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The Obuoro Ibere community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State has denied any involvement in the death of one of its indigenes, Mr. Okezie Onyema Onyendu, who was attacked by unknown assailants in Amawom village.
Onyendu, a commercial motorcyclist, was reportedly ambushed around 1 am on March 7 by yet-to-be-identified attackers who dispossessed him of his motorcycle, mobile phone, and daily earnings.
He succumbed to his injuries on March 10 at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
Following the incident, his widow, Mrs. Ogechi Okezie, accused some members of the Obuoro community of conspiring against her late husband and expelling him from the village for refusing to cede his land to a distant relative.
However, addressing journalists in Umuahia on Sunday, the Traditional Prime Minister of Obuoro, Chief Goddey Nduche, dismissed the allegations, describing them as baseless.
“It is an abomination for us to shed the blood of our son on our land. Okezie gave a deep cut to the son of our traditional ruler, and according to our customs, he was expected to appease the land. Instead, he left for his in-laws’ place in Itu Ibere to evade the rites,” Nduche said.
He explained that Okezie had yet to perform the traditional second burial rites of his late father, which was necessary before inheriting family property. He further claimed that the deceased was at loggerheads with his half-brothers over land allocation, despite their late father having shared the property before his passing.
Debunking the claim that Okezie was banished, the traditional leader stated, “We were waiting for his wife to inform us about what happened, only to hear that the police were coming to arrest us. Ibere people do not kill their own. We have strong cultural covenants. While we were still preparing for the second burial rites to settle the dispute, he dragged us to court.”
Calling for an investigation into the killing, Nduche urged security agencies to probe criminal activities in Amawom, noting that the area had become notorious for violent attacks.
“We hear about gunmen attacking people and robbing them at night in Amawom. The police should investigate and apprehend those responsible. If this is not checked, it will continue. There should be adequate security in that area,” he added.
Backing his stance, the community’s President General, Chief Ariondu Enyinnaya, and Okezie’s half-sister, Ogechi Ogbonna, also appealed to the authorities to ensure justice for the slain motorcyclist.
When contacted, the Councillor representing Ibere Ward II, Hon. Sunday Okoro Uche—who is also the brother of Okezie’s widow—confirmed his attempts to mediate between the deceased and the community.
“I tried my best to reconcile him with the community, but he was always hostile. He had a harsh tone, insulted people, and was generally difficult. I don’t believe the community would have killed their own son,” Uche said.
He described Amawom as a dangerous area, particularly “around the back of the university administration block,” where criminals frequently operate.
When contacted on Friday, the spokesman for the Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed that the case had been reported to the Area Command and that an investigation was ongoing.
