Oko Polytchnic Boils, As Soldiers Invade Community, Kill One Masquerade , Igwe Ekwueme Escapes Assassination, Houses, Vehicles Burnt

                      

                      

Officers of the Nigerian Army purportedly drafted to keep the peace at Oko Community, Orumba North local government area on the orders of the Traditional Ruler of Oko , Prof Laz Ekwueme yesterday shot and killed a Masquerade , wounding many others during the Afia Olu festival started three days ago. 

The soldiers according to eye witness were drafted to maintain peace since the police allegedly were compromised when appealed to stop the youths from performing the festival with masquerades in defiance to standing rules of the Oko Monarch that masquerades remained banned.

The soldier’s insistence that there should be no masquerades on the streets of Oko, infuriated the youths who mobilized and allegedly pushed their will against that of the soldiers resulting in a clash between the soldiers and the youths.

Eye witness said the soldiers shot into the rampaging youths allegedly killing one of the youths in a masquerade cloth and wounding many others. The witness said the protest by the youths grounded all activities in Oko, and that it was risky to go to his house.

The youths then retreated and staged a violent protest burning the vehicles and mansion of Igwe Ekwueme who ran for his life leaving everything to the flames. The youths after taking their members to the hospital equally mobilized and were fishing out all those suspected to have a hand in stopping them from carrying on with the masquerades that led to the clash and burning their motorcycles, property  and houses allegedly.  

But when contacted the President General of the Community, Mr Cyprian Nwanmuo confirmed soldiers shot at the youths but nobody was dead . He also confirmed that Igwe Ekwueme was attacked with his house set on flames and all his vehicles and property but no rescue yet.

He said he has ran for his life as the crisis was a snowball of the faceoff the community had with the Federal Polytechnic Oko as they insisted the current Rector Prof Godwin Onu must be removed and stopped at nothing but mentioning Onu to the crisis.

‘’Nobody is dead yet . Igwe banned Masquerade , that small group against the community  in the sponsorship of the ‘’man’’ went ahead and insisted masquerade must be part of the festival and fought the Army brought to maintain peace and order when police was overwhelmed . The soldiers defended themselves …………..they are burning Igwe’s palace now and his vehicles and Igwe has not been rescued but I have left for Awka now’’.

The Oko Youth Leader Evangelist Hilary Tochukwu Ezeokafor  and the Assistant National secretary of Oko Town Union, Sopuluchukwu Ezeonwuka  on the other side of Prof Laz Ekwueme could not be reached to react on the allegations and what they know about the crisis that engulfed Oko as at press time.

As well efforts to contact the Monarch , Igwe Laz Ekwueme , younger brother of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr Alex Ekwueme to comment or to ascertain he is alive was not possible as at press time.

But a youth in the village and Commander of Arms Federal Polytechnic Oko, Nnolim Sunday told the Sunday Nation that he was in Ezira with the Rector of the Polytechnic but heard that soldiers shot somebody who has been rushed to the hospital.

He said the crisis should be blamed on the Igwe hence the youths went and burnt his houses and vehicles as he heard  wondering why the Igwe should invite soldiers to the community to stop a festival they have been enjoying from time immemorial.

Nnolim confirmed he heard that the youths mobilized and went to the hosues of those suspected to be having hands on the crisis in the community between the Polytechnic and the community and were burning their vehicles and motorcycles but said he was told Igwe and Onowu suspected to have brought the money used to stop the festival ran away.

He said the community does not like the side the Igwe headed in some issues in the community. He confirmed the festival started three days ago but respected the Igwe on the market Eke day to avoid disrupting visitors to the market.

When contacted , the new Commander 302 Artillery Regiment , Onitsha , Col Jibrin Auwal Fagge confirmed that he heard about the incident just about 8 pm when I called him and demanded for time to investigate the matter to find out the true position of things before making official statement on that.

‘’Just hearing about it now and we don’t know the actual truth until we conclude our investigation …….’’.

As at the time of going to the press over 20 trucks of soldiers and policemen and hundreds of security personnel are in Oko keeping vigil over what happens next as the community leaders scamper for safety from their youths.

When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer , Emeka Chukwuemeka DSP on behalf of the Commissioner of Police Usman Gwary confirmed the report but said nobody was dead yet, asking for more time to make more clarifications. He said police men are in full control of the matter to avoid further collateral damages.