Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Policemen, soldiers, journalists and many persons, on Saturday escaped death in Nkomoro community, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
The people of the community have been at war over chieftaincy stool.
The State Correspondent of Sun Newspapers, Uchenna Inya, Godwin Oguta and Chinelo Okoro of the Radio Nigeria Unity FM, Abakaliki, went to the community to cover the election/coronation of a traditional ruler of the community.
But Inya, Oguta and Okoro were attacked by thugs who vandalised the Toyota Corolla car belonging to the Sun Correspondent the journalists drove to cover the event.
The thugs also attacked a Magistrate, Amaechi Nwakpa, and some government officials including the Secretary of Ezza North Local Government, Mrs. Samuel Nweke, Chika Igboke and other officials, and also vandalised their own cars.
Motorcycles, tricycles and other valuable properties were also destroyed by the thugs.
The thugs were armed with sticks, rods, stones and other weapons.
Some members of the community had raised objection to the letter from the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, which ordered the coronation of a former Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Jacob Nwakpa.
The letter was read by Chika Igboke the Coordinator of Imoha Development Center.
But a member of the community immediately came out with a paper and said that there was a court order restraining the election and coronation of a traditional ruler of the community.
He pleaded that the exercise should not hold.
After the man’s remarks, Mr Jacob Nwakpa was coronated.
However, after the coronation, youths armed with weapons, blocked the entry and exit points of Okpoku Eze Secondary School venue of the exercise and started vandalising vehicles.
It was learned that the angry youths went inside the community and burnt some properties after vandalising the vehicles.
Meanwhile, some stakeholders of the community have blamed the Commissioner for Local Government and Cheiftaincy Affairs, Uchenna Igwe, for the violent incident.
They spoke in Abakaliki in a statement signed by Peter Nwafor and four others.
They said the Commissioner in connivance with one Jacob Nwakpa decided to carry out the coronation of Mr Nwakpa in total disregard of order of Court of Competent Jurisdiction to lead one of the aspirants to the stool.
“That the High Court of Ebonyi State in Suit: No. HNK/18/2024 BETWEEN MR. OKWUDIRI AGBOM & ANOR VS CHIEF JACOB NWAKPA & 6 ORS made an order on the 10/06/2024 restraining all the Respondents from carrying out coronation of the 1st Defendant as the traditional ruler of Nkomoro Community said was dully served on all the Defendants.
“That we got the wind of purported coronation on the 16/06/2024 of the 1st Respondent in total violation of the order we quickly wrote to the commissioner of Police Ebonyi and also went to go meet with him to have a personal discussion with her and she informed us that she is not aware of any coronation of any sort and that nobody informed of any coronation Nkomoro Community.
“That on the 16/6/2024 we got information that Jacob Nwakpa and his brothers had mobilised some thugs to Nkomoro Community in a bid to coronate himself as the traditional ruler of Nkomoro Community which made some people to come and attempted (sic) to resist them and Jacob Nwakpa got angry and unleased his thugs on the innocent people of Nkomoro Community,” they alleged.
“The people of Nkomoro community vehemently condemn the desecration of their land today by Jacob Nwakpa, Ifeanyi Nwakpa, Amechi Nwakpa, Emeka Nwakpa as led by Mr. Uchenna Igwe (Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government & Chieftancy matters) and Mr. Innocent Chikodili Nomeh, who invaded the community today in an unsuccessful attempt to coronate/impose their stooge as the traditional ruler of Nkomoro.
“It is on record that the peace loving members of Nkomoro had before now through multiple channels of communication alerted the public and expressed their rejection of the clandestine moves and attempts to impose a traditional on them but the evil perpetrators refused to relent
“That pursuant to agony and outcry of the people of Nkomoro, we approached the Court to ventilate our grievances.
“Upon the court’s intervention, an order of interim injunction was issued to restrain all parties and maintain the status quo, pending the determination of all issues before the court.
“However, the evil group led by Uchhena Igwe and Mr. Innocent Chikaodili Nomeh persisted in their machinations and arrived at Nkomoro this morning to allegedly coronate a person as Ezeogo without any form of election.
“We, therefore, categorically state that the actions of Mr. Jacob Nwakpa, Ifeanyi Nwakpa, Amechi Nwakpa, Emeka Nwakpa in connivance with Mr. Uchhena Igwe and Mr. Innocent Chikaodili Nomeh is capable of igniting crisis in Nkomoro and should be condemned outrightly.
“Without any equivocation, we invite the Government of Ebonyi and, indeed, all security agencies to hold the persons mentioned above accountable for any fallout of crisis in Nkomoro Community.
“Finally, we urge the people of Nkomoro to remain calm and law abiding as we shall resist any attempt at break down of law and order in the community under any guise,” they said.
