By Onuchukwu Hamilton.
The desire that ”justice must be done in the dwindling land dispute between the faction led by Dr. Aloy Ikegwuoha and another faction led by inspector Augustine Odidika of Umuokanumee , Ugbele Mgbidi in Oru West LGA, Imo State, captures the mood of the moment as sequel to the unfolding allegations of threats to life and properties, murder cum kidnap attempts, the state Government warns that while both the villagers and the traditional Chiefs may have reportedly continued to reiterate their unalloyed confidence and supports for inspector Odidika of the Nigerian Police Force, nobody should attempt to breach section 33(1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the relevant sections as amended.
It would be recalled that on the 10th of May, Officers from the zone 9 police headquarters Umuahia and inspector Odidika created an unhealthy scenario in front of Imo State Government House Owerri when, like a whisky conduct , the zone 9 officers trapped the blood relatives of inspector Odidika at the Imo police command and set to incarcerate them in Umuahia.
Having succeeded in detaining their suspects for nearly two days in Umuahia, journalists that witnessed the scenario in Owerri digged and gathered that the arrest was not unconnected with the petition from Dr. Ikegwuoha led faction while other grapevines reveal that inspector Odidika intervention and misunderstanding with the police men was to be convinced that the said officers from zone 9 were officially drafted to Imo for the said arrest because, the same brothers of his, have serially been intimidated with similar senario.
One of the incidents he recalled, was how Dr. Ikegwuowu’s group masterminded the arrest and unlawful detention of the inspector’s cousin brothers like Mr. Amajioyi in police SAS Abuja after four days of their father’s burial ceremony which necessitated that their late brother who is still in the mortuary at press time, and former majority leader in the then Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. John Frank Ugaliegbulem had to allegedly spend over 3million naira, to secure their release.
It was also revealed that the said arrest by the officers from zone 9, was strange because there was an ongoing investigation on an alleged criminal reports against Dr. Ikegwuoha group as approved by the Deputy inspector General of police , Force Criminal investigation Department in the Nigerian Police Force Headquarters Abuja on the 24th of April 2024. The approved petition from the DIG which the Imo State Commissioner of police minuted to the Anti kidnap unit on the 29th of April was written by inspector Odidika and it borders on Conspiracy, Robbery, Assault occassioning harm, Malicious damage, Aiding and Abetting cum threats to life against the group members of Dr. Ikegwuoha, namely; Barr. Chinedu Nwowu, Elvis Nwowu, Benson Alaeme, Nwokedi Nwowu, Nnamdi Obijuru, Ogadi Obijuru, Chigozie Ahanonu, Chinemerem Obijuru and Uche Izulobi.
The contents of his petition reads in part; that on the 24th of March, himself inspector Odidika, and the rest of his Nwasiri kindred family members, at home and abroad, agreed to fence their family land and also cement the monuments of their grand fathers buried in the same land. That before this time, they were informed of the activities by some criminal elements and land grabbers who secretly went into the said land to sell some portions to strangers. That while they continued to work on the same land, ”these same persons he reported to the police headquarters, came in group, carrying dangerous weapons and started destroying all their works. ” That the reported attack group, gave matchet cuts to most of their workers at the site, including one of his elder brothers , Azubuike Ireozor. The group chased after him with weapons, robbed his workers of their phones , tools and maliciously caused collateral damages to their properties. ” While they were in the site, inflicting harm to my workers and brothers, I ran to the police men in Mgbidi that came and arrested two persons”
In his words, the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice noted that there are fundamental procedures to settle issues ,as to let everyone have his due . The traditional rulers he noted, remain the chief custodians and chief security officers in their communities, that must know how to resolve intra communal feuds which may have been ignited by land disputes or traditional matters. While the state Governor had submitted that justice is something that every one desires to receive but which many are reluctant to bestowed on others. He however warns that both the rulers in every community and other ministers of in the temple of justice , must exorcise the demon of corruption if we must do justice. The Governor had also condemned every attempt by persons or group to unlawfully displace another from habitual places of residence thereby trying to force him or her, to loose access to accustomed means of livelihood or creating ugly circumstances that will compel any Imo citizen to flee from homes.
Briefing Journalists on the matter, the palace Secretary to the Traditional Ruler of the Community, HRH, Eze Udo 1 of Mgbidi Autonomous Community, stated that Dr. Ikegwuoha led faction were earlier informed that inspector Odidika had officially reported the land dispute to the traditional palace but at presstime, the group arrow head who was reportedly ostracized as a result of a committed taboo, could neither appear by himself nor send a representative for a defence on the petition by inspector Odidika.
The reported matter to the traditional palace, complains that in 2019, when their kindred called Nwasiri , had legally defeated Umuochie village on the said land, these group of persons from other related kindreds such as Ozurumba, Ihendoro and the Elu kindreds greedly conspired to share from the said land when it is very clear that these attack group, enjoy the largest portions of lands from the lineage of Umuokanumme which are Nwasiri, Elu, Ozurumba and Ihendoro. All are geneological brothers in Ugbele.
Inspector Odidika is however challenging Dr. Ikegwuoha and his group, to come to the Traditional palace and prove how they assisted them ( Nwansiri kindred) to legally secure the land in question when it is on record that their late brother from Nwasiri, Hon. John Frank Ugaliegbulem personally hired Barr. Njemanze and financed the case to a favourable conclusion in court.
He is also challenging them to explain why they started encroaching into the said land when Hon. John Frank became to seedy and finally kicked the bucket. Why Dr. Ikegwuoha and his group allegedly sold 85 plots of Urogwe land in Umuabiahu and failed to account for the 11.8million naira proceeds. That the attack group should also come and account for the 15 million realized from the sale of another plots of land in Umuabiahu that were all to be shared among the sons of Umuokanumee.
Meanwhile our correspondent who visited the Community for investigative journalism, was told by some village chiefs who wouldn’t want their names in print, that the Inspector’s detractors have been goading, inciting and setting buddy traps to vilify him and frustrate him as a police officer.
