By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The traditional ruler of Nimo Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, His Royal Highness, Igwe Maximus Ike Oliobi, on Sunday called on security agencies to save the town saying that it has been taken over by criminal elements.

Speaking to journalists in his palace, the monarch said that a few criminally minded youths sponsored by mischievous elements with selfish interests in the town had been holding the town hostage, and causing chaos.

The monarch who spoke following the forcefully shut down of the town’s market on Saturday, in protest of the death of a youth, days after his release from police custody over an offence, decried the activities of the youths, accusing them of destroying core values in the town and threatening its peace.

The youths had accused the traditional ruler of causing the youth’s (Ifeanyi) arrest which eventually led to his death.

The youths in their protest, shut down the town’s market, an action described as sacrilegious by even their supporters who spoke in their WhatsApp group.

Reacting to the latest developments the monarch, Igwe Oliobi urged the people of the community and the public to disregard the allegation against him, saying that he had no hand in the death of the late youth, Ifeanyi Odibelu.

While calling on the security agencies, particularly, the Police, DSS and the newly inaugurated state security outfits, Udo Ga Achi/Agunechembra operatives, to conduct a proper investigation to unravel the actual cause of the death said: “I am innocent of the allegation levelled against me. This gang of youths are protesting against my throne for waging war against kidnapping, armed robbery and for not welcoming land grabbing activities in the community.

“These are the same people that invited unknown gunmen to occupy the bush between Nimo and Neni from where they started kidnapping our people.

“The protesters, including the late Odibelu, are the people disturbing the peace, unity, togetherness and the development of Nimo Community. Nimo is a home of peace that doesn’t need hooliganism.The protest was for their selfish interest and not for the interest of real Nimo youths.

“The community under my rulership has done everything possible to engage these gangsters so that they can be useful to themselves, their families and to the community, but the refused to work, rather preferring to involve in land grabbing and other nefarious activities that will fetch them quick money.

“This set of youths that are holding this community to ransom are not more than 30 in number. For the past three years, their criminal activities have thrown the community into chaos and disunity.

“They are doing everything criminally possible to chase away investors in our land that is largely known for peace and for the community not to benefit from Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s Solution Agenda.

“We enrolled these particular youths into various skill acquisition institutions, including Innoson Manufacturing Company in Nnewi, and the ongoing One Youth Two Skills empowerment programme of the State Government for them to legitimately work and earn a peaceful living, but they all ran away in search of quick and easy money.”

According to him, he was called to come and serve the good people of Nimo because of his long time contributions to the development of the community.

He added: “I can proudly say that my eight years on the throne have recorded a massive transformation across the four corners of the town. It includes the ongoing construction of Nimo Civil Centre which after completion will emerge the best across communities in the South East Region of Nigeria.

“A total of 14 brilliant indigent students are also studying Medicine and Engineering courses at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, under my rulership scholarship scheme.

“I am doing all this for the sake of progress, peace, unity, togetherness and for the future development of the town.

“I am calling on the security agencies, particularly, the Nigeria Police Force, DSS and Agunechemba to urgently deploy more of their personnel to the community to dust down tension and apprehend the hoodlums.”