Suspended Enugu Monarch and his wife were reportedly been whisked away after their home was allegedly invaded by security operatives.
Police operatives suspected to be from force fraud unit, Abuja, on Thursday night October 7. allegedly invaded the Nsukka residence of suspended traditional ruler of Ihekwuenu aku autonomous community in Igbo-etiti local government area, HRH Igwe Christopher Okwor, whisking him and his wife away.
The operatives who allegedly came fully armed and in civilian dress, gained access to the traditional ruler’s compound by scaling the fence. Narrating the incident, a girl identified as Jennifer who lives with the traditional ruler said they heard an unusual noise within the compound and before they knew it, the operatives had started breaking one of the entrance doors but when they did not succeed, they decided to pull down a window’s burglary proof from where they eventually gained entry into the building.
On entering the building, the operatives were alleged to have subjected the traditional ruler, his wife and two guests in his house to severe beating. An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity explained that the operatives applied force, kicking and hitting the traditional ruler with gun and allegedly threatening him. He was thereafter dragged half-naked alongside the wife to a waiting vehicle outside the gate.
An NTA correspondent who visited the scene reported that the ceilings, doors, windows and burglary proof were broken and pulled down.
When contacted, both the Nsukka Area command and the PPRO Enugu state command said they were not aware of such operations and will need time to verify. A local vigilante member who rushed to the traditional ruler’s house with others when the operation was going on, said they were asked to leave the vicinity by policemen in two private vehicles parked outside the house.
NTA reported that the traditional ruler and his wife were that night taken to anti-kidnapping unit Enugu. On reaching the unit for further confirmation, they were informed that the traditional ruler was being transported to Abuja through the Akanu Ibiam Airport.
When NTA crew succeeded in locating the traditional ruler’s wife, she narrated their ordeal accusing one Barr. Nnamdi Ezemagu of repeatedly threatening them and allegedly trying to use the police to intimidate, harass and send the husband to early grave. She said this was because her husband, the traditional ruler stopped his land grabbing activities in their community. The wife, Martina Okwor further alleged that Nnamdi Ezemagu and his other siblings came with the police operatives that invaded their Nsukka home Thursday night.
Mrs. Okwor also said that the husband was transported to Abuja by road by the police in the same vehicle with the Ezemagus instead of going to the airport as earlier said. She also expressed fear of them killing or inflicting more injury on him on the way. The traumatized wife expressed shock that the traditional ruler who is in dire need of medical attention as result of the injury sustained and his health condition was allegedly denied access to a medical doctor who visited by the police. She also alleged that police officers refused allowing in clothes the traditional ruler’s family brought as he was almost naked.
She called for quick intervention of the Enugu state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as both the offence and whereabout of her husband are not yet known.
