By Okey Maduforo
The crisis has been as old as three years now since a philanthropist; Dr Godwin Maduka returned to the town and commenced several developmental projects. To the admiration of most people, Maduka has been a blessing to his people and community.
But the question that has remained unanswered is which community has Maduka been a blessing to? To those that claim to be Umuchukwu community Maduka has been a true son of his father. But to those that answer Nkerehi community, the man has been a symbol of woes.
This face off in the community over the change of its name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu has indeed taken a toll on this community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to a petition to the Inspector General of Police signed by NM Umenweke counsel to Joseph Anulobi and eleven others.
They alleged that “It is our Clients’ instruction that Dr. Godwin Maduka constitute a bandwagon of thugs recruited from Aguleri and some others from Nkerehi Town which include Viz: Sunday Obi, Anthony Ezeji, James Ogbonna, Rufus Ugwa, Ifeanyi Duru, Ikechukwu Okeke, Okechukwu Nwele and others armed them with machetes, axe, acid and over 54 pieces of pump action with which he has been pursing the agenda of changing the Name of Nkerehi community to Umuchukwu unilaterally which is today the edge of disintegration of Nkerehi into two
“Dr. Maduka abducted Barr. Odoemena on 12th day of February 2007 with his thugs and some mobile police men and when they brought him before Dr. Maduka he told Barr. Odoemena that he will waste him if he did not join his group
“Since then armed men have been trailing Barr. Odoemena both at his office, village house and resident at Onitsha . In his further threat, Dr. Maduka said that as a Drug baron based in LAS VEGAS USA he can conceive and execute any kind of crime in Nigeria as far as money is concern after all even the Inspector General of Police can be controlled with money.
“In pursuance of the negative purpose for which he constituted this horrible men of the underworld, he on the 11th of March 2007 ordered that one Barr. Basil Igwike should be killed and after some hours of incarceration in his private cell, Barr. Igwike was according beaten to moribund, the picture and his injuries found in a newspaper that published the story is annexed and marked as Exhibit. A
“A spurious allegation of kidnap of his Royal Highness Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu was made against Barr. Basil on the same 11th of March 2007 to predicate the assault on him
“Barr. Basil petitioned the Commissioner of Police of Anambra State in which case the commissioner assigned the matter to the state CID for investigation. The said investigation was accordingly conducted in respect of the alleged kidnap of His Royal Highness Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu, serious assault on Barr. Igwike, and the murder of one Peter Echem. This late Peter Echem was kidnapped by group of armed men and later found dead with bullet wounds.
“The State CID upon discovering that the alleged kidnap of the Igwe was unfounded but was basically fabricated to underpin the malice aforethought against all those who opposed the attempt by Dr. Godwin Maduka to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu. The state CID Awka discovered in the cause of their investigation that Dr. Godwin Maduka and the mobile policemen given to him by zone 9, Umuahia and the barrage of his armed brigands who follow him were responsible for the murder of the said Peter Echem. The same vehicle which is a white Mercedes Benz Car used in kidnapping Peter Echem before he was murdered and purportedly used in kidnapping the said Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu was parked in the house of Dr. Godwin Maduka.
“Intensive investigation were being carried out into the matter by Supol Ubi of Anambra State Police Headquarters Awka and more cans of worms were about to be revealed when the zone 9 command of the Nigerian Police Umuahia called for the entire files on the case, accordingly suppressed the case of murder against Dr. Godwin Maduka.
He further alleged that the police have not helped matters in the prosecution of those allegations of assault on the villager insisting that
“We the complainants in the matter herein above referred wish to formally bring to your knowledge our corporate feelings vis-à-vis the manner with which our complaints is being treated with triviality and levity while we remain at the receiving end of the persistent onslaught of the unscrupulous suspects
“It is clear that after the arrest, bail and subsequent jumping of bail of Dr. Godwin Maduka, no other thing has been done in respect of our complaint despite over eleven times (11) we have visited your office to same effect.
We opted to explore the service of police as an institution constitutionally mandated to maintain social equilibrium in a civilized system but the expected protection seem not to be forthcoming barely one year after our complaint.”
But the President General of Umuchukwu community, Hon. Peter Ibezimakor told Daily Independent that those allegations are not true.
“There is nothing like that Umuchukwu is calm and peaceful. All those people that have been telling you that we have problems are only deceiving you. We held a government referendum over the change of name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu and it was successful. Last year we had our gazette and everything is over.”
“Relating to the allegations of assault on the villagers, I tell you clearly that nobody was attacked. They may have attacked themselves and want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The post office in the community bears Umuchukwu, also with the Divisional police office, the Churches and every other institutions in the community.
“Any one that goes about talking to you about Nkerehi is only making up stories to deceive the public. You can even speak with the DPO here in Umuchukwu.”
Ibezimakor further contended that the allegation of Umuchukwu people not attending the Roman Catholic Church in the are is not true, contending that all the churches have been peaceful and that there has not been any case of misunderstanding among the people of Umuchukwu
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Friday, October 23, 2009
Open Letter To Governor Peter Obi
Nkerehi Town Union – U.S.A.
P. O. Box 441
Metairie, LA 70004
October, 20, 2009
His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi
Executive Governor, Anambra State
Sir:
We hereby bring to your executive attention the unfortunate fact that the Nkerehi people have been forced out of their homes for almost two months now by Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia, camouflaged as “Umuchukwu Vigilante Group”, and Dr. Godwin Maduka’s youth thugs. Hundreds of Nkerehi people have been displaced and are refugees in the neighboring towns of Owerre-Ezukala, Ogbunka, Umunze, Nneato, and across Anambra State and Nigeria. They have been refused entry into their own town and to their homes by Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia and his youth thugs. We have received reliable information that Dr. Maduka’s youth thugs are systematically looting the homes of the Nkerehi people with impunity.
Sir, here are the families and individuals in Nkerehi that were run out of their homes by Dr. Maduka’s militia and youth thugs and they have been refugees for almost two months:
1. Mr. Alex Mbamara and family
2. Mr. Denise Mbamara and family
3. Nze. Paulinus Nnadi and family
4. Ms. Monica Ezeji and family
5. Mr. Peter Nnadi and Family
6. Mr. Godwin Odoemena and family
7. Mr. Maduabuchi Onyema and family (Mrs. Onyema a blind widow)
8. Mr. Lazarus Ohaji Okoli and family
9. Elder Iheukwumere Anunobi – 85 year old man and Family
10. Mrs. Cletus Nwachala and family
11. Mr. Peter Echemazu and family
12. Chief Matthias Anyadiegwu and Family
13. Mr. Josiah Anyadiegwu and family
14. Mr. Boniface Uwa and family
15. Mr. Paschal Onyegbule and family
16. Mr. Okechukwu Emeto and family
17. Mr. Marcel Ude and family
18. Mr. Christopher Akandu and Family
19. Mr. Ambrose Ifemeje and family
20. Mr. Angus Obi and family
21. Elder Nze Agodi Igwike 80 years old and Family
22. Mr. Ignatius Igwike and Family
23. Mr. Clement Igwike and Family
24. Mr. Okechukwu Onwuchekwa and Family
25. Mr. Martin Iruefo and Family
26. Mr. Matthew Onyekpudoro and Family
27. Mrs. Margaret Izendu – a widow
28. Elder Ezekiel Onwu and Family
29. Elder Pius Onwu and family (had stroke as a refugee)
30. Mr. Richard Obialo and family
31. Mr. Chiemerie Onwu and Family
32. Mr. Silvester Gonzy Okoli and Family
33. Mr. Fabian Uka and Family
34. Mr. Eric Igwike and Family
35. Mr. Anthony Igwike and family
36. Mr. Sunday Onyekwere and Family
37. Dr. Patrick Igwike and Family
38. Mr. Magnus Obiora
39. Mr. Ekene Onwsoronye
40. Mr. Ben Uwa and Family
41. Mrs. John Okeke and Family
42. Mr. Obinna Duru and Family
43. Mr. Ben Onwu and Family
44. Ms. Obageri Nwankwo and Family
45. Reverend Christian Nwankwo and Family
46. Mr. Uche Oguguo and Family
47. Mr. Emeka Irieme and Family
48. Mr. Paulinus Onyekwere
49. Reverend John Obialo and Family
50. Mrs. Obageri Onwu and Family
51. Mrs. Erochukwu Igwike and Family
52. Mr. Silvanus Okeke and Family
53. Mr. Christian Otika and Family
54. Mr. Ernest Onyekpudoro and Family
55. Mrs. Okpulo Onyekpudoro and Family
56. Mr. Charles Nwankwo and Family
57. Mr. Jonathan Nwahoobere Okoli
58. Mr. Simon Nwankwoikpo Okeke and Family
59. Mrs. Elizabeth Fred Okeke and Family
60. Mr. Lazarus Ike and Family
61. Mr. Boniface Okalazu and Family
62. Mr. Jude Nwaozo and Family
63. Mr. Anthony Nwaozo and Family
64. Mrs. Rose Ezenwa
65. Mrs. Chiama Ezenwa
66. Mr. Dialaekwe Mbaramara and Family
67. Mr. Ikechukwu Okafor and Family
68. Mr. Emeka Okafor and Family
69. Mr. Chinedu Peterson Nwaozo
70. Mr. Collens Onyekpudoro
71. Mr. Emeka Onyekpudoro
72. Mrs. Onyehuruchi Onyekpudoro
73. Mr. Sylverster Ilo and Family
74. Mr. Clement Ilo and Family
75. Mr. Alex Ilo and Family
76. Mr. Felix Mbamara and Family
77. Mr. Jonathan Osunkwo and Family
78. Mr. Francis Mbamara and Family
79. Mr. Aaron Madu and Family
80. Mr. Fabian Nwafor and Family
81. Barrister Basil Igwike and Family
82. Mr. Modestus Okalazu and Family
83. Mr. Basil Okalazu
84. Ms. Easter Emeto and Family
85. Mr. Jonathan Okalazu
86. Mr. Joseph Anulaobi and Family
87. Mr. Ebenezer Okoli and Family
88. Mr. Christian Okoli and Family
89. Mr. Ekenwa Ezenwa and Family
90. Mr. Jason Eze and Family
91. Mathew Nwankwo and Family
92. Mr. Okenna Onyekwere
93. Barrister Emmanuel Onwu and Family
94. Barrister Charles Uwamachi Odoemena
95. Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Igwike and Family
96. Mr. Godhelp Sargi Onwu and Family
97. Mr. Nathaniel Emeto and Family
98. Mr. Stephen Iruefo
99. Mrs. Juliana Okpara and Family
100. Mr. Ernest Anunobi
101. Barrister Innocent Onwu and Family
102. Mr. Samson Anunobi and Family
103. Mr. Promise Onwu
104. Mr. Gabriel Okeke and Family
105. Mr. Lawrence Mbanwa and Family
106. Mr. Stephen Ogbonna and Family
107. Mr. Louis Mbanwa and Family
108. Mr. Nnamdi Mbanwa
109. Mr. Bernard Ike and Family
The only sin of the Nkerehi people is that they do not want the name of their town changed from Nkerehi to “Umuchukwu”. As you know, Umuchukwu means the “the Children of God”, but the actions and antics of Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers in Nkerehi since 2007 have reduced them to misguided, irrational, and hypocritical evil men. The Children of God do not harass, intimidate, ostracize, beat, maim, shoot, kill, and run out of town their fellow human beings, especially their kith and kin. Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers have done all these in Nkerehi. Sir, why should this gang of lawless individuals be allowed to take over a whole town and run out of town hundreds of innocent citizens, some in their eighties, others women and children?
Dr. Godwin Maduka’s youth thugs started attacking and maiming the Nherehi people and running them out of town on August 22, 2009. We alerted you through your Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, and later on the Internet, requesting your government to protect the Nkerehi people. That request was made as far back as August 24, 2009. When the displaced Nkerehi people tried to come back to their homes on August 29, 2009, Dr. Maduka’s youth thugs attacked them, and his militia shot and killed an Nkerehi person and a stranger, and also shot and wounded several Nkerehi people and men from Ihe village in Owerre Ezukala.
It is unfortunate and an ultimate miscarriage of justice that the police arrested the Nkerehi people and the men from Ihe village whom Dr. Maduka’s militia shot their legs. Now the police are trying to pin the crimes of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia and his followers on these innocent people. Among the detained Nkerehi people were three women whom two are in their seventies. The women were just released recently after more than one month in detention at Awka and Abuja. Sir, there is an urgent need to release the Nkerehi and the Ihe men wrongfully being detained and about to be charged for crimes that they did not commit. How would the Nkerehi people who were not armed with any guns shoot and kill their own person? How in the world would men who were shot in their legs be detained and charged for the crimes of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia?
Sir, there is also an urgent need to disarm Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia, which as we stated masquerades as “Umuchukwu Vigilante Group”. There is also an urgent and critical need for you to set up a strong security unit in Nkerehi, preferably from the military, independent of the so called Umuchukwu police post, to protect the town so that the Nkerehi people would come back to their homes without fear of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s crude armed militia and his ruthless and lawless youth thugs. Here are the names of some of the people in Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia, armed with pump action guns and other dangerous weapons: Mr. Anthony Ezengu Ezeji (Dr. Maduka’s first cousin), Mr. Felix Okafor (Dr. Maduka’s second Cousin), Mr. Kenneth Maduka (Dr. Maduka’s brother), Mr. Kingsley Maduka (Dr. Maduka’s nephew), Mr. Sunday Obi (a felon and an ex-convict), Mr. Alfred Okoli, Mr. Joseph Obi, Mr. Obulali Ugwa, Mr. Chimaije Nwafor, Mr. Monday Eze, Mr. Felix Okoroalu, Mr. Jude Onyekudolu, and one Mr. Onwudike alias Danga. The commander of Dr. Maduka’s militia is Mr. Anthony Ezeji and the leader of his youth thugs is Mr. Okechukwu Nwaele.
Due to negative and unpleasant experiences, the Nkerehi people have grown to believe that the police would not protect them. Dr. Godwin Maduka built the so called Umuchukwu police post, basically aimed at suppressing the Nkerehi people. Nkerehi people have been arrested and charged to court for just saying the word Nkerehi aloud. Nkerehi people have been beaten and maimed by the Umuchukwu gang in presences of the police without the police doing anything to the Umuchukwu gang. Dr. Godwin Maduka has corrupted the Nigerian police at various levels and that may be the reason he has so far gotten away with many crimes he committed in Nkerehi since 2007. Those that Dr. Godwin Maduka, an American citizen and a medical doctor in the United States, personally beat or participated in beating in Nkerehi include Barrister Basil Igwike, Barrister Charles Odor, Mr. John Onoh, Mr. Ekene Onwu, Mr. Ikechukwu Egwuonwu, Nze Polinus Nnadi, Mr. Ignatius Igwike, Mr. Tochukwu Akaegbobi (the former Catechist of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Nkerehi), and Mr. Anudu Uwa. His thugs beat and pistol whipped Mr. Okechukwu Onwchekwa. His thugs also went to Onitsha and mercilessly beat Chief. Mathias Anyandegwu.
Dr. Godwin Maduka has been protected by the police, especially Assistant Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Okey Ezike, who is now in Abuja as the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police (IG). During Dr. Godwin Maduka’s recent visit to Nigeria in August 2009, we were informed that Assistant Police Commissioner Chris Okey Ezike was with him in his police led convoy to Nkerehi, where Dr. Maduka introduced Mr. Ezike at St. Jude’s Catholic Church and announced that he (Dr. Maduka) came home for the final enforcement of changing Nkerehi’s name to Umuchukwu. During that visit, in a party Dr. Maduka threw for his youth thugs and militia, we were also informed that Dr. Godwin Maduka ordered his youth thugs and his militia to force out of town all Nkerehi people who do not believe in changing the name of their town. Dr. Godwin Maduka promised his militia and youth thugs that the police would be on their side no matter what happened. It is, therefore, not surprising that the recent crisis started immediately after Dr. Maduka visited Nkerehi in August 2009, and the police have not done anything to stop the notorious and unlawful activities of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s followers.
Sir, we also requesting for you to urgently set up an impartial Board of Inquiry, made up of men and women of integrity and honesty, to investigate everything that has happened in Nkerehi since 2007. The impartial investigation would help the government to know the person or the people to hold responsible for violating the law including murder in Nkerehi. The board may also assist in looking for a lasting solution to bring peace to Nkerehi short of forcefully changing the town’s ancestral name.
The town’s name, Nkerehi, is the only thing that is left for the Nkerehi people. Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers have destroyed every historical landmark and antiquities in town for the pretence of building a monastery for the Catholic Church. Dr. Godwin Maduka also bulldozed the town’s market and moved it close to the so called monastery site. It must be emphasized that all Nkerehi people are Christians without exception. However, the Nkerehi people would have preferred for the town’s historical monuments to be preserved for posterity as is done in every civilized society. Nkerehi people also believe in the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and would never want to forcefully impose their system of belief on anyone. It is unfortunate that Dr. Maduka and his cult followers do not believe in freedom of religion. They have forced out of Nkerehi other religious denominations. St. Paul’s Anglican Church Nkerehi and the Apostolic Church of God were under siege by Dr. Maduka’s youth thugs and militia, and both denominations and their congregation including their Reverends have been run out of Nkerehi for almost two months. The Reverend of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, who is from Agulu, is now a refugee in Ezira.
Sir, we again ask you as the chief law enforcement officer of Anambra State to disarm Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia and his youth thugs and bring an impartial security unit in Nkerehi, preferably the military, so that the individuals and families listed above would return to their homes. It is important for you to assist in settling the crisis in Nkerehi and investigate and hold accountable individuals or groups who violated the law. It is unfortunate that the Nkerehi people have been driven away from their homes for almost two months now and we have not heard a single word from the Anambra State government.
Sincerely,
Patrick I. Ibe
Patrick I. Ibe, Ph.D.
President, Nkerehi Town Union –
U.S.A.
Richard S. Igwike
Richard S. Igwike, Ph.D.
Secretary, Nkerehi Town Union - U.S.A.
P. O. Box 441
Metairie, LA 70004
October, 20, 2009
His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi
Executive Governor, Anambra State
Sir:
We hereby bring to your executive attention the unfortunate fact that the Nkerehi people have been forced out of their homes for almost two months now by Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia, camouflaged as “Umuchukwu Vigilante Group”, and Dr. Godwin Maduka’s youth thugs. Hundreds of Nkerehi people have been displaced and are refugees in the neighboring towns of Owerre-Ezukala, Ogbunka, Umunze, Nneato, and across Anambra State and Nigeria. They have been refused entry into their own town and to their homes by Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia and his youth thugs. We have received reliable information that Dr. Maduka’s youth thugs are systematically looting the homes of the Nkerehi people with impunity.
Sir, here are the families and individuals in Nkerehi that were run out of their homes by Dr. Maduka’s militia and youth thugs and they have been refugees for almost two months:
1. Mr. Alex Mbamara and family
2. Mr. Denise Mbamara and family
3. Nze. Paulinus Nnadi and family
4. Ms. Monica Ezeji and family
5. Mr. Peter Nnadi and Family
6. Mr. Godwin Odoemena and family
7. Mr. Maduabuchi Onyema and family (Mrs. Onyema a blind widow)
8. Mr. Lazarus Ohaji Okoli and family
9. Elder Iheukwumere Anunobi – 85 year old man and Family
10. Mrs. Cletus Nwachala and family
11. Mr. Peter Echemazu and family
12. Chief Matthias Anyadiegwu and Family
13. Mr. Josiah Anyadiegwu and family
14. Mr. Boniface Uwa and family
15. Mr. Paschal Onyegbule and family
16. Mr. Okechukwu Emeto and family
17. Mr. Marcel Ude and family
18. Mr. Christopher Akandu and Family
19. Mr. Ambrose Ifemeje and family
20. Mr. Angus Obi and family
21. Elder Nze Agodi Igwike 80 years old and Family
22. Mr. Ignatius Igwike and Family
23. Mr. Clement Igwike and Family
24. Mr. Okechukwu Onwuchekwa and Family
25. Mr. Martin Iruefo and Family
26. Mr. Matthew Onyekpudoro and Family
27. Mrs. Margaret Izendu – a widow
28. Elder Ezekiel Onwu and Family
29. Elder Pius Onwu and family (had stroke as a refugee)
30. Mr. Richard Obialo and family
31. Mr. Chiemerie Onwu and Family
32. Mr. Silvester Gonzy Okoli and Family
33. Mr. Fabian Uka and Family
34. Mr. Eric Igwike and Family
35. Mr. Anthony Igwike and family
36. Mr. Sunday Onyekwere and Family
37. Dr. Patrick Igwike and Family
38. Mr. Magnus Obiora
39. Mr. Ekene Onwsoronye
40. Mr. Ben Uwa and Family
41. Mrs. John Okeke and Family
42. Mr. Obinna Duru and Family
43. Mr. Ben Onwu and Family
44. Ms. Obageri Nwankwo and Family
45. Reverend Christian Nwankwo and Family
46. Mr. Uche Oguguo and Family
47. Mr. Emeka Irieme and Family
48. Mr. Paulinus Onyekwere
49. Reverend John Obialo and Family
50. Mrs. Obageri Onwu and Family
51. Mrs. Erochukwu Igwike and Family
52. Mr. Silvanus Okeke and Family
53. Mr. Christian Otika and Family
54. Mr. Ernest Onyekpudoro and Family
55. Mrs. Okpulo Onyekpudoro and Family
56. Mr. Charles Nwankwo and Family
57. Mr. Jonathan Nwahoobere Okoli
58. Mr. Simon Nwankwoikpo Okeke and Family
59. Mrs. Elizabeth Fred Okeke and Family
60. Mr. Lazarus Ike and Family
61. Mr. Boniface Okalazu and Family
62. Mr. Jude Nwaozo and Family
63. Mr. Anthony Nwaozo and Family
64. Mrs. Rose Ezenwa
65. Mrs. Chiama Ezenwa
66. Mr. Dialaekwe Mbaramara and Family
67. Mr. Ikechukwu Okafor and Family
68. Mr. Emeka Okafor and Family
69. Mr. Chinedu Peterson Nwaozo
70. Mr. Collens Onyekpudoro
71. Mr. Emeka Onyekpudoro
72. Mrs. Onyehuruchi Onyekpudoro
73. Mr. Sylverster Ilo and Family
74. Mr. Clement Ilo and Family
75. Mr. Alex Ilo and Family
76. Mr. Felix Mbamara and Family
77. Mr. Jonathan Osunkwo and Family
78. Mr. Francis Mbamara and Family
79. Mr. Aaron Madu and Family
80. Mr. Fabian Nwafor and Family
81. Barrister Basil Igwike and Family
82. Mr. Modestus Okalazu and Family
83. Mr. Basil Okalazu
84. Ms. Easter Emeto and Family
85. Mr. Jonathan Okalazu
86. Mr. Joseph Anulaobi and Family
87. Mr. Ebenezer Okoli and Family
88. Mr. Christian Okoli and Family
89. Mr. Ekenwa Ezenwa and Family
90. Mr. Jason Eze and Family
91. Mathew Nwankwo and Family
92. Mr. Okenna Onyekwere
93. Barrister Emmanuel Onwu and Family
94. Barrister Charles Uwamachi Odoemena
95. Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Igwike and Family
96. Mr. Godhelp Sargi Onwu and Family
97. Mr. Nathaniel Emeto and Family
98. Mr. Stephen Iruefo
99. Mrs. Juliana Okpara and Family
100. Mr. Ernest Anunobi
101. Barrister Innocent Onwu and Family
102. Mr. Samson Anunobi and Family
103. Mr. Promise Onwu
104. Mr. Gabriel Okeke and Family
105. Mr. Lawrence Mbanwa and Family
106. Mr. Stephen Ogbonna and Family
107. Mr. Louis Mbanwa and Family
108. Mr. Nnamdi Mbanwa
109. Mr. Bernard Ike and Family
The only sin of the Nkerehi people is that they do not want the name of their town changed from Nkerehi to “Umuchukwu”. As you know, Umuchukwu means the “the Children of God”, but the actions and antics of Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers in Nkerehi since 2007 have reduced them to misguided, irrational, and hypocritical evil men. The Children of God do not harass, intimidate, ostracize, beat, maim, shoot, kill, and run out of town their fellow human beings, especially their kith and kin. Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers have done all these in Nkerehi. Sir, why should this gang of lawless individuals be allowed to take over a whole town and run out of town hundreds of innocent citizens, some in their eighties, others women and children?
Dr. Godwin Maduka’s youth thugs started attacking and maiming the Nherehi people and running them out of town on August 22, 2009. We alerted you through your Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Valentine Obienyem, and later on the Internet, requesting your government to protect the Nkerehi people. That request was made as far back as August 24, 2009. When the displaced Nkerehi people tried to come back to their homes on August 29, 2009, Dr. Maduka’s youth thugs attacked them, and his militia shot and killed an Nkerehi person and a stranger, and also shot and wounded several Nkerehi people and men from Ihe village in Owerre Ezukala.
It is unfortunate and an ultimate miscarriage of justice that the police arrested the Nkerehi people and the men from Ihe village whom Dr. Maduka’s militia shot their legs. Now the police are trying to pin the crimes of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia and his followers on these innocent people. Among the detained Nkerehi people were three women whom two are in their seventies. The women were just released recently after more than one month in detention at Awka and Abuja. Sir, there is an urgent need to release the Nkerehi and the Ihe men wrongfully being detained and about to be charged for crimes that they did not commit. How would the Nkerehi people who were not armed with any guns shoot and kill their own person? How in the world would men who were shot in their legs be detained and charged for the crimes of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia?
Sir, there is also an urgent need to disarm Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia, which as we stated masquerades as “Umuchukwu Vigilante Group”. There is also an urgent and critical need for you to set up a strong security unit in Nkerehi, preferably from the military, independent of the so called Umuchukwu police post, to protect the town so that the Nkerehi people would come back to their homes without fear of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s crude armed militia and his ruthless and lawless youth thugs. Here are the names of some of the people in Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia, armed with pump action guns and other dangerous weapons: Mr. Anthony Ezengu Ezeji (Dr. Maduka’s first cousin), Mr. Felix Okafor (Dr. Maduka’s second Cousin), Mr. Kenneth Maduka (Dr. Maduka’s brother), Mr. Kingsley Maduka (Dr. Maduka’s nephew), Mr. Sunday Obi (a felon and an ex-convict), Mr. Alfred Okoli, Mr. Joseph Obi, Mr. Obulali Ugwa, Mr. Chimaije Nwafor, Mr. Monday Eze, Mr. Felix Okoroalu, Mr. Jude Onyekudolu, and one Mr. Onwudike alias Danga. The commander of Dr. Maduka’s militia is Mr. Anthony Ezeji and the leader of his youth thugs is Mr. Okechukwu Nwaele.
Due to negative and unpleasant experiences, the Nkerehi people have grown to believe that the police would not protect them. Dr. Godwin Maduka built the so called Umuchukwu police post, basically aimed at suppressing the Nkerehi people. Nkerehi people have been arrested and charged to court for just saying the word Nkerehi aloud. Nkerehi people have been beaten and maimed by the Umuchukwu gang in presences of the police without the police doing anything to the Umuchukwu gang. Dr. Godwin Maduka has corrupted the Nigerian police at various levels and that may be the reason he has so far gotten away with many crimes he committed in Nkerehi since 2007. Those that Dr. Godwin Maduka, an American citizen and a medical doctor in the United States, personally beat or participated in beating in Nkerehi include Barrister Basil Igwike, Barrister Charles Odor, Mr. John Onoh, Mr. Ekene Onwu, Mr. Ikechukwu Egwuonwu, Nze Polinus Nnadi, Mr. Ignatius Igwike, Mr. Tochukwu Akaegbobi (the former Catechist of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Nkerehi), and Mr. Anudu Uwa. His thugs beat and pistol whipped Mr. Okechukwu Onwchekwa. His thugs also went to Onitsha and mercilessly beat Chief. Mathias Anyandegwu.
Dr. Godwin Maduka has been protected by the police, especially Assistant Police Commissioner, Mr. Chris Okey Ezike, who is now in Abuja as the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police (IG). During Dr. Godwin Maduka’s recent visit to Nigeria in August 2009, we were informed that Assistant Police Commissioner Chris Okey Ezike was with him in his police led convoy to Nkerehi, where Dr. Maduka introduced Mr. Ezike at St. Jude’s Catholic Church and announced that he (Dr. Maduka) came home for the final enforcement of changing Nkerehi’s name to Umuchukwu. During that visit, in a party Dr. Maduka threw for his youth thugs and militia, we were also informed that Dr. Godwin Maduka ordered his youth thugs and his militia to force out of town all Nkerehi people who do not believe in changing the name of their town. Dr. Godwin Maduka promised his militia and youth thugs that the police would be on their side no matter what happened. It is, therefore, not surprising that the recent crisis started immediately after Dr. Maduka visited Nkerehi in August 2009, and the police have not done anything to stop the notorious and unlawful activities of Dr. Godwin Maduka’s followers.
Sir, we also requesting for you to urgently set up an impartial Board of Inquiry, made up of men and women of integrity and honesty, to investigate everything that has happened in Nkerehi since 2007. The impartial investigation would help the government to know the person or the people to hold responsible for violating the law including murder in Nkerehi. The board may also assist in looking for a lasting solution to bring peace to Nkerehi short of forcefully changing the town’s ancestral name.
The town’s name, Nkerehi, is the only thing that is left for the Nkerehi people. Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers have destroyed every historical landmark and antiquities in town for the pretence of building a monastery for the Catholic Church. Dr. Godwin Maduka also bulldozed the town’s market and moved it close to the so called monastery site. It must be emphasized that all Nkerehi people are Christians without exception. However, the Nkerehi people would have preferred for the town’s historical monuments to be preserved for posterity as is done in every civilized society. Nkerehi people also believe in the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and would never want to forcefully impose their system of belief on anyone. It is unfortunate that Dr. Maduka and his cult followers do not believe in freedom of religion. They have forced out of Nkerehi other religious denominations. St. Paul’s Anglican Church Nkerehi and the Apostolic Church of God were under siege by Dr. Maduka’s youth thugs and militia, and both denominations and their congregation including their Reverends have been run out of Nkerehi for almost two months. The Reverend of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, who is from Agulu, is now a refugee in Ezira.
Sir, we again ask you as the chief law enforcement officer of Anambra State to disarm Dr. Godwin Maduka’s militia and his youth thugs and bring an impartial security unit in Nkerehi, preferably the military, so that the individuals and families listed above would return to their homes. It is important for you to assist in settling the crisis in Nkerehi and investigate and hold accountable individuals or groups who violated the law. It is unfortunate that the Nkerehi people have been driven away from their homes for almost two months now and we have not heard a single word from the Anambra State government.
Sincerely,
Patrick I. Ibe
Patrick I. Ibe, Ph.D.
President, Nkerehi Town Union –
U.S.A.
Richard S. Igwike
Richard S. Igwike, Ph.D.
Secretary, Nkerehi Town Union - U.S.A.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Re: Appeal to Human Rights Organizations
From: The Secretariat of Nkerehi Town Union - U.S.A.
Re: Appeal to Human Rights Organizations
We are appealing to you to contact appropriate U.S. and Nigerian authorities and plead with them to stop Dr. Godwin Maduka, a well-to-do pain management doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. from sponsoring terror and violation of human rights of people of Nkerehi town in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Dr. Godwin Maduka is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He came from Nkerehi to the United States in 1982. He went to school in the United States and became a medical doctor. He is currently the owner and Director of Las Vegas Pain Institute, which is located at 3835 South Jones Boulevard, Suite 104 , Las Vegas, NV 89103. His telephone number is (702) 880-4193.
In 2007, Dr. Maduka came home and in a mad rush gave notice to selected few, his plan for the building of a monastery for the Catholic Church in Nkerehi. In that process, without authority nor permission from Nkerehi community he bulldozed poor people’s farmland, crops and economic trees to build dirt express road to the monastery site. He also bulldozed the town’s market and moved it closer to his monastery site. He paid and sponsored his followers to destroy every historical, traditional, and cultural landmark in the town including numerous antiquities and memorable/sacred trees. He also decided to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu without authority or due process. Umuchukwu means the people or children of God in Igbo language.
Dr. Maduka’s maternal uncle, Igwe Michael Ukaegbu, is traditional ruler of the town, whose power is basically ceremonial. However, Dr. Maduka’s uncle has not been able to perform many of the ceremonial rites since he became the Igwe in 1977 because he was not the right person to occupy the throne. He did not have the traditional sacred symbol to occupy the throne. Many members of Igwe's cabinet assert that Dr. Maduka persuaded the Igwe and the cabinet to go along with him because by destroying the town's historical institutions and changing it’s name would bring legitimacy to his uncle’s throne. The rational is that his uncle would no longer fear traditional royal retribution of Nkerehi 'Gods' in performing village customary rites. Most Nkerehi residents regard Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers as misguided, irrational, superstitious, and pretentious religious fanatics as bad as the Taliban.
When Nkerehi people started asking questions on why Dr Maduka should destroyed their historic landmarks, bulldozed and relocated their market, and went as far as changing the town’s name, Maduka and his followers responded with violence, terrorism, intimidation, harassment, wrongful persecution, torture, and ostracism to shut them up. He resorted to bribing the police hierarchy and government functionaries to achieve his purpose and to suppress, intimidate, harass, persecute and punish his opponents. He built a police post in Nkerehi, which he called Umuchukwu Police Post, staffed with Nigerian police just to cow, harass, and intimidate the people. People were arrested and charged to court for just saying the word Nkerehi in public or wearing t-shirts with the name Nkerehi printed on them. Dr. Maduka sponsored and heavily armed a militia group, which he camouflaged and registered as Umuchukwu Vigilante Group. The militia is directly aimed at suppressing, cowing, humiliating and killing those opposed to their town name change. He also set up youth thugs that compliment the activities of his militia.
Maduka went to Nigeria in August, 2009 and ordered his youth thugs and militia to violently force out-of-town all those that do not agree to the town name change. Seventy-six-year-old Elder Pius Onwunarauba who was trying to rescue his brother Bejamin Onwunarauba from the youth thugs was struck down by Keneth Maduka, Dr. Maduka' s brother. Onwunarauba suffered stroke shortly after the encounter which left his brother Benjamin with broken legs. The militia shot and killed people with many wounded during the rampage. For a month now, hundreds of Nkerehi people have been driven out of their homes. They are refugees in the neighboring towns of Owerre-Ezukala, Ogbunka, Umunze, and Nneato. Most of them are helpless, homeless, hungry, and without enough clothes. They risk torture or death if they return to their homes. Maduka's bandits are marauding, pillaging, and looting the belongings of those they evicted while his 'Umuchukwu' Police are watching. Anambra State government and the Nigerian Police have done nothing to protect the people or help them go back to their homes.
People from neighboring towns who came to help Nkerehi residents from the claws of the bandits were shot at mercilessly as the police watched. Some were arrested and detained by the compromised police for months now, without adequate medical treatment. Detainees include three women, two of which are in their seventies and the other in her fifties. Maduka believes that with his money, he can do anything in Nigeria and get away with it. He always says: "every Nigeria man or woman has a price". Please help us to stop him.
You can help to stop him by contacting appropriate Nigerian and U.S. government authorities, human rights organizations and the media and making a case for their effort in stopping him and bringing peace and justice to Nkerehi. Please help put pressure on Anambra State Government on the urgency of action in bringing to a halt the murder and mayhem in Nkerehi. Maduka must be stopped and our people allowed to go back home. All innocent detainees must be released immediately. Please help to publicize the plight of our people and peace be with you.
Sincerely,
Prof. Richard S. Igwike
Secretary General, Nkerehi Town Union – U.S.A.
Re: Appeal to Human Rights Organizations
We are appealing to you to contact appropriate U.S. and Nigerian authorities and plead with them to stop Dr. Godwin Maduka, a well-to-do pain management doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. from sponsoring terror and violation of human rights of people of Nkerehi town in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Dr. Godwin Maduka is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He came from Nkerehi to the United States in 1982. He went to school in the United States and became a medical doctor. He is currently the owner and Director of Las Vegas Pain Institute, which is located at 3835 South Jones Boulevard, Suite 104 , Las Vegas, NV 89103. His telephone number is (702) 880-4193.
In 2007, Dr. Maduka came home and in a mad rush gave notice to selected few, his plan for the building of a monastery for the Catholic Church in Nkerehi. In that process, without authority nor permission from Nkerehi community he bulldozed poor people’s farmland, crops and economic trees to build dirt express road to the monastery site. He also bulldozed the town’s market and moved it closer to his monastery site. He paid and sponsored his followers to destroy every historical, traditional, and cultural landmark in the town including numerous antiquities and memorable/sacred trees. He also decided to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu without authority or due process. Umuchukwu means the people or children of God in Igbo language.
Dr. Maduka’s maternal uncle, Igwe Michael Ukaegbu, is traditional ruler of the town, whose power is basically ceremonial. However, Dr. Maduka’s uncle has not been able to perform many of the ceremonial rites since he became the Igwe in 1977 because he was not the right person to occupy the throne. He did not have the traditional sacred symbol to occupy the throne. Many members of Igwe's cabinet assert that Dr. Maduka persuaded the Igwe and the cabinet to go along with him because by destroying the town's historical institutions and changing it’s name would bring legitimacy to his uncle’s throne. The rational is that his uncle would no longer fear traditional royal retribution of Nkerehi 'Gods' in performing village customary rites. Most Nkerehi residents regard Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers as misguided, irrational, superstitious, and pretentious religious fanatics as bad as the Taliban.
When Nkerehi people started asking questions on why Dr Maduka should destroyed their historic landmarks, bulldozed and relocated their market, and went as far as changing the town’s name, Maduka and his followers responded with violence, terrorism, intimidation, harassment, wrongful persecution, torture, and ostracism to shut them up. He resorted to bribing the police hierarchy and government functionaries to achieve his purpose and to suppress, intimidate, harass, persecute and punish his opponents. He built a police post in Nkerehi, which he called Umuchukwu Police Post, staffed with Nigerian police just to cow, harass, and intimidate the people. People were arrested and charged to court for just saying the word Nkerehi in public or wearing t-shirts with the name Nkerehi printed on them. Dr. Maduka sponsored and heavily armed a militia group, which he camouflaged and registered as Umuchukwu Vigilante Group. The militia is directly aimed at suppressing, cowing, humiliating and killing those opposed to their town name change. He also set up youth thugs that compliment the activities of his militia.
Maduka went to Nigeria in August, 2009 and ordered his youth thugs and militia to violently force out-of-town all those that do not agree to the town name change. Seventy-six-year-old Elder Pius Onwunarauba who was trying to rescue his brother Bejamin Onwunarauba from the youth thugs was struck down by Keneth Maduka, Dr. Maduka' s brother. Onwunarauba suffered stroke shortly after the encounter which left his brother Benjamin with broken legs. The militia shot and killed people with many wounded during the rampage. For a month now, hundreds of Nkerehi people have been driven out of their homes. They are refugees in the neighboring towns of Owerre-Ezukala, Ogbunka, Umunze, and Nneato. Most of them are helpless, homeless, hungry, and without enough clothes. They risk torture or death if they return to their homes. Maduka's bandits are marauding, pillaging, and looting the belongings of those they evicted while his 'Umuchukwu' Police are watching. Anambra State government and the Nigerian Police have done nothing to protect the people or help them go back to their homes.
People from neighboring towns who came to help Nkerehi residents from the claws of the bandits were shot at mercilessly as the police watched. Some were arrested and detained by the compromised police for months now, without adequate medical treatment. Detainees include three women, two of which are in their seventies and the other in her fifties. Maduka believes that with his money, he can do anything in Nigeria and get away with it. He always says: "every Nigeria man or woman has a price". Please help us to stop him.
You can help to stop him by contacting appropriate Nigerian and U.S. government authorities, human rights organizations and the media and making a case for their effort in stopping him and bringing peace and justice to Nkerehi. Please help put pressure on Anambra State Government on the urgency of action in bringing to a halt the murder and mayhem in Nkerehi. Maduka must be stopped and our people allowed to go back home. All innocent detainees must be released immediately. Please help to publicize the plight of our people and peace be with you.
Sincerely,
Prof. Richard S. Igwike
Secretary General, Nkerehi Town Union – U.S.A.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Appeal To Ndigbo by Nkerehi Town Union, U.S.A.
Re: The Crisis in Nkerehi Town
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We the members of Nkerehi Town Union, U.S.A., are pleading to every Igbo person to appeal to His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and the Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Ogbnnaya Onovo to protect the life and Property of Nkerehi people.
The crisis in Nkerehi started when an indigene of the town, Dr. Godwin Maduka, a pain management doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., decided to build a monastery in the town for the Catholic Church. In pursuit of that goal, Dr. Maduka sponsored the destruction of all the historical and cultural landmarks in the town. He bulldozed the town’s market and relocated it closer to the monastery site. He then without due process decided to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to “Umuchukwu” with the support of his maternal uncle, Igwe Michael Ukaegbu.
Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers have used several tactics such as excessive violence, intimidation, harassment, ostracism and bribery to force Nkerehi people to accept the name change. But so far, Nkerehi people have insisted that no one should change their ancestral name, which is their heritage and identity.
Dr. Godwin Maduka visited Nigeria recently and instructed his followers to violently run out of town, anyone who does not support changing the name from Nkerehi to the so called “Umuchukwu”. On Saturday, August 22, 2009, some individuals parading themselves as “Umuchukwu Youth” started attacking the community. Many people were beaten mercilessly and seriously wounded. Some people’s legs were broken with iron rods and others suffered knife wounds.
The marauding hoodlums paraded from house to house with guns, machetes and iron rods, destroying doors, searching for people to maim or possibly kill. Many people ran into the bush and others took refuge in neighboring towns. The old and the sick that couldn’t run were trapped at home and were completely helpless.
We wrote His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi, asking him to intervene as the chief law enforcement officer in Anambra State. We also appealed to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State to protect life and property of Nkerehi people. As no one was willing to help, some daring sons and daughters of the community came out from hiding on Saturday, August 29, 2009 to help the trapped old and sick ones that could not flee. They were met with
brutal assualt by Dr. Maduka’s militia parading under “Umuchukwu Vigilantes”. Many were
seriously wounded with pump action guns provided by Dr. Maduka.
As reported in Nigerian Newspapers, five people were killed and fifteen received gunshot wounds from the assualt. Nkerehi people remain refugees in their own land as we appeal to
Ndigbo. We appeal to all peace loving people to use any channel available to them in bringing the attention of Nigerian authorities to the situation in our community. Our lives and properties must be protected from the power hungry religious fanatic, in the name of Dr. Godwin Maduka
and his henchmen.
Dr. Maduka hides under religion to fulfil his naked ambition of royalty. He wants to be king of
a new village empire and that was why he changed the name of our community. He uses religion as a tool and this is the reason he carries the bible on one hand by building a monastery in the community. On the other hand he uses the sword of conquest to threaten and compel the community to his whims. His calculation is that at the end he emerges the traditional ruler after all opposition would have been suppressed. All those in the royal lineage of our community that might prevent his brute-force acquisition of royalty are victims of Dr. Maduka's terror campaign.
Nkerehi people are only interested in preserving the name "Nkerehi", which is our ancestral heritage and collective identity.
If you are interested in reviewing the genesis and the progression of the crisis in Nkerehi, please visit http://www.nkerehitownunion.org/.
Sincerely,
Prof. Richard S. Igwike
Secretary General
Prof. Patrick Ibe
President General
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We the members of Nkerehi Town Union, U.S.A., are pleading to every Igbo person to appeal to His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and the Inspector General of Police, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. Ogbnnaya Onovo to protect the life and Property of Nkerehi people.
The crisis in Nkerehi started when an indigene of the town, Dr. Godwin Maduka, a pain management doctor in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A., decided to build a monastery in the town for the Catholic Church. In pursuit of that goal, Dr. Maduka sponsored the destruction of all the historical and cultural landmarks in the town. He bulldozed the town’s market and relocated it closer to the monastery site. He then without due process decided to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to “Umuchukwu” with the support of his maternal uncle, Igwe Michael Ukaegbu.
Dr. Godwin Maduka and his followers have used several tactics such as excessive violence, intimidation, harassment, ostracism and bribery to force Nkerehi people to accept the name change. But so far, Nkerehi people have insisted that no one should change their ancestral name, which is their heritage and identity.
Dr. Godwin Maduka visited Nigeria recently and instructed his followers to violently run out of town, anyone who does not support changing the name from Nkerehi to the so called “Umuchukwu”. On Saturday, August 22, 2009, some individuals parading themselves as “Umuchukwu Youth” started attacking the community. Many people were beaten mercilessly and seriously wounded. Some people’s legs were broken with iron rods and others suffered knife wounds.
The marauding hoodlums paraded from house to house with guns, machetes and iron rods, destroying doors, searching for people to maim or possibly kill. Many people ran into the bush and others took refuge in neighboring towns. The old and the sick that couldn’t run were trapped at home and were completely helpless.
We wrote His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi, asking him to intervene as the chief law enforcement officer in Anambra State. We also appealed to the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State to protect life and property of Nkerehi people. As no one was willing to help, some daring sons and daughters of the community came out from hiding on Saturday, August 29, 2009 to help the trapped old and sick ones that could not flee. They were met with
brutal assualt by Dr. Maduka’s militia parading under “Umuchukwu Vigilantes”. Many were
seriously wounded with pump action guns provided by Dr. Maduka.
As reported in Nigerian Newspapers, five people were killed and fifteen received gunshot wounds from the assualt. Nkerehi people remain refugees in their own land as we appeal to
Ndigbo. We appeal to all peace loving people to use any channel available to them in bringing the attention of Nigerian authorities to the situation in our community. Our lives and properties must be protected from the power hungry religious fanatic, in the name of Dr. Godwin Maduka
and his henchmen.
Dr. Maduka hides under religion to fulfil his naked ambition of royalty. He wants to be king of
a new village empire and that was why he changed the name of our community. He uses religion as a tool and this is the reason he carries the bible on one hand by building a monastery in the community. On the other hand he uses the sword of conquest to threaten and compel the community to his whims. His calculation is that at the end he emerges the traditional ruler after all opposition would have been suppressed. All those in the royal lineage of our community that might prevent his brute-force acquisition of royalty are victims of Dr. Maduka's terror campaign.
Nkerehi people are only interested in preserving the name "Nkerehi", which is our ancestral heritage and collective identity.
If you are interested in reviewing the genesis and the progression of the crisis in Nkerehi, please visit http://www.nkerehitownunion.org/.
Sincerely,
Prof. Richard S. Igwike
Secretary General
Prof. Patrick Ibe
President General
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Change Of Name Splits Orumba Community
By Okey Maduforo
The crisis has been as old as three years now since a philanthropist; Dr Godwin Maduka returned to the town and commenced several developmental projects. To the admiration of most people, Maduka has been a blessing to his people and community.
But the question that has remained unanswered is which community has Maduka been a blessing to? To those that claim to be Umuchukwu community Maduka has been a true son of his father. But to those that answer Nkerehi community, the man has been a symbol of woes.
This face off in the community over the change of its name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu has indeed taken a toll on this community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to a petition to the Inspector General of Police signed by NM Umenweke counsel to Joseph Anulobi and eleven others.
They alleged that “It is our Clients’ instruction that Dr. Godwin Maduka constitute a bandwagon of thugs recruited from Aguleri and some others from Nkerehi Town which include Viz: Sunday Obi, Anthony Ezeji, James Ogbonna, Rufus Ugwa, Ifeanyi Duru, Ikechukwu Okeke, Okechukwu Nwele and others armed them with machetes, axe, acid and over 54 pieces of pump action with which he has been pursing the agenda of changing the Name of Nkerehi community to Umuchukwu unilaterally which is today the edge of disintegration of Nkerehi into two
“Dr. Maduka abducted Barr. Odoemena on 12th day of February 2007 with his thugs and some mobile police men and when they brought him before Dr. Maduka he told Barr. Odoemena that he will waste him if he did not join his group
“Since then armed men have been trailing Barr. Odoemena both at his office, village house and resident at Onitsha . In his further threat, Dr. Maduka said that as a Drug baron based in LAS VEGAS USA he can conceive and execute any kind of crime in Nigeria as far as money is concern after all even the Inspector General of Police can be controlled with money.
“In pursuance of the negative purpose for which he constituted this horrible men of the underworld, he on the 11th of March 2007 ordered that one Barr. Basil Igwike should be killed and after some hours of incarceration in his private cell, Barr. Igwike was according beaten to moribund, the picture and his injuries found in a newspaper that published the story is annexed and marked as Exhibit. A
“A spurious allegation of kidnap of his Royal Highness Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu was made against Barr. Basil on the same 11th of March 2007 to predicate the assault on him
“Barr. Basil petitioned the Commissioner of Police of Anambra State in which case the commissioner assigned the matter to the state CID for investigation. The said investigation was accordingly conducted in respect of the alleged kidnap of His Royal Highness Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu, serious assault on Barr. Igwike, and the murder of one Peter Echem. This late Peter Echem was kidnapped by group of armed men and later found dead with bullet wounds.
“The State CID upon discovering that the alleged kidnap of the Igwe was unfounded but was basically fabricated to underpin the malice aforethought against all those who opposed the attempt by Dr. Godwin Maduka to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu. The state CID Awka discovered in the cause of their investigation that Dr. Godwin Maduka and the mobile policemen given to him by zone 9, Umuahia and the barrage of his armed brigands who follow him were responsible for the murder of the said Peter Echem. The same vehicle which is a white Mercedes Benz Car used in kidnapping Peter Echem before he was murdered and purportedly used in kidnapping the said Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu was parked in the house of Dr. Godwin Maduka.
“Intensive investigation were being carried out into the matter by Supol Ubi of Anambra State Police Headquarters Awka and more cans of worms were about to be revealed when the zone 9 command of the Nigerian Police Umuahia called for the entire files on the case, accordingly suppressed the case of murder against Dr. Godwin Maduka.
He further alleged that the police have not helped matters in the prosecution of those allegations of assault on the villager insisting that
“We the complainants in the matter herein above referred wish to formally bring to your knowledge our corporate feelings vis-à-vis the manner with which our complaints is being treated with triviality and levity while we remain at the receiving end of the persistent onslaught of the unscrupulous suspects
“It is clear that after the arrest, bail and subsequent jumping of bail of Dr. Godwin Maduka, no other thing has been done in respect of our complaint despite over eleven times (11) we have visited your office to same effect.
We opted to explore the service of police as an institution constitutionally mandated to maintain social equilibrium in a civilized system but the expected protection seem not to be forthcoming barely one year after our complaint.”
But the President General of Umuchukwu community, Hon. Peter Ibezimakor told Daily Independent that those allegations are not true.
“There is nothing like that Umuchukwu is calm and peaceful. All those people that have been telling you that we have problems are only deceiving you. We held a government referendum over the change of name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu and it was successful. Last year we had our gazette and everything is over.”
“Relating to the allegations of assault on the villagers, I tell you clearly that nobody was attacked. They may have attacked themselves and want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The post office in the community bears Umuchukwu, also with the Divisional police office, the Churches and every other institutions in the community.
“Any one that goes about talking to you about Nkerehi is only making up stories to deceive the public. You can even speak with the DPO here in Umuchukwu.”
Ibezimakor further contended that the allegation of Umuchukwu people not attending the Roman Catholic Church in the are is not true, contending that all the churches have been peaceful and that there has not been any case of misunderstanding among the people of Umuchukwu
The crisis has been as old as three years now since a philanthropist; Dr Godwin Maduka returned to the town and commenced several developmental projects. To the admiration of most people, Maduka has been a blessing to his people and community.
But the question that has remained unanswered is which community has Maduka been a blessing to? To those that claim to be Umuchukwu community Maduka has been a true son of his father. But to those that answer Nkerehi community, the man has been a symbol of woes.
This face off in the community over the change of its name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu has indeed taken a toll on this community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. According to a petition to the Inspector General of Police signed by NM Umenweke counsel to Joseph Anulobi and eleven others.
They alleged that “It is our Clients’ instruction that Dr. Godwin Maduka constitute a bandwagon of thugs recruited from Aguleri and some others from Nkerehi Town which include Viz: Sunday Obi, Anthony Ezeji, James Ogbonna, Rufus Ugwa, Ifeanyi Duru, Ikechukwu Okeke, Okechukwu Nwele and others armed them with machetes, axe, acid and over 54 pieces of pump action with which he has been pursing the agenda of changing the Name of Nkerehi community to Umuchukwu unilaterally which is today the edge of disintegration of Nkerehi into two
“Dr. Maduka abducted Barr. Odoemena on 12th day of February 2007 with his thugs and some mobile police men and when they brought him before Dr. Maduka he told Barr. Odoemena that he will waste him if he did not join his group
“Since then armed men have been trailing Barr. Odoemena both at his office, village house and resident at Onitsha . In his further threat, Dr. Maduka said that as a Drug baron based in LAS VEGAS USA he can conceive and execute any kind of crime in Nigeria as far as money is concern after all even the Inspector General of Police can be controlled with money.
“In pursuance of the negative purpose for which he constituted this horrible men of the underworld, he on the 11th of March 2007 ordered that one Barr. Basil Igwike should be killed and after some hours of incarceration in his private cell, Barr. Igwike was according beaten to moribund, the picture and his injuries found in a newspaper that published the story is annexed and marked as Exhibit. A
“A spurious allegation of kidnap of his Royal Highness Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu was made against Barr. Basil on the same 11th of March 2007 to predicate the assault on him
“Barr. Basil petitioned the Commissioner of Police of Anambra State in which case the commissioner assigned the matter to the state CID for investigation. The said investigation was accordingly conducted in respect of the alleged kidnap of His Royal Highness Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu, serious assault on Barr. Igwike, and the murder of one Peter Echem. This late Peter Echem was kidnapped by group of armed men and later found dead with bullet wounds.
“The State CID upon discovering that the alleged kidnap of the Igwe was unfounded but was basically fabricated to underpin the malice aforethought against all those who opposed the attempt by Dr. Godwin Maduka to change the name of the town from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu. The state CID Awka discovered in the cause of their investigation that Dr. Godwin Maduka and the mobile policemen given to him by zone 9, Umuahia and the barrage of his armed brigands who follow him were responsible for the murder of the said Peter Echem. The same vehicle which is a white Mercedes Benz Car used in kidnapping Peter Echem before he was murdered and purportedly used in kidnapping the said Igwe M.N. Ukaegbu was parked in the house of Dr. Godwin Maduka.
“Intensive investigation were being carried out into the matter by Supol Ubi of Anambra State Police Headquarters Awka and more cans of worms were about to be revealed when the zone 9 command of the Nigerian Police Umuahia called for the entire files on the case, accordingly suppressed the case of murder against Dr. Godwin Maduka.
He further alleged that the police have not helped matters in the prosecution of those allegations of assault on the villager insisting that
“We the complainants in the matter herein above referred wish to formally bring to your knowledge our corporate feelings vis-à-vis the manner with which our complaints is being treated with triviality and levity while we remain at the receiving end of the persistent onslaught of the unscrupulous suspects
“It is clear that after the arrest, bail and subsequent jumping of bail of Dr. Godwin Maduka, no other thing has been done in respect of our complaint despite over eleven times (11) we have visited your office to same effect.
We opted to explore the service of police as an institution constitutionally mandated to maintain social equilibrium in a civilized system but the expected protection seem not to be forthcoming barely one year after our complaint.”
But the President General of Umuchukwu community, Hon. Peter Ibezimakor told Daily Independent that those allegations are not true.
“There is nothing like that Umuchukwu is calm and peaceful. All those people that have been telling you that we have problems are only deceiving you. We held a government referendum over the change of name from Nkerehi to Umuchukwu and it was successful. Last year we had our gazette and everything is over.”
“Relating to the allegations of assault on the villagers, I tell you clearly that nobody was attacked. They may have attacked themselves and want to give a dog a bad name in order to hang it. The post office in the community bears Umuchukwu, also with the Divisional police office, the Churches and every other institutions in the community.
“Any one that goes about talking to you about Nkerehi is only making up stories to deceive the public. You can even speak with the DPO here in Umuchukwu.”
Ibezimakor further contended that the allegation of Umuchukwu people not attending the Roman Catholic Church in the are is not true, contending that all the churches have been peaceful and that there has not been any case of misunderstanding among the people of Umuchukwu
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