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Friday, March 29, 2024

Ihiala In Flames As Thugs Invade Community

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*Police behind the Mess

From Nweke Nweke, Awka

The sleepy community of Umudike Uzokwain Ihiala local government area is boiling as some suspected thugs allegedly sponsored by a former member of the National Assembly in the area, (names withheld) invaded the community.

Sources claimed that the sponsored thugs under the guise of non-existence Umudike Youths have been moving from house to house to fish out those that are not in support of their principal’s bid to take over a communal land.

Many of the targeted people have indeed run away from their residence and are now taking refuge outside the community while the thugs who were accompanied by some armed policemen are said to be making frantic efforts to locate them and make them sign a fake document that will surrender the communal land to the people sponsoring them.

The first target was the oldest man in the community, Chief Augustine Odozie, the Okpara of Ezeleke who told confided on 247ureports that he escaped through the window through the help of his son when the hoodlums forced their ways into his compound.

The ninety six year old community leader said “They had earlier brought a fake document to me concerning the massive land which is our common heritage that I should append my signature on 24th July 2016 but I refused to dance to their tune. A legal practitioner [names withheld] also came to my house later with N100, 000.00 with a promise that I would get more if I sign their paper.

Chief Odozie said he stood his ground and told them that he cannot sign because he cannot see very well that they should come back when his nephew is around to guide him.

He said that the thugs in company of three prominent members of Umudike community left with a threat that they would come back for him and that he would be forced to sign the document or face the consequences.

“Since they dropped the threat, I increased my surveillance and two days later, they came again but this time with a bus loaded with thugs and the three prominent people came with them in a white Hilux pickup, they forced their way into my compound through the back but before could get me, I escaped through the window.” the ninety six year old man narrated.

The Okpara Ezeleke said that the land in question belongs to Umudike in general and it is not for sale noting that those that wanted to take the land for themselves are just being selfish and greedy.

“I am no longer safe at my age in my community and that is why I am sending a save our soul message to the federal government, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies as well as the Anambra state governor, Chief Willie Obiano to come to our aid before those of us that want to preserve our common heritage are slaughtered like fowls.” Chief Odozie pleaded.

The nephew of the oldest man in the community, Christopher Odozie also claimed that he was contacted to sign the document with a cash gift of N150, 000.00 and that he was told by the people that brought the document that it was for the good of the community.

He claimed that the lawyer (Names withheld) mounted so much pressure on him to sign the fake document on behalf of his uncle but he refused and then instructed them to meet the entire community.

“These people met Cyril Izuora, Augustine and other elders but they all refused to agree to their dangerous and wicked proposals. They even went to the house of the bedridden Okpara General who equally said no to them.” He noted

When the son of the bedridden Okpara General, Mr ThankGod Izuora was contacted on phone, he said he was not ready to speak on the matter because he would not like to die prematurely. He however noted that those who are intimidating and harassing innocent people to sign a fake document would soon in cure the wrath of the gods of the land.
Mr. Ifeanyi Akazie, MD Odilac block industries, Ihiala said he was just lucky to still be alive as he was targeted for assassination because he has always oppose the scheme by a few individual to appropriate what belongs to the entire community to themselves.

“I got a phone call to proceed to Orlu Imo state for a contract that runs into four million naira, because of the bad road, I engaged an Okadaman to take me there, as were going, the caller directed to a thick bush and after riding for almost thirty minutes into the forest, the Okadaman asked me if I was having problems with anybody in my community that where we were heading to is a no man’s land where people are killed without traces.” Akazie said

He said he decided to make a u-turn and returned home only to notice strange faces lurking around his block industry located along Ezego Street in Ihiala.

Akazie argued that if their forefathers had handled the matter concerning the land the way the present land grabbers are going about it, there will not be anything on ground today for the present generation and generations yet to come.

The secretary of Umudike General, Chief Anthony Onuchukwu while commenting on the development in his community traced the tension that accompanied the selection of Ezealadike to attempt by wrong persons to occupy the office so that they can take over the communal land.

“I have never seen this kind of thing before, attempt was made to politicize the selection of Ezealadike, the youngest wanted to upstage the older ones and even the oldest Ozo title holder but those of us that know tradition are opposed to that and because of that we have marked for attack.” He noted

Chief Onuchukwu decried the unnecessary tension caused in the peaceful community by those he described as the enemy of the Umudike who according to him are out to wreck havoc on the community using thugs supervised by policemen on illegal duty to destabilize the sleepy community.

“Those who are going around as Umudike Youths are actually thugs assembled by the politician at Umudike palace, the politician gave them two million naira and since then the criminals have been raiding the community under the guise of youths of this community. The politician who was a former member of National Assembly even promised to give each youth a motorcycle if they do his bidding well.” Chief Onuchukwu alleged.
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The Ezeana Umudike, Chief Uchenna Nsofor condemn those who want to institute reign of terror in his community.

Ezeana Nsofor accused the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Ihiala of complicity as the thugs intimidating and harassing people move round with policemen from the division.

He however pointed out that the matter has been reported to the office of the Inspector General of Police in Abuja.

The former member of National Assembly at the center of crises (Names withheld) refused to pick the call of our correspondent.

When the Anambra state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Nkiru Nwode was contacted over the happenings in Ihiala, she said the DPO has not notify his office.

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