By Micheal Nnebife
The traditional ruler of Nimo Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Maximus Ike Oliobi, the Owelle of Nimo has called on security agencies in the state to come to the aid of the town, to free it from the siege laid by those he describes as criminal elements, hiding under the garb of youth activism to unleash terror in the community.
Addressing newsmen in his palace, Sunday, Igwe Oliobi said a few criminally minded youths being sponsored by mischievous elements with selfish interests in the town, had been holding the town hostage, causing chaos.
The monarch spoke shortly after the youths forcefully shut down the town’s market, Oye Market, Saturday, May 10, in protest over the death of a youth, days after his release from police custody over an offence.
But his fellow youths accused the traditional ruler of causing the youth’s arrest, eventually leading to his death. They shut down the town’s market during their protest, an action described as sacrilegious by even their supporters who spoke in their WhatsApp group.
Reacting to the latest development, the monarch decried the activities of the youths, accusing them of destroying core values in the town and threatening its peace.
Igwe Oliobi urged the people of the community and the public to disregard the allegation against him, stating that he had no hand in the death of the late youth, Ifeanyi Odibelu.
He called on the security agencies, particularly, the Police, DSS and the newly inaugurated state security outfits, Udo Ga- Achi/Agunechembra operatives, to conduct a proper investigation to unravel the actual cause of the death.
‘I am innocent of the allegation levelled against me. This gang of youths are protesting against my throne for waging war against kidnapping and armed robbery, and for not welcoming land grabbing activities in the community. These are the same people that invited unknown gunmen to occupy the bush between Nimo and Neni from where they started kidnapping our people.
‘The protesters, including the late Odibelu, are the people disturbing the peace, unity, togetherness and the development of Nimo Community. Nimo is a home of peace that doesn’t need hooliganism.
‘The protest was for their selfish interest and not for the interest of real Nimo Youths.
‘The community under my rulership has done everything possible to engage these gangsters, so that they can be useful to themselves, their families and to the community, but they refused to work, rather preferring to involve in land grabbing and other nefarious activities that will fetch them quick money.
‘This set of youths that are holding this community to ransom are not more than 30 in number. For the past three years, their criminal activities have thrown the community into chaos and disunity.
‘They are doing everything criminally possible to chase away investors in our land that is largely known for peace and for the community not to benefit from Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s Solution Agenda.
‘We enrolled these particular youths into various skill acquisition institutions, including Innoson Manufacturing Company in Nnewi, and the ongoing One Youth -Two Skills empowerment programme of the State Government for them to legitimately work and earn a peaceful living, but they all ran away in search of quick and easy money.
‘I was called to come and serve my good People of Nimo because of my long time contributions to the development of the community and I can proudly say that my 8 years on the throne have recorded a massive transformation across the four corners of the town. It includes the ongoing construction of Nimo Civic Centre which after completion will emerge the best across communities in the South East Region of Nigeria.
‘A total of 14 brilliant indigent students are also studying Medicine and Engineering courses at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, under my rulership scholarship scheme.
‘I am doing all this for the sake of progress, peace, unity, togetherness and for the future development of the town,’ Igwe Oliobi said, while accusing the youths of trying to rubbish the security efforts of the Anambra State Government.
He therefore called on the security agencies, particularly, the Nigeria Police Force, DSS and Agunechemba to urgently deploy more of their personnel to the community to dust down tension and apprehend the hoodlums.
