• Suspected Eiye member killed in Lagos

The Abia and Imo State Police Commands have clarified a viral video showing the assault of a young woman and her brother at Okigwe, saying the armed men involved were members of the Imo State Vigilante Organisation and not police officers.

The victims were reportedly travelling to Abia State University when they were attacked at Okigwe.

The Abia State Police Command, in its initial reaction to the video, said the incident occurred in Okigwe, Imo State, and therefore fell under the jurisdiction of the Imo State Police Command.

The command’s spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, said preliminary findings and information from the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) responsible for the area indicated that the men seen in the video were members of a community vigilante group.

She said the DPO had visited the scene, while the suspects had been apprehended, adding that the command was awaiting an official statement from the Imo State Police Command.

The Imo Command subsequently confirmed the arrest of two suspects identified as Ejiogu Nchekwube and Caleb Onyebuchi.

A statement signed by the spokesperson, DSP Okoye Henry, Imo Police Command, said the suspects were personnel of the Imo State Vigilante Organisation and were being detained at the Okigwe Divisional Police Headquarters as investigations continued.

The command said it was aware of the video circulating on social media and assured the public that anyone found culpable would face appropriate action in accordance with the law.

The Imo State Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability and respect for the rights of the public.

Similarly, the Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, reiterated that officers of the command remained professional and disciplined in the discharge of their duties.

Meanwhile, a suspected member of the Eiye confraternity, identified as Elvis, has been shot dead around Alesh Market in Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Council of Lagos State.

Elvis, a professional hairstylist who worked in the area, was reportedly attacked while other people around the market were robbed of their belongings.

He was said to have sustained gunshot injuries during the incident and died from his wounds.

Although the circumstances surrounding the attack remain unclear, residents suspect it may have been linked to cult rivalry, robbery or a dispute involving the deceased.

The fact that Elvis was the only person shot during the incident, while others were reportedly robbed, has further fuelled speculation about the motive for the attack.

Residents also alleged that the area is dominated by members of the Aiye, also known as the Neo Black Movement (NBM), who they accused of routinely harassing, threatening and extorting residents and passers-by.

There was no official confirmation from the police linking the killing to cult activities as of the time of filing this report.