Enugwu-Ukwu Ozonkpu Crisis Sparks Arrest of US Citizen, Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor

~ I was abducted without any warrant through conivance of factional  Ozonkpu group

The crisis rocking the Ozonkpu Enugwu-Ukwu society has led to the arrest of a US citizen, health practitioner, Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor.

Okafor a US Based medical and health practitioner, who is also a businessman in North Carolina, United States, who goes by the title Ozonkpu Ofia Ogwu was arrested on Wednesday evening at his home in Umuokpaeri village, Enugwu-Ukwu.

His brother, Hon Engr Celestine Okafor, from Enugwu-Ukwu, who spoke to THE RAZOR said: “Yesterday some group of policemen came to our compound and abducted my younger brother, Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor, Ofia Ogwu,

“The men said they were from Force CID, Abuja and that they were in the compound to invite him to have a talk with the Deputy Commissioner in charge of State Criminal Investigation Department. Though they said it’s an invitation, but when my brother said he would attend the invitation when disposed, they later said he must come with them immediately, meaning it is an arrest, but we demanded for their arrest warrant, but they didn’t have it.

“We have been here since yesterday evening and they have been keeping my brother detained. He is a citizen of the US, residing in North Carolina, United States.”

On why he was picked, the senior Okafor said: “What we know is that the body of traditional title holders known as Ozonkpu in Enugwu-Ukwu has had issues, which led to break up of some members of the group who moved and formed their own group, and my brother remained in the original group. They have even gone to court over this matter, so they went and formed theirs, and my brother is the spokesperson of the original group.

“He wrote on social media to refute a lie by the other group, which was made by Ozonkpu Jude Ekwunife and so they now petitioned my brother to the Interpol, accusing him of cyber bullying.

“The Interpol reached my brother who told them he was in United States. He wrote to them and got an acknowledgement letter, and this Christmas, he returned home and had even extended his stay in Nigeria just to answer to the authorities, hoping they will get back to him as his letter stated, but instead, they came yesterday and arrested him.

“We see this as a collaboration by that faction of Ozonkpu group in Enugwu-Ukwu who call themselves Indigenous Ozo of Enugwu-Ukwu. Court had already  ruled that they have broken away and cannot go by the name Ozo Enugwu-Ukwu Society. They are collaborating with the police to illegally abduct our brother.

“We are calling for justice, we want to know what the crime of our brother is and why are they holding him here.”

A copy of the petition against Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor, which was authored by Ozonkpu Jude Ekwunife’s lawyer was also sighted by THE RAZOR, including an acknowledged copy of the detainees reply to the police.

Sources said the arrest has further deepened the Ozoship crisis in the community, citing intimidation and harassment against Ozonkpu Amobi Okafor.

When THE RAZOR reached out to the state police command’s spokesperson over the allegation of conivance and abduction of the US Citizen, the Spokesperson for the command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said: “Let me put things straight. Police does not abduct, we arrest. It is not true to say he was abducted, but you said they were unable to present arrest warrant.

“Having said that, I want to say that I have not been officially briefed about this matter, but I know I have certain persons from Enugwu-Ukwu who are members of the same Ozonkpu society. I will reach out to them, and also ask the SCID to know about the matter”

Speaking on allegations that the matter was before the Interpol and should not have been interfered with, Ikenga said there are conditions where the police can interfere, especially if it is not the same allegation.

“What I’m saying is that the petition being investigated by the Interpol may not be same as the one being investigated by SCID, which led to this arrest.