Monarch’s abduction: Community protests alleged perverted justice

Monarch’s abduction:

The people of Ogwaniocha community in Ogbaru Local Government of Anambra State have raised the alarm over alleged perverted justice in the trial of suspected abductors and killers of their traditional ruler, Igwe Oliver Nnaji.

The police have declared 21 persons wanted in connection with the monarch’s alleged abduction, as well as alleged murder of Chief Ajieh Nwanasor and Ikenna Ugochukwu.

Ten of the suspects were reportedly gunned down and five arrested by Special Forces of the Nigerian Naval Base, Onitsha during a midnight raid of Ochan forest camp of the hoodlums.

But addressing reporters yesterday, son to the monarch, Prince Nnaji Reginald, described the ugly incident as a slap on community’s sacred stool.

He regretted the manner previous cases involving the suspects were handled by the court, expressing fears that his father’s case, who he said would not have died if the kingpin was not granted bail, might not receive justice.

He said: “Last Friday, the suspects, at the police station admitted to have abducted and killed my father. From their confession, they accused my cousin, who happened to be the ring leader of the dreaded group.

“The whole episode saddens my heart because I can’t believe that I will grant interview over what I least expect in life, for a cousin of mine to gang up with some miscreants and machinery to perpetrate this ungodly act.

“We don’t want him to continue with the case. If he had not granted bail to the kingpin, my dad wouldn’t have been a dead man today.”

The local government youth leader and nephew to the abducted monarch, Prince Ignatius Nnaji, expressed disappointment about government’s approach to the issue.

He said the community had spent heavily in taking care of security operatives stationed to restore sanity to the community, just as he appreciated the assistance of local government chairman to ensure peace in the area.

Nnaji said: “The community is taking care of the welfare of the security agencies deployed by the IG in the area. The community spends close to N2million to feed them every month.

“The past government didn’t visit the community to appreciate the level of damage. Several lives were lost while over 500 buildings were razed. Eighty per cent of residents are homeless. We appeal to Governor Charles Soludo to intervene.” (The Nation )