The Anambra State Police Command has arrested two suspects over the alleged recording and circulation of a misleading video that portrayed farmers returning from their farms as armed men allegedly preparing to attack residents of Umuoba-Anam.
The incident is linked to the recent communal conflict involving Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam communities in Anambra East Local Government Area, which has reportedly subsided.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement issued to journalists on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Ikenga identified the suspects as Chimezie Peter, 17, and Sunday Offordile. According to him, the duo were arrested in the early hours of Monday following the intervention of community members, who subsequently handed them over to the police for investigation.
He explained that the arrests followed allegations of spreading false information and inciting messages capable of reigniting tensions among neighbouring communities.
According to the police spokesman, preliminary findings indicated that the suspects allegedly recorded a video showing some indigenes of Umueri returning from their farms.
The video was reportedly circulated with claims that the individuals were armed men from Aguleri who were waiting to attack and kill anyone from Umuoba-Anam passing through the area.
The police said the claims were misleading and that investigations were underway to establish the origin of the video, the circumstances surrounding its recording and circulation, and the intention behind the accompanying allegations.
Ikenga warned that the spread of unverified information during a communal crisis could provoke retaliatory attacks, heighten tensions and undermine ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace.
He added that the suspects had reportedly made statements relevant to the allegations during preliminary interrogation. However, he stressed that investigations were continuing and that the facts of the case must be established before any final conclusions could be reached.
The suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Awka, for further investigation and necessary legal action.
Reacting to the development, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property, maintaining public order and preventing further escalation of communal disputes.
He said the police would continue to rely on intelligence-led policing and cooperation with community stakeholders to address security concerns and sustain peace in the affected areas.
The commissioner also cautioned members of the public against recording, publishing or circulating unverified videos and provocative claims that could distort events, incite hostility or trigger violence between neighbouring communities.
He urged residents to verify information before sharing it and to report credible security threats to the appropriate authorities rather than spreading speculation or inflammatory content.
The police command further appealed to residents of Aguleri, Umuoba-Anam and Umueri to remain calm, exercise restraint and support ongoing peace efforts.
It warned against taking the law into their own hands or engaging in retaliatory actions based on unverified reports.
The command also pledged to continue working with traditional rulers, community leaders, vigilante groups and other relevant stakeholders to strengthen mutual understanding and preserve peace.
It maintained that anyone found culpable of criminal conduct would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
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