[5:31 PM, 10/24/2026] Patric Media Plus😃: The Anambra State Police Command has convened a peace meeting with two rival Anglican bishops in an effort to de-escalate tensions surrounding the leadership crisis in the Awka Diocese.
The meeting, held on Friday at the state police headquarters in Awka, brought together the suspended Bishop of Awka Diocese, Alexander Ibezim, and the newly appointed supervising bishop, Samuel Ezeofor.
The Commissioner of Police, Nnanna Ama, led the meeting, urging both parties to embrace peaceful dialogue, respect the rule of law and prevent the dispute from disrupting church activities or threatening public peace.
The police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the development in a statement, explai…
[5:35 PM, 10/24/2026] Patric Media Plus😃: POLICE CONFIRM SHOOTING OF ENUGU ENTERTAINER, ORDER INVESTIGATION
The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed that its operatives shot popular entertainer Izuchukwu Nnaji, popularly known as Stone, during an anti-cultism operation, prompting renewed calls for accountability and justice.
The police said preliminary findings indicated that the incident occurred during a raid at The Bull Hotel in Enugu in the early hours of Wednesday, following intelligence reports about suspected criminal activities at the facility.
The police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, explaining that the operation was carried out by operatives of the Anti-Cultism Section of the Violent Crime Response Unit.
According to the police, the operation targeted a suspected drug dealer and alleged member of the Vikings Confraternity, identified as Nworie Chidera Kelvin, popularly known as Akidi.
The police alleged that Kelvin was linked to several cases involving cultism and unlawful possession of firearms and was suspected of keeping weapons and other criminal items for the group.
The operation reportedly led to the arrest of Kelvin and nine other suspects, comprising men and women aged between 17 and 28.
Police also said officers recovered quantities of dried plant material suspected to be cannabis, a weighing scale believed to be associated with illicit drug sales, and ₦43,400 in various denominations.
However, the operation took a tragic turn when Nnaji was shot.
According to the police account, Nnaji and another unidentified suspect allegedly jumped through a hotel window in an attempt to escape during the raid.
The spokesperson claimed that, while pursuing the two men, an operative was confronted by them in an alleged attempt to disarm him.
During the ensuing struggle, the officer’s firearm discharged, leaving Nnaji with gunshot injuries, while the other suspect reportedly escaped.
The police said Nnaji was taken to a hospital, where he was later confirmed dead. His remains were subsequently deposited in a mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
The circumstances surrounding his death triggered public outrage in Enugu, with hundreds of angry youths reportedly taking to the streets on Thursday to protest the killing.
Reports indicated that Nnaji had been arrested at about 3 a.m. on Wednesday at The Bull Hotel, where he had lodged after celebrating his birthday with friends the previous night.
His body was later discovered at the morgue of the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, prompting questions from his associates and other residents.
In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Bitrus Giwa, has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the entertainer’s death.
The police spokesperson said the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Intelligence Department had been directed to establish the facts and determine whether the operation and the use of firearms complied with established operational standards and applicable laws.
The commissioner also appealed to Nnaji’s family and associates to remain calm, assuring them that any officer found culpable would face appropriate disciplinary action.
The police command reiterated that professionalism, ethical conduct and strict compliance with firearm-use procedures must be upheld during every operation.
The incident has also revived memories of another fatal police shooting involving a popular Enugu musician.
In October 2024, Chikezie Mba, widely known as Igbo Jah, was shot dead by a police inspector at the Anti-Cult Unit of the Enugu State Police Command.
The officer, identified by police as Joseph Ozonwanji, was subsequently dismissed and arraigned over the musician’s killing.
With another entertainer now dead following a police operation, attention is turning to the investigation, the circumstances of the shooting and whether the officers involved followed established procedures.
For Nnaji’s family, friends and supporters, the immediate concern is accountability and clarity over the events that led to his death.
The outcome of the investigation is expected to establish the facts surrounding the incident and determine whether disciplinary or further legal action is warranted.
