Our Reporter, Umuahia
A Canadian returnee, Mr Chidiebere Eluwa from Amakama Community in Umuahia South Local Government Area, of Abia State, has raised the alarm over threat to his life by purported members of a local vigilante group in his community.
He, therefore, called for the disbandment of the said group, alleging that the people now live in dread of them.
Eluwa who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Umuahia, alleged that the group has rather become a source of constant pain to the people.
He accused the group of becoming a willing tool of oppression against hapless folks.
Eluwa alleged that the group attacked him at the invitation of his nephews when he attempted to evict them from his father’s house.
According to him, his nephews – the sons of his sister have been living in his father’s house for many years after his sister had issues with the husband.
He said the nephews of late, had become a source of discomfort both to his aged father and their mother, hence his decision to eject them from the house for peace to reign.
“I came back from Canada just to make sure there’s peace in my father’s house because I’m the only son. I gave money to my nephews to rent an apartment elsewhere so that my father who is very old, and my sister can have peace.”
Eluwa said that he decided to report them to the Area Police Command Umuahia where he was assigned five policemen to arrest them.
On sighting the police, according to him, the nephews took to their heels while the policemen chased after them, leaving only one cop with their van.
He said that of the fleeing nephews invited the said vigilante group who stormed the scene with automatic rifles, and descended on the policeman keeping the police van.
“When these guys came, they met one policeman with the police truck. They beat him blue and black and grabbed his gun. Then the other policemen pursuing my nephews came back to the aid of their colleague.
“But by then, some of the vigilante group had made away with the AK 47 of the policeman. But because he held their Commander to the ground, other policemen insisted that he would not be freed until the AK 47 was returned.
“It took about two hours for the police gun to be returned. The Commander was later arrested but my nephews and others are still at large.”
Eluwa who claimed threat to his life wondered why the police had not gone to conduct search in the house of the Commander of the said vigilante group, moreso after the beating of a cop by his men.
“What gets me angry is: how do you get such a man and you cannot go for a search in his house? The community has been living in fear of this group, and they are afraid to talk,” he fumed.
One of the victims of the group’s brutality
He, therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police, to come to the aid of the community, and investigate the activities of the said vigilante group.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, said such a matter had not yet come to her notice.
She, however, promised to make inquiries and get back to our Correspondent.
The PPRO, meanwhile, advised the complainant to petition the Commissioner of Police detailing what happened including the alleged threat to his life, for proper investigations.
She assured that the CP personally monitors such petitions to ensure thorough investigation and justice.
