ELECTORAL VIOLENCE: POLICE DECLARED ONE EKPU HARRISON AND OTHERS WANTED WANTED

Published Saturday, February 15, 2014

 ELECTORAL VIOLENCE: POLICE DECLARED ONE EKPU HARRISON AND OTHERS WANTED WANTED

   By Ehis Ogodebarue

Uromi: Following the violence that rocked the Local Government Chairmanship Bye Election in Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, which took place at Efandion Primary School premises on the 29th day of October, 2013 some youths of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP) who include; Ekpu Harrison, Youth Leader- Emmanuel Uyi, Steven Agho Akiabue James have been declared wanted by the Police.

                         Mr. Ekpu Harrison

       The election's violence which spiled over to the next day, resulting to the destruction and burning of shops in the locality had caused severe panic amongst residents of the area before the arrival of the Nigerian Police and Army who came to calm the situations.

       A journalist from the Nigerian Observer Newspaper, as at the time of filing this report, learnt that the violence started when one of the Chieftain of the opposition party, known as the, " All Progressives Congress, (APC) Mr. Sam Oboh, brought in some Fierce Looting Thugs who attempted to seize the Ballot Box and replace it with already fingerprinted Ballot Boxes.

      It was also gathered that the Thugs move to hijack the Ballot Boxes was resisted by Ekpu Harrison, the Youth Leader, Emmanuel Uyi, Steven Agho and Akiabue James, supporters of the People's Democratic Party, (PDP), led by the PDP Chieftain in the Ward, Mr. John Yakubu, thereby resulting to the violence and indiscriminate shooting by Mr. Sam Oboh's four Thugs sustaining gun injuries. 

       Others who also injured by the stray bullets include; the Polling Unit's Clerk, Mr. Godspower Ohio, voters and the Returning Officers in the various Polling Units of the Ward.

     Meanwhile, the Nigerian Police had claimed in a statement signed by the Assistant Superintendent Police, (ASP)/ Police Public Relations Officer, ( PPRO), Edo State Police Command, Mr. Ogboh Peter on the Thursday, February 13 2014, informed the general public that Ekpu Harrison and other youths are wanted for the alleged involvements in the fracas and disrupted the Local Government Council Chairmanship Bye Election in Efandion Primary School premises, Ward five, Uromi in Esan North East Local Government of Edo State. 

      The statement is designed and written as follows, " WANTED PERSON. The Edo State Police Command, today Thursday, 13th day of February, 2014 hereby declare one Ekpu Harrison, whose picture is displayed here wanted over Electoral Violence in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

      He speaks Esan and English languages. He is about 5ft tall, dark in complexion and with a tribal mark on his face.

     The public with useful information that lead the his whereabout to please report same to the nearest Police Station for handsome reward."

      However, a reliable source who spoke with the Nigerian Observer Newspaper Reporter, on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that Ekpu Harrison, the Ward five Youth Leader, has escaped from the community following the repeated threats and attempts on his life and those of his party members by hireling Thugs of Mr. Sam Oboh.

      According to the source," The matter was  reported to the security agencies, but unfortunately, they seem not to be doing anything about it. Though I am not surprise by their attitudes since they have exhibited a look warm behavior on this issue right from the inception."

ETUMUDOR CHIDI ESCAPED FROM POLICE CUSTODY, DECLARED WANTED OVER HIS INVOLVEMENT IN IPOB ACTIVITIES

Published  27th of February, 2013

ETUMUDOR CHIDI ESCAPED FROM POLICE CUSTODY, DECLARED WANTED OVER HIS INVOLVEMENT IN IPOB ACTIVITIES

       Son of a well known Trado-Medical Doctor, Mr. Etumudor Chidi has been declared wanted by the Nigerian Government over his agitations and involvement in the activities of the Indigenous People Of Biafra, (IPOB) and escape from the custody of the Agbor Police Divisional Headquarters, Delta State.

                      Mr. Etumudor Chidi, the Suspect 

      It was gathered that Nigerian Government even before the arrest of the IPOB leader, Mr.Maxi Nnamdi Kalu, the C.EO; Radio Biafra, has on several occasions sent serious warning to all citizens of Nigeria, both home and in diaspora, not to partake in any of the IPOB's activities or agitations. The warning also contained that if  anyone is caught indulging in such acts, either by sampling the IPOB's Flags, Caps, Clothes and Identification Cards, he or she will be arrested and send to fourteen years imprisonment.

          Some of the IPOB members during the crisis 

      Speaking with Ika Weekly Newspaper Reporter, the IPOB's Assistant Coordinator, Agbor Zone, Mr. Kennedy Ifeanyichukwu, stated that their primary aim of coming out to support the IPOB'S activities is to adjutate for the freedom of their fellow Nigerians by ensuring that the oppressed is set free.

      He said that their Agbor Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Nicko Usuegbu, a native of Owa-Alizomor Community in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State and members of his family were sometime ago declared wanted by the Nigerian Authority. He also mentioned that one eldest in the Usuegbu family, Mr. Felix Usuegbu and his pregnant wife were also killed by the so-called Nigeria Authority purposely because they are agitating for IPOB.

     According to him," We are not against anybody, but rather, we are only fighting for our freedom. We need freedom in Nigeria," he said.

                     Chidi’s fathers Shrine 

       In addition to this, the Newsmen also learnt that the wanted person, Mr. Etumudor Chidi is a native of Idumuesah Community in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State. 

      Another source from Etumudor's family who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that Chidi's father, Mr. Etumudor Charles, is a well known native doctor and that he has been trying all he could do to initiate his son, Chidi into his Trado-Medical work, saying but all his efforts were to no avail as Chidi was not interested in joining him doing the native doctor's work.

     The source also revealed that Mr. Etumudor Charles has on several occasions, threatened to deal with Chidi if he refuses to quit the IPOB group and join him in serving the gods. He explained that Chidi was arrested by the police, alongside other IPOB adjutators in Agbor in September, 2013. 

     Continuing, the Source stated that Etumudor Chidi was arrested by the Police, led by DSP Akpan Udor on the 25th day of February, 2013. A  news came to them on the 27th of the same month of February, 2013 that the Cell was broken up and that all the IPOB members and other suspected criminals in the Cell have escaped, including our brother, Chidi and ever since then, we have not set our eyes on him, " he said. 

      Speaking further, the source said that the elders and native doctors in  Idumuesah Community are searching for Chidi all over the community and have vowed to use him as sacrifice to the gods of the land whenever he is caught for refusing to takeover the gods from his father.

      Meanwhile, Ika Weekly Newspaper Reporter, as at the time of filing this report, learnt that the Nigerian Authority has promised to reward anybody that can provide the police the reliable information that you lead to the arrest of all the suspects that escaped from the police custody. It was also gathered that the Nigeria Authority has vowed to send Chidi and others to 14 years imprisonment if apprehended.