Following the abduction of human rights activist, Chief Mike
Ozekhome, SAN, people of Iviukwe in Weppawanno kingdom in Etsako East
Local Government Area of Edo State, the ancestral home of the lawyer,
were yesterday in mourning as both Muslims and Christians embarked on
dry fast for quick release of their son.
The abduction of the Asebigwe (the one that every one listens to) of
Weppawanno Kingdom and the Akpakpavighidighi of Edo State came as a rude
shock to members of the community who have started serious prayers to
hasten his release. Chief Ozekhome was abducted by suspected kidnappers last Friday while
on his way to the village, after they killed four police officers who
came to rescue him and his driver. Elder brother of the abducted activist, High Chief Pius Ozekhome, was
with elders when Vanguard visited the village, but he declined comments
on the issue. The paramount traditional ruler of Weppawanno Kingdom, Dr. George
Oshiaapi Egabor, the Okumagbe of Weppawanno Kingdom, who was apparently
in a pensive mood said that the people of his kingdom were devastated by
the development. He appealed to the captors to consider the fact that Chief Ozekhome
was a lawyer who had been working for the downtrodden in the country. “We are appealing that they release him for us unhurt . He is a
person that has contributed to the growth of our community and has
helped our sons and daughters in various capacities. “We pray that God should touch their hearts by listening to our plea
because he is one man we all love so much because of his concern for the
poor and his dedication to the service of humanity. “It is difficult to say much now but we are only appealing to them to release our son.” Also speaking on the incident, two-time former chairman of Etsako
East Local Government Council, Stanley Odidi, “We received the news when
the police told the wife that they had found one of his telephones in
his car as they scrolled the contacts and found the wife’s number. “So they now called the wife to confirm that it was his car and that
was how they broke the news to us in the village. The wife was in Lagos. “Our brother is a grassroots person, he give assistance to the poor,
market women, youths periodically, in fact, many of our people are
saying they should come and carry them and leave Ozekhome. We have
embarked on dry fasting in the community and our Muslim brothers are
also doing their own. “You can see that every where is unsually calm in this community
because of the incident, that will tell you that we don’t play with
Chief Ozekhome. I have never seen any community that is praying as much
as we are doing right now.”
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