By Ikechukwu Eze,
Owerri.
There were cases of civil unrests in the form of protests and riots in the Umuifa Ubachima Community of Awo-Omamma in Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, yesterday, over the death of a prominent personality in the area, Chief Nwaeze Sylvanus.
Our correspondent gatherered that some youths and women stormed the streets and blocked the major roads, thus leading to the disruption of economic activities. The reason for the protest was what the protesters described as the inhumane treatment and injustice which they said ultimately led to the death of Chief Nwaeze Sylvanus.
Speaking to journalists at the protest ground, women leader of the group, Mrs Agnes Okoro stated that Chief Nwaeze Sylvanus would have be alive if not for what she described as political persecution and state sponsored injustice. She said the women will not relent until the death of the is investigated and the culprits, brought to book. She also said the group had led a protest delegation to the Police Headquarters in Owerri in January to protest the late Chief’s detention without trial. He was released but the persecutions never stopped, according to the women and other family members.
“We all know what played out. The man was hounded, arrested, harassed and denied medical access. This is what led to his death. The community leaders know what they are hiding. I don’t want to say much because we are not giving up. We have already instructed our lawyers to file litigations. We are only doing all these to bring public attention to the attrocities”, she said.
On his part, a member of the youth group, who preferred to speak under anonimity, for obvious reasons, accused the state government of being behind the inhumane treatment which led to the death of Chief Sylvanus. He said the government, in connivance with some community members, unjustly persecuted the man due to his belief and support for the actualisation of the independent state of Biafra.
“Chief Sylvanus was a successful business man. His only crime was that he supported the Independent People’s of Biafra (IPOB) This body is a non violent organisation working for the actualisation of a sovereign state of BIAFRA. Secession and self determination is a human right and not a crime. The State Government, due to its evil alignment with the Federal Government of Nigeria connived with some miscreants to create a militia group under the guise of local police. Whereas, this groups major objective is to eliminate ideological and political enemies.”
“Ask around and you will be told how many people have lost their lives to the gangster activities of this group called Ebube Agwu. Chief Sylvanus is the latest victim. But we will not be deterred until we get justice” , one of the youth leaders said.
Before his demise, the late Chief was said to have honoured a Police invitation, regarding Community issues. His children allege that their 72 year old father was manhandled and may have been injected with a substance during his supposed detention and interrogation. Although unsubstantiated, they claim to have got a call from their father before he drove down to the hospital, where he reportedly died on April 30th.
However, when our correspondents sent text and e-mails to the image maker of the Police in Imo State to confirm these incident as well as the allegations, the Force PRO, SP Bala Elkanem acknowledged the protest but waved off the allegations as figments of some people’s imaginations. He also noted that the situation has been brought under control, and peace and normalcy returned to the areas.
The late Chief Sylvanus, according to some community members was said to be a staunch believer of the realization of the Biafran State. He and his family members directly had a fair share of the civil war. He was said to have lost some siblings and his 14 year old sister got raped by soldiers during the war. He is survived by five children.
