In what appears an oppressive action the police ,Tiger Base unit has arrested the wife of Dr. Afam Echi, a senior journalist in Imo state and publisher of The New Oriental Newspaper.
Mrs. Chinyere Afam Echi was picked up from her Uru, Isi Ogwa, Mbaitoli LGA, home by 3.10am last Friday after the police stormed the place in search of her husband (Afam)but did not meet him.
Alongside the wife, those picked include the chairman of traditional worshippers, Mr. Francis Osuji 78, aka Edi Awhonu, his 17 year-old son, and three other persons.
Afam,an executive editor of the Nigeria Newspoint newspaper is the secretary of traditional worshippers in his Ogwa community and has been leading a fight for the restoration of a community shrine destroyed by the community in a religious activity titled ‘Solemn Assembly’
In his comment, the president of Uru Improvement Union, Barr. Ken Emekowa maintained that the community collectively decided to divorce itself from the shrine so that the village cannot be linked to any particular religion”. He further declared that Uru has gone to church.
The traditional worshippers lament that aside destroying the shrine, they burnt the community Ofo, pulled down the Obi Uru as well as burning other articles of reverence. They explained that they have the right of freedom of worship which should not be denied them because it is constitutionally guaranteed.
In his own narrative, Dr. Echi, the chief scribe of the group stated that after one year when the community became defiant in giving them a listening ear they sued them at an Oguta shrine but the leaders refused to respond and “has been using police actions to torment our lives”.
“After we took them to Oguta they also took us to Police Zone 9 at Umuahia,Abia state.
When a reconciliation panel set up by the village to resolve the challenge failed, the chairman of the panel in a comment stated that “the community should engage the Tiger Base where we will each pay N500,000k, so that our ears will hear something”. And now, the Tiger Base action followed.
We learned that the police strongly frowned at the petition which they described as clothed in lies to deceive because such cultural matters involving no crime is not treated by the police. However, as at the time of this report the lawyer brought to bail the suspects have remained at large signalling attempts to further punish them.
The petition we understand originated from a police officer alleging unprintable crimes against the pl suspects. Aside from the unlawful arrest, it is doubtful if the law permits detention of a minor in police cell.
Curiously the video of the altar taken by the police was made available to the German based father of the police officer who originated the petition. He was found circulating this in the community WhatsApp platform when the matter is still under investigation.
The security operatives we gathered took the woman and the man’s Laptop as a bait to get the man(Mr Adam). According to the maid, “police men that entered the house were like eleven, ransacking and turning everywhere upside down, including under the bed.
“When they entered Daddy’s room where his alter is they screamed, come and see someone’s shrine, this is where they stay to prepare charms for this IPOB, ESN and Yahoo boys”.
In a reaction, Echi laughed it away insisting that what was referred to is his altar, where he prays and listed the items to include nzu (white chalk), Odo, candles, incense, bell, water, sand, my father’s photograph, alligator pepper, Ikenga Statue etc. In return, he queried, “were you expecting to find the image of Jesus, Bible, Chaplet, Olive oil” as he laughed more. He denied any relationship with IPOB, ESN, nor is he involved in any juju.
He lamented that his job has been hampered since police took away his Laptop.
When we reached out to some community leaders they sought anonymity but said that they did not support destruction of the shrine but also thinks that the matter could be resolved within the community.Attempts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO failed as calls made to him since two days were not picked nor did he respond to text messages.
“Now that the police have affirmed the frivolous nature and lies in the petition which did not reflect the issue in contention will they courageously turn the heat against the complainants in line with the requirements of the law or will they wait for a court action to be compelled to do the needful.”
That is the question on the lips of many Nigerians.
