What should have been a normal day of creativity and youth empowerment for content creator Chijioke Igwendu, popularly known as Yanbaba, turned into a nightmare when officials of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) and armed operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) stormed his office, cocked their guns, and threatened to seal his studio.
The CEO of Yan Kontent Factory and convener of the popular Gbam! Interview Podcast recounted the traumatic experience, describing it as “inhuman, discouraging, and a betrayal by a government I have tirelessly promoted.
“I am only but a content creator. My only offence is that I created jobs for young people and established an office. No content creator has supported this government and Anambra State more than I have done,” Igwendu lamented.
According to him, the incident happened while he was recording a podcast session. Two men in reflective jackets reportedly entered his office demanding ASWAMA payment receipts. After leaving briefly, they returned with armed NSCDC officers who allegedly stormed the premises, cocked their rifles, and ordered everyone to vacate.
“Their shouting disrupted our interview and terrified everyone. Why are you cocking and waving guns at us? Are we criminals? Are we kidnappers? What happened to dialogue?” Igwendu asked in disbelief.
The content creator explained that the harassment stemmed from what he described as fraudulent billing practices by ASWAMA. While his category fee was ₦7,200, he said the agency has repeatedly imposed an inflated bill of ₦120,000.
“Last year, I was billed ₦120,000 instead of ₦7,200. I challenged it in court, and I believed it was resolved. To my surprise, the same bill was issued again this year. When I complained, they said the leadership had changed, and my previous complaint was no longer valid,” he explained.
Despite multiple attempts to seek redress through the SSA to the Governor on New Media and even the Mayor of Awka South, Igwendu said his appeals were ignored. Instead, he claimed, his office was served with a court summon before the shocking raid.
In a startling twist, Igwendu revealed that his guest for the interview session was forced to transfer ₦50,000 on the spot to the officials, far above the ₦7,000 he was originally required to pay.
“This treatment by a state government agency is not only inhuman but very discouraging to a young entrepreneur like myself. I have promoted the works of this government, I pay my tax, I employ youths, and yet, I am harassed with guns,” he said bitterly.
Igwendu stressed that his work has taken youths off the streets, promoted Anambra’s image, and amplified the achievements of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo—all without government sponsorship.
The incident has since sparked outrage online, with many describing it as a gross abuse of power and a direct attack on youth entrepreneurship in Nigeria.
