Umueri Ogbunike Chairman, Elobisi urges preventive actions by govt, security, as others allege threats to life

By Ifeizu Joe 

Though a civil matter has been instituted at Otuocha High Court sitting in Onitsha over attempt to overthrow his leadership, the Chairman of Umueri Village in Ogbunike, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chief Levi Elobisi has called on the government and security agencies to prevent his “brothers” from further taking the laws into their hands.

He alleged attempt to take his life, burglary at his Umueri Village property and forceful invasion of homes of members of his executives, as well as vigilante operatives in the area.

Speaking during the visit of a special police investigation team who were in the community over the brewing crisis, Chief Elobisi narrated how he was attacked by gunmen suspected to be his Umueri Ogbunike people.

He added that properties genuinely acquired by people in the area are being destroyed; just to pitch the people against his leadership.

Others who spoke to the police and the media during the investigation, include the wife of the Chief Security Officer of Umueri Village Ogbunike, Mrs Ifeoma Onwunagha, wife of a vigilante operative, Mrs Uchechukwu Onyekwuluje, and sister to Chief Elobisi, Mrs Ifechukwu Udeh.

They narrated how their homes and or shops were invaded by a group of young men welding gun, matchets, axe and other dangerous weapons, with lives threatened, and homes looted because of their relationships with their perceived enemies.

Also speaking, the Welfare Officer of Umueri Village Ogbunike, Nze Kenechukwu Nzeakor, alleged that on a Tuesday, the youth group visited his house and gave ultimatum for him to leave the village, while Mrs Ifeoma Mmadukife said the rampaging youths wielding gun, axe and other dangerous weapons also invaded her compound, assaulted her and broke into her house.

Mrs Ogochukwu and husband, Onyeka Mgbolu also narrated how the group of young people they could identify destroyed their goods and gave him ultimatum to leave the village.

At Obianwuna’s family compound, one of the sons, Emeka, narrated how their houses were attacked by the same group while he was in a meeting, adding that after the attack, his younger brother, Chinweuba, has not been seen since then.