BIAFRA: AZERU BRIGHT DECLARES MISSING

POSTED: MARCH 30, 2015

BY EGBULE O.

 

A-25-year old Abavo born, Azeru Bright has been declared missing.

 

According to Azeru family, Bright was discovered to be among those fighting for Biafra Republic and the Nigerian soldiers since the discovery had come severally looking for him. The soldiers during one of their visits revealed that Bright was among the enlisted wanted persons from Delta State that had a hand in the Biafra crisis and that they have the mandate to kill him if seen.

Bright who was told of the statement of the soldiers fled and is nowhere to be found. According to Azeru's family “the whereabouts of Bright that has remained untold is the trauma we are passing through right now. We don’t know where to go and who to run to that will tell us where our son is. We learnt that many people lost their lives in the Biafra protest. The whereabouts of our son is our major challenge now”, they stated.

They lamented that they are frighten with frequent coming the soldiers day and night to their family house in Abavo to look for Bright.

EMEKE ANTHONY ISIOMA AND OTHERS DECLARED WANTED

POSTED SATURDAY JUNE 5, 2010
BY EGBULE O.

Some youths from Ime-Oyibu Quarters, in Owa-Oyibu, headquarters of Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State; who include Emeke Anthony Isioma, Uzor Chidi, Matthew Nwani, Obi Dika Okoh and several others have been declared wanted by the authorities of the Nigeria Police Force, for their involvement of causing breach of public peace. 

 Investigation by Ika Weekly Newspaper reporter revealed that on 28th May 2010, some group of youths from Owa-Oyibu community numbering about 60 persons, invaded the compound of Berger Construction Company to attack those they to pay, with the reason that the community liaison officer of the company collected money from them to give them job, but failed to fulfill the promise. Want to give employment to none indigenes from another state. 

 According to our source, the development prompted the management of Berger to seek the assistance of personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Owa-Oyibu Division and the military. Continuing he stated that the police on arrival used tear gas and live bullet to disperse the youths who later ran into the bush leaving one of the youths dead, from the shot by the policemen. 

Investigation into the matter showed that the dead man was later identified as Mr. Ayo Ndidi, an indigene of Ime-Oyibu quarters, in Owa-Oyibu.

Based on the ugly development, the police authority, in a statement released by the Divisional Police Public Relations Officer of the Owa-Oyibu Divisional Headquarters, Superintendent S.P Sunday John Ediete, on 30th May, 2010, stated that they are out for Emeke Anthony Isioma, Uzor Chidi and the other culprists who masterminded the violent, emphasizing that the Nigeria Police Force is not going to relent until they are apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. The police image maker, enjoined the general public to come forward with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of Emeke Anthony Isioma and his cohorts, stating that a handsome reward awaits any person who provides useful information that may lead to their arrest.

TRAGEDY: SUSPECTED GAY MURDERED IN AGBOR.

A man named Sunday Okeke an Indigene of Agbor in Ika South L.G.A of Delta State, was murdered in a bar along Okobi Street. It was reported that the deceased was relaxing and having fun at the bar on Sunday, January 17, 2016 with his same sex partner when they were attacked by a group of six heavily armed young men.

The two same sex partners where alleged to be involved in homosexuality; a crime punishable by law and regarded as an abomination both by the religious sect and traditionalists as a slight on their cultural heritage and faith.   

Our reporters gathered from a reliable source that the same sex partners (Sunday Okeke and Monday Odigwe) drew attention and suspicion of the youths of the community in what was called an abomination. According to him, “as the suspicion grew, people continued monitoring them until their suspicion appeared to be true. On several occasions, the two same sex partners were caught in the act of sexual contact, they were beaten, tortured. It was recorded that each of these times Mr. Monday and his partner, Sunday Okeke had denied any wrong doings against the law of the land and the same sex partners labelled it to be mere suspicion and jealousy. Due to the alleged violation of the laws that govern the land, the youths and some members of the community planned to kill them but fortunately, Mr. Monday was said to have escaped and as it stood, the youths had vowed to eliminate him once found.

               According to some members of the victim’s family, the torture and killings never stopped despite so many reports made to the authority. In fact, some of the victim's family members reported that the police were not helping matters instead they allowed the torture and killings to continue by handing the victims back to the community for Judgement. Our reporter secretly interviewed one of the victim’s sister, Mary Okeke. she explained that some prominent people in high authority, who are the makers of the laws, including some top police officers were aiding the onslaught against the victim. Our source gathered that any form of act like gay or anyone caught in the act of having affairs with the same sex must be punished according to Nigerian law (Prohibition) Act, 2013 (SSMPA). Meanwhile, it was recalled in November 2015 that the Delta State Police Command confirmed the arrest of 21 students from two state owned polytechnics for allegedly indulging in same sex activities. 

       Nevertheless, the incident involving Mr. Sunday Okeke and Mr. Monday Odigwe had been reported to the Agbor Police Divisional Headquarters, and according to a statement issued by the Divisional Police Officer, ASP Akintunde Philip, he stated that the case was still under investigation.Our source gathered that several cases of such incidents had been reported to the police in the past and they eventually handed over the victims back to the community which result to death penalty according to the law of the land. However, when interviewed, the Divisional Police Officer denied the allegations. When further asked by our reporter if some of the top police officers were aiding the killings of homosexuals; He replied, no further comment. 

          In spite of all these allegations, Mr Akintunde, (Assistant Superintendent of Police) promised to leave no stone unturned in the search of Mr. Monday Odigwe and bring to justice the killers of Mr Sunday. But most victims’ family members and some of the community members who were against the act of torturing and killing of the same sex partners secretly told our reporter that they believed Mr. Monday’s case would end up the same way, like other victims in the past. If found, he would be tortured and killed. 

As at the time of filing this report, the whereabout of Mr. Monday Odigwe was unknown and the remains of Mr. Okeke had been deposited in the mortuary.

WOULD-BE CHIEF PRIEST DECLARED WANTED

Posted: Saturday Dec. 2, 2015

by Egbule O.

 

The Oribhabor family of Irrua in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State is currently, in pains and also in a confused state over the disappearance of their late elder brother's son, Monday Oribhabor.

The eldest of Oribhabor kindred, Pa. Stevenson Oribhabor revealed this to Ika Weekly journalists at his residence in Agbor,headquarters of Ika South Local Government Area.   According to him, “The Oribhabor families have been passing through trauma since the disappearance of Monday, the only son of their late elder brother and uncle, High Chief Priest, Sunday Oribhabor whose death occurred February 28, 2015. What led to Monday’s disappearance was his refusal to take over the role of his late father because of his Christian faith. Monday, since demise of his late father has not known peace alongside his mother, Esther Oribhabor who died mysteriously on the night of November 15, 2015. Esther before her death was the backbone behind the son’s refusal to accept the decision of the elders of Irrua Community to take over the position of his late father and also associate with  members of Ogboni Fraternity, a group her husband led before his death. 

  Rev. Emonyon, a Catholic priest in the community who also pleaded that the decision of Monday should be honoured was removed by petition. Monday fled Irrua, his fatherland because of the continued threats by the elders of his community and members of Ogboni Fraternity to sacrifice him to their gods. Since Monday disappearance after the death of his mother, we, his family members have not known peace owing to the fact that the elders of Irrua ctommunity and members of the ogboni fraternity have threatened to kill him for his refusal to join them so as to use his blood to appease their gods”.

Pa. Oribhabor, on behalf of the Oribhabor family declared Monday missing and appealed to members of the public who have information on his whereabouts to reach out to them so as to calm down the trauma they are passing through. He in strong terms condemned the imposition of religious practice on his late brother’s son, pointing out that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria granted all the freedom to belong to any religion and association. He revealed that the Oribhabors and the police are helpless as it is an issue if not carefully addressed may lead to crisis in the community because they believed so much in the gods of their land.

Ika Weekly newspaper gathered that the Irrua Community High Chief Priestly position is by inheritance and that by the death of Sunday Oribhabor that his son Monday Oribhabor is the rightful person to occupy the vacant stool. Ever since Monday’s disappearance, Irrua Community is said to have been experiencing bad and dark days of life amongst others and that a soothsayer has revealed to them that until Monday is found to ascend the Chief priest position or killed, the community present predicament wouldn’t be resolved . However, the would-be Chief Priest had since been declared wanted, even as the Irrua Community has promised handsome rewards for whoever that will give them useful information about his whereabouts.