Posted by By Chidi Nkwopara on
Amaiyi community in Njaba local government area of Imo State, has been thrown into mourning following the reported clubbing to death of a census supervisor and chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jonathan Onyenagoro, by suspected loyalists of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
OWERRI - Amaiyi community in Njaba local government area of Imo State, has been thrown into mourning following the reported clubbing to death of a census supervisor and chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Jonathan Onyenagoro, by suspected loyalists of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
Confirming the incident, the Deputy Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Chuma Nnaji, said the President General of Umuaka, Chief Raphael Nnaji, who was badly battered during the mayhem, was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, for treatment. "It is true that a census supervisor, Jonathan Onyenagoro, was brutally murdered in Amaiyi as he wasgoing to discharge the national assignment.
Chief Raphael Nnaji who was similarly battered by the mob, was sent to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, fortreatment", Nnaji said on phone.
The Deputy Speaker recounted that the census team were on their way from Njaba local council headquarters, Nnenasa, where they went to collect census materials, when the hoodlums waylaid them at Amaiyi.
He was also of the view that the fracas may not be unconnected with a combination of long standing inter-village rivalry and the sordid activities of MASSOB loyalists in the area."I am suspecting that the crisis and death of the census official may not be unconnected with a combination of a long standing inter-village rivalry and the damnable activities of loyalists of MASSOB", Chief Nnaji explained.
Answering a question, the Deputy Speaker lamented that over 20 houses and three cars were either burnt or destroyed, while many people sustained varying degrees of injury.
According to him, a detachment of security personnel have been sent to the community to keep the peace, even as he disclosed that the state Police Command has arrested no fewer than six persons, including a woman, for their alleged involvement in Onyenagoro's death. When also contacted on his mobile phone, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Isah Bala Mohammed, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), said he could not immediately confirm or deny the story."I am sorry that I cannot immediately confirm or deny the story. There is usually a weekly briefing chairmed by the Commissioner of Police every Monday. I am sure that the matter would come up if such a crime wascommitted in Njaba", the PPRO said. He then pleaded with Vanguard to call again later in the afternoon or evening when the Commissioner's briefing would have ended.