Enugu community leaders alleged threat to lives

Members of the Atakwu Akegbe-Ugwu Town Union in the Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, on Monday, raised the alarm that their lives were being threatened by hoodlums allegedly sponsored by their traditional ruler, Igwe Gregory Ugwu.

The President-General of the union, Chief Ikechukwu Eneh, alongside other executive members, told journalists during a press briefing that they were no longer sleeping in their houses since Sunday after hoodlums allegedly brought by the Igwe to disrupt an emergency meeting of the community to resolve how its resources should be used for the benefit of all.

Eneh, who appealed for government intervention to save their lives and property, alleged that sponsored hoodlums had threatened to kill and burn down their houses if the executive set their feet on Atakwu Akegbe soil again.

He stated, “Trouble started when the Commissioner for Rural Development, Chief Emeka Mama, directed the community to hold a meeting to address how it would be assisting in running and maintaining the Igwe’s palace financially.

“We fixed the meeting for Sunday, November 1, 2020, and the ministry sent two delegations to the meeting. Unfortunately, after the opening prayer and the traditional breaking of kolanut, hoodlums and members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, who were already detailed on what to do by the monarch, immediately started shouting and beating members of the town union executive with matchets.

“They went to the community’s sand site and destroyed kiosks, shops and other valuables. They dealt machete blows on four persons, who are now in hospital, and padlocked the gate to the community’s economic resources site.

“They went to burn my house, but the prompt intervention of members of the community saved the day. As we are talking now, we are hiding in the state capital.

“We are appealing to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to intervene now before it is too late.”

When contacted on telephone, Ugwu, denied the accusations against him, describing them as baseless.

“My brother, it is not true. I didn’t do such a thing. They have reported to the governor and I have been invited to clear myself,” he said