The Amasiri Community of Afikpo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State has formally appealed the 72-hour ultimatum issued by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru directing the community to produce severed heads of alleged victims and return persons reportedly abducted in connection with recent violence in Edda, while also cataloguing its own long list of dead and missing persons and demanding urgent intervention from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the international community.

Community spokesperson Princess Joy Omagha Idam, in a statement, said the community has no knowledge whatsoever of the alleged killings or abductions and did not participate in, facilitate, or condone any such acts. The statement described any attempt to ascribe collective criminal responsibility to Amasiri as a grave violation of the 1999 Constitution which guarantees the presumption of innocence and expressly prohibits collective punishment.

Contrary to the narrative being advanced against it, Amasiri has itself suffered significant and irreparable losses with several sons and daughters killed or abducted, the statement said. Among those abducted is a retired Warrant Officer of the Nigerian Army, Chukwu Charles, alongside his wife Patricia Chukwu Charles and his in-law, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Numerous other innocent residents have been displaced, brutalised, or subjected to inhumane treatment in the course of ongoing security operations, the spokesperson added.

Despite these facts, the community is being threatened with severe sanctions and punitive measures for crimes it knows nothing about, an approach Idam described as unjust, disproportionate, and a serious risk to further escalation of violence and breakdown of law and order.

Of grave concern, the statement said, are credible reports of widespread human rights abuses allegedly committed during security operations in Amasiri, with senior citizens reportedly assaulted on a daily basis and women allegedly flogged, humiliated, and forced to roll on the ground under the scorching sun while being coerced to summon their sons who fled in fear for their lives. These acts amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment prohibited under Section 34 of the Nigerian Constitution and relevant international instruments to which Nigeria is a signatory.

The ongoing siege has resulted in severe humanitarian consequences, with children of Amasiri unable to attend school or sit for critical national examinations including the Common Entrance Examination and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. Idam said this constitutes a violation of the right to education and threatens the future of an entire generation of innocent children.

Within the last two weeks alone, Amasiri has lost numerous lives. The community asked whether Amasiri lives are not entitled to equal protection under the law and whether the Governor of Ebonyi State did not swear an oath to protect all citizens without discrimination. Idam also questioned whether there are material facts concerning Amasiri land and interests that have not been disclosed to the public, particularly given that Amasiri is widely recognised as one of the highest revenue-generating communities in Ebonyi State.

The statement provided a detailed list of its own citizens either killed or abducted by Edda people, to which it said it has petitioned and to date no justice has been given, instead the complainant is at the receiving end.

On 20th January 2025, six persons were abducted and killed by Edda: Sunday Oko Akwa, Oko Akpu Egele, Christian Enya, Agha Oko, Itoro Essien, and Monday Abang. On 2nd April 2025, two persons were adopted in Ozaraokangwu and killed: Obinna Oko Eze of Amaukwa Ndukwe and Emmanuel Okpara of Agbo-ezi Ihie elu. In December 2025, an electrician, Mr Monday Ogbonnia from Uhere Ohaechara, was bundled, killed, and his body taken. On 26th August 2025, Mr Ndubuisi Agha Ukpai from Ezi Idam Ali Amaegbu Ezeke was killed in his rice farm at Ihubeni. On Saturday 3rd February 2026, Ndubuisi Agha Ukpai was shot by soldiers sent to Amasiri with no means of taking him to hospital as the soldiers blocked all exits, and he passed away the next morning from excessive bleeding on 7th February 2026.

Regarding the Warrant Officer, Idam confirmed the name as Chukwu Charles, his wife Patricia Chukwu Charles, and a third person described as an Ugwulangwu woman they went to farm with who was not killed.

The security agencies should rather look towards the community where the drivers of burnt trucks come from, who may have retaliated on the Okporojo people, the statement said, adding that the community has no idea as there was no motive.

In light of the clear and present danger to lives, liberty, and fundamental human rights, Idam urgently called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Chief of Army Staff, the Honourable Minister of Defence, and the National Boundaries Commission to intervene immediately. The community demands an impartial, transparent, and independent investigation into the allegations of killings, abductions, and the conduct of security forces in Amasiri with a view to ensuring accountability and justice.

Amasiri remains committed to peace, the rule of law, and lawful resolution of disputes, Idam said, but unequivocally rejects intimidation, threats, and collective punishment against innocent civilians. She appealed to the conscience of the Nigerian state and the international community to act swiftly to halt ongoing abuses, protect vulnerable populations, and restore peace founded on truth, justice, and respect for human rights.

Akpo Ojo

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the participation of licensed Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) as part of efforts to improve foreign exchange liquidity in the retail segment of the market and meet the legitimate needs of end users.

The CBN has also approved that weekly forex purchases by each BDC be capped at $150,000, and that utilisation comply with existing BDC operational guidelines.

The new directive by the apex bank is contained in a circular signed by the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, Musa Nakorji.

The circular stated that all BDCs duly licensed by the CBN are permitted to access foreign exchange through any authorised dealer bank of their choice, at the prevailing market rates.

The move, according to the circular, aims to deepen market efficiency and ensure broader access to foreign exchange across the economy.

However, the CBN has imposed strict compliance and risk-management conditions on the transactions.

It said authorised forex dealers are required to conduct full Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and due diligence checks on BDC clients before any forex sale.

To strengthen transparency and accountability, the CBN further directed that all licensed BDCs must submit timely and accurate electronic returns in line with extant regulations.

“Any unutilised foreign exchange must be sold back to the market within 24 hours, as BDCs are prohibited from holding forex positions purchased from the NFEM,” the CBN said.

Also, the circular restricted settlement practices, mandating that all foreign exchange transactions be conducted through settlement accounts with licensed financial institutions.

The apex bank therefore, prohibited third-party transactions, while cash settlement is limited to a maximum of 25 percent of each transaction amount.

Overall, the directive reflects the CBN’s broader strategy to balance market access with strong regulatory oversight, ensuring liquidity in the foreign exchange market while safeguarding financial system integrity.

The Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy has proposed a ₦10.49 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year, but the Minister, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has warned that the allocation is insufficient to meet the ministry’s critical mandate.

Oyetola presented the budget on Tuesday before a joint session of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and the House of Representatives committees on Ports and Harbours, Maritime Safety, Education and Administration, Shipping Services, Inland Waterways, and Ocean and Fisheries.

The proposed ₦10,499,984,667.10 budget comprises ₦8.24 billion for capital expenditure, ₦453.86 million for overhead costs, and ₦1.81 billion for personnel. The minister noted that while the funding could sustain basic operations, it falls short of supporting sectoral reforms or driving significant growth.

He explained that the ministry oversees multiple interconnected subsectors — including ports, shipping, inland waterways, fisheries, and aquaculture — which collectively account for over 90 per cent of Nigeria’s international trade by volume, contribute to food and nutrition security, and underpin national economic competitiveness.

Oyetola highlighted operational challenges faced by agencies under the ministry, such as the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and Nigerian Shippers’ Council. While largely self-funding and contributing substantial remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund, these agencies are constrained by “excessive deductions at source” by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, he said. The minister warned that these deductions have led to port congestion, rising logistics costs, delayed cargo movement, revenue losses, and inflationary pressures, describing the issue as a national economic concern.

He also flagged an apparent misplacement in the 2026 budget, where the Council for the Regulation of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria (CRFFN) was listed under the Federal Ministry of Transportation instead of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, complicating oversight and policy coordination.

On inland waterways, Oyetola called for increased funding to improve safety and efficiency, noting that water transport is globally cheaper than road haulage. He said Nigeria’s reliance on road transport for over 80 per cent of freight has accelerated road deterioration and raised logistics costs.

Turning to fisheries and aquaculture, the minister said Nigeria’s annual fish demand exceeds 3.6 million metric tonnes, while domestic production is around 1.4 million metric tonnes, resulting in over $1 billion in annual imports. He added that post-harvest losses of up to 30 per cent worsen supply shortages, stressing that boosting local production could reduce import dependency and provide affordable protein to households.

Oyetola further disclosed that in 2025, the ministry’s revised capital budget of ₦3.53 billion received only ₦202.47 million, about 1.7 per cent, while overhead releases stood at 35 per cent. He said ongoing engagements with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning aim to address these funding gaps in line with the Federal Government’s agenda to diversify the economy through the marine and blue economy.

Senator Wasiu Eshilokun, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport, assured that the National Assembly would carefully review the proposals, emphasizing the strategic importance of the marine and blue economy to Nigeria’s development and economic resilience.