Traditional rulers of the Ohafia community in Abia State have decried frequent harassment and intimidation of law-abiding citizens by security agencies.
The monarchs made the complaint at an emergency meeting of the Council of Ohafia Monarchs, leading members of Ohafia Improvement Union, OIU, and Ohafia leaders of thoughts.
They specifically stated that Ndi Ohafia and residents of Ohafia are law-abiding citizens of Nigeria who deserve protections from Nigerian law enforcement agencies instead of intimidations and harassments.
The council said that “Unknown gunmen” were not in Ohafia. Noting that security agencies know the characters and personality profiles of deviant elements in the community, they advised the security agents to device means of arresting such personalities rather than stigmatising all youths and residents of Ohafia.
“The Council of Ohafia Monarchs have used various traditional instruments of authority (Imomo, Ogele, Akpan, among others) to advise and counsel Ohafia Youths and persons to be law-abiding and responsible citizens’, the council added.
It said that the continuous lockdown of commercial and social activities in the Ohafia community had completely paralysed economic activities and wellbeing of Ndi Ohafia.
The paramount rulers said the siege at Amangwu Ohafia has turned the people of Amangwu into Internally Displaced Persons in their land. This situation has created fears and trepidation in other neighbouring Ohafia communities.
Finally, the monarchs condemned the continuous harassments and intimidation of well-meaning and law-abiding sons and daughters /residents of Ohafia. And requested the Brigade Commander to reconsider their strategies and tactics of maintaining peace and harmony in Ohafia communities without dehumanizing and intimidating peace-loving persons in Ohafia land.
