… Condoles with Nigeria Police
The leadership of Oraifite Improvement Union, in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, has blamed the crisis that erupted in the community on December 2 on rivalry and disputes between two masquerade cult groups, namely: Otu Eke and Otu Afor.
The leaders who addressed the press in Awka regretted that people and groups had intentionally misrepresented and misinformed the public on what happened.
According to the leaders headed by the President General of Oraifite Improvement Union, Sunny Igboanuzue, the union’s Secretary General, Offor Uche G. A. as well as Igwe Dr. Dan C. Udoji who was represented, the major culprit in the crisis was Otu Eke masquerade group which they said was as old as the existence of Oraifite as a community.
The leaders claimed that certain unscrupulous individuals selfishly hijacked the group, recruited hoodlums and miscreants into it and malign its activities and that following the loss of its ethos; some members were compelled to exit the group.
The leadership of Otu Eke, the leaders claimed, riding on the crest that it had registered the group with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), sought to enforce the exclusive use of its regalia ‘Otube’ which it decreed that no rival groups should adorn.
In its resolve for enforcement, it accosted its rivals adorning ‘Otube ‘, tore their dresses in public and arrested some.
The matter came to a head, according to the leaders, during the burial of a member of rival Otu Afor group, Chukwudi Okafor, where members adorned Otube and were attacked by Otu Eke group in their bid to enforce their prohibition.
In the process, Otu Eke ordered some miscreants to the burial venue and arrested members of Otu Afor faction in Otube regalia.
Meanwhile, the Executives of Oraifite Improvement Union paid a condolence visit to Anambra State Police Command at the State Command headquarters Awka to commiserate with the Command over the loss of two Senior Police officers following the unfortunate incident in Oraifite on the 2nd December, 2019.
The delegation was led by the President-General of the Union, Sir Sunny Igboanuzue and representative of Obi Oraifite, HRH Igwe Daniel Udoji, Chief Sunday Enekwizu.
Responding on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, CP John B.Abang who was on official engagements outside the State, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Finance and Administration, DCP Chris Owolabi welcomed members of the Union and thanked them for finding time to visit and sympathize with the command over the loss of its two Senior Police officers while discharging their duty.
The DCP assured them that investigation was ongoing and the long arms of the law would definitely catch up with the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
He further urged them to convey the esteemed regards of the Commissioner of Police to Isi Obi of Oraifite, HRH Igwe Daniel Udoji.
Credit: Abuchi Onwumelu
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