The Ogwuaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State has become a scene of unrest and chaos as the residents have called out the State Police Command and the Nigerian Navy in the state for their alleged collusion with a factional group in the community to arrest innocent residents using masked pointers.
According to the people of Ogwuaniocha, for the past few weeks, security operatives have been visiting their homes at night with masked men, who label them as members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN). They accused the security operatives of working with a rival group in their community to suppress them concerning the Kingship tussle that has torn the community apart.
The spokesperson of the community, Chief Christopher Obumsele, spoke at a press conference in Onitsha, where he said that the latest arrest through the use of masked pointers was the lecturer at Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, known as Mr Jude, and three others. He also mentioned that many villagers who have been labelled IPOB/ESN members by the masked pointers have been whisked away by the security operatives, adding that the whereabouts of these individuals are still unknown.
The ongoing Igweship crisis has led to two warring factions in the community, the Odua-in-Council, which is the entire people in the community led by the oldest man, and the Oliver-led group. Members of the Odua-in-Council have accused the opposition of planning to sack them from the community and take over the entire place.
Chief Paul Ijeoma, a member of the Odua-in-Council, has pleaded with the Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene by persuading the Navy to halt the constant arrests of their people and release the detained individuals who were not members of ESN.
The community chieftain, Chief John Adigwe, has also said that the crisis in their community is about the Igweship crisis, and it’s in court. He added that they are law-abiding citizens who have been peaceful and that some individuals use the crisis to cause unrest in the community and tag them as ESN members.
While contacted, the State Police Spokesman has said that the information was not before the command, but the victims of the incident/report should come forward for an investigation.
The people of Ogwuaniocha community appeal to the appropriate authorities to intervene and bring an end to the ongoing unrest.
