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By Iheanyi Chukwudi No fewer than 10 persons have been confirmed dead and 10 others injured in two separate fatal road accidents that occurred today, in Enugu. The fatal accidents occurred along the Ozalla/4-Corner axis of the dual-carriage Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway. Confirming the accidents this night, the Enugu State Police Command said the 10 injured in the crashes are currently hospitalized. Explaining in details how the accidents happened, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe (SP) said, "The first incident, a multiple-vehicle crash, happened at about 9 a.m. on the Enugu inward-bound lane. A Howo truck, inscribed Visco Investment Global and laden with bags of white cement, was en route Abuja from Aba, Abia State, when it collided with a Toyota Corolla car that was attempting to overtake another truck on the same route. A Foton bus and a Daihatsu Hijet mini bus, both driving one-way, were also caught in the collision. Sadly, the truck head and the Toyota Corolla car went up in flames, with five occupants of the car burning to death. A passenger in the mini bus was equally confirmed dead by the attending medical doctor. Similarly, at about 3 p.m. on the same road, another fatal crash occurred. This time, it involved a Sino truck belonging to Global Investment and a tricycle. The truck, laden with cement and driving one-way from Garriki Enugu to Nenwe in Aninri LGA, on the same Enugu inward-bound lane, rammed into the tricycle, leading to the death of its four occupants. They were rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead. Ten other persons, injured in the separate crashes, are currently receiving medical attention." Ndukwe said the Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, while mourning the tragic loss of lives and commiserating with the families of the deceased, directed the State Motor Traffic Department to carry out a diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accidents. "The CP describes the crashes as avoidable and strongly cautioned drivers to exercise utmost care, especially during these Ember Months, when road traffic usually increases and accidents are more frequent. He reminded motorists that no journey is worth the loss of lives, urging them to shun recklessness, obey traffic rules, and prioritize safety over speed to prevent further tragedies."

By Iheanyi Chukwudi An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Henry Okeke, has said that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State's leadership qualities are capable of transforming Nigeria. Mbah, he also said has demonstrated rare leadership qualities that has made his automatic return to office in 2027, a done deal. Speaking on Tuesday, as a guest on Freedom Square TV during a post-event analysis of the just-concluded 2025 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-AGC) held in Enugu, Okeke address that Mbah's performance in the state has position him as a future presidential material. He said, "Governor Mbah has earned his pride of place among the finest leaders Nigeria has ever produced." Okeke urged Nigerians to begin to look beyond 2027 and consider Mbah for the nation’s top leadership position at the expiration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s tenure in 2031. Extolling the Mbah administration for its unprecedented reforms that have transformed Enugu into a model of modern governance, he said, “Governor Peter Mbah has turned Enugu State into a showroom of leadership. He has shown Nigerians that governance is not rocket science. He has built a state where poverty can be defeated, where security is guaranteed, and where young people are inspired to dream and achieve.” The legal practitioner cited the seamless organization of the NBA-AGC, noting that the state remained secure, clean, orderly, and hospitable throughout the conference which attracted thousands of lawyers from across the country. Okeke, who is also the Convener, New Enugu Group, emphatically said, “Governor Peter Mbah’s second term in office is non-negotiable. His performance in just two years has earned him automatic tickets across all political party platforms. Today, you can see political parties wooing him because of his uncommon performance.” Reflecting on the theme of the Freedom Square TV programme, “Reassessing Governor Peter Mbah’s Disruptive Innovation, 2025 NBA Conference and Matters Arising,” Okeke stressed that the successful hosting of the national legal community in Enugu had further underscored the disruptive innovations of the Mbah administration. The Governor’s policies he observed, have elevated Enugu into a destination of choice for conferences, investment, and tourism, while also redefining the expectations of governance in Nigeria. Okeke noted that the impact of the just concluded week-long NBA-AGC, has continued to reverberate across the legal and political circles in the country, with participants still pouring encomiums on the Governor. He said, “Lawyers and non-lawyers alike are unanimous in praising His Excellency for his disruptive innovations. The Enugu of today is not the Enugu of yesterday, and Nigerians are beginning to see a leader who can take the country to its promised land.”

By Madu Obi The Anambra State community security outfit, Agunechemba, has refuted reports circulating in the social media alleging that some youths have sought its collaboration to patrol border towns in a bid to target supporters of convicted Nigerian-Finnish agitator, Simon Ekpa. Describing the reports as misleading and a potential distraction, Agunechemba emphasized that its core mandate remains assisting federal security agencies in combating crime within the state. In a statement, the spokesperson of Agunechemba, Nweke Nweke, clarified that the security outfit has never partnered with any group to carry out a manhunt against any individual. “Agunechemba’s mission is to support established security agencies in maintaining peace, law, and order across Anambra State. Our activities are not tied to any court ruling against any person or group. We operate under a strict code of conduct that prohibits targeting individuals or organizations based on judicial outcomes,” Nweke stated. He further stressed that Agunechemba maintains a consistent, collaborative relationship with recognized security institutions and warned against the spread of statements capable of distracting its personnel from their official responsibilities. While acknowledging that community policing requires collective effort, Nweke noted that although Agunechemba supports youth-driven initiatives to identify and tackle criminal activity, such efforts must be carried out responsibly and within legal bounds. “Community policing is a shared responsibility. While we support initiatives aimed at curbing crime, youths must ensure they do not falsely accuse innocent individuals or involve organizations like Agunechemba in unverified or personal missions,” he said. Nweke cautioned against dragging the security outfit into plans outside its defined mandate. “If the youths are genuinely committed to identifying bad elements in their communities, they should work with the state government and appropriate law enforcement agencies. They must refrain from implicating Agunechemba or misrepresenting its role in their personal agendas. We do not target any specific demographic. Our objective is to maintain law and order in line with constitutional provisions — not to act on any group’s private vendetta,” he added.

Chukwuemeka Agbata, MD, Anambra ICT Agency By Madu Obi The Managing Director of Anambra ICT Agency, Chukwuemeka Agbata has said that the state’s journey towards becoming a digital hub in Nigeria is seriously underway, noting that the foundation has been laid, strong and unshakable, by a single, daring choice. Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Awka, Agbata observed that one of the biggest hurdles to broadband expansion across Nigeria, has been the prohibitive cost of Right of Way charges, which are the fees telecom operators must pay to lay fibre-optic cables across state-owned land. This, he said, drastically slows down digital infrastructure rollout, thereby denying people access to internet. "In 2022, one of the earliest and boldest steps taken by Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, on assumption of office, was the removal of the Right of Way (RoW) charges for laying broadband fibre across Anambra State. At the time, it seemed like a quiet policy move, but in reality, it laid the foundation for the state’s ongoing digital transformation journey. The logic behind this move is simple but powerful. By waiving RoW charges, the administration sent a clear message to telecom operators, broadband providers, and investors: Anambra is open for digital business. That single decision has paved the way for fibre-to-home deployment, the expansion of 5G infrastructure, and faster, more reliable internet across communities, ultimately boosting the ease of doing business," Agbata stated. He said that one of the most visible testaments to the visionary policy is the ongoing roll-out of the “Solution Free Wi-Fi” initiative, which is democratizing internet access for students, traders, civil servants, and everyday citizens, alongside the digitization of government processes that are making service delivery faster and more transparent. He added: "What seemed impossible a few years ago is now a lived reality: Teachers are being equipped with digital tools, enhancing lesson delivery and preparing students for a technology-driven future. Civil servants now work with smarter systems, making the civil service more efficient, transparent, and responsive to citizens, while young innovators are finding an enabling environment to create solutions and businesses that improve lives and shape the future. What began as a policy shift has cascaded into practical, people-centred benefits that are redefining how Anambra learns, works, and governs. This backbone is also unlocking new opportunities in telemedicine, e-learning, smart agriculture, and more. In short, the Soludo-led administration’s decision aligns perfectly with the governor’s vision of building a liveable and prosperous megacity, anchored on technology. More notably, Anambra’s forward-thinking move aligns it with both national and global best practices." He observed that states like Lagos, Ekiti and Kaduna that reduced or eliminated RoW fees also saw significant surges in broadband penetration and digital services. "Anambra’s decision places it firmly within this league of forward-looking regions, positioning the state as not just a beneficiary of technology, but a driver of digital growth in Nigeria. This is not just about cables in the ground, it’s about creating an ecosystem where technology thrives and opportunities multiply. Anambra is proving that the future truly belongs to states that embrace technology, not as a slogan, but as a strategy", Agbata stated.

By Madu Obi The Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate for the November 8 Anambra election, Dr. George Moghalu, has said that the result of the gubernatorial election will play a major role in the 2027 presidential election. Speaking at Umunze and Nwafija in Orumba South local government area and Agulu in Anaocha local government area as he began his campaign tour of communities in the state, Moghalu told the people that if they truly desire an Igbo president, Anambra must make a bold statement by voting for LP in November. "Our leader, His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, needs his own state to stand firm in 2027, and the whole country, especially Obi’s supporters, are watching Anambra State. Whether one likes it or not, Obi has awakened the political consciousness of Ndi Igbo and brought us back to the national political table. Fortune can only be delayed, but not denied; all powers belong to God and He gives it to whom He pleases,” Moghalu said. He urged the people to remain vigilant, warning that many politicians would return with money to buy votes during the governorship poll. “Do not mortgage your future for ten thousand naira. Vote your conscience, vote for Labour Party, because Peter Obi’s journey to the presidency begins with Anambra governorship election,” he added. He assured Anambra people of purposeful leadership, vowing never to fail them, and declared that he will not pass through this generation unsung but will deliver projects and policies that posterity will always remember. Promising to end insecurity in the state if elected, Moghalu lamented that "Agunechemba security outfit which is expected to protect the people, has instead become a source of fear because the operatives are untrained and unregulated.” Our vigilantes must be trained, documented, equipped with technology, and properly funded", Moghalu said. He assured that his administration will conduct credible local government elections, adding that the era of governors interfering with LG allocations will end under his watch.

By Madu Obi The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, for the November 8 Anambra election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, has pledged to prioritize security, economic transformation, and community development, if elected the governor of the state. Ukachukwu, who spoke at Ichida, Anaocha local government area during a visit to the community, assured that he would get the ground running from day One of his inauguration as governor of Anambra State to ensure that Anambra takes its rightful position in Nigeria. "Insecurity remains the state’s biggest challenge and must be tackled head-on. No society thrives where there is insecurity. We must first secure lives and property before securing the economy. Anambra is known for manufacturing and trade and we will encourage policies that support what our people do best", he said. During the visit, Ukachukwu interacted with community leaders, youth groups, women associations and party supporters and pledged to accord them prominent positions in his cabinet, like other citizens of Anambra State. "Everybody will be equal stakeholders in my administration and given a sense of belonging at all times", he assured. Ukachukwu said he would leverage the state’s abundant gas deposits in Ayamelum and other parts of the state to improve power generation and distribution, describing electricity as the key to transforming the economy. He promised to rehabilitate and expand the road linking Nnewi South, Anaocha, and Njikoka, with Ichida at its centre, adding that the project would not only involve repairs but dualization and construction of additional routes to ease movement, open up communities, and significantly boost economic activities across the three local governments. He also vowed to revolutionize agriculture in the entire state through sustainable value chain, noting that farming could provide jobs, ensure food security and tame youth restiveness. Other key areas of focus, according to him, include security, power generation, agriculture, and infrastructure. Earlier the traditional ruler of Ichida community, Igwe Charles Ezeudogu while receiving Ukachukwu in his palace, described him as a worthy son of Anaocha Council area who has distinguished himself in everything he sets his eyes on, adding that he has been a friend and pillar of strength and pride to many Anambra youths worldwide businessmen and families for decades. The monarch added that he and his subjects have no problem pledging their support for him in the governorship ambition and described Ukachukwu as a versatile successful industrialist who has thrived commendably The community's youth leader, Mr Chukwuemeka Ezenwaka, assured Prince Ukachukwu of the full support of the community, stressing that young people's backing as support was principally because of his personality and track record as a versatile investor who does not make empty political promises. Ezenwaka said his people are convinced that Ukachukwu would replicate his widely acknowledged youth-friendly investment model in the state when he becomes the governor. "We will not voting for party symbols; we will be voting for Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu,” he emphasized.

By Madu Obi The Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) has fixed Saturday, August 29, 2026, for elections in the state. The exercise will see the emergence of 21 local government chairmen and 326 ward councillors across Anambra State. Chairman of ANSIEC, Hon. Genevieve Osakwe, in a statement, said the exercise is in line with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, and Section 23 of the Anambra State Electoral Law, 2024, which empower the Commission to issue election notices. According to her, all registered political parties are required to collect nomination forms from the headquarters of the Commission located at No. 14/16, Km 8, Awka-Onitsha Expressway, Awka,. She added that the election timetable and schedule of activities would be available for collection at the Commission’s office beginning Friday, November 28, 2025.

By Madu Obi Ahead of the November 8 Anambra State governorship election, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Chief George Moghalu has visited the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr. John Nwosu in Nnewi, with speculation in political circle that one of them might eventually step down for the other. Both candidates, who were originally aspirants on the platform of LP, before Nwosu moved to ADC, hail from Nnewi. It was gathered that many political figures from the industrial town are trying to persuade one of them to step down for the other. The Director General of John Chuma Nwosu Campaign Council, Hon Bonny Okoye, who issued a statement after the meeting, said ADC is in the Anambra governorship race to the end. Okoye said: "On Saturday, 30th August, upon his request, the Labour Party candidate, Chief George Moghalu, visited the ADC candidate, Mr John Chuma Nwosu at his country home. Both candidates discussed an array of issues relating to the 8th November Anambra governorship election. They shared the view of the urgent need to replace the incumbent ruling administration in Anambra State. The ADC candidate, Mr Nwosu, made it very clear his intention to run a clean, focused political campaign until the very end. He was of the view that Anambra voters should decide whom they want as governor. Accordingly, the issue of any candidate stepping down for the other was completely off the table." He reiterated that ADC will remain in the governorship race until the very end.

By Madu Obi Police operatives attached to the Anambra State Criminal Investigation Department of the Gender Unit, have secured evidence for the prosecution of three arrested suspects in separate incidents of defilement. The incidents reportedly took place in Eziowele, Oba and Ogidi Divisions of the state Police command. The state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement said the Police operatives attached to the Oba Division, arrested one Ihechiluru Okorie over a case of defilement of a 14-year-old girl. He said the suspect confessed to forcefully having carnal knowledge of the victim when she came to barb her hair in his shop. The second incident, he said, happened within the Eziowelle Division, where the Police operatives arrested 28- year old Chidubem Udem over the defilement of a five-year old girl. According to him, investigations revealed that the suspect visited the victim at her grandmother’s house, where he forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of her. Ikenga said the victim was immediately taken to the hospital, where a medical examination confirmed a case of defilement. Similarly, Kalu Ilo, aged 30 years, was arrested by Ogidi Police operatives over defilement of a 13-year old daughter of his neighbour who is mentally challenged in Nkpor. The PPRO said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect allegedly went to the victim’s house, where he also forcefully had unlawful carnal knowledge of the girl. He added that all the suspects are in custody, adding that they would be charged to court on Wednesday, 3rd September, 2025 The state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, while reacting on the incidents, strongly condemned the acts and assured the that the command would ensure diligent prosecution to secure justice for the victims. He, however, urged parents, guardians, and community leaders to be vigilant and to promptly report any incident of sexual or gender-based violence to the nearest Police station, assuring that the command remains committed to protecting the rights of children and vulnerable persons across the state.

By Madu Obi Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo has said that his administration's plan to make the state a liveable and smart city is gradually taking shape. The governor, who spoke with journalists in Awka, explained that in addition to the existing cities of Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia, three brand new cities are being planned, adding that the areas have already been mapped out. "Based on the landmark projects we've executed, in line with the Anambra Vision 2070, which is a 50- year development plan, the vision is to make Anambra a liveable and prosperous mega city where every visitor feels at home, relax and work", Soludo said. According to the governor, a new airotropolis is being designed within that axis of the new industrial city in the state, adding that 6000 hectares of land have been acquired for it. He said: "These are part of long term planning for the next 200 years of our state. We are doing away with the haphazard development where everything, including residential buildings, churches, markets and filling stations are competing for the same space. We want to be intentional in planning our cities. Because we have a small land space only second to Lagos, we are strategic in designing the new cities. Our vision is to change the narrative from a departure to a destination lounge. That's what we've focused on in the last three years of this administration and the steady progress of the state is as a result of the stability and good governance provided by our party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA" . He said that it was to have a liveable and smart city that would allow easy movement, that informed the ongoing dualization of all intercity roads in the state. "Many communities that had never seen any tarred road in their areas now have well built roads. We've done over 800 kilometers of roads, with over 600 already asphalted in the quality the state had not seen before. We asphalt an average of 12 roads every month. We've completed two iconic flyovers and seven bridges. We are facing erosion control with the seriousness it deserves because of its existential threat to the entire state, especially as Anambra is branded the erosion capital of Africa", Soludo added. On water supply, the governor said that his administration has rehabilitated five urban water schemes, while about 15 semi urban water schemes and 109 small town water schemes are now working. In the area of urban regeneration, he stated that Okpoko in Ogbaru local government area has been transformed from being the largest urban slum in Nigeria, to become a bustling city. "Okpoko is now called New Haven as it boasts of asphalted roads with street light, brand new General Hospital where women enjoy free antenatal and free delivery and pipe borne water. Also, Onitsha South, as big as it is, never had a General Hospital and we've built one there now and all the dilapidated roads are being rehabilitated", he further said.

By Madu Obi The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Nigerian-born separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences and other crimes. In the ruling delivered on Monday, September 1, 2025, the 40-year-old former Lahti municipal councillor was found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation, inciting the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, engaging in aggravated tax fraud, and violating the provisions of the Lawyers Act. “He used social media to gain a politically influential position and exploited the crisis within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to assume a significant role in it,” the court documents stated. The court ordered that Ekpa remain in custody. Ekpa was said to have, between August 2021 and November 2024, promoted the independence of Biafra region in Southeastern Nigeria through illegal means. The court also held that Ekpa played a central role in organizing the separatist movement, transforming it into an increasingly structured entity. Armed groups were allegedly established under the movement, which the judges classified as terrorist organisations. “Ekpa equipped these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts. He was also considered to have encouraged and incited his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria,” the judgment read. Ekpa, however, denied all the charges. The hearings were conducted between May 30 and June 25, 2025, across 12 sittings. A panel of three judges presided over the case and unanimously reached the verdict. Recall that Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities in December 2024 on suspicion of terrorist activities. He was later remanded by the Päijät-Häme District Court on probable cause after being accused of inciting people to commit crimes with terrorist intent and spreading separatist propaganda via social media. The offences for which he has now been convicted occurred between August 23, 2021, and November 2024 in Lahti, Finland. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation had also sought the arrest of four other men on similar charges, but those cases were dropped due to lack of evidence.

Stakeholders in Ihiala during the launch of Agunechemba security outfit in the area . By Madu Obi The insecurity-prone Ihiala Community in Ihiala local government area of Anambra State has drawn the battle line against criminals in the area with the unveiling of its own home-grown Agunechemba security outfit. At the launching of the outfit at the council headquarters, community leaders and stakeholders declared war on insecurity, insisting that they would no longer condone insecurity in the area. The security initiative was set up by the Anambra State government to tackle armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, and other crimes terrorizing local communities. It is made up of trained local operatives, backed by the law, and works hand-in-hand with conventional security agencies. Speaking during the ceremony, the Mayor of Ihiala, Charles Orjiako, hailed the Anambra State government for birthing Agunechemba, stressing that the outfit has already made a huge impact in boosting safety across the local government area. He urged the residents of Ihiala to show full cooperation and “sincerity of purpose” to drive the mission forward. The chairman of Ihiala Agunechemba Management and Finance Committee, Chief Chukwudi Enwerum, explained that the new Homeland Security Law 2025 has repealed the 2014 Vigilante Law, giving Agunechemba the legal teeth to operate as a fully recognized, community-based force. Also speaking, the President General of Ihiala Town Union, Mr. Livinus Omatu, alongside stakeholders Mr. Vin Ezeaka and Mr. Tochukwu Okeyika, described the launch as a “turning point” for Ihiala, insisting the outfit will finally give criminals a bloody nose.