Igbo Monarch survived assassination

He is just like a cat with nine lives. He miraculously survived three assassination attempts. Yet, he claims his
life is still in danger. His offence is that he vowed to cleanse his community of all criminal elements, including drug barons who seem to have held his domain in the jugular for years.

Igwe Chukwudubem Iweka, Eze Iweka III of Obosi Kingdom in Anambra State, now lives a seemingly itinerant life as he hibernates in hidden abodes, just to save his life. His case has been worsened by allegations that a retired top police officer is aiding and abetting the attempts on his life. The author and dramatist bared his mind to Crime Guard in an exclusive interview.

Excerpts:

How it all started

“I was crowned in 2011 after an election was held among the kindred called Umuezeagu family, who were at that time eligible to produce the king. I was the choice candidate from my kindred, while other kindreds presented their candidates. There were three of us at the election. I won with a landslide. Immediately after the election, one of the candidates instituted a law suit saying that he was the rightful person that should have been made king, yet, we had an election, which I won.

Igwe Chukwudubem Iweka, Eze Iweka III of Obosi Kingdom in Anambra State

Before the election, all the candidates signed a document that we were satisfied with the panel that conducted the election and would accept the outcome of the election. So, it was a surprise and a huge shock to Obosi people when the suit came up. We found out the law suit was been sponsored by a man who at that time was a commissioner of police.

He claimed that he was supposed to be the king maker. Since then, he has been very antagonistic towards me, alleging that he is the Diokpa (Elder) of the family and as such, was supposed to crown me. After investigation, we found out that his father was the Diokpa and under no circumstance in the tradition of Obosi Kingdom does his son become Diokpa. Diokpaship rotates in the family.”

Fighting for drug kingpins

“Later, we found out that it was a ploy by him to fight on behalf of a certain man alleged to be the brain behind the notorious drug cartel ravaging our town.

Obosi people generally know that the now retired AIG who was a CP then, has been working for this suspected drug baron for a long time, covering him, giving him back-up to deal with the law.

They are the ones formenting most of the trouble in my kingdom. I have survived four assassination attempts, the fourth one was nipped in the bud before it came to fruition.”

Attempts on my life

“The first time, the assassins came to my palace in 2012 and fired automatic weapons, AK 47. They exchanged fire with my palace security details, shot one of my security men. In 2013, my convoy was coming back from the airport where they had dropped me on my way to Abuja. When they were coming back, because my SUV is tinted, they thought I was inside the vehicle and they started firing gunshots inside my vehicle.

The police man that was in front of the vehicle was shot in the arm, his arms were scattered with bullets. My car was sprayed with bullets. Again, in 2012, one of my security men, a man who claimed to come from Asaba, but was later discovered to be from Ebonyi State, was contracted to shoot me and we got the information from a criminal who came to pledge he will no longer be in criminality and that our vigilante should stop chasing him so that he would give us good information.

We made a statement to the police and policemen arrested and took him away. In 2014, although there were several crisis and lots of problems from the cultist, there was no attempt on my life, till 2015, on the 8th of June. Assassins again struck in my palace and fired gunshots. One of my security men was shot in the chest but he miraculously survived. I suspect strongly that the retired top police officer and the drug baron were behind these incessant attacks.

I don’t have enemies except these two men. They are after my crown. They are after my kingship and throne. This last attempt they made and failed, the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, came to my palace with his entourage. The Commissioner of Police and his deputy visited my palace. They also vowed to give me support and also to conduct proper investigation to ensure that the criminals are brought to book. The Local Government Chairman, Chief Idemobi, also came.”

Failed peace efforts

“I must state clearly that prominent Obosi people have called these two men to try to achieve peace in the community but they vehemently refused. They are always talking about me coming out to a hotel for them to discuss with me; that they will not come to my palace, which is not proper in Obosi Kingdom; for the Monarch cannot be removed to a hotel for peace missions. Whatever has to be done, we have tried our possible best to see what their problem is and see how we can broker peace and it is now beyond doubt that they will stop at nothing but to kill me.”

Gateway of drug cartels

“In 2010, before I became the monarch of Obosi, the same drug baron was a problem to the town. I can show you documents to prove that his boys were maiming people. He is into land grabbing. I can show you petitions from the Obosi Development Union from 2010 about how they killed people in the town. These documents did not originate from me. These are from the town records to prove that this man has been a problem in this town for long.

There is a proverb in Igbo land that says if you hide a disease, that disease will consume you. Some people like to hide the fact that there is a major drug trade in my town. The cocaine, heroine and mephaptemine trade in Obosi is tremendous. I give thanks to my friends in NDLEA. We petitioned NDLEA to remove the former commander because of cases of kidnapping in Obosi and then they brought the current one, Sule Momodu, who is working very well. He has been arresting all these bad eggs and prosecuting them.

“Obosi was described by one of the electronic media recently, as the gateway of drug cartels in the South-East. We cannot hide this fact. If we hide this disease, it will consume us. Because of the drug problem, the former DSS Commander, Alex Okeiye, did so much also to help to disseminate the criminality in the area. Two NDLEA officers who came to Obosi to make some arrest told me that in the order of zones, in terms of drugs, Obosi is number one in the country.
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