The people of Ipokuma community (Degema consulate) have sent a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over the sudden disappearance of one, Mr. Igoni Lolomari.
The petition entitled, “police refusal to investigate alleged murdered in Degema past and present” written by their counsel, Ipalibo Karibo Botoye, Esq.
The community alleged that when the sudden disappearance of Mr. Lolomari got to their knowledge, last week the matter was reported to the police in the Degema Consulate, the Caretaker Committee Chairmen of Degema and Asari-Toru Local Government Areas, Pastor Agiobu Fubara and Hon. Basoene Lolomari.
According to the petitioners when the two LGA chairmen arrived the police station, in the presence of the DPO, the paramount Chief of Udekema town, Chief R. Z. Amos promised to produce the suspects namely: Jim Brown, who the community alleged had earlier threatened to kill, Mr. Lolomari.
Other suspects include: Abel Sokari, the Chief Security Officer of DELGA and Mr. Ikpoki Kpe, the PA to Chief R. Z. Amos.
The petition further alleged that the paramount ruler of the Udekema was unable to produce the suspects as promised, adding that the DPO Degema did not make any move to arrest the suspects.
It would be recalled that precisely 24th October, 2013, a petition entitled, “Conduct Likely to cause breach of peace, affray at Ipokuma community (consulate Degema), was sent to the Inspector-General of Police, the petitioners through a lawyer, Ipalibo Karibi Botoye accused R.Z Amos the paramount ruler of Udekema of land grabbing and sharing. According to the petitioners R.Z Amos encroached on lands owed by the Kalabari people, stating that Amos’s action has led to the killing of some Kalabaris residing in the Degema consulate.
Karibi Botoye said that due to the maltreatment the Udekema people were giving to the Kalabaris, “the Amanyanabo of Kalabari instituted an action against the Udekema people to ascertain the ownership of the consulate (Ipokuma) now pending in the Degema High court”.
He further noted that there are pending suits between the two communities viz suit No. FHC/CS/162/2001 at the Federal High Court bordering on title, stating that “there is also another suit No DHC/30/2011 between same parties in Degema”.
The petitioners continued by saying that, “in the midst of the aforementioned suits, the chief of Udekema is sharing land near government buildings donated to Degema Local Council by the Kalabari people. This flagrant display of authority while cases are pending in courts is now arousing disgust, hatred and ill feeling among the two communities that could develop to cause a breach of peace or affray if the trend continues”, revealing that in 2009 the Inspector General of Police was informed about threats to create tension in Degema as to foment crisis in Degema by the Udekema chief and he was arrested by the force CID to explain, but nothing seemed to come out of such an arrest”. ###
