...ALLEGES POLICE INTIMIDATION, ENUGU COMMISSIONER'S COMPLICIT
...AS COMMUNITY DEMANDS GOVERNOR'S URGENT INTERVENTION
The people of Ibute-Egede Autonomous Community, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, took to the streets on Friday, 28th March, 2025, protesting what they called an "un-traditional" practice of their Monarch, HRH Igwe Peter Ikenna Okwesiri (Mmiri na Ezoro-oha), whom they accused of living in Boston, the United States of America, while administering the affairs of the community as its custodian of culture.
The community also condemned persistent harassment, persecution and unlawful arrest of their indigenes by policemen from Police Force CID Anex at Agbani road, Enugu State, on the directive of the American based traditional ruler of their community.
They also accused the commissioner for Rural Development, Chieftaincy Affairs and Local Government matters, Deacon Okey Ogbodo of his alleged complicit in the traditional ruler's high-handedness in his administration of the affairs of the Autonomous Community.
They are now begging Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and the Inspector General of Police to come to their aid, as the community is prepared to fightback if the situation is left to fester the way it is currently going.
The villagers carried placards with inscriptions such as "You cannot be a traditional ruler of Ibute-Egede and live in Boston", "Ibute-Egede deserves a Monarch that lives amongst his community", “Stop the Police harassment”, “DPO Agbani stop the harassment”, “CP/IGP call Agbani DPO to order”.
Speaking during the protest, one of the elderly persons who participated in the protest who was identified as Chief Anikwe Ndigwe, used the opportunity to call on the state Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, to as a matter of urgency, detrone the traditional ruler as it would be better for the Autonomous Community to exist without a king than to have one in the united states' of America.
"We want the Governor to detrone him. It is better not to have an Igwe than to have this particular one in the US", chief Anikwe had said
speaking to newsmen on phone Shortly after the protest, the President General of the community, Chief Chibuzor Oyinze, alleged that the traditional ruler who lives in Boston, USA, rules the community in proxy, through persistent arrest, police harassment and intimidation, using the Force headquarters in Agbani, Enugu State.
His words: "Our Monarch, Igwe... from far Boston, USA, upturns every decision taken by the community. And he doesn't want to know if the decision was taken in the best interest of the community or not.
"The worst of his actions is his persistent arrest, harassment, intimidation and detention of our villagers who opposes his views or decisions from the US. And he does this through the aide of the police headquarters at Agbani, here in Enugu.
"The other day, all the way from USA, he sent a police truck and packed the land committee members, including their chairman, numbering up to 14 people and took them to force headquarters at Agbani.
"So many person are being arrested on daily basis. And this is what he does. As I speak with you now, he has prepared another petition for mass arrest of our people and that is why the community is protesting.
"We are well aware that the traditional ruler cannot be able to live in the USA as our traditional ruler. We are well aware he is given vacation letter from the ministry of rural development.
"And each time it expires, he comes home to renew it. So we know who is aiding him in government.
"We are therefore, using this medium to send a message to our working Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah and the Inspector General of Police, to as a matter of reason, come to our aid."
No comments