Anambra: How my 80-year old Igweship aspirant died - Widow

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By Madu Obi

There is mounting tension in Nkpor, Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, following the sudden death of 80 - year old Paul Onwualu, an Igweship aspirant of the community after alleged beating by security operatives.

Wife of the deceased, Mrs. Anthonia Onwualu, lamented that her husband was beaten to coma, taken away and died before getting to the hospital.

In an emotion - laden statement , Mrs Onwualu said: “On Thursday, the police, in the company of some persons opposed to my husband’s Igweship aspiration, stormed our residence at Umusiome, beating him into a coma before whisking him away to an unknown destination.

I was later told that the policemen were on their way to Ogidi Police Station to detain him, but he died on the way.

Those who came with the police to our residence scaled the perimeter fence of our compound because the gate is always kept under lock and key."

It was gathered that the Igweship tussle is before a High Court in Ogidi in Suit No. HID/72/2026.

According to a source, the policemen, who were said to have come from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, reportedly arrived in the company of some people opposed to Onwualu's Igweship aspiration and stormed the octogenarian’s residence to arrest him.

“It was in the process of arresting him that he was beaten into a coma, bundled into a waiting police vehicle and whisked away to Ogidi Police Station.

He collapsed on the way to the Police station and was rushed to Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, Ogidi, where medical personnel on duty confirmed him dead,” the source said.

Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Tochukwu Ikenga said the command is aware of the incident, adding that details would be made available later.