On Monday Mr. Chukwuma Igwe, the Coordinator of Ezeukwa Development Centre in the Onicha Local Government Area of the State was arrested by the Ebonyi State Police Command for reportedly demolishing a building and fence belonging to 94-year-old Pa Omabe Obini.
Nine thugs along with the coordinator showed up to the victim’s house and demolished the building at Uwani Anike village.
Loveth Odah, the state Police Public Relations Officer, has stated that Igwe was being interrogated by the police.
“We have arrested one Mr. Chukwuma Igwe in connection with a case of malicious damage; we have commenced an investigation into the incident.”
Narrating the incident to newsmen in the state capital Abakaliki, the victim, Obini alleged that suspected thugs along with Igwe invaded his compound with weapons.
Obini listed the weapons as axe, digger and cutlass, saying that the thugs also chased off his family members before commencing the demolition of his building and a section of his perimeter fencing.
He managed to show a 30-minute video clip to journalists to prove his accusations and added that this was the second time Igwe was sponsoring such attack on him.
Obini urged the state government and human right groups to aid him in the matter, stating that his health condition had worsened following the demolition.
He said there was no basis for the action considering that there was no land dispute between him and any member of the community.
Reacting to the development, Igwe admitted his involvement in the demolition but insisted that what was demolished was only the perimeter fencing of Obini’s house, which was the boundary line in Umu Anike community.
He alleged that the decision to demolish the building was a unanimous resolution taken by the Anike General Assembly following Obini’s refusal to honour the invitation extended to him by the Assembly.