The police of Imo State Command’s re-invasion of Umuduruzor in Oboro Umueze Ogwa village in Umueze /Abazu Ogwa autonomous community last night (Tuesday) and the kidnapping of their fifteen young men have caused anxiety and suspense among the locals.
The Authority was informed by Elder Theophilus Ejiogu, 76, a retired school principal, an indigenous person from the area who was also a victim of the security bungling, that the men arrived at 12.45 am in a convoy of Hilux and Sienna buses, armed like commandos in black outfits, and besieged the entire community while firing intermittently as if they were in a combat zone.
Ejiogu, a community leader, stated that one of them, identifying himself as the operation’s leader without giving his name, bluntly informed him that they had information indicating that the area is once again being occupied by IPOB and Eastern Security Network. In less than a year, ESN invaded the area and cleared it of the activities of the banned groups.
According to him, ” they were shouting with intimidations, asking people to open their doors or else they will break it. They broke so many doors and windows of many houses and compounds. Asked the people to lie down.
“They ransacked every where looking for insignias of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and ESN security outfits. If they found any of the insignias, gun or tattoos on any young man or woman body, members of the family with the accused were beating to stupor and the suspects arrested in handcuffs.
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” This one, is more devastating than what happened last year, I think around 16th August, 2023 in which about 23 young men and women of the kindred were arrested and detained by the same Police Command and some others like Samuel Iwuajoku, Metumaribe Chinedu Callistus, John Agbara and Felix Eke Njoku were declared wanted as alleged chieftains of IPOB in the area .
The Senior Citizen noted that since the most recent invasion, young males have fled the area and gone into hiding, turning the village and its surroundings into the subject of persistent rumors and tangible concerns.
Claiming that members of IPOB and ESN do not pose a security threat to society because they are aware of their nonviolent freedom fighting strategic mission and grassroots security protections, he chastised the security personnel for their insensitivity to the rights of the people and their excessive raiding of the village.
Upon being contacted, DCP Victor Mbata, a senior police officer, verified the re-invasion and described the location as a hotspot for the banned IPOB and ESN Security fits. He further stated that the group’s actions are detrimental to the peace and unity of Nigeria.
He gave the assurance that everyone who has been detained will soon appear in court to face the consequences of following thorough investigations, and that the Command is working feverishly to apprehend every member of the organizations on their wanted list.