# Critical stakeholders converged in Awka, Anambra State Capital, to discuss and find solutions to the shrinking civic space in the region.
The event titled ‘Voices Unchained: A Journey Through Civic Space in Southeast Nigeria,’ was a dialogue session organized by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, RULAAC, under its 2025 Civic Space and Security Project.
The dialogue is supported by the Fund for Global Human Rights through a Sub-grant from the Action Group on Free Civic Space (AGFCS), and attracted participants including grassroots advocates, legal practitioners, journalists, community leaders, and policy influencers.
It seeks to engage, educate, and empower stakeholders across the Southeast to strengthen civic space, promote accountability, and protect democratic freedoms.
# Security operatives at Isiowulu Police Station while on patrol along Ascension Anglican Church Road, accosted four young men carrying a black “Super Shopping” bag.
On sighting the security operatives, three of the suspects fled, while the fourth suspect, whose name and address are yet to be verified, was apprehended with the bag.
A search conducted on the bag revealed the following items: Assorted colours of armoured cables cut-to-size, One big yellow iron cutter, One black iron cutter, One ash-coloured glass cutter, One black hand glove and one yellow hand glove, One black sling, One bag containing a yellow background long-sleeve shirt, A bunch of two keys and a pair of rubber slippers.
The suspect was thereafter taken into custody. However, while being escorted to hand over to the Police along with the recovered items, he attempted to escape by jumping down from a storey building and in the process of re-arresting him, he sustained gunshot injuries.
Consequently, he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead. His body has been deposited at the morgue for autopsy.
All the recovered exhibits are now in custody and the weapon used by the vigilante has also been secured. Meanwhile, a full-scale investigation into both incidents has commenced, including efforts to apprehend the fleeing accomplices and recover more of the stolen items.
The Command reiterates its warning to criminal elements engaging in sabotage of public utilities that the Police will relentlessly fish them out. The Command also urges Ndi Anambra to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities around government installations to the nearest Police Station for necessary action.
# A three-day Stakeholders’ validation forum in Anambra State, has ended with a call on election stakeholders to be alive to their responsibilities towards achieving the conduct of a peaceful 2025 Governorship Elections, improved democratic participation, and reducing political tensions.
The stakeholders’ validation forum, which also featured strategic advocacy visits, was organized by the Kukah Centre, Secretariat of the National Peace Committee (NPC) under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN).
The Project Manager at Kukah Centre, Barr. Asabe Ndahi, in his address, said the move is with a view to fostering their collective buy-in for peaceful and inclusive elections by strengthening trust and joint responsibility.
Barr. Ndahi observed that voter apathy in Anambra State is as a result of insecurity, lack of trust in the electoral process, among others and that the forum had helped elicit promises from the stakeholders that they will adequately mobilize their people to participate in the elections.
# Media practitioners under the aegis of the League of Anambra Journalists in Abuja (LAJA) has called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to address worsening insecurity as the state prepares for November 8th governorship election.
LAJA also condemned continuous attacks and killings in parts of Anambra State.
In a statement jointly signed by Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo and Princess Ekwi Ajide, its interim President and Secretary respectively, described the current wave of insecurity across Anambra was very deplorable and devastating.
It said even though the state claimed to have deployed resources for the purpose, Anambra still witnessed high-profile attacks, killings, forceful disappearances and ungoverned spaces.
# The Director, Institute for Peace, Security and Development Studies (IPSDS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Jaja Nwanegbo says Southeast is historically known for its vibrant intellectual life, entrepreneurial energy, and political consciousness.
Nwanegbo while speaking in an event organized by RULAAC in Awka, cited town hall meetings, market-square debates, campus discussions, church and worship place gatherings, and local newspapers as evidences of safe spaces for opinion-sharing, which reinforce good governance and business confidence.
Nwanegbo suggested review and clarification of laws, strengthening judicial remedies, safeguarding of press protections, and strengthening of civic education activities as means of strengthening freedom of expression in the region.
# The Chairman of the Anambra State Beach Soccer Association, Prof. Victor Madubuko, has been conferred with the Outstanding Contribution Award.
Madubuko received the award from the
Nigeria Beach Soccer League at the end of Match day one of the 2025 second-round matches held in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The presentation was witnessed by league officials, players, and fans who have witnessed his transformative impact firsthand.
The CEO of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League, Mahmud Hadejia, who presented the award, praised Madubuko for his “passion, dedication, and relentless efforts in developing the game from the grassroots level.”
Upon receiving the award, Professor Madubuko reiterated his commitment to his vision. In his words:
# The traditional ruler of Ifitedunu in Dunukofia LGA, Igwe Chukwuemeka Ilouno, has observed that laws to drive the peaceful conduct of elections are not in short supply in the country, but that the challenge is with their implementation.
Speaking at a three-day Stakeholders’ validation forum in Anambra State,
Prof. Ilouno harped on the need for the traditional rulers to be adequately carried along in civic education sensitization activities, as grassroots leaders, so that the people in the communities will be adequately sensitized on what is required of them for society to make progress.
# The Anambra State Police Command has recorded significant breakthroughs in separate operations carried out at Onitsha and Obosi respectively in its sustained fight against acts of sabotage and vandalism of government infrastructure.
Operatives of the Command attached to the Rapid Response Squad Awkuzu, acting on credible intelligence, raided a vandal’s hideout along Atani Road, Onitsha.
Police Spokesperson SP. Tochukwu Ikenga through a press release stated that
during the operation, three suspects were arrested.
They include: Adamu Ali ‘M’, 25 years, Usman Sulaiman ‘M’, 22 years and Isah Abdullahi ‘M’, 26 years. The Operatives also recovered from them Bags of high-tension cable wires, Melted cable wires and Parts of transformer equipments.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are part of a syndicate that specialises in vandalizing and selling power installations, with Lagos identified as their major sales outlet.
# The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has concluded plans to partner with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to enhance consumer rights protection in Anambra State.
This was disclosed by Commandant Maku Olatunde, the State Commandant of NSCDC, when he received the Zonal Coordinator of FCCPC South East Zone, Mrs. Francisca Obialor, and her team at the State Command Headquarters Awka on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Commandant Maku, represented by Deputy Commandant Prominence Ukaobi, emphasized the importance of cooperation between regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies in promoting quality products that satisfy consumer needs.
The NSCDC State helmsman expressed the command’s willingness to collaborate with FCCPC through joint enforcement in resolving consumer grievances and providing redress for any infractions encountered.
