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From Magnus Eze, Enugu
October 8, 2021, remains a black day for the people of Izombe community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State. On that fateful day, security operatives led by soldiers invaded Umuokwu, Umuorji and Ndioko communities, all in Aborshi Izombe autonomous community. They left in their trail tales of death, pain, sorrow and blood.
Daily Sun learnt that at the end of the operation, the invaders destroyed more than 100 buildings, while four lives were lost, as a result of a misunderstanding between some youths and soldiers.
The incident, which claimed two soldiers and two civilians, resulted from a misunderstanding over sharing of toll collection from oil bunkerers. To commemorate the first anniversary of the incident, Izombe people declared a week-long prayer and fasting exercise between October 2 and 8.
President of Umuokwu Youth Association, Mr. Oguwuike Paschal Okorie, said the prayer and fasting was to seek divine intervention over the continued suffering of the victims of the invasion one year after.
He said: “The level of destruction suffered by our people last year when the security operatives invaded Umuokwu, Umuorji and Ndioko communities is public knowledge. Many buildings, vehicles, motorcycles and other properties were damaged, leaving scores of the victims homeless.
“Since the unfortunate situation, almost 100 per cent of the victims are still homeless because they are poor and vulnerable individuals struggling to feed. The most painful aspect is that these people knew nothing about the issue that led to the problem.”
The youth leader said, based on the preliminary findings, Governor Hope Uzodimma, after visiting the community, ordered the distribution of relief materials to the victims and later set up a judicial panel of inquiry on the matter. Okorie told Daily Sun that the panel of inquiry recently submitted its report, while a white paper is being expected.
“While we use this medium to thank the governor for his demonstration of love for the community over the unfortunate incident, we appeal that he steps up action towards rebuilding of the houses as the victims are in serious agony,” he said.
Okorie also disclosed that some victims of the attack are now down with high blood pressure, even as some who sustained injuries were either dead or in critical condition. According to the youth leader, action by the state government could help alleviate the pains of the victims.
It was further gathered that some churches in Izombe held special services to mark the anniversary and prayed against a repeat of such calamity in the community.
Life has not been the same for many victims of the destruction, as they struggled but could not rebuild their destroyed houses and other property, and recovering from the loss has been a very tall task to accomplish.
Okorie further said: “My uncle, Moses Okorie, died about a week ago due to the injuries he sustained during the October 8, 2021, invasion. My late uncle, Moses, whose body is now in the mortuary, was in his house when the security operatives stormed the community that day and he broke his leg in an attempt to scale the fence for safety.
“In spite of this excruciating experience, the security men burnt down his house and properties, thereby causing the septegenarian the pains, sickness and anguish that led to his death last week.”
Another victim, Mr. Daniel Chukwu, said, since the unfortunate incident, life has been shattered for his family members: “I lost everything because our house was reduced to rumble. My entire life caved in since that incident. As I speak with you, my family is still in a small apartment provided us by my cousin.”
Chukwu stated that the family of eight was managing a small mattress, which officials of the Imo State Oil Producing Areas Commission gave to him while distributing relief materials to the victims. According to him, some members of the family now sleep on a local mat, while his wife and two others manage the foam.
Uzodimma had, during his visit, days after the attack, directed the commission to send relief materials to the victims. Some of them were given mattresses, rice, jerrycans, slippers and rubber buckets with the assurance from the governor that government would rebuild the houses of innocent people damaged.
Surprisingly, one year after, no single victim of the mayhem had his house rebuilt by either government, army or any other agency.
One of them, Bennett Onyeukwu, said though the effects of the attack left everlasting scars on their minds, the incident was a huge lesson for him.
“I must thank a lot of people whose acts of benevolence to the victims of that carnage brought life back to the victims.
“A lot of people came to our immediate help from Umunwama, and Obeabor Izombe communities, men and women’s organisations of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, the 1988 set of St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala, Old Boys and many others too numerous to mention,” he said.
Onyeukwu said though nothing given to a disaster victim could replace the value of what he or she lost, what people did for the victims taught him some lessons. However, he called on government to hasten action towards rebuilding the buildings, as many are in pain.
Daily Sun was told that no fewer that 350 petitions were received and treated by the judicial panel of inquiry on the security crisis that rocked Izombe on October 8, last year. Chairman of the panel, Justice Fred Njemanze, disclosed this when he presented the report of the panel to the governor at Government House, Owerri, last month.
According to Njemanze, the petitions received included 19pieces of evidence from chairmen, traditional rulers and some presidents-general of the affected communities. Others were evidence provided by the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the correctional services.
The chairman explained: “We could have received more than that but because of some sort of fear, which so many were entertaining, including lawyers appearing for them, some of them had to withdraw at a certain stage out of fear. Unfortunately, the army refused to appear before the judicial panel despite all we did to bring them.
“The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) also did not appear. But in all, we have four volumes of our report; the first report is the main report, where we made our findings and recommendations.
“Volumes two, three and four are the proceedings, exhibits and other materials.”
He described part of the panel’s findings as “man’s inhumanity to man and acts of savagery.” Njemanze, however, commended the governor for the opportunity given to the members of the panel to serve the state.
Receiving the panel’s report, Uzodimma also applauded them for conducting a thorough work in a timely manner. He promised to take into consideration their far-reaching recommendations.
The governor said they would be consulted whenever their services were required again. He expressed confidence that, when the recommendations are implemented, it would calm the nerves of aggrieved persons and restore lasting peace in the area.
The governor further pledged the continued protection of lives and properties of residents in the state.
As the victims grapple with their ordeal, the panel report seems their only hope for succour.
The issue then is if government will demonstrate the political will by ensuring that the panel’s recommendations are fully implemented.
