The former Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Samuel Agunwa Ohiri has countered the social media report credited to his recent freedom from the kidnappers’ den to the tactical intervention of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
At a press conference at his Obi-Orodo palace on Thursday 25th January,2024, Eze Ohiri noted that he decided to keep the records straight to avoid all manner of falsehood in the state.
He countered the claims by the Commissioner of Police,Imo State Command CP Danjuma Aboki over the role they plaid to ensure his rescue while informing members of the general public that Police did not play any role for him to regain freedom.
He disclosed that his freedom from his abductors was a superlative divine intervention of the Almighty God, his powerful prayers, monitory involvement, support of his community members, friends and well wishers.
Narrating his ordeal, Eze Ohiri said that he returned home to celebrate the 2023 Christmas and new year,2024 with his people of Obi-Orodo in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State only for him to woke up at the early hours of January 6, 2024 and entered into hands of the men of “under world” after visiting one of his old Boys and senior student during their days in Secondary School, Emmanuel College Owerri who lives in the same community with him.
He said while he was coming back at about 8:30 am,he unfortunately met able-bodied men within his Palace who also came in their own vehicle double-crossed his vehicle and whisked him out in their own vehicle after a horrible struggle.
He said: “I was forced into their own vehicle amidst that horrible struggle, but I thank God that nobody was shot, because they were with guns”.
He said: “that was how it happened, thank God, my Cousin brother smartly introduced himself to them as my driver and he was freed,but they blind-folded me and zoomed off to an unknown destination”.
The monarch narrated that he was first of all kept in an uncompleted building before he was transferred to another place, adding that within twelve days he spent in there, he saw hell.
According to him at first instance, it looked as if they have some special scores to settle with traditional rulers and politicians,but luckily for him their leader came to the camp and ordered them not to torture he because he is a decent man.
Eze said that at that point,negotiation begins between his people and the kidnappers which eventually resulted in him regaining freedom after first and second ransoms were paid.
He said: “They took me and another victim to Eziama-Obiato,a community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area along Owerri-Onitsha Express Way at night after spending twelve days in their den.
“And from there,I found my way back to Owerri to Control Post where my people came and conveyed me back to my Palace”.
The former Eze Imo said that his abductors were very hostile and wicked, adding that you can only talk when you are permitted to do so,and they have heavy bitterness for Ndi Eze and the politicians.
While calling for prayers, he said that it is unfortunate that some people always have over expectations from traditional rulers without considering that they are not policy makers that bring up good policies that will move the country forward.
He said: “Yes we all agreed that Ndi Igbo are marginalised. So, as the former Chairman of Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, I spearheaded the move for equality in the Nation with support from other notable traditional rulers in Igboland galvanizing interest across the bridges to ensure equity and fairness, other minority groups are also experiencing same thing.
“Right now I’m a member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Imo/Abia chapter. It’s on record that some of our members have closed shops due to insecurities. So,it’s still our people that are suffering the job lost”.
He called for collective help to build and safe-guide their place by not bringing fears and threats to their land.
He said: “What I’m saying is that whatever the police claimed was not in any case of my own incident, I was released by the grace of God and through the support of my family, community members,friends and well-wishers”.
Eze Ohiri further said that the gang never identified him until they began to go through his phone and other documents within his pulse.
He thanked in a special way those that facilitate his freedom from the kidnappers den, noting that such experience is not what one will wish or like his enemies experience.
He said: “My regards to the people of Obi-Orodo Autonomous Community, the members of the Clergy in Mbaitoli Local Government Area and friends across the nation and international community for their show of love to him”.
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