The people of Umudurueke Nnomo Amii Akabo, in the Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, have raised the alarm over continued detention of their elders, 81 years old Mr Lambert Chukwuoha, and 79 years old Apostle Ikechukwu Umaefelu, by operatives of the Tiger Base Unit, attached to the Imo State Police Command, over land tussle.
Sources said the old men have been in detention since last Friday, without any offence or allegation levelled against them.
It was also alleged that no official statesments have bee obtained from the elderly men.
Also, people are said to be leaving the community to avoid being arrested or harassed over the land tussle.
It was also gathered that despite repeated attempts to secure the bail of the two old men, operatives of the Tiger Base have refused to release them, or charge them to court for the alleged offences they were arrested for.
It was, however, learnt that their arrest was as a result of earlier petition against Messers Chidozie Ukubike and Ikechukwu Ukwubike, over repeated encroachments into the Umudurueke Nnomo community ancestral land.
Lawyer to the detained men, Dr Gerald Aririguzoh confirmed their continued detention at the Tiger Base.
Already, the health condition of the Octogenarian and Septugenarian is causing serious concerns to the community as they are now looking to frail.
Aririguzoh had in a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, dated February 10, 2025, said the people of Umudurueke Nnomo community were complaining over the attitude of Elder Geoffery Ukwusike, Chiedozie Ukwusike, Augustine Akuta, Seth Amaefula, Emeka Anele, Ikechukwu Ukkwusike, Izu Ukwusike, among others. In the petition, they alleged conspiracy, trial by ordeal, forcible entry, malicious damage, threatening violence with the introduction of members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), assault occasioned by harm, stealing and other conducts likely to cause breach of peace/ threat to life.
The petition read: “Without any justification, the aforementioned and their cohorts, who are well known members of the proscribed IPOB conspired amongst themselves to make lives unbearable for our clients, by engaging in the afore-stated crimes.
“In an instance, the herein mentioned suspects have summoned the entire village (our clients) to Arishiocha Amadioha Ozuzu Juju Shrine (the god of thunder) located at Federal Road Ozuzu Umuewo Ezikohia/Umunachi Village Road Ozuzu Etche Local Government of Rivers State, claiming all sorts of lies against our clients. This, they did without respect to the fact that same amounts to trial by ordeal.”
Further, the petition reads: “As if the above was not enough, the aforementioned forcibly entered into our clients’ farmlands without our clients’ consent and permission, and started quartering and training members of the proscribed IPOB in the farmlands. By these their actions, they now chase our people away from the farms, they cut and maliciously damage our clients’ farm produce therein which they convert to food.
“With the aid of these IPOB/ESN members brought into our clients’ village, the aforementioned had in another instance broken into our clients’ Village Hall and moved out/stole almost all our clients’ properties like, chairs and tables, which they have converted to their personal use, while they packed the rest in the house of their master- Chiedozie..
“Other criminal activities of the aforementioned going on in our clients village includes, the fact that on the 10th day of February, 2025, the suspects entered the farmland of the second complainant, Engr. Uzoma Amako, and cut down the palm fruits and Iroko trees and sold same to one Mr. Onyinyechi Kasimia from Akabo village, without the express consent of the owner.”
Based on the petition, a Kwali District Magistrate Court had on March 6th, 2025, ordered that Chidozie Ukubike and Ikechukwu Ukwubike be remanded for 14 days, which expired on the 20th, for investigation and prosecution in the law court.
However, village sources who pleaded anonymity said since the release of Chidozie and Ikechukwu, after 14 days, the duo had resorted to intimidation of people, boasting to be having the backings of those in higher positions
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