From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Last night (Tuesday), the re-invasion of Umuduruzor in Oboro Umueze Ogwa village of Umueze /Abazu Ogwa autonomous community by the Police of Imo State Command, and abduction of their young men numbering 15 has enveloped fears and suspense among the people and its environ.
Elder Theophilus Ejiogu aged 76, a retired school Principal and an indigene of the area who’s victim and also an eye witness to the security recklessness, told The Authority that the men came around 12.45 am with convoy of Hilux and Sienna buses, armed like Commandos with black attires and besieged the entire kindred while shooting intermittently as if they were on a war zone.
Ejiogu who’s also a community Leader reported that one of them who identified himself as the leader of the operation, with out identifying his name, bluntly told him that they have information that the area is re-habouring IPOB and Eastern Security Network, ESN out fit barely one year they invaded and cleanse the area of the activities of the outlawed groups.
According to him, ” they were shouting with intimidations, asking people to open their doors or else they will break it. They broke so many doors and windows of many houses and compounds. Asked the people to lie down.
“They ransacked every where looking for insignias of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and ESN security outfits. If they found any of the insignias, gun or tattoos on any young man or woman body, members of the family with the accused were beating to stupor and the suspects arrested in handcuffs.
” This one, is more devastating than what happened last year, I think around 16th August, 2023 in which about 23 young men and women of the kindred were arrested and detained by the same Police Command and some others like Samuel Iwuajoku, Metumaribe Chinedu Callistus, John Agbara and Felix Eke Njoku were declared wanted as alleged chieftains of IPOB in the area .
The Senior Citizen pointed out that since the latest invasion, the community and its environ have become products of rumours and palpable fears as young men have deserted the area and gone into hiding.
He lambasted the security operatives for being insensitive to the people’s rights and their unduly raiding of the village arguing that members of IPOB and ESN are not constituting any security threat to the society as they are mindful of their non violence freedom fighting strategic mission and grassroot security protections.
When contacted, a senior police officer DCP Victor Mbata confirmed the re-invasion describing the area as one of the flash points of outlawed IPOB and ESN Security fits
noting also that their activities are inimical to peace and unity of Nigeria as a nation.
He assured that all those arrested will soon appear in court so as to face the wraths of the law after due diligence investigations and that the Command is equally making frantic efforts to arrest all members of the groups in their wanted list.
