By Emmanuel Onwubiko<\/p>\n
The current administration has just intervened in the protracted human
\nrights violations that have threatened the social fabrics of a notable
\nagrarian community in the crude oil rich Delta state known as
\nIdumuje-Ugboko which is approximately a trekkable distance from the
\npolitical seat of power of Delta state of Asaba.<\/p>\n
The epicenter of these crises is within the House of Nwoko which for
\ncenturies has headed the trade-cultural affairs of this reputable
\ncommunity known for producing distinguished lawyers, journalists,
\nwriters and keepers of excellent global tourism sites.<\/p>\n
Hendrix Oliomogbe is a journalist who works for Nigeria\u2019s media
\nflagship \u2013 The Guardian and from his base in Asaba he summed up what
\nhe believes are the core issues tearing this once boisterous and
\npeaceful farming community apart.<\/p>\n
He wrote as follows: \u201cOn August 20th 2017, a house divided against
\nitself can certainly not stand, so they warned. An impending implosion
\nmay just lead to the fall of House of Nwoko, which for centuries has
\npresided over affairs of the small town of Idumuje Ugboko, Aniocha
\nNorth local council of Delta State, should the feuding princes not
\nentomb the hatchet. The cause of friction is who, between Prince
\nJustin Nonso Nwoko, the eldest surviving son of the late King Obi
\nAlbert Nwoko III, and his younger half-brother, 18-year old Prince
\nUche Nwoko, is the rightful occupant of the ancient chieftaincy
\nstool\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the elder Nwoko has since been coronated as king by a section
\nof the palace, the teenager, a final year secondary school student, is
\nnot relenting in his march to the throne. He is so supremely confident
\nthat as the chosen one, that like the biblical Joseph, his elder
\nbrother might pay obeisance to him. The coveted kingship stool became
\nvacant last February, when their father passed on at 91. The cold war
\nover who the crown fits turned hot recently, when some suspected
\nhoodlums brazenly invaded the palace in a desperate bid to abort a
\nmeeting of the elders\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom being a peaceful community, where cheerful princes pumped
\nhands within the confine of the palace, there is now mutual suspicion
\nand palpable fear in the community, even though security has been
\nbeefed up around the palace, with the deployment of anti-riot
\npolicemen. The Iyase (traditional Prime Minister), Chief Chris Ogwu,
\nalleged that anarchy is now the order in the town, a few kilometers
\nfrom the council headquarters at Issele Uku, as the teenage prince\u2019s
\nsupporters are now hounded by some village thugs. Ogwu, a veteran
\njournalist and pioneer editor of the state owned The Pointer
\nnewspaper, said his insistence on the truth earned him a severe
\nwhipping, while the windscreen of his vehicle was smashed and his
\nhouse vandalized by thugs on the monarch\u2019s orders.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said: \u201cOver 100 thugs now occupy the palace. They invaded the
\ncommunity, dragged people out of their homes and beat them up, and
\ndestroyed indigenes\u2019 belongings. They invaded the market and chased
\naway traders. They also invaded the secondary school, causing teachers
\nand pupils to scamper into the bush, as they shot sporadically.\u201d
\nPrince Uche and his supporters contended that the choice of the elder
\nhalf-brother couldn\u2019t stand, as the people\u2019s age-old customs were
\nnot followed in the installation. They are holding him out as more
\nqualified, because his parents are from Idumuje-Ugboko.\u201d<\/p>\n
These narratives by the reporter are one amongst the many cases of
\nhuman rights abuses which formed the fundamental points of attractions
\nfor the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) which
\nabout the same time of this newspaper publication embarked on an
\ninvestigative visit to the community.<\/p>\n
Barrister David Ajaba, a very senior legal consultant to HURIWA headed
\nthe team which also included Barrister Sylvia Nneka Okonkwo, and two
\nother activists namely Andrew and Yomi. They met and interviewed
\nseveral victims of coordinated attacks which were blamed reportedly on
\nthe factional traditional ruler of the village aforementioned.<\/p>\n
The team authored a report of the fact-finding mission of human rights
\nwriters association of Nigeria to idumeji ugboko community of delta
\nstate as follows:<\/p>\n
In view of the disturbing story of human rights abuses in Idumuje
\nUgboko community of Delta State, we embarked on a fact finding mission
\nto the community on 21st August 2017. This was preceded by an
\napplication for police protection which was personally submitted to
\nand immediately approved by the Delta State Commissioner of Police. In
\nthe company of some armed police men, we proceeded to Idumeje Ugboko
\ncommunity where we had interaction with a good number of persons who
\nwere affected by the rampage and did a house to house assessment of
\nthe situation.<\/p>\n
Our finding revealed that Chief Chris Ogwu, the Iyamasi (Prime
\nMinister) of Idumuje Ugboko is one of the victims of the attack. The
\nwindow glasses of his cars: a Camry Le and a Mercedes-Benz 230; house
\nwindows, wardrobe were destroyed. He informed us that other household
\nitems like television, dstv decoder, mobile phones were stolen from
\nhim after had been personally beaten and dragged to the palace on the
\nnight of 24th May 2017.<\/p>\n
All the elders of the community were affected by the attack. Chief
\nChucks Kennedy Ilo relayed that on the 19th of May 2017, some
\naggressive youths came to his shop and informed him that Prince Nonso
\nhad ordered that they bring him to the palace. They grabbed him and
\ncarried him to the palace where he was terribly manhandled and told
\nthat it was only a warning. Afterwards on the 24th of May 2017 at
\nabout 12midnight, they came back destroyed his living house (which we
\nobserved) and took away his dstv and Star Times decoders, TV, cooking
\ngas, serving plates, ogbono seed stored by the wife. This second
\nexperience caused him to flee his home to Asaba where he has been till
\nthe time of our visit.<\/p>\n
Chief Moses Chisanda (Bukano) who is the President of the Udumuje
\nUgboko Development Union had his house\u2019s 12 windows destroyed and
\nsaid his mobile phones, dstv, motorcycle were taken by the armed
\nyouth.<\/p>\n
Mr. Peter Mbama (Head of Vigilante)
\nsaid on the 24th day of May, 2017 at 12:30am, some armed thugs said
\nthey were sent by Prince Nonso Nwoko to recover the property of the
\ncommunity from him and despite that he handed the properties to them,
\nhe was mercilessly beaten almost to death but was only rescued later
\nwhere he was abandoned.<\/p>\n
Same treatment appeared to have been meted out to Mr Uche Nwoko. The
\nwindows, doors, kitchen cabinets of his new house were all destroyed.
\nHe informed us that
\nsome friends had earlier advised his family to leave their house
\nbecause they would be attacked. And true to the threat, on the 25th of
\nMay 2017 at 12midnight, His 2 GP tanks were equally destroyed while
\nhis well water was poisoned. We observed all the properties destroyed.<\/p>\n
We also observed that Emma Kobonye (youth leader) sustained gunshot
\ninjury on his leg which he said was due to attacks by the same youth.
\nAt the house of Chief Sunday Edimode (the Odogwu of Idumuje) Ugboko),
\nwe observed that of the 16 windows of his house, 14 were smashed
\nexposing the house to cold. We met him shaking terribly like one with
\npartial stroke. He informed us that all were a result of the attacks
\nof some armed youths who informed him that they were sent by Prince
\nNonso Nwoko due to his association with and support for Prince Ned
\nNwoko.<\/p>\n
Another person affected by the attacks is Mr. Victor Omeyi: he fumed
\nas relayed his ugly ordeal. His five air conditioners, conveniences,
\nwindows were all smashed with the following items (according to him)
\ncarted away: boxes of utensils, return ticket to UK, landed property
\ndocuments, $3,500, E500, N200,000, generating set, etc.<\/p>\n
Mrs. Gladys Koguonye also suffered similar fate. Her two doors, 5
\nwindows, dish and decoder were all destroyed. She reported that her
\nNokia phone was taken away by the armed youths who threatened her with
\ngun the night of 25th June 2017 at around 11 pm when they came to her
\nhouse.<\/p>\n
This is by no means a complete coverage of those affected by the
\nattacks due to time and resources.<\/p>\n
Life and property in Idumuje Ugboko community right now are not safe.
\nSome people have fled the community for refuge at some other towns,
\nwhile some others who cannot afford to leave the community have left
\ntheir homes. The emotions are very high. It is a situation which
\nrequires urgent attention to prevent further attacks or retaliatory
\nattacks which will greatly worsen the life of the community.<\/p>\n
On the return of this investigative team to the community, the Rights
\ngroup wrote to the National Human Rights Commission and asked that the
\ncommission constitute a team to visit the community to see for
\nthemselves what the team saw on ground and the displacement of so many
\nof the people of this community who then took refuge within the
\nimposing and expansive mansion of the former house of representatives
\nmember and a leading senior maritime lawyer in Africa Prince Ned
\nNwoko.<\/p>\n
HURIWA told the Human Rights Commission why it has become necessary
\nfor government to intervene as follows: \u201cWe write you this letter to
\nurge your good offices to urgently assign a team of investigators to
\nvisit the above mentioned community to provide remedial mechanisms to
\nthe large number of alleged human rights violation victims. Our
\nattention was called to the brewing crisis in this community and we
\nare concerned that a great percentage of women, children and elders of
\nthis community who were allegedly attacked by armed thugs are now
\ninternally displaced and denied their constitutionally guaranteed
\nhuman rights\u201d.<\/p>\n
As one of the credible civil society stakeholders, we decided to visit
\nthe community on Monday 21st August 2017 to take a critical assessment
\nof the allegations but the presence of your tem would make a world of
\ndifference because of the capacity of your good offices to deploy
\ninstitutional mechanisms within the context of the enabling law to
\nresolve the growing trends of human rights violations especially
\nagainst vulnerable members of this community.<\/p>\n
We were also informed that after the violence that recently erupted in
\nIdumuje-Ugboko, an agrarian community in Aniocha North LGA of Delta
\nState, the tale is such that could be described as evidence of sorrow,
\ntears and blood. The gory sight of the point where a young man was
\nmurdered, the injured youths, the displaced and homeless, the wanton
\ndestruction of properties, all this attest to the wreck left behind by
\nthe royal family entrusted with the custody and destiny of the
\ncommunity of Ugboko and her people. Even the team of police from the
\noffices of the AIG Zone 5, Benin, the CP Delta State Command and the
\nDPO Divisional Police Headquarters, Issele-Uku could not resist an
\nintermittent facial expression of surprises at the level of mayhem
\nunleashed on a community by her own immediate ruling family and their
\ncohorts, so reports the media.<\/p>\n
Before conducting journalists round the town to families whose houses
\nwere destroyed, one of the actors, Prince Ned Nwoko had briefed the
\nmedia representatives before the OC Legal from Benin, the outcome of
\nthe meeting of parties in the Ugboko crisis with the AIG Abubakar.<\/p>\n
From the whole scenario, it appears that the bone of contention
\nbetween Prince Nonso Nwoko and Prince Ned Nwoko is the 90 hectares of
\nland allocated to the latter for the setting up of a sport university,
\nwhich was sparked off by previous personal acrimony. The documents
\nshown indicated that the land was duly approved to be given to Ned by
\nthe former Obi Albert Nwoko prior to his demise, before the coming up
\nof Prince Nonso Nwoko to oppose the approval and attempting to disrupt
\nthe ceding of the said land for the establishment of a university of
\nsports.<\/p>\n
The Odogwu of Ugboko, Chief Sunday Anthony Edemodu, who is also a
\nvictim of the crisis, confirmed as the Land Allocation Chairman that
\nObi Albert duly approved the allocation of the said land to Ned as
\nagreed by Ugboko community. He exonerated Ned of any wrong doing,
\nadding that his family was attacked for standing on the truth.<\/p>\n
The Secretary of the Land Allocation Committee, Mr. Kennedy Iloh also
\naffirmed the claims of the Odogwu, maintaining that Prince Nonso Nwoko
\nis opposed to development in the community even when his qualification
\nfor the next Ugboko king remains in doubt. He said a handful of elders
\nin the community were beaten up and rendered homeless by thugs loyal
\nto Prince Nonso Nwoko, just for speaking the truth.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, every other victim spoken to, including a 75 year old Mrs.
\nMaria Nwoko alleged that one Ashioma Omezie led Chiejume Ndudi, Kachi
\nNwoko, Nnamdi Ochei, Nonso Omeife a.k.a Mandela, Iyke Moemeke, Ifeanyi
\nChima, Nwabuisi Chima, Ndudi Chibu and over 25 other alleged thugs
\nfrom the palace to beat them up and destroy their houses at night. She
\npleaded with the police to be in constant operation in the community
\nto protect them, claiming that their lives are in danger as the entire
\ncommunity has been engulfed in fears.<\/p>\n
However, it was later learnt that over 150 youths and elders,
\nincluding the Iyase of Ugboko, Chief Chris Ogwu and the last wife of
\nthe former Obi, Queen Faith Okwukwe Nwoko now live at the Mount Ned
\nNwoko as refugees, even in their own community.<\/p>\n
The now frayed looking Iyase of Ugboko, Chief Chris Ogwu, a veteran
\njournalist himself and pioneer Editor of the Pointer Newspaper
\nstressed that only God can help them from the hands of a tyrant who
\nwould do anything to become king. He said ever since the incident
\nwhere his house and brand new car were destroyed he had sought refuge
\nin tightly secured Ned Nwoko’s house.<\/p>\n
Chief Ogwu had earlier briefed the press in Asaba after the carnage in
\nhis community. With this on the spot assessment of damage in the
\ncommunity of Ugboko, it could be deduced that all what he said was
\ntrue.<\/p>\n
The Rights Commission immediately commenced investigation even as it
\nlater recommended to the Federal Attorney General and minister of
\njustice Abubakar Malami (SAN) to intervene urgently which the office
\nof the Federal Attorney General immediately took over the entire
\nprocess which has now culminated in the imminent prosecution for
\nterrorism of the indicted factional leaders of the community.<\/p>\n
The Federal government\u2019s intervention has now resulted in a pending
\nsuit before the Federal High Court, Abuja Division and one of the
\ningredients of the allegations is thus:<\/p>\n
Conspiracy punishable under section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention)
\n(Amendment) Act 2013<\/p>\n
Nigerian government alleged that: \u201cThat you, PRINCE CHUKWUNONSO
\nNWOKO, DENNIS UWADIEGUM NWOKO, NDUDI CHIEJIUME, NWOCHIE AGILIGA LIGHT,
\nRAYMOND OMESIETE, ADIM NWAFOR, OKEY IFEJOKU, AZUKA MUKOLU, EJIMOFE
\nNWOKO, OMOYE ESONYE, AIKHOMO OMEZI of Idumuje-Ugboko Community,
\nAniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State on or before the
\n18th to the 25th of May 2017 at Idumuje-Ugboko Community, Aniocha
\nNorth Local Government Area of Delta State within the jurisdiction of
\nthis Honourable Court conspired to commit Act of terrorism and you
\nthereby committed an offence punishable under section 17 of the
\nTerrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013\u201d.<\/p>\n
*Emmanuel Onwubiko heads HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
\n(HURIWA) and blogs@www.emmanuelonwubiko.com,www.huriwa.blogspot.com
\n[1],www.thenigerianinsidermews.com [2].<\/p>\n
Links:
\n——
\n[1] http:\/\/www.huriwa.blogspot.com\/
\n[2] http:\/\/www.thenigerianinsidermews.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Emmanuel Onwubiko The current administration has just intervened in the protracted human rights violations that have threatened the social fabrics of a notable agrarian community in the crude oil…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":67490,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles-opinions"],"yoast_head":"\n