By Tony Edike
Enugu-The Southeast Zone of the Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO, has raised alarm over the alleged disappearance of the traditional ruler of Aguotu Ogboji Ezzagu in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Igwe Benedict Nworu, alongside his two wives, driver and his seven year old daughter since April 8.
Zonal Director of CLO, Mr Olu Omotayo, who raised the alarm in a letter to the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar said that Igwe Nworu, 50, was abducted alongside his family members while on his way from home to his base in Ogoja, Cross River State by the Ezillo militants, adding that they might have been killed.
According to Omotayo, one his two wives, Lucy Igwe was pregnant at the time she was abducted alongside other members of the family.
The letter to the IGP which was made available to Vanguard was copied to the Minister of Police Affairs, the Ebonyi State Governor, and other security agencies read in part, "the CLO writes to you in respect of the above-mentioned matter on behalf of the family of Igwe Benedict Nworu of Aguotu Ogboji Ezzagu in Ishielu Local Government of Ebonyi State who was believed to have been abducted by the Ezillo militants alongside with his driver, two wives and his seven year old daughter on Easter day, April 8, 2012. Igwe Nworu is from Ezza which had been invloved in communal crises with their Ezillo neighbours for several years now.
"The Sunday Igwe, the first son of Igwe Benedict Nworu accompanied by other family members visited our office and made an appeal for assistance to us over this matter.
"According to the family, Nworu is a businessman based in Ogoja and his office is situate at 39, Mission Road, Igoli, Ogoja, Cross River State.
The family further informed us that on the last Easter day, the 8th day of April 2012, Igwe Benedict left his base at Ogoja for his community in Ebonyi State with the following people: his driver, Mr. Obo Lukpaja Kizito,(married with two kids) a native of Ukelle, Yala Local government of Cross River State
"His first wife, Juliana Igwe, 38; a native of Yala Local Government, of Cross River State (she had seven children for Igwe) His second wife, 35, (pregnant) a native of Obudu, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State, and his last daughter, Chibuchi Igwe,7, a primary two pupil.
All the above-mentioned travelled together with Igwe Benedict on the fateful day in a Flat boot Mercedes Benz, (dark red in color), with a Kaduna State Registration number.
"According to Sunday Igwe the last communication he had with Igwe Benedict on that fateful day was when he called him on his GSM phone and he told him that their vehicle has passed Ohaukwu Local Government of Ebonyi State and was approaching Ishielu local Government. Nobody suspected that something had gone wrong as Igwe Benedict did not inform anybody in his community of his homecoming.
"It was after a week, precisely on the April 16, when his young children he left at Ogoja started calling relations and asking why their parents have stayed so long in the village. The family and the Villagers immediately embarked on a journey to Ogoja and found out that Igwe Benedict and his two wives, daughter and driver actually left Ogoja on the April 8.
The family believes that their loved ones may have been hacked to death by the Ezillo militants.Sunday Igwe said the family reported the matter at Ogoja Divisional Police Headquarters and gave the Police the pictures of these missing people.
Vanguard Nigeria