Community leaders from Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra, have called on the State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, to save them from incessant harassment and intimidation.
They made the call at a news conference in Awka, the state capital, following last week’s invasion of Nteje.
Spokesman of the community, Mr Martins Okechukwu, said seven persons, including Chief Benneth Chinweze, the acting President General of Nteje, were wounded by people suspected to be security operatives.
“Apart from our President General, now laying critically ill, one Oluebube Anukwu, who was among seven persons that sustained gun shots is now dead, while five others are receiving treatments in different hospitals.
“Before now, Nteje has been a peaceful community, but in the past 10 years now all that we are facing are incessant attacks and arrest of our people and in some cases taken to Abuja where they suffer grievously,” he said.
Okechukwu blamed the ugly development on some native fanning the crisis due to their interest in land grabbing activities.
He said Nteje community has about four army checkpoints which some privileged individuals take undue advantage to harass the residents.
Chief Benneth Chinweze, the acting President General of Nteje, who spoke to journalists from his hospital bed in Awka, said he had harrowing experience in the hands of the security men on June 16.
“I was driving when suddenly some persons who all covered their faces double crossed my vehicle and ordered me out of my vehicle.”
“They forced me into their Hilux truck, tie my legs and hands and blindfolded me before they began to treat me like a common criminal.
“This incident took place on Thursday June 16, but it was on Friday June 17, that I regained consciousness in a hospital. As you can see, I cannot raise my two hands up or use them to eat and bathe, I am just helpless here as you can see”, he said.
Chinweze, who doubles as the regent of Nteje Community, added that he suspected that some of the natives behind his ordeal.
“Before I lost consciousness, the people beating me kept saying, you always insult Chief Mike Nwakalor and if you don’t respect yourself, we will teach you bitter lesson”, he said.
When contacted, Chief Mike Nwakalor, said he was not involved in the issue and has no hand in land grabbing activities in Nteje.
“As a community leader, I heard what happened and upon investigation, I was told that Chief Chinweze had a petition against him and when security operatives came for him, he tried to evade arrest.
“I further gathered that those who got gun shots blocked security operatives and in the exchange of gun fire, some of them got injured”, he said.
Nwakalor, however, explained that he was also not involved in any land dispute with any person in Nteje
” I have 200 plots of land between Nteje Park and Umunya and the property is not in dispute because I have my certificate of occupancy” he said .
Reacting, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Anambra State, said the command was not aware of the matter.
He urged people affected in the matter to come up with information that could help police to investigate it.
