Police Launch Investigation as Three Children Die at Anambra Native Doctor’s Residence

Tragedy strikes Ideani community as three children are confirmed dead and a fourth fights for life after being discovered unconscious at a female traditional healer’s residence. The suspect, known as “Ezenwanyi,” is now in police custody.

AWKA, Nigeria – A quiet community in Anambra State has been plunged into mourning after the lifeless bodies of three children were discovered at the residence of a female native doctor in Umuoduba Village, Ideani, Idemili North Local Government Area. The tragic incident, which unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, August 5, 2026, has left residents reeling as they grapple with unanswered questions about how four young children ended up unconscious inside the compound of a woman popularly known in the area as “Ezenwanyi.” Three of the children – believed to be between the ages of 6 and 15 – were confirmed dead by medical doctors upon arrival at the hospital. A fourth child, who was found still breathing, remains in critical condition and is currently receiving emergency medical care.

According to eyewitness accounts, residents of Umuoduba Village raised the alarm after discovering the children lying unconscious within the female native doctor’s residential premises. The compound, which also serves as a livestock farm housing pigs and poultry birds, became the scene of a frantic rescue operation. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the harrowing moment, stating that the four children were found unconscious in the woman’s compound, with three already lifeless when they were discovered, while the fourth child was still breathing and was rushed to the hospital. The resident added that the incident has left everyone in the community in shock. Community leaders and local security personnel quickly mobilized, and the fourth child was rushed to a nearby hospital by residents before emergency responders could arrive. The identities of the deceased children and their relationship to the suspect have not yet been established.

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The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that operatives attached to the Ogidi Police Division responded immediately after receiving a distress call. In an official statement, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, expressed the command’s profound sadness over the discovery, explaining that upon receipt of the information, the rescue team led by police operatives rushed the victims immediately to a hospital for emergency medical attention. He regretted that three of the children were certified dead by medical doctors, while the fourth victim is currently receiving treatment in a critical condition. The female suspect, identified locally as Ezenwanyi, was arrested and taken into custody by police operatives in collaboration with community leaders. She is currently being held at the Ogidi Police Division, while the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) has taken over the case for a comprehensive, intelligence-driven, and evidence-based investigation.

Videos circulating on social media showed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogidi Division, accompanied by community leaders, local security personnel, and the President-General of Ideani Community, Chief Paul Okoye, inspecting the premises shortly after the incident. The footage also captured the suspect leading security operatives around different sections of the compound, including shrines and residential areas, as stunned residents watched from a distance. Also present at the scene was the Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Mr. Stanley Nkwoka, who joined the inspection team.

As of the time of filing this report, several critical questions remain unanswered, including the identities and ages of the children, which have not been officially released, and what their relationship was with the suspect. Community members have speculated that the children may have been workers at the residence or possibly relatives, but these claims remain unverified. The cause of their deaths also remains unclear, as autopsy results are pending, with the bodies having been deposited in a mortuary for preservation and further examination. The police spokesperson expressed hope that the surviving child’s testimony, subject to medical recovery and clearance, would provide crucial clues to unravel the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.

SP Tochukwu Ikenga extended the command’s condolences to the bereaved families and the entire Ideani community, urging residents to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and allow investigators to conduct their work without interference. He reiterated that the Anambra State Police Command expresses profound sadness over this incident and urged the public to avoid spreading unverified information while allowing investigators to conclude their work, adding that further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through Ideani and beyond, with many residents struggling to come to terms with the loss of three young lives. The incident has also reignited conversations about the activities of traditional healers and the safety of children in communities across Anambra State. As the investigation continues, the community waits for answers – and justice – for the three children whose lives were cut short in such heartbreaking circumstances.

Police Launch Investigation as Three Children Die at Anambra Native Doctor’s Residence

Explosion kills ISWAP bombmakers, foreign IED experts in Borno

Five suspected members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), including a medical officer and four alleged improvised explosive device (IED) specialists, have reportedly been killed in a premature explosion while assembling explosives in Marte Local Government Area of Borno State.

Security sources said the explosion occurred at Maina Daya village, located between Sabon Tumbu and Jubilaram in the Marte axis, an area within the wider Lake Chad region where ISWAP has maintained a presence.

According to security analyst Zagazola Makama, those killed included an ISWAP medical officer identified as Usman Dan Fulani, two foreign nationals described by the sources as Arab IED technicians, and two suspected bomb-making specialists.

The identities and nationalities of the foreign nationals had not been independently confirmed as of the time of filing this report.

Sources said the suspected ISWAP members were assembling improvised explosive devices when the explosives detonated unexpectedly.

The group was reportedly preparing the devices for possible deployment along strategic military supply routes in Sector 1 of Operation HADIN KAI, raising concerns that the explosives may have been intended for attacks on security forces or vehicles operating in the area.

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The explosion reportedly destroyed the location where the devices were being assembled and prevented the suspected explosives from being deployed.

Security analysts said the deaths of experienced bombmakers could represent a significant setback to ISWAP’s IED network, particularly in the Marte-Monguno axis, where explosive devices have been used to target military patrols, security convoys and major transport routes.

However, analysts also noted that the long-term impact of the incident would depend on the group’s ability to replace the personnel and restore its technical capacity.

The development comes amid sustained military operations aimed at disrupting terrorist networks, destroying logistics facilities and limiting the movement of insurgents across Borno State and other parts of the North-East.

ISWAP has continued to use roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices as part of its campaign against military formations, security personnel and civilian targets in the Lake Chad region.

Military sources said troops under Operation HADIN KAI had been directed to take advantage of the development by intensifying patrols, intelligence gathering, cordon-and-search operations and targeted offensives across the Monguno, Marte and Gamboru Ngala areas.

The operations are expected to focus on preventing surviving members of the suspected network from regrouping, relocating their activities or rebuilding their IED-manufacturing capacity.

Security forces are also expected to strengthen surveillance along routes that have previously been targeted with explosive devices.

The Nigerian military has continued to carry out intelligence-led air and ground operations against suspected ISWAP camps, logistics hubs and movement corridors across Borno.

While the latest explosion may temporarily disrupt the group’s operations, security analysts said sustained military pressure, improved intelligence gathering and continued collaboration with local communities would be necessary to prevent ISWAP from rebuilding its explosives network.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian military had not issued an official statement confirming the incident, the identities of those killed or the reported involvement of foreign IED technicians.

Explosion kills ISWAP bombmakers, foreign IED experts in Borno

Alleged Coup Mastermind Suggested Approaching Wike for Funding, Court Documents Show

FCT Minister’s name surfaces in alleged 2025 coup conspiracy testimony, yet records confirm he was never contacted or aware of the plan

The name of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has surfaced in court documents linked to the alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration. However, investigation records indicate there is no evidence that the minister was contacted or that he had any knowledge of the alleged plan. This distinction is crucial as the trial of six defendants continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja over the alleged 2025 coup conspiracy against the Nigerian government.

The emergence of Wike’s name came from the statement of retired naval captain Erasmus Victor, one of the defendants currently standing trial. Victor admitted that he was aware of discussions surrounding the alleged plan but maintained that he repeatedly advised the alleged mastermind, Army Colonel Mohammed Ma’aji, to abandon the idea. His testimony has become a focal point in the proceedings, though investigators have been careful to distinguish between mere mention and actual complicity.

According to investigation records, Victor said Ma’aji approached him because of their long-standing relationship dating back to their time at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). Victor explained that the two had remained in contact after their military careers crossed paths at the academy, where he once served as commanding officer of the Burma Battalion while Ma’aji worked as his adjutant. This existing trust and familiarity reportedly made Victor a natural confidant for the embattled colonel.

Victor told investigators that Ma’aji became deeply frustrated after he failed to secure a promotion around 2023. He said he reached out to encourage the officer and urged him to focus on retirement instead of allowing the disappointment to consume him. “He was very devastated,” Victor reportedly said. According to Victor, Ma’aji rejected the advice and instead declared that he was prepared to do “anything necessary,” even if it cost him his life. Victor said he interpreted the comment as a sign that the officer intended to pursue an unconstitutional takeover of government and claimed he consistently discouraged him from doing so.

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The retired naval officer also disclosed that Ma’aji later began searching for wealthy individuals who could allegedly provide financial backing for the operation. Victor said several influential Nigerians were mentioned during their discussions, and among them was the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike. Explaining why his name came up, Victor said he had previously served as chairman of Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area in Rivers State during Wike’s tenure as governor. “I have been a local government chairman for Ogu/Bolo LGA under Nyesom Wike, and I left office in 2021,” he stated. “He suggested I bring Nyesom Wike into the plan in order to seek funds from him.”

Victor insisted that despite the request, he never approached Wike or any other individual for financial assistance. He said he only informed Ma’aji that his efforts to secure sponsors had failed. He further stated, “I was not under compulsion to tell Col Ma’aji I was going to get him sponsors.” This admission is critical because the investigation records reportedly do not suggest that Wike was aware of the alleged plot or took part in any discussion connected to it. The absence of any evidence linking the FCT Minister to the conspiracy has been a recurring theme in official briefings on the matter.

Security agencies launched investigations after the alleged conspiracy was uncovered in September 2025. Prosecutors alleged that the suspects planned to assassinate President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, service chiefs and other senior government officials before taking over power. Investigators further alleged that different roles had been assigned to members of the group, including military operations, logistics, recruitment of financiers, intelligence gathering, propaganda and spiritual consultations. The scale and audacity of the alleged plot have drawn significant public attention, with many Nigerians closely following the court proceedings.

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Victor is standing trial alongside serving and retired military officers accused of participating in the alleged conspiracy. In his statement, the retired naval officer said he eventually began to doubt whether Ma’aji genuinely intended to stage a coup. “I suspected it was 419,” Victor reportedly told investigators. He explained that he wondered whether the officer was simply trying to obtain money from wealthy individuals under the guise of planning a takeover, arguing that anyone who voluntarily funded an illegal operation would likely be unwilling to report the matter to security agencies if the money disappeared. This skepticism, he claimed, was part of the reason he never took active steps to support the plan.

The investigation also revealed that Victor admitted communicating with Ma’aji through Zangi, an encrypted messaging application. According to him, the platform was recommended because it offered more secure communication than regular phone calls. He said he only downloaded the application to communicate with Ma’aji and another defendant, Lieutenant Colonel Shamsuddeen Bappah. Investigators alleged that Bappah received ₦5 million on September 27, 2025, from funds linked to the alleged operation, though Victor denied taking part in any financial arrangement. The use of encrypted communication has been a point of interest for investigators, who are working to piece together the full extent of communications among the alleged conspirators.

The retired naval officer also acknowledged discussions about possible appointments if the alleged coup had succeeded. According to his statement, Ma’aji once asked him what position he would like in the proposed administration. Victor claimed he jokingly reminded the colonel that he had earlier promised to make him Chief of Staff to the President, but the officer instead replied that he would appoint him as a minister. Victor insisted the conversation was never serious and should not be interpreted as support for the alleged conspiracy, framing it as casual banter rather than a genuine planning session.

He further disclosed that Ma’aji estimated the operation would require about ₦2 billion to execute. Victor said he warned that such a plan would be difficult to execute because of modern surveillance systems and communication technology, adding that those realities convinced him the operation would fail. This practical assessment, he claimed, was part of his ongoing effort to discourage the colonel from pursuing what he saw as a doomed enterprise. Although he admitted forwarding some revolutionary-themed social media materials to Ma’aji through WhatsApp, Victor maintained that he consistently advised against the alleged plot and denied participating in any effort to overthrow the government. He also admitted he never reported the alleged plan to security agencies despite knowing about it, claiming he attempted to reach the then-Rivers State Sole Administrator but was unable to get through.

The trial is expected to continue as the Federal High Court considers evidence presented by the prosecution and the responses of the defendants. The defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges, and legal experts anticipate a lengthy judicial process given the gravity of the allegations. As the proceedings unfold, the distinction between names mentioned in testimony and individuals with actual involvement will remain a critical factor in determining the outcome of the case.

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