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HURIWA Urges Soludo to Focus on Protecting, Not Eliminating Citizens
A civil rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the reported massacre of Onitsha traders by armed state militia.
The group also emphatically told Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, that the primary constitutional duty of government is to protect lives and the property of citizens and not to set armed contraptions with armed brutes to kill citizens.
In a statement, the HURIWA argued that “there is no amount of disagreement or peaceful protests by traders against the activities of armed task forces that could permit the deployment of lethal weapons to kill off civilians who are totally unarmed. This incident is one too many and the Anambra State Government is becoming notorious for failing to deal decisively with armed brutes who turned their weapons against the people of Anambra State. For a government to tolerate these incessant attacks on the citizens is to say that the administration has failed woefully. Those who kill in the name of a state government must face the full weight of the law.”
The HURIWA noted that armed operatives of the Anambra State government-backed Ocha Brigade allegedly opened fire at the Onitsha Main Market, Emeka Offor Plaza axis, leaving several people dead and others injured.
The victims were identified as Ebuka Orakwe, Orum Oluebube, Anthony Kosisochukwu, Ifeoma Ezema, Chinwe Igwe, 22, and two others whose names could not be ascertained at press time.
It cited eyewitnesses as claiming that a pregnant woman was among the dead.
The Anambra State Police Command, which confirmed the incident, however, stated that one female victim died on arrival at the hospital, while seven persons sustained gunshot injuries.
It added that the victims had been evacuated to the hospital and normalcy restored in the market.
The HURIWA quoted eyewitnesses who spoke with some sections of the media as claiming that the incident occurred on Tuesday morning, sparking panic and outrage among traders and residents who fled the scene for safety. According to accounts, the victims, who had only set out to earn their daily bread, were shot by armed men reportedly working for the Ocha Brigade.
It added that the reasons for the shooting could not be immediately ascertained.
A trader said, “This is heartbreaking. Four innocent people who left their homes this morning have been cut down in cold blood. Among them is a pregnant woman. Anambra people are now living in fear because criminals have been handed guns and uniforms in the name of government enforcement.”
The Police Command, in a statement by its spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said police officers moved in to restore order after receiving a distress call.
He explained that an altercation had ensued between personnel of the Ocha Brigade, an Anambra State Environmental Law Enforcement outfit, and some traders, during which seven traders sustained gunshot injuries.
Ikenga added that the incident triggered unrest within the market but assured that normalcy had since been restored, with patrols and monitoring ongoing to sustain peace.
The HURIWA condemned the arming of task forces with lethal weapons and charged the Governor to withdraw these weapons and to only permit these state agents to carry water canons or in a worst-case scenario to bear guns with rubber bullets, which must be applied in such ways that lives are not jeopardised.
In a media release endorsed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA accused the Anambra State Government of carrying out serial extrajudicial killings of citizens and for failures to apprehend those behind the spate of violent attacks by armed task forces set up by the Anambra State administration.
The HURIWA quoted Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as providing that: “Every person has a right to life, and no one SHALL be deprived intentionally of his/her life, save in the execution of the sentence of a court in respect of alleged criminal offence of which he/she has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
The HURIWA therefore called for the arrest and prosecution for murders of the task force agents responsible for the state sponsored extra legal killings of citizens. Anambra State must never be turned into a killing field of citizens by agents of the state administration.
Affirming that the situation in Anambra State has become deeply disturbing, the Rights group wondered whether the Anambra State Governor and his officials are unaware of the primary duty of government which the Grund Norm of the country specifically directs as follows in Section 14(2) (B): “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.
Just as Section 14(2) (A) provided that: ” Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all its powers and authority”. How will a government with a legitimate mandate of the citizens to exercise authority lawfully is incessantly involved in carrying out state-sponsored execution of the citizens?
The HURIWA lamented that since the inception of the administration of Mr. Soludo, hundreds of citizens have been slaughtered by different armed militia groups set up by the Anambra State Government as task forces just as the civil society organization has called on the organised civil rights advocacy groups with operational offices in Anambra State to compile records of all these killings and to file petitions to the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands so both the government officials including the head of the state government and the armed goons set up in the state are charged for crimes against humanity since it is now clear that the Anambra State Government is not disposed to holding State sponsored killers of citizens to account.
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The Rights group condemned the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria for sleeping on duty, whereas citizens are brutally murdered by state government agents in Anambra State since the past 4 years.
The HURIWA also asked the citizens of Anambra State to take it as a legal obligation to defend their right to life and to denounce the many bloody attacks orchestrated by armed task forces targeting ordinarily law-abiding citizens, even as the HURIWA said there was no legal justification for the massacre of traders that happened in Onitsha.
“This is the time to prosecute state-sponsored mass murderers in Anambra State or the civil society organizations in Anambra State should scientifically generate actionable evidence to institute petitions in the ICC in The Hague Netherlands. These crimes against humanity by agents of Anambra State must be brought to a logical end, the HURIWA conclusively asserted.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) against what it described as a dangerous attempt to weaken the opposition through judicial controversies, following a judgment by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, affecting the party’s leadership and the candidacy of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
The party alleged that the judgment, which reportedly sacked the Senator David Mark-led leadership and invalidated Atiku’s candidacy, was a desperate attempt to undermine the opposition and deny Nigerians the right to freely choose their leaders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, the ADC linked the timing of the judgment to the massive turnout at its presidential campaign rally in Sokoto, which took place barely 24 hours earlier.
The party claimed that the rally, which attracted thousands of supporters, had triggered panic within the ruling APC and accelerated the delivery of the judgment.
“We have reasons to believe that the judgment had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the statement read.
The ADC argued that the judgment went beyond the political ambitions of Atiku and David Mark, warning that its implications could affect thousands of candidates seeking elective positions at the local, state and federal levels.
It maintained that the development threatened the democratic rights of Nigerians and the participation of opposition candidates in the forthcoming elections.
The party also questioned the legal basis of the judgment, citing an earlier ruling by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court, delivered on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
According to the ADC, the earlier judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.
The party argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgment of another court of equal jurisdiction.
It said it would challenge the latest judgment through every available judicial process, adding that it was awaiting the Certified True Copy (CTC) to establish its precise terms, scope and operative orders.
The ADC further accused the APC of using judicial processes to frustrate opposition parties whenever they gained political momentum.
Warning against what it described as an attempt to eliminate political competition, the party said the peace and stability of Nigeria should not be sacrificed for the political ambitions of any individual or party.
“We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party,” the statement added.
The party also challenged President Bola Tinubu and the APC to submit themselves to a free and fair electoral contest if they were confident in their performance and popularity.
“Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, not to the APC. The presidency is not an inheritance. If the President thinks he has performed well in office, why is he afraid of competition?” the ADC asked.
The controversy comes amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the court judgment raising fresh questions about the ADC’s leadership and the status of candidates contesting under its platform.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has charged newly appointed Confederation of African Football (CAF) General Secretary, Samson Adamu, to protect and promote Nigeria’s interests while advancing the development of African football.
Shettima gave the charge on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received Adamu, who was accompanied by a delegation led by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko.
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The Vice President congratulated Adamu on his appointment, describing his emergence as the first Nigerian to occupy the position in CAF’s 70-year history as a significant achievement for the country.
Conveying President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill, Shettima urged Adamu to approach his new responsibilities with integrity, diligence and a strong sense of national pride.
“The President is proud of you, Samson Adamu. Go and do a yo-man’s job. Go and promote, protect and project and preserve the interest of the Nigerian nation,” he said.
Shettima described football as an important instrument of national unity, noting that the sport brings Nigerians together irrespective of their differences.
“Anytime Nigeria plays, it tends to subsume all other identities. Football and sports generally is a source of unity for our country. What binds us together superseded whatever divides us,” he stated.
He attributed Nigeria’s achievements in sports to the quality of its people and the contributions of administrators, coaches, talent scouts and institutions responsible for identifying and developing sporting talents.
The Vice President also recalled the achievements of Nigerian football legends, including Rashidi Yekini, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha and Finidi George, noting that their successes were supported by individuals and institutions that nurtured their abilities.
Earlier, Dikko thanked President Tinubu and the Federal Government for supporting sports development, saying the administration’s commitment had strengthened Nigeria’s international sporting profile and created opportunities for investment through sports.
He described Adamu’s appointment as a major milestone for Nigerian sports administration and disclosed that the Federal Government had approved Nigeria’s hosting of the CAF General Assembly in November and the CAF Awards in December 2026.
In his remarks, Adamu expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its support, describing his appointment as a source of national pride.
He pledged to use his experience as CAF’s former Director of Competitions to strengthen the continental body’s administration and advance African football.
Adamu also promised to support Nigeria’s efforts to harness its football talents and maximise its potential in continental and global sports.
He was appointed CAF General Secretary on Sunday, November 1, 2026, following a recruitment exercise by the continental football governing body. He is expected to oversee CAF’s day-to-day administration.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the National Judicial Institute (NJI) have called for specialised judges, improved digital evidence management and legal reforms to accelerate the prosecution of corruption and other financial crime cases in Nigeria.
The recommendations were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 8th Capacity Building Workshop for Justices and Judges, held in Abuja from October 13 to 15, 2026.
The workshop, organised by the EFCC in collaboration with the NJI, was themed “Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes in a Digital Age.”
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According to a statement signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the workshop brought together justices and judges from across the country, alongside EFCC investigators and prosecutors, for three days of lectures and deliberations.
Participants resolved that designating specialised judges and court staff to handle corruption cases, alongside targeted training, would help address delays in the administration of justice.
According to the communiqué, delays in resolving corruption cases “will be greatly reduced by designating specialised judges and court staff to handle such cases as well as equipping such judges and courts with necessary skills through training to ensure efficient, certain and consistent application of existing laws in the administration of justice.”
The participants also called for a balance between protecting the rights of defendants and ensuring the speedy administration of justice.
They said the criminal justice system “must strike the proper balance between fairness, efficiency and legal certainty in the protection of individual rights on one hand and the speedy administration of justice, on the other hand.”
To achieve this, they recommended reviewing relevant provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act where necessary.
EFCC, NJI Seek Better Digital Evidence Management
The participants called for stronger investigation standards, including improved digital management protocols, to ensure that prosecutions rely on credible and admissible evidence.
They also recommended a more coordinated approach to obtaining confessional statements, stressing that institutionalising video recording and other necessary safeguards would protect suspects’ rights and preserve the integrity of investigations.
On asset recovery, the communiqué described Non-Conviction Based Asset Forfeiture proceedings as “an effective tool for recovery of stolen assets.”
However, participants stressed that its use “must follow extant legal protocols, adherence to human rights standards and strong institutional oversight.”
They also called for procedural reforms to allow extensions of time for freezing suspected proceeds of financial crimes.
Participants Recommend AI Guidelines for Judiciary
The communiqué further called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies in the anti-corruption sector to work with the National Assembly and the Judiciary to develop governance protocols and policy guidelines for adopting and deploying artificial intelligence in the administration of justice.
Participants also urged stakeholders to familiarise themselves with existing laws and regulations governing the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of financial crime cases involving virtual assets.
These include the Investment and Securities Act (2025), the Executive Order on Virtual Assets Coordination (2026), the Rules on Digital and Virtual Assets Operations (2026) and the Proceeds of Crime Act (2022).
The workshop also highlighted the need for increased investment in digital forensic laboratories, technology infrastructure and specialised training for investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers.
Participants called for continuous training to equip judicial officers and anti-corruption agencies with the skills required to address evolving economic and financial crimes in line with global best practices.
On the use of open-source intelligence, they said investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers should treat it primarily as a source of investigative leads and corroboration, while ensuring that evidence relied upon in court complies with applicable evidential rules.
NJI, NJC Urged to Develop Certification Courses
The communiqué recommended that the NJI, working with the National Judicial Council (NJC), develop accredited certificate and diploma courses to equip judges and other relevant stakeholders with the skills required to improve justice delivery, subject to any necessary legislative review.
Participants also called for sustained coordination among stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice, particularly in sharing information on emerging trends in the investigation and prosecution of economic and financial crimes in the digital age.
They urged heads of courts to use insights from the workshop to develop policies clarifying judicial practice on the technical issues discussed.
The workshop featured nine interactive sessions covering the admissibility of confessional statements, garnishee proceedings, abuse of court processes, asset forfeiture, artificial intelligence in investigations and prosecutions, virtual asset recovery and digital forensics.
Attendees included justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, judges of the Federal High Court, State High Courts and the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, alongside other stakeholders in the judiciary and anti-corruption sector.
Participants expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was represented at the workshop by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, as well as other stakeholders and organisers who contributed to its success.
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