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Bomb explosion: Onitsha chiefs in crucial talks
Moved by the latest bomb explosion at Enweonwu Street, Inland town, Onitsha traditional authorities in the ancient city will be meeting with the stakeholders in the town today (Wednesday).
In a statement signed by Administrative Secretary to the Obi of Onitsha, Mr. Nwolisa Aguisiobo, the authorities said the purpose of the meeting was for the Obi, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe to speak on the recent bomb blast in which 93-year-old James Okolo narrowly escaped death.
The Igwe’s meeting with the stakeholders is holding amid invitation of Jagwu family of Umuezearoli to Awka the Anambra State capital, by the security agents last Monday.
A source told Daily Champion that the family, including a top ranking official of Onitsha North local government, were invited for questioning.
The Igwe in a circular said today’s meeting will be discussing "the use of explosives by some people within the peaceful domain of Onitsha".
The circular lamented that such thing had never been experienced within Onitsha before and therefore is alien to their culture.
Pa Okolo last week escaped death by whiskers when a bomb believed to be local "Ogbunigwe" commonly used during the Nigerian Civil War, exploded about 5.00 a.m very close to his door.
The nonagenarian whose door, ceiling and wall were shattered, put the blame on the doorstep indentified members of his family, who he alleged, want him dead to take control of family land which he presently governs being the oldest man in the family.
Onitsha indigenous com- munities have condemned the recent bomb blast at Enweonwu Street Inland town Onitsha, targetted against a nonagerian, Pa James Okolo, describing it as "shocking and embarrassing".
Speaking with newsmen at his Ime-Obi Palace at his palace, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, attributed the explosion to greedy land speculators, urging the law enforcement agencies to expedite investigation and bring the culprits to book.
The Obi of Onitsha who was in company of other Onitsha Chiefs, called on the police authorities to strictly enforce the laws regarding the possession and use of dynamite and other explosive devices.
Igwe Achebe also called on the Anambra State government to enact adequate and enforceable laws against destructive quarrying activities that are creating massive urban environmental wasteland in the state as in the case of Onitsha.
"It is a truism that Onitsha through its long history has not been associated with this sort of violence and barbaric act involving the wanton attempt to take someone’s life for mere material reasons".
"From the earliest times, we have always utilized civilized norms and methods for settling disputes, which inevitably crop up every now and then in the community,’’ he said.
Describing Pa Okolo as one of the most dignified personalities in Onitsha and a true elder statesman, Igwe Achebe said,"there appear to be a race to grab the remaining scarce land in Onitsha at all costs and to the total exclusion of the indigenous owners, who are now encapsulated within the Inland ghetto.
"They and their agents also engage in illegal and environmentally destructive quarrying activities in various parts of the town in total disregard of laws of the land" said Achebe.
Pa Okolo, Achebe added, is a well known person, and a man of courage who upholding the truth, thanking God that he miraculously did not suffer any injuries or harm from that explosion.
The Police homicide section of Anambra State command has sincecommenced investigation into the explosion with the arrest and invitation of family members to State Criminal Ivestigation Department (CID), Awka, the state capital.
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Why are the Onitsha people now concerned that some people now have access to explosives to make bombs.
A majority of them believe in settling any law enforcement as long as they do not disturb them when transporting such Items.
Illegality is cool once you make money regardless of whether the consequences of your action lead to the death and maiming of others (fake Medicine, Baby Food etc)
Sending your fake death certificates and photos of people pretending to be in coffins Asian to trading patterns being owed large sums of money in the Far East (in the 1970's) was okay as long as you got away with it.
After Boys Oye, Bakassi the city is still an unruly and crime infested city. Is this not an internal Igbo leadership problem or are we going to blame Hausas or Yoruba's for we Igbo’s not being able to sort the place out
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