Killings over land dispute put Pete Edochie’s brother, 17 others in police net

No less than 18 suspects including the brother of veteran Nollywood actor Pete Edochie have landed in police net after the killing of five persons at Nteje, Oyi local government area of Anambra State over a land dispute.

That much information was revealed by the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Rowland Odegbo, who also noted that if not for the intervention of Governor Willie Obiano, he would have also been arrested.

Continuing, the traditional ruler said those arrested and detained by men of SARS include Chief Ikechukwu Edochie, Chief Cyril Nwankwo, Mr. Vincent Okongu, Pastor Vin Nnaemeka, Modilim Nwene, Anthony Ewenike, Dominic Oboh, Sunday Mobi, Paul Aghadinuno, the landMonday Nwafor and Nwoye Amamchukwu.

Others were Obelagu Mobi, Koife Chukwuemeka, Ogwugwua Nweke, Fidelis Cordi, Ibe Kenneth, Chijioke Anyanti and Uchenna Oraegbunam.

Odegbo also called on Governor Obiano to look into the case by to setting up a panel of enquiry: “The major problem we have is that one policeman, who was at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, Awkuzu and now an assistant commissioner of police in charge of SARS in Abuja, is being used to come into Nteje and arrest people and take them to Abuja without recourse to the Anambra State police command”.

He also added that; “There was even a petition that I, the traditional ruler, should be brought to Abuja and they would have carried me if the Anambra State governor had not intervened.

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“I was addressing a village meeting when the policemen came and said that I was needed in Abuja. However, following the intervention of the governor, they asked me to come at my own time, but I knew that was a face-saving measure on their part.

“When one person was killed recently, the same Abuja SARS came to Nteje and arrested many people who are yet to be released.

“I don’t know why Abuja SARS should be bypassing Anambra State police command to come and carry people to Abuja. What borders me is that when three people were killed in March, there was a petition to the police, while another group wrote another petition and included me.

“What has been happening here is that petitions have been flying and arrests made indiscriminately. I really don’t understand why our people should be intimidated by a group and trying to rope in the traditional ruler because someone was opposed to my being crowned the Igwe of Nteje.

“Our community needs help because we are under police siege from Abuja. Those arrested were carried in two buses and taken to Abuja on thumped up charges and I would have been among them if I am not the traditional ruler,” Odegbo added.

 

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