The coordinator, Ishielu North Development Centre in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State, Barr. Emeka Odanwu said that he wrote a petition to the police against the president of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mr Igboyaka Igboyaka, as he may have valuable information as to what led to the mindless massacre of the people of Amegu Nkalaha on February 2, 2025.
Barr. Odanwu said that he petitioned the police on February 5, 2025, following the attack and an earlier press statement issued by the Igbo Youth Leader on January 31, 2025, asking the people of Obeagu, Nkalaha, and Egedegede to gear up their security network as there was an impending attack on them.
“I Petitioned the police in my capacity as the Development Centre coordinator of Ishielu North Development Centre calling on the police to please invite Mr Igboayaka to say what he knows about the attack on the people of Amegu Nkalaha.
“I took that responsibility because some other places he mentioned like Obeagu and Egedegede still fall under Ishielu North Development Centre and since his first prediction came to pass the people of our Development Centre are presently apprehensive and scared of the unknown considering the precision with which his prediction came to pass.
“We decided to toe this lawful path of going to the police to enable him to share with the police the same intelligence he had claimed to have shared with the Governor.
“This will undoubtedly help the police to unravel the identities of the persons behind the dastardly act perpetrated against our people.
“As the Coordinator of Ishielu North Development Centre which is made up of three wards namely; Amaezu, Obeagu and Nkalaha with headquarters at Egedegede. I am here to put the records straight on the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Igboayaka O. Igboayaka.”
He expressed regret that two days later, precisely on the 2nd of February 2025, a Sunday, the people of Amagu village in the Nkalaha community were attacked, and about 15 people were killed, and houses were burnt.
“While we were still in grief and trying to unravel what happened to us. The said Igboayaka also released another statement that he informed the Governor of Ebonyi State four days before the attack.
“Our pains and fears were deepened by the audacity of his claims. We strongly believe that he knows a lot that needs to be shared with the security agencies.”
He said that the police investigation would forestall the reoccurrence of the ugly incident in their place, particularly in the areas he mentioned in his press release.
“This is the reason for his arrest. We believe Mr. Igboayaka has a responsibility to tell the police the sources of his intelligence. If the police investigate him and he provides a satisfactory and evidence-based explanation, so be it. But in the contrary, if he is found culpable, we demand that he should be made to face the full weight of the law.
“Our people are still traumatized over the unforgettable experience of the 2nd February, 2025. Though we have actually geared up our security network around our environs to avoid a repeat occurrence, normalcy is gradually returning now in our place, particularly in Amagu Nkalaha,” he said.
He said that the security agents have been doing their best and are working around the clock to forestall further breakdown of law and order in the development centre.
