Hon USA Igwesi
A traditional ruler, Igwe Obiora Igwesi, his brother and former member of the House of Representatives, U.S.A. Igwesi, and eight others have been arrested by the police over an alleged armed attack on members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Enugu State.
The suspects were arrested following a directive by the Inspector-General of Police to apprehend those behind the attack on an NDC ward meeting in Obuoffia, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state.
The arrests were reportedly made by detectives from the Zone 13 Command, Ukpo, Anambra State, following a petition dated September 15, 2026, submitted to the IGP by Chief G. Tagbo Ike, SAN, on behalf of the NDC Obuoffia Ward leadership.
The other suspects are Uchenna Moses Ani, alias Odogwu; Chidi Ani; Oko Nwodo, alias Buzuzu; Dominic Arum, alias City Hangout; Ifeanyi Solomon Nwobodo, alias Agege; Victor Okechukwu, alias Ogboni; Nnabuike Ani, alias Stone; and John Chukwuma Ogbodo.
Police sources said the suspects were being interrogated over alleged conspiracy to commit a felony, unlawful possession of firearms, attempted murder, assault occasioning grievous harm, threatening violence and stealing.
According to the petition, the incident occurred on September 12, 2026, when armed men allegedly stormed an NDC ward meeting at Ihuani Awkunanaw, the home ward of the party’s governorship candidate.
The petition stated that the organisers had obtained prior clearance from the Divisional Police Station in Agbani before holding the meeting.
It alleged that three cars and two motorcycles drove through the venue while party members were gathered on both sides of the access road.
Obiora and U.S.A. Igwesi were reportedly among the occupants of one of the vehicles and allegedly issued threats before gunshots were fired.
The petition further claimed that several people were hit by bullets, forcing party members and sympathisers to flee for safety, while the injured were taken to hospital.
Eight people were reportedly injured in the attack. They were identified as Donald Onovo, a local government ward councillor; Maduka Ngene, the ward chairman; Victor Onovo; Gloria Ogbodo; Maduabuchi Ugwu; Nelson Nnaemeka; Chinonso Nwagbara; and Obinna Daniel
Owo.The petition also alleged that Uchenna Moses Ani forcibly took N600,000 meant for logistics and transportation from Onovo during the incident. Equipment hired from vendors was also reportedly destroyed.
The legal representatives of the victims alleged that the attack was part of a broader pattern of violence targeting opposition political activities in the state.
They claimed that several local government areas in Enugu had experienced coordinated armed attacks allegedly sponsored by some council chairmen to suppress opposition activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The allegations had not been independently verified.
The Igwesi brothers have previously been linked to high-profile investigations.
In July 2015, Obiora Igwesi was reportedly questioned by the then Special Anti-Robbery Squad over allegations of conspiracy, robbery and attempted assassination arising from a dispute involving the Methodist Church.
Similarly, in August 2005, U.S.A. Igwesi was implicated in the killing of 28-year-old Chinedu Ani and his friend, Chinedu Nwoye.
The incident triggered protests and prompted the administration of former Enugu State Governor Chimaroke Nnamani to establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice F. Ken Ezeike.
A 2009 Amnesty International report, cited in the commission’s findings, stated that the panel investigated allegations that Igwesi fabricated an armed robbery claim against the two men following a political disagreement.
A memorandum reportedly submitted to the panel by the then Divisional Police Officer of Ogui Road Police Station, Sam Chukwu, attributed the shooting of the two men to alleged pressure exerted on the Anti-Robbery Squad by U.S.A. Igwesi.
Following the panel’s findings, Nnamani reportedly opposed Igwesi’s return to the National Assembly.
More recently, Obiora Igwesi was appointed chairman of the board of the New Enugu Smart City Development Authority and Enugu State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors by Governor Peter Mbah.
A survivor of the latest attack, Chief Onovo Oko, alleged that Igwesi’s political resurgence had emboldened armed political thugs in the area.
He called for those arrested to be held accountable, saying this was necessary to prevent further violence in the state.
