PRESS RELEASE

TERRORISM: POLICE STRIKES MAJOR BLOW TO TERRORISM, NEUTRALIZES ESN TERRORIST KINGPINS, DESTROYS DEADLY CAMPS IN IMO.

As Operatives Recover Dangerous Weapons, Other Assets.

As part of the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force to emplace peace and public safety across the country, police operatives attached to the Imo State Police Command have achieved a significant milestone in the ongoing battle against terrorism with the neutralization of three deadly terrorist kingpins associated with the Eastern Security Network (ESN).

On January 24, 2025, operatives from the Command’s tactical Unit following credible intelligence launched a coordinated operation aimed at locating and dislodging the terrorist hideouts. The police operatives located the terrorists’ hideout in a forest within Ihube, Okigwe LGA. Upon approach, the operatives came under heavy fire from suspected IPOB/ESN terrorists but demonstrated exceptional courage and engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle.

The operation resulted in the neutralization of 6 members of the terrorist group, with 3 being ESN kingpins identified as Ifeanyi Anayo a.k.a. Zuma De Rock (28), Chukwuemeka Odionyenfe a.k.a. Nmimi (22), and Kingsley Sunday (21)—all natives of Ogube, Ihube in Okigwe Local Government Area, and the recovery of five AK-47 rifles, 552 rounds of live ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), several communication equipment, along with 8 operational motorcycles used by the group. Prior investigations had revealed the involvement of the group in several high-profile crimes, including the attack on the Owerri Correctional Center on April 5, 2021, the killing of five policemen in Umunna, Okigwe, on December 12, 2022, and the burning of Arondizuogu Police Station on February 8, 2022. The group was also involved in multiple kidnappings, including those of WAEC staff on June 5, 2023, four reverend sisters on August 21, 2022, and four Chinese nationals on December 6, 2023.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM., has commended the gallant operatives for their exceptional display of bravery and coordination. The IGP charges police operatives across commands and formations to sustain the tempo and implement the Force’s action plan aimed at reducing crimes drastically in the first quarter of the year 2025. The Nigeria Police Force remains unyielding in its goal towards ensuring national security and public safety. Members of the public are hereby urged to remain vigilant and work collaboratively with the Nigeria Police Force to promote peace and ensure a safer environment for all citizens.

ACP OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, mnipr, mipra, fCAI,
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FORCE HEADQUARTERS,
ABUJA.

25TH JANUARY, 2025.

Renowned Comedian Alibaba’s Spouse Shares Enchanting Snap of Their Trio of Bundles of Joy to Commemorate Their First Year of Life

What a momentous occasion for Alibaba and his loved ones! The commemoration of their triplets’ inaugural birthday is genuinely unforgettable.

The comedian’s better half, Mary’s sentimental post, replete with captivating images and a heartfelt message of appreciation and devotion, undoubtedly elicited immense delight from their admirers and dear ones. The names Aaron, Alexander, and Andrew also exude a beautiful symmetry.

Photo source: Instagram

A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on Thursday adjourned the N1bn defamation suit filed by human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son Folarin, popularly known as Falz, against Martins Otse alias VeryDarkBlackMan, to February 19, 2025.

The court fixed the date to hear a preliminary objection filed by VeryDarkBlackMan, through his lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe, challenging the suit’s competence and the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

The Falanas had dragged VeryDarkBlackMan before the court and demanded N500m each as damages over a video he posted on his social media platforms alleging that they collected N10m from Idris Okuneye, a.k.a Bobrisky, to pervert the cause of justice.

The judge had, on the last adjourned date, October 14, 2024, ordered the social media influencer to bring down the defamatory video and comments he allegedly made against the senior lawyer and his son.

Justice Matthias Dawodu had also restrained the self-acclaimed social media police from further releasing, publishing, or circulating any defamatory videos and comments against the senior lawyer and his son on all his online social media handles and pages pending the hearing of a suit filed by the duo.

The judge also ordered that all the processes in the matter be served on VeryDarkBlackMan through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.

At the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, the defence counsel, Marvin Omorogbe, informed the court that he was served with a copy of the counter-affidavit filed by the plaintiffs against his preliminary objection on Wednesday, and he needed time to respond to it.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer,  Omotade Omotunbosun, did not object to the application for adjournment.

Following the development, Justice Dawodu adjourned the matter to February 19, 2025, for a hearing.

In the application, VeryDarkBlackMan argued through his lawyer that by the provisions of Order 4 Rule 1(4) of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, the court does not have the territorial jurisdiction to entertain this suit.

Omorogbe also argued that the defendant is domiciled and carries on business in Abuja, outside the jurisdiction of the court and that the alleged defamatory publication was made in Abuja.

He also claimed that the claimants deliberately filed the suit before the court as a way of forum shopping in the hope that they would get a favourable judgment.

In their suits, the father and son averred that the defendant knew all his comments were inaccurate and not verified, yet proceeded to publish the same to injure their reputation recklessly.

They also stated that the alleged defamatory publication was still trending in the defendant’s online handles and pages, adding that the injury to their reputation continues as long as the publication remains online.

The applicant alleged that in the unverified audio recording of a one-sided narrative by the alleged Bobrisky, the said Bobrisky never said that the claimant/applicant herein collected N10m from him, yet the defendant recklessly stated that Femi Falana collected N10m from Bobrisky.

The Falanas are seeking the following reliefs: “a declaration that the publication of the defendant made on September 24, 2024, on his Instagram handle, @verydarkblackman, wherein he specifically targeted the Claimant, is libellous, slanderous, derogatory, scandalous and defamatory.

“The sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira Only) for defamation of character contained in the defendant’s video publication of September 24, 2024, on his Instagram handle @verydarkblackman.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents or servants or otherwise from further publishing or causing to be published the said or similar words of defamatory to the claimant.

“An order directing the defendant to publish an apology to the claimant on all his social media handles/pages for the defamatory words contained in the video complained of and in one National Daily Newspaper.”