By Okechukwu Onuegbu
-Shop claims his goods under shrine protection
-Insists anyone who steals from his shop must die
The family of Vincent Edeh of Mgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area Edeh by one Ebuka of Ebonyi State are Okonkwo, an indigene demanding for justice of Agulu-Ezechukwu over the controversial in Aguata council area, killing of their 13-year- Anambra State. oldson,ChukwukaOkonkwo, a
businessman at Eke main market, Awka- Etiti, Idemili South Local Government Area, allegedly murdered Chukwuka, the first son of Vincent Edeh, a commercial motorcyclist on August 17, 2017.
Orient Daily learnt that late Chukwuka, a mass-servant, recently finished his Common entrance examination at Central Primary School, Ogwugwuobi, Awka-Etiti and was waiting for admission into JSS 1 before his life was cut short.
According to Vincent Edeh, at about 4 pm on August 4, 2017, while busy with his transportation business, his wife phoned him to return home. Upon his return, he was directed to Eke market square where he discovered that his second child, Ifeanyi Edeh has been beaten to a state of unconsiousness.
He recounted the dramatic events that culminated in the death of his son thus: “Mr. Ebuka complained that my 11- year-old child, Ifeanyi stole a sachet of Peak milk which cost N30 from his provision shop. But the boy explained that he picked it from the ground. I quickly rebuked the child over the unruly act and pleaded for forgiveness on his behalf since the shop owner has caned him.
“But the man (Ebuka) asked if I was truly Ifeanyi’s father. I told him I am. He said I shouldn’t ask him for forgiveness because his shop and properties are under the protection and guidance of one great shrine and deity. And as a result, he can leave his shop open and go home and whoever steals from it must die.
“I tried convincing him to tell me what should be done to appease the gods but he refused to honour my visitations even at his home until I came with one of the people he respects so much. He said that if not the woman, he wouldn’t have spoken with me on that matter again. He told the woman that he cannot forgive my child because the deity would turn to kill him if he does”.
Orient Daily obtained a copy of a letter entitled ‘a notice of summons’ allegedly served on the Edeh family on Sunday August 6, 2017, by Obi Ogwugwu Umuhu Ukpor (Obi Eziokwu bu ndu) EMEREMGINI (loosely translated as truth is life deity of Umuhu Ukpor).
According to the piece, the shrine has as its address, Umuhu village, Ukpor, near Nnewi South Local Government Area with phone number, 08050501750. The summons reads: “Mr. Samuel Vincent Edeh (defendant), you are by this notice of summons, required to appear in person at Obi Ogwugwu Umuhu Ukpor on 13th August 2017 at 9 am, to answer on the complaint. Note that suite requirements are N7000, 1 carton of beer, 8 kolanut, 1 bottle hot, 8 alligator pepper and everything cost N10, 400. Signed by Chief priest.”
Edeh narrated what transpired further: “They instructed me to come to the shrine with the N10, 400 because they have all the items listed on it and would not accept anything bought from somewhere else. I went with my brother and the same woman whose presence made Ebuka to reveal to me that it was only the deity that can save my child.
“The chief priest and others in the shrine asked him to explain why he petitioned me to the shrine, and he told them that my child stole his sachet of milk. He also revealed that my 13-year-old child (Chukwuka), who was then a notable mass- servant at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Awka-Etiti had in the past, stolen N10 biscuit from his shop. He said the deity was responsible for his two swollen legs. The child was then suffering from an ailment that has taken me to different hospitals and laboratories to no avail.
“Ebuka revealed that the gods have declared war on my family and would kill all my children if I fail to appease them. The chief priest, who I heard them call Leonard asked for my opinion over the allegations leveled against my family. I told him that I have nothing to say because I have pleaded with him for forgiveness and I was there to do that again. I prostrated on the ground, asking for mercy.”
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He added that the chief priest and his cabinet, who were impressed by his reaction, allegedly asked Ebuka to name his price. He (Ebuka) demanded for N15 million as an atonement for the N30 sachet of Peak milk stolen from his shop.
“I told them that I cannot afford to pay such a huge amount of money because my entire asset is not up that. I pleaded to be allowed to pay N50, 000 but he stood his ground. The people in the shrine were furious over my plea and asked why I should make such demands from a man that is claiming N15 million. They alleged that Ebuka is one of their major financiers and that N50, 000 cannot buy even one quarter of items he donates to the shrine.
“The chief priest further told me and my entourage to go and put heads together while also charging Ebuka and his entourage to do the same. On returning to the shrine, Ebuka reduced his demand to N2 million and insisted that it was the last he can collect from me. I told them I am an Okada rider and can only afford to raise N120, 000.
“As the debate was going on, the woman I came with became sober and asked why they refused to collect the sum of N120, 000 for a sachet N50, 000 and paid to milk of N30. After her plea and tears, the chief priest instantly hit his ofo (staff) on the ground and gave his verdict which was that i must pay 200,000 whether Ebuka like it or not," Edeh claimed.
OrientDaily gathered that the motorist raised the sum of 50,000 and paid to the shrine and it was instantly used by the chief priest to purchase fowl and other items for sacrifice.
As my son’s sickness deteriorated, I doubled my effort as Okada rider as well as borrowed money from people to make sure I gather N200, 000 which I paid to them in full. They later ordered me to bring N69, 200 to purchase he-goat and other items for sacrifice which I complied. They told me to come for the sacrifice next Nkwo (market day), I did but they postponed it to Eke. That was how they kept postponing it until my son died on August 17, 2017.
“As I cried to inform them of my son’s death, they told me to go and bring kola nut and drinks before they would listen to me. When I returned to fulfill their demands, they collected the items and told me to go and bring his corpse for sacrifice because he died a virgin. They said they would burn his corpse and use the ashes for rituals. I refused and went home to inform Awka-Etiti people what was happening in their community”, he added.
It was learnt that the villagers became angry when Ebuka refused to disclose what transpired between him and the Edeh family.
Edeh said, “Some of them went into his shop and started searching everywhere. In the process, they brought out concoctions, pictures, little brooms, earthen pots and so on. He started confessing how he causes death in the town through accidents, biscuits and so on. He even alleged that the deity would also kill his wife for stealing his money but that would be after her child delivery. They got married about three months ago.
“The villagers packed his properties out and loaded them into a vehicle. They took him to the village hall and called the Nnobi Divisonal Police Station, who came to pick him up to avoid been lynched by angry mob.”
Other sources alleged that whenever Ebuka wants to commit the evil act, he would spread N10 notes, biscuits, sweets and other items in front of his shop, while turning on movies to woo children to his shop.
When contacted on phone, the traditional ruler of Awka-etiti, HRH Igwe Engr. Michael Ibezie Ezeudenna (Obi III), while confirming that “some part of the story was true” however, told Orient Daily to call him in two weeks when he would be available for an elaborate discussion.
Similarly, the President General, Awka-Etiti Improvement Union, John Ikechukwu
Unachukwu, while informing Orient Daily on phone that he was out of the state when the incident occurred, revealed that he saw a recorded video clip where youths of his community were packing Ebuka’s goods out of the shop, adding that the police was investigating the matter.
When Orient Daily reporter visited the Nnobi Police station, where Ebuka Okonkwo was allegedly kept in custody, he was told to go to the State Police Headquarters, claiming they have no knowledge of what he was looking for.
In the same vein, the Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Nkeiruka Nwode, neither answered nor returned two calls put through to her by our reporter to get the police reaction.
Meanwhile, the corpse of late Chukwuka Edeh is still in the mortuary.
Source: https://orientdailynews.com/shrine-saga-13-year-old-mass-servant-killed-for-allegedly-stealing-n30-sachet-milk/Seun Lalasticlala mynd44 
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