The Enugu State Police Command has disclosed that its operatives arrested 45-year-old Ani Chidi on cyberbullying complaints, rather than having a connection with the gun attack at a meeting of the Nigeria Democratic Congress in Obuoffia-Awkunanaw, Nkanu West Local Government Area of the state,
This was revealed in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe.
Ndukwe stated that Chidi was prosecuted following complaints of cyberbullying, false allegations, and threats to life filed by residents of the community, rather than for recording the political violence.
According to the police, the Ozalla Police Division received a complaint on September 12, 2026, from some persons identified as Ani Nnabuike, Aninwene Monday, and others against Chidi.
The command explained that after the case was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, investigations revealed that Chidi had circulated videos falsely accusing the complainants, along with one Hon. USA Igwesi and Solomon Nwobodo, of masterminding the attack.
Ndukwe noted that Chidi further alleged in the published videos that Igwesi was a drug dealer who sent gunmen to kill residents of Obuoffia.
“During the investigation, the suspect was unable to substantiate the allegations contained in the published videos. He was consequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Enugu State for cyberbullying and threatening violence, and remanded in Correctional Custody by the court,” Ndukwe said.
The police spokesperson clarified that the cybercrime case against Chidi is distinct from the primary investigation into the invasion of the NDC meeting, which is currently handled by the Zone 13 Headquarters in Ukpo-Dunukofia in the state.
He urged the public to disregard claims suggesting that the police released suspected gunmen while detaining the man who recorded the incident.
He added that the Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to neutrality and urged political actors to refrain from using social media to commit cybercrimes.
The police clarification comes amidst allegations raised by the Enugu State chapter of the NDC and human rights advocates, who accused law enforcement authorities of selective justice.
The NDC had alleged that armed thugs suspected to be hitmen invaded its ward meeting in Obuoffia-Awkunanaw on September 12, 2026, shooting at members and disrupting the gathering.
Following the incident, Chidi, who recorded and uploaded footage of the attack online, was secretly arraigned on October 5, 2026, before Chief Magistrate Sir F. E. Chukwu at an Enugu East Magistrate Court sitting at Nkwo Nike.
He was slammed with three counts under Charge No. Enu/CM 151c/2026, bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation under Section 24(2)(a)&(c)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024), before being remanded in prison custody.
The opposition party subsequently accused state authorities of shielding the actual perpetrators while weaponising judicial processes against a star witness.
