By Gabriel Enogholase

IVIUKWE  is one of the communities in Agenebode clan, headquarters of the Wepa Wano Kingdom in Etsako East local government area of Edo State. An agrarian  community, it was in a state of  shock, fasting and prayers when Sunday Vanguard visited on 31  August,  following the kidnapping of their illustrious son, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN).

Ozekhome was abducted by  some gun men between Ehor and Ekpoma on Thursday, 29 August, on his way to his home town while four policemen from the Ehor Police Division on rescue mission lost their lives as they were ambushed by the kidnappers.

The people wore forlorn looks, discussed in hush tones the fate of the fire brand human rights activist and Lagos based legal practitioner.

The kidnap saga  brought the different religious groups  in Iviukwe together as they embarked on fasting and prayers, appealing to God to touch the hearts of the abductors to release him  unhurt and unconditionally. Places of worshipping in the town were  jam-packed during the prayer sessions.  St. Mary Catholic Church and Pentecostal churches in the community, among others, hosted the prayer sessions.

*Celebrating villagers

Sadness was clearly written on the faces of the children, youths and elderly as they wondered what Mike, as they fondly called him, may have done to warrant his abduction. The community  cancelled the entry into adult hood festival, celebrated every two years, saying  it could not hold without  Ozekhome who they said had been their major benefactor. The age group festival called, “OUT-AGE GROUP”, is celebrated to initiate young men into adulthood.

The villagers acknowledged Ozekhome as a  benefactor, leader and philanthropist. He awarded scholarships to students  running into millions of Naira, apart from giving interest free loans to women to embark on petty trading and other ventures.

However, it was a different scenario when Sunday Vanguard returned to  the community on 12 September following Ozekhome’s  release the previous day. Iviukwe erupted in joy when the news of the release filtered in. It was dancing, jubilation, backslapping and merriment.

Residents, especially women and children, who rubbed on their faces white chalk (Orue) to  signify purity and happiness,  marched through the streets  to the Ozekhome family house, thanking   God for touching the hearts of the abductors.

At the family house, elders of the community, youths and women joined his elder brother, Chief Pius Ozekhome, to praise God for the ‘miracle’that secured freedom for their kinsman just as a family member played Etsako music to the admiration of the crowd.

Speaking with Sunday Vanguard on the release of his brother, Chief Ozekhome said, “It has been  jubilation in this community since the news of Chief Mike Ozekhome broke. I  was part of the search party. We went to the jungle in search of him.

“He was not maltreated by the kidnappers. After his release, he was so lively, he was his usual self; jumping up and down. But he might have suffered  after seeing guns and not knowing  what  will happen next. The kidnappers released him after realising he was an unrepentant fighter for the common man. The release and well-being is the result of our miracle working prayers.”

The traditional ruler of Weppa Wano, Dr. George Egabor, said he was happy  when Ozekhome  called  to inform him about his release.

“The fact that he personally called was a  good thing. I feel so happy considering the fact that we had been through so much anxiety. The entire community is happy because he is our illustrious son who respects the authorities and fights for the good of the people”.

On his part, the Chairman of Estako East local government area, Prince Suleiman Afegbua,  said, “We were so excited when we hard of his release and this calls for celebration although we do not know his state of health. We have been very worried about his safety”.

Chief Charles Edosomwan (SAN) said Ozekhome’s abduction showed Nigerians helplessness  with joy.

The President of the Weppa-Wano in Benin-City, Chief Andrew Ame, while welcoming the release  Mike Ozekhome appealed to government to do its best to stem kidnapping in the country just as he called for gainful employment for youths and social benefits for the needy.

Before the activist’s  release by his abductors in the early hours of 11  September,  members of the community including his elder brother,  Pius, spoke on what  he is to them.

*PIUS OZEKHOME

I  will like to appeal to those holding him captive to release him because he cares for the ordinary people. That is why he was declared the Senior Advocate of the Masses (SAM) even before he was conferred with the prestigious honour of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). This is a man who has been going to the prisons to look out for people detained  unjustly. Here is a man who fought for this country during  military rule and  detained severally. This is not the way to repay such a person. I have no power than to implore God  to touch the hearts of those who took him away  to release him unhurt.

*SUNDAY MOMOH (CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND MD, CONOIL , IVIOGHE)

It is sad that Chief Mike Ozekhome is one that has fallen into the hands of kidnappers. It is just unfortunate that this is happening to him because he cares for his community and the country at large. As a human rights activist, he fought for the common man. I join his family and all Nigerians to appeal to those holding him to look at his antecedents and  release him. He has no such money that he is being asked to pay as ransom and there is no way the community can raise such an amount.

*CHIEF PATRICK OKEGA (VILLAGE HEAD OF IVIUKWE)

Everybody  in Iviukwe community is sad about the kidnapping. We are sad because he is the only helper that we have. He feeds us, gives scholarships to our  children, built our community hall, provides electricity for us among other social amenities. As the village head, I appeal to the abductors to release him because we are tired of weeping. We appeal to the police and those concerned to do their best to secure his release.

*EMMNAUEL UJAH (YOUTH LEADER AND COMMUNITY CSO)

When the news of the incident filtered into the community, we were so sad and helpless. We even declared mourning until he is released and we are still mourning because we have not seen him in our midst. What Chief Mike Ozekhome has done for us is unquantifiable. He is the live wire of this community. He is the one who raised the community from grass to grace; he bought motor-cycles for the youths including the one I am riding free of charge; every year, he devotes large sums of money to buy sewing machines and dryers for the women and awards  scholarships to our children.

As a result of the incident, the age group festival that was supposed to hold has been cancelled. We called it the Out Age Group which we celebrate  every two years. That festival prepares young men for manhood functions in the community, So, when we heard that he had been kidnapped, we decided that then festival should no longer hold. So, for now, there is nothing like jubilating in the community until Mike is released and, until then, no
thing would be done in the community.

CHIEF PIUS NASAMU, IVIUKWE COMMUNITY CHAIRMAN

Every one of us in the community is weeping  as a result of the abduction of Chief Mike Ozekhome. He is a man of the people.

HABEBO OZEKHOME

Chief Mike Ozekhome, a community leader, philanthropic is my uncle; he is my father’s brother. We received the news of his kidnapping with rude shock and nobody in Iviukwe community is happy about it. He is a grassroots man who cares for the people and, apart from being a human rights activist, he has been the bread winner of our family.