Chinedum Treasure
The family of Evangelist Martins Okolie of Umuezehi, Umuejimike, Akwa in Ihiala local government area of Anambra state has petitioned the police against Chief Edwin Obi, owner of Edison Motors, alleging intimidation, harassment and abduction of some members of the community over land issues.
Our correspondent gathered that in the last few years, the community had been living in fear over series of abductions and kidnapping. No fewer than five persons have taken been away from their homes.
A former chairman of Ihiala local government area, Chief Jude Obi, a naive of the community was kidnapped over two years ago and his whereabouts unknown since then. Few months ago, a prominent member of the community, Mr. Stephen Nneji, was abducted and released after some ransom was allegedly paid. Nneji has fled the community with members of his family.
In the petition forwarded to the office of Anambra state Police commissioner, and signed by Engr Kingsley Okolie, the family accused Obi of using men of Anambra state police command, purportedly from the IGP Monitoring Squad to abduct some members of the community, intimidating and harassing others, including their patriarch, Evangelist Martins Okolie, who is the most senior member of Umuezehi clan.
According to the petitioner, Obi had bought a land from a member of the kindred, but some members had disputed the sales, saying that it was a family land, which was not supposed to have been sold by one person.
When the issue became contentious and to avoid a breakdown of law and order, the kindred decided to refer the matter to the head (okpara) for adjudication, the petitioner said.
However Obi and his agent, Kevin Okolie, were said to have been dissatisfied that the matter was referred to the head of the kindred and so decided to use the police to intimidate them.
“The case arose over a land dispute between family members of Ogumorobi, One of the family members was said to have sold a land to Chief Edwin Obi, the Owner of Edison Motors, with Mr. Kevin Okolie as the agent. However one family member was said to have objected to the sales, asserting that the land is a family land, which should not be disposed of by one persons.
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The aggrieved side of the family brought the matter to the family for dispute resolution as it has always been the custom and tradition of the people of Umuejimike, in Akwa Ihiala.
When the family could not resolve the matter amongst themselves, the case was referred to the head (Okpara) of the community, being Evangelist Martins Okolie. A meeting was called by the family head so as to look into the matter, following which some recommendations were reached, it would be note worthy that the other party refused to attend the meeting so as to resolve the dispute.”
However, the petitioner said that in the early hours of Wednesday, March 6, some hooded armed men stormed the community, and when they couldn’t break into the house of the head of the family, they proceeded to other houses where some men and women were abducted.
“It’s worthy of note that the head of the family wasn’t privy to the sales, nor did he, in any way benefit therefrom. He was only asked to adjudicate on the matter by leaders of the kindred.”
As of this time the whereabouts of more than 7 persons both men and women picked up since Thursday night 6th march are unknown. The said Kevin Okolie is said to be bragging that on this matter he is going to make sure that more persons disappear from the village. Is either he is being used as a smoke screen for the purchaser of the land or he is acting alone.
As a result of this tension has enveloped the entire community with Edwin Obi and Kevin using policemen to terrorize members of the community. The head of the family, being my father, is 73 years old and the action of Kevin Okolie and Edwin Obi is impacting on his health as he has been made to flee from his home.
“I implore the commissioner of police to use his good office to call Kevin Okolie and Edwin Obi to order as their actions are causing serious tension in the community,” the petitioner pleaded.
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