Ohaneze Youth Leader Spits Fire Over Death of Ebonyi Youth In Police Custody

By Celestine Okeh

The National Youth Leader of Ohaneze Ndigbo world-wide, Mazi Demian Okafor have called on the police authority to exhibit high level of professionalism in unraveling the cause of death of one Mr Eke Augustine Ogbonnia, a native of Ishiagu Community in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The National youth leader, who was saddened by the unfortunate death of Ogbonnia, whom he said was the only surviving son their family, enumerated his efforts in reaching out to the Commissioner of police, Ebonyi State Command, Aliyu Garba on possible way to get the issue resolved, but proved abortive.

Okafors' statement reads;

“In the matter of unfortunate political arrest of Ishiagu Youths which led to the untimely death of one Mr Ogbonnia (the only surviving son of their family) from Ihie Ishiagu in police detention. I recall that I was in Owerri when I received the call about the arrest of innocent Ishiagu Youths. I tried calling the Commissioner of Police but he was busying my calls. I told the Youths to maintain status quo till I return. I drove to Ishiagu and accessed some of the damages. I left for Ebonyi Police Command and sort to see the CP but was denied access. I met the OC SWAT who told me part of what happened and I requested the bail applications of the detainees but was turned down.

“Earlier yesterday (13/09/2021) I received calls that one of the detainees has given up the ghost while in police custody. I embarked on a risky journey to the village having known the implications of such occurrence. I have met with the family and relevant stakeholders as regards mitigating the recent uproar in Ishiagu.

Picture of Late Eke Augustine Ogbonnia 

“Yes, it is a sad one as one of our own innocent brothers has yet again died in police custody. But we are Ishiaguans and should know that what is trying to separate us is less than what is holding us together. In view to that, we make the following demands from Ebonyi State Police Command:

“We demand to know the politician from Ishiagu that wrote the petition alleging that Ishiagu Youths have offended the law.

“We ask the Nigerian Police to exhibit professionalism in their Jobs and stop being pliable in the hands of the politicians.

“We demand the unconditional release of all Ishiaguans arrested in connection with that petition and that Ebonyi State Police Command should find a means of pacifying them.

“We demand that the police should immediately activate a  contact with the immediate family and know how to manage the situation because the solution to the problems lies with the immediate family.

“The police should not be in a hurry to burry him as we are ready to conduct autopsy on the body to determine the actual cause of the death.

“The police should immediately return the material they took from the house of former Okue Youth president such as phones, chargers, money and  documents.

“While I call for calm over the unfortunate incident, I want to assure the Ishiagu Youths that this nonsense must stop. The death of Ogbonna should be viewed as a sacrificial death. This is too heavy a burden to bear”, his statement ends.