Police Deny Arresting Man for Filming NDC Attack in Enugu

The Enugu State Police Command has dismissed as false and misleading a report alleging that it arrested and arraigned Ani Samuel Chidi for filming an attack on a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) meeting at Obuoffia-Awkunanaw, Enugu.

The report also alleged that the Police released an alleged All Progressives Congress (APC) hitman linked to the attack.

The Command made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday and signed by its Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe

Ndukwe said Chidi was not arrested and prosecuted merely for filming the reported attack.

He said the case against Chidi followed allegations of cyberbullying and threatening violence arising from publications attributed to him after he recorded and published the incident.

According to the statement, Ozalla Police Division received a complaint against Chidi on Sept. 12 from Ani Nnabuike, Aninwene Monday and others.

The complaint followed Chidi’s recording and publication of the reported attack and disruption of an NDC meeting at Obuoffia-Awkunanaw.

The case was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.

The Police said the investigation established that Chidi had also circulated other videos accusing the original complainants, Hon. USA Igwesi and Solomon Ifeanyi Nwobodo, of carrying out the attack and disruption.

The Command further alleged that Chidi accused Igwesi of being a drug dealer who sent attackers to shoot and kill members of his community.

It said he also alleged that Igwesi and his family had kept the community under siege.

“The suspect further falsely alleged in the videos that Mr. Igwesi is a drug dealer who sent the attackers to shoot and kill his own people in Obuoffia, and that he and his family have kept the community under siege,” the statement said.

The Police said Chidi was unable to substantiate the allegations contained in the published videos during the investigation.

He was subsequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Enugu State on allegations of cyberbullying and threatening violence.

The court ordered that Chidi be remanded in correctional custody, according to the Police.

Court reports provide further details of the proceedings. Premium Times and PUNCH reported that Chidi, 45, was arraigned before an Enugu East Magistrate’s Court sitting at Nkwo Nike on three counts bordering on cybercrime and alleged criminal defamation.

The reports said the charge sheet alleged that Chidi published footage of the Sept. 12 attack and accused Ani Nnabuike, Solomon Ifeanyi and Monday Anninwe of being members of the armed group that attacked the NDC meeting.

Premium Times reported that Chidi pleaded not guilty, after which the Chief Magistrate, F. E. Chukwu, ordered his remand pending further proceedings.

The reported attack occurred on Sept. 12 during an NDC political gathering at Obuoffia-Awkunanaw in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The Police had earlier confirmed that armed men disrupted the meeting with sporadic shooting and that two attendees were injured. It subsequently directed the State Criminal Investigation Department to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice.

The NDC later alleged that eight of its members sustained gunshot injuries and criticised the prosecution of Chidi, arguing that he had documented the attack.

The party’s allegations concerning the handling of the attack and the release of suspected perpetrators have not been established as facts by the court. PUNCH reported the party’s criticism while separately reporting the contents of the police charge sheet.

The Police, however, stressed that the alleged attack on the NDC meeting and the cybercrime case against Chidi were separate matters.

The Command said the investigation into the attack remained with Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the case concerning the alleged attack and disruption of the NDC party meeting is separate from the cybercrime case against Ani Samuel Chidi and remains under investigation at Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra State,” the Command said.

It urged members of the public to disregard claims that Chidi was arrested merely for filming the incident.

The Command also rejected the allegation that an alleged perpetrator of the attack was released in exchange for Chidi’s arrest.

The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, reiterated the Command’s commitment to providing a level playing field for all political parties and political actors in Enugu State.

Giwa urged political actors to maintain peace and channel security concerns through appropriate authorities rather than resorting to the media.

He also advised political actors against engaging in acts that could constitute cybercrimes.