The people of Ngwogwo community, Ishiagu, in the Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Monday protested against the alleged incessant arrest and detention of some members of the community.
The protestors, consisting of old women, men and youths, marched around the community with placards.
They alleged that they had been indiscriminately arrested and detained by the police following frivolous petitions by one of their own, Barrister Uchenna Orji, a former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, who is now a Special Assistant to the Minister of Works, on Media and publicity, Engr. David Umahi.
The chairman of the community, Mr Ogbonna Sunday Okeke, urged Governor Francis Nwifuru to sustain the peace he had brought to the community by ordering an election that ushered in new leaders in the area.
He also called on Uchenna Orji to cease his actions before a fresh crisis engulfs the community.
He accused Orji of arresting three members of the community, including Ajah Ndubuisi, Maduabuchi Igwe and Nnamdi Chukwu, three days ago without committing any offence.
“We are still enjoying the peace our governor brought to our community by ensuring there was an election when some persons like Orji did everything to prevent it from happening.
“We don’t want any more crises in our community. That’s why we are calling on Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene and save us from indiscriminate arrest by Uchenna Orji. He has been writing frivolous petitions against the community, which has led to the arrest of some of our members.
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“Uchenna Orji is the only influential figure we have in our community. What we need from him is government attention and projects. He should stop bringing crises to our community.
“What we need in our community is development, peace and progress. We don’t need any more crises. If Uchenna Orji continues to cause trouble in our community through indiscriminate arrests of our sons and daughters, we will have no choice but to banish him, and he will have to face us squarely.
“He has never brought any projects to our community or contributed to its development. All he has been doing is causing trouble, which we will no longer tolerate,” he stated.
The community’s woman leader, Mrs Ajah Eucharia, said that the people of the community have not known peace since Orji received government appointments.
“We want Uchenna Orji to allow us to have some peace. We are suffering from austerity measures; there’s no food, no money, inflation everywhere, and he is adding to our suffering.
“He has been disturbing our peace, not allowing us, our children, and husbands to sleep. We cannot leave the community for him,” she said.
When contacted by The Trumpet over the phone, Orji said, “Write whatever you like, publish it; and I will send you my response to publish.”
