Thugs reportedly numbering over 30 have vandalized the homes of town
union officials in Obuohia- Okike community in Ikwuano Local Government
Area of Abia State.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the thugs destroyed household
properties, windows and doors and looted undisclosed sums of cash.
The affected officials; Comrade Nwachukwu Chukwuma,Deacon Nwaogu
Chijindu, Rev. Josiah Ogbonna and Mr. Obasi Christian, who are leaders
of the Obuohia-Okike Community Development Association ,are said to have
fled the community after the vandalization of their homes.
In a petition by their counsel, Charles Okwudiri Azubuike , titled;
”Use of cult boys to terrorize embattled members of cabinet over
control of Obuohia- Okike palm fruit , vandalization of native
residential houses, armed robbery and arson”, the town officials
accused the traditional ruler of the community, Eze Mgbeonyere Eleribe,
of allegedly instigating the youths to attack them and destroy their
homes.
The suspects; Udochukwu Nwankwo, Izuchi Ubani and others now at large
were alleged to have vandalized the residences of the town union
officials and threatened to kill them.
Sources told Pointblanknews.com that the bone of contention is the
control of the community palm fruit which the town officials oversee.
However, the monarch allegedly instigated the youths to attack the town
union officials as the latter refused to submit to the interference of
the monarch.
“The problem is who controls the community palm fruits. The
constitution of the community gives the town union officials the power
to control the palm fruits and use it to run the community, but Eze
Eleribe is not happy with the current officials. He has made many
unsuccessful attempts to suspend or sack them, but the community people
are backing the town union officials. It was Eze Eleribe who told the
youths that he had sacked the officials and handed power to them. This
encouraged the youths who brought thugs to vandalize the homes of the
town union executives.”
A complaint of the incident was said to have been lodged at the zone 9
police command where some suspects have been arrested while the police
had also invited Eze Eleribe over the vandalization of the homes of the
town union officials.
Spokesperson, zone 9 police command, Janet Egwu, confirmed the arrest of
the suspects and the invitation of the monarch over the matter.