Concerned Citizens Accuse Nnewi South Mayor of Abducting, Detaining Community Member, Urge Soludo to Investigate

~ Alleged that Mayor was financially induced

By Our Correspondent 

Concerned citizens of Amichi community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State have launched a scathing attack on the Executive Chairman of the council, Hon. VanGeorge Chinedu Ezeogidi, accusing him of abusing his office, violating fundamental human rights and deploying executive power to intimidate a community member over the expression of an opinion.

The group specifically accused the council chairman of ordering the forceful arrest and detention of Mr. Eugene Okeke, popularly known as Odaa Opuo, following comments he allegedly made during a town union meeting, describing the incident as an outrageous assault on democratic freedoms, personal liberty and the rule of law.

In a strongly worded statement, the Concerned Citizens described Okeke’s arrest as an act of abduction and executive high-handedness, insisting that no public officeholder has the authority to turn personal disagreement or criticism into grounds for the violation of a citizen’s fundamental rights.

According to the group, Okeke was taken away from his residence at about 2:00 a.m. in an operation it described as forceful and unlawful, simply because he expressed his opinion during an Amichi Development Union (ADU) meeting held on October 2, 2026, at Amichi Town Hall.

The meeting was convened primarily to deliberate on the ongoing construction at Eke Amichi, a development that had generated considerable disagreement and concern among members of the community.

The group explained that participants were invited to express their opinions on the matter. During the discussion, Okeke reportedly suggested that the structures being erected at the disputed location should be demolished.

He was quoted as saying in Igbo: “Obulu na asim kwuo, agam-asi ka ewere caterpillar kwatuo ihe-nile di ne be-ahu.”
Translated, he said: “In my opinion, I would suggest that we use a bulldozer to demolish all the structures ongoing at that site.”

The concerned citizens maintained that Okeke’s statement was an expression of personal opinion during a community deliberation and did not, in itself, constitute justification for the midnight invasion of his residence, arrest and detention.

They condemned any attempt to criminalise dissenting opinions or portray disagreement at a town union meeting as a security threat, warning that such a development could create a dangerous atmosphere in which citizens become afraid to speak freely about issues affecting their community.

The group insisted that the action was particularly disturbing because it involved a public officeholder who should ordinarily protect citizens’ rights rather than be associated with their suppression.

Citing Sections 37 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the concerned citizens insisted that the inviolability of citizens’ privacy and the right to freedom of expression are constitutionally guaranteed and cannot be set aside at the discretion of a local government chairman.

They also challenged the legal basis for the involvement of local vigilante groups and other security outfits in detaining citizens or operating detention facilities outside the established legal framework.

According to them, no vigilante organisation or privately constituted security outfit should be allowed to assume powers reserved for recognised law enforcement agencies or operate as an alternative criminal justice system.

They further argued that disputes arising from the administration of a registered town union must be resolved through established legal and internal mechanisms, not through intimidation, force or the alleged weaponisation of security personnel against community members.

In another development, the statement called for an immediate visit to the residence of Mr. Udebuani to recover all coated iron pillars and rods kept there for the construction of the demolished shops at Eke Amichi.

The group alleged that some of the materials had already been sold and called for urgent steps to establish their whereabouts and recover all materials belonging to the project.

It said the development raised further questions about accountability, transparency and the management of resources connected with the controversial construction at Eke Amichi.

The concerned citizens warned that the unfolding controversy had exposed deep-seated problems threatening peace, unity and progress in Amichi, insisting that the community could no longer afford to remain silent while its governance structure and public institutions were allegedly being used in ways that undermine the rights of its people.

They described the situation as a defining moment in Amichi’s history, arguing that the community urgently requires comprehensive structural reforms in its leadership and governance arrangements.

The group maintained that no individual, regardless of political position, traditional influence or public office, should place himself above the law or treat the community’s collective affairs as a personal possession.

It warned that intimidation cannot produce genuine unity, force cannot command lasting legitimacy, and the suppression of opposing views cannot provide a sustainable foundation for community development.

The concerned citizens therefore called for accountability, respect for constitutional rights, transparency in the handling of community affairs and an end to any form of intimidation or unlawful detention.

They insisted that Amichi deserves responsible leadership, not an atmosphere of fear; dialogue, not intimidation; and the rule of law, not the arbitrary exercise of power.

The group insisted that the controversy surrounding Eke Amichi must be addressed openly and lawfully, warning that the continued disregard for citizens’ rights and legitimate concerns could further deepen divisions in the community.