Five Injured As Nigerian Police, Army Storm New Yam Festival In Anambra Over Monarch Crisis

Operatives of the Nigerian Police and Army attacked the location, chasing the guests away and sealing it off

At least five people were injured when pandemonium erupted at the palace of the rival traditional ruler of Awka, Anambra State, Ozo Austin Ndigwe, on Saturday as people attempted to celebrate the New Yam festival.

It was gathered that operatives of the Nigerian Police and Army attacked the location, chasing the guests away and sealing it off, Daily Independent reports.

The security forces also kept an eye on the atmosphere by driving around the area and the Umukwa road in Awka town was blocked by security operatives stopping vehicular movement in the area.

Recall that a group of notable Awka people crowned Ozo Ndigwe as their monarch, despite the fact that the traditional ruler, Obi Gibson Nwosu, was still alive.

Since then, Ozo Ndigwe has positioned himself as Eze Uzu III’s traditional king.

However, Igwe Gibson Nwosu, the Eze Uzu the 2nd, is sitting on his throne and is lawfully acknowledged by the Anambra State government since the military era until the present day.

It was equally gathered that before the arrival of reporters, some guests were tear-gassed when they refused to leave the venue for the New Yam Festival and this caused a stampede at the entrance of the palace.

A resident who spoke to newsmen on condition of anonymity said, “They woke me up this morning telling me that police want to seal off the palace and I told them that there are some traditional rulers from the South East and beyond that are already inIide the palace and the one that is more disturbing is that the security operatives were firing live bullets at the people mostly youths who came to find out what is happening”

“I am not sure if anybody died but there were casualties of those who got injured and I think about five persons were injured during the stampede,” he added.

He further explained that he made contacts at the Police Command and that the order came from the Government House, Awka, and it was also confirmed at the zonal command.

A police officer on the site stated that he was carrying out an instruction from his superiors and was unable to offer specifics.

The order to halt the festivities is said to have come from Government House.

However, Mr Tony Collins Nwabunwanne, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy issues, stated that he did not make any release or direction to that effect, and that security officers were carrying out their duties of ensuring peace and order.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, also said that he was not aware of the presence of security operatives at the palace of Ozo Austin Ndigwe but promised to make a statement as soon as possible.