metro

Nnamdi Kanu’s incitement led to killing of 200 security agents in S’East –DSS witness

Published

1 year ago

June 19, 2025

Igbo Ministers Link UK Separatist Crisis to Kanu’s Conviction, Demand His Release

Nnamdi Kanu

Nnamdi Kanu’s incitement led to killing of 200 security agents in S’East –DSS witness

The trial of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, resumed at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court with revelations of how between 170 and 200 security agents in the South East lost their lives due to the activities the the Eastern Security Network (ESN), the armed wing of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

Besides, the witness gave a graphic details of how the late political adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak was killed by IPOB members.

The court was told by the Department of the State Service (DSS), that the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) did not issue license to detained self-acclaimed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to import the radio transmitter he allegedly smuggled into the country to operate Radio Biafra.

A prosecution witness and a personnel of the DSS code named PWDDD in his testimony told Justice James Omotosho how one ESN member he identified as Uzuoma Benjamin, (aka Onye Army), spoke about how they allegedly received directives from Kanu to kill security agents and ensure that a deceased member of the group, Ikonso, was buried with 2000 human heads.

The witness who testified as the fourth prosecution witness (PW4), was led in evidence by the lead prosecution counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN).

In his evidence, PWDDD said further investigation revealed that of the 2000 human heads sought to bury Ikonso, only 30 were eventually sourced.

He also gave details of how the late former aide to ex-President Gooluck Jonathan, Ahmed Gulak was killed on May 30, 2021, in Owerri, Imo State.

READ ALSO:

PWDDD read where the said Onye Army claimed that himself and other members of his group used the heads of 10 girls to prepare charms for their protection.

He told the court that investigation into the invasion of Owerri prison by IPOB members, revealed that it was directed by Kanu in one of his broadcast for his followers to attack and kill security operatives of the Fedaral Government of Nigeria.

It was equally his evidence in chief that shortly after himself and members of his team recovered the transmitter from a premises in Ubuluisiuzor, Anambra State, and brought it to Abuja, the DSS wrote the NBC to inspect it.

He said on November 9, 2015, the NBC sent an Engineer, who inspected the transmitter and wrote a report.

At this juncture, the prosecution counsel, Awomolo, tendered a certified true copy of the provisional assessment of radio transmitter report submitted by the NBC.

Thereafter , the witness was asked to read a portion of the report, which he did. He said the report indicated that the transmitter was a German made and that it was indeed a radio transmitter made for use on FM frequency.

The witness said the report also stated that such transmitter could only be procured and installed after being issued a licence and that the NBC has not licensed Radio Biafra to broadcast in Nigeria.

The DSS official added that investigation by his team revealed that for one to operate a radio station in the country, one must apply to a regulator, who will issue one a licence after due clearance by relevant security agencies.

The witness said, “in this case (Kanu’s case) there was no application from the defendant, he brought the transmitter in illegally without approval.”

READ ALSO:

He also said investigation was confirmed that the defendant is the owner of the transmitter, which he kept in the premises of one Benjamin Madubugu.

The witness said Kanu later came into the country and inspected the transmitter and made a video to satisfy members of the IPOB, who contributed money for the purchase of the transmitter.

He also read from some publications of the Vanguard Newspaper, where it was reported that an arrested commander of ESN confessed to the activities of his group.

He said when the DSS requested from the police to access Onye Army, the police claimed he had escaped from custody.

He said during one of DSS’ agents’ raid of ESN members’ hideout, “we saw some ESN members, about seven, with human heads and some eating human flesh, which they said was for spiritual fortification.

“We could not find Onye Army. The police said he had escaped from custody.”

He said there are records about the number of security agents allegedly killed in the South East and that the number stands between 170 and 200.

The witness who said two DSS officials, including his driver, were among the victims, said the cut across all security agencies.

Testifying on how the ESN members operate, the witness said they are combatants, who carry arms and attacked homes of prominent individuals and traditional rulers in the region

He said because they lacked sufficient operational tools, they sometimes set up roadblocks during which they hijack vehiclea for their operation.

READ ALSO:

The witness identified some public property which he said IPOB and ESN members attacked and destroyed in the South East, including police stations.

On how Gulak died, the witness said he was among the first responders to the scene where the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was killed and his corpse recovered.

He said on May 30, 2021 there was a total breakdown of law and order, as a result of the stay at home order declared by the defendant, through one of his broadcasts.

The witness said later that day one of his officers informed him that a prominent politician was killed around Obiagwu and that when they got to the spot, they saw what happened .

He said the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area told him that Gulak was in a hired cab when he was killed by some members of IPOB .

The witness said the driver told him that they were heading to the airport from Owerri town, when they saw a check point mounted by men of the Nigerian Air Force, who were preventing people from accessing the airport, but decided to take another route where they ran into a check point by IPOB members.

He added that the driver further said the IPOB members ordered the three of them in the car to disembark, and demanded to know their tribes.

He said the driver told him he introduced himself as an Igbo person and that Gulak also said he was an Igbo man. But that while he (the driver) could speak the Igbo language when they were asked to speak in Igbo, Gulak could not, following which they asked him to remove his cap and saw a Muslim prayer marked on his forehead.

READ ALSO:

The witness said the driver added that upon seeing the prayer marked, one of the IPOB members said, “he is one of them,” following which they shot and killed him.

The DSS official , who said he served In Imo state between 2019 and 2023 told the court that the deceased’s corpse was evacuated from the sport where he was killed in his (the witness’) car

Under cross examination by defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the witness said there is no record of the importation of the transmitter said to have been smuggled in to the country by Kanu.

He said he could not say when the transmitter was brought into the country, but that he was among those who located where it was kept in Anambra State and brought it to the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

On how they were able to locate the transmitter, the witness said his team used some equipment to analyse a video (showing Kanu inspecting the transmitter) to ascertain the location of the transmitter in Anambra.

He said he did not come across the names Benka Clearing and Forwarding and Chief Isaac Maduka in the course of investigation. He also said he was not aware that Benka cleared the transmitter, as claimed by Ikpeazu.

When asked if he was aware that Radio Biafra was registered in London and broadcast from there, the witness said when Kanu was arrested in Lagos in 2016 he was arrested with his broadcast equipment.

He said he was not present when the defendant was arrested in Lagos and that all he said about his arrest in Lagos was what were relayed to him.

The witness said the two guns he said they found were not recovered in the container in which the transmitter was kept, but under the mattress of Benjamin Madubugu, who lived in the premises.

He added that Madubugu was later charged with unlawful possession of firearms.

The witness said the container was brought into the country by one Igwe Anyiba, who was later found to be living outside the country.

The witness said he was not aware the the Imo state Government released a statement to the effect that Gulak’s killing was political.

Meanwhile, further hearing continue today by the court after the conclusion of the cross examination of the witness who was consequently discharged by the court.

Nnamdi Kanu’s incitement led to killing of 200 security agents in S’East –DSS witness

Related Topics:Featured incitement Nnamdi Kanu security agents

Up Next

Viral video of school girl smoking cannabis from Zimbabwe, not Nigeria – Police

Don't Miss

Senator Natasha’s family residence attacked again in Kogi

metro

Trump Denies Offering Iran Sanctions Relief, Release of Frozen Funds

Published

7 hours ago

September 29, 2026

Trends Admin

President Donald Trump winks as the members of the media depart the Oval Office of the White House as Essar Capital Director Prashant Ruia, from left, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, John Jovanovic, chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa., and Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, look on, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump Denies Offering Iran Sanctions Relief, Release of Frozen Funds

US President Donald Trump has denied reports that he offered Iran sanctions relief and access to frozen funds in exchange for concrete concessions on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Trump rejected the reports on Monday, describing them as false after Axios reported, citing unnamed US officials, that his administration was willing to provide sanctions relief and release Iranian funds as part of a potential deal.

“This is untrue. I offered them NOTHING,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

CNN separately reported, also citing an unidentified US official, that Trump was prepared to offer similar concessions if Iran demonstrated concrete progress on the nuclear issue.

The conflicting reports emerged as US and Iranian officials engaged separately with mediators in a renewed diplomatic effort aimed at ending the seven-month conflict between Washington and Tehran.

READ ALSO:

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said Tehran is prepared to negotiate over its nuclear programme and other issues but would not accept what he described as pressure or coercion.

Iran maintains that it is not seeking nuclear weapons and insists it has the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has also said that diplomacy remains the route to resolving the conflict, while Tehran has linked any reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the fulfilment of conditions under discussion with mediators.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a major issue in the negotiations because it is a crucial route for global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Disruptions linked to the conflict have contributed to higher energy prices and increased concerns about global supplies.

Trump had rejected an earlier Iranian proposal concerning the reopening of the waterway, while Araghchi said Tehran was awaiting a formal response through mediators.

The latest disagreement over the reported sanctions offer adds uncertainty to the diplomatic efforts, with Washington and Tehran yet to announce a final agreement on the nuclear programme or the broader conflict.

Trump Denies Offering Iran Sanctions Relief, Release of Frozen Funds

metro

Federal Workers Back N500 Petrol Demand, Threaten Three-Day Warning Strike

Published

8 hours ago

September 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Federal Workers Back N500 Petrol Demand, Threaten Three-Day Warning Strike

Federal workers have backed the demand by organised labour for a reduction in the pump price of petrol to N500 per litre, warning that they will join a proposed three-day warning strike if the Federal Government fails to address their concerns.

The Federal Workers Forum (FWF) announced its position in a communiqué issued on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, after an online general meeting of federal workers held on Sunday.

The workers said they unanimously supported the call by the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC) for the Federal Government to reduce the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to N500 per litre.

The JNPSNC had given the Federal Government until September 30, 2026, to respond to its demands, which include a reduction in petrol prices, an immediate wage award and a review of salaries and allowances across the public service.

The Federal Workers Forum said its members were prepared to participate in the proposed three-day warning strike if the government failed to act.

The group also called for any reduction in petrol prices to be reflected in the prices of kerosene, diesel and cooking gas, arguing that high energy costs were contributing to the wider cost-of-living crisis.

READ ALSO:

The workers said the current price of petrol was placing additional pressure on households through higher transportation, food and other living costs.

They also backed labour’s demand for an immediate Wage Award, which they said should be converted into a reasonable Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) to provide continuing relief to workers.

The forum argued that workers’ incomes had been eroded by rising prices and called for urgent measures to restore their purchasing power.

Beyond the immediate wage relief, organised public-sector workers are seeking the commencement of negotiations for a new National Minimum Wage ahead of January 2027.

The JNPSNC has proposed a minimum monthly salary of N500,000 for an officer on Grade Level 01, Step 1 under the proposed 2027 salary structure.

The council also wants salaries and allowances across federal, state and local government services to be harmonised and periodically reviewed in line with inflation.

The Federal Workers Forum had previously called for an upward review of the current N70,000 minimum wage, saying rising food, fuel, transportation and housing costs had reduced its purchasing power.

The workers also criticised reliance on food palliatives as a response to the economic hardship, arguing that a reduction in petrol prices would have a wider impact because transportation and the cost of moving goods are closely linked to fuel costs.

The forum urged Nigerians to support organised labour’s campaign for lower petrol prices and said federal workers should mobilise for any industrial action approved by labour leadership.

The group further backed proposals for greater use of Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity, including making crude oil available to local refineries in naira and expanding national petroleum storage capacity.

It said such measures could strengthen energy security, create economic value and reduce the country’s exposure to fluctuations in international oil prices.

The latest position by federal workers adds pressure to an already tense labour-government relationship as the September 30 deadline approaches.

However, the workers’ statement does not mean that a nationwide strike has already commenced. Their commitment is to participate in the proposed three-day warning strike if the labour leadership calls the action and the government fails to address the outstanding demands.

The Federal Workers Forum also expressed hope that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would address the concerns in his forthcoming Independence Day broadcast.

The government’s response to the workers’ demands, particularly on petrol prices, wage relief and negotiations for a new minimum wage, is expected to determine the next steps by organised labour.

Federal Workers Back N500 Petrol Demand, Threaten Three-Day Warning Strike

metro

Hamzat Clarifies Lagos Traffic ‘Lifestyle’ Remark After Backlash

Published

8 hours ago

September 29, 2026

Trends Admin

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat

Hamzat Clarifies Lagos Traffic ‘Lifestyle’ Remark After Backlash

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat has clarified his controversial description of Lagos traffic as a “lifestyle”, saying the remark was taken out of context and was not intended as an endorsement of persistent gridlock.

Hamzat made the original comment while speaking at Podfest Naija 2026, where he discussed storytelling, the creative industry and how Lagos residents consume digital content during their daily journeys.

Using the experience of commuters on the Third Mainland Bridge as an example, Hamzat said traffic had become part of everyday life in Lagos. He also linked the long hours residents spend commuting to the growing consumption of podcasts, music, films and other digital content.

He specifically referred to journeys between Ojota and Obalende, suggesting that many Lagos residents listen to podcast episodes and consume other creative content while travelling through the city’s heavily congested roads.

The remarks generated criticism on social media, with some people interpreting the “lifestyle” description as an indication that the Lagos State Government considered traffic congestion a normal condition that residents should accept.

READ ALSO:

Hamzat subsequently addressed the controversy, explaining that he was speaking about the relationship between Lagos traffic and the creative industry, rather than discussing the causes of congestion, road design or suggesting that traffic should be regarded as desirable.

He also questioned how his remarks had been connected to separate criticisms of the state’s traffic situation.

Hamzat said he decided to clarify the remarks after seeing how excerpts from his speech were interpreted on social media.

The controversy has nevertheless renewed discussion about the impact of Lagos traffic congestion on commuters, businesses and productivity.

Lagos remains one of Nigeria’s busiest urban centres, with long commuting times forming part of the daily experience for many residents, particularly along major routes during peak periods.

The deputy governor’s remarks also highlighted the opportunities created by the city’s large and diverse audience for podcasters, filmmakers, musicians, writers and other content creators.

His argument was that the time residents spend travelling has contributed to increased consumption of creative content, creating opportunities for the industry to reach audiences during daily commutes.

The Lagos State Government has continued to promote investments in rail transportation, waterways, road construction, junction improvements and intelligent traffic management as part of efforts to improve mobility across the state.

The debate has therefore shifted beyond the wording of Hamzat’s “lifestyle” remark to broader questions about Lagos traffic, urban mobility and the challenges faced by residents who spend significant time commuting.