Outrage as police arrest Enugu youth advocate renovating abandoned community school
Tension has gripped the Nomeh Unateze community in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State following the arrest of popular youth advocate, Onovo Chigozie Valentine, widely known as “Mazi Ancestor.”
Valentine was reportedly arrested by officers of the Amagunze Police Division on Thursday, May 7, 2026, while coordinating a community-funded renovation project at Community Secondary School, Nomeh.
The school building had suffered extensive damage after a violent windstorm ripped off its roof months ago, leaving students exposed to harsh weather conditions. Residents alleged that despite repeated appeals, authorities failed to intervene or commence repairs.
Moved by the deteriorating state of the school, Mazi Ancestor reportedly mobilized support from indigenes and community members to raise funds for the rehabilitation project. Witnesses said he had spent days working alongside engineers and roofers to restore the damaged structure.
However, the intervention took a dramatic turn on Thursday after Valentine received a phone invitation from the Amagunze Police Division requesting his presence for questioning.
Sources said he voluntarily honored the invitation, only to be detained immediately upon arrival at the station.
Attempts by supporters and associates to secure his release reportedly uncovered allegations that some unnamed individuals had petitioned the police, accusing the activist of “terrorizing” the community and branding him a “terrorist.”
The allegations have sparked outrage among residents, especially as no evidence or identities of the petitioners have been publicly disclosed.
Community members described the arrest as an attempt to silence a vocal grassroots mobilizer whose growing influence and humanitarian efforts had earned him widespread admiration across Nkanu East.
Beyond the school renovation project, Mazi Ancestor is known for supporting indigent students, promoting youth sports development, and assisting accident victims within the area.
The incident has since triggered widespread reactions on social media, with many questioning why a man leading efforts to repair a public school would end up behind bars.
“What crime did he commit? Fixing a school abandoned by the government?” a resident asked anonymously. “Instead of supporting him, they are trying to intimidate him.”
Human rights advocates and concerned residents are now calling on the Enugu State Police Command to ensure transparency in the case and prevent what they describe as the misuse of security agencies for political or personal vendettas.
As of Thursday night, Valentine remained in police custody, while renovation work at the damaged secondary school has been suspended indefinitely.
