By Cajetan Mmuta
Former Commissioner for Trade and Commerce in Anambra State, Dr Christian Madubuko has appealed to the state government, Inspector General of Police Mr Usman Alkali Baba and other relevant bodies to urgently come to the help of indigenes of Anaku town, the headquarters of Ayamelu local government area of the state following the May 16, 2021 invasion and destruction of the area by neighbouring Omor community.

He lamented that he and thousands of indigenes of the town now have become refuges in their own land after over two months armed youths and people from Omor community invaded Anaku town.
The invasion by the hoodlums led to destruction of everything on sight, two police officers were gruesomely murdered and others severely wounded during the early Sunday morning mayhem.

About 136 choice buildings and other properties including vehicles valued at over N3.6 billion were destroyed during the ugly incident.

In addition, two police officers, an Assistant Inspector of Police (ASP) Felix Ngwu and Sergeant Chinonye Nnanwa were attached to Anaku Divisional Station were murdered and their heads and legs were cut off while the male of one them was harvested even as they were both set ablaze in the process.

Dr Madubuko who disclosed this while speaking to newsmen on Thursday shortly after conducting them round the massive destruction areas pointed out that the quantum of properties destroyed during the invasion was unimaginable as some of the vital things he brought from abroad were razed down.

He attributed the problem to a long-standing “rift here and there between Anaku and Omor, between Omor and Igbakwu, between Omor and Umumbuo, Omor and Umuelum and between Omor and Ifite Ogeai and between Omor and Owa. Why is it Omor all the time, are they the only community in Ayamelu? I learnt that they said the boundary between them and Anaku is at Eyu River and by implication, they are the owner of every land around here but that’s most unfortunate.”

“We have been living here; you can see how magnanimous our forefathers were and where you live you call your brother and I think the good things they did in the past is what we are suffering today. Can it be said that we should be wicked? So, that’s a question we should be asking allowing your brother to be by your side when you have land you share with your brother. I do not think in any way that’s a bad thing but you can see the turn of events as things go on.”

“I believe by the special grace of God we can only hold ourßelves as we are holding ourselves, waiting for the state government to do something; we are not asking the state government to give us money, no, we are asking the state government to give us boundary so that we live in peace. We have always lived in peace, not that we are afraid but it’s good we live in peace. Otherwise, the crisis does not solve any problem, of you fight with somebody at the end of the day you sit down around the table and sort it out.”

“Omor, they are our brothers; my grandmother is from Amikwu Omor, the very day I arrived here (own house) and I saw the wickedness and destructions I couldn’t believe it.”

According to him, “The quantum of destruction is unimaginable and we have taken stock of the destructions. Most people were affected, at least you visited our traditional ruler’s palace; desecrated and the queen is nowhere to be found, she cannot come here because where will she live. Like myself I am now a refugee in my own house, I can’t come here and I can’t sleep here anymore.”

Apart from the massive destructions, the divisional police station was sacked, several economic trees were destroyed while there were visible bullet holes on the wall of buildings and entrance gates and litter of shattered louvres as well as remains of burnt vehicles.

The entire community has remained a ghost of itself as residents fled to far safety locations even as the monarch of the town and family are yet to return to the palace.

Also, one of the community leaders, Mr John Udemezuo said “We are here today to talk to the world and ask questions; number one is that after the incident Omor our neighbouring community invaded our community, Anaku, on 16th of May 2021, lives were lost and property worth billions of naira destroyed and at the same time two policemen were killed here and we have made an official report to the police since then but we are surprised that ever since then till today we are yet to see anybody arrested in connection with what had happened to Anaku.”

He said, “We want to the world that Anaku is a peace-loving community; we don’t want to fight, we don’t problem. That does not mean we don’t know what to do or we don’t have the capacity to fight but we are naturally peace-loving people.

Ever since Omor people invaded Anaku from that 16th May till date nobody has been arrested in connection with the people that were killed in the community and wanton destructions.”

Udemezuo stated that “Anaku people are asking the question; does it mean we don’t have a commissioner of police here in Anambra State or that somebody is playing pranks with the lives of people that were lost here. So, we are asking the Executive Governor after we lodged a report of what happened, he came here, he instructed the commissioner of police to effect arrest but ever since then till now nobody has been arrested.

The two policemen that were killed collected their arms when the governor came he instructed them to return those arms. Somebody returned the arms but those people who returned the arms nobody has been arrested. Are they saying that the arms walked themselves into police armoury?

“I don’t know if the police want Anaku to go for retaliation, we don’t want to go for retaliation. We want to go through the law. People that destroyed properties in Anaku should be held accountable, there should be arrest and people should be arrested.”

He noted that since the monarch of Omor community ascended the throne as HRH Igwe (Dr.) Chidume Chris Oranu Omor, it’s been fighting one community after another, adding therefore that “we want the law to take its course and that government should act and act fast.”

Gov Obiano imposes curfew on two Anambra communities

President General of Anaku Progressive Union (APU) Mr Paul Nwuba in his terse statement said “the measure or extent of the devastation and wanton destruction meted out by Omor community on Anaku town and her citizens in the recent pogrom have left Anaku with colossal and irreparable damage.”

He stated that aside from the two dead police officers, the “Omor community in the attack murdered 7 (seven) indigenes of Anaku and one person indigenous to Aguleri in a most gruesome manner. Of the seven persons murdered, four were slaughtered at the spot and three kidnapped by Omor community.”

Commissioner of police in the state, Mr Chris Owolabi when contacted disclosed that some persons have been invited by the command for questioning and that thorough investigation was on into the matter.

He explained further that the case is presently beyond the command, adding that the force headquarters Abuja has taken over the case.