A peaceful protest erupted in Ihie autonomous communities of Ivo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, as women and youths voiced their displeasure over the alleged unlawful arrest and intimidation of community members.
The protesters accused influential individuals within the community of leveraging their positions to intimidate and unlawfully detain others. They alleged that a palace chief, Chief Nwabuikwu Odoemenam, was recently taken away under unclear circumstances, leaving his family and the community in distress over his safety and whereabouts.
Carrying placards with messages such as “Resolve the land dispute now,” “Governor Nwifuru, call those intimidating our people to order,” and “We don’t want bloodshed in Ihie community,” the protesters called for urgent intervention from the state government.
Community members claimed that policemen from the Force Headquarters were involved in whisking the chief away to an undisclosed location. The protesters expressed their fear that the ongoing land dispute could escalate into a major crisis if not promptly addressed.
One of the protesters, Mr. Johnson Ajah, criticized the lack of action from the council chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ajah, stating that no meetings or discussions had been held to resolve the issue. He urged the governor and the Ministry of Border Peace and Conflict Resolution to step in and mediate before the situation worsens.
The traditional ruler of Ihie Autonomous Community, Eze Gabriel Okoro, clarified that the chief’s arrest was carried out by policemen from the Force CID in Abuja and was not a case of abduction. He mentioned that he had visited the local police division to gather information and was informed about the circumstances of the arrest.
The protesters, however, remain dissatisfied and called for a swift resolution to the land dispute, warning that further delays could lead to unrest in the community.
