By Princely Onyenwe | News Desk
OWERRI, Imo State — Residents across communities in the Ohaji/Egbema axis of Imo State are reportedly celebrating the death of a notorious cult leader and suspected kidnap kingpin identified as Ejiogu Eluma, popularly known as “Acid.”
Eluma was reportedly killed on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a security operation in Ochia, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, following an alleged gun battle with security operatives.
According to security and community sources familiar with the development, the operation involved personnel drawn from the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS), police and other security agencies, who reportedly stormed a hideout linked to the wanted criminal in the early hours of Thursday.
Sources said Acid attempted to flee when the security team closed in, resulting in a shootout during which he was fatally wounded.
His reported death has triggered widespread jubilation across Ochia, Awarra, Assa, Obile and adjoining communities, where residents have for years complained of cult-related violence, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
Videos and photographs purportedly connected to the development have continued to circulate on social media, with additional clips reportedly emerging through comments and community platforms as residents react to the reported killing.
The development has assumed greater significance because of the unresolved killing of the traditional ruler of Ochia Kingdom, HRH Eze Barrister Paulinus Ekwueme, Ochia I, who was murdered alongside five other persons on April 10, 2026.
The monarch and the other victims were reportedly attacked along the Asa-Awara Road in Ohaji/Egbema, with their bodies subsequently burnt following the attack.
The incident triggered a major security response, with the Imo State Police Command deploying tactical units and working with sister security agencies in a bid to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The remains of the monarch and the other victims were subsequently recovered and deposited at the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, for preservation and autopsy, according to reports at the time.
The April killings generated widespread concern across Imo State and intensified calls for security agencies to dismantle criminal networks allegedly operating around the oil-producing communities.
The name “Acid” had also previously surfaced in reports concerning violent cult activities around Awarra and Ochia communities. In September 2024, reports of an inter-cult clash in the area identified a group allegedly controlled by a man known as Acid, with the violence reportedly linked to a struggle between rival groups over influence and proceeds connected to oil-producing communities.
Police authorities at the time confirmed receiving complaints about attacks by criminal elements and said security operations had been intensified in the affected areas.
The latest operation is therefore being viewed by residents as a potentially significant development in the prolonged security challenges confronting communities along the Ochia-Awarra-Assa axis.
Sources said the operation that reportedly led to Acid’s death followed sustained intelligence gathering and surveillance of suspected criminal networks operating within the area.
According to the accounts, security operatives had been tracking communications and movements allegedly connected to Acid and his associates before moving against his hideout.
The sources further alleged that intelligence gathered by the security agencies pointed to plans for additional attacks within the area, prompting the operation that culminated in Thursday’s encounter.
However, the operational details, including the precise circumstances of the shootout and the identities of other persons who may have been involved, had not been independently confirmed in a publicly released statement by the Nigerian Army, DSS or Imo State Police Command as of the time of filing this report.
Following the reported killing, residents and indigenes in Ochia, Awarra, Assa, Obile and neighbouring communities have reportedly expressed relief, with many viewing the development as a possible turning point in the fight against criminality in the area.
Residents, however, are calling for sustained security operations, arguing that the reported death of one alleged kingpin should not bring an end to the wider effort to dismantle criminal networks operating across the communities.
They are also urging security agencies to maintain a strong presence along major routes linking Ochia, Awarra, Assa, Obile and other communities in Ohaji/Egbema to prevent possible retaliatory attacks or the emergence of new criminal groups.
As of the time of filing, 9News Nigeria is monitoring developments and seeking further confirmation from the relevant security authorities regarding the reported death of Ejiogu Eluma, alias Acid, the circumstances surrounding the operation, possible casualties and any arrests made in connection with the incident.
Further details will be published as credible information emerges.
