...Alleged victims lament destruction, seizure of properties
The community people through their stakeholders on Thursday in an interview with journalists at Owutu Edda town condemned the attitude of Mr Kalu Chima for using his former position to intimidate innocent people and extort money from them.
A critical stakeholder of the community, Wilfred Ibe alleged that many youths numbering over 20 had become the victims of the ugly development, saying that his people are no longer comfortable with the character of the former Ebubeagu commander in the area.
Ibe, the two-term former Councilor of the Owutu Edda Ward, further alleged that some of those arrested by Mr Kalu Chima had not regained their freedom as their parents could not meet up with his (Chima's) alleged ransom demands.
The former Councillor said: "The challenge facing our community now is the illegal arrest and intimidation of our people by a man called Kalu Chima (aka Oyeoku).
"He comes into our community at any time to arrest innocent people in our area. He has been intimidating people with his position as a former Ebubeagu commander in Afikpo South Local Government Area.
"Many of our youths have become his captives, dying in the cell because he arrested them for no reason, and we are tired of his ongoing intimidation of our people in this community.
"All of us know that the Ebubeagu security outfit has been disbanded in Ebonyi State but Oyeoku is still using his former position to intimidate, arrest and extort innocent people of their hard-earned money. He has arrested over 20 people and many of them were not taken to the police station. He does his arrest inform of kidnapping, takes them to uncompleted buildings, carries them up and down, telling his victims to call their people whom he used to demand some money and only release them after payment. Some of his captives are still in the cell, and he would level allegations against them, for having not succeeded exploiting their hard-earned money."
Furthermore, the community Stakeholder also called for quick government intervention to avert the situation, saying the relevant security agencies should get him arrested to explain why he decided to embark on such unlawful actions against innocent people in the area. "We need government intervention to end these unlawful acts by Oyeoku, also Police and other relevant security agencies should please get him arrested to stop him from terrorizing our villages," he said.
In addition, Chief Cosmas Ibe of the Asaga Village also alleged that the former Ebubeagu Commander, Kalu Chima has been embarking on indiscriminate arrest, intimidation and extortion of money from the community people for no justification.
"Sometimes, he (Kalu Chima) will bring his gangs to arrest the youths of this community, take them to any place, even in the bush, and extort money from their parents before their release. He can accuse them of one crime or the other," the Asaga Village Chief said.
He described the community people as law-abiding citizens while calling for quick government intervention to stop the ugly experiences. He equally emphasized the need to checkmate the excesses of the security agencies especially on the alleged intimidation and extortions going on at the security checkpoints in the area.
In a swift interaction, the President General of the Owutu Edda Community, Otsu George said some of the victims of the alleged intimidation and illegal arrest by the former Ebubeagu commander and his gangmen had reported to him.
According to him, there is a report from our people, especially the youths that accused the leader of Ebubeagu in Afikpo South Local Government Area of mishandling, invasion of homes, and illegal arrest without any reason.
The President added: "They have reported to me, the kind of torture and intimidation they encountered from Mr Oyeoku and this made our community people gather to seek a lasting solution from the relevant authorities including the Chairman of this Local Government Area, Prince Chima Ekumankama."
Some of the victims including Aku Abel, Godwin Kalu, Ekuma Okporie, and Lucy Omaka, among others from the Owutu Edda community lamented various degrees of arm-twisting and extortions after being arrested by Kalu Chima, the former Ebubeagu commander.
Some of them alleged that the said Kalu Chima with his gangs invaded their home compounds and got them arrested, drove them to uncompleted buildings where they allegedly beat the hell out of them, before forcing them to call their parents to pay not less than 20 thousand Naira to him (Kalu Chima) before releasing them.
Kalu Chima and his gangmen were equally accused of burglary, destruction and forceful seizure of properties including a building, a new motorcycle, a plasma television, a solar power plant, and an MP3, among other items.
When contacted the accused, Kalu Chima said he only arrested members of Easter Security Network, ESN/ Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB members who were camping in the community.
"I don't have any problems with the community people but I only arrested the ESN/IPOB members and those groups who killed my wife and burnt down my houses."
Kalu Chima who said he is currently the Commander of the Neighbourhood Watch in the area, maintained those arrested had been handed over to the security agencies.
Several efforts were made including phone calls and a text message sent to the Executive Chairman of Afikpo South Local Government Area, Prince Chima Ekumankam for more clarification on the allegations, which proved abortive at the time of filing this report.
