Akpawfu is a town located in the Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu state. The town, formerly ruled by Igwe PSO Okoye, was later divided into three autonomous communities, including Ishi Agu or Ishiegu, Obodo Uvuru, and Ajame Agu or Ejamegu, after the death of Igwe Okoye. While Ishi Egu still has no traditional ruler, Obodo Uvuru and Ajame Agu are ruled by HRH Igwe Samuel Dume Nnamoko, a retired public servant and Radio Presenter with the Enugu state Broadcasting Service, ESBS, and Igwe Christopher Nnamani, a retired staff of the defunct NITEL, respectively.
However, inter-communal clashes in Akpawfu appear to have no end in sight. Respondents to an investigation into the crisis in the town suggest that the parties involved are trapped in a cycle of blame and counter-accusations. According to an elderly man called Ogbu be Nvu, who was spotted around the deserted Ikoro market, the clashes are due to a long-standing distrust and rivalry between the Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode and Umuani Oyiwode clans. The Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode clan, considered by some to be the original inhabitants of the land, allege that people who came to live with them over time have been trying to take over their ancestral land. However, joint ownership of the land, which includes Uzam-Ani, Be-Atu-Nshi, Ukporikpo, Awululu, Ubia, Ukor, and Agba-Ekpa was restored after a long legal battle led by the late uncle of Mr. Ogbu be Nvu, Ede Aninwevu.
According to a source, the crisis in Akpawfu town began when the traditional ruler of AjameEgu, Christopher Nnamani, reportedly sent people to cut and sell the community’s communal timber at the Be-Atu-Nshi forest to a buyer from Oruku. When asked to account for the proceeds of the sale, the traditional ruler allegedly began threatening the community. As a result, community members started cutting and selling the communal timber on their own.
The traditional ruler and his associates then contracted an outlawed gang as their security, but over time, he lost control of them. To counter their growing power, the traditional ruler hired private security from a place in Anambra state. This led to an escalation of violence in the town, with the traditional ruler accusing other sections of the community and unleashing his personal security on them. This ultimately resulted in killings, maiming, and arson.
Despite a recent meeting with the Enugu State Commissioner of police’s representative and a call for peace, one individual named Chibuike be Nnam be Ede, in collaboration with Friday Nnamani (also known as Agbogidi), allegedly sponsored members of Umuani Oyiwode clan to register as members of the town’s neighbourhood watch. It is rumoured that Chibuike provided approximately N30m towards this project. These individuals, accompanied by men in army and police uniforms, have been terrorizing and arresting members of the Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode clan within and outside of Akpawfu town. On May 20, 2023, Chukwuemeka Ede (Odo) was arrested in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu South LGA allegedly associated with the disturbances and taken to an unknown location.
Ogbu, an elder in the town, believes that the government should intervene to resolve the long-standing conflict between the two clans in Akpawfu. When asked why he was alone in the deserted area, Ogbu replied, “If I were to die today, I would not consider it dying early.”
Joseph Nnamani, a motorcycle repairer from Ajame Agu, believes that the Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode clan is the cause of the problems in the town. He questioned why they are not respecting their traditional ruler, HRH Igwe Christopher Nnamani, a retired civil servant and well-recognized leader by the government.
Another respondent, who preferred to remain anonymous, blamed the absent traditional ruler of Ajame Agu autonomous community, Igwe Christopher Nnamani, for the crisis and Ajame-Agu’s relegation to the background. He criticized the traditional ruler’s overbearing attitude since his enthronement, leading to an increase in community disgrace.
Before Igwe Nnamani’s leadership, there was a working borehole at the present Orie Ajame; a functional health center at Ncheke; and electricity supply in the community. The borehole stopped functioning because Igwe Nnamani insisted that people contribute money to him for its maintenance before being allowed to fetch water there.
Building set ablaze
The borehole in question was constructed by the Chimaroke Nnamani administration and equipped with solar power. However, the current traditional ruler, Igwe Nnamani, has denied the community access to this borehole by locking it constantly. Consequently, criminals vandalized the borehole, and despite Igwe Nnamani accusing someone named Onyeka Nnaji (Apiawa) of the crime, nothing was done to restore the public borehole back to operation. People in the community resorted to fetching water from wells in people’s homes.
Regarding the health centre, the community has fond memories of the facility where many Akpawfu children were delivered. It was formerly run by Christiana Nnam be Ede Nwagbowo, who later transferred to Amagunze. It was then solely managed by the wife of Godwin Ezekiel Nnamoko of Obodouvuru. However, Igwe Nnamani insisted on being paid each time the land within the precinct of the health centre was cultivated, a demand that the current manager, Godwin’s wife, could not comply with. Igwe Nnamani’s continuous attack on the woman ultimately led to the abandonment of Ncheke Health centre. Today, vandals have looted the facility, and it is now a bush.
Before Christopher Nnamani became Igwe of Ajameagu, the town had functional electricity that constantly powered homes. This was achieved through the tireless efforts of the community’s illustrious sons. However, Igwe Nnamani dissolved the electricity committee that was managing it and made himself the sole bill collector, withholding remittance of payments to NEPA, resulting in Ajame being without electricity for over two years due to the accumulated bills.
The issue of insecurity in Akpawfu raises questions about how strangers were able to infiltrate the town’s forest, causing the situation we are currently witnessing. However, this issue may require further scrutiny at another time.
It is worth noting that many young progressive members of the Umuani Oyiwode clan are not pleased with the actions of Igwe Nnamani and are opposed to his actions, according to a source.
christopher Nnamani
There are numerous accusations directed at Igwe Christopher Nnamani, including his alleged role in causing the Ogbovu fight. It is said that he sent Nwa be John be Ede to vend communal timber, which led to significant problems in the area. The current crisis in the town is also attributed to the same traditional ruler, as he had prior knowledge of the outlawed group’s presence in the Akpawfu forest.
Moreover, according to some media reports, Igwe Christopher Nnamani and his group are accused of having a private security outfit, which they took to Kogi State for fortification. Following their return to Akpawfu, they began to set up illegal roadblocks, beating innocent people, and ultimately escalating to shooting and killing locals across Akpawfu Oyiwode.
On April 28, 2023, Ezenwanyi Nnenna John Be Ede and his son were assaulted and stripped naked. The following day, the suspected private security operatives reportedly went to the neighbouring Akpugo community where they found one of Ezenwanyi’s sons, Ugochukwu Ede Nnamani, who had taken refuge. The security operatives killed him. Since then, they have entered Akpawfu neighborhoods, targeting and killing innocent old men and youths, particularly those belonging to the Umuanigbiyovo Oyiwode family who were unaware of any problems in the town. Multiple deaths have resulted from the crisis, including Ugochukwu Ede Nnamani from Ajame, Onovo Evu from Ishiegu village, Kakwekwe Agwu, Chijindu Ani, Joseph Onovo (known as Joe Nwawusa), and Matthew Ogbu from Ogbovu Village, all in Ndiuno Akpawfu. An old man, Eboyi be Nvu, was also shot in the arm on May 14 in Ishiegu. The town is now left desolate.
On May 17, 2023, three individuals from Akpawfu community, Obama be Onovo, Nwa be Kanta, and another person whose name is unknown, were allegedly arrested by people dressed in military uniforms in Ndiagu Akpugo in Nkanu West LGA. They were taken to Orie Mba, Akpugo, where Obama be Onovo and the unknown person were released, but Nwa be Kanta was reportedly taken to an unknown destination.
When newsmen contacted Igwe Christopher Nnamani for comment, he denied all allegations against him and claimed to be at peace with everyone. However, when questioned about his prolonged absence from his palace, he dismissed the question as irrelevant. GMTNews
