How Biafra agitators abducted, released my family twice in a week -Umesgbalasi, Intersociety boss

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By Alphonsus Nweze, Onitsha

Human and pro-democracy activist, Nze Emeka Umeagbalasi, has narrated chilling ordeal of how his family escaped some armed men he called “Counterfeit Agitators” terrorizing communities in Aguata, Orumba North and South Local Government Areas of Anambra State and some parts of communities bordering Imo State.

The incidents, said Umeagbalasi, who is the chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), occurred on November 27 and December 5, 2024 as the family was going to Arondizuogu in Imo State for the burial of his father -in-law, Maazi Edwin Ohia and while returning from the burial.

He said the vehicle Mitsubishi L200 Hilux which was driven by his friend and activist too, Comrade Umeh took bush path at Umunze as the soldiers had blocked people from using the major road, the Umunze-Ihite- Ndiokoloji-Arondizuogu-Okigwe.

This, said Umeagbalasi, forced people to use bush path by the side of Army Check Point and were therefore exposed to attacks by these criminal elements who kidnapped people driving in expensive cars and SUV vehicles.

The chairman of Intersociety however said the Army later explained the rationale for the duversion was to checkmate the fleeing agitators.

As the driver took the bush path, said Umeagbalasi, the counterfeit agitators halted them and demanded the key from the driver
The driver was almost shot when he hesitated to surrender the key but later succumbed and ran back to the Army checkpoint.

The matter was later reported to Ajalli Police Station since Umunze Police Statiin has been burnt down by the agitators..

The agitators later abandoned the vehicle apparently because it was branded as human right vehicle with the name Intersociety inscribed on it.

The vehicle was however recovered the same day but not after his in-laws in Arondizuogu had parted with N250, 000 to the counterfeit agitators and to equally allow them do the funeral.

But the vehicle was again snatched a week later at Amaekwulu Round About Ezinifite in Aguata Local Government Area of the State as the family was heading back to Onitsha after the burial.

According to Umeagbalasi, the driver was forced out of the Hilux Mitsubishi L200, lied faced down as the agitators started shooting indiscriminately.

In their presence, they snatched other private cars especially SUVs like Prado jeeps with the occupants whom they drive away towards Uga-Amesi-Umuchu axis shooting sporadically and shouting “Biafra or nothing”.

He said they did not however touch any member of his family in the vehicle as they later escaped through Umunze-Owerre-Ezukala-Ogboji-Imo State.

The matter, he said, has been reported to Ekwulobia Police Station the same day, lamenting that they operated for almost nine hours from about 7.30 am to 4pm as they held the entire communities of Aguata, Orumba North and South Local Governments under siege.

Umeagbalasi said the agitators again abandoned the vehicle and it was recovered by an Anambra Vigilant operatives who took it to Uga Police Station in accordance with the directive of Adeyrmi Lateef, Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Umunze Police Division.

The Intersociety Boss said he had written the Anambra State Commission Police (CP), Mr Ntam Inaghe, for the release of the vehicle which he said contained several items such as:two travelling bags. a mattress, food cooler, lady’s bags, necklaces, jeweleries, an infinite smart phone, children’s clothes and foot wears, lady’s wears, earrings, ATM cards, Identity Cards, Voter and National Identity Cards, teacher promotional exam materials, examination papers, ten kegs of palm and raffia wine, over N250, 000 cash, belonging to his wife, N150,000.00 belonging to his sister-in-law, a big electric generating set inside the booth among other items.