A cult group is reported to have laid siege on Obudi Agwa Community in Oguta LGA of Imo State leading to indigenes and peace taking a flight from the community.
Reports alleged that a cult group, Avengers with the complicity of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) team, attacked the market square looting lock up shops and removing 16 bags of rice and other items worth over N2million.
The cult boys were alleged to have under the cover of the SARS also inflicted serious attacks on the community members forcing them to flee their abodes.
It was also gathered that three members of the community were arrested by the SARS on the allegation that they belonged to a rival cult group.
However, information from the community revealed that the detainees by the police were community leaders one of whom is the Chairman of a task force on compliance and enforcement in the community.
When contacted, the traditional ruler, Eze (Dr) I.O.Asor said, ‘my community is under siege by cult group’.
He lamented the insecurity in the area which has forced some of his subjects to flee.
He explained that he has approached the authorities on the matter, adding that when he got dissatisfied with the police handling of the matter he had to petition the Inspector-General of Police for the matter to be handled on a neutral ground.
He expressed concern that the police is trying to get one of the suspects to implicate him by threatening him to accept their own position or statements.
Also speaking, the lawyer representing the community, Barr B. C. Ikwo lamented what he called the abuse of police powers and unprofessional conduct by the F-SARS Owerri.
He alleged, ‘that some law-abiding citizens of the community were arrested in respect of a false allegation of cultism and in the circumstances looted properties worth N3million with the assistance of F-SARS”.
According to him, ‘I have even called the SARS Commander who was alleged to be starving one of the suspects they arrested threatening him to accept their own statement and I got him to know that we are watching him through the satellite.
A suspected sponsor of the cult group, Lucky Akalador said on telephone, ‘my friend I can’t say anything. I am not part of it.”
He switched off the phone before more questions could be asked and never picked subsequent call.
On the allegation of detaining innocent citizens, the Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu stated that any person mentioned in any incident must be interrogated.
He charged the community members including their legal representatives to come up with evidences incriminating anyone, assuring the police would do its duty.
The recent violence and breach of peace in the area occurred when at the annual general meeting of Obudi Agwa General Assembly about five prominent community members were fingered as sponsors of cult activities.
The members allegedly fingered Agabus Anumudu, Malachy Abepu, Magnus Ejiogu, Lucky Akalador, Iyke Ejiomofor, Chima Ejiogu.
The community’s lawyer stated that one of them filed an action that is currently pending at the Federal High Court.
According to the lawyer, though they denied involvement, the community is not convinced of their denial.
It was further learnt that after the general meeting, the Ward 4 Cult boys reacted and killed the kingpin of the Avengers group, whose name was given as Ihenacho also known as Otika.
HATIONAL NEWSBREAK
