Security Operatives from Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, Cross River State, on Wednesday arrested community leaders of Umuogoduakpu Ngbo in Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi state.
The arrest was in connection with the disappearance of a Naval Officer from Agila community in Benue State who lost his way on getting to Ngbo Court.
Recall that about a month ago, a Naval Officer who reportedly missed his way, was said to had disappeared at Eguorie village in Umuogodoakpu-Ngbo community in Ohaukwu LGA.
He was going home and decided to follow Ngbo because they have boundary with his Agila people.
Sadly, he didn’t get to his destination as the GPS he was using to find his route misdirected him and took him to Ngbo war zone. And since then he has been declared missing.
The development compelled Governor David Umahi to give security agencies in the State seven days to produce the Naval Officer dead or alive, but they have not produced him.
However, contrary to reports that it was stakeholders of the local government that were arrested, the council chairman, Barrister Clement Odah, disclosed that those nabbed were just community leaders of Umuogoduakpu Ngbo.
He said it was the community that the naval officer went missing that was affected and that the traditional ruler, and the town union president were those whisked away by the operatives.
“There is nothing like stakeholders arrested. It’s one community that we are talking about not Ohaukwu stakeholders.
“It’s the traditional ruler of Umuogoduakpu Ngbo and the town union president that were arrested.
“So the issue is more of community leaders not stakeholders because it was not an Ohaukwu affair it was just that particular community where the soldier went missing.
“The other people who were wrongly arrested including journalists were also released,” he explained
The Voice also gathered that the recent arrest came one week after the Coordinator of Ngbo West Development Centre, Barr. Peter Igwe Ogenyi, was also arrested by the Operatives of the Command, who came from Calabar.
Sources claimed that the security officers stormed Ohaukwu Council Secretariat at about 5pm on Tuesday, 7th April, 2020, where they were having a security meeting and arrested some leaders of the community.
The meeting as gathered was at the instance of the council Chairman, Hon. Clement Odah.
