By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Umuahia, Jan. 13, 2026
The Abia Government has inaugurated an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the Okun-Aku Community crisis in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking on Tuesday, during the inauguration ceremony in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Uzor Nwachukwu, said the move was in response to the gravity of the incident.
Nwachukwu also said that the decision to set up a panel of inquiry was informed by the need to restore lasting peace in the community.
He said: “We are all aware that a couple of days back, there erupted a very serious community crisis in Okun Aku, in Ohafia Local Government of Abia State.
“This crisis led to loss of life, according to the pictures that we saw and the community has been in disquiet since then.
“In the wisdom of this Government, under the leadership of His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti, it has been directed that this administrative panel of inquiry be inaugurated.
“The job of the panel is to find out the remote and immediate causes of that conflict and disquiet in that community.”
Nwachukwu said that the findings of the panel would guide the state government’s decisions and interventions on the matter.
He further said that the panel’s terms of reference include identifying individuals, groups or institutions directly or indirectly involved in escalating the crisis.
Nwachukwu said that the panel had the responsibility of examining the roles of traditional institutions, youth groups, leadership structures and other stakeholders in the conflict.
He said that the panel had also been mandated to review the administrative, socio-economic, cultural and security dimensions of the crisis, recommend measures to ensure lasting peace, harmony, justice and communal cohesion
Nwachukwu said that the panel would be expected to propose appropriate sanctions against those found culpable.
The commissioner added that the panel would make further recommendations necessary to promote public peace, order and sustainable community relations.
He disclosed that the panel had been given 30 days from the date of inauguration to submit its report to the ministry.
Nwachukwu thanked members of the panel for accepting the assignment and expressed confidence in their ability to discharge their duties diligently.
Responding, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Kenneth Wosu (Rtd), said that peace was critical to development, describing peace and progress as inseparable.
Wosu commended the present administration for sustaining peace in the state, noting that the decision to set up the panel showed the government’s determination to address the Okun Aku crisis decisively.
He thanked the state government for the confidence reposed in the members and assured that the panel would carry out a thorough, impartial and diligent assignment.
The members of the panel include Navy Comdr MacDonald Ubah (rtd), the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mrs. Charity Okeagu (Secretary of the panel) and Mr. Obinna Chimbuo (an official of Ministry of Justice).
Others are Eze Franklin Nwosu (Second Deputy Chairman of Abia Traditional Rulers Council), Eze Kalu Ogbu (Traditional Ruler of Abiriba Community) and Mr. Ahunaya George (an official of Ohafia Local Government Council).
The Okon‑Aku crisis erupted on January 2, resulting in loss of life and the destruction of property; and the incident drew prompt intervention by security agents.
