Published June 29th, 2022: BASELESS ACCUSATIONS, BRUTAL ATTACKS DRIVE IHIEKONYE EZEKIEL ONYEKA FROM DELTA HOME

Published June 29th, 2022

BASELESS ACCUSATIONS, BRUTAL ATTACKS DRIVE MANFROM DELTA HOME

By Nicholas Ebegboni 

The Ihiekonye family of Abavo, Delta State, is making an urgent appeal for justice and a renewed investigation into a series of traumatic events that have upended their lives, culminating in the forced displacement of their son, Ihiekonye Ezekiel Onyeka. 

 

The family's plea follows a devastating sequence of loss, unfounded accusations, and a brutal act of violence that compelled Ezekiel to flee his ancestral home.

 

          Mr. Celestine Ihiekonye, father of Ihiekonye Ezekiel Onyeka.

The ordeal began with the tragic deaths of Ezekiel's two cousins, Ewere Ihiekonye and Fidelis Ihiekonye, along with his best friend and business partner, Oyinye Okoh, whom he considered a brother. All three were victims of Boko Haram's ongoing insecurity on April 10, 2022.

 

Ezekiel, who had employed his cousins on his poultry farm in Garga, Kanam Local government, Plateau State. was met not with sympathy but with hostility upon the news of their passing. 

 

The mother of the deceased, consumed by grief, turned her anguish into a campaign of threats and harassment against Ezekiel and his immediate family. 

 

This aggression stemmed from her long-standing disapproval of her sons working in the North.

 

The severity of the harassment necessitated the involvement of the Abavo Police Station, where Ezekiel’s father, Ihiekonye Celestine, lodged a formal complaint on June 28, 2022.

 

The situation escalated dramatically when Ezekiel returned to Abavo for his cousins' funerals, a few weeks prior  the solemn occasion, he was abducted. 

 

During his captivity, Ezekiel was subjected to a brutal machete attack, sustaining severe injuries. 

 

His parents were then forced to pay a substantial ransom for his release. Following his freedom, Ezekiel was issued a chilling directive: he was "never to be seen in that village" again. 

 

This direct threat left him with no option but to abandon his home and community, effectively severing his ties to Abavo.

 

"Our family has endured unimaginable pain," stated Ihiekonye Celestine. "We lost two nephews to terrorism, and then our son was attacked and driven from his home because of baseless accusations and a vengeful act. We seek justice for Ezekiel and a safe path for him to return without fear."

 

The Ihiekonye family urges the relevant authorities to re-examine this case with the urgency and diligence it demands.

 

They call upon law enforcement to ensure accountability for those responsible for Ezekiel’s kidnapping and assault, and to create an environment where he can safely return to his community without fear of reprisal.

IPOB members run for safety as Nigerian Government declares war on them

 February 9, 2016.

IPOB members run for safety as Nigerian Government declares war on them

Members of the indigenous People Of Biafra, IPOB  are currently,on the run for the safety of their lives following the declaration of war against them by the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

IPOB members  have in their recent activities intensified agitations for the actualization of the sovereign state of Biafra. Unfortunately, the development was strongly condemned by the Nigerian Government,  hence, it has continued to arrest and prosecute IPOB members anywhere they are found in the country.

 Part of the group's agitations was for the Nigerian Government to free its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kalu from detention. Also, it could be recalled that the people of Southeastern Nigeria have for the past six decades been fighting for secession and the creation of their own sovereign country, Biafra.

Our reporters who were at the scene of the February 9, 2016 IPOB protest at National High School, Aba, Abia State,  Nigeria witnessed high display of violence and the exchange of firearms between Nigerian security agencies, including the army and IPOB members.Mostly affected in the bloody clash were youths who were subjected to torture by soldiers for refusing to quit IPOB. Eighteen persons died in the protest.Some of the people who spoke to Journalists said that the atrocities of Nigerian soldiers against IPOB members have called for a great concern. They recalled how people were killed, houses, shops and markets were destroyed  by soldiers.They mentioned names of key IPOB members who led the protest to include: Ndu Chiemena, Sam Agbor, Francis Okolie, Calistus Nnaji and  Rowland Igbo. They noted that these IPOB leaders have lost their businesses, houses and family members to the Nigerian soldiers deadly attacks.

 Again, the aforementioned IPOB leaders have been declared wanted by the Nigerian Government.

Meanwhile, IPOB members have gradually lost their values in Nigeria as they are now seen and labelled as enemies of the country. Their safety in Nigeria have now become a serious issue, hence, they are traveling out of the country in search of safety and comfort.

However, a respected community leader from Southeastern Nigeria, Chief Timothy Igwebuike, in an interview advised IPOB members and leaders who were able to travel out of  the shores of Nigeria to do everything possible not to return to the country as their safety is no more guaranteed. He appealed to other countries in the world to always accommodate IPOB members  for they are hardworking and resourceful.