NEWS
Ebonyi Commissioner, Oguzorkanu Offia-Nwali, Accused of Ordering Abduction, Assaulting Young Man Over Political Support for Brother
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Business Development, Oguzorkanu Offia-Nwali, has been accused of ordering the abduction of a young man identified as Madu and personally assaulting him over his political support for the commissioner’s brother.
The allegation has sparked concern after videos emerged online showing Madu receiving medical treatment for injuries he reportedly sustained during the incident.
The videos were shared by Caesar Francis, a former Students’ Union Government president, who alleged that the young man became a victim of political intimidation following his decision to support Rollins, the commissioner’s brother, who is seeking election into the Ebonyi State House of Assembly on the platform of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Young Man Allegedly Taken to Commissioner’s Residence:
According to Madu’s account, he was allegedly accosted by four men identified as Ikechukwu Egede, Emmanuel Nwambe, Okwy Nwambe and Ogeje Kingsley. He claimed that the men attempted to compel him to accompany them and, after he refused, allegedly forced him into a Toyota Sienna minibus.
Madu alleged that he was subsequently taken against his will to the private residence of Commissioner Offia-Nwali. At the residence, he said the commissioner confronted him over a video in which he had expressed support for Rollins.
Madu reportedly maintained that his comments were directed generally at political office holders whom he considered to be underperforming and that his support for Rollins was based on his belief that the politician would provide better representation and governance.
Alleged Assault at Commissioner’s Residence:
Madu further alleged that the confrontation quickly escalated into violence, with the commissioner personally attacking him while the men who had brought him to the residence watched. He claimed that he was repeatedly stomped on the head, kicked in the face, slammed against the floor and slapped several times around his eyes.
According to his account, the injuries were inflicted directly by the commissioner, while the men who allegedly abducted him remained nearby.
Another video circulating online purportedly shows Madu on the floor while a man identified as the commissioner appears to restrain him with his leg as several other men stand nearby. The footage has generated reactions online, with concerns being raised over the alleged use of political influence and violence against a young citizen.
Former SUG President Condemns Alleged Incident:
Reacting to the development, Caesar Francis condemned the alleged assault and described Madu as a vulnerable young man who had allegedly become caught up in a political dispute.
Francis said Madu had subsequently been moved to a safe location and was receiving medical attention for injuries allegedly sustained during the incident. He also responded to social media claims attributed to Offia-Nwali concerning their alleged past relationship.
The commissioner had reportedly claimed that Francis was among those he had supported during his campaign to become SUG president in 2018 and suggested that the former student leader had been contacting him.
Francis, however, denied ever meeting or speaking with the commissioner, challenging him to produce photographs or other evidence to substantiate the claim. He maintained that his knowledge of Offia-Nwali was limited to social media and that he had never possessed the commissioner’s telephone number.
Political Tension Deepens:
The controversy comes amid heightened political activity in Ebonyi ahead of the 2027 general elections, with competing political interests increasingly becoming visible at the grassroots.
The allegations have also raised broader concerns about the safety of young people participating in political activities and whether political disagreements are being allowed to degenerate into intimidation and violence.
Francis called for an end to the alleged use of government influence and political thuggery against ordinary citizens, urging public officials to separate the responsibilities of public office from personal political interests.
The allegations against Commissioner Offia-Nwali remain unproven, and the claims contained in the videos have not been independently established.
Efforts to obtain the commissioner’s response to the allegations were reportedly unsuccessful at the time of filing, as calls and a text message
seeking his reaction were not answered.