BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A businessman living with disability, Mbada Okereke, resident of Ohinya village, Ndieguazu Umuogharu Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has accused his late landlord’s son, Friday Igwe, of selling the 16 plots of land that he allegedly bought from the latter’s father.
Okereke, a native of Arochukwu in Abia State, also accused Igwe of demolishing his shelter, masterminding an armed robbery attack against him and assaulting his second wife by feeding her with faeces.
Okereke, a crippled trader and husband of two wives with 11 children, was said to have bought 16 plots of land about two decades ago from Nwokpoku Igwe, his late landlord.
However, trouble started after the demise of the landlord when his son, Friday, allegedly dispossessed Okereke of the land and sold it to other buyers.
In a petition dated November 22, 2021, addressed to the Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi, Aliyu Garba, a copy of which was made available to The Point in Abakaliki, Okereke accused his landlord’s son of looting his goods, destroying his building worth over N3 million, and dispossessing him of 16 plots of land.
Okereke alleged that he was being discriminated against by the younger Igwe as a non-indigene of the community, stating that the community leaders and the local government authorities were aware of his travails.
The father of 11 held that Igwe and his accomplice, Monday Usulor Nwafor, robbed, attempted to murder him and inflicted grievous body harms on him.
He claimed that the two attacked him with machetes at Ohinya village as he was closing his shop and dispossessed him of the sum of N200,000 proceeds of his sales for the week.
Okereke, who said that he intended to use the proceeds to restock his wares the following day, expressed dissatisfaction that since March 26, when he reported the matter at the Ezza North Police Division, no arrest had been made.
The petition reads in parts, “On March 25, 2021, Igwe Friday and Monday Usulor Nwafor attacked me with machetes at Ohinya village at 12 midnight when I closed my shop.
“I was robbed of the cash sum of N200, 000, being the money (that) I realised from the sales, planning to take (it) to the market the next day. During the robbery (attack), I was cut on the head (and became) unconscious. I managed and reported the case at the Ezza North Police Division, close to the community health centre. The police were unable to arrest the criminals.
“After (the) second week of the robbery, the same (set of) people came to my house threatening to kill me. They destroyed my building for no reason.”
He appealed to the police chief to investigate the allegations with a view to ensuring that justice was done. He also urged the state government and other relevant authorities to come to his aid and bring the culprits to book.
The head of Umuoghara community, Eze Nweke Igbo, who corroborated Okereke’s alleged attack and persecution by Igwe and his accomplices, urged the authorities to intervene in the case, saying, “The right of a man with disabilities had been trampled upon.
“Okereke is still alive today because of God’s mercy. He is a law abiding citizen and physically challenged person residing in the community. Okereke is not a stranger. He was born and bred here.
Sometimes, there was a conspiracy to kill the Arochukwu man (Okereke), but I told them, no! We are one Nigeria.
“Apart from being Nigerians, we are all Igbo people and Ezza people live everywhere. Why should you conspire against somebody who is paralysed? He is with disability. He manages about 11 children with two wives.
“Friday Igwe has been tormenting Okereke and committing crime against him (including) chasing him away from his 9-bedroom-flat. As I talk to you, his house has been demolished. Friday Igwe and his cohorts looted the materials used for the building. This is because he (Okere) wants his land back. Igwe defecated and forcefully used the faeces to feed one of the wives of the disabled person. Okereke was incapacitated because he walks with crutches.
“I call on the government of Ebonyi State, headed by David Umahi, security agencies and human rights bodies to come to the rescue of the physically challenged man and to ensure that he returns to his home.”
Efforts made by our correspondent to reach Igwe and Monday Usulor Nwafor for reactions proved abortive as they were said to have escaped from the community after the alleged attacks.
