Nonsochukwu Uwa, Owerri
Hoodlums Saturday night attacked and set ablaze vehicles, houses, of the incumbent Imo State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Cyprian Akolisa, as well as that of his aged father, at Obibi, Awo-Idemili, Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State.
The Commissioner disclosed this to newsmen in Owerri, on Monday.
Akaolisa had suffered the same attack last year, which was followed by a similar attack on the house of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba.
More attacks came in April 2022, with the house of the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Ford Ozumba; as well as the Local Government headquarters of the same Orsu LGA; the house of member representing Orsu State constituency in the Imo state House of Assembly, and others being torched.
On how his house and father’s house were attacked, Akaolisa said: “The Igbos are hardworking people who through their years of toil put up structures and leave developmental strides in their communities of origin.
“Through my many years of struggle, I have managed to put a block on another to build a befitting house for my family. My aged father also has a house he built through his sweat. Today, both buildings are in rubble and ashes – our fellow Igbos burnt them. Firstly, last year, these arsonists burnt my country home in Obibi, Awo-Idemili, Orsu LGA of Imo State for no just cause
“This year again, they returned, and this time, they perfected the complete burning of even the blocks/bricks. And last night, to my utter consternation, they leveled my father’s house. This is a house my father built by himself – the life-toil of an aged man.
“In other words, I wish to put on record that my family house is destroyed. This was after they used a truck to cart all the properties: fridges TVs, bed/foams, generator sets and other household materials. What are my crimes, and who did I offend? And what were my father’s offences? And I dare ask, where is the Igbo spirit? This is a direct affront to the akụ ruo ụlọ spirit. Who will invest in Ala Igbo nay Orsu LGA today under this type of atmosphere?
“Other ungodly acts are the sacking and carting away of all the Police presence and armoury in Orsu LGA, the kidnapping and killing of well-to-do individuals and security operatives. This attendant scare has become a daily phenomenon in my Local Government Area.
“Today, these gunmen (Code-named Ụmụ Ọma, under the guise of freedom fighters) have continued to demand huge sums of money from mourning families who wish to bury their loved ones and the like. It is now strictly business! These gunmen have almost made a god of themselves, killing and cannibalising at will, in my area but believe me, they will not succeed with our voices up and collaborative efforts.”
He also recalled all the the other arson ongoing in his LGA of Orsu, and notes “the complete burning of our LGA Secretariat; the house of my colleague – Chief Prince Ford Ozumba, the Hon Commissioner, Imo State Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity; the house of Hon. Ekene Nnodumele, the member representing Orsu State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly; There are also houses of other political leaders which have been razed in my area so far.”
As at the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Michael Abattam, was yet to react to the attack.
