Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested three women suspected to be members of a child trafficking gang operating in the state. In its ongoing crackdown on child trafficking gangs, on the evening of July 11, 2026, the police operatives attached to the Awada Divisional Headquarters arrested the suspects during operation at a motor park in Onitsha. The suspects, identified as Florence Nnakuzie, 45; Hannah Ugah, 52; and Chinasa Daniel, 27, were arrested on connection to cases of buying and selling of children. PPRO of Anambra Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, preliminary said that investigations revealed that Chinasa Daniel allegedly…

…officials attribute success to Otti’s support Abia State Para-badminton Team won 7 Gold and 3 Silver medals out of the 13 medals won by Nigeria, writing its name in gold after a stellar performance at the Uganda Para-badminton International 2026. DrumAfricanews reports that the tournament, sanctioned by the Badminton Confederation Africa and BWF, ended in Kampala with athletes from across Africa battling for ranking points and honours. In a statement by Stanley Mba, Media and Publicity of Abia State Badminton Association said that the results from the championship show that Abia athletes dominated both singles and doubles events. According to…

…Commends President Tinubu on Renomination of Vice President for 2027 Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu,has expressed optimism that retaining the partnership between President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, will further consolidate the gains so far recorded in security, economy amongst other critical sectors. The Deputy Speaker commended President Bola Tinubu, for his wisdom and decisive leadership in renominating Vice President Kashim Shettima, as his running mate for the 2027 elections. Kalu in a statement on Sunday signed by Levinus Nwabughiogu, his Chief Press Secretary, described the decision as a bold step toward…

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Vice President Kashim Shettima, on the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State. The Deputy Speaker also rejoiced with Nigerians, particularly the parents and relatives of the victims, over the heartwarming development. Statement by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, revealed that security forces successfully rescued the pupils and their teachers unhurt on Friday. Reacting on Saturday, the Deputy Speaker said President Tinubu has fulfilled his promise of not resting on his oars until…

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said that the proposed State Police framework is not about weakening the Federal Government or fragmenting Nigeria’s security architecture. Kalu, who spoke at the National Town Hall on “Building a National Consensus on State Police and National Security”, organised by Arise News in Abuja, said that the proposed state police framework is rather about building a smarter, more responsive policing system anchored on constitutional safeguards. He reiterated the urgent need for a constitutional framework that strengthens Nigeria’s security architecture through the establishment of state police. Kalu said…

Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, on Friday, July 10, officially flagged off the Abia State Farmers Support Programme, an initiative aimed at empowering over 18,000 farmers across the 17 Local Government Areas of the State. The flag-off ceremony was held at the Umuahia Township Stadium. Governor Otti reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming agriculture into a major driver of food security, employment generation, and economic prosperity. Otti explained that the empowerment and distribution of farm inputs followed a comprehensive farmers’ registration and verification exercise aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability. “We started with data gathering because we wanted to…

By Uche Aguoru One of the political developments that has profoundly unsettled Governor Alex Otti in recent times is the emergence of Dr. Eric Chinemeucheya Opah as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Many may not have known Dr. Eric Opah as an active politician before now, but Governor Otti understands the strength and implications of his emergence. With Dr. Opah on the ballot, the political landscape has changed dramatically. For the first time, the Governor is confronted with a challenger whose credentials, competence, integrity, and acceptability speak for themselves. Any leader who has chosen deception, falsehood,…

The President-General of the Abia State Markets Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo has sued for calm and understanding following a wave of near-violent protest marches by aggrieved market women at Nkwo Asa Nnentu Market in the Ugwuagbo local council of the state, promising to take up their case with the appropriate authorities. The aggrieved market women, who in their hundreds on Friday, July 10, 2026, had embarked on a protest march against the proposed N36,000 annual statutory levy, were only prevented from going violent and destructive by the swift intervention of the ASMATA leadership led by Chief Udeigbo.…

Abia Command has arrested Obioma Nmeribe (male, 22 years), Emmanuel Lekwechi (male, 25 years) Ikemefulla ThankGod Amadi (male, 25 years), for activities suspected to be cultism. According to the police, the arrest took place at Ubakala axis, and was effected by its operatives of the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), Olokoro, who raced to the scene. Maureen Chinaka, Abia police PPRO said that the Police, in collaboration with sister security agencies (Operation Crush) apprehended Bright Nnabugu (male, 31 years) of Umuobasi, Ugwunagbo LGA of Abia State for case alleged to be vandalism. While the police recovered one (1) Beretta pistol…

Renowned educationist and former President of the Nigerian Association of Economists (NAE), Prof. Innocent Eleazu, has advised the federal government to stop its planned scrapping of the 6-3-3-4 system of education policy currently in place in the country and replace it with a continuous 12-year stretch of basic (primary and secondary) education programme. Speaking on educational issues, Eleazu told New Telegraph that there was nothing wrong with the basic 6 years of primary, 3 years in junior secondary and another 3 years in the senior secondary level. He noted that while planners of the system made good policy proposals and…