Some concerned members of the Ezzagu (Ogboji) Autonomous Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, yesterday called on Ebonyi State Government and the Nigerian Police to intervene in the brewing crisis arising from the tussle for the next traditional ruler of their community.
The affected members of the Community led by Chief Nwonu Okeh, Mr. Donatus Nwekpa, and Ekene Ogba raised alarm that since the demise of the former traditional ruler of the community, many of them have been threatened as attempts have been made on their lives by unknown assailants.
The trio alleged that one Nwankwo Michael a.k.a Omereme was instrumental to the kidnap saga, destruction of properties, assault, intimidation, harassment and breach to peace that have been bedeviling them and the community for a long time now.
In a petition to the Nigerian Police titled “Complaint of murder, kidnapping, serious threat to life, wilful destruction of properties, grievous bodily injuries, assault, intimidation, harassment, breach to peace against one Chinedu Nwankwo Michael a.k.a Omereme, the petitioners exclaimed that if nothing urgent was done to curb the excesses of the accused person, the village could become a “slaughter house” in the State.
The petition read in part: “Sometime in 2004, the Traditional Ruler of Ezzagu (Ogboji) Autonomous Community in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State passed on (died). Certain persons, including the Respondent in this petition declared their interest and intention to succeed the late Monarch.
“In the course and process of lobbying, consultation by those who declared interest in the succession of the late Monarch, among the indigenes and stakeholders in the Autonomous Community of Ishielu Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, the Respondent has turned the entire Ezzagu (Ogboji Autonomous Community into a bloody land where innocent persons are being attacked with cutlasses, gun, kidnapped and raped on a daily basis, in his belief that these nefarious activities of his will enable him become the successor of the late Monarch.
“After several and physical attacks on our Clients with a continuous threat to their lives by the Respondent herein, on the 9th day of April/ 2022, our client Mr. Donatus Nwekpa was again attacked; causing life threatening injuries all over his bodies and some of the Respondent’s criminal gangs were chased by the villagers as those arrested confessed that they were working for him against our clients and some other persons in the community.
“The Respondent herein Chinedu Nwankwo Michael was declared wanted by the Ebonyi State Government for all his atrocious and murderous activities in the community but the State Government could not arrest him and as a result of this, he continued in his atrocities while boasting that no Government or its security agencies can arrest him or his boys.
“Life is nothing anymore in Ezzagu (Ogboji) Autonomous Community, Ishielu, Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, because of Native Doctor Chinedu Nwankwo Michael (aka Omereme).
“The Respondent is now the lord over the entire community, and our clients and their families live in fear of being attacked and killed at any time, if urgent action is not taken to arrest this unfortunate situation, our clients, their families member and the entire community find themselves in the hand of this blood sucking monster called Native Doctor Chinedu Nwankwo Michael (aka Omereme).
“Our clients are very ready to assist, cooperate and provide necessary support in terms of giving information to the Nigeria Police to enable her maintain peace and order in our just society. Security is everyone’s business now; it is on this basis that we provide this information to you and your good office to avert imminent dangers looming in our clients’ lives and the entire community of Ezzagu in Ishielu LGA of Ebonyi State.”
Several attempts to get the reaction of Chinedu Nwankwo Michael proved abortive as his phone lines were nor reachable.
