Our attention has been drawn to a write-up titled “delay in white paper implementation leads to killing, destruction of Umuode.” Being circulated by the Umuodes in recent times, and addressed to Inspector General of Police, Abuja. The said publication is nothing but a bunch of falsehood, and an attempt to deceive the whole world on the current crisis precipitated by Umuodes. In as much as we do not want to join issues with them, we wish to state as follows: -It is observed that Umuodes are intoxicated with the governments White Paper over Agu-Efi Uzam land which Oruku people challenged in suit number E/271/09 pending at High Court Enugu. (Pictures-right is Ogbonna Onono, IGP; left Sullivan Chime, Enugu State Governor)
That in the early hours of Friday 2nd April 2010, in a desperate move by Umuodes to force Oruku people out of Agu-Efi land, they invaded, Oruku with their hired mercenaries armed with sophisticated weapons as early as 8.00 am in the morning. Oruku people, through its traditional ruler informed Police Area Command Enugu, Nkanu East State Security Services and chairman of Nkanu-East Local Government Area, Amagunze through phone calls, immediately he was informed about it, for their urgent intervention. The Igwe, on the same day also followed it up with a letter to the above-mentioned Security Officers including the DPO Amagunze. Later in the day, a detachment of mobile Policemen with an Armored personnel carrier on the orders of the Inspector General of Police Invaded Oruku and started destroying goods and wares on sale at Eke Oruku market (as that day was an Eke market); breaking into houses and homes of Oruku people and destroying their properties such as Vehicles, Television sets and other household properties. They also beat up several women and children as well as elderly ones who were unable to escape for their lives thereby causing pandemonium and panic throughout the community. They later arrested the following persons:
1. Mr. Herbert Inyiagwo, a middle aged man who had been battling with stroke for a long time now in his home.
2. Rev Ugboeze Anayochukwu, a resident Pastor of Assemblies of God Church Oruku who hails from Akama Oghe.
3. Mr. Pius Nomeh, an Ezza Itinerant farmer who was in Oruku for his farming business.
4. Master Chigozie Nnaji, a 16year old JSS student at Obosi in Anambra State who came to Spend Easter Holidays with his parent.
5. Mr Sebastine Edeh, a driver who was on duty from Emene to Oruku to drop cements who also hails from Emene Nike.
6. Mr. Bethrand Nnamani, a 68 years old deaf man who had been sick for long and who was arrested in his house.
7. Hon. Okechukwu Adenyi who was arrested on Saturday 3rd April 2010 at Agbani on his way when he visited HRH Igwe Cyril Nnaji of Obuno Akpugo and who was set-up to effect his arrest by one Mr. Paul Nnajiofor an SPA to the Governor of Enugu State on public Enlightenment who also came with the Policemen that arrested Hon Adenyi (in spite of the fact that both are cousins).
8. On Easter Sunday, Elder Glbert Nnam, a 76 year old man who was arrested inside ST Mary’s Catholic Parish Oruku while Easter mass was in progress. The Police also whisked away the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Chimezie Ani.
9. Mr. Ephraim Odeh who also is an Ezza itinerant farmer who was in Oruku for his farming.
10. Elder John Ani, an eldest man in his family who was arrested in his house when the police broke into it.
11. Elder Chifu Agu, a septuagenarian who is senile and had been ridden with sickness who was arrested inside his hut.
12. Master Emeka Nnamani, an apprentice shoe maker who was arrested inside ST Mary’s Catholic Parish Compound.
All these innocent Oruku people were hurriedly charged to Count on 6th April 2010 on charges of conspiracy to commit murder, malicious damage, Arson, promoting native war etc even when none of them was arrested at the scene of the clash or with any exhibit such as arms and ammunitions. These innocent Oruku men including two under aged are currently detained as Awaiting Trial Immates at Enugu Prison. What an “Injustice and Police brutality”
We observed that out of a unit of 62 Mobile Police men who are expected to maintain peace between Oruku and Umuode, only about (11) eleven Mobile Policemen were on ground when Umuodes started the attack, thereby, incapacitating police in quelling the situation because of sophisticated weapons been used by Umuodes and their mercenaries numbering about one hundred.
That Oruku people on receipt of rumors regarding this recent attack by Umuodes, then through our lawyer Barrister Ifeanyichukwu Ukoh sent a petition to the Commissioner of Police and Director SSS Enugu State Command dated 17th March 2010, we informed them of plans by Umuodes to precipate another round of crisis under the guise of purporting to erect structures such as schools and markets in the disputed Agu-Efi land inspite of pending suits at High Courts Enugu against the Government and Umuodes.
Despite the above-stated reports to Police authorities, the police could not stop Umuodes from executing their plans, hence they attacked our people on Friday 2nd April 2010.
It is unfortunate that despite the efforts made by the Igwe of Oruku to alert the police on time, the police on Saturday 3rd April 2010, invited the Igwe and other Oruku leaders, and also Igwe of Umuode and their leaders too, to Police Headquarters Enugu, only to arrest the Igwe of Oruku and his subjects. The Umuodes and their Igwe were not arrested, but were set free despite the fact that both parties signed an undertaking last year to maintain peace in both communities a breach of which would attract sanctions from the Nigeria police against the two communities, leaders. The action of the police in setting free the Umuode leaders is designed to make Oruku people the “scape-goat” in this matter.
(7a) This is not the first time the Nigeria Police Enugu State Command is making Oruku people scape-goat in Oruku-Umuode crisis. On December 29, 2007, one Ekene Okenwa was shot and killed by Umuode youths led by Ikechukwu Ani, Emmanuel Omaba, Jacob Ani, Chidi Mbonu, Alfred Inyaba and others. Later in the evening of that day, they abducted and killed Felix Nwatu of Oruku. In spite of all petitions from Oruku to police authorities, neither the culprits nor any Umuode leader was arrested up till today.
(7b) Early 2008, Umuode youths, led by messrs Jacob Ani, a retired solider, Omaba Emmanuel, Okwudili Ani, Ifeanyi Nshi, Romans Onovo, Fidelis Nnaji, Ikechukuwu Ani and their mercenaries within three consecutive days set ablaze and demolished houses belonging to the following people from Oruku Living at Aguefi Land.
1. Rev. Prof. V.C.N Nwatu
2. Mr. Martin Ogbu Nwuke
3. Chief Ani Nwuke
4. Chief Nwatu Nworji
5. Mr. Ogbu Nwobisi
6. Mr. Nwatu Nwanike
7. Mr. Ifeanyi Okenwa
8. Mrs. Nnenna Eldeh (a widow)
Oruku people lodged a complaint to Enugu Area Command of Nigeria Police in writing who invited the complainants and Oruku Leaders as well as Igwe of Umuode for the matter. It was very unfortunate that inspite of properties worth Millions of Naira destroyed in the incident, The Police refused to arrest the perpetrators while the complainants are today refugees and wallowing in abject poverty. Another incident of Police bias against Oruku people, also, happened in spite of presence of heavily armed Mobile Police Stationed in the area then.
(8) On 30 March 2008, one Ikechukwu Inyaba was murdered by some Umuodes when they attacked Oruku community. None of the murderers namely Okwudili Ani, Omaba Nwa – Idenyi, Friday Nwaonu, Ikechukwu Onovo, Emmanuel Omaba, Chidi Mbonu, Jacob Ani, and others at large were arrested. Instead, the police arrested and detained Oruku elders who took the corpse of late Ikechukwu Inyaba to Police Area Command Enugu to make a formal report. This is yet another incident of making Oruku people a scape-goat by the Nigeria Police Force.
(9) On 21st April 2008, the day the Panel set up by Enugu State Government to enumerate houses of Oruku and Umuode people commenced work, one Okechukwu Ani armed with an Ak 47 Automatic rifle waylaid the Panel members and Oruku leaders who represented the community during the enumeration exercise. He was arrested through the gallantry of Mobile Policemen attached to the panel. He was also in possession of 24 rounds of live ammunition, and was taken to police Headquarters, Enugu.
During interrogation as published in police extract of the case file, he confessed that the Ak 47 automatic rifle was purchased for them by Professor Barth Nnaji (a one time minister of Science and Technology and presently a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee), Igwe Moses Ugwu and Justice Anthony Onovo of Enugu State Judiciary. He also confessed that one Okwudili Onovo, their youth leader and other Umuode youths were equally given the same weapons by the people mentioned above.
It is very unfortunate that in spite of the confessional statement made by Okechukwu Ani naming those who purchased the automatic weapons given to him and the other Umuode youths, the Police failed to investigate this; instead the Police treated Professor Nnaji, Igwe Moses Ugwu, Justice Anthony Onovo as “sacred cows” simply because they have someone at the highest echelon of Nigeria Police Force in the person of the current Inspector General of police, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo, who is of Umuode Stock in Akpugo, Nkanu-West Local Government Area, who suppressed the investigation and possible arrest.
Even our petition to the former IG Mike Okiro, through our lawyer, Barrister Samuel Okoh, on this matter was totally ignored by the police authority. We wish to request the authorities concerned to call for the files in order to confirm the veracity of our assertion in this matter.
In 2008, Oruku people cried out, and complained about the influx of illegal fire arms into the area by Umuode leaders, namely Prof. Barth Nnaji, Igwe Moses Ugwu, Justice Anthony Onovo, Emmanuel Omaba, John Onovo, Clement Inyaba and others, and we followed it up with petition through our lawyer. Barrister Samuel Okoh to the then Inspector General of Police, but nothing was done by the police authority, acting in concert with Umuode’s kinsman in the Police Force, Mr. Ogbonna Onovo.
This our complaint above was later confirmed by the arrest of Okechukwu Ani, who was in possession of AK 47 rifle fully loaded, as stated above.
On 18th December 2008, the governor of Enugu State invited both Oruku and Umuode leaders to government Lodge, Enugu where he announced the report of the panel he set up to enumerate the houses in Oruku/Umuode. Umuode youths, after the meeting started acts of brigandage by shooting sporadically within their area inspite of the presence of policemen in Oruku/Umuode who became helpless as a result of the superior fire power of Umuodes, in their bid to force Oruku out of their ancestral homes.
On 28 January 2009, the day Enugu State Executive Council approved the so-called white paper on the enumeration of Oruku/Umuode houses, Umuode imported mercenaries and way-laid all the nooks and crannies of Agu-Efi land.
The Police Area Commander was informed on phone about it, yet nothing was done to arrest the situation. Then in the early hours of Saturday 30th January 2009, Umuode, under the guise of purporting to bury one Mrs Ede, attacked Oruku people living in Agu-Efi land thereby forcing Oruku people to defend themselves. After the clash, the police authorities in Enugu State arrested nine Oruku people, some of who were arrested in their residential homes in Enugu, but nobody from Umuode was arrested inspite of our earlier report/complaint.
On 21 August 2009, as a result of rumors of planned attack from Umuode, The Traditional Ruler of Oruku, Igwe (Dr) C.A. Nomeh wrote to the Commissioner of police requesting for his intervention to avert any possible clash.
In response to this, the Commissioner of Police invited the leaders of Oruku and Umuode to a meeting after which it was resolved that a peace undertaking should be drawn up and signed by both communities, and witnessed by the police.
This was done, part of which read as follows…. “that none of the parties shall engage in any act of breach of peace in the disputed Agu-Efi land pending determination of the cases in court.”
To show discontent on this laudable effort by Police, Umuode brought complaint alleging kidnap of one Ikechukwu Onovo, whom they claim to be a palm wine tapper.
In that petition, Umuode did not mention the name of any Oruku citizen as a suspect, and this was pointed out to them by the Commissioner of Police in his office. Later, in a swift move, the Umuode forwarded a petition to the Inspector General of Police mentioning nine Oruku people as suspects which we consider an after-thought on their part.
In response as usual, the IGP directed the Officer in charge Enugu State Anti-Robbery Squad ordered the arrest and detain Oruku people, including the Traditional Ruler, Igwe Nomeh (JP). Then on 4th December 2009, following invitation by O.C SARS, the Igwe reported to his office (the 4th in the series), the Igwe was beaten and detained. Dissatisfied with this development, Oruku people put up a petition to the Inspector General of Police expressing their displeasure at the way the matter was being handled. Copies of the petition were, also, forwarded to the Director-general, State Security Services. But nothing came out of it.
Then on 5 December 2009, Umuode youths, in a bid to disrupt local government elections, started shooting sporadically at Oruku people, inspite of the presence of Mobile Policemen in the area. Nothing was done to them, though it took the gallantry of the Mobile Policemen under DSP Alex to stop further escalation.
Having stated the obvious, we wish to ask the following questions:-
Why is it that whenever there is a clash between Oruku and Umuodes, Oruku people are made the scape-goats by the police and the state government while Umuodes are treated as sacred cows? There is obviously a saying that ….. “It takes two to Tango”. We do not know why it is not applicable in this matter.
What interest do IGP Ogbonna Onovo and the Enugu State government have in Oruku/Umuode crisis that made them always connive with police to continue to eliminate Oruku people?
Is Prof. Barth Nnaji above the law, when it is obvious that he is the one brazenly sponsoring Umuodes in their armed struggle against Oruku people in a bid to drive Oruku people from Agu-Efi land? Even when an Umuode man (Okechukwu Ani) had confessed to police that Professor Nnaji is the brain behind the purchase and supply of all the sophisticated weapons which they have been using against Oruku people, why can’t he be investigated by security agencies?
Why is it that Enugu State government has refused to follow (or adopt) the method used by the Colonial Administrators to settle the underlisted communities which had similar problem like that of Umuode?
The communities are as follows:-
Ugwuaji was carved out of Amechi Awkunanaw in 1927
Isiogbo Nara was carved out of Nara Unateze community in 1937 by the colonial administrations;
Akwuke Awkunanaw was carved out of Akegbe Ugwu in 1937; and (c) Ugwogo – Nike was carved out of Ibagwa Nike in 1937. There are also other communities such as Akporga, Ntchatancha, Obinagu – Onuogba Nike among others- all were carved out from Iji Nike.
In these instances, virgin/vacant lands were allocated for their relocation and settlement by their mother community. None of these mother communities were asked to vacate for the newly created communities. Oruku community in line with the above-stated examples had donated Abari land (a virgin/vacant land in Oruku) for the relocation and peaceful settlement of Umuodes which is easily accessible through Enugu- Abakaliki express road. With the above-stated examples, we do not know why Umuodes are desperate in forcing Enugu State government to implement the white paper despite the following pending court cases:-
HAGB/6/08 – suit against acquisition of Agu-Efi land by Government of Enugu State.
E/271/09 - suit against government white paper on Oruku/Umuode Crisis.
E/84/2010 – suit against government and Umuodes on the legality (or otherwise) of Umuode autonomous community.
(5) Why is it that out of a unit of Mobile Policemen said to be stationed in Oruku/Umuode, made up of 62 Mobile Policemen, only eleven of them were physically present in Oruku/Umuode when Umuode youths invaded Oruku (hoping to sack Oruku in Aguefi land with their sophislated weapons). The police Authority in Enugu State should explain the rationale behind tens.
(6)Why is it that the Nigeria Police and Enugu State Government which are expected to be un-biased umpires in this conflict are biased against Oruku people, and have continued to intimidate and humiliate citizens of Oruku and their leaders even when Oruku people are the complainants as enumerated above? As stated earlier, no single Umuode man had been arrested or interrogated over this crisis.
While the above stated questions beg for answers, we wish to state that no theory can be formulated to settle Oruku/Umuode crisis if the State Government and Nigeria Police continue to be biased against us.
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