Ebonyi Police Confirm Arrest Of Ohanaeze Youth President Igboayaka Over Petition
The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) National President, Igboayaka Igboayaka, following a petition filed against him.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abakaliki, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Joshua Ukandu, refuted claims that Igboayaka was abducted, clarifying that he was lawfully arrested based on allegations of spreading false information capable of disrupting peace and destabilizing communities.
“To set the record straight, Igboayaka Igboayaka was arrested by officers from the command following a petition submitted to the Commissioner of Police. The petitioner accused him of spreading false information that could incite unrest,” Ukandu stated.
He further assured that investigations were ongoing, and Igboayaka would be charged to court upon conclusion of inquiries.
The arrest follows reports that Igboayaka was taken by gunmen from Ochez Suites in Owerri, Imo State, shortly after his re-election as OYC President at the council’s national convention.
According to Comrade David C. Ani, who witnessed the incident, Igboayaka is being detained at the Ebonyi State Police Command headquarters on the orders of the state government. The authorities allegedly want him to explain the source of his information regarding a herdsmen attack in Amegu village, Nkalaha community, Ishielu Local Government Area.
On February 4, 2025, Igboayaka had claimed in a statement that the OYC’s Directorate of Intelligence had warned Governor Francis Nwifuru about a potential attack four days before the incident. He accused the Ebonyi State government of inaction, alleging that the presence of herdsmen posed a serious security threat.
“Our findings indicate that Fulani herdsmen are expanding their presence in Ebonyi, posing a significant threat of additional attacks if Governor Nwifuru remains inactive,” Igboayaka had stated.
His remarks also criticized South-East governors for their perceived lack of urgency in tackling insecurity, attributing kidnappings, banditry, and violent attacks to their alleged negligence.
The case continues to generate widespread reactions, with calls for transparency in the police investigation and concerns over freedom of expression in Nigeria.
