By Paul Ituru
The people of Akabor autonomous community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo state residing in Lagos, are not happy with the turn of events in their country home.  In fact, they are so worried with the situation that they have vowed to shun the forth coming Christmas and New year festivities if the powers that be fail to urgently address the crime situation in their area.

Their resolve is so firm that they sent a strongly worded petition to the Governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Hafiz Ringim over alleged spates of insecurity, armed robbery, shop looting and kidnapping in the community.

They noted that their call became necessary following the recent kidnapping of a couple, shortly after a church service in the community as well as killing of two persons by people suspected to be assassins.

Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Mohammed Ringim

Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, Chairman of Akabor Town Assembly, ATA, in Lagos, Mr. Kenneth Ekeanyanwu argued that the insecurity in the area has led to the death of no fewer than six people in the community, in recent times.

Ekeanyanwu who was accompanied by executive members of, ATA, explained how unknown gunmen killed the traditional ruler of the town Nze Kingsley Ahumaraeze and another community leader, Mr. Joseph Amakonze in their respective homes, two years ago.

He added that the late traditional ruler was killed 48 hours to his official coronation and presentation of staff of office. The killers allegedly strangled him to death and threw out the lifeless corpse from the window of the deceased one-storey building at Umunwocha Akabor. Also the killers of Amakonze, whom he purportedly recognized, shot him at close range, in the presence of his wife, in his house at Okwuege village..

The Chairman said also that the latest insecurity in the town and its sister community, Ejemekwuru, has led to incessant cases of kidnap and killing of innocent and defenseless  indegenes of the area.  According to him, “ An Accountant with one of the Local Government Councils , Chief Benjamin Nwariozo, from Umuolowo Ejemekwuru was last week, kidnapped and his pregnant daughter killed in the process.

The wife was to travel to the United States of America, the next day, to join her husband before the evil men snuffed life out of her.   If nothing is done urgently to checkmate the activities of the marauders, indigenes and residents of the area would not return home for this year’s festivities including Christmas and New year.

‘’This call on the Governor and the IGP is necessary because, if nothing is done urgently, our people would be risking their lives, by going home this Christmas. It then means that any body who is prepared to go, must prepare his will because the kidnappers and assassins are walking freely on the major streets of the town without any harassment from the police or law enforcement agents.”

Ekeanyanwu disclosed that a couple, who was returning from a church service, after early morning mass, was kidnapped by unknown gun men. “The wife just returned from United States of America, where she had gone to assist her daughter that just gave birth.

The couple spent over 14 days in the den of the kidnappers. The entire community marched to the office of the Governor and protested the insecurity in the area. We sent out strong men for private arrangement that led to the arrest of one of the suspects by the police.

Others escaped and since then, the police have not launched any serious attack on them. Many of our children who went home to build their houses were attacked and huge sums of money collected. Majority of our sons and daughters now resort to lodge at hotels in Owerri and environs. We are helpless and therefore call on the authorities concerned to intervene and assist the community.”

He revealed that one of the illustrious sons of the town also cheated death by the whiskers as he managed to escape the assassins’ bullets at the junction linking the town with Ukwuoji in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state. He noted that while the victim managed to escape, two persons were felled by the assassin’s bullets and they died instantly.

‘’The assassins targeted the young man whose parents are domiciled in USA but God saved him and they diverted their bullets, killed two innocent people that were inside their shops transacting the day’s business. The incident is brewing a cold war between our town and that of the deceased traders.

Our town is truly in danger for all manners of crimes thrive in the place. Many people have turned out to be criminals. A 46-year- old man, Joseph Amakonze, who was also killed in his house at about 9pm, is an example of numerous indigenes of the town that have been gruesomely murdered in recent times.

The deceased left his young beautiful wife and six children to mourn him. Since then, no body has been arrested even when the killers are known,” Ekeanyanwu noted.

Tracing the genesis of the problem,  Ekeanyanwu said the town has been peaceful and calm until three years ago when the issue of the Ezeship (kingship) tussle began following the demise of the former Eze (king) of the place, Alhaji Ihuarueze Emetuma.

The town allegedly selected and appointed late Ahumaraeze but unknown persons allegedly killed him few days to his coronation which sparked off crisis that paralyzed social and economic activities in the town. Houses were burnt and properties destroyed.

‘’The town has been very peaceful. In fact since I was born, over 48 years ago, I have not seen or heard that robbers struck anywhere in the town or that some body’s house was burgled . Akabor people are predominantly farmers . We keep our large barns inside the bush.

We don’t erect fences or walls but move freely from one place to another.  People of same ancestral origin dwell at a particular place and every body is seen as brothers and sisters of one family. So, there is no need of separation with fence.”

Speaking on same issue, the Public Relations Officer of the town, Mr Innocent Onwumechurba appealed to the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and IGP to approve the establishment of a police station at Akabor market to provide security for the people.

He argued that since Akabor is central to Ejemekwuru and Awa communities, establishing a full fledged police station would curb criminal activities in the area.

Onwumechuruba argued that the only police station in the area is located at Oguta which means that police men must cross the lake to patrol the area which is nearly impossible. ‘’The police station is very far from the town,” he stated.