Ohaneze Youth Council President  With Us, Not Abducted – Police

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Ebonyi state Police Command on Monday, February, 10, 2025, denied allegations that its operatives kidnapped Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, the President General of Ohaneze Youth Council, OYC.

The Source reports that Igboayaka was on Saturday February 8, declared abducted by gunmen  in Owerri, the Imo State Capital shortly after their Convention.

However, reports in the social media, early Monday accused the Ebonyi State Police Command of being responsible for the said abduction of  the OYC President.

The reports alleged that Operatives, working on directives from the Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru, whisked away Igboayaka, minutes after he was declared victorious at the Convention of OYC held in Owerri.

According to reports, the order for his arrest and detention, followed an alleged statement credited to him in which he was said to have sounded a warning concerning the gruesome attack on the  Amegu Nkalaha Community a few days ago days back.

He was said to have issued the cautionary note on February 4, alerting to the imminent attack on Amegu by suspected armed herdsmen.

Similarly, the OYC President in the statement was said to have, also, accused the Ebonyi state Government of complacency in the face of the mounting threat from suspected herdsmen against communities in the State.

The Ebonyi State authorities were said to have  directed the  Police to effect Igboayaka’s arrest for him to explain all that he may know concerning the dastardly attack on Amegu which came in the wake of his (Igboayaka’s) alarm bell.

Reports claimed that the OYC President is presently in the custody of the Ebonyi State Police Command, after being allegedly abducted by operatives and ferried to Abakaliki, the State capital.

But in a statement on Monday, spokesperson for the Ebonyi State Police Command, Joshua Ukandu SP, insisted that Igboayaka was lawfully arrested by operatives.

According to him, his arrest followed a petition filed over allegation bordering on dissemination of false and misleading information capable of breaching public peace as well as distablizing communities in Ebonyi State.

Ukandu further stated that the Command is presently carrying out a thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against the OYC President by the petitioners.

He assured that  Igboayaka will be charged to Court as soon as findings are concluded.