IZUNNA OKAFOR
The Anambra Vigilante Group has cleared the air over the murder charge levelled against its Commander in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, who was accused of kidnapping and murdering a 25-year-old Enugu-born commercial tricyclist based in Anambra.
It would be recalled that the media space was recently agog with publications accusing the Commander of killing the said Keke driver, dumping his corpse in Mmiri John, and reselling his tricycle to someone else. The publications also stated that Mr. Ebubedike and some of his personnel have been arrested and detained by the Ojoto Divisional Police Headquarters over the allegation.
However, addressing newsmen in Awka on Saturday, the Media and Information Secretary of the AVG, Mr. Nweke Nweke, dismissed the allegation as being that of some criminal elements who want to dent the image of the AVG and that of the Commander whom, he said, had been very hardworking, productive, and resilient in fighting crimes in the community since his assumption of office. He recalled what the community used to be in the past in terms of security, and noted that they has changed the narrative thereby ensuring a lasting peace and security in the community, as is seen today.
On what actually transpired, Mr Nweke narrated that a gang of kidnappers invaded the Ojoto community recently but was confronted and refuted by Ebubedike and AVG personnel who went after them and pursued them till they crossed the boundary of the community, before he retreated with his men.
Why hinting that a preliminary investigation revealed that the allegedly murdered tricycle rider was one of the kidnappers, who invaded the community, AVG spokesman also explained that the youths and members of the community where the hoodlums ran to, also descended on them, which, he said, might have eventually led to the apprehension and consequent murder of the tricyclist.
“He is suspected to be a member of the kidnap gang. And he was either lynched by members of the public outside the Ojoto community and not within Ojoto.
“And one of the criminals who participated in lynching the suspect took the tricycle away and sold it to someone else. But they never knew that the tricycle had a tracker. And the tricycle was tracked to somebody who is currently in the police custody assisting the police in their investigation,” he said.
He further explained that the tricycle was tracked by its owner who gave it out to the driver on hire purchase, and not the members of the tricyclist, adding that the tricyclist was not living with his family, hence, they might not know what you was doing or commiting where he was residing.
“So, count AVG out of that allegation. If somebody was killed in Keke, AVG wasn’t aware or involved. And of the Keke was sold to anybody the AVG wasn’t also aware; and the Commander wasn’t also aware.
“According to our job, what we do is that whenever we arrest any criminals, we hand over such person to the police, including any item from the suspect.
“If the AVG Ojoto Commander had caught or recovered any item from the suspect, he wouldn’t have even kept them in his custody, let alone reselling them. So, for somebody to accuse or incriminate the Ojoto Commander that he killed a Keke rider and resold his Keke should be a very big tissue of lies. There’s no atom of truth in that allegation.”
Continuing, Nweke opined that the criminal elements in Ojoto community had seen that the Commander, Ebubedike, was not giving them any breathing space, which, he said, made them to frame up the allegation against him.
While also dismissing the allegation that the Ojoto AVG Commander threw the corpse of the Keke driver into Mmiri John, Nweke described that as another cheap lie from the criminal elements and wondered why the said corpse had not floated on the river as was the case in Ezu River.
He said, “Before now, the road going from the Local Government Headquarters to the other side of the community, that’s Mmiri John area, was a no-go area.
“But the Commander of the Ojoto AVG and the vigilante in Ojoto, under the supervision of the Divisional Police Officer of Ojoto, made it a point of duty to clear the place and dislodge all the criminal elements in the area, thereby making Ojoto one of the most peaceful communities in Anambra State today.
“And those people who have been dislodged are not happy with the Commander there, and that brought about this allegation levelled against him. To give the Ojoto AVG or the Commander there the name of a kidnapper or murderer is a mere play and an attempt by the criminals to dislodge or destabilize the vigilante of Ojoto from performing their duties.”
He also hinted that the Police is currently investigating the matter, the outcome of which will be made available to the press soonest.
While reiterating that the AVG will not relent in carrying out its lawful duties in anambra state, Mr. Nweke also commended the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for the maximum support he had been giving the Group..
The Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Charles Chukwuma Soludo, has been doing much, particularly in equipping the AVG and all the security agencies in the fight against crimes in Anambra State. The AVG is very grateful to the Governor. We never had it as good as now, looking at the level of support he is giving us and the logistics he has provided for us.
While noting that the AVG is working under the supervision of the Police, Nweke said the AVG would ever remain grateful to the Governor. If you look at the level of support the Governor is giving to all the security agencies in Anambra State, AVG inclusive, you would agree with me that the Governor really meant well for this State.
We are promising him that we will continue to work tirelessly to help his administration achieve its goal of making the State a liveable and prosperous homeland.
Earlier in his reaction, the Traditional Ruler of Ojoto community, H.R.H. Igwe Gerald Mbamalu also debunked the allegation against the Ojoto AVG Commander, maintaining that he cannot be a kidnapper or murderer and still be the Chief Security Officer of the State.
He also opined that the allegation was a case of crime fighting back at the AVG Commander because of his numerous achievements in the fight against crime in the community.
“When you fight crime, crime has a way of fighting back. I strongly believe that this crime that is fighting back is to blackmail the Ojoto AVG, so that they will be dismissed for the hoodlums to find their way back into the community. But that will not work. There is nothing hidden under the sun; the truth must come out.
“Be rest assured that the Ojoto AVG never kidnapped or killed any tricyclist, dumped him in the river and the escaped with his tricycle. This Ojoto CSO or the vigilante never did that. They have been on that road along the Mmiri John for a long time now, and they have restored normalcy in that area. This is a case of crime fighting back. They I simply being blackmailed.