By Samuel Alonge
The youths of Umugama Owu Amakohia community in Imo State are now threatening another showdown with the community’s elders, following allegations that a sum of money approved for community road rehabilitation in the area has suddenly disappeared.
A community youth member, who did not want his name in print for his safety’s sake, told our correspondent that the money, said to be about N3 million, was released by the immediate past administration of former governor Rochas Okorocha.
According to him, this is a repeat of what happened in 2013, when funds disbursed to the community similarly “developed wings.”
The distraught, young source said, “In 2013, the Umugama Owu youths protested against the bad leadership of the village, whereby allocations given to leaders to build roads and renovate schools were embezzled.
“Then, the youths demanded explanation for how the money was used and the chairman of the Elders Council accused the youth of trying to overthrow them and threatened to attack the youths with both physical weapons and native charms.
“And they made real their threat because on April 11, 2013, two young men among the protesting youths were shot dead while their family houses were also burnt down.”
The young man further revealed, “Some ladies among the youths were also raped by gun-toting attackers. This made many of the youths to flee the community.”
