http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2010/jan/21/national-21-01-2010-14.htm

Police reprisal attack: Abia community sends SOS to IGP
From OKEY SAMPSON, Aba
Thurday, January 21, 2010


IGP, Onovo
Photo: Sun Publishing
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The people of Umuogo, a quiet and rustic community in Ukwa East Local Government of Abia State have appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Ogbonna Onovo to prevail on the authorities of Abia Sate Police command to allow them return to their homes 26 months after they fled their village owing to police reprisal attacks.

On November 11, 2008 a vigilance group said to have been set up by the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Odu Wabara killed two mobile police men who were alleged to be escorting a tanker lorry used for illegal oil bunkering from the neighbouring Rivers State and buried the corpse of one of the slain officers in a shallow grave at the back of the royal father’s palace. As the news of their killed colleagues filtered around town, riot-police stormed the community the following morning and in what appeared a reprisal attack, not only burnt down the palace of Eze Wabara, they also set almost the entire village ablaze. The spokesman of the community who would not want his name in print for fear of victimization said in as much as they condemned the action of their traditional ruler and his cohorts that it was wrong for the police to have forced the entire villagers into forced exile for over one year.

He said his people who have now become refugees in neighbouring communities have suffered untold hardship over the period and therefore should be allowed to return to rebuild their homes which he opined were completely destroyed during the attack. He also wants the authorities to prevail on the police in Abia State not to harass or arrest any of his people when they eventually return home.

In a swift reaction however, the police in Aba said the community would not have peace until they produced the corpse of one of the murdered police men. When Daily Sun visited the Aba Area Command of the Nigeria Police over the issue, the area command was said to have gone to Umuahia on official assignment. But a senior police officer told this reporter, “the people of Umuogo have murdered sleep and they will not sleep themselves. In the force, when an officer is killed and his body is not found, it is assumed the said officer is still alive until after seven years,” he stated.

Sounding what appeared a note of warning, the police officer added, “ If they (the community) do not produce the missing police man, I can not assure you anybody will be allowed to return to Umuogo.” Ukwa East Local Government appeared handicapped over the plight of the community. Although the chairman could not be reached for comments, whenever senior council officials said the matter had gone beyond them but did not foreclose to approach appropriate quarters for help.

When Daily Sun visited the community, it was like a ghost town as burnt houses over grown with grasses dotted the landscape without any sign of human existence.