Abba Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State has called out the Nigerian Police and Oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze over the alleged abduction of one of their respected sons, Chief Pius Nweke, by men suspected to be from the Nigeria Police Force.
The Community alleged that Nweke who is the Chief Executive Officer of Best Aluminum, was abducted on his way to his office on the 5th of June, 2020 and hours later, his pictures in handcuffs with a pistol, in a background of a Police Station, flooded the internet.
Investigations reveal that Nweke has been one the sponsors of the resistance by Abba community in a dispute over the ownership of a large expanse of land with neighbouring Ukpo community in Dunukofia Council Area.
Last week, part of his building close to the land in dispute was allegedly demolished by Ukpo people with support from men of the Nigeria Police Force.
Abba Community is fingering business mogul from Ukpo, Prince Arthur Eze as sponsoring what they called suppression, intimidation and unlawful arrest of their people, using the Police.
On Friday, Abba people had staged a protest at the entrance of the State Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, seeking the intervention of the governor, Willie Obiano in the matter, after they had led a similar protest to the Government House, Awka, a day earlier.
According to a press release signed by the community’s President General, Engr. B.C Anaekwe, the abduction of Chief Nweke and the subsequent pictures of him brandishing a pistol while in handcuffs, is linked to the land dispute between Abba and Ukpo community adding that since the dispute started, her citizens had been subjected to police intimidation, harassment and victimization with not less than 19 citizens of the Abba Community charged to courts for offences ranging from obstruction to armed robbery.
“It will be recalled the Abba community has been in dispute over ownership of a large expanse of land commonly called “Agu-Abba” with her neighbouring Ukpo community. Since June, 2019 citizens of the Abba community have been subjected to police intimidation, harassment and victimization with not less than 19 citizens of the Abba community charged to courts for offences ranging from obstruction to armed robbery. At present, two out of the five persons arrested on 18th December, 2019 in the magistrate court, Umudioka are still in the facility of the Nigerian Correctional Service.
“The Abba community hereby places the world on notice that should anything happen to Chief Pius Nweke, the Nigerian Police under IGP Mohammed Adamu and Prince Arthur Eze are to be held responsible. The Nigerian police should not reduce itself to a private thug. President Mohammed Buhari is called upon to safe the community from the Nigerian police,” the community noted.
Reacting to the allegations in a chat with TNC correspondent, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed stated that the arrest of Chief Nweke was not carried out by operatives of the State Police Command nor did they order the alleged circulation of his pictures on social media.
He also said the command did not know who gave the order or carried out the operation.
