Ogurugu Family Petitions IGP Over Looting and Arson, Seeks Justice for Wanton Destruction of Properties

Ogurugu Information Blog brings you a disturbing report of wanton destruction and looting in Ogurugu community, Enugu State. A family has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, seeking justice for the burning of their houses and businesses. This incident has left many in the community in shock and despair.

The Ogurugu community in Enugu State has been plagued by a series of violent incidents, culminating in the recent looting and burning of houses and businesses. The affected family has accused some influential members of the community of orchestrating the attacks, allegedly led by the traditional ruler, Igwe Emmanuel Egwuaba. The family has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, seeking intervention and justice. This report provides a detailed account of the incidents and the family's quest for justice.

The family of Israel Ubah, Edith Ubah, Faith Ubah, and Moses Chukwudi Onwueme of Ogurugu community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to save their lives and ensure that all those involved in the looting and burning down of homes in the area are brought to justice. This was reported by Sahara Reporters on September 3, 2024 under the caption "Enugu Family Petitions Inspector-General of Police Egbetokun Over Wanton Looting, Burning of Houses"

They lamented that some influential members of the community are doing everything to scuttle the investigation and prosecution of the suspects while they continue to wander in neighboring villages and communities.

Israel Ubah told SaharaReporters that all his businesses had been destroyed, and houses, including those of his relatives and in-laws, had been burnt down by some youths of the community. He alleged that the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Emmanuel Egwuaba, led the youth in the demolition, looting, and burning of his businesses and houses due to hatred for him because he refused to agree to the illegal acquisition of his family's landed property by his allies.

In a petition to the Inspector General of Police through the legal firm Ahretti & Associates, dated July 20, 2024, the petitioners listed 31 names of people who allegedly participated in the arson and looting of their properties.

The petition, titled "Petition for Immediate Transfer of a Case of Conspiracy, Arson, Stealing of N450 million, Malicious Damage, Robbery, Attempted Murder, and Conduct Likely to Cause Breach of Peace from State CID Enugu," was written through the Assistant Inspector General, Nigerian Police Force Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu Annex, and signed by Marcel Odigbo Esq.

Israel Ubah stated that after he and his family members managed to escape, he reported the matter to the police at the Adani division. According to him, efforts by the police in Adani Division to arrest the suspects were restrained before he petitioned the State Criminal Investigation Department, Enugu, and the matter was moved from Adani to Enugu.

"With the help of the detective at the State CID, we arrested three of the suspects - Samuel Okeke, Chito Onyebuchi, and Monday Abunne. Igwe was invited to come along with other names in the petition. He only came with Denis Uba, whom both of them participated in the demolition of my buildings. After obtaining statements at D11 SCID, there were pressures from Adejor calling the DCP, calling everyone in the SCID. Dennis Uba, who is the President General of the community, and Igwe Emmanuel, they were given bail and left. After about five days, they promised to report back to SCID with other suspects; instead, they were looking for me to kill and wrote a petition to Zone 13, so that the case at the SCID would be hijacked."

Israel Ubah further stated that "From Zone 13, the police were mobilized and were looking for me everywhere, before I wrote a petition to the IG, and it was directed to be handled by Force CID Enugu Annex. Following the petition, the Force Annex went to SCID and took the case file. On arrival of this matter to FCID, I don't know what happened; the statements of the complainant were not taken in full, and we were invited to Force CID only for the suspects who had been arrested and detained by SCID to be given bail immediately."

He lamented that "why the investigating officers were writing their report after investigation, the same Adejor called the Force Headquarters, and they started calling the FCID Enugu Annex to transfer the matter to Abuja without allowing them to conclude their investigation."

When SaharaReporters reached out to the traditional ruler for a reaction, he accepted that the incident happened but claimed that he was not at home and therefore could not be held responsible for the actions of others.

"I went for a burial at my in-law's place in Kogi State. I was still on my way when I got a call from the Police Area Commander informing me about what was going on in my community. He asked me to return, and I came back to find that the properties in question had been destroyed. The neighborhood watch office in Ogurugu that was burnt, I mobilized funds and reconstructed it."

"I didn't ask anyone to loot and burn some people's property because I hate them," the monarch said. When asked why he worked to have those arrested released, he replied, "I was involved in the petition, and other people worked for my release."

He noted that the mother of the deceased, Nwagene, told him that her son, before he passed away, said that Israel Ubah was the person who sent the neighborhood watch that came and shot him.

"Because I wasn't around when the incident happened, when I returned, I invited all the elders to hear from them what happened. The community subsequently set up a committee to look into the matter and make peace since the person who died had died, and properties had been destroyed."

Efforts to speak with the said Adejor was said to be unsuccessful, as he neither picked his calls nor responded to a text message sent to him. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, also could not take his calls and had yet to respond to a text message sent to him.

Photo credit: Sahara Reporters