Enugu Police Deny Arresting NDC Member For Filming Attack On Party Despite Filing Same Charges In Court

The Enugu State Police Command has denied reports that it arrested and arraigned a man for filming an attack on a Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) party meeting while releasing the suspected All Progressives Congress (APC) hitmen responsible for the violence.

The command described the report as "false and misleading," insisting that the suspect was remanded for separate cybercrime and defamation offences.

However, the police statement contradicted court charges levelled against the NDC member.

In a press statement issued on Thursday, October 8, by the Command Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the police clarified the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Ani Samuel Chidi, a member of the NDC.

The statement followed earlier reports by Sahara Reporters detailing allegations of political bias and victimization in the handling of the case.

According to the Enugu State Police Command, the case against Ani Samuel Chidi began on September 12, 2026, when the Ozalla Police Division received a complaint from Ani Nnabuike, Aninwene Monday, and others.

The complainants alleged cyberbullying and threatening violence following Chidi's recording and publication of the reported attack on the NDC party meeting at Obuoffia-Awkunanaw.

The police stated that preliminary investigations led to the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID). There, investigators established that Chidi had not only recorded and published the incident but had also circulated additional videos falsely accusing the initial complainants—as well as Hon. USA Igwesi and Solomon Ifeanyi Nwobodo—of carrying out the attack.

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

"During investigation, the suspect was unable to substantiate the allegations contained in the published videos," the police statement read. "He was consequently arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Enugu State for cyberbullying and threatening violence and remanded in Correctional Custody by the court."

The Command emphasized that the case concerning the alleged attack on the NDC party meeting is separate from the cybercrime case against Chidi and remains under investigation at Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra State.

"The Command therefore urges members of the public to disregard any narrative suggesting that the police arrested Ani Samuel Chidi merely for filming the incident or that an alleged perpetrator of the attack was released in exchange for his arrest," the statement added.

The statement quoted the commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, to have reiterated the Command's commitment to providing a level playing field for all political parties and actors in the state.

The police denial comes amid mounting controversy over the handling of the September 12 attack on the NDC meeting.

SaharaReporters had previously reported on October 6 that the Enugu State Police Command had arrested and remanded Ani Samuel Chidi, a member of the NDC, specifically for filming and publishing a video of a gun attack on the party's meeting by suspected APC hitmen.

According to a charge sheet obtained by SaharaReporters, the 45-year-old Chidi was secretly arraigned before an Enugu East Magistrate Court sitting at Nkwo Nike on Monday, October 5, 2026, allegedly on the instructions of the Enugu State Government.

Chidi was slammed with three counts of cybercrime and criminal defamation under Section 24(2)(a)&(c)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended 2024)

In Charge No: MEE/151c/2026, brought before Chief Magistrate Sir F. E. Chukwu, the police accused Chidi of posting videos of the armed attack on social media platforms and news outlets, including SaharaReporters.

The police claimed that the defendant falsely named key individuals—Ani Nnabuike, Solomon Ifeanyi, and Monday Anninwe—as members of the armed squad that attacked the NDC meeting on September 12, 2026

Count I of the charge sheet read: "That you Ani Samuel Chidi 'm' on the 12th day of September, 2026 at about 0540hours at Obuoffia Awkunanaw, Enugu did intentionally author, record and published a false statement against the Ani Nnabuike 'm' on Ite-Odo Obuoffia Community Whatsapp Group, Tik-Tok, Instagram, Facebook, Sahara Reporters by stating that he was responsible 'he is a member of the armed group that attacked members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and disrupted their political meeting' and also threatened to kill him and his family members, a publication which you knew to be false and put Ani Nnabuike 'm' in fear of imminent attack from members of the public."

Counts II and III contained identical charges regarding Solomon Ifeanyi and Monday Anninwe, respectively. Following his arraignment by Police Prosecutor Ajogwu, the magistrate ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody pending further court proceedings.

Sources familiar with the incident disclosed that during the September 12 attack, armed political thugs invaded the NDC meeting venue in Obuoffia Awkunanaw, opening fire on members and destroying properties. However, instead of prosecuting those captured on camera during the violent assault, police authorities released the suspected perpetrators while prosecuting Chidi for raising the alarm.

Sahara Reporters had reported on September 13 that the Enugu State Police Command confirmed two separate attacks on members and supporters of the NDC during a grassroots meeting in Nkanu West Local Government Area. The incidents occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Ndiuno-Obuoffia community and St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, had initially ordered an investigation into the two incidents, directing the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to "thoroughly investigate" the incidents and ensure that the perpetrators were brought to book.

A disturbing video posted online by activist Chuks Eric showed the moment armed men stormed the gathering while party members were singing and listening to a speaker campaigning for the NDC. At least one person was reportedly shot during the attack, according to eyewitness accounts.

The NDC later released the names of eight members who it said sustained gunshot injuries when the hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, attacked its monthly ward meeting. The victims identified by the party were Onovo Donald Ekene, Ngene Godwin Madueke, Ogbodo Gloria, Onovo Victor, Maduabuchi Ugwu, Nnaemeka Nelson, Chinonso Nwagbara, and Obinna Daniel Owo.

In a statement issued by Hon. Sampson Ukwu, the campaign said NDC members had gathered for the party's state-wide monthly ward meeting when armed hoodlums allegedly invaded the venue and opened fire.

"This is a clear act of political thuggery and an attempt to intimidate members of the opposition through violence," the statement said.

As the Enugu State Police Command insists that Chidi's prosecution is strictly a cybercrime matter and that the attack investigation is ongoing at Zone 13 in Anambra State, the case continues to draw intense scrutiny over the intersection of political violence, free speech, and law enforcement in Enugu State.