▪️ By Robert Orji
Desperate villagers of Owo, a rural agrarian community in Nkanu East Council of Enugu State, have alerted the State Government of the existence of a community-based armed bandits laying siege on the community.
They accuse their traditional ruler of arming the young men and using them to harass certain indigenes he perceives as opponents, and dispossessing members of the community of their ages-long farmlands.
Rt. Hon Paul Nnajiofor
In a 4-page petition to the state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, four villagers, alleged that the traditional ruler forcefully entered and took possession of their ancestral farmland’s 60 plots of which he has already sold to land speculators for over 39 million Naira.
They also alleged that his marauding bandits had on the 1st of August this year, invaded the country home of one of their illustrious sons and member representing the people of Nkanu East at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Mr. Paul Nnajiofor, carting away valuables and destroying a portion of his compound’s perimeter fence.
The petition, signed by two men, Mssrs Vincent Nnajieze and Anthony Nnamani, and two women, Mrs Angela Okoye and Mrs Ngozi Ogbu, representing the villages, also listed other atrocities being perpetrated on the community by traditional ruler and members of the community bandits.
They included alleged attack and maiming of people during a burial ceremony “witnessed by many people during which some of the bandits boasted that they must give solid support to Egbevumbe (The Tortoise that a
Hawk cannot snatch), in his mission to drive Ndiagu Owo away and sell off their Ekwururo land.
Brutalized Mrs. Nnajieze
“Those who attacked us physically are Christian Nnamuchi Asaba, Ifanyi Ani, Ebuka Hyacinth Nnamuchi, Raphael Nnamuchi (Super), and Sunday Dayboy Arum. Others are Mrs Felicia Nnajiukwa, Luke Nnamuchi, Christian Ede and Ozoemene Nnamuchi among others”, the petitioners claimed.
“Before now, a group of notorious youths have been operating in Mbulu Owo some from Owo communities. These bad boys bear dangerous weapons and charms attacking some villagers, braking into houses and carrying out dangerous operations like bandits and criminals and carrying out many armed robbery operations in the last few weeks.” they accused.
One of the ransacked rooms
The petitioners claimed that the traditional ruler gives these criminals his tacit support by naming them his “Royal Palace Guards” contrary to the government approved Community Policing.
The vIllagers are also attributing to the group, series of armed robberies in the town during which food stuffs, gas cookers and cylinders, kerosene stoves, livestock and, even dogs, were stolen adding that the nature of items involved make them suspect that a Holding Camp exists somewhere in one of Mbulu Owo forests.
According to the complaining villagers, victims of the same community hoodlums, attacked and wounded with guns and other dangerous weapons, included Mrs Felicia Nnajieze, a 76 year old woman, Mr. Chigbo Egbo, Mrs Ngozi Bernrd Añuri, Jonathan Aniowo and Stephen Nshiodo.
Among the accusations leveled against Egbevumbe, are the verdict of ostracism he imposed on ten women in the community who included Mrs Mary Aninwangwu, Benedette Nnaji, Theresa Aniowo, Juliana Naamani, Elizabeth Nnajiogbodo, Victoria Ogbodo’s, Louisa Agbowo, Maureen Edenwaniowo, Justina Awamba and Angela Mba.
The is also being accused of excessive high handedness, autocratic rule, suppression and arbitrary repression which he carries out with impunity incarcerating his subjects at will and ensuring that they never regained their freedom after such detentions. A case in point is the continuing incarceration without trial of Onuora Ogbu (27) and Obumneme Okoye (29) since October 2020 with their case files untouched at Agbani high court.
In the petitions, the Mbulu Owo people prayerfully want Governor Ugwuanyi and former governor Chimaroke Nnamani (now Senator for Enugu East senatorial district) to intervene and quel the ongoing security breaches in the community.
Corroborating the villagers’ account, The Member representing Nkanu East State Constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Paul Nnajiofor, confirmed suspected arsonists attack on his compound at Mbulu Owo, breaking down of a portion of his fence, forcefully gaining entry into his house and carting away some personal belongings.
“On Ist August 2021 my House at Mbulu Owo was attacked, a portion of my fence broken, the arsonists forcefully entered the Main building broke into rooms ransacked them, family and personal items including a plasma TV set stolen. That operation was led by Ugonwa Ogbu, Chinagoro Edeaga, Chibuzor Abonyi, Christian Nnamuchi,, Ifeanyi Ani and others.. The Police is still on the matter and action being taken.
“On 16 th of August 2021 My office at Enha was broken into and a Plasma TV and other personal items stolen. That operation was led by Ifeanyi Ani, Chibuzor Abonyi and Christian Nnamuchi Asaba etc. The matter has bern reported to the police and action being taken.
Broken portion of the Hon Member’s fence
“On 28 th August 2021, I was physically attacked & blocked with weapons at Onuanu Ashishi Owo during a Burial event as I made to return to Enugu. This particular incident happenned right in the presence of many witnesses including 2 police officers.
“Those who physically attacked me are:
(1) Ifeanyi Ani
(2) Christian Nnamuchi Asaba
(3) Ebuka Hyacinth Nnamuchi
(4) Raphael Nnamuchi Super
(5) Luke Nnamuchi
(6) Sunday Arum Day boy
(7) Chukwuemeka Ede
(8) Mrs Felicia Nnajiukwa.
“Felicia was instigating and encouraging her relations to go ahead and attack me. That who is Paul to challenge Igwe Okeke Arum. People tried to intervene and stop them but they continued untill I was able to manipulate my way out ftom them without uttering a word.
I never took laws into my hands. I later reported the incident to the security agencies and actions including investigations are on going.
Broken window
“My question is “What is my offence?
“Between 28th August 2021 and 29th September 2021, more people have been attacked with weapons including pistol. Pump action guns, machettes and other dangerous weapons within Ashishi Owo namely Mrs Felicia Nnajieze Mama Vin, Johnson Aniowo, Mrs Ngozi Bernard Añuri, Chigbo Egbo, Ndubuisi Nshiodo and other threats to my life and the Lives of other people by Ifeanyi Ani, Obinna Ngwu, Anselem Ani, Christian Nnamuchi, Luke Nnamuchi, Lazarus Igwurube and others. Obinna Ngwu confronted me on a Wednesday that once he becomes Owo PG, that about 5 people he mentioned will leave the community by force.
That he is the one executing the attacks on me through the Ashishi Owo Village bandits (just one family out of all the 9 kindred) from the Nnamuchi Ede’s household.
“The Question is why are they on the run, why not honour the invitation by the Police, DSS, and Community elders to resolve the issue amicably?
“I am for Peace. I am for Everybody. We are all brothers. No need to attack me based on no offence of mine. Every thing is not politics.” Rt Hon Paul Nnajiofor JP. concluded.
