A local Vigilante attached to the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has been alleged to have shot a minor and wounded two others in a land struggle fiasco that eschewed between the vigilante team and youths of Ochuche Umuodu,in Ogbaru local government area of Anambra State, Nigeria.
Report has is that the former Minister of Aviation and Senator-Elect for Anambra North Senatorial zone purchased a parcel of land at Ochuche Umuodu where she plans to collect sand from River Niger for sand excavation business and the village heads of the community had requested for their land rights and other things in accordance with their custom, but she was alleged to have turned down some and yielded to some in her capacity as a national officer to the community.
Also reported that efforts made by the former minister to reach out to the stakeholders and state her position on the landed properties, but were stalled on grounds of fair play and onslaught to ensure some youths of the villages are employed in the sand excavation business.
Hell let loosed when the youths suddenly woke up to turn down offers made to their elders, demanding for separate money from the team, not minding the absence of their principal.
Incidentally, Ochuche Umuodu happens to be the stronghold of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) Senatorial Candidate, Chief Dubem Obaze, who according to report still command loyalty of the people in that community.
Commenting on the incident , a youth leader of the community, Mr. Ikenna Uzoka expressed dismay at the manner the Vigilante group assaulted the youths according to him, ‘’Why would someone , a woman for that matter who wants to represent Anambra North should turn round to maim the very people she wants to serve’’
He continued,’’ the elders had asked her to come and offer kola nuts and other things in accordance with our custom, but she defiled our request. As she wanted to start her sand collection business, that is why the youths came around to further appeal to her to ‘’settle ‘’ elders’’.
When contacted, the media aide to the senator elect, Mr. Philip Balepo debunked the allegation that the vigilante team were attach to the former Minister but were employed to guard the site while construction continues on the site.
He alleged that the youths in question were sponsored by the Senator Elect opponent in the March 28th National Assembly election, Chief Dubem Obaze with the hope to score cheap political point against the former Minister of Aviation.
Balepo stressed that; ‘The Vigilante group attached to the new site acquired by Princess Stella Oduah for the development of Ogbaru, as part of her campaign promises was on their normal daily routine of ensuring that construction work/oppertion are carried out as planned . but the youths will not let them carry out their work plan in peace.’
‘’These same Ochuche youths have severally visited the site making monetary demands, even on few occasions beating the workers and having also to seize their work tools , thereby disrupting their activities in the last one week.’’
‘’On this penultimate Monday, the Ochuche Youths led by their leader, Ugochulwu Obaze, who also represents and works for Chief Dubem Obaze as a community youth leader and a known thug in Ogbaru community visited the youths with Chikioke Okwuma, a.k.a Piakata, his assistance ; another notable member of the acclaimed youth group Okechukwu Okwuchukwu a’k’a Nwanmo and others are all fully under the engagement of Chief Dubem Obaze and his community thugs whom he engaged in carrying out dirty jobs’’. Philip alleged..
Confirming the land dispute incident on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Uche Ezeh, a deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the culprit had been arrested and declared that no life was lost in the incident, but Several others were injured and affirmed that only two people were wounded in the attack.
He, however, said the attack was carried out by a member of the vigilante group and not policemen as widely reported.
The vigilante man was attached to Oduah’s security details, the PPRO stated.
The two persons injured in the attack – Chuka Okechukwu and Chukwuebuka, according to Ezeh have been taken to Ogbaru general hospital for treatment.
He said the police acted on information received from the community, adding that investigations were still ongoing to unravel what caused the fracas.
