The Enugu State Police Command has denied reports that it arrested and prosecuted a member of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Ani Samuel Chidi, for filming and publishing a video of a gun attack on the party’s meeting, insisting that he was remanded over alleged cyberbullying, threatening violence and criminal defamation.
However, the police explanation has come under scrutiny following details contained in the court charge sheet against Chidi, which directly referenced his alleged publication of videos concerning the September 12, 2026 attack on the NDC meeting.
The Command described reports that Chidi was arrested for filming the attack while suspected perpetrators were released as “false and misleading,” maintaining that his cybercrime case was separate from the investigation into the violence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, October 8, 2026, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, the police said the case against Chidi originated from a complaint received by the Ozalla Police Division on September 12.
According to the Command, Ani Nnabuike, Aninwene Monday and others complained of alleged cyberbullying and threats of violence following Chidi’s recording and publication of the reported attack on the NDC meeting at Obuoffia-Awkunanaw, Enugu State.
The police said preliminary investigations resulted in the transfer of the matter to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The Command alleged that investigators subsequently discovered that Chidi had not only recorded and published the incident but also circulated other videos accusing the original complainants, alongside Hon. USA Igwesi and Solomon Ifeanyi Nwobodo, of carrying out the attack.
Police further alleged that Chidi accused Igwesi of being a drug dealer who allegedly sent armed men to shoot and kill members of his own community in Obuoffia and claimed that Igwesi and his family had kept the community under siege.
The Command said Chidi was unable to substantiate the allegations contained in the videos.
“During investigation, the suspect was unable to substantiate the allegations contained in the published videos,” the police statement said.
The Command said Chidi was consequently arraigned before a magistrate court for cyberbullying and threatening violence and was remanded in correctional custody.
The police stressed that the case involving the alleged attack on the NDC meeting was separate from the case against Chidi and remained 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, as reaffirming the Command’s commitment to providing a level playing field for all political parties and political actors in Enugu State.
However, details contained in the charge sheet previously reported by SaharaReporters appear to connect the criminal case against Chidi directly to his publication of material concerning the September 12 attack.
SaharaReporters reported on October 6 that Chidi, 45, was secretly arraigned before the Enugu East Magistrate Court sitting at Nkwo Nike on Monday, October 5, 2026.
According to the report, the NDC member faced three counts of cybercrime and criminal defamation under Section 24(2)(a) and (c)(i) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024.
The case, identified as Charge No. MEE/151c/2026, was reportedly brought before Chief Magistrate Sir F. E. Chukwu.
The charge sheet cited by SaharaReporters accused Chidi of posting videos of the armed attack on social media platforms and news outlets, including SaharaReporters.
The first count specifically alleged that Chidi, on September 12 at Obuoffia Awkunanaw, intentionally authored, recorded and published a statement against Ani Nnabuike on the Ite-Odo Obuoffia Community WhatsApp group, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and SaharaReporters.
The alleged publication identified Nnabuike as a member of the armed group that attacked members of the NDC and disrupted their political meeting.
The charge further alleged that Chidi threatened Nnabuike and members of his family and that the publication, which police described as false, placed the complainant in fear of an imminent attack.
Counts two and three reportedly contained similar allegations concerning Solomon Ifeanyi and Monday Anninwe.
Following his arraignment by Police Prosecutor Ajogwu, the magistrate reportedly ordered that Chidi be remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
The contents of the charge sheet have therefore become central to the controversy because, while the police now insist that Chidi was not arrested for filming the NDC attack, the charges reportedly arose from his publication of videos in which he identified people he alleged were connected to that same attack.
The distinction drawn by the police is that Chidi was not prosecuted for recording the violence itself but for allegedly making false and threatening allegations against individuals in connection with the incident.
The September 12 violence involved an NDC gathering in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported on September 13 that the Enugu State Police Command confirmed two separate attacks on NDC members and supporters at Ndiuno-Obuoffia community and St. Joseph Primary School, Agbani.
The incidents occurred on Saturday, September 12, 2026.
Following the attacks, Commissioner of Police Mamman Giwa reportedly directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that those responsible were brought to book.
A video posted online by activist Chuks Eric reportedly showed armed men storming one of the gatherings while NDC members were singing and listening to a speaker campaigning for the party.
At least one person was reportedly shot during the attack, according to eyewitness accounts cited in reports of the incident.
The NDC subsequently released the names of eight members it said sustained gunshot injuries during the violence.
They were identified as 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 statewide monthly ward meeting when armed hoodlums allegedly invaded the venue and opened fire.
The statement described the incident as an alleged act of political thuggery and an attempt to intimidate opposition members through violence.
The police have not said in their latest statement that the investigation into the September 12 attack has been concluded. Instead, the Command said the matter remained under investigation at Zone 13 Headquarters in Anambra State.
The controversy now centres on two connected but legally distinct issues: the alleged armed attack on the NDC meeting and the criminal allegations against Chidi arising from videos he published about the incident.
While the police maintain that Chidi’s prosecution concerns alleged cybercrime, threatening violence and defamatory publications rather than the act of filming the attack, the charge sheet cited by SaharaReporters shows that the alleged publications forming the basis of the charges concerned the same September 12 political violence.
The conflicting descriptions of the circumstances surrounding Chidi’s arrest and prosecution have consequently intensified scrutiny of the police handling of the matter, particularly as the investigation into the original attack remains ongoing.
The case has also raised broader questions about the treatment of political violence allegations, the publication of footage and accusations arising from such incidents, and the balance between criminal defamation enforcement and freedom of expression.
As proceedings against Chidi continue and the separate investigation into the NDC meeting attack remains pending, the competing accounts from the police and reports based on the court charge sheet are likely to remain at the centre of public attention.