A protest by women in Eha-Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State, turned violent on Tuesday when the joint forces of the Nigeria Army and police intervened, leaving at least three of the protesters battered with injuries.

The women had seized a community member, Israel Mgborogwu, accusing him of trading information about the farmers to suspected herdsmen.

They also alleged that Mgborogwu claimed on social media that herdsmen did not attack the community, which they said was false.

In video clips shared with our correspondent on Tuesday, the women who were seen parading Mgborogwu along major streets and town, accused him and the acting President General of Mgbuji Autonomous Community, Donatus Odoh, of selling Eha-Amufu land to unidentified persons and providing information to herdsmen on farmers who fell victim to killings.

“He gave information about farmers to herdsmen on whoever went to farm who fell victim of the killing,” one of the women told our correspondent.

The President General of the community, Odo Donatus, reportedly escaped being held by the protesting women.

However, the protest turned violent when combined security agencies comprising soldiers, police and personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps deployed by the government to secure the release of Israel confronted the protesting women and teargassed them.

“In the chaotic scene, the policemen and soldiers who rolled armoured tanks during the protest injured several women with three badly battered,” Mrs Janet Ogenyi told our correspondent on the telephone.

The incident highlights the growing unrest in Eha-Amufu community, which has been plagued by insecurity and killings. While some community members allege high insecurity, others claim it is a false narrative.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Enugu State, Daniel Ndukwe, did not respond to calls and messages.

The acting Deputy Director of 82 Division Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Jonah Unuakhalu, also didn’t take his calls or respond to text message as at the time of filing this report.

Millions of customers of Fidelity Bank Plc have been stranded and not being able to access their funds for more than a week as the bank said it is undergoing system maintenance after customers complained of challenges across all its banking channels.

Customers of the bank who had taken to social media to register their complaints said they had been unable to access their funds through any of the channels or within the banking halls since last week.

LEADERSHIP findings also revealed that the customers are unable to make transfers via their mobile applications or make use of their debit cards. Within the banking halls visited, bank staff were helpless as they could not execute transfers or pay cash over the counter to customers.

Similarly, the ATMs of the banks were not paying. A customer, who was too distraught to identify himself, lamented that despite having funds in his account, he has been unable to settle his child’s medical bills. “How do they expect us to survive without access to our own money?”

An X user lamented that “it has been over seven days now and I cannot access my account via online or code.” The bank had not issued any notice to its customers prior to the disruption of service last week, leaving many customers stranded.

On Monday, the bank had sent an email  to customers, apologising for the service disruption, adding that it was working to fix it. The email had read “we sincerely apologise for the challenges you are experiencing while using our banking channels.

“We are working hard to resolve the issue and will provide you with an update as soon as normal service has been restored. We thank you for your understanding and assure you of our continued commitment to serving you.”

However, two days after the first email, customers are yet to get a respite or access their accounts with the bank. This had prompted the bank to send out another message to its customers via email and the social media platforms stating that due to the disruption of service, it had to embark on system maintenance.

“Following a recent service disruption we experienced on our banking channels, we have had to carry out a system maintenance exercise. We understand that this exercise has led to difficulties in transacting on your account in the last few days and we apologise deeply for this.

“The ongoing maintenance exercise is needed to help us to improve the performance of our banking channels and enhance our service delivery. We solicit your understanding during this period and wish to assure you that we are working hard to conclude the exercise as soon as possible.”

Last year, millions of bank customers had been stranded after three banks embarked on system upgrades, leaving customers without access to their accounts for days.

A former chairman of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), Oba Otudeko, has reportedly left Nigeria ahead of his scheduled arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on fraud charges.

According to sources familiar with the matter, Otudeko exited the country via one of Nigeria’s land borders on Thursday evening. Security operatives disclosed that he was dropped off at the Nigeria-Benin border by a family member.

The development came just hours after the EFCC filed a 13-count charge against Otudeko and three others at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The anti-graft agency accused them of obtaining a N30 billion loan under false pretenses.

The other defendants in the case include Stephen Olabisi Onasanya, a former Group Managing Director of First Bank; Soji Akintayo, a former board member of Honeywell Flour Mills Plc; and Anchorage Limited, a company linked to Otudeko.

Sources indicated that the EFCC had scheduled the arraignment of the defendants for Monday. However, with Otudeko’s sudden departure, it remains unclear how the anti-graft agency will proceed with its case.

Efforts to reach the businessman or his representatives for comments were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Arsenal’s striker Gabriel Jesus left the FA Cup third round tie against Manchester United on a stretcher after being injured on Sunday.

The Brazilian covered his face as he was carried off the pitch in the first-half with the game goalless, following an innocuous coming together with United captain Bruno Fernandes.

Jesus clipped Fernandes just outside Arsenal’s 18-yard box, causing Fernandes’ boot to come loose.

The United midfielder then twice threw his boot to the ground in frustration at referee Andrew Madley’s decision against rewarding a free kick, earning him a booking for dissent. However, while Fernandes fumed, Jesus stayed down and required a stretcher.

Jesus is the latest injury to one of Arsenal’s starters, with Bukayo Saka ruled out until March after he required surgery on a hamstring injury.

Arsenal are also without Ethan Nwaneri (muscle injury), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Ben White (knee).