Tears in Ezira community over land grabbing , as 20 beaten to pulp, Chairman of Umunze FCE(T) NASU Chief Alex Okoli survives

 Policeman used his butt on his eyes for N10,000

Ezira Community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State is presently in turmoil over land-related matters, reports ODOGWU EMEKA ODOGWU, Editor Authority Newspapers ,South-East.

At the last count, Chief Alex Okoli, and over 20 others narrowly escaped lynching by thugs and suspected cultists “shielded” by Nigerian police. They were attacked midnight. Okoli’s 80 year-old mother was also molested by the rampaging invaders. The residence of his brother, a Roman Catholic Priest, was also destroyed.
Okoli,  who also is the  Chairman, Non Academic Staff union (NASU) of  Federal College of Education, (Tech) Umunze, is nursing wounds allegedly inflicted on him by a police officer on the order of the community’s traducers.
He said that the entrance door, the roof, and electric poles in his compound where some of the victims ran for protection, were damaged and he lost a HP laptop and about 13,000 Euoros to the perpetrators of the act.
Others who were seriously injured in the siege include Nonso Okoli, Livinus Okpala, Emeka Okolimba, Ifeanyi Alaebo, Chidozie Okafor, Chukwuduruo Okoli, Sochima Okafdor, Samuel Onwuka, Okey Ibeh, Ekene Okeke, Emeka Dike, Obinna Okoli, Toochukwu Umeh, Ikechukwu Onyema and Ejike Iro.
He has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Anambra Governor, Chief Willie Obiano and the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr Samuel Okaula, over the suspected cult activity.
In the petition, he alleged that one citizen, Jude Umunnakwe, from the community, invited cult members to unleash mayhem in the community by attacking some of his opponents, who demanded from him, an account of the communal land he sold to an industrialist from the neighbouring community.
A copy of the petition dated July 20th reads in part: “The said Jude Umunnakwe on 17th July, 2016, invited cult group to the community with intent to do mischief to us, his opponents. The said action was carried out with guns and other dangerous weapons targeted against us.
“His actions against us were directly connected to the sale of community land which he masterminded without the consent of the principal members of the community.  He parades himself as if he were above the law, embezzling community fund entrusted on him as the chairman of Ubaha village, without rendering account.
“As if that was not enough, he has made state road his personal asset, excavating heavy loads of sand thereon and selling same for personal gains, thereby causing erosion in the community”.
The petition made available to The AUTORITY South-East crew, however, prayed the IG of Police and others to investigate and arrest Jude Umunnakwe and his cohorts over the alleged criminal activities and other civil disturbances they have been committing in the community.
In another development, a community leader and the Palace Secretary, Ezira Igwe in Council, Chief Alex Okoli, alleged that the Umunze Divisional Police headquarters led by the DPO, Mr Onuoha Bethrand, acting on the instruction of the said Umunnakwe, invaded the House of a US based Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Dr. Ignatus Okoli, and other houses by 11pm in search of Umunnakwe’s opponents.
“On 11th August this year, over 100 armed police officers invaded my house by 11 pm and were shooting sporadically in the air and all of us went into hiding. They later jumped our fence and gained entrance in my brother’s house, Father Ignatius, where we were hiding.
“They broke all doors, ransacked about four buildings in the compound and eventually caught us. They arrested about 13 persons that came to hide in my house that night. They told us that they were instructed by the authorities of the State Police Command to carry out the operation, even as we were later granted bail after the CID had charged us for unlawful possession of arms, an offence we never committed.
“My greatest regret is that one police officer; Eke Maduabuchi, did not only treat me as common criminal but stabbed me on the eyes after arresting me. They beat all of us so mercilessly that some went into coma.
In a separate letter written by their lawyer, C. K Idenyi and Co entitled: “Case Of Intimidation, Fraudulent Sale Of Communal Land, Non Accountability And Forceful Imposition Of Levies On Abroad And Home Base Members Of Ubaha Village, Ezira Town In Orumba South LGA of Anambra State By You Mr Jude Umunnakwe, A Call To Redress Your Steps Or Face The Music”,  the community through their lawyer demands that Mr Jude renders acclount of all transactions in the land within seven days and as well desist from intimidating, harassing and extorting money from helpless citizens of Ubaha village among other warnings.
The Ezira layers, in another letter, also warned Chief Godwin Ezeemo, the buyer of the land, to kindly demand back his money paid to the vendor, Mr Jude or face legal actions.
When contacted, Mr. Jude Umunna blamed the entire crisis on the traditional ruler of the town, HRH Igwe Samuel Uche (Ezedioramma II), who he accused of complexities.
“We all agreed to sell that parcel of land due to the problem we had and our traditional ruler contacted Chief Godwin Ezeemo, who agreed to buy the land at the tune of N70,000 per plot which amounted to N25 million in all.
“When I pressurized him to bring out the money that was paid into his account, he started blackmailing me and organized some boys to kill me; even to the extent that the irate youths attacked my wife and children when I was away and demolished some part of my building.
“Igwe conducted a kangaroo election in my absence to replace me and appointed Alex Okoli, his Palace Secretary, who led some youths to attack me. I reported to police who invaded their house by 9pm and when they refused to open the gate, the DPO ordered his men to break the gate after throwing tear gas inside the compound.
“Our Igwe has been after my life, he once masterminded my kidnap and those kidnappers took me to Awgbu. So, he should bring out the money that Mr. Ezeemo paid to him” he said.
The traditional ruler of the town, Igwe Samuel Uche, on telephone conversation, described Jude Umunna as a criminal, who will soon end up in jail until he renders account of the lands he sold to the villages that owns the land.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra State, Nkeiru Nwode, denied police misuse of firearms, saying that such accusation was coming from mischief makers, who were hell-bent on tarnishing the image of the police.