-Plot To Tag Them IPOB Members
The people of Uru, Isi Ogwa community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State have cried out over what they described as persistent clamp down on traditional worshippers in their area by the Tiger Base Unit of the Imo State Police Command.
This was contained in a release signed by Dr Afam Echi, Secretary, Ndi Odinala Uru (Odozi Obodo).
Afam Echi, in the release captioned, “Clampdown on traditional worshippers at Uru Ogwa following request to restore destroyed shrine”, said, “The wife of the secretary of the group who is a known journalist in the state, Dr. Afam Echi was picked in the absence of her husband. They also picked the husband’s laptop as a bait to get him.
In the last two years the traditional worshippers have been pressing for the restoration of the community shrine destroyed by the leadership in a religious activity styled solemn assembly by the village. This has denied us access to practising our faith as we no longer observe our traditional yam festival and other observances that stabilises the peace of the community.
Since we originated the request the community leadership has been using police actions to harass, intimidate, threaten and tag us as IPOB members. Last October we were detained at the police zone 9 Umuahia without charging matter to court.
Today Tuesday, after last Friday attack, there was further raid on the village where more traditional worshippers were picked up, their materials carted away and were being labelled as doing juju for IPOB, ESN members. Some of these people are notable members of the community that are still offering services to the community and yet are being tagged, a frame up to shut down our demand for the restoration of our shrine
We are calling on the members of the public to alert that we are innocent and are been crucified for nothing. We plead with the police to carry out a thorough investigation of the issues at stake and not be misled.
There is freedom of worship guaranteed in the constitution, a right that should not be denied us by any group for whatever reason. We have lived in our community and offered services at different levels and were not persecuted and tagged, why now that we are asking the community leaders to restore our destroyed the Ala deity shrine.
The general public should please intervene to protect us against money bags who swore to deal with us through Tiger Base police unit. We have this threat on record. We are calling on the police to release our members unconditionally because we are framed, even as we challenge them to show proof of the allegations. Our rights to freedom of worship should be respected”.
