People of Abba Community in Njikoka Local Government Area are calling for an end to the unending arrests of their people by the Nigeria Police.
Following Abba people's protest of 19th June 2019, over a land dispute with Ukpo Community during which over 14 natives were arrested, it was gathered that more arrests have been made.
According to sources within the community who pleaded anonymity, three persons were arrested two weeks after the protest on the 3rd of July.
They include a widow from Ire Village, Mrs Nkechi Okafor-Meluba who was arrested at her shop, Mr David Umeano of Okpuloji Village and Mr Samuel Okafor of Ire Village who were arrested and taken to Abuja but were brought back days after.
The charge sheet of the arrested persons, our sources said, bore Conspiracy, attempted murder, engaging in acts capable of causing breach of public peace and obstructing court baillif from enforcing court judgment.
They continued, "On the 17th of July, two weeks after, the persons were granted bail after being arraigned at Magistrate Court, Ukpo".
"The most recent, is the case of Hon Obinna Chukwuma, a former Counsellor from Abba who was arrested on the 19th of July at Ukpo where he went to purchase some items for his business. His crime was simply speaking up against the injustice being meted out to our people. Recall that Hon Chukwuma's wife was among the first 14 persons arrested. He also spoke clearly in appeal to the state government to come to our rescue when our people took our problem to the State Government House in Awka. That's his crime and we wonder why", one of the sources added.
Hon Chukwuma it was gathered, has been transferred to Abuja from the State Command, Awka as at the time of filing this report.
According to them, more names in the community have been penciled down for arrest.
They alleged that the arrests which were not unconnected with their land issue with Ukpo Community, are part of a grand ploy to create fear in the community and cow them to relinquish their inheritance to their neighbors.
A visit to the parcel of land in question showed that all signposts bearing Abba Junction, Njikoka LGA have been replaced with those with Ukpo, Dunukofia LGA as well as heavy presence of Police men.
It was also gathered that since the 19th June protest, Abba women have not traded in the Oye Abba market.
Fielding questions from journalists on the development, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr John Abang revealed that it is only standard procedure for policemen to be deployed to perceived areas of conflict to avoid breakdown of law and order.
In his words, "the Abba-Ukpo Land dispute is one of the easiest in our hands now. It is just a matter of two communities with different court positions. We are working on something now and in no distant time, we will invite both parties and put an end to this issue. It will be addressed."
Ukpo Community had won a court case over the ownership of the land but when the matter got to the Supreme Court, it was found that records of the proceedings were missing.
In January this year, the Supreme Court gave its position on the matter where it said that "any judgement that records of proceedings are missing from the trial court, cannot be enforced".
It therefore directed both communities to go back to the trial court.
The matter was slated for opening at the State High Court, One, Awka on the 8th of July, but was adjourned till Friday, the 26th of July, 2019.
There is an adage that says whoever takes something that belongs to a small boy and hangs his hand up out of reach of the boy will surely bring down his hand when he is tired so that the boy to reclaim his property.
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