The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects over the alleged recording and circulation of a misleading video capable of escalating tensions in the communal dispute between Aguleri and Umuoba Anam communities.
The suspects, identified as Chimezie Peter, 17, and Sunday Offordile, were arrested in the early hours of October 26, 2026, following community intervention and subsequently handed over to the police.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, the Command said preliminary information indicated that the suspects were allegedly intercepted while recording a video featuring some indigenes of Umueri returning from their farms.
According to the police, the video was reportedly accompanied by claims portraying the individuals as armed men from Aguleri allegedly waiting to attack and kill anyone from Umuoba Anam passing through the route.
The Command said the circumstances surrounding the recording and circulation of the video, including its authenticity, origin and the intended purpose of the accompanying claims, were being investigated.
The police expressed concern that the alleged misinformation could worsen relations between the affected communities and unnecessarily draw Umueri into the dispute.
“The Command is particularly concerned that misleading information of this nature, if deliberately circulated, could provoke reprisals, heighten communal tensions and undermine ongoing peacebuilding efforts,” the statement said.
The Command added that the suspects had made statements relevant to the allegations during preliminary interrogation. However, it stressed that investigations were ongoing and that the full circumstances of the incident must be established before any definitive conclusions could be reached.
The suspects are being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, reiterated the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining public order and preventing the escalation of communal disputes.
He cautioned residents against recording, publishing or circulating unverified content and provocative claims that could misrepresent events, fuel hostility or trigger violence between neighbouring communities.
The police urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it and to report credible security concerns through appropriate channels rather than resort to speculation or inflammatory publications.
The Command also appealed to residents of Aguleri, Umuoba Anam and Umueri to remain calm, exercise restraint and support ongoing peace initiatives. It warned against taking the law into their own hands or engaging in retaliatory actions based on unverified information.
The police said they would continue to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, vigilante groups and other stakeholders to sustain peace and promote mutual understanding among the communities.
The Command further assured the public that anyone found culpable of criminal conduct would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The statement was signed by SP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, Awka, and dated October 27, 2026.
The allegations against the suspects remain under investigation.
