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Unraveling the Truth Behind the Spibat Road Demolition: Facts Over Sentiment By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu

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Unraveling the Truth Behind the Spibat Road Demolition: Facts Over Sentiment

By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, June 06, 2025.

Over the past few days, I’ve been inundated with concerns, emotional appeals, and even subtle accusations from a specific part of Imo State; hitte-Uboma. This happens to be particularly sensitive for me because Ihitte-Uboma is now my new home, owing to the fact that I’m just getting married to one of their beautiful daughters. Naturally, this connection has placed certain restraints on me and deepened my sense of responsibility to handle the matter with integrity, honesty, and fairness.

Given the intensity of the outcry: particularly over the demolition of a property said to belong to one Mr. Obed Ajonuma, a young investor from Ihitte-Uboma: I felt it necessary to set emotions aside and dig deep into the facts. As someone who would never wish to wrong my new family or community, I embarked on a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.

Here’s what I found:

1. The Structure Was Illegally Built

Despite the noise and accusations flying around, the simple truth is that the demolished structure was illegal. It was erected on a designated green verge, a space set aside for public use and environmental purposes, not for private development. This wasn’t just OCDA’s word: it followed a formal petition by the Chairman of the Institute of Town Planners Association, with verified documents showing the structure not only encroached on the green verge but also blocked the legal right of way for nearby approved residents.

This is not about sentiments. It’s about urban integrity and the rule of law.

2. Sold Illegally by Unauthorized Individuals

It gets worse. My investigation revealed that the structure was sold to Mr. Ajonuma by individuals claiming to be “indigenes”—people with no legal right to allocate public land. These so-called sellers have no authority under the law to transact over government-zoned areas. Sadly, this is a widespread scam in parts of the state, where well-meaning buyers fall into traps set by land touts and unauthorized actors. Whatever money exchanged hands, it doesn’t change the legal status of the land: unauthorized, unapproved, and illegal.

3. The ₦5 Million Bribe Claim Lacks Substance

One of the most damaging accusations is that the OCDA General Manager, Mr. Frank Nzewodo, collected a ₦5 million bribe to carry out the demolition. But this is where the story begins to unravel. The GM has publicly and confidently denied ever meeting the owner of the building, let alone receiving any inducement from him.

He has gone further to challenge anyone with proof to sue him in a court of law. Let that sink in: he’s dared his accusers to bring the matter before a judge and present evidence. That’s not the posture of a guilty man. In fact, he’s even contemplating legal action against those tarnishing his name without proof. According to him, and I quote, he swore before witnesses and using innocent children that he had no contact with the said property owner letting alone collecting bribe to do his constitutional duties.

If anyone has solid proof of bribery, they should step forward. Otherwise, we are only promoting rumor, not justice.

4. Why Was Only That Property Demolished?

Some have asked, “Why was only Ajonuma’s property touched while others nearby were left standing?” That’s a fair question. The answer is simple: his structure was the one found to be directly on the green verge and blocking a public right of way. Others in the area, according to planning documents, have legitimate approvals or at least don’t violate the city’s master layout to the same extent.

The idea that this was a targeted attack doesn’t hold water when you look at the facts. You don’t build permanent structures at green verge, even if you were given the leave to build.

Final Thoughts

As someone now tied to Ihitte-Uboma by family and love, I say this with the deepest respect: we cannot defend illegality simply because it affects one of our own. Mr. Ajonuma may have bought the land in good faith, but the transaction was fraudulent, the structure unauthorized, and the location unlawful.

This shouldn’t be about protecting sentiment: it should be about promoting truth, good governance, and lawful development. What we should be doing as a people is demanding that the state clamp down on illegal land sales, regulate planning more tightly, and create awareness so that no more innocent citizens fall victim to these traps.

I understand the pain, but let us not let emotions blind us from reality. The law is the law, and it must be upheld, even when it is uncomfortable.

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MOTORISTS AMBUSHED AND ABDUCTED IN NGOR-OKPALA: IMO POLICE LAUNCH MASSIVE COUNTER-OPERATION

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By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
8-DEC-2025

A disturbing incident unfolded in Amala Autonomous Community, Ngor-Okpala LGA, on December 7, 2025, when armed assailants stormed the roadway, opened fire on a Toyota Highlander, and forcefully whisked away the occupants of a Lexus RS300.

The attackers were said to have emerged suddenly from a nearby bush path, shooting the driver of the Highlander—who was later confirmed dead at the hospital—before escaping with their abducted victims.

Following the attack, the Imo State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police CP Aboki Danjuma, immediately intensified security operations across the area.

Officers from the Ngor-Okpala Division swiftly cordoned off the scene, evacuated the injured driver, and initiated a coordinated manhunt alongside other security agencies and local vigilante outfits.

A wide-ranging search-and-rescue mission is now underway, with joint operatives combing the Amala forest corridor and tracking potential suspects. Investigators report that early progress has been made, and efforts to rescue the kidnapped individuals are continuing with renewed momentum.

The Imo State Police Command has reassured the public that all available resources are being deployed to crack down on the perpetrators and prevent similar incidents. Residents have been urged to remain calm and share any useful information with the nearest police station or through the dedicated emergency line: 0803 477 3600.

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SEE VIDEO: MIDNIGHT CARNAGE IN LILU: GUNMEN RAZE ANGLICAN CHURCH, KILL PRIEST’S WIFE AND ONE OTHER

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By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
8- DEC- 2025

The quiet community of Lilu in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State was thrown into mourning on Sunday after armed assailants launched a devastating midnight attack on St. Andrews Anglican Church, leaving two people dead—including the wife of the resident priest—and destroying several buildings within the church premises.

The attackers reportedly stormed the church compound in the early hours of the morning, firing sporadically and setting fire to multiple structures. The assault came just as some early worshippers were preparing for the day’s service. Witnesses said the gunmen moved with brutal precision, torching vehicles, the priest’s residence, and other facilities as frightened residents fled for safety.

By Monday morning, when journalists arrived to assess the destruction, what was once a vibrant centre of worship had been reduced to ruins. Charred vehicles, shattered roofs, burnt personal items, and lingering smoke told the story of a night filled with terror. The church compound, normally bustling with worshippers, stood eerily quiet—its silence a stark reminder of the violence that occurred.

One eyewitness, still visibly shaken, recounted the chaos:
“They came in shooting everywhere. Everything was burning—cars, buildings, even the priest’s house. The priest’s wife and one other person were killed. Many were injured. It was like something from a nightmare.”

Residents expressed deep concern over the severity of the attack and lamented the lack of nationwide attention to what they described as a direct assault on their community and faith.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Police Command confirmed the tragic incident. Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga said Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, had strongly condemned the violence, calling it “utterly wicked and intolerable.” He noted that the CP has ordered intensified intelligence operations, strengthened joint security deployment, and enhanced surveillance across the area to prevent further occurrences.

Ikenga extended condolences on behalf of the Command to the bereaved families and the entire Lilu community. He urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations as security agencies move to track down the perpetrators.

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Imo Govt shuts hotel, mortuary over alleged kidnapping, organ-harvest

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Imo State government has shutdown a hotel and a mortuary allegedly used for kidnapping and the harvesting of human organs.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, Okoye Henry, disclosed this in a statement shared via X handle on Sunday.

Henry said the operation was based on credible intelligence regarding a suspected criminal, Stanley Morocco Oparaugo, who remains at large.

According to the command, the action formed part of an ongoing crackdown on kidnapping and violent crimes along the Owerri–Aba Expressway, led by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, in collaboration with other security stakeholders.

“A hotel and a private mortuary owned by the suspect, allegedly used by kidnappers and violent criminals, were inspected.

“At the mortuary, decomposed and mutilated corpses were discovered in unhygienic conditions, raising suspicions of illegal organ-harvesting activities.

“Following these discoveries, both the hotel and mortuary were sealed on the directive of the State Government.

“The suspect’s residence was also searched, and crucial exhibits were recovered,” he said.

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