IFEANYI EZUGWU,ENUGU.
Both the traditional ruler and the entire community of Ibeagwa-Nike in
Enugu east local government area of Enugu state have been living in
great apprehension following last Saturday’s controversial murder of a
27 years old student of the Institute of Management and Technology,
IMT, Mr. Nnabuike Nnaji, allegedly perpetuated by police officers.
Newsmen visit of the community, during the weekend, witnessed a trail
of the fracas with many smashed vehicles still left on the roads while
the police vehicle allegedly set on fire by some youths of the
community had been removed but tension remained in the community as
the army maintained permanent post in the community with a good number
of the youths fled.
At the house of the diseased, a community of sympathizers gathered
while the father to the murdered Nnabuike, Chief Patrick Nnaji spoke
with measured words. Chief Nnaji said that they all went for a
traditional wedding of a member of their community on Saturday
February 15 where he even exchanged pleasantries with his late son,
Nnabuike, who sat among his peers as the Vice Chairman of the
community’s youth association.
Chief Nnaji said he returned to his house latter in the evening but
that at about 8pm he started hearing spontaneous gunshots. “Sunday his
friend called him (Nnabuike) for about three times and he didn’t pick
the calls. At about 10pm somebody picked the call and told us that he
was hit by bullets and that they were in a hospital. I sat sleepless
ill morning when I started hearing that one Ndubuisi Ugwu led a team
of police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, to the venue of the
traditional wedding to attack Nnabuike and killed him.”
Chief Nnaji continued: “I was told that that SARS called him and as
they were speaking, SARS shot him and the military men stationed in
our Ibeagwa retaliated. The Ndubuisi that lead the policemen has
disappeared; he was shooting and ran away, as I was told. The
Umuanekeode later reported the matter to the police. Nnabuike is a
peace maker he was at the church mission yesterday, he doesn’t make
trouble. He was in IMT where he just finished OND. There was never any
reported case of cultism about him.”
A group of the Umuanekeode clan in Ibeagwa-Nike under the aegis of
Greater Ibeagwa Forum led by Hon. Obinna Mbaeke alleged that the SARS
officers led by Ndubuisi Ugwu were in a mission to kill, stressing
that immediately Ndubuisi pointed at Nnabuike, the SARS officials shot
him dead immediately without questioning.
Mbaeke said: “It was Ndubuisi Ugwu that pointed at Nnabuike Nnaji and
on pointing at Nnabuike, SARS shot him and he died on instance. The
gunshots attracted the presence of the soldiers stationed at
Ibeagwa-Nike market square for the past one year to maintain peace.
The community was engulfed in crisis since 2008 over the composition
of power of attorney, election of the traditional ruler and the
indiscriminate sale of the community’s land by the Igwe and his fake
power of attorney.
“So when the gun was shot, the soldiers arrived at the scene and
arrested the SARS officers that shot Nnabuike. Some of the SARS men
ran away and two were caught by the military men. Everybody believes
that the incident was perpetuated by the traditional ruler because in
January 2013, the same thing happened.”
When contacted the traditional ruler of Ibeagwa-Nike, Igwe Emmanuel
Ugwu said he will not say anything to the press, noting that he had
met with security agencies where he gave his own explanations.
The traditional ruler however volunteered the accused Ndubuisi, who
spoke with our correspondent on telephone. Ndubuisi accepted that he
called the policemen but did not point directly at Nnabuike but an
entire group that he alleged had problems with him previously.
Ndubuisi stated that it was as a result of mob attack on the policemen
by the Nnabuike group that made police shoot Ndubuisi.
A member of community’s board of power of attorney, alleged that some
politicians are behind the crisis in Ibeagwa-Nike community but the
Chairman of Enugu East local government, Prince Cornelius Nnaji washed
his hands off the Ibeagwa crisis, noting that he promptly reported the
matter to Enugu state commissioner of Police and under security
agencies that have swopped into the incident.
The Spokesmen of 82 Division of Nigeria Army in Enugu, Col. Hamza
Gambo said that the soldiers are not in custody of any police officer
from the scene of the incident just like the Police Public Relations
Officer of Enugu state command, Ebere Amaraizu stated that no
policeman is being detained by the military as investigation is being
conducted by men of the state criminal investigation Enugu to unravel
the circumstances behind the incident.
umu Nike its a pity
The truth is that the so called traditional ruler of Ibagwa nike was a house servant of Arthur Eze who was dishonorably discharged by Arthur after serving him from when he was about 12 years old till he was about thirty something years old. He came home empty handed with no education and no job. He then fraudulantely obtained a certificate as Igwe of Ibagwa and started selling the land of his people without their approval. Now most of the members of his community are fighting by forming different groups amongst their clan to stop him for selling of the lands left by their fathers for many generations. The so called Igwe is now killing his people so he can keep their land. Sullivan Chime; you are peace loving governor please save Ibagwa people people from the hand of this crook and let peace reign.
The truth is that the so called traditional ruler of Ibagwa nike was a house servant of Arthur Eze who was dishonorably discharged by Arthur after serving him from when he was about 12 years old till he was about thirty something years old. He came home empty handed with no education and no job. He then fraudulantely obtained a certificate as Igwe of Ibagwa and started selling the land of his people without their approval. Now most of the members of his community are fighting by forming different groups amongst their clan to stop him for selling of the lands left by their fathers for many generations. The so called Igwe is now killing his people so he can keep their land. Sullivan Chime; you are peace loving governor please save Ibagwa people people from the hand of this crook and let peace reign.
Long live Ibagwa and may soul of Nnabuike rest in peace
The crook of Ibagwa nike called Igwe Emma Ugwu has made over one Billion naira selling off the lands of his people. Ibagwa people had for generations owned their land as a whole community. They appointed reputable family members to represent each clan form many generations in the community meetings and these people decided how to run community affairs. As soon as this crook fraudulently became Igwe; he quickly changed their constitution allowing the Igwue to be the sole decision make on the sale of all lands in Ibagwa. He hand picked the people that helped ochestrate the biggest land fraud in Nike town by selling off the lands of a community in less then 10 years. Guess what this crook has done with the money?; build a mansion for himself; build a town hall for himself; buy fleet of cars; celebrate himself by doing Ofala every year for the past 6/7 years and armed this uneducated youth. (The same youth that millions of money he mad off their land could have sent the best schools around the world). Any peace loving Igbo/woman man must help Ibagwa people get rid of this crook and if they have to sell their land; let the decision be theirs and not the decision of one rogue, son of a nobody called Igwe Emma Ugwu. If you bought a piece of land from him; go request for your refund or better yet; ask him what he did with the money
Crook, rogue Emma Ugwu; tell the world what you have done with the billions you have made selling your people land. Tell the who owns the land you are selling off. Tell the world your job and what you own in your name before you fraudulently obtained an Igwe certificate few years ago. Other than selling the land of your people; what is your real job. You are destroying Ibagwa and it’s youth in particular and now you are using the police to kill them. Enough is Enough!!!!!!!!!!!!