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Groups Condemn Detention Of Journalist Akuwudike Over Viral Interview Alleging Akpabio Smear Campaign, Demand Immediate Release

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Akuwudike was reportedly arrested at around 3 a.m. on Thursday in Owerri, Imo State, shortly after an interview he gave on the Adeola Fayehun YouTube channel went viral.

A coalition of press freedom and human rights organisations has condemned the arrest and detention of journalist and media activist Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike by the Nigeria Police Force, calling for his immediate release and respect for due process.

In a joint statement released on Sunday, the groups— including the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Centre for Community Empowerment in Conflict and Peacebuilding (Kaduna), Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), and several others— described Akuwudike’s arrest as arbitrary and politically motivated.

 

Akuwudike was reportedly arrested at around 3 a.m. on Thursday in Owerri, Imo State, shortly after an interview he gave on the Adeola Fayehun YouTube channel went viral.

In the interview, he alleged that he was paid ₦2.5 million by Sandra Duru (aka Prof Mgbeke) to produce defamatory content against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. He also implicated Senate President Godswill Akpabio as the political and financial sponsor behind the alleged smear campaign.

“His arrest, occurring in the dead of night and without any clear charge or recourse to legal counsel, raises deep concerns about political interference, suppression of press freedom, and the violation of constitutional rights guaranteed under Sections 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights,” the coalition said.

“We are particularly alarmed by the pattern of intimidation and criminalization of journalists and whistleblowers who dare to expose high-level corruption and political misconduct.”

 

“The fact that this arrest follows closely on the heels of explosive revelations implicating senior government officials lends credence to fears that the police are being used as a tool of political persecution,” it added.

 

The coalition criticised the police for detaining Akuwudike without clear charges and denying him access to legal counsel, calling the move a violation of his constitutional rights under Sections 35 and 36 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

The groups warned that the arrest fits into a worrying pattern of intimidation and criminalisation of journalists and whistleblowers exposing corruption and political misconduct.

 

They demanded Akuwudike’s “immediate and unconditional release of Maazi Obinna Oparaku Akuwudike, or a prompt arraignment before a competent court of law if any legitimate charges exist”.

 

They also called for respect for his rights to legal representation and family access, along with a “transparent and independent investigation into the claims made by Akuwudike concerning the alleged smear campaign and the involvement of high-ranking officials”.

 

The coalition further urged the Nigeria Police Force and Inspector-General Kayode Egbetokun to uphold the rule of law and refrain from using law enforcement as a tool to silence dissenting voices.

The statement concluded with a call on civil society, media organisations, and the international community to remain vigilant and speak out in defence of press freedom and democratic accountability in Nigeria.

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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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