By Ifeanyi Okolie
The victim, Amanna Anaba at the hospital
WHEN Amanna Anaba, a native of Abayi Autonomous Community in Isiala-Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, decided to celebrate the Easter festival in his home town with other members of his family, he had no inkling that it could turn out a bloody one for him.
In-fact, his journey home from his base in Port Harcourt was safe, but he eventually became a victim of lingering spate of horrifying attacks being unleashed on residents of his community and its environs.
These attacks were allegedly carried out by children of a traditional ruler in the area to intimidate and harass residents of Ngwa-Ukwu, Umuha, Nsulu and Nitiga. In fact, some indigenes of the area alleged that the attacks are deliberate efforts by the ruler to exert control over these communities that are no longer under his leadership.
But Amanna Anaba’s case was a bit complicated as residents of his community could not fathom the motive behind his plight. He does not reside in the village and does not publicly oppose the reign of the traditional ruler. Many argued that he might have been a victim of robbery attack, while others linked the attack to attempts made at reinstating a top local government official that was earlier suspended from office after the State Governor became displeased with his performace.
The attack: Few days after this incident, Anaba arrived home for Easter and he was joined by his elder brother, Tochukwu Anaba, a Port Harcourt based legal practitioner and some other friends. On the eve of Easter, they all had a good time at a popular bar at Nitiga, known as White-House, where they drank waiting for the Easter celebration to commence properly. But while this was on, three vehicles filled with armed men were parked at a dark spot unknown to the merry-making group of friends.
While Amanna Anaba was about driving home in his elder brother’s new 2006 Volkswagen Passat car, the parked vehicles went after him and they accosted him at the Nitiga junction. Crime Alert learnt that as soon as he noticed the vehicles trailing him, he swiftly reversed the car and headed back to the bar for safety. But on arriving the spot, his colleagues had all gone and his pursuers had already caught up with him.
Victim’s account
Eyewitnesses said they ordered him out of the car with a gun. They also took the car key from him and made attempts to drive the car away, but unfortunately, the car had some security features that prevented their move. They, therefore, started beating him. The victim who spoke with Crime Alert at the hospital where he was rushed to narrated his plight.
“They got angry when they couldn’t drive the car and they started beating me. I recognized six of them when the hostility started. They were, Destiny, Mustard, Justice, Ikem, Humble, Light,(surnames withheld). Mustard pointed a gun at me while others were busy beating me and vandalizing my brother’s new car. While this was going on, I was lying in the pool of my blood and was screaming for help.
“I don’t know the level of damage they inflicted on the car but they took away my walet and all the money I had in it. When they were done, Destiny ordered Mustard who was pointing a gun at me to shoot me. But he replied that people were watching and everyone would know that he killed me. Then they continued beating me and they stabbed me with broken bottles and I passed out. After I regained consciousness, I found myself in the hospital,” he stated.
Rescue efforts: It was gathered that his attackers swiftly left the scene. Succor however, came immediately as passersby made frantic calls to reach his brother, Tochukwu and he returned to the scene with his friends and found his brother lying in the pool of his blood. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw him lying in a pool of his blood and my car was also damaged.
People around who saw the attackers told me who they were and the cars they brought for the operation which include a red Volkswagen Jetta car, a dark Acura MDX SUV and a Black Toyota Camry belonging to a former speaker of Abia State House of Assembly. I got even more confused because I know my brother has no business with them. I see no reason why they attacked him because we are not even involved in their local politics because we are all busy people.
I ran into a police post which is rightly opposite the scene of the attack and the police officers on duty who actually witnessed the incidents declined to give me a report to take my brother to the hospital. I also informed them where I learnt that the attackers were hiding but they refused to go with me.
“In fact, they intimated that in the history of Isiala-Ngwa, no policeman had been able to carry out an arrest in the criminal hideout of the perpetrators as it has remained a fortress for the ruler who is married to over 18 wives and breed more than 80 children”.
Invitation of the military: Crime Alert also gathered that after the attack, concerned indigenes of the area made calls to the Nigeria Army 14 Brigade, Ohafia, who are currently providing inter-security in Abia State following the spate of kidnapping in the state and they responded swiftly. They reportedly invaded the ruler’s Palace in search of the culprits but they couldn’t find anyone in the compound and they retreated.
The next day, one of the suspects reportedly went to the Military base to exonerate himself but he was instantly placed under arrest and asked to provide all his brothers who took part in the attack. Thereafter, he provided Destiny who is currently being detained at the Brigade Headquaters.
Ex-speaker speaks: When Crime Alert contacted the ex-speaker over his alleged involvement in the whole issue, he said; “This matter has a legal dimension and I would not want to disclose the actions that have been taken so far. I don’t know the source of your information at the moment but it is clear that armed robbery is done when guns and knives are used to dispossess people of their valuables. It is not when two groups of young men are fighting and one of them seized the opportunity in mis-inform the army and the army acted on their information. That is the much I can tell you, the rest is left for you to investigate and ascertain the truth of the matter. “
Army/Police react
Crime Alert also contacted the Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade, Ohafia, Lt. Olabisi Ayeni and the Spokesman of Abia State Police Command, Geff Ogbonna. Though the police spokesman said he was unaware of the incident, his army counterpart confirmed the army involvment in the case but he refused to provide further details.
Commendations galore: When Crime Alert visited the community, residents were seen in clusters talking about the swift intervention of the army in the protracted crisis in the areas. Many of them expressed surprise that the hideout which has always served as a strong tower for the ruler’s children after their alleged nefarious activities A 72-year-old man who spoke to Crime Alert on the condition of anonymity could not hold back his joy as he praised the army for bringing justice to the home of a man whom he said had held the entire community hostage for a long time.
His words: “If you go round this community, there is no family that doesn’t have a horrible tale to tell and there are illegal bumps in front of the ruler’s palace which forces vehicles or motorcycles passing through to slow down. During this process, these boys will go after them and when they could not get money, they beat them up and it is on record that some of these man’s children have been fingered in some high profile murder, kidnapping in this community.”
via Vanguard: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/terror-in-ngwaland-indigenes-accuse-sons-of-ruler/
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