A local Vigilante attached
to the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, has been alleged to
have shot a minor and wounded two others in a land struggle fiasco that
eschewed between the vigilante team and youths of Ochuche Umuodu,in Ogbaru local government area of
Anambra State, Nigeria.
Report has is that the
former Minister of Aviation and Senator-Elect for Anambra North Senatorial zone
purchased a parcel of land at Ochuche Umuodu where she plans to collect sand
from River Niger for sand excavation business and the village heads of the community had requested for their
land rights and other things in accordance with their
custom, but she was alleged to have turned down some and yielded to some in her
capacity as a national officer to the community.
Also reported that efforts made by the former
minister to reach out to the stakeholders and state her position on the landed
properties, but were stalled on grounds of fair play and onslaught to ensure
some youths of the villages are employed in the sand excavation business.
Hell let loosed when the
youths suddenly woke up to turn down offers made to their elders, demanding for
separate money from the team, not minding the absence of their principal.
Incidentally, Ochuche
Umuodu happens to be the stronghold of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)
Senatorial Candidate, Chief Dubem Obaze, who according to report still command
loyalty of the people in that community.
Commenting on the incident
, a youth leader of the community, Mr. Ikenna Uzoka expressed dismay at the
manner the Vigilante group assaulted the youths according to him, ‘’Why would
someone , a woman for that matter who wants to represent Anambra North should turn round to maim the
very people she wants to serve’’
He continued,’’ the elders
had asked her to come and offer kola nuts and other things in accordance with
our custom, but she defiled our request. As she wanted to start her sand
collection business, that is why the youths came around to further appeal to
her to ‘’settle ‘’ elders’’.
When contacted, the media aide
to the senator elect, Mr. Philip Balepo debunked the allegation that the
vigilante team were attach to the former Minister but were employed to guard the site while
construction continues on the site.
He alleged that the youths
in question were sponsored by the Senator Elect opponent in the March 28th
National Assembly election, Chief Dubem Obaze with the hope to score cheap
political point against the former Minister of Aviation.
Balepo stressed that; ‘The
Vigilante group attached to the new site acquired by Princess Stella Oduah for
the development of Ogbaru, as part of her campaign promises was on their normal
daily routine of ensuring that construction work/oppertion are carried out as
planned . but the youths will not let them carry out their work plan in peace.’
‘’These same Ochuche youths
have severally visited the site making monetary demands, even on few occasions
beating the workers and having also to seize their work tools , thereby
disrupting their activities in the last one week.’’
‘’On this penultimate
Monday, the Ochuche Youths led by their leader, Ugochulwu Obaze, who also
represents and works for Chief Dubem Obaze as a community youth leader and a
known thug in Ogbaru community visited the youths with Chikioke Okwuma, a.k.a
Piakata, his assistance ; another notable member of the acclaimed youth group
Okechukwu Okwuchukwu a’k’a Nwanmo and
others are all fully under the engagement of Chief Dubem Obaze and his
community thugs whom he engaged in carrying out dirty jobs’’. Philip alleged..
Confirming the land dispute
incident on Friday, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Uche
Ezeh, a deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the culprit had been arrested and declared that
no life was lost in the incident, but Several others were injured and
affirmed that only two people were
wounded in the attack.
He, however, said the
attack was carried out by a member of the vigilante group and not policemen as
widely reported.
The vigilante man was
attached to Oduah’s security details, the PPRO stated.
The two persons injured in
the attack – Chuka Okechukwu and Chukwuebuka, according to Ezeh have been taken
to Ogbaru general hospital for treatment.
He said the police acted on
information received from the community, adding that investigations were still
ongoing to unravel what caused the fracas.