Some indigenes of Isuaniocha community in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have called on the governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo to Set up a judicial panel of enquiry to solve insecurity in their area.
The indigenes, Hon. Richard Okoye and Mr Frederick Egwunwa made the passionate appeal in Awka while speaking with journalists.
They said since 2017, the community has been witnessing all manner of unrest as a result of land issues. They said it started when a former president general of the community, Mr Tony Onyeagolu refused an attempt by some people in the community to partition and share the undeveloped part of the Isuaniocha Community Secondary School land among themselves.
“Since then, we have not rested. Since after the refusal, these people have been sponsoring all manner of insecurity in the community, including robbery and kidnapping.
“There is the urgent need for the Nigerian government through its Judicial system, to save the people from further attacks and abuse as well as insecurity bedeviling the once peaceful community.”
They narrated that the entire crisis started after the former President General was elected and sworn-in on the 4th day of May, 2017 and he vehemently resisted the moves by some persons to partition and share the undeveloped part of the Isuaniocha Community Secondary School land.
Hon. Richard Okoye and Mr Frederick Egwunwa claimed that as a result of the resistance by the former PG, one of the persons, a former local government chairman of Awka North Local Government Area and his cohorts allegedly recruited thugs and started causing mayhem in Isuaniocha Community.
The Concerned Citizens said “the suspects, in a commando and in their persistent gruesome killings of innocent citizens of Isuanaocha, had on different occasions ranging from 2017 to 2022 destroyed a family house valued above N200,000,000 (Two Hundred Million Naira) situate and lying at Otoko Village Isuanaocha which belonged to Chief Onyeagolu.
They said also destroyed, was a magnificent storey building with its appurtenances valued above N 1, 000, 000, 000.00 (₦One Billion Naira) belonging to Mr. Festus Onyeagolu elder brother of the former PG and equally stole household properties therein.
The two stakeholders narrated that as a result of the criminal activities of the few persons, a petition was lodged to the IGP for a discreet investigation.
According to them, the Inspector General of Police after investigation into the on-going Isuaniocha crisis found some persons liable, charged them to Court and in official gazette, declared the fleeing accused persons wanted and through the AIG Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government Area, Anambra State, stationed permanently armed Policemen in Isuaniocha in a bid to maintain lasting peace in the Community.
The two concerned indigenes noted that in order to frustrate the prosecution of the suspects standing trial in the said charges and to prevent the arrest and prosecution of the fleeing suspects already declared wanted by the Nigerian Police, the suspects and their sponsors allegedly procured the officers of the DSS Anambra State Command and the some officers of the Police from Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) and Rapid Response Squad (RRS) Awkuzu formerly known as SARS Awkuzu to be kidnapping and maiming all the witnesses that will testify in the said charges against the suspects.
They regretted that the gullible officers have turned themselves into personal security of the notorious criminals on the Police wanted list.
One occasion, the officers of the DSS had a clash with of the officers of the Nigeria Police Stationed in Isuaniocha town by the directive of the IGP when the DSS prevented them from arresting a notorious terrorist on the police watch list.
Not only that these officers of the former SARS Awkuzu and the DSS Awka are providing covers for the suspects, they are out to kill and eliminate all the prosecution witnesses.
They also claimed that on 11/01/2025, the suspects being led by the officers of the AKS/RRS Awkuzu with armed firearms and singing war songs, stormed one of the buildings named the White House at Ifite village, Isuaniocha town in Awka North Council Area of Anambra State and opened fire on the occupants of the House.
Hon. Okoye and Mr Egwunwa claimed that as a result of the severe gun fires, the several persons within and around the said house including , Collins Akubuilo, Mmesoma Samuel Dunu, Okonkwo Augustin Ifechukwu and Chinwendu Ngozi sustained severe bullet injuries are currently undergoing treatment in a Police hospital.
According to them, ” for clarity the persons that came to the house with the officers of the AKS/RRS, Awkuzu on illegal mission and fired gun shots are Cosmas Okonkwo, Onyemazi Ngini, Donatus Okeke, Obumneme Okolo (yobo), Onyebuchi Nweke Isu Okoye, Nonso Obimma, Aluka Ofiegbu, Nonso Eboh (Egongene), Charles Okoye (Chidon), Chukwujekwu Okoye, Chinadu Nwoyeokoye, Basil Okoye, Chukwujekwu Anaekeokwu, Ifeanyi Onyi (Alaye), Paul Okoye, Izuchukwu Nwankwo, Arinze Nwankwo, Chisom Ngini, Chidebere Odie, Emeka Adigwe and Demian Nnaemene.”
The concerned indigenes wondered if it is a crime for someone to report a crime to the Police and follow up the prosecution of the offenders up .
They however commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in stationing armed Policemen in Isuaniocha town but noted that more is still needed to be done to totally liberate the town from the shackles of the suspects and criminal activities.
When contacted , the Police Public Relations Officer , Anambra State Command, Mr Tochukwu Ikenga Confirmed that there is a brief like that before him.
He however cautioned the people not to take laws into their own hands.
” If they have any complaint, they can come forward to the Command headquarters. We are ready to listen”
When contacted to speak on the matter, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 13 Ukpo, .Josephine Ihunwo said she was not aware of any clash that took place in Isuaniocha on the 15th of January.
