Gov Soludo Allegedly Fingered As Many Feared Injured
By John Ugo, Awka
Tension on Saturday enveloped Awka, the Anambra’ state capital, as soldiers and anti riot policemen were deployed to disperse guests including traditional rulers and youths who converged on the town to pay homage at the planned Otite Awka (new yam) festival.
The annual event considered as a holy period, which later got awry was being packaged at the palace of a factional Traditional Ruler of Awka town Ozo Austin Ndigwe.
Sadly, over five persons were said to have sustained gunshot injuries as a result of the pandemonium that followed the invasion of the palace of the embattled monarch by heavily armed policemen and Army personnel.
Already, the imposing palace of the traditional ruler had been sealed off while the security agents were seen stationed at all the entry and exit points leading the venue of the annual traditional ceremony.
Residents of Umukwa village where the palace is located were forced to flee their homes even as shops and business centers close to the tension soaked area were quickly closed as early as 7.30 am.
The roads were also blocked to motorists and passersby by security operatives who prevented vehicles from entering the troubled area.
When others Network visited the area, many residents and shop owners were seen in groups discussing the incident in hushed tunes.
Eye witnesses disclosed that some guests were teargassed when they refused to leave the venue for the New Yam Festival which stirred stamped at the entrance gate of the palace.
An elderly man in the village who preferred to remain anonymous said that, “They woke me up this morning telling me that police wants to seal off the palace and I told them that there were Traditional Rulers from the South East and beyond that are already inside the palace and the one that is more disturbing is that the security operatives were firing live bullets at the people mostly youths who came to find out what is happening.
“I am not sure if anybody died but there were those who got injured and I think about five persons were injured during the stamped.
He explained that he made contacts at the Police Command and that the order came from the Government House Awka and it was also confirmed at the zonal command.
One of the deployed policemen when approached on the development said that he was “carrying out an order from their superiors.
He stated however that he is not in the position to provide details.
An unconfirmed report had it that the order to stop the festival was from the State Governor Prof. Charles Soludo.
But a highly placed source in Government House Awka said he “is not aware of any order from the governor.”
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Mr Tony Collins Nwabunwanne when contacted on the matter said that he did not issue any release or directive to that effect.
He pointed out that the security operatives are carrying out their duties of maintaining law and order.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the state command, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga when contacted said that he is not aware of the presence of security operatives at the palace of Ozo Austin Ndigwe.
He also promised to make a statement as soon as possible.
Recall that there is a lingering crisis over who becomes the substantive Eze Uzu of Awka kingdom.
The development has pitched cabinet Chiefs against each other following the emergence of self acclaimed Imperial Majesty Sistine Ndigwe who claim to be Eze Uzu the 3rd.
However, HRH Igwe Gibson Nwosu the Eze Uzu the 2nd is still seated on his throne and is duly recognized by the Anambra state government since the military era till date.
In his reaction, HRH Igwe Gibson Nwosu said that he is not aware of the presence of security operatives at the palace of the factional Eze Uzu.
He stated that there is nothing like Eze Uzu the 3rd .
Nwosu had since last year petitioned the state Police Command over the claim by Ndigwe that he is the Monarch of Awka town.
The former Commissioner of Police in the state had washed his hands off the royal tussle stressing that traditional Chieftaincy tussle is not part of his duties.
On his part, Ozo Austin Ndigwe, the factional Traditional Ruler when contacted said that he was “in a meeting and cannot talk at the moment “
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