Many residents are feared dead while several others were abducted following a violent attack on Okporojo community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

According to local sources, the attackers stormed the community unexpectedly, setting several houses ablaze and causing residents to flee for safety. A number of villagers were reportedly taken away by the assailants during the incident.

Videos circulating on social media showed burning homes and distressed residents calling on the Ebonyi State Government and security agencies to intervene urgently.

The attack has not been officially linked to any group. However, it is believed to be connected to a long-standing boundary dispute involving neighbouring communities.

Reacting swiftly, Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, on Saturday announced the immediate sack of all political appointees from Amasiri community in Afikpo Local Government Area, following allegations that suspected warlords from the area were involved in the attack.

Those affected include the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Amari Omaka, other government appointees, management committee members, traditional rulers, town union presidents, and village heads from Amasiri.

Governor Nwifuru made the announcement during an on-the-spot assessment visit to Okporojo village, where he condemned the violence and described it as a tragic escalation of a protracted boundary dispute that had previously undergone reconciliation efforts.

“The boundaries have been agreed. This matter did not start today. Unfortunately, reconciliation has not been taken seriously by the communities,” the governor said.

As part of measures to restore peace, the governor announced the dissolution of the Amasiri Development Union executive, withdrawal of the certificate of recognition of the traditional ruler of Amasiri, and the removal of all village heads across Amasiri autonomous communities. He noted that the actions were temporary but necessary to prevent further violence.

“These actions are for the time being. The government will take further steps to show everybody why we are the government,” Nwifuru stated.

Addressing residents of Okporojo, the governor urged calm and restraint, assuring them of the government’s commitment to lasting peace and security.

“What you need immediately is not just support, but permanent peace, and that peace will definitely come,” he assured.

Governor Nwifuru also expressed concern over the level of destruction in the community and pledged to return within one year to ensure tangible improvements in security and development.

As of the time of filing this report, the Ebonyi State Police Command and the state government had yet to issue an official statement detailing arrests or casualties.

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… launches new Transport Management System, over 80 bus shelters

In an uncommon move that changes the transportation landscape in Enugu State, Governor Peter Mbah, on Thursday, inaugurated five ultramodern transport terminals in various parts of the state in line with his integrated blueprint for a modern and multimodal transport ecosystem.

Mbah also launched the Enugu State Modern Transport System that would enable residents commute with ease, as well as a digital platform and over 80 modern bus shelters constructed across the state.

The terminals visited and personally commissioned were the Holy Ghost Terminal 1 (Enugu Central Station 1), designated for inter-state transport; Holy Ghost Terminal 2 (Enugu Central Station 2) for inter-city transport; Nsukka Terminal (Nsukka Central Station); Abakpa Nike Terminal (Abakpa Central Station), and Gariki Terminal (Gariki Central Station).

Mbah said the projects, which drew huge crowds and elicited palpable joy among the residents, were a key part of the administration’s integrated five-terminal Transport Infrastructure Projects, Phase 1, in line with his vision to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Features of the terminal include food courts, banking halls, motels, shops, CNG refilling stations, and cinemas, while the Holy Ghost Terminals 1 and 2 are connected by 400m long sky bridge, said to be the longest in Nigeria. The buses feature free wifi and security equipment.

Addressing a mammoth crowd at the Holy Ghost Terminal 2, the governor recalled that until the commencement of the project in late 2023, the Holy Ghost area was “practically a synonym for chaotic traffic and general disorderliness.”

Continuing, he said, “Aside from the fact it constituted a major municipal blight, we knew we could not attain our audacious economic goals if we lacked an efficient public transport system that offered both comfort and dignity.

“We knew that our goal to make Enugu the most livable city in Nigeria would be a futile bid if we were unable to tackle problems such as persistent traffic gridlock.

“So, from the very first day of this administration, we made a promise: to build a world-class transport system that moves people, connects businesses and communities, and, crucially, that rightfully positions Enugu State as a model of modern governance, sustainable growth, and human dignity.

“Today’s commissioning of the newly completed world-class terminals and the CNG Bus Mass Transit Scheme is indeed beyond a ribbon-cutting exercise. It ushers in a whole new experience; fundamentally connecting our vision to action, and our action to the daily lives of the over seven million residents of Enugu State.”

He explained that alongside the CNG Rapid Bus Service (Mass Transit Scheme), the terminals were “central pillars of our transport agenda – a multimodal highway to the future – integrating road, rail, air, and waterways into one seamless, safe, and efficient ecosystem.”

He also described the terminals as catalysts for economic development and “engines of economic revival.”

“They represent our capacity to deliver projects that empower Ndi Enugu and set our state on a robust trajectory of growth.

“Already, this project is creating jobs, stimulating SMEs, and positioning Enugu to compete with Africa’s best. Through it, we’re creating over 20,000 jobs across BRT, 2,000 hybrid city taxis, airport operations, ride-hailing, and support services.”

He said that the Enugu Transport Management System would eliminate corruption that had been the bane of government enterprises to ensure sustainability, counting on an e-ticketing system that eliminates leakages, guarantees transparency, and ensures every payment is accounted for.

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An Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Aabakaliki final year student, Favour Ugwuka has allegedly committed suicide after she was said to have repeatedly failed a course.

Favour Ugwuka was said to have taken her life in her hostel at the Ishieke campus of the University on Wednesday night.

Ugwuaka who was a student at the Department of English was said to have passed all her courses but repeatedly failed one subject over alleged threats by the course lecturer.

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Consequently the mother of the deceased student has brought her corpse to the school telling the lecturer to come and carry her corps.

A video accompanied by a voice note purported to be from the deceased wherein she vented her frustration with the lecturer show the mother calling on the lecture to carry Favour’s corps

“The lecturer said he is the best, that nobody can teach like him. He should come and carry my daughter who has committed suicide,” the woman said.

Josh Ukandu, the Ebonyi state police spokesperson, confirmed the student’s demise to TheCable Lifestyle on Friday.

“I do not know the details of what led to whatever. As of now, it is just a reported suicide case. We cannot even say conclusively what it is. We just got the report that the student committed suicide,” he said.

“What I am saying is, we got a report of a suicide. So I cannot say the reasons behind it. I cannot even say whether it is a suicide or not. As you said, a lot of things are flying online with regard to the issue. The report was that somebody committed suicide, a girl and a student of Ebonyi State University.”

The PRO said if the family of the deceased “suspects something,” they should report it to the police for investigation.

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“I cannot confirm that. The report came as a suicide and of course, if the report comes as a suicide there is nothing to investigate. So, now it behooves the family of the person who committed suicide, maybe say that ‘we are suspecting something’ which will now lead to the investigation. Probably they have come now, but the report I only saw was the suicide,” he added.

“I do not have any interface with the people that gave the report. Whether anybody has come to now say they think it is not suicide but something else.”

Ebonyi State government has announced that it1cmqvd has received the green light from the federal government to commence flight operations at the International Airport in Onueke.

The new airport has also been named after the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, in recognition of his contributions to national development.

Obianuju Alo, the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Aviation and Technology, expressed her excitement over the inauguration of flight operations.

Enhancing business activities in Ebonyi
Alo emphasised the significance of the new airport in enhancing the economic fortunes of Ebonyi State. “With the airport inauguration, Ebonyi State is open for business,” she said.

Alo also revealed that two flights will be landing at the airport every week, one from Abuja and another from Lagos. “We want to encourage all Ebonyians and investors to come to Ebonyi and do their business,” she added. “Ebonyi will now start exporting agricultural products to the entire world.”

Alo further disclosed that international airlines would soon be coming to Ebonyi State, which would create employment opportunities for the people and benefit the local community.

The state government has approved six individuals per Local Government Area to be scheduled for a test flight from Abuja and Lagos.

The state government will bear the cost of the tickets for the test flight.

Governor David Umahi’s remark
In a statement by Governor David Umahi, he said that the airport’s completion was one of the greatest achievements of his administration. He praised the federal government for approving the airport, stating that it would help to facilitate the transportation of goods and services in the state.

He also thanked President Buhari for accepting the honour of having the airport named after him. He noted that the president had made significant contributions to the development of the nation, particularly in the areas of infrastructure, security, and anti-corruption.

The Governor reiterated his commitment to the development of Ebonyi State, stating that his administration would continue to initiate projects and programs that would improve the lives of the people.

A federal high court in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi capital, has declared the activities of Ebube Agu, the south-east security network, illegal in the state.

Governors of the south-east states had, in April 2021, announced the establishment of the security outfit as part of efforts to tackle insecurity in the zone.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the court also ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) and police to retrieve all the weapons in the possession of Ebube Agu operatives in Ebonyi state.

Riman Fatun, the presiding judge, said the grounds for disbandment were linked to human rights abuses, extortion, and illegal arrests.

“I hereby declare the Ebube Agu outfit illegal and therefore, it ceases to exist as the Ebonyi state house of assembly has no powers to approve their existence,” the judge held.

The court, in a suit filed by Abia Onyike, also ordered the Ebonyi government to pay the plaintiff the sum of N50 million as damages over his “abduction and torture” by the Ebube Agu security outfit in Abakaliki in November 2022.

In November 2022, Onyike, director of media and publicity of the Ebonyi PDP campaign council, was arrested by Ebube Agu operatives.

Speaking with journalists on the court’s ruling, Michael Odo, counsel to Onyike, said he approached the court to seek for a determination on “whether the Ebonyi state house of assembly has the constitutional powers to enact such security agency”.

“I also approached the court to seek whether the arrest of the plaintiff on 9/11/2022 and detention and torture by operatives of the Ebube Agu security agency and/or Ebonyi state Ebube Agu Corps at the Old Government House, Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, are lawful,” the lawyer added.

“I am happy over the judgment and today, justice has been done to my client.”