Wives, Children, Kinsmen Protest alleged Illegal Detention of Five in Enugu

 

….. Seek Gov. Mbah, FG’s Intervention.

    …… Insists, their Fathers , Sons, Husbands Are  Innocent’

 

There is palpable tension in Enugu over alleged illegal  detention of five persons from Amagu Agbada Nenwe Community in Aninri Council area of Enugu state, arrested by the police in 2023 for alleged murder case.

Dome Television reports that Wives and kinsmen of the five suspects weekend staged a peaceful  protest over the development, insisting that they are innocent of the murder allegation levelled against them, calling on governor Peter Mbah and the federal government to intervene and ensure that justice is done in the matter.

The detainees, currently being held at the Enugu Correctional Center  were reportedly arrested in November 2023, by Operatives of the Special Weapon and Tactics (SWAT), of the Enugu state police Command which detained them for close to two months before granting each of them bail at the cost of three hundred and fifty thousand 350,000 and (four hundred thousand naira ) 400, 000 respectively.

Their arrest and subsequent  charge to court, followed the murder of three persons in villages within the Community by suspected members of the notorious unknown gunmen that has been terrorising the entire South East geo political zone of the country for quite a long time.

The aggrieved villagers, who staged the protest under the platform of Concerned Citizens of Amagu Agbada Nenwe, Aninri LGA, stormed the state High Court, office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,  House of Assembly complex, and government house where they register their displeasure over their continued detention displaying placards, with various inscription such  as “Government, please  release Our Daddy” Our Daddy did not do any thing, please, release them for us”.

 

Other placards displayed during the protest by the natives read thus: “please, release our Daddy, husbands, Uncles, father’s, they are Innocent”, “ Save our Community from crisis” please release our people in prison  custody, “The are Innocent”. Enough of this wickedness” “We need unconditional release of our Innocent brothers from prison amongst others.

They maintained that the arrested  persons, who are members of same family, knew nothing about the death of the three villagers.

They alleged that their arrest, and  hasty charge to court was masterminded by some of their perceived enemies in the locality who believe they are financially buoyant and could bulldoze their way to any office.

The protesters also alleged that the masterminds, have been harbouring grudges against the arrested victims over certain unresolved Community issues.

The protest letter by CONCERNED CITIZENS OF AMAGU, AGBADA NENWE, ANINRI L.G.A. ENUGU STATE, entitled, REQUEST TO RELEASE OUR INNOCENT BROTHERS IN PRISON CUSTODY SINCE LAST YEAR and signed by Moses Eberechukwu Igweoyi (Chairman Udokanma Amagu Age grade Onitsha Branch) Chukwudi Augustine Onyeabor (National Chairman Umuenye Clan Amagu Agbada Nenwe) as well as Mrs. Edith Adum (Woman Leader Amagu Agbada Nenwe), Felix Chika Uwakwe (Chairman Obinagu Etiti Okpome Agbada Nenwe) and Kelvin Arinze Okorie (Assistant Secretary general Agbada Nenwe Youth) and addressed to various stakeholders in ANINRI local government area and the state reads;

“ We the good people of Amagu Agbada Nenwe humbly seek for your intervention on the false allegations levelled against our innocent brothers, husbands, fathers, Nwachukwu Udeh (Wisdom), Hon. Monday Mbah, Kenneth Nwaru, Ikechukwu Udeh and Onyemaechi Udeh who were invited detained and reminded in prison for almost one year now. We therefore request for your swift intervention and release of these our innocent brothers to save our community from crisis instigated by few miscreants and devilish manipulators in Amagu Agbada Nenwe Community”.

“We strongly believe in your tenacity to uphold justice and fight for the oppressed as we have no other leader to beckon to.

“We therefore demand for the unconditional release of our innocent, brothers, husbands and fathers who are lavishing in prison for no just cause.

“Thanks in anticipation of your positive response.”.

Speaking with newsmen during the protest, Mrs. Eunice Nwaroh, wife of Mr. Kenneth Nwaroh, one of the arrested victim, who could not control her emotion, said she and her husband were still asleep the very day operatives of (SWAT) broke into their home and whisk him  away to an unknown destination.

Mrs Nworah insisted the her husband and other arrested persons  are innocent of the crime  they are accused of.

Also speaking  a distraught mother of four and wife of another detainee, Mrs. Blessing Wisdom, said she is yet to recover from the shock of the arrest, and prosecution of her husband and four others over sin they never committed, appealing to governor Peter Mbah and federal government to address the injustice being meted on them.

According to her, the ugly development has continued to make life unbearable for her and her little kids who no longer attend school since the incident occurred, stressing that she has been turned to a single mother.

Addressing the protesters at the state House of Assembly complex, a Senior Staff of the state House, Mr. Henry Ekwo, commended them for the matured manner and non violence approach in expressing their worry.

 

He however, advised them to liase with their representative in the state  Assembly, Hon. Magnus Edeh, stressing that he is in best position to counsel them on the best way to get attention of the legislative arm of government on the matter.

 

At the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice office, a Female Staff of the Ministry who addressed the protesters but craved anonymity, with Journalists, said the Commissioner is very much aware of the case, assuring them  that justice will be served  in the matter in no distance time.

Meanwhile, the matter is currently pending at the Enugu state High Court.