FACT REPORTERS NETWORK

  By: O'star Eze  In a strategic move to infuse psychological insights into grassroots governance reforms, the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Nnewi, a faith-based NGO under the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, has initiated a groundbreaking collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka.  The partnership, announced following an advocacy visit on September 18, 2025, aims to empower community leaders to drive transparency and citizen engagement at the local government level through the Anambra Local Government Accountability Fellowship (ALGAF). The ALGAF project, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) with technical support from the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, is an eight-month governance fellowship designed to strengthen the local government system in Anambra State. As a core component of JDPC Nnewi's broader mission to promote justice, development, and peace, the initiative tar...

  By O'star Eze  The Anambra State Police Command has strongly debunked a viral video circulating on social media, which falsely accuses a police officer of facilitating kidnapping and violent crimes in the state. In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the Command described the video as “false, mischievous, and malicious,” asserting that it is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Nigeria Police Force and defame the officer in question. The officer, identified as an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is not attached to the Anambra State Police Command and is recognized as an exemplary figure in character and crime-fighting within the Force. The Command highlighted the significant progress made in curbing violent crimes, particularly kidnapping, in Anambra State. This success, according to the statement, is due to the collaborative efforts of residents and security agencies working together to combat criminal activities....

  By Ndife David, Awka. In a significant milestone for youth development in Anambra State, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Anambra State Chapter, under the leadership of Amb. Surv. Emeka Obi has officially invested Archbishop Dr. Onyekachukwu Joseph Nzekwesi, CEO of Pineleaf Estate and Properties Ltd, as the Supreme Patron of Anambra Youths. The prestigious investiture ceremony took place yesterday at Apple Valley, Awka, and was held in tandem with the inauguration of newly elected NYCN coordinators from the 21 local government areas of the state. In his opening remarks, NYCN State Chairman, Chartered Surveyor Emeka Obi, spoke passionately on the theme: “Youths: Voice for Revaluation of Leadership and Good Governance – The Journey So Far,” and emphasized the vital role of strong, visionary leadership in shaping the future of Anambra's youth and the state at large. Surv. Obi stated that the Council's decision to honor Archbishop Nzekwesi was deliberate and well-des...

  RAYMOND OZOJI reports  As the November 8th Anambra governorship election approaches, Umueri community in Anambra-East Local Government Area has declared total acceptance of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo as their consensus candidate for the governorship election and rejected other candidates.  The public declaration of acceptance and endorsement of the Soludo-Ibezim 2025 second term mandate was the hallmark of the grand reception for Governor Soludo at Ama-Umueri on Thursday, where the entire three political wards in the community trooped out en masse to assure the governor that Umueri is APGA and that he would get the entire votes in the community.  Speeches by the President-General of Umueri General Assembly Amb. Dr. John Metchie, the Anambra-East Local Government Chairman Hon. Sir Ifeanyichukwu Chinweze, the State Commissioner for Transport Dr. Patricia Igwebuike, the traditional ruler of Umueri His Royal Highness Igwe Sir Bennett Izuchukwu Emeka and a host of...

  By O'star Eze  The youth empowerment scheme links currently circulating on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X in Nigeria; often promising grants of ₦150,000 to ₦700,000 for business or education under names like "National Youth Empowerment Fund" or "Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES)", are not approved by President Bola Tinubu or the federal government. They are well-documented scams designed to harvest personal data (e.g., BVN, NIN, bank details) or spread phishing links, and have been debunked repeatedly by fact-checkers and official sources. Key Evidence It's a Scam: - Recurring Hoax Pattern: These links mimic legitimate programs like the official Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme (P-YES, launched under the previous administration) but direct users to fake sites with mismatched flags (e.g., Uganda, Kenya, South Africa alongside Nigeria's), amateur designs, and demands to share the link with 15+ contacts to "unlock" fun...

  By O'star Eze   In a decisive crackdown on cultism and violent crimes, the Anambra State Police Command arrested 10 suspected cult members and recovered a firearm in a raid conducted in the early hours of September 18, 2025. The operation, led by the Special Anti-Cultism Squad (SPACS) Enugu Ukwu, targeted a residence in Ogbunike village, Oyi Local Government Area, following credible intelligence. The primary suspect, Ndefoh Chijoke, a 23-year-old alleged member of the Aye Confraternity (Black Axe), was apprehended with an Ontario CA American-made pistol and one live round of ammunition. Acting on information provided by Chijoke, police arrested nine additional suspects: Obuh Onyedika (27), Obuh Confidence (19), Mbanusi Nnaemeka (22), Godwin Udebeh (31), Chizoba Onuake (19), Ohazunike Martins (23), Ndife Chidorie (23), Nwosu Chinecherem (22), and Caleb Nwafor (26). According to SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer, the suspects are undergoing screening and...

‎By Ukpa Ewa  ‎ ‎A non- partisan Pan African organisation, championing women participation and representation in politics, ElectHer, has warned that Anambra State faces serious security threats ahead of the November 8, 2025 governorship election. ‎ ‎This was revealed by the ElectHer Chief Executive Officer Ibijoke Faborode at the Anambra 2025 Off-Cycle Election Stakeholders Roundtable held in Awka with security agencies, civil society and the media. ‎ ‎Faborode during the event, presented a pre-election assessment data, showing that most of the state local government Councils was on “red alert” for violence, with according to her, only Ayamelum and Oyi LGAs classified safe. ‎ ‎The Chief Executive Officer cautioned that unless urgent steps are taken to curb insecurity, the state may witness violence and voters apathy on election day . ‎ ‎Faborode who maintained that there are need for traditional rulers, community leaders and grassroots intelligence networks in complementing form...