A yet-to-be-identified middle-aged man was feared dead, yesterday, while five individuals suffer varying injuries as angry youths unleash chaos in Iyiowa-Odekpe Community, Ogbaru Local Government Area, Anambra State. The incident was sparked by the recent Iyiowa-Odekpe landlords’ association election held last Monday.
As of the latest update, a minimum of 30 vehicles, 20 buildings, and other assets valued at over N100 million were reportedly destroyed by youths allegedly affiliated with local residents identified as indigenous to the area.
The conflict arose when non-indigenous members of the landlords’ association in the area held an election, resulting in the formation of a new executive committee led by Sunday Obinze. This move countered the election held by indigenous members the previous Sunday, ultimately leading to the establishment of a parallel landlords’ association in the area.
Enraged by the audacity of non-indigenous individuals to establish a factional landlords’ association, indigenous members purportedly released the youths upon them.
Recall that the indigenes in a bid to hold firm to the leadership of the community, sponsored a candidate of their choice and conducted an election last Sunday, ahead of the election of the landlords association billed for Monday.
While the non-indigenous members of the landlords’ association were in the process of conducting the election on Monday at Creative Model School, Odekpe youths forcefully entered the scene, dispersing the gathering and causing destruction to chairs, tables, electoral materials, vehicles, buildings, and more.
Undeterred, the landlords’ association, determined to proceed with the election, relocated to another venue where they successfully carried out the voting process, leading to the election of Sunday Obinze as the winner.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the outcome that saw Obinze elected as the President of the landlords’ association, Ogbaru youths went on a rampage early yesterday morning. They invaded the homes of the newly elected executive members, launched attacks, looted shops, and vandalized vehicles, buildings, factories, and other property.
In response, the newly elected President of the association, Obinze, remarked “About 7.30 this morning (yesterday), some youths from Ogbaru, stormed my house, set my car ablaze, smashed the glass windows, doors, collected N3.8 million cash meant for workers. The hoodlums equally went to a big soap factory owned by our Vice-President-elect, Uchenna Ike, and destroyed the factory.”
“They must pay for the damages, including those of other people. What they destroyed is worth over N30million. One person is almost dead, and over 15 people sustained injuries. The indigenes landlords sent the youths, the youths made it known to us during the attack,” he stated.
Swiftly responding, the President General of the Odekpe community, Innocent Nwanosike, acknowledged awareness of the chaos. Expressing sorrow over the damages, he stated: “This case would have been amicably resolved by the court or government instead of resorting to violence. This case is an election matter, who will be the President of the Landlords Association.”
Validating the occurrence, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Ikenga Tochukwu, assured that the police were effectively managing the situation. He further mentioned that the injured individuals were currently receiving medical care at a nearby hospital.