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Ebonyi land dispute: Lawyer petitions CDS, DSS, CP, others over attacks in Amasiri

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Activist lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, has petitioned the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, Commandant Nkwegu Military Cantonment in Abakaliki, Director General of the Department of State Service, and Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State over military aggression in Amasiri, Afikpo in Ebonyi State.

Amasiri and Oso Edda communities have been at war following a clash over ancestral lands.

The attack, which targeted Ama-iyime and Ozara-Okangwu of Amasiri, saw several properties worth millions of naira burnt while several other valuables were also looted in the process.

Last week, military personnel had stormed the Amasiri community in large numbers over the clash between both communities.

However, Idam lamented that the military incursion brought about brutality while aggression reigned freely against the Amasiri community.

The petition, titled “Re-Emergence of Military Invasion, Brutality, and Aggression Reign Freely Against My Community, Amasiri,” reads:

“The above subject refers.

“As a civil rights and public interest lawyer of Amasiri indigene, I write in pensive but helpless emotion to yet again draw the attention of well-meaning Nigerians and the authorities to the above subject matter, yearning for urgent intervention.

“The crisis between Oso Edda and Amasiri in Ebonyi State, which has regrettably occasioned the loss of several lives and properties, has continued to pose tension, hostility, and anxiety among the two neighbouring communities (Oso Edda and Amasiri) in Ebonyi State, despite efforts by Amasiri indigenes to pursue amicable settlement options only in resolving the matter, even in the face of provocations.

“Quite disturbing is that on 11th April 2025, the stakeholders of Amasiri, in pursuance of their resolve to seek a peaceful alternative to the resolution of the conflicting issues with their Oso Edda neighbour, attended a peace committee set up by the Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State, following an invitation for that purpose, which was also attended by several other stakeholders in the old Afikpo Zone.

“Unfortunately, the Oso Edda neighbouring community refused, ignored, and completely rebuffed the invitation to attend the peace committee and instead seized the opportunity to again embark on another round of attacks against certain communities in Amasiri while her stakeholders were away in Abakaliki seeking a peaceable settlement to the conflicting issues.

“An incident that has triggered the already existing tension, anxiety, and unrest among the once most blissful and quiet community of Amasiri in Ebonyi State.

“While Amasiri indigenes and visitors who identify with her are targeted for onslaught by their estranged Oso Edda neighbouring community, who are now on a rampage along the Okigwe-Afikpo federal highway, waylaying vehicles and fishing out commuters who are either of Amasiri origin or identify with Amasiri. This coordinated aggression is freely carried out uninterruptedly as a result of tacit silence from the government of Ebonyi State.

“More worrisome is that there is a totally unprovoked, unwarranted, and needless military resurgence in my community, Amasiri. Overnight, the military, reportedly detailed from Nkwegu Barracks, reinvaded yet again my community, breaking homes, destroying properties, arresting the young and old, and shooting sporadically in a totally peaceful area, without any news of any form of attacks from Amasiri or crisis in Amasiri, while leaving the aggressor, her Edda neighbouring community. This unrest is reportedly aided, sponsored, and coordinated by powerful politicians in Edda zone who have deployed their contacts in government to set the military at all costs against my people in Amasiri, just as a bait to secure a major pogrom or massacre of Amasiri people, simply to achieve their age-long desire to take over her ancestral land.

“The public is hereby notified that there is no crisis nor violence in Amasiri, and her people have not in the least behaved in any manner to warrant a military presence.

“I am constrained to yet again call on Nigerians to speak against the ongoing needless military aggression and urge the Chief of Defence Staff and the Commandant Nkwegu Military Cantonment to withdraw the military operation in Amasiri, which is totally unwarranted and unprovoked, even as I prevail on the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency Francis Ogbonnia Nwifuru, to quickly intervene in this matter to save the lives and properties of the peaceful people of Amasiri.

“The governor is here again informed that there is total unrest in Amasiri, which is occasioned by the military; homes are deserted, farmlands are also not safe, and economic activities have been halted as anxiety and tension now possess the hitherto quiet and peaceful land. The governor is urged to most urgently break the deafening silence and intervene in the matter to restore peace in Amasiri.

“In a loud but very helpless voice, I urge the governor of Ebonyi State to quickly and directly address the situation personally as the Chief Security Officer of the state to curtail the ongoing intimidation, harassment, and prevent a possible carnage on the defenceless and vulnerable people of Amasiri.

“Let the whole world know that there was no reason for the resurgence or re-invasion of the military. The people have remained peaceful and have been attending all the peace meetings called for by the authorities in search of peace.

“The military re-invasion in Amasiri remains unlawful, ill-motivated, self-serving, unwarranted, illegal, unprovoked, and must be condemned by every Nigerian.”

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Ex-Army chief Yahaya urges overhaul of recruitment, training to bolster military readiness

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Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya (rtd), has called for a comprehensive and uncompromising reform in recruitment, training, and performance evaluation to strengthen the Nigerian Army’s professionalism and combat effectiveness.

He made this call while delivering a lecture at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) 2025, held at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna on Saturday.

He emphasized that courage, vigilance, and uncompromising standards must guide every stage of a soldier’s career—from recruitment and training to operational deployment.

“Recruitment and selection into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and Depot Nigerian Army must be thorough and uncompromising. There is no room for weakness or mediocrity. We must be courageous and firm in weeding out bad eggs at every stage,” Yahaya stated.

He said the evolving modern threats and impacts on current training must include a change in training paradigms to reflect, not only conventional warfare, but also terrorism, asymmetric warfare, ideological extremism, and cyber threats.

He suggested a modification of military training. programs to include important strategic courses on emotional intelligence, military psychology, counter-terrorism tactics, and social media awareness.

“Effective training will help solidify the soldier-first concept in the minds of instructors and students. We must reflect modern threats in our training, not just conventional warfare,” he said.

The retired Army chief also stressed the importance of enhancing simulation-based and hands-on training to match real-time battlefield conditions. He urged military institutions across the country to modernize their facilities to meet 21st-century demands.

Yahaya proposed increased collaboration with international military institutions in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Pakistan. He said such partnerships would help fast-track knowledge transfer and improve the technical competence of Nigerian personnel.

“We must scale up our engagements with allied nations on training programs. Our non-commissioned officers should have wider access to Junior Command, Regimentation, and Train-the-Trainer courses abroad to meet international standards,” he added.

He stressed the need for capacity building for senior non-commissioned officers (SNCO) as a key target in modern military operations, primarily when operating below the level of battalion in a decentralized context, such as the North East and Lake Chad Basin.

“Modern security challenges can no longer be addressed solely through massed formations.

The Army must build a force capable of executing small-unit warfighting with speed, precision and initiative using a decentralized command structure grounded in the principle of mission command,” Yahaya said.

He reiterated that providing tactical leadership skills to SNCOs will close the gap of officers especially in remote and high-risk theatres of operation.

Yahaya concluded by saying that any reform effort must be soldier-centric which ensures that soldier’s welfare; professionalism and operational capability are the focus.

“The future of our Army depends on the soldier—how well we train, equip, and support him. Let us define our vision clearly and pursue it with consistency and discipline,” he said.

The guest lecture was part of a series of professional engagements, paving the way for NADCEL 2025, which saw a celebration of the 162nd year of the establishment of the Nigerian Army.

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Keyamo to launch Enugu Air July 7

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Nigeria’s minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, will officially launch the Enugu State government-owned commercial airline, Enugu Air, on Monday, July 7, 2025.

The launch ceremony will take place at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

This is according to a recent statement from the airline.

The airline will begin operations with a fleet of three Embraer jets from the E170 and E190 series, chosen for their performance, passenger comfort, and suitability for regional routes.

Commenting on the development, the Commissioner for Transportation, Enugu State, Dr. Obi Ozor, said Enugu Air is pivotal to Governor Peter Mbah’s vision for positioning Enugu State as a major aviation hub in Nigeria.

“With a strong foundation built on innovation and sustainability, Enugu Air is poised to transform regional air travel, boost state pride, and raise Enugu’s profile nationally and globally,” he said.

The domestic airline announced that its inaugural routes will be Abuja and Lagos, with plans to expand services to Port Harcourt, Owerri, Benin, Kano, and other key locations in Nigeria.

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Commissioner of Police orders prompt medical care for sick suspects in Abia Command

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Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Danladi Isa has charged officers in the Command to maintain professionalism, avoid corruption, and strictly adhere to the NPF social media policy.

He has also directed that suspects must not be detained beyond 24 hours for bailable offences and that sick suspects must receive prompt medical attention.

CP Danladi, who gave the directive during the Command’s monthly conference, which was attended by Area Commanders, DPOs, Heads of Departments and Tactical Commanders, warned that senior officers would be held vicariously liable for misconducts by their subordinates, hence they must ensure proper supervision of officers under them.

He further prohibited Point of Sales, (PoS) operations within Police premises and urged officers to secure their bases, protect government infrastructure, and work in synergy with Mayors of local governments and the public for effective crime-fighting.

The Commissioner of Police, who commended the officers for their dedication to duties, said that greater responsibility is required from them.

He further recognised the the PRO of the Abia Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka for receiving award from the Inspector General of Police and for completing a short course on New Media Capacity Building in China.

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