BY ERIC UGBOR

FOR 24-year-old Mrs. CHINYERE GODDY of  ITUNTA, UMUOKOO community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, the emergence of  a chief in the community has put her in  agony.

The disapproval that preceded the enthronement of  the chief  claimed the lives of her two children and thirty-four-year old husband, Goddy Friday, who was allegedly beaten to death  by soldiers  at a camp in Ukwa West Local Government Area of  the state.

Her husband’s  house was  destroyed, forcing her to relocate to her father’s house. The husband’s  alleged offence: He collaborated with others to oppose the chief’s emergence. The wife denied the allegation.

Chinyere told her story to Sunday Vanguard in tears. She narrated how on May 6, 2011, at about 2 a.m.,  armed military men reportedly stormed the village and arrested her husband with eleven others who they alleged were kidnappers.
Her  father-in-law, 65-year-old Friday Ikendi, and  brother-in-law, Osinachi Friday, were also among those arrested that fateful day.

According to her, the chief was acting under the belief that the victims were opposed to his enthronement. She explained that two days later, her father-in-law returned while her brother-in-law, who spent nine months in the military camp, returned to inform them that her husband had allegedly been beaten to death in the military camp.

Mrs. Friday, who said she was some months pregnant then, said  the death of  her husband devastated her, made life unbearable and pushed her into a  suffering that she wouldn’t know the end. “Few days after they broke the news of the death of my husband to me, my two children  died from poisoning carried out by some people and our only thatched building where we lived while my husband was making arrangements to build a house was destroyed; I had nothing left than to flee  to my father’s house to save my life and that of my remaining two children”.

Her condition was pathetic as the  pains of survival with the remaining two kids were visible while she appealed to public spirited individuals, the wife of  the state governor, Mrs  Mercy Odochi Orji specifically,  to come to her aid.

The father of the late Goddy, Mr. Friday Ikendi, who was equally arrested  but released after two days, confirmed that himself, two sons and eight others were arrested and taken to  the military  camp where they were allegedly tortured and beaten to confess that they were kidnappers.

He stated that they also asked  them to explain their  involvement in the chieftaincy  tussle in  the community and he told them that he was a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses and would  not involve himself in any political issue.

The emergence of the chief, who  received his staff of office from the state government but yet to be coronated, in the community, had reportedly sparked  crisis that  tore  apart the six villages that made up Umuokoo  and turned them  into  enemies.

It was alleged that  the chief  didn’t emerge through  due process as he was said to have connived with some prominent people in  government to impose himself on the community.

Four of the six villages that made up the community are  said to be opposed to the chief. There were  seven contenders to the stool. Many indigenes of the community also accused the chief  of being responsible for inviting soldiers  that have continued to raid the community for over a year now.

They called on the Abia government  to withdraw  recognition for the chief  and allow due process to prevail in the selection of the occupant of the chieftaincy as that is the only solution to the crisis in the community. The chief was not available for comments.