The Egbuoma Autonomous Community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State has written to Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, demanding the sum of N10 billion, among others, for the killing of its citizens and other havoc caused in the community by Uli Central Vigilante Group of Anambra State.

The demands are contained in a letter by their lawyers, Crown & Council Law Partners, Abuja, dated 30th September, 2025 and signed by the Principal Partner, Ezennia Denton Ogbuehi, Esq.

Below is the full letter copied the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Anambra State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, the State Commissioner for Homeland Security & Vigilante Matters, and the State Commissioner of Police:

IN RESPECT OF THE REPEATED ATTACKS ON EGBUOMA AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY, OGUTA LGA, IMO STATE, BY THE ULI VIGILANTE GROUP OPERATING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT

A. Our Clients are the indigenes, families and lawful residents of Egbuoma Autonomous Community, Oguta Local Government Area, Imo State and obviously the citizens of Nigeria entitled to the enjoyment and protection of fundamental rights guaranteed under Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

B. Our clients have, since 2022 suffered grave violations of their constitutional rights to life, dignity of the human person, personal liberty, freedom of movement, privacy and protection of property, owing to incessant cross-border attacks launched against them by operatives of the Uli Central Vigilante Group, acting under the control, recognition and supervision of the Government of Anambra State through its Ministry of Homeland Affairs and the Anambra Vigilante Services.

C. We, the undersigned Solicitors therefore act for and on behalf of our clients and it is upon their instructions that we issue this Pre-Action Notice.

D. NOTORIOUS FACTS

E. Our Clients are law-abiding indigenes of Egbuoma Autonomous Community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, who since 2022 have been subjected to repeated cross-border invasions, attacks, and atrocities by operatives of the Uli Central Vigilante Group, headquartered at Ndikeokwu Village, Uli, Ihiala LGA, Anambra State.

F. The said Uli Central Vigilante Group is recognized and operates under the umbrella of the Anambra State Vigilante Services/Ministry of Homeland Affairs, thereby making the Government of Anambra State vicariously liable for its actions. The group is armed, coordinated and emboldened by such State recognition but has grossly abused its powers to unleash terror beyond Anambra State boundaries into the neighbouring Imo State community of Egbuoma.

G. From credible field reports and verified documentation, the Vigilante operatives have unlawfully abducted, tortured, killed and disappeared no fewer than ten (10) indigenes of Egbuoma between 2022 and 2025. Victims include:

· Sunday Onyebuchi (killed September 2022)

· Chijioke Mgbeobu (killed March 2023)

· Livinus Mmuo (killed May 2023)

· Happiness Okorie (killed June 2023)

· Stainless Ogunji (killed September 2023)

· Ikechi Obiejemba (killed October 2023)

· Uchenna Ahize (killed December 2023)

· Chidi Ohanyele (killed January 5, 2024),

· Onyebuchi Okorie (killed February 2024)

· Nwute (killed February 1, 2025).

Copies of our investigative report listing the victims are hereby annexed and marked Exhibit A.

H. In addition to the killings, the Vigilante operatives have engaged in mass abductions, unlawful detentions and ransom demands, euphemistically termed “bail fees,” often running into millions of naira. For instance:

· Citizen Achiose Odemgbe was abducted on July 29, 2024 and released only after his relatives paid N2,000,000.

· Citizen Kosarachi Ohajiuba was abducted on June 20, 2025 and remains missing till date despite demands for N2,000,000.

These facts are corroborated in our petitions and supporting affidavits annexed hereto and marked Exhibit B.

I. The operatives have also wantonly burned and looted properties belonging to Egbuoma indigenes. At least ten (10) residential houses have been razed since 2022 including those belonging to Late Clement Ajari, Late Lolo Odalanya Obiwuru, David Ohajuba, Marcel Obidiukwu and Ikechukwu Ben. During a broad daylight raid of July 11, 2025, the assailants opened fire at Afor-Egbu Market (Ebenano Village) looted personal and commercial properties and destroyed legitimate means of livelihood.

Photographs and video clips evidencing the destructions are attached as Exhibit C .

J. Disturbingly, the assailants operate under underworld-style nicknames such as “AK-47,” “Oba Ehi 2/c De Killer,” and “AD De Killer,” with published mobile numbers openly used for extortion, further evidencing their organized-criminal modus operandi.

K. Alarmed by these atrocities, Our Clients and civil society partners have repeatedly petitioned relevant authorities, including:

· Letter to Prince Ken Emeakai, Special Adviser on Community Security to the Governor of Anambra State (dated July 25, 2025),

· Letter to Dr. Ikioye Orutugu, CP Anambra State Command (dated July 25, 2025),

· Copies also forwarded to His Excellency, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State and other security stakeholders.

L. Despite receipt and acknowledgment of these letters (Acknowledgement copies herein attached as Exhibit E: Proof of Delivery), the atrocities have continued unabated with the most recent incursions occurring in July 2025. The continuing reign of terror by the Uli Central Vigilante Group has left Our Clientss and their community in perpetual fear of life, liberty and property, creating imminent risk of inter-communal bloodbath between Uli (Anambra) and Egbuoma (Imo) if urgent intervention and redress are not pursued.

M. LEGAL BASIS OF INTENDED ACTION

N. The actions and inactions of the Uli Central Vigilante Group, acting under the authority, recognition, and supervision of the Government of Anambra State, amount to gross violations of Our Clients constitutionally guaranteed rights, to wit:

O. Right to Life under Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Right to Dignity of the Human Person under Section 34(1) of the Constitution and Article 5 of the African Charter, breached by acts of torture, inhuman and degrading treatment and enforced disappearances.

P. Right to Personal Liberty under Section 35(1) of the Constitution and Article 6 of the African Charter, violated by arbitrary arrests, abductions and unlawful detentions in illegal camps.

Q. Right to Freedom of Movement under Section 41(1) of the Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter, violated by constant cross-border invasions and imposition of fear.

R. Right to Private and Family Life under Section 37 of the Constitution, breached by the invasion of homes, looting of properties and destruction of livelihoods.

S. Right to Property under Section 43 of the Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter, violated by the unlawful burning and destruction of over ten homes and seizure of personal effects.

T. By Section 46(1) of the Constitution and Order II of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009, Our Clients are entitled to approach a High Court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of the above rights.

U. The Government of Anambra State bears direct and vicarious liability for the actions of the Uli Central Vigilante Group, being a body set up, supervised, and operationally enabled under its Ministry of Homeland Affairs and the Anambra Vigilante Services. The consistent pattern of cross-border raids into Egbuoma Autonomous Community, Imo State, therefore constitutes not only a violation of Our Clients’ individual and communal rights but also a threat to inter-state peace and security guaranteed under the Constitution.

V. The persistence of these violations, notwithstanding repeated petitions and formal notifications (Exhibits A–E), demonstrates the Government of Anambra State’s failure of duty of care and constitutional responsibility under Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution, which mandates that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”

W. DEMAND AND NOTICE OF INTENDED ACTION

X. In the light of the foregoing atrocities and continuing violations, our clients hereby demand as follows:

1. Immediate cessation and permanent discontinuance of all unlawful cross-border attacks, abductions, torture, killings, and destruction of property by operatives of the Uli Central Vigilante Group or any other vigilante outfit established, armed, recognized, or supervised by the Government of Anambra State through its Ministry of Homeland Security and Anambra Vigilante Services. Immediate release of all persons abducted from Egbuoma Autonomous Community, Oguta LGA, Imo State and its environs, and restoration of their liberty without further harassment

2. Prompt arrest, investigation and prosecution of all identified perpetrators of the atrocities, including members of the said vigilante group and their sponsors, to serve as a deterrent against further inter-communal hostilities. Payment of the sum of N10,000,000,000 (Ten Billion Naira) as general and exemplary damages to the victims and people of Egbuoma Autonomous Community, Oguta LGA, Imo State, for the grievous loss of lives, torture, trauma, destruction of properties, disruption of livelihoods, and the continuing fear and insecurity they have suffered.

3. Issuance of a full-page public apology in not less than five (5) national daily newspapers, and on prime-time news bulletins of AIT and TVC, acknowledging the atrocities committed by the Anambra State-recognized vigilante group and assuring that such violations shall not recur.

Y. NOTICE OF INTENDED ACTION

Z. TAKE NOTICE that if within thirty (30) days of the receipt of this Pre-Action Notice, the Government of Anambra State fails, neglects, or refuses to comply fully with the above demands, we shall, without further recourse to your office, proceed to institute an action in the Federal High Court for the enforcement of the fundamental rights of our clients under Sections 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, and 43 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap A9, LFN 2004.

AA. In such proceedings, we shall be seeking, inter alia, the reliefs contained in this letter, together with further consequential orders as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make. This constitutes our clients’ final pre-litigation warning.

BB. CONCLUSION

CC. We trust that Your Excellency will accord this matter the urgent and responsible attention it deserves, to avert further bloodshed and maintain peaceful coexistence between the neighbouring peoples of Anambra and Imo States. Our clients have exercised commendable restraint in the face of grave provocation, relying on lawful redress rather than reprisal.

Kindly be advised that the thirty (30) days’ notice period stipulated above shall run from the date of your receipt of this letter. We look forward to your positive and prompt intervention in the interest of justice, security, and the rule of law.

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