By ONWUKWE EZERU
War was said to have erupted in Umuezike Okoroemge Amaifeke Community in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State following the refusal of the community to allow a South African based business man Mr. Ejike Okeke to erect a monument in an unauthorized area.
Our correspondent gathered that Mr. Ejike acquired land at ABK Street and share a common boundary with one Mr. Ukachukwu Obika whose land it was alleged he erected a monument without the consent of the community.
It was also gathered from the villagers who spoke to Announcer Express but would not want their names mentioned in print for security reasons that trouble started “when Ejike and his contractor had allegedly gone to the middle of the road to map out the area for the erection of a monument which the villagers resisted because it would block entrance to people’s houses especially Mr. Ukachukwu’s house who is the owner of the street having legally acquired it from the Orlu Council Authority.
Based on the refusal of the community, Ejike and his cohorts allegedly wrote a petition to Nigerian Police and the police came and condemned the construction of the monument and ordered for its removal according to the source.
The source also alleged that Mr. Ejike further went and hired thugs who came and chased away villagers including the Village Head. “As we are speaking with you, the Village Head and Chairman; Nze Victor Nwachukwu Igboayaka is still on hiding for fear of being brutalized by those allegedly hired by Ejike”.
“On the 1st of April, 2018, the unknown thugs returned to Nze Nwachukwu’s house again and camped for more than three hours without seeing Nze Nwachukwu”. The source who said the entire villagers were on the run for their dear lives called on the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police Imo State command and other security agencies to come to their rescue before lives would be lost.
Efforts made by our reporter to get Mr. Ejike for his own side of the story failed even as the phone of the police public relation officer of Imo State Police Command was not available for his confirmation.
