The April 5th, 2014 alleged invasion, terrorizing of Unyengala community and forceful removal of the community’s sign board erected on the boundary between Unyengala and Okama Agana, and further removal of the signboard bearing St. Francis Catholic Church, Unyengala town, a crisis that would have ignited further lost of lives and properties has finally been laid to rest following a Peace pact signed by both communities in the office of the State Assistant Commissioner of Police, S.I.B and subsequent payment of seventy-thousand naira (N70,000) as cost for the damaged signboards by the Agana community to the Unyengala community last Friday, May 2nd, 2014.
The Unyengala Community in a media briefing said the remote cause of the averted communal crisis, was one Engr. Michael Ebirien-Agana who mobilized and led youths of Okama Agana community to cause mayhem in Unyengala and subsequently removed the public sign board of the community located on the boundary between the Unyengala and Okama-Agana community.
The youths equally took the alleged criminal activity to the St. Francis Catholic Church, Unyengala, damaged the signboard bearing St. Francis Catholic Church, Unyengala and took it away.
At the briefing the Unyengala youth president Mr. Elisha Warribo hinted that Mr. Michael who was passing by actually saw some Unyengala youths playing football on the St. Francis Catholic Church field, but took offence as the ball hit windows and the wall of the church, and he however, did not only caution them but sent them packing and eventually removed their sizable goal post.
The matter which was transferred from Ngo Divisional Police headquarters to the State Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) was premised on a petition by the Unyengala Community to the Commissioner of Police dated 7th April, 2014 and acknowledge receipt same day and copy made available to The Newswriter.
According to the petition, the invaded and terrorized area by the hoodlums are the land and properties of the Unyenagala Community by virtue of a valid and subsisting judgment of the High Court of Rivers State on the 30th July, 2012 in suit No. BHC/4/84.
It further said, the Unyengala Community were apprehensive that members of Michael Ebirien-Agana led group will attack them again, as well as expressed fear of the inability of the Ngo Police Division to properly handle the arrest and prosecution of the culprits, the petition stated.
However, peace had been restored in the area following what was describe as “Police thorough investigation and handling of the case”.
The Police peace machinery according to Warribo while advising both communities to maintain a lasting peace had advised Michael to replace the two signboards without delay but on the damages done on the church, the Catholic authority led by the Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Camillus Etukudoh represented by Rev. Father George Bapeb has in the interest and love for both communities for peaceful co-existence promised to repair and replace any damaged property in the church.
The Police had equally advised the Catholic authority to liaise with the paramount ruler (Okan-Ama) Unyengala town, HRM, Moses Dic-Isotu Abah Ogwuile XIII to proffer a lasting and better worship condition before resumption of usual church activities since the church building is located on Unyengala land where both communities worship together, Waribo stated.
But in his reaction when contacted, Engr. Michael Ebirien Agana told The Newswriter News Desk that the Police findings revealed that the damages on St. Francis Catholic Church, Unyengala was done by the Unyengala Community while the removal of the two signboards were the handiworks of the Agana community.
Engr. Michael who admitted that the misunderstanding between both Communities have been laid to rest and peace has returned, appealed that, while lasting peace is envisaged, proper information should be giving to the public, adding that the Police advise was not for Engr. Michael to replace the signboards, but Agana community, confirming that the Catholic authority has volunteered to repair any damage on the church.
The Unyenagala source and youth president, Mr. Warribo who while at the briefing told newsmen that they are not ready for any war, but to pursue whatever is their right through legal institution against whoever has the liberty to wake them from their sleep and slumber, adding that after all both communities are brothers, and thanked God for the peace deal also hinted that those on the delegations to the Commissioner’s office were HRM, Moses Dic-Isotu Abah Ogwuile XIII, (Okan-Ama) Unyengala, Chief Allen Jonah Abbi (JP) and Chief E.C. Nkparakong while according to him the Okan-Ama Agana HRH Nkan Mbere-Edeh was represented by Chief Dan Gogo Ogboawaji and Mr. Petit Abrahams Etenduk.
But the Okama Agana Community in a swift reaction when contacted told The Newswriter News Desk that at the moment there is no Okan-Ama in Okama Agana. They also stressed that Chief Dan Gogo Ogbowaji is the Chairman Okama Agana Council of Chiefs and therefore represented the Community at the Police Peace Settlement and not any individual.
Efforts to reach HRM M.D Abah Ogwuile XIII, and Chief Dan Gogo Ogboawaji as at the time of going to press were unsuccessful while Chief Allen Jonah Abbi declined comments looking furious.
Meanwhile, the 2I/c to the Rivers Police PRO, Grace Okoko could not get back to The Newswriter as promised, when contacted for information on the matter as at the time of going to press Wednesday.###
