Abia State Government, ABSG on Tuesday received the report of a 7-man administrative panel of enquiry set up to investigate the crisis in Okonaku community, in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state, which led to the gruesome k!lling of a prominent youth and community leader, Mr. Igwe Akuma Akwu.
The kill!ng on the 2nd of January, 2026 sparked off outrage and renewed concerns over insecurity and political violence in the area.
Inaugurating the panel of enquiry, on Monday, 12th January, 2026 in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu charged members of the panel to carry out their duties with diligence. The panel has Retired Justice Kenneth Wosu as Chairman.
Submitting its report on Tuesday, Retired Justice Kenneth Wosu identified the causes of the community crisis to include, ‘the management and control of resources of Eastern Region Estate Investment Area Farm Settlement, the vacancy in the Ezogo Stool and the Traditional Rulers Stool that is called Nnaka, the struggle for succession to these two stools”, and “the contest between two compounds known as Ndi Uma and Ndi Owom as to who is traditionally entitled to produce the Ezogo and whether it is hereditary or not”.
Others include “the removal of the President of Okonaku Development Union, ODU, before his tenure on allegations of embezzlement of community funds, etc, and the perceived external interference of government in the traditional internal affairs of the community leading to the emergence of the incumbent occupants of Ezogo and the Nnaka Stools”.
“Now, they are both, among others, factionalized and polarized the community into two warring factions, and this was fueled by prolonged restlessness, breakdown of law and order, including the traditional institutions, bitter rivalries, and unfortunate murder of a former youth leader, which the panel found to be the immediate cause of the crisis of the 2nd and 10th January 2006”, Justice Wosu said.
As a result therefore, the panel, he said, recommend “the immediate setting up by government of an all-embracing Okonaku Community Peace Committee, with recommended members in the main report” and “the government’s immediate and effective takeover of a said farm settlement’.
On the recommendation, Justice Wosu said, are “the thorough investigation and prosecution of all the suspects involved in identified criminal acts in the report”, stating “we hope that these and other findings and recommendations shall enable the government to put strong measures in place that will result in lasting peace in Okonaku community”.
The panel commended Gov. Alex Otti’s commitment to ensuring the security of lives and property in all parts of Abia State, which is a necessity for a stable and progressive new Abia State.
Receiving the report on behalf of the state government, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu thanked them for completing the assignment.
Fielding questions from newsmen later on the way forward, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu said “the way forward according to procedure is that the government will study the report, especially from the office of the Secretary to the State Government. After the team has studied the report, the government will now issue a white paper.
“Once that is accepted by the government through the governor’s office, then there will be implementation of whatever is contained in the white paper.
“Usually these are just procedures that are followed. When the panel does a very good job, based on the evidences that are preponderant in their reports, that would be the foundation for whatever white paper reports that the government is going to issue at the end of the day”.
On if the outcome of this report today will bring a lasting solution, Nwachukwu pointed out, “I am absolutely convinced. The reason being that I watched the panel do their job, and almost every day you see a great many people from the community come here to vent, and then offer information as to whatever led to the crisis in the community in the first instance. I believe that all the bottled up anger has been expressed, and then a lot of mediation has also gone in, and a lot of information has been passed.
“With all those in our kitty, I believe that lasting peace will now come to the community, once the necessary recommendations have been implemented by government. So I believe that there is going to be lasting peace”.
Answering questions from newsmen, Justice Wosu said their assignment was overwhelmingly tedious “because the response we had was massive from the community members and other stakeholders in our community. We received more than 50 memoranda from the people, and they were all willing, they all turned out before us, and we had very meaningful interactions. So it was full participation by Okonaku people and other stakeholders.
