The Anambra State Police Command has arrested four suspects in connection with the alleged murder of 56-year-old Kelechi Madu in Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area of the state.

The development followed investigations into Madu’s death, barely two days after his wife reported him missing.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the prime suspect, identified as 32-year-old Ifeanyi Nwankwo, was a friend of the deceased and allegedly confessed to planning the killing and engaging two other people to carry it out.

Police said preliminary investigations indicated that Nwankwo allegedly obtained money from Madu fraudulently after claiming he could assist him in acquiring a piece of land.

Investigators alleged that the suspect subsequently arranged the killing in an attempt to conceal the transaction and prevent the recovery of the money.

Madu Reported Missing

According to the police, Madu’s wife reported him missing on August 18, 2026, after he left their home on the evening of August 17 and did not return.

Police operatives, working alongside members of the local vigilante group and the deceased’s family, subsequently began searching for him and investigating his whereabouts.

Later that evening, the wife returned to the police station and reported that her husband had been found dead in a nearby bush at Umuobi, Awkuzu.

Police operatives were immediately deployed to the location, where the deceased was found dead.

His remains were subsequently taken to a hospital for preservation.

Friend Allegedly Confesses

During the investigation, police arrested Nwankwo, who allegedly confessed to involvement in planning the killing.

According to the police, Nwankwo had allegedly received money from Madu under the pretext of helping him acquire a parcel of land.

Investigators said the alleged fraud became the motive behind the subsequent plot to kill the deceased and conceal the transaction.

The police said two other people were allegedly engaged to carry out the killing.

The command said investigations are continuing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and identify everyone involved.

Police Intensify Investigation

The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Nnanna Oji Ama, has directed that the investigation be intensified to identify and arrest all persons allegedly connected to the conspiracy and murder.

The command said it remains committed to ensuring that everyone connected to the crime is brought to justice.

The police also said they would continue to strengthen intelligence-led policing and cooperation with communities to prevent violent crime and uncover criminal activities in the state.

The post Four Arrested Over Alleged Murder of Friend in Anambra Land Deal appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Many houses and farmlands in flood-prone communities of Ogidi in Idemili North Local Government Area and Ifite-Awka in Awka South LGA of Anambra State have been submerged following days of persistent rainfall.

The flooding, triggered by heavy rainfall on Sunday and Monday, left several families stranded and forced many residents to seek refuge in safer and upland areas.

Residents affected by the disaster have called on the Anambra State Government to urgently intervene, warning that the recurring flood crisis continues to disrupt livelihoods, destroy property and threaten lives.

A visit to the affected communities on Tuesday showed widespread devastation, with homes, business premises and farmlands submerged. Some residents were seen evacuating damaged belongings, while others struggled to remove floodwater from their houses and shops.

In Ifite-Awka, several structures suffered extensive damage, including the headquarters of a Pentecostal church, which partially collapsed under the impact of the flood.

Residents blamed the persistent flooding on poor urban planning, indiscriminate construction and weak enforcement of building regulations.

According to them, developers erected structures on natural waterways, obstructing drainage channels and worsening the impact of heavy rainfall.

The District Head of Foursquare Gospel Church in Ifite-Awka, Rev. Sam Ufo, described the incident as the worst flood disaster experienced by the church since relocating to the area.

“Items destroyed by the flood include musical instruments such as pianos, amplifiers and electronic equipment, alongside important church documents and records,” he said.

Ufo explained that while the church had experienced flooding previously, the scale of the latest incident was unprecedented.

He alleged that some developers blocked waterways originally designed to channel floodwater into nearby canals.

“We identified that the major cause of the perennial flooding is blockage of drainage channels. Developers acquired waterways and built structures on them,” he said.

He appealed to government authorities to recover and reopen the original waterways to prevent future disasters.

Also speaking, Chairman of St. John Street in Ifite-Awka, Uzo Umejiege, lamented the repeated flooding incidents during every rainy season.

“One of the major causes of this challenge is the topography of the area. We are at the lower end of the slope and suffer severe flooding whenever it rains,” he said.

He urged the government to construct larger drainage systems capable of accommodating water flow from surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, residents of Ogidi community staged a peaceful protest on Monday to demand urgent intervention over the recurring floods.

Youths in the area displayed placards expressing concern over deteriorating roads, submerged farmlands and worsening environmental conditions.

President of Ogidi Youths, Chris Obi-Okafor, described the situation as a humanitarian crisis.

He said the flooding had destroyed farms, economic trees and businesses while also affecting movement within the community.

“Our children are unable to attend school whenever heavy rainfall occurs. The impact is becoming unbearable,” he said.

Obi-Okafor called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Chukwuma Soludo to urgently intervene and provide a lasting solution.

The traditional ruler of Ogidi, Igwe Alexander Onyido, also appealed for immediate government action to prevent further destruction and possible loss of lives.

An elderly farmer, Ndidi Nwacha, narrated how the flood destroyed her yam and cassava farms.

“I borrowed money at a high interest rate for farming this year. The flood has destroyed my crops and ruined my hopes,” she lamented.

Reacting to the development, officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Environment said authorities were aware of the situation and had intensified efforts to address flooding through drainage clearing, desilting waterways and community sensitisation campaigns.

The post Anambra Residents Displaced as Flood Destroys Houses, Farms, Church Property appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Anambra State Government has unveiled plans to deepen industrialised agriculture as part of efforts to increase farmers’ earnings, promote exports and reduce post-harvest losses across the state.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Ben Odoemena, disclosed this on Wednesday during the inauguration of Ideal Agro Allied Produce Limited, a tuber crop processing company located in Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area.

The facility, established by businessman and industrialist Ikenna Okafor, is designed to process yams, cassava, potatoes and other tuber crops for export markets.

Speaking during the event, Odoemena said the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo is prioritising commercial and industrial-scale agriculture over subsistence farming.

According to him, the new direction would improve food production, create opportunities for value addition and enable farmers to generate foreign exchange through export activities.

“We will encourage farmers to farm on a commercial scale, and this would not only guarantee food sufficiency but also enable them to earn foreign exchange,” he said.

He noted that the establishment of processing facilities would help eliminate concerns about harvested produce going to waste due to lack of buyers.

“With the establishment of tuber crop processing plants, there would be no fear of unsold farm produce rotting away because they can now be processed and exported,” Odoemena added.

The commissioner described the processing plant as a major step toward modern agricultural development and noted that it aligns with the state’s broader vision for economic transformation.

He said his first official assignment after assuming office being the inauguration of an agro-processing facility reflected the strategic importance attached to agriculture by the state government.

“I am happy that my first assignment after swearing-in is the inauguration of an agro-processing plant that will ensure zero wastage in tuber crops. This is the model of agriculture practiced in developed economies,” he said.

Odoemena stressed that Anambra had moved beyond traditional farming systems focused solely on production and local consumption.

“We have passed the period of planting, harvesting and eating. We now want to cultivate, process, consume and export to enrich ourselves,” he stated.

He added that the state government would continue supporting agro-processing industries capable of driving value addition and strengthening the agricultural value chain.

According to him, processing companies remain critical to ensuring sustainability in agriculture because they provide ready markets for farm produce and encourage higher production levels among farmers.

The post Anambra Targets Industrialised Agriculture to Boost Exports, Farmers’ Earnings appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

Fear has spread among residents of the high-profile Hill View Housing Estate, Nkwele Ezunaka, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, following ongoing activities by the host community to re-channel major rivers around the estate.

Residents fear that the actions could expose the estate to severe flooding during the approaching rainy season if the current channelisation of the Ezu and Oja rivers continues unchecked.

Hill View Housing Estate, widely regarded as the largest and one of the most prominent estates in Anambra State, was acquired in 2005 and developed by a private property developer, Master Holdings. The estate is reported to be about 95 per cent completed and already houses a large number of residents.

Despite the near completion of the project, the host community has reportedly embarked on re-channeling the rivers in the area, allegedly to reclaim land and create additional plots close to existing residential buildings. The development has raised serious environmental and safety concerns among estate occupants and government officials.

According to findings, the host community had earlier received compensation and parcels of land following the acquisition of the estate land. However, residents and officials expressed surprise that members of the community are now redirecting the natural flow of the rivers in ways that threaten existing structures.

In the course of the exercise, some perimeter fences have reportedly been pulled down, making it difficult for residents to access their homes. In certain areas, drainage paths have also been altered, raising fears that floodwaters could be redirected into residential zones once the rains begin.

Although the community had previously applied for a boundary adjustment through legal representation, the Anambra State Government, acting through the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, had advised the community to wait until the private developer completed work on the estate.

Despite this directive, the community reportedly proceeded with the river re-channeling activities, prompting concern from both residents and state authorities.

The Managing Director of the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation, Chief Chike Anyaonu, described the development as illegal and questioned why the host community would carry out such actions in defiance of government instructions.

While conducting journalists around the estate, Anyaonu ordered an immediate halt to all ongoing works related to the re-channeling of the rivers.

He said the state government was in the process of taking over the management of the estate once the development partner formally signs off, adding that several unresolved issues had already complicated the project.

According to him, activities by some members of the host community are capable of damaging the estate’s ecosystem, particularly through the alteration of the drainage system linked to the Ezu and Oja rivers.

Anyaonu explained that the government has directed that no further work should take place in the area until all outstanding issues are fully resolved.

He noted that the state government plans to establish key social infrastructure within the estate, including playgrounds, hospitals and schools, warning that the current actions by the host community could disrupt these plans.

He also highlighted the state government’s broader social investment programmes, including free education up to senior secondary level under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, stressing that children living in the estate stand to benefit from such policies.

A member of the Eziubulu family, identified as the original owners of the land, stated that the current activities by the host community were outside the portion of land officially acquired by the government for the estate.

The family representative, however, assured that all actions would be suspended pending the resolution of issues with the Anambra State Housing Development Corporation.

Residents of Hill View Housing Estate have expressed growing anxiety over the situation, calling on the state government to urgently enforce its directive and protect the estate from environmental risks.

They warned that continued interference with the natural flow of the rivers could result in large-scale flooding, property damage and displacement of families if preventive action is not taken before the peak of the rainy season.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities say discussions are ongoing to resolve the dispute and ensure that the integrity and safety of the estate are preserved.

The post State Orders Halt as River Re-Channeling Sparks Flood Concerns in Anambra Estate appeared first on Housing TV Africa.

The Ministry of Environment announced the programme in a public notice dated June 17. The move aims to improve the visual appeal and environmental health of cities such as Awka, Onitsha, Nkpor, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia.

Starting July 1, inspection teams will begin visiting properties. Officials will focus on buildings that have not been painted in more than ten years or are visibly deteriorating. According to Commissioner for Environment Felix Odimegwu, the exercise will help improve public spaces and strengthen the quality of urban life.

The policy is backed by the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law of 2024. This law gives the state authority to enforce rules on property maintenance in public-facing areas, known locally as anyaora zones.

Property owners and organisations with buildings in these areas must repaint or renovate their premises to avoid penalties. The ministry explained that clean and well-maintained buildings are essential for creating a livable and eco-friendly environment.

The directive has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures. George Moghalu, the Labour Party’s gubernatorial candidate, condemned the move. He described it as oppressive and disconnected from the current economic reality.

According to Moghalu, the administration is failing in key areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, and job creation. He said it was unfair for the government to demand cosmetic changes while ignoring deeper issues. He also questioned whether the government had provided any form of support to help citizens comply.

Moghalu stressed that urban renewal must be built on consultation and fairness. He called for the immediate suspension of the directive and urged the government to engage with local communities and stakeholders.

Although he supports clean cities and environmental progress, he warned that policies must be people-focused, not punitive. Without financial support or public dialogue, he argued, the programme risks alienating the very citizens it claims to serve.

The post Anambra State Orders Building Repainting to Improve Urban Aesthetics appeared first on Housing TV Africa.