him, he was arrested alongside the mother of the three minors, because operatives led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, DSP Philomena Ehiokhilen alleged that she connived with him to rape her children.
However, upon his release, he petitioned the Area D Command, Mushin, where nurse Nonye, during interrogation, admitted in a written statement that she was paid an undisclosed amount by the CSP to fabricate the lies against Uchenna and mother of the minors.
In a recorded telephone conversation between nurse Nonye and mother of minors, she was heard begging for forgiveness, claiming that CSP Ugwu has been threatening to kill her if she mention her name.
The recorded telephone conversation went thus: Nurse Nonye : “I don’t know why I agreed to this. As I speak with you, I’m in tears. Please forgive me. I didn’t know why I agreed to frame Uchenna. Please help me apologize to Uche.”
Mother of minor: “We are all human. I know how both of us were. I went to my lawyer’s office and explained everything, telling him it was not you. You were pushed into this. If he wants to speak to you, he can confirm you were pushed out of ignorance. After hearing from you, if they find out you were misled; they will know how to exclude you from the matter. So, leave Uchenna out of this because I have told him you are not the main problem. CSP Ugwu is the real problem. She pushed you into this.”
In a chat with Vanguard, the mother of the three minors, alleged that the CSP Ugwu had threatened her life numerous times and also destroyed her businesses.
She said “CSP Ugwu came to my shop located at Cele-Egbe, last year and seized my goods. She told the touts in the area to kill me if I tried to go near the shop. She said she was the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. Since then, all my goods have been
The South East Youth Stakeholders Forum, a group of representatives of various youth organisations across the South East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to release from incarceration the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The group which convened an emergency meeting on Saturday, after in-depth discussions on the prevailing issues affecting the South East Region, appealed for Presidential Intervention in the long incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“We appeal to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the father of the nation and a detribalised Nigerian to direct the Attorney General of the Federation to discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to pave the way for his release from incarceration.
“This we believe is a critical step toward resolving the persistent security challenges in the South East. We believe that his release will end the insecurity that has bedeviled the southeast region, foster genuine reconciliation, and reduce tensions within the southeast region,” the group assured.
In a communique by representatives of the five states in the southeast led by the Chairman representing Enugu State, Mazi Ezenwa Onyirimba, the group insisted that Kanu’s release will create a conducive environment for constructive dialogue and engagement with some youths from the southeast who took up arms against the State.
The landing cost of imported Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) has dropped to ₦922.65 per litre, a ₦32.35 reduction from the ₦955 per litre offered at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s loading gantry.
The price shift has reignited interest among marketers in importing petrol, offering a more profitable alternative to Dangote’s refined products, which remain priced higher.
Industry stakeholders noted that while Dangote Refinery previously offered competitive pricing, the decline in imported petrol costs is now an attractive incentive for marketers seeking better margins.
Recent data shows that oil marketers imported 76.84 million litres of petrol within two days, indicating a growing reliance on foreign products despite earlier efforts to encourage local refining.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) had initially advocated a 180-day suspension on fuel imports to give Dangote Refinery a chance to prove its capacity.
However, marketers argue that there was no binding agreement, and they are now focusing on sourcing cheaper alternatives to meet demand and stay competitive.
“The lower cost of imported petrol is often an incentive to dealers and you won’t blame marketers who import the product,” a major marketer told Punch.
As import costs drop, consumers may anticipate potential price adjustments, even as depot prices remain high across major locations, ranging from ₦950 to ₦990 per litre.
The Lagos State House of Assembly is set for a tense sitting today as the leadership crisis between Mojisola Meranda and Mudashiru Obasa continues to deepen.
Obasa, who was impeached as Speaker on January 13, 2025, by 35 of the Assembly’s 40 members over allegations of misconduct and financial mismanagement, insists he remains the legitimate Speaker.
Over the weekend, Obasa returned from a trip abroad and declared his intention to resume as Speaker, describing his impeachment as unconstitutional.
Addressing supporters at his official residence in Ikeja, he criticized the process that led to his removal and accused the police of interfering.
“I am not afraid of being removed. Lagos is a special place; we cannot denigrate the state. They should prove their allegations against me and follow due process,” Obasa said.
In response, lawmakers loyal to Mojisola Meranda, elected as the new Speaker, reaffirmed their position, insisting that Obasa’s removal was final and in line with constitutional procedures.
A statement from former House Committee Chairman on Information and Security, Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, noted, “Over two-thirds of the Assembly members remain solidly united behind Speaker Mojisola Meranda, and we stand firmly by the decision taken on January 13.”
Meanwhile, reports indicate that President Bola Tinubu, during a recent meeting with both factions in Abuja, upheld the Assembly’s decision to remove Obasa, urging him to vacate the Speaker’s residence peacefully.
‘You Are A Big Fool If You Say Ifa Is Nothing’ – Obasanjo Addresses Christians, Muslims In Nigeria
AFOLABI
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has declared that he will emphatically address anyone who says Ifa is nothing as a fool.
The former leader stressed the importance of safeguarding African cultural heritages during a gathering on Sunday, asserting that these traditions should not be threatened with extinction.
Obasanjo highlighted the need to protect Yoruba culture, describing it as “authentic.”
According to him, before Christianity and Islam was the Yoruba’s Ifa Orunmila, meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la “It is Heaven that knows who will be saved.”
Naija News reports that Obasanjo made these remarks in Abeokuta, Ogun State while celebrating the 50th birthday of renowned female talking drummer Olamuyiwa Aralola, known as Ara, at the Green Legacy Hotel and Resort, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).
The former president noted that hosting Ara for this special occasion was a purposeful gesture to honour her contributions to the preservation of Yoruba cultural heritage, particularly in talking drums, an art form traditionally associated with men.
He said, “For whatever reason, we must preserve our culture, Ara is a woman of culture, she is our cultural ambassador, she has lifted our culture and had broken the taboo on what was formerly believed to be exclusively for male gender. She had not only excelled in this, but was already building young ones to preserve her legacy.
“When I was growing up, there are two things that you don’t imagine a woman should do. You cannot see a woman climbing a palm tree. Secondly, you cannot see a woman playing a talking drum. Ara had broken the taboo and she had done it very well.”
The former president said the lesson from Ara’s actions is that one must do whatever he or she is doing very well.
“Before now, parents don’t allow their sons to play football, but today, parents are now begging that their children should be allowed to play football.
“For me if you are dancer, dance well and if you invite me for a celebration, I will come. If you are a footballer and you invite me for a celebration, I will come. Whatever you find your hands in doing, do it well.
“We must not joke with our culture. We are being relegated to the background, our language is being relegated, our food, our dress and others. We must not allow it. They are things that are authentic. Yoruba is not vernacular,” Obasanjo said.
The former President stressed that despite being a Christian, he hasn’t forgotten his culture.
“I am a Christian, I had attended two churches today and that does not mean that I should forget my culture. Whoever says Ifa is nothing, I will say that person is a big fool.
“Before Christianity and Islam, we have Ifa Orunmila meaning Olorun lo mo eni to ma la “It is Heaven that knows who will be saved,” he said.
In her remark, Ara thanked Obasanjo for the honour done to her.
Ara, who said she started playing talking drums at age 10 in her father’s palace in Ondo, said that her parents should do everything possible to preserve the culture.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) operatives have intercepted a consignment of Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, concealed in a duvet, packaged for export to the United Kingdom through the cargo shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja Lagos.
The NDLEA operatives discovered that six parcels of the psychoactive substance with a gross weight of 3.50 kilograms were concealed inside the duvet.
Also, two suspects, Adakole Sunday and Austin Balogun, linked to the bid to export the consignment to the UK, were promptly arrested following the discovery by NDLEA officers on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said in his statement that Balogun, the main agent hired Sunday, claimed he was paid N700,000 to cargo the consignment to the UK but spent a fraction of the money on export handling charges and the bulk to pay for an apartment.
Also, another raid in Lagos on Sunday, January 19, led to the seizure of 47kg skunk, a strain of cannabis, and 25.46kg Nitrous Oxide, popularly known as laughing gas, at the notorious Akala area of Mushin.
Meanwhile, at least two suspects, Joseph Oluwasegun Adewale and Biodun Adelakun, were arrested at Igbo Olumo, Ikorodu area of Lagos, when NDLEA operatives raided their hideout in the community where seven litres of skuchies, a new psychoactive substance produced with black currant, cannabis and opioids, were recovered.
Other exhibits seized from the duo include three locally made double-barrel rifles, one locally made double-barrel pistol, one English-made pistol, one locally made single-barrel rifle, three cartridges, one empty 9mm cartridge, and an iron-head axe.
In Ekiti, a 26-year-old suspect, Adepoju Taiwo, was arrested by NDLEA officers on Thursday January 23, with 1.950kg Canadian Loud at Iworoko Road, Ilokun, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, while Auwal Sani was nabbed by operatives on Monday, January 20 at Bode Saadu in Moro local government area of Kwara State, while a total of 50,000 pills of tramadol 225mg weighing 36.56kg were recovered from him.
Babafemi added that a Nigerien, Abubakar Lami, 45, with two others: Abba Sani, 35, and Auwal Aliyu, 32, were arrested by NDLEA operatives at Gadar Tamburawa, Kano, while 13.1kg skunk and 125 litres of ‘suck and die’, a new psychoactive substance was recovered from them.
More...
There was an explosion of dynamites suspected to be kept by an artisan Miner at Sabon Pegi, Mashegu local government area of Niger state killing one person and injuring six others.
LEADERSHIP findings revealed that the dynamites were kept by an artisan Gold Miner, Yushau. They exploded yesterday morning, affecting many households in the village and destroying properties.
It was learnt that the dynamites exploded when they were being packaged from the house to the various mining sites in the area that was also one of the targets of Bandits.
Confirming this, the Niger State Command Police Public Relations Officer PPRO Wasiu Abiodun said,
“There was an explosion of some suspected dynamites at Sabon-Pegi, Mashegu LGA, which was reportedly kept in a residential area by one Yushau for a purported mining activity”.
“The explosion led to the unfortunate death of one Fatima Sadauki, while six others were injured and taken to general hospital Kainji for medical attention”, he further stated.
He further disclosed that the incident affected about twelve houses in the area, saying that the Commissioner of Police, Niger State Command CP Shawulu Ebenezer Danmamman, has ordered an investigation into the incident.
Consequently, the PPRO said the commissioner had dispatched the EOD-CBRN unit to the scene for assessment.
On Yushau’s whereabouts, he said, “he is currently at large. However, normalcy has been restored in the area while monitoring continues.”
Director Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba said troops
of Operation HADIN KAI in the North-East of the country, conducted clearance operations to renowned terrorists’ stronghold and enclave known as Timbuktu Triangle.
He said the ongoing operations aimed at dismantling terrorists’ presence within the triangle commenced on January 16, 25.
“Troops recorded several encounters with terrorists during the course of the clearance operations which result in over 70 terrorists combatants including three notable terrorist commanders neutralised,” Buba said.
He identified the neutralised terrorist commanders as the Terrorist Special Forces Commander, Mallam Umar; Terrorist Operations Commander, and Abu Yazeed, the Terrorist Brigade Commander.”
According to General Buba, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), suicide bombers as well as suicide bombers in explosive vehicles were deployed by the hoodlums to ward off troops’ advances and attacks during the operations.
“Troops already familiar with the terrorists’ tactics thwarted the several attempts, including shooting down the amateur drones used by the terrorists,” he said.
The director however expressed sadness, that 22 soldiers lost their lives in action during the encounters.
“Overall, during the course of the operations, troops sadly recorded 22 killed in action casualties with several others wounded in action,” he disclosed.
He enjoined the media to refrain from publishing the names of the troop casualties to allow formal notification of their next of kins.
Nigerian music legend, Tuface Idibia, better known as 2Baba, has disowned a social media post announcing his separation from his wife, Annie Idibia Macauley.
2Baba, in the Instagram post, announced the breakup of 13 years of marriage with Annie.
The ‘African Queen’ crooner also revealed plans to address the situation in an upcoming press release, in which he vowed to clarify the events leading to their separation.
The earlier post read, “Hello to my beautiful people of all federations. Well, this thing I have to say is short but also long…I and Annie Macaulay have been separated for a while now, and currently filed for divorce.
“I would grant a press release soon to say my story. Not because it is anyone’s right to know about my personal life but because I love my people and I need them to know my innocence or offense. Stay blessed my people. I love you all.”
However, in his latest post on his page, 2Baba announced that his Instagram account had been hacked and stressed that efforts were underway to recover it.
The post reads, “My Instagram account has been hacked, efforts are being carried out to take back control. #onelove!”
But in a surprising twist, the award wining singer posted a video disclosing that his account was never hacked.
Annie and 2Face tied the knot in May 2012 and share two beautiful daughters, Isabella and Olivia.
Their lavish and star-studded wedding in Dubai in March 2013 was the talk of the town.
However, their marriage has faced turbulent times, with Annie publicly accusing 2Baba of infidelity involving his babymama, Pero.
This led to conflicts with his family members, although they later reconciled, lived in peace and harmony until now.
Media
Palpable tension has been ignited in Oba community, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State since the state’s newly unveiled security outfit uncovered over 30 graves and shrine in a popular hotel located in the area.
The property, officially registered as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, but popularly known as La Cruise Hotel, located along the Onitsha-Owerri Road was demolished on Saturday after the security operatives discovered its sinister operations.
According to the authorities, the building operating under the guise of a hotel was busted after a tip-off by a whistleblower and due intelligence gathered.
During the demolition, security operatives and local authorities said they made a horrifying discovery of over 30 well-partitioned graves downstairs of the structure, alongside a shrine as well as military camouflage, including arms and cartridges.
However, it could not be officially ascertained if any corpse was found from the grave or if any arrest was made at the said hotel, as the authorities had remained silent on it.
When contacted on the development, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Community Security, Ken Emeakayi, declined to comment, while directing our correspondent to confirm from the Press Secretary to the governor.
But the statement shared on the Anambra State New Media X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, indicated that the hotel, known as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites, also referred to as “La Cruise Hotel”, was reportedly a hub for kidnappers and other criminal elements.
The statement, which added that the hotel had over 30 well-partitioned graves, read, “Oba, Idemili South LGA! Demolition of kidnappers’ den disguised as Udoka Golden Point Hotel and Suites AKA “La Cruise Hotel” along Onitsha-Owerri Road.
“The hotel has well-partitioned graves of over 30 on the last floor with a shrine!!”
When also contacted, Christian Aburime, the Press Secretary to the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, said investigations were still ongoing and would be communicated in due course.
Aburime said, “Yes, the hotel was demolished as part of Anambra State Homeland Security Law that says any structure or building found to be housing criminals or linked to the issue of kidnapping should be pulled down.
“The raid followed credible information from concerned members of the public about the suspicious activities going on there.
“During the raid by the security operatives, graves were found on the ground floor of the hotel and some military camouflage and some arms cartridges of guns and so on were also found. Quite a number of incriminating items were also found there.”
He said it was the law that had been passed by the state, and no matter who the owner of the structure was, if it was linked to any issue of kidnapping or any criminality, it had to be pulled down.
“As regards if corpses were found at the discovered graves or if any arrest was made, that I cannot say for now. Investigations are still ongoing and further development shall be made known as they unfold,” he said.
Our correspondent who visited the community on Sunday, observed mixed feelings from residents as some who spoke in different interviews raised serious concerns about the prevalence of similar establishments in the state, while others said a thorough investigation should have been carried out before the demolition.
Residents expressed their outrage and called for swift action from the government to investigate other suspicious buildings.
A resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said, “I witnessed the demolition. This is beyond comprehension. God forbid such evil in our land!”
Another resident said, “Those things they called graves were constructed partitioning for fish ponds.”
When contacted on the development, the spokesman for the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “We don’t have a brief on it.”
In another development on Saturday, the Agunechemba Security Squad raided a kidnappers’ hideout in a brothel at Akwu-Ukwu Oba in the Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
During the operation, two suspected kidnappers were arrested along with five prostitutes in the area, following a tip-off from residents.
The one-storey building that housed the kidnappers and prostitutes was immediately demolished by the security operatives, by Anambra State’s Agunechemba Security Laws.
An operative of the outfit who craved anonymity, said, “We received information that some young men had been visiting the brothel regularly, arriving late in the evening and leaving early in the morning,
“We kept watch on them, and after confirming the information, our team moved in and apprehended them.”
The operative further confirmed that some members of the gang are still on the run and vowed to track them down.