By ThankGod Ofoelue, Enugu | Monday, October 13, 2025
Fresh tension has gripped Obeagu Community in Enugu South Local Government Area following the arrest of a developer by the Enugu State Police Command, after the death of a suspected militia member believed to have murdered an Obeagu youth last Friday.
Residents of the community have accused the police of selective justice and complicity, alleging that security operatives are shielding the real killers while targeting innocent villagers in reprisal arrests.
According to community sources, the crisis began after Onyedika Chukwu Ede, an indigene of Obeagu, was brutally murdered by suspected armed men. In what appeared to be a retaliatory move, villagers reportedly apprehended one of the alleged assailants while he attempted to flee the scene.
Eyewitnesses told Jungle-Journalist.com that the suspect was beaten by an angry crowd before being rescued by police officers who arrived later and whisked him away. However, the suspect’s subsequent death in police custody has triggered a new wave of arrests and anger in the community.
Residents say the police have failed to show equal concern for the killing of Ede, focusing instead on hunting those linked to the suspect’s death.
“This is incredible,” said a community spokesperson. “The police are hunting for those behind the death of the man who slaughtered our son in broad daylight, without saying a word about the people who murdered him. It’s selective justice.”
He further alleged that some police officers were present during the initial attack on the community.
“Of course, some policemen accompanied the armed men who attacked our people on Friday. What else do you expect?” he claimed.
The spokesperson, who insisted that the ongoing conflict revolves around ancestral land, said Obeagu people were being silenced for defending their heritage.
“We are crying out for the world to hear us. You can’t beat a child and ask the child not to cry,” he said.
“This land was handed to us by our forefathers. We will not allow anyone to seize it by force, no matter the intimidation.”
As at the time of filing this report, the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, was yet to respond to the development.
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