The remains of a 78-year-old man in Ekoli community, Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Chief Johnson Okoro Obasi, murdered by suspected political thugs, have been committed to Mother Earth.
Obasi was said to have been attacked by the political thugs in the community on 1st June this year during the crisis between two rival groups in the area which led to the death of some members of the community with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
Autopsy conducted on his body indicated that the man died as a result of internal bleeding and bruises he sustained when he was attacked.
At the weekend, he was buried inside his house in the community amidst tears and tributes.
In his own tribute, his nephew, Dr Eni Uduma Chima, lamented his killing and urged him to avenge it.
Chima, a former House of Assembly member and former Chairman of the local government, said the deceased would have lived longer than his age if his killers did not send him to the untimely grave.
He disclosed that longevity runs in the family which accounted why some members of the family lived more than 100 years and wondered why his life was cut short.
“Your years on earth were brutally cut short by agents of darkness, even though you belonged to a stock in which longevity is taken for granted—the ‘Ibe Eze Nta Aja’ family.
“I shall not dwell on the sorrow of your forced exit, because I know that you are on your way back.
“You delivered the right message to ‘Ali Manu’. While you were still in a parley in the spirit world, assassination attempts were made on your beloved ones.
“Perhaps through your intercession, the presence there that your absence here availed your loved ones prevailed.
“We mourn you in vigilance because your killers and their sponsors are still roaming free, showing neither sobriety nor remorse, fearing neither the laws of God nor the laws of men.
“Now, take up your sword in the spirit world and go after your killers and their sponsors,” he said.
He described his uncle as a man blessed in many aspects—good looks, strength and vigour, sound health, procreation, family life, sound mind, and great vision.
Traditional rulers of the community lamented his killing by those they described as politicians and evil men.
One of them, Etta Egor Akanu, alleged that those arrested for killing some members of the community have been freed, thereby causing disquiet in the area.
“Politicians sent their thugs to beat up Okoro Obasi and he died as a result of the attack. These politicians are evil men who don’t want the community to be in peace, they are the ones who killed Okoro Obasi.
“He was killed by catcham boys who have been terrorising our community and they know themselves.
“I am very happy that Okoro Obasi’s body was taken for autopsy and results showed that he died as a result of the attack by these thugs.
“I would have been angry with Eni Uduma Chima if he didn’t agree to take Okoro Obasi’s body for the autopsy. But since he agreed and the body was taken for autopsy and results showed that he died as a result of the attack, I am very happy and I am not angry with Eni Uduma Chima.
“Government should stop releasing all these people causing trouble in our community. Some persons were arrested for killing another member of the community, Nnachi Uzor, and they were released from prison custody a month after being remanded by the court.
“These people are back terrorising our community, there is disquiet in our community and all the things that were recommended during a peaceful meeting of stakeholders of our community and Governor Francis Nwifuru for lasting peace in our community, none of them have been done.
“What we are rather seeing is increase in the harassment, intimidation and fear in our community by these thugs,” he said.
Another traditional ruler, Thomas Ama, who also expressed sadness over the killing of Thomas Okoro Obasi, recommended immediate implementation of all the recommendations made during the community stakeholders meeting with Governor Francis Nwifuru to return normalcy to the troubled community.
He alleged that a particular group is still parading arms with which they use to terrorise members of the community against the Governor’s directive that every group must lay down arms.
Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), says he has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), a move that could reopen long-standing questions around asset recoveries, seized-asset disposals and contract approvals handled during the Buhari administration.
Malami revealed this in a statement he personally signed and shared on Facebook, reaffirming his readiness to honour the invitation. He maintained that his public service record has always been shaped by accountability and transparency.
“This is to confirm that I have been invited by the EFCC. As a law-abiding and patriotic citizen, I hereby reaffirm my commitment to honour the invitation,” Malami wrote.
He stressed that the ideals of openness and responsible governance have guided his conduct over the years. “I understand the spirit of accountability and transparency in public service, the principles that I both advocate and champion,” the ex-Justice Minister stated.
Malami explained that he had already informed his family and friends of the development, noting that the EFCC had asked him to clarify certain issues, and he was prepared to do so.
“I am informing my family and friends that EFCC has invited me to clarify on some issues, and as a citizen of law and order and patriot, I am willing to honor this invitation without any hesitation,” he declared.
He also emphasised that honesty and integrity had always shaped his approach to leadership during his years in government.
“I believe in the importance of honesty, integrity and honesty in leadership, these are principles I’ve long supported and uphold, over the years I’ve spent in public service,” he said.
Malami added that he would keep Nigerians informed as events unfold, saying transparency remains important in matters of public interest.
“On this note, I am informing Nigerians of any development that will follow, so that everyone will be aware,” he added.
As of the time of filing this report, Malami had not yet arrived at the EFCC headquarters. Officials of the Commission say they only intend to obtain “certain information” from him.
However, Saturday Vanguard learnt that the invitation may be linked to several controversial decisions taken during his tenure. These include high-profile asset recoveries, the sale or disposal of seized vessels and oil, and contract approvals that had earlier drawn public scrutiny.
According to sources, some of these actions raised concerns about the transparency and management of recovered national assets.
The EFCC has yet to release details on the full scope of its inquiry.
Bandits have released 37 villagers abducted from Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State after weeks of negotiations that led to a peace agreement, a lawmaker, Abdulraham Kandarawa, has said.
Kandarawa, who represents Bakori Constituency in the state House of Assembly, said on Friday that the latest release brought the number of freed villagers to 82.
He had earlier disclosed that 45 captives were freed under the same peace arrangement.
Speaking to journalists in Katsina, Kandarawa said the villagers, held in Sabe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, were released without ransom following sustained negotiations with the bandits.
“Today, through the grace of God, we have finally received our people who were held captive. Insha Allah, they are back, and none is left in their hands,” he said.
The released hostages include 17 women, two infants, and 18 men.
Kandarawa emphasised that the bandits had promised to release the captives if the community maintained peace, a commitment they fulfilled.
“We want to call on all citizens to embrace peace. It is everybody’s business. If we have offended anyone, we will amend, just to live in peace,” Kandarawa appealed, highlighting the negotiation’s foundation on promises of non-violence.
The lawmaker thanked the bandits for adhering to their word, stressing that no ransom was paid.
“This is what they promised, and they fulfilled it today,” he said.
However, Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda has earlier denied negotiations with bandits while on several fora said it was purely a community initiative while he applauded the initiative as well celebrated the return of peace to the state through the truce.
No fewer than 50 Nigerians have been arrested in one of India’s largest coordinated crackdowns on a transnational narcotics network. They are believed to be linked to a sprawling drug-distribution and hawala laundering syndicate spread across several major cities in India.
According to a report on Thursday by NDTV, an Indian news agency, the operation was led by the Delhi Police in collaboration with the Telangana Police’s EAGLE unit.
It was reported that months of intelligence gathering culminated in days of simultaneous raids across Delhi, leading officers to dismantle key layers of a cartel moving methamphetamine and cocaine across India.
According to the report, investigations revealed that the cartel maintained an extensive customer base using encrypted communication and delivery methods modelled after food-delivery apps to execute drug “dead drops” and avoid face-to-face exchanges.
“The network was extremely sophisticated. They used layered communication channels and app-based delivery patterns to evade law-enforcement detection,” the report stated.
Officials also disclosed that the syndicate’s distribution chain was intertwined with a sex-trade ring, which provided both cover and logistics for drug circulation.
The report reads, “Investigators have identified approximately 2,000 individuals who were supplied drugs through courier and dead-drop methods.”
“Furthermore, the authorities uncovered that the sex trade was used as a cover for drug supply and distribution, extending the criminal reach of the cartel.”
The report further stated, “The operation, which involved months of intelligence gathering, culminated with the arrest of 50 Nigerian nationals in Delhi. This massive effort was executed in close collaboration with the Telangana Police’s Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement, along with police teams from Noida, Vizag, and Gwalior.”
On the financial side, authorities said the cartel routed its proceeds through hawala operators. The illicit profits were converted into goods, including garments and human hair, which were exported to Lagos, Nigeria, disguising the drug earnings as legitimate trade.
“The proceeds from drug sales were funnelled through local hawala operators who converted the Indian Rupees into goods such as garments and human hair, shipped to Lagos, Nigeria, effectively cleaning the illicit earnings.”
“One identified kingpin is suspected to have laundered at least ₹15 crore through these hawala channels alone,” the report added.
The report, however, noted that the recent arrest of the 50 Nigerian nationals marked a pivotal moment in multi-agency efforts to root out these persistent drug cartels.
PUNCH Metro had earlier reported multiple arrests of Nigerians in India over synthetic-drug trafficking, including seizures in Bengaluru, Delhi and Goa, where foreign nationals were linked to methamphetamine circuits.
The latest coordinated crackdown, which resulted in the arrest of 50 suspects of Nigerian nationality, is now regarded by Indian police as a major step toward disrupting what they described as an “entrenched and continually evolving” narcotics supply chain.
Police officials said the next phase of the investigation will focus on tightening immigration checks, tracking hawala facilitators, and identifying remaining cartel commanders believed to be operating from outside India.
