A news report being circulated online claims that Charles Akalieze, a commander of the Nigerian Navy in Kogi state, has been detained at the Defence Headquarters for genocide. The news, retrieved from WhatsApp and archived here, was published by a blog named PointBlankInsight on November 9, 2023.
The headline of the news reads, “Breaking News: Gov. Yahaya Bello Deadly Navy Commander Charles Akalieze Detained by Defence Headquarters for Genocide.”
“Again, The Naval Officer, Commander Charles Akalieze who led the Makama-led armed thugs in kogi state that killed Three police men and seven civilians in Ayingba, Dekina local government area of kogi state on the 7th of November 2023 has been arrested and detained in Defence Headquarters on the orders of the Chief of Defence Staff.
This comes as rival politicians in Kogi State trade accusations about violence in the build up to today’s off cycle governorship poll in Kogi State.
Claim: Navy commander, Charles Akalieze has been detained for genocide
Verification
We found two additional news reports published by PointBlankInsight on November 9, 2023. Both reports share the same content as the one circulating on WhatsApp but have slightly different headlines. The first report, archived here, is titled ‘Yahaya Bello Deadly Blood Sucker, Navy Commander Charles Akalieze Detained.’
The second report, archived here, has the headline ‘Yahaya Bello Deadly Blood Sucker, Navy Commander Charles Akalieze Detained by Force Headquarters for Murdered Case.’
Further check shows that the web address, pointblankinsight.com.ng, was created on September 18, 2023.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Daily Trust reported that the Igala Vanguard called on Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, for the immediate reassignment of Charles Akalieze and his special task force in Kogi state. The Nation Newspaper also reported the development on Wednesday, November 8, 2023.
According to the reports, the group accused Akalezie of engaging in actions harmful to the well-being of Kogi people. Furthermore, we found an interview granted by Natasha Akpoti, posted by News Central on November 7, 2022.
In the interview, Akpoti, who at the time was the Peoples Democratic Party’s senatorial candidate for Kogi Central, alleged that Akaleize was a hitman for Yahyah Bello, the governor of Kogi state. She added that Akaleize had been transferred from the state following several petitions against him.
Akpoti said, ‘We have over 20 people that were killed by this gentleman, extra-judicial killings… For once, I’m proud of the Nigerian Navy and the Police because they seem to look into the petitions, and Lieutenant Charles Akaleize has been transferred out of Kogi state. The good news just got to me today.”
Even though Sahara Reporters reported on November 9, 2023, that an undisclosed military source confirmed the arrest of a Nigerian Navy commander, Nicholas Uchendu Akalezi, and 10 other naval personnel for alleged violent activities in Kogi state, we found no credible media reports that Charles Akalieze has been detained for genocide.
Verdict: ALL WE KNOW
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