Traditional rulers from three communities in Afaraukwu, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State, have demanded a panel of enquiry to investigate the role of the Nigerian Army in the invasion of the home of the traditional ruler of Afaraukwu autonomous community, HRH Eze Israel Kanu.
Eze Kanu is the father of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
The communities -Okwulaga Enyiukwu and Isiama autonomous communities – had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming they had yet to see HRH Kanu; his wife , Lolo Sally; and some of his subjects after his palace was raided by the army on September 14.
The petition was signed by the President-Generals of the three autonomous communities in Afara clan – Levi Ogbonna, Cletus Uwaechi and Chief Ikechukwu Ndubueze.
The monarchs alleged in the petition, a copy of which was made available to journalists in Umuahia on Tuesday, that some members of the community were still missing since the military raid, heightening fears that they might have been killed and their bodies taken away by the invaders along with the IPOB members.
The communities demanded that the army should be compelled to produce their traditional ruler, who they have not seen since his house was raided.
They also demanded full compensation for the desecration of the palace and the return of household items allegedly carted away from the palace by the soldiers.
The petition partly read, “That since September 14, 2017 the whereabouts of one of our traditional ruler, HRH Eze I. O. Kanu, and members of his family, including some members of Isiama Afaraukwu community, are still unknown.”
*Punch
