Brutality: Call Abia Deputy Governor to order – Activist Tells Gov. Otti, House of Assembly

A human rights activist and author, Comrade Paul Ikechukwu Njoku, has urged the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, and members of the Abia State House of Assembly, to investigate and call the deputy governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, to order, following numerous alleged brutality, intimidation, indiscriminate arrest, torture, incarceration and maiming of those who oppose him in his council area and home town in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State.

The civil rights activist added that from a retrospective antecedent and record, the deputy governor has grossly manifested questionable personalty traits unbecoming of a political leader of his position, stressing that leadership is by examplified attributes to serve the people by protecting the human dignity, including lives and property of the people who elect their leaders as guaranteed in the constitution..

This comes after a correspondent of Vision Africa Radio Station (104.1 FM) Umuahia, Abia State, on January 28, investigated a recent alleged brutality, incarceration and intimidation with bloody video and photo evidences of victim’s who were ruthlessly assaulted by the alleged order of the Abia State deputy governor.

A victim who addressed Vision Africa Radio correspondent said, ” I am igwe Akumaku from ndioma compound, Okon Ohafia, the Okon aku development union vice president and the PDP counsellorship candidate from the last concluded election.

” So this is still following the event of the Nov 2 when the unknown security personnels surrounded my house around past 3am in the night, which later was unfolded that it was plotted by the deputy governor which the case is still in Ohafia police station where the records stated that the deputy governor told the idp that was on the case that he was interested on my matter since then my life has been in danger,

“I haven’t enjoyed my freedom as a citizen, I don’t sleep in my house, there has been several attempts to attack me.
On a particular day while I was going out from my house one of the boys of the deputy governor from ndiovum compound whom he went there and choose one Bernard Inyama that has Benkamad filling station the person the deputy governor made ezeogo through the committee the deputy governor constituted, so these boys blocked me and were throwing stones at me which I have the report, I will send to you.

“They made a law that I can’t have visitors, no bike should be seen coming into my compound or else the person will be attacked. Ever since two of my siblings have been attacked with a cutlass which the case is in Ohafia division, I have been down.

“On the 26th of January, 2025, while I was coming back from the meeting entering into my compound, Benkamad boys, blocked me and refused me access into my compound, they surrounded me and beat me up before people came to my rescue and rushed me to the hospital. The said i insulted the deputy governor, autonomous eze and others that I should call whosoever I know to rescue me.

“Incident on the Day of Councillorship Election in Abia State.
In the early hours of 3:00 am on November 2, 2024, the day of the councillorship election in Abia State, armed men invaded my compound. Fortunately, I was not at home due to several threatening calls and messages I had received days prior to the election.

“These men broke into my house and arrested two of my relatives, Uche Kalu and Obinna Kalu. We later learned they were tortured and taken first to the Ohafia Army Barracks and then transferred to the Ohafia Police Station. According to reports, their alleged offense was insulting the deputy governor.

“The next morning, I rushed to the police station to inquire about their detention and demanded access to their case documents, but I was denied. I was also informed that the deputy governor himself had visited the police station, where he threatened my relatives and anyone who would attempt to secure their release. It became clear that the Deputy Governor orchestrated the armed invasion of my house.

“My relatives were detained for over a week in both police and army custody without charges or proper documentation. Eventually, they were granted bail, but not before enduring severe torture.

“Continued threats by the deputy governor
While my relatives were still in custody, the deputy governor escalated his actions. The morning after the arrests, he came to my village with his security team and issued further threats, warning that more arrests would follow.

“I reported the incident to Vanguard, and their investigation confirmed that the Deputy Governor was responsible for the illegal arrests, torture, and invasion of my home. These actions were clearly politically motivated, as I was the PDP councillorship candidate with significant community support.

*Although, I was declared the winner of the election by the electoral officer, my mandate was later stolen and handed over to the Deputy Governor’s preferred candidate. This individual, who now claims to be the councilor, has been attacking and defaming me publicly.

“Land Disputes and Targeting of Community Leaders
Prior to the election, the Deputy Governor wrote to community leaders, including the Development Union President and the Chiefs in Council, declaring that the state government had taken over communal land belonging to different families. When the community demanded further explanation, he refused to provide any.

“Instead, he began targeting community leaders. In March 2024, the Development Union President and another community member were arrested on allegations of vandalizing a government oil processing mill. They were detained at Ohafia Police Station for several days and later transferred to the State CID in Umuahia, where they were held for two weeks. This case is still in court.

“”While the Development Union President was in detention, the <deputy governor set up a committee to install new community leaders. Among the appointees was Ndukwe Iko, who was later made the Traditional Ruler through a process that was heavily rigged and influenced by the Deputy governor.

“Since Ndukwe Iko assumed the position of Traditional Ruler, the community has experienced continuous unrest. There have been numerous cases of illegal arrests, false charges, and deliberate persecution of individuals perceived as opponents. The traditions, processes, and culture of the community have been disregarded.

“Additionally, Ndukwe Iko has mobilized a group of youths, mostly from a specific compound (Ndi Owom), who now act as thugs. These youths go around harassing and attacking people in the community, further destabilizing the area.

Continuing, he said, “On January 26, 2025, at around 6:59 PM, while I was entering my compound (Ndi Uma), the same thugs and hoodlums from Ndi Owom denied me access to my compound and attacked me until I lost consciousness. During the assault, I overheard them saying that I had insulted the deputy governor of Abia State. Eze Ndukwe Iko, and Mr. Bernard Kama Iyama, and that there would be no mercy for me. With no one around to rescue me because of the weapons there were all carrying. I was mercilessly left unconscious before they dispersed.”.

Reacting, activist Paul said, “from a retrospective antecedent and record, the deputy governor of Abia State has grossly manifested questionable personalty traits unbecoming of a political leader of his position. Leadership is by examplified attributes to serve the people by protecting the human dignity, lives and property of the people who elect their leaders as guaranteed in the constitution..

“I therefore urge governor Alex Otti, and members of the Abia State House of Assembly, to constitute an investigative panel and committee that would investigative the barbaric exegesis of the deputy governor.

“The governor and Abia State House of Assembly should as a matter of urgency, call the deputy governor to order,.The numerous narratives of his executive recklessness, brutality, intimidation, indiscriminate arrest, torture, incarceration and maiming of those who oppose him in his council area and home town at Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State is alarming.

“Human rights and dignity to persons are protected by the Geneva Convention. The treaties were ratified in their entirety by over 200 countries of the world including Nigeria with domestication that human beings should be protected from murder, torture, brutality and discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, religion or political tenacity.

“He should understand that human rights and dignity are protected by the Geneva Convention. The treaties were ratified in their entirety by over 200 countries of the world including Nigeria with domestication that human beings should be protected from murder, torture, brutality and discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, religion or political tenacity.

“The deputy governor should be told that the Geneva Convention mandated that the fundamental rights of persons include freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, right to life and liberty, work and education, and many more.

“Is the deputy governor not aware thaservitude 34 of the Nigerian Constitution provides that every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly – (a) no person shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment; (b) no person shall be held in slavery or servitude”.

Recall that on November 14, 2024, Daily Post reported that the Abia State House of Assembly condemned the alleged maltreatment of the member representing Ohafia South, Kalu Mba Nwoke, during the local government election in the state.

Nwoke was arrested on November 2, 2024, for allegedly invading the Ohafia local government headquarters with some thugs, according to the Chief Press Secretary to Abia State Deputy Governor, Chukwudi Eke Mba.

Moving a motion on the floor of the House on Wednesday, the member representing Ukwa West, Godwin Adiele, condemned the maltreatment of the lawmaker, saying he deserved an apology from the Abia State Deputy Governor, Ikechuckwu Emetu.

His motion was supported by many members of the House.

Nwoke had alleged that he was assaulted and detained for 24 hours on the orders of the deputy governor because he asked why the LGA secretariat was locked up when election should be going on.

He also said he protested over non-availability of election result sheets

However, the Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor, Chukwudi Eke Mba, maintained that the Ohafia South representative was not abducted, adding that his boss was never behind the arrest of the outspoken legislator.

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