The Abia State Government has announced a sweeping ban on commercial motorcycle operations, popularly known as Okada, within the metropolitan areas of Umuahia, Aba, and Ohafia, in a decisive move aimed at strengthening security, improving public safety, and enhancing urban transportation management.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed that Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has approved the prohibition as part of the administration’s broader efforts to create safer and more organized urban centres across the state.

According to the government, the ban took effect from,today, Monday, June 22, 2026, and all commercial motorcycle operators are required to immediately cease operations within the designated metropolitan areas.

The government explained that the policy is designed to address growing security concerns, reduce criminal activities often associated with the use of motorcycles in urban centres, improve traffic flow, and promote a more efficient and regulated transportation system.

To ensure full compliance, security agencies and relevant enforcement authorities have been directed to strictly enforce the directive. The government warned that any individual or operator found violating the ban would be arrested, while the motorcycle involved would be confiscated in accordance with the law.

“The Government calls on residents, transport operators, community leaders, and members of the public to cooperate fully with the authorities in the implementation of this directive, which is aimed at advancing the collective safety and development of the State,” the statement noted.

The administration further urged all affected operators and stakeholders to take immediate note of the directive and comply accordingly to avoid sanctions.

The ban marks another major policy intervention by the Otti administration in its ongoing efforts to improve security, orderliness, and the overall quality of life in Abia’s urban centres.

The Management of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), has dismissed as false and misleading a report circulating on social media alleging that suspected hoodlums were planning to invade the institution’s campus.

In a statement issued by the Head of Public Relations and Protocol, Mr. Anyaso Anyaso, on behalf of the University Management, the institution described the report as unverified, unfounded, and deliberately crafted to create fear and panic among students, parents, staff, and members of the public.

According to the statement, the University’s security unit, in collaboration with relevant law enforcement agencies, has carried out thorough investigations and found no credible evidence to substantiate the alleged threat.
The Management reassured all stakeholders that the safety, security, and welfare of students, staff, and visitors remain its highest priority, emphasizing that adequate measures are in place to ensure a peaceful academic environment.
The statement further noted that the University’s security personnel remain on active duty round the clock and continue to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to maintain vigilance across the campus.
As part of routine security management, additional patrols and precautionary measures have also been intensified to further reassure members of the University community.
Students and staff were advised to continue with their academic and official activities without fear, as there is no cause for alarm.

The University Management also cautioned the public against spreading unverified information capable of generating unnecessary panic, stressing that such actions undermine public confidence, divert security resources, and may escalate tensions unnecessarily.
Stakeholders were urged to rely solely on official communications from the University through its Public Relations Unit, official website, and verified social media platforms for authentic information and updates.
The Management expressed appreciation to parents, students, staff, and members of the community for their continued support and cooperation, reiterating its commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and conducive environment for learning and research.
“Management remains committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and peaceful learning environment for all,” the statement concluded.

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council, has raised serious concerns over worsening insecurity in communities and the growing infiltration of criminal elements disguising themselves as tricycle operators, calling for immediate and decisive intervention to safeguard lives and property across the state.
The concerns formed part of a communiqué issued at the end of the Union’s Monthly Congress held on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at the NUJ Press Centre, Plot 66 Aba Road, Umuahia, presided over by the Chairman of the Council, Comrade Chidi Asonye.

In a strongly worded resolution, Congress condemned the alarming activities of suspected criminals operating under the guise of commercial tricycle (“Keke”) riders, describing the development as a dangerous trend threatening public safety, especially for passengers who commute at night.
The Union noted with deep concern that the unchecked activities of these criminal elements have continued to endanger innocent residents and undermine the security architecture of Abia State.
To tackle the growing menace, the Congress called on the Abia State Ministry of Transport to urgently partner with Keke and Okada unions to regulate, identify and profile operators across the state, insisting that proper documentation and monitoring of members would help flush out criminal infiltrators hiding within the transport system.
On the broader issue of insecurity across Nigeria, the journalists stressed the need for grassroots vigilance, urging traditional rulers, Presidents-General and town union leaders of autonomous communities to take proactive measures in safeguarding their domains.

Congress specifically called on community leaders to intensify local surveillance mechanisms and regularly monitor forests, farmlands and vulnerable areas to guarantee the safety of farmers and rural dwellers increasingly exposed to criminal attacks.
The NUJ also appealed to the Abia State Government to go beyond conventional security responses by organizing periodic security summits for traditional rulers and key community stakeholders, aimed at strengthening local intelligence gathering, sensitization and coordinated community-based security efforts.
Furthermore, Congress advocated the recruitment of forest guards to patrol forests and remote communities across the state, with a mandate to identify and flush out criminal hideouts while restoring confidence among residents.
The communiqué, signed by the Communiqué Drafting Committee Chairman, Imeremba Michael Imeremba; Secretary, Ifeanyi Ogbonna; and member, Christy Emezue, alongside the NUJ Abia Council Secretary, Comrade Iyke Onuegbu, mnipr, and Chairman, Comrade Chidi Asonye, emphasized the urgent need for collective action to preserve peace and security in Abia State.
The Union maintained that ensuring security must remain a shared responsibility among government, traditional institutions and citizens, warning that failure to act swiftly could further expose communities to criminal threats.