For the People of Egbelu Obube Community in Owerri North LGA, Imo State, chaos and mayhem are hanging in the air, since February 26, 2013 following the death of one of their vibrant sons, Uche Urekwe.
According to impeccable sources, Late Uche Urekwe was the Coordinator of Egbelu Obube Vigilante, from where he enlisted into the Imo state owned Security Network.
Trumpeta investigation unveiled that Uche was said to have been mistakenly shot by his colleague, in the home of the Owerri North Coordinator of Security Network, at Emekuku, from where he later bled to death in a Hospital.
The body was then deposited at a mortuary in Egbu, where it has remained unclaimed for six months now following disagreement among the family, Government and Egbelu Obube Community.
However, some Community Leaders in Egbelu Obube are pointing accusing fingers at the Sole Administrator of Owerri North, Engr Chuks Ololo, who happens to come from Egbelu Obube.
They alleged that it was Ololo who facilitated Uche’s move-over to the Imo Security Network, on whose pay role and duty he was when he met his gruesome and untimely death.
Egbelu Obube Elders maintained that it was the responsibility of Ololo to inform the State Governor of the death of their son who died under active service, and that Government should make contribution to the burial cost of Uche.
They told Trumpeta that it was unfortunate that months after Uche died, there was no official statement from Government, not even a condolence message to the family.
The Community therefore resolved that the Body of Uche cannot be buried until Government meets its responsibility in the case of such deaths, since Uche died in active service.
However, when Trumpeta contacted Engr Chuks Ololo, the SOLAD of Owerri North LGA, he acknowledged that he helped Uche gain job into Imo Security Network, as a gesture to his town’s man, including others he helped in other establishments.
Ololo however denied that he has any hand in the death of Uche who was shot by his colleague at Emekuku. He said that it was not true that the State Government has not done any thing about Uche’s death, pointing out that he had visited the Urekwe family with the former Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Ifeanyi Nwachukwu, whose Ministry oversees the Security Network but was surprised when angry youths chased them away.
Ololo said he also went through the Catholic Church by meeting the Urekwe family with the Egbelu Obube Parish Priest, who was also chased away.
He therefore asked what else he could do to let peace reign, and for Uche Urekwe to been given a befitting burial and for his soul to rest in peace, saying that it was not the culture of his people to allow a corpse to remain in the mortuary for six months now.
Ololo appealed to all the parties in the matter to see reason for the dead body to be buried, adding that he was worried because he took the late Uche as his son.
He disclosed that what should happen was for Egbelu Obube Community to fix the burial date, and then inform the Government, who is certain to send a representative that will hand whatever it has to the family.
But Egbelu Obube Community is saying that it was the duty of Government to bury Uche since he died in the course of duty, and should inform the Community when.
But speaking to Trumpeta, the Traditional Ruler of the Community, HRH Eze J C Nwaogu said the Community is ready to bury their son at any time as they are not asking for the head of John the Baptist only that the proper thing be done, but added that the Body is not under the custody of the Community.
Meanwhile, when Trumpeta contacted the Police, a source said the matter was under investigation.
