Stakeholders Urge Soludo To Set Up Panel of Enquiry On Isuaniocha Crisis
Isuanaocha Town/Community is one of the fastest developing towns in the Awka Capital Territory of Anambra State.
The town which over the years has been known for its peaceful atmosphere, hospitality and conviviality has been regrettably turned into a theatre of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and other vices .
Two concerned indigenes of Isuanaocha Community, Hon. Richard Okoye and Mr Frederick Egwunwa made the passionate appeal in Awka while narrating the ordeal of Chief Tony Onyeagolu, a former President General of the Community.
They said the Enquiry had become necessary to forestall further attacks and abuse as well as insecurity bedeviling the once peaceful community.
They said the crisis started when the former President General who was elected and sworn-in on May 4, 2017 vehemently resisted the moves by some persons to sell parts of the undeveloped land within the premises of Isuaniocha Community Secondary School.
Hon. Richard Okoye and Mr Frederick Egwunwa claimed that as a result of the resistance by the former PG, one of the persons, a former local government chairman of Awka North Local Government Area and his cohorts allegedly recruited thugs and started causing mayhem in Isuanaocha Community.
The Concerned Citizens said conspirators maimed killed innocent citizens of Isuanaocha, between 2017 to 2022 destroying a family house belonging to Chief Onyeagolu and valued over N200 million located in Otoko Village Isuanaocha.
“They also destroyed, was a magnificent storey building with its appurtenances valued above N1 billion belonging to Mr Festus Onyeagolu elder brother of the former PG stealing his household properties in the process,” they said.
The two stakeholders narrated that as a result of the criminal activities of the few persons, a petition was written to the IGP for a discreet investigation.
According to them, the Inspector General of Police after investigation into the ongoing Isuaniocha crisis found some persons liable, charged them to Court and in official gazette, declared the fleeing accused persons wanted and through the AIG Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo, in Anambra State.
They said Police also stationed armed Policemen permanently in Isuaniocha in a bid to maintain lasting peace in the Community.
They alleged that the product of the investigation gave rise to Charge No: FHC/AWK/C/55/2022 – FRN vs. FRIDAY OKEKE JOHN & ORS and FHC/AWK/C/392C/2023 – FRN vs. ONYEBUCHI OKOYE & 9 ORS pending before the Federal High Court Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
They alleged that the OC RRS Awkuzu, deployed an ASP and other RRS officers in company of some of the men on the wanted list by the Police and the Honorable Attorney General of the Federation for prosecution.
One occasion, the officers of the DSS had a clash with the officers of the Nigeria Police Stationed in Isuaniocha town by the directive of the IGP when the DSS prevented them from arresting a notorious terrorist on the police watch list.
They also claimed that on Jan. 11, the suspects led by the officers of the AKS/RRS Awkuzu with armed firearms, sang war songs and stormed one of the buildings named the White House at Ifite village, Isuaniocha town in Awka North Council Area of Anambra State and opened fire on the occupants of the House.
Hon. Okoye and Mr Egwunwa claimed that as a result of the severe gun fires, the several persons within and around the said house sustained severe bullet injuries were currently undergoing treatment in a Police hospital.
The concerned indigenes wondered if it was a crime for someone to report a crime to the Police and follow up the prosecution of the offenders .
They however commended the efforts of the Nigeria Police Force in stationing armed Policemen in Isuaniocha town but noted that more still needed to be done to totally liberate the town from criminal activities.
When contacted , the Police Public Relations Officer , Anambra State Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga Confirmed that there is a brief like that before him.
He however cautioned the people not to take laws into their own hands.
” If they have any complaint, they can come forward to the Command headquarters. We are ready to listen”
When contacted to speak on the matter, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 13 Ukpo, CSP Josephine Ihunwo said she was not aware of any clash that took place in Isuaniocha on Jan.15.
