In the village of Nawfia, Njikoka Local
Government Area of Anambra State, at least four houses were demolished
following a crisis allegedly instigated by some prominent community members.
The indigenous community called on the
state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, and the police commissioner, Mr John
Abang, to investigate the crisis, with a view to punishing those behind it
accordingly.
Mr. Chibuzor Onwujekwe, a member of the
community whose house was invaded and destroyed, said the destruction had been
carried out by some supported youths in the village and that the purpose of the
attackers was to kill him, but fortunately, on the day of the invasion, he was
away from home.
“They destroyed my house totally and
looted everything in it. Since then, I have been moving from one hotel to the
other. I am not the only one affected, there are other indigenes, whose houses
were also destroyed by the hoodlums.
“We are begging governor Obiano to wade
into the matter and save the community from being plunged into crisis.
Meanwhile, the community’s lawyer, Barr
Mike Ikegbunam has petitioned the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano;
Anambra police commissioner, Mr John Abang and others in a ‘Save Our Soul
Message’, asking them to intervene in the crisis rocking the community.
In the petition which was made
available, Ikegbunam mentioned the President General of Nawfia community, Mr
Nathan Enemuo as one of those causing crisis in the community.
He also listed Chibuzor Onwujekwe,
Ogochukwu Okonkwo, Dinobi Chukwuebuka and Chief Gabriel Okonkwo as some of
those whose houses have also been destroyed in the crisis.
He said, “The problem started on 18th
October, when armed bandits mobilized and led by the duo (Nathan Enemuo and BIE
Nwofor) stormed Chief Gabriel Okonkwo’s house with assorted weapons, and right
in the presence of everyone, beat him mercilessly.
“They beat him until he fainted, and
believing him to be dead, they now swooped upon his house and destroyed every
valuable thing in it. In view of this ugly incident, we are calling on you
(Governor Obiano) to as a matter of urgency investigate Nawfia Town Union led
by Nathan Enemuo and his cohorts.”
Ikegbunam asked for the suspension of
the group referred to as taskforce, being used by the town union to rain terror
on the people, describing it as an illegal group.
In his reaction, the community’s
President-General, Mr Nathan Enemuo, who spoke with correspondents, denied that
any village militia would be used by his community to threaten the residents.
Asked whether he was responsible for
the demolition of community houses, Enemuo said that he did not want to comment
anymore, as his lawyer advised him not to talk.
He, however, admitted that Chief
Okonkwo was having a running fight, who he said was intent on smearing his
name.
