89-years old Ogbueshi Abel Okafor on Sunday, led over 400 men and women in protest against use of now abolished Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, operatives to intimidate and harass indigenes of Uruebo village in Nkwelle Ezunaka community, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The people of the community linked popular priest and his elder brother who is representing Oyi Local Government Area, in Anambra State House of Assembly to the deployment of the SARS.
Addressing newsmen during the protest, Chief Okafor claimed that over 69 youths were missing in the village, following the activities of the SARS operatives said to be working on the instructions of the lawmaker and his priests younger brother.
He lamented that the youths have remained missing for the past six months after the lawmaker lost an election following the expiration of his six years tenure of office as the Chairman of Uruebo village Meeting.
He said three of his sons were also among those missing.
He said, “Besides the 68 missing young men from the village, 11 others have been languishing in prison for about six months now, after they were arrested by SARS on the order of a Catholic priest who is also an indigene of Uruebo village.
“The priest brought a combined team of SARS and soldiers to our community, and told them to arrest all the youths in the village. He said youths of the village were planning to kidnap him.
“11 young men were arrested in June this year over six month now, and have been languishing in prison. Youths of this community have all fled to unknown destination, and since then, we have been looking for our children, including three of my sons,”
Speaking on what led to the arrest of the 11 youths, another community leader, Chief Okadigbo, 75 years, said “Charles Obimma, elder brother to Emmanuel Obimma was elected leader of the village six years ago, and after two mandatory tenures of three years each, he refused to handover and requested to be given another six months and the community refused his demand and conducted an election which Mr Francis Okafor won.
“We suspect he want to cling to power because he has been using his influence as the leader of the village to sell off landed properties owned by the communally.
“As we are here protesting, bulldozers are on the land, clearing it. We have said no to this, and the only thing his brother (Emmanuel Obimma, a priest could do was to bring in a combined team of security men, including SARS and military men to arrest our youths for his fake kidnapping allegation.
“We do not have any problem with Emmanuel Chibuzor Obimma, whom people know as Ebube Muonso, as a priest but he is supporting the crisis his elder brother Charles is causing in our community, the 11 youths he arrested claimibg they wanted to kidnap him went to plead with him to prevail on his elder brother to allow peace reign in the community, instead of using his influence to make peace between the community and his brother, he decided to intimidate his own people with his influence.
“We are calling on the state governor to wade into the matter and free us from this bondage.
“We are not begging him not to do his worse, because he has done so already, but let him stop thwarting the cause of justice, as the matter is coming up in court on 27th and 28th of this October.”
Some of the placards displayed by the protesting villagers read; “We say no to oppression, intimidation, harassment of SARS and Ebube muonso, ” End SARS, end Ebube muonso persecution of his people ” “We want justice for the youths that were wrongly accused, “Ebube muonso stop persecuting the people of your land, “We are tired of ebube muonso and his intimidation, among others.
Reacting, Rev Fr Obimma said he was not willing to react, but urged that the report of the protest be published because it is to his advantage because of the Army and Police report.
“It is to my advantage. Army and police reports are ready, already. So those elders will join in the court charges for false information. I cannot be intimidated.
“I had wanted to release them (suspects), based on people’s plea, but as you can see they are not remorseful. Let’s see how it will end. let them prepare for court.”
