…Fears Over Family Safety Following Threats
What many had seen as an outright victimization and infringement on human rights was recorded on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Ibusa community, Asaba in Delta State, following the rough-handling and demolition of a residential house belonging to Mr. Martin Nwaokobia, by an alleged notorious land grabber, Fred Ajudua and his cohorts.
The 53-year old house owner, Martin Nwaokobia is currently not only in pains but also homeless following the destruction of the building he laboured in his life time to erect was forcefully taken away from him and brought down by the said Fred Ajudua in collaboration with Members of the Tolefe family who are known notorious allies of Fred Ajudua.
While the residents and neighbourhood of the Industrial Estate along Ibusa, Asaba Expressway witnessed what they described as a gloomy Saturday, as tears flowed freely while sound of the heavy earth moving machines erupted, demolished the house, a duplex; instilling heavy fear in the mind of the people.
At first, residents reportedly thought it was a case of daylight robbery, but a closer observation confirmed it was a case of the rich demeaning the poor, where the average income earner was dispossessed of his landed property, his home; a duplex and life time investment.
Our Correspondent in Delta state who monitored the unfortunate development informed that shortly after Mr. Martin Nwaokobia returned from dropping his children at school for their usual Saturday lessons, it was Fred Ajudua, and his accomplices that accosted him pulling down his house.
In an attempt to defend what was his, Mr Martin Nwaokobia was descended upon and mercilessly beaten to stupor.
The thugs allegedly attacked him on the head with the butt of an Ak47 riffle the suspected assasins who accompanied Ajudua came with.
Our correspondent also disclosed that while Martin Nwaokobia was being beaten, one of his eighbours who came to defend him was also manhandled, thereby instilling fear into the mind of others who then steered clear.
In a chat with newsmen after the incident, one of the residents, Mr. Francis Okolo, the Chairman of the Community Vigilante, lamented that even with a Government in Delta State, people still lived in fear.
He revealed that recently, the same Ajudua encroached into another property in their neighborhood because he wanted to build a hotel on the said land, and when the owner also refused, he reportedly sent his bad boys to equally beat up the land owner until he was half dead.
Mr. Francis also revealed that a few weeks later, the man’s corpse was found around a community called Okpanam.
He wondered why the Delta state government would continue to reportedly shield such a man as Ajudua upon all the protests against his dangerous escapades in land grabbing and reports of murder cases.
Mr. Francis therefore felt pity for Mr. Nwaokobia and asked that he take the matter to the police for the sake of his life and that of his family members.
Another concerned neighbour, Kelechi Ihejirika opined that since Delta state government can no longer rise up in defense of the poor masses, it is better for one to defend himself or herself. He maintained that in the whole of Delta State, it is always Ajudua and his people every now and then on various crimes.
Mr Kelechi further disclosed that Mr Martin Nwaokobia has been a peaceful neighbour since he moved into the neighbourhood.
The fearful youth explained that even when Ajudua has succeeded in ejecting Martin Nwaokobia from his house, he was still issuing threats on the neighbourhood, should anyone try to challenge him in Ibusa, Okpanam or in the entire Asaba town.
Speaking from the hospital bed next day, at the Asaba Specialist Hospital, the embattled Martin Nwaokobia tearfully explained that he had no issue with Fred Ajudua other than his wife, Emmanuella who had indicted him and others in a murder case of one Mr Emeka Onianwa and that the destruction of his property has broken him.
Fielding questions from newsmen on what really transpired, Martin Nwaokobia explained that he and his wife bought the land in 2010, from the direct owners, after meeting all the requirements from the Ministry of Lands and other Government Agencies, he fenced and erected the duplex that Ajudua demolished.
According to him, “I had barely settled in after dropping off my kids at the school for their lesson, when I saw Fred Ajudua and Tolefe gang bulldozing my house with Caterpillar. I called the police but they did not come. In the bid to defend my property I was beaten like an animal. They hit me with the gun butt on my head and I started to bleed and feel woozy. These people were taunting me while they were beating me, saying that my wife was the cause of my pains simply because she refused to drop the matter against him and others.
Addressing the Press at the hospital, one of the Doctor who spoke under strict anonymity, remarked that what Nwaokobia passed through on Saturday, was enough to send someone to his/her early grave if he had not come in at the time he did. He asserted that he needs time to heal from the trauma especially as it affected his Blood pressure and general body wellness.
NIGERIA NEWSPOINT
