By Mayor Ikoroha
The community leadership vows to combat crime and criminality in the area
Ihiala, the headquarters of Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, has been battling insecurity in the past few years. Random kidnappings, killings by hoodlums suspected to be unknown gunmen and cultists have increased in the area in recent times. While the arson attacks and killings in the past in Ihiala and surrounding communities were attributed to unknown gunmen, the recent spate of insecurity in the area has been mostly as a result of cultism and cult-related activities. In a valiant and concerted bid to stamp out cult-related killings and bring the menace of cultism to an end in Ihiala and environs, Ihiala community has banned cultism and cult related activities in the town and the community leadership has taken concrete steps to see that the menace of cultism will be a thing of the past in the area as well as stamp out crime and criminality in Ihiala. In a statement signed by the President-General of the town, Bar. Okey Leo Ohagba, the community listed some masterminds of the recent cult-related killings and kidnappings in the community and stated that those persons have been banned for life from setting foot on the community. The names of the eleven persons on the list were arrived at after diligent and unimpeachable intelligence identified them as architects of the cult-related crisis in the community and environs. Those on the list include: Chukwuka Okoye (Ejemba) A.K.A. Scorpion) from Umuizuogu, Ndiezike, Ihiala; Onyebuchi Igboanusi (A.K.A. H. I. T) from Alatiampom, Ihiala; Chukwuebuka Ezeonu (A.K.A. Chappy) from Isseke; Chikamso Okolie (A.K.A Soldier) from Ogboro-Umunwaji, Ihiala; Nwaikpo Mgbelele from Obodoawo, Ihiala; Ifenna Onyebosim (A.K.A Good and Bad) from Umuizuogu, Ndiezike, Ihiala and Chukwudi Mbadugha (A.K.A Drogba) from Mbarakpaka Village, Ihiala. Also on the list were: Okechukwu Igboanusi from Alatiampom, Ihiala; Nwabunike Igboanusi from Alatiampom, Ihiala; Patrick Ezeudo Onyebuchi (A.K.A Ebekee) who is not from Ihiala but whose maternal home is Odimegwu family in Mbarakpaka Village, Ihiala and Ozoemena Udeze from Mbarakpaka Village, Ihiala. According to the statement dated February 14, 2024, after these persons were identified, they refused to make themselves available to security agencies within a period of 48 hours given to them to clear their names and discharge the allegations made against them and also another 72 hours grace period given by the community for public renunciation of cultism by repentant cultists. The release from Bar. Ohagba stated that the photographs of the identified criminals shall be displayed in various social media platforms and in addition, giant billboards containing their names and photographs shall be erected at strategic locations within and around Ihiala for ease of identification. It also advised the parents, guardians or relatives of the cultists that it is in their own interest to provide useful information as to the whereabouts of the listed persons to facilitate their apprehension by law enforcement agencies so as to avoid dire consequences of complicity. “Any person resident in Ihiala, whether indigene or not, who harbours or seen to be associating with the aforementioned criminals and their cohorts within Ihiala town and environs hereafter, shall be treated as an accomplice by the law enforcement agencies and shall be made to suffer the same consequences/punishment meted out on the criminals and it is pertinent to remind the good people of Ihiala Town that in line with the subsisting Anambra State Government Proscription Order on cultism and cult related activities, and in synergy with relevant law enforcement agencies, cultism and cult related activities remains proscribed and banned in Ihiala town,” the statement from the President General of Ihiala Progress Union added. Subsequent to the release, security operatives in the early hours of Tuesday 20th February, 2024 arrested one Onyebuchi Igboanusi a.k.a. “H.I.T” from Alatiampom, Ihiala and on 22nd February, 2024, another person, one Chukwuka Okoye (Ejemba) alias “Scorpion” from Umuizuogu Ndiezike Ihiala was arrested as well. These persons are suspected to be the major masterminds of the mindless killings and kidnappings recorded recently in Ihiala and environs. Both of the suspected cultists were on the list of eleven persons earlier declared persona non grata and banished from the community. The arrest of these suspected hoodlums by security operatives signals a major breakthrough in the collective quest by the people of Ihiala to frontally combat crime and criminality in the community and environs. Recall that on Monday, February 12th 2024, the Anambra State Police Command said it arrested two members of a deadly cult gang allegedly responsible for recent killings around communities in Okija, Ihiala and environs in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state. The command’s spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement released to newsmen, said the arrest and capture happened in a special operation. According to him, the operation was spearheaded by the Police Crack Squad deployed in Ihiala by the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Aderemi Adeoye. Ikenga said the special operation was deployed by the CP to provide security for the people of Ihiala during and after the festive period, adding that two suspects were arrested at their hideout within the same locality in Okija. He identified one Chitana Oha, male, 25 years, alias “Kill and Bury” and Emmanuel Ifeanyi Okonkwo, male, 24 years alias “Good and Bad” as two persons who were arrested, adding that both suspects were arrested at their hideout at Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area.
