Residents of Ekebe-Nkaleke Autonomous Community in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have accused the Coordinator of Effium Development Centre, Mr. Ogbonna Nwogbaga, of alleged intimidation, harassment and abuse of office, calling on Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene in what they described as the continued victimisation of members of the community.
The allegations were made during a press briefing in Abakaliki, where community representatives claimed that the coordinator had resorted to threats, arrests and suppression of dissent instead of addressing the developmental challenges confronting the area.
Speaking on behalf of the youths, Mr. Onwe Anayo said the community had welcomed Nwogbaga's appointment in 2023 with high expectations, believing it would bring government closer to the people and accelerate development in the area.
According to him, community members had approached the coordinator on several occasions to draw attention to pressing needs, including the provision of potable water through boreholes or pipe-borne water and the renovation of the community's only primary school.
He explained that the school, constructed by the Ekebe-Nkaleke Town Union, consists of four classrooms roofed with zinc sheets but partitioned with palm fronds and lacks doors and windows.
Anayo alleged that after repeated appeals yielded no response, residents produced and shared videos on social media showing the poor condition of the school and the stream from which residents and animals reportedly obtain water, hoping to attract assistance from the state government and public-spirited individuals.
He claimed that the action angered the development centre coordinator, who allegedly began intimidating members of the community and eventually orchestrated the arrest of his Special Assistant, Mr. Nwinya Moses.
According to Anayo, Moses was arrested on May 19, 2026, and later charged to court on May 25, despite preparations for his child's dedication ceremony scheduled for May 30, to which the coordinator had been formally invited.
"The community only wanted government to hear our cries. Instead of addressing our challenges, those speaking out are allegedly being intimidated. Our people now live in fear because anyone who expresses an opinion is seen as an enemy," he said.
He further alleged that the crisis escalated during the process of electing a new president of the town union, with Moses emerging as the preferred candidate of many residents due to his years of service as the community's secretary and his philanthropic activities.
According to him, the community believed Moses' position as Special Assistant to the coordinator would enable him to attract government attention to the area's developmental needs.
Anayo also dismissed claims reportedly made by the coordinator during a recent Facebook interview that he had registered 50 persons for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, installed solar-powered street lights, constructed markets and supported widows.
He described the claims as false, insisting that the community had not benefited from such interventions.
Also speaking, Chairman of Ekebe-Nkaleke Community, Comrade Mbam Dominic Nwofe, condemned the alleged arrest and continued detention of Moses, describing it as unjust and unacceptable.
Nwofe appealed to the Ebonyi State Government to intervene and facilitate the unconditional release of the detained community leader.
"Our son committed no offence deserving imprisonment. We appeal to Governor Francis Nwifuru to intervene urgently and ensure justice is done," he said.
Similarly, the Women Leader of the community, Mrs. Augustina Nwangele, criticised the alleged action of the coordinator, saying the resources allegedly used in prosecuting Moses could have been channelled towards youth empowerment and community development.
She argued that the alleged arrest undermined the constitutional rights of citizens to freedom of expression.
The community further alleged that Moses had been removed from his position as Special Assistant even though the tenure of the current coordinators and their aides had not expired.
When contacted for his response, the Coordinator of Effium Development Centre, Mr. Ogbonna Nwogbaga, could not be reached. Calls placed to his mobile telephone line were neither answered nor returned as of the time of filing this report.
The allegations contained in this report remain the claims of the community members, and no official response had been received from the coordinator at press time.
