Policeman who harassed me can’t do that to Yoruba or Hausa traditional ruler – 77-year-old Igbo king

Igwe Uzoubi Umuna Orlu, Imo State, His Royal Highness, Eze Boniface Okereke, in this interview with Punch recounts the clash between members of the Eastern Security Network and personnel of the Nigerian Army in his domain and his ordeal in the hands of a policeman he believes hails from the North

Can you give a brief introduction about yourself and a summary of what happened?

I am His RoyalHighness, Eze Boniface Okereke, Igwe Uzoubi Umuna Orlu autonomous community,Imo State. Uzoubi Umuna is in Orlu town in the Orlu Local Government Areas ofImo State. It is the very place Eastern Security Network people and soldiers clashed, leaving people dead and property worth high amount of money destroyed.I am 77- years -old and have been on the thrown for 18 years.  I was recognised by the Imo State Governmenton December 23, 2003.

Tell us about the clash between members of the Eastern Security Network and soldiers

There is nothing muchto say other than the that  IPOB(Independent  of People of Biafra) People  and the military men clashed here in Orlu onJanuary 25. The clash was regrettable because people died, properties were lostand business activities were halted and our area was in the news for the wrong reason.

Which part of yourcommunity did the Eastern Security Network people operate from?

They don’t live withus here. They came in their vehicles and struck  left. And that is why in our meeting our atthe Orlu Council of Traditional rulers, every monarch was enjoined  to find out if any of his subjects was part ofthem. They impression that they live among us is not true.

What was the cause ofthe clash?

I can’t really say because Orlu is not known for violence. All we heard was IPOB people and militarymen were clashing. It was a horrifying experience. There was panic becausepeople were running up and down and in the process innocent people who came outto look for food for their families were hit by stray bullets and  died.

Tell us about the speculationthat government wants to cede part of Orlu to herders for open grazing

Let me say this as a traditional ruler that I have not been told by any government official that anypart of our community will be ceded to herders for grazing or ranching. The speculation that it was that basis that the Eastern Security Network people andthe military were clashing in Orlu is a lie. Such thing has never been mentionedto me or to Orlu Council of Traditional Rulers.

How many people diedin the clash?

I am pained by thedeath of two persons who were hit by stray bullets. These were innocent personswho were doing their businesses, legitimately. One woman, who sold food at aroadside was hit by a flying bullet from a distance and she died. Another manwho was doing his business was hit by a stray bullet from afar and he also died. These were persons who were not part of the clash, not close to the sceneof the clash but unfortunately, they were victims of the clash. That is why Iam saying no to clashes and violence of all kinds. Violence, wars have neverbeen good to mankind. There are many people who live and take care of their families based on their daily incomes and since the clash occurred and the government imposed a dusk- to – dawn curfew here, business activities have been affected. You see, that it is not good for our people and as the traditionalruler, I am not happy it is happening in Orlu. I can’t say the number of peoplewho died in the clash because it is not in my position to say so. I am neithera security agent nor a government official. But I am deeply worried by thisugly development.

Has government reachout to the community since the incident occurred?

Yes, we the council of Orlu Traditional rulers and the government have been meeting. We have been meeting with the leadership at the local government level. In our meetings,every traditional ruler was asked to find out if any of his subjects was partof this group. The truth is that as traditional rulers we worried that thesethings are happening in our domains. The government is also worried that this happening in Imo state. We have been meeting with the Interim Management CommitteeChairman of the Orlu Local Government Area.

What is your take on curfew imposed by the government in Orlu?

As a traditional ruler, I support any move that will bring peace in Orlu. Though extreme measures will make our people to suffer and go hungry but I am not in supportof any blood-spilling. Orlu is not known for blood-letting. The government inits wisdom knows when it will lift the curfew. Our people are not recoveringfrom the January 25 carnage.

How long has theseEastern Security Network people and Military men been clashing in Orlu?

Orlu has no history of violence. Apart fromthe #EndSARS protest in 2020, this was the first time they clashed. The IPOBmembers don’t live with us here. They came struck and left. And that is why every traditional ruler was enjoined to find our if any youth in Orlu is amongthe people who are causing these pains. Let me say it again that Orlu is notknown for violence and we will do everything to make sure that peace begins topervade the Orlu atmosphere again.

Tell us your ordeal in the hands of policemen

That was the greatest humiliation of my life. That policeman desecrated the culture of Igbo people by ordering a traditional ruler in my class and status to lie down on the roadbefore my subjects.

What really happened?

I suffered an embarrassing humiliation in the hands of mobile policemen at Carrot Junctionhere in the domain on Wednesday, January 27. At about 2pm, while I was returning from a meeting of the Orlu Traditional Rulers Council held at Umudioka ancient kingdom, on reaching the junction, a team of mobile policemen stopped me and one of them ordered me to get out of my car. I quickly hearkened to his order. Despite the inscription on my vehicle number plate asserting to my status as His Royal Highness, Eze B.C Okereke, the traditional ruler of UzoubiUmuna autonomous community and my physical appearance as an old man and verbal expression to him that I am the traditional ruler of this community, he still pointed his gun at me and ordered me to lie flat on the ground. I quickly obeyedhim because he pointed his  gun at me andI didn’t want him to shoot him.

How were you rescued?

I lay flat on the floor for over eight minutes and it was thereafter that one of the policemenwho later saw the inscription on my car and my regalia that quickly urged me to stand and reprimanded the other overzealous cop. These humiliation, desecrationof our cultural institution happened in the full glare of my subjects andpassersby. It was an embarrassing situation, a big disgrace to my thrown anddisrespect to my person, community and the council of traditional rulers.

What action has been taken after the embarrassment?

I have petitioned the commissioner of police in charge of the Imo State Police Command, informing himof the humiliation and urging him to investigate it. That was a humiliationthat should not be swept under the carpet. This insult on a traditional rulerof my class cannot happen in Yorubaland or Hausaland. This must be corrected.

How is your community taking this humiliation?

My people, especiallythe youth, are spurring for a war but I have been calming them down. I toldthem that I had petitioned the Commissioner of Police and so we should wait andsee what the commissioner   will do. Though we have not heard from thepolice since I petitioned the CP, we must wait and see what the policeauthority will do.  This is a big humiliation and embarrassment to myperson and my people are not smiling about it.

What punishment do youwant be meted out to the errant officer ?

I don’t want anypunitive action be taken against him. Either do I want him to lose his job. AllI want from is an apology. An unreserved apology that is all I want. I demandan apology because if not, he does it to another traditional ruler, hewill  think he is doing the right thing.

Will take  any legal action?

Not at all. All I wantis an apology from the policeman. I was surprised as a northerner, he couldhumiliate a traditional ruler like me when in his place traditional rulers arerespected. I just want an unreserved apology from him.