Youths protest, accuse police anit-cult squad of invasion, shooting at their Obosi prayer ground

Youths numbering over 100 yesterday stormed the palace of the traditional ruler of Obosi community, Idemili North Local government Area of Anambra state, His Magesty, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III and protested against what they termed as unwarranted invasion of the community, shootings and arrests of innocent citizens, by men of the state police anti-cult squad.

The protesters, under the aegis of Obosi Youths Land Management Council, OYLMC, carried their placards with certain  inscriptions as: "Police, stop youth harassment. We are Obosi youths not cultists. We don't want blood shed in Obosi. youths are the live wire of every town, don't destroy them. We pledge full support to Governor Obiano. Stop harassing the youths with your retired profession".

Chairman of OYLMC, Hon. Augustine Nwankwo told the monarch that the police anit-cult squad had stormed his residence at about 11a.m. with about four Hilux vans yesterday where his members were praying and allegedly opened fire on them, which led to the shattering of the leg of one of their members, Maduabuchukwu Nwokolo.

He noted that the injured Nwokolo is currently being hospitalized at Multi-care hospital, Omagba Phase II, Onitsha, adding that he had just been informed by the medical personnel in the hospital that his leg was so shattered by the police bullet that it could be amputated. 

Nwankwo further told the monarch that the anti-cult squad which was shown the way to his house by one Chukwuemeka Offoragu, also broke all the glass windows in his house, used axes to break the iron doors, threw away a big pot of rice on the fire which was meant for lunch after the prayers and matched on it before allegedly bolting away with a pot of stew with lumps of meat also on the fire for the rice.

He noted that the squad which stormed his house at about 11 a.m., operated for an hour and left, only to come back in less than hour's time with about 31 patrol vehicles belonging to the police, the Navy, the DSS, the local vigilante group and even the prison officials and made away with about 50 motorcycles belonging to his members who were attending the prayer session that stopped abruptly as a result of the invasion of the squad.

Also speaking, Mr. Celestine Okwudiebo, the proprietor of Ceebest Garden and Bar located at Owelle-Aja Layout, Obosi told Igwe Iweka that the same anti-cult group had stormed his garden hotel on Tuesday and allegedly destroyed all the properties in the garden, including chairs, bottles of assorted types of drinks worth thousands of naira and thereafter whisked off seven persons, including two staff of the garden and five customers to the state police anti-cult headquarters in Enugwu-Ukwu where they are currently being subjected to severe  torture.

Responding, Igwe Iweka expressed concern that the police could storm a prayer ground in such a violent method and started shooting indiscriminately at people and at the same  time damaging properties without first of all investigating whatever allegations that were levied by anybody against such a suspect.

Eze Obosi noted that he was aware of the existence of the youth body in Obosi and as such could not say that they are illegal body, because they are duly registered with their trustees, adding that as far as he was concerned, he did not know them as cultists, except when proved otherwise

He added that he had already informed the police authorities in the state and Governor Willie Obiano about the ugly incident that occured in his kingdom.

He therefore urged the youths to remain calm and peaceful as the matter is being investigated by the appropriate authorities, adding that he was aware that somebody must be behind the  fanning of this ember of discord.

Rev. Nzube O. Samuel, a senior Pastor of Triumphant International Church, Obosi who also identified himself as a member of Obosi Indigenous Ministers Association, confirmed that he had an impromptu invitation by the youths to pray for them and in answer to their call, went and started the prayers at about 10.30 a.m. before the session was disrupted by the arrival of the anti-cult squad at 11a.m.

Rev. Samuel further confirmed that he had just finished delivering his salvation message and started praying for peace in Obosi and that the blood of their youths would no longer be shed  when the unidentified persons accompanied by some uniformed policemen stormed the venue and by the time he was asking what the matter was, the violence had erupted and he ran into one of the rooms and waited till about 12 noon when the incident ended.

He expressed disgust that upon the fact that he was praying for everybody in Obosi and not for a particular individual or group or faction, such an ugly incident still occured.

The State police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Ali Okechukwu (DSP), confirmed to newsmen on phone yesterday that few persons were arrested during a raid on suspected cultists in Obosi, adding that investigations were still in progress.