Save Us From Our Oppressors, Enugu Community Begs Gov Ugwuanyi

The people of Obinagu Amangwu Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State have cried out to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to save them from alleged oppression from the people of Amokpo community.

The people are accusing Amokpo community dwellers of destroying their farmlands and homes. The Obinagu Amangwu are also accusing the Amakpo people of selling their lands without their consent.

In a statement by the Chairman of Obinagu Amangwu Community Youth, Friday Oko, the people equally used the medium to appeal to Governor Ugwaanyi to help facilitate the creation of a polling unit in the community to enable them register for Permanent Voters Card in their community.

“We beg Gov Ugwuanyi to give us an autonomous community to save us from annihilation attempts by Amokpo people. We are tired of this oppression. They have destroyed our farmlands and homes. We are optimistic that Gov Ugwuanyi will come to our rescue. We are being dehumanized. Also we want a polling unit. We have no access to PVCs registration. We have no social amenities, such as good roads, electricity, hospitals and schools,” said Oko.

Another native of the community, Raphael Ngwu, said, “In the olden days, we lived together with Amokpo people. They are the majority. So they began to maltreat us by denying us our rights, such as burial rites. They claim we are strangers. Our people resolved and relocated to a neutral area, across Iyioku, for our freedom.

“The trouble started when lands were being sold. Amokpo sold all their lands and began to sell our own. They are more powerful because they get political appointments and have people in power. They trickily came and began to preach that we are one. Later they brought caterpillars and began to sell our lands. They destroyed our farmlands and economic trees. We are being annihilated. They rejected us and we are better off staying as we are. We are not the same. The matter is in the court and despite that, they are still destroying our economic trees and intimidating our people.”

Speaking also on the matter, Barr CJS Okereke, said: “The action is completely against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution, Section 33, guarantees the right to life for Obinagu Amangwu people. The activities of the Amokpo people are absurd. That a leadership of Amokpo people should raise a militia to invade a community, rape people, destroy their sources of livelihood, kill their animals, torture some, especially Jude Ede and Benard Okoh, who were brutally dehumanized, is a call for anarchy. That prompted our intervention. Amokpo people should not deprive their rights. They want to wipe them away because of land sales. But those who are buying them should investigate the legitimate owners. Obinagu Amangwu people are entitled to freedom from discrimination. There is a suit No E/105/2016 in court. They have joined issues, although the judge retired. It is for the matter to be assigned to another judge. That does not give them rights to put laws into their hands. I advise they go back to courts to seek their legal redress. Whoever is dissatisfied can appeal.”