Ex-Enugu council boss denies arson allegation

Former Chairman of Igbo-Etiti Council in Enugu State, Ogbonna Idike, has debunked allegation that he s involved in the burning and destruction of houses in Ikolo community in Igbo-Etiti Council.

Idike told newsmen in Enugu, yesterday, that the insinuations was aimed at damaging his image and setting him against the people of the community.

Idike said that as a well-known peace-loving person, former Executive Chairman of Igbo-Etiti with proven record of ensuring development in the council, he did not and would never participate in or sponsor such criminal acts.

He said: “I hereby condemn the destruction and carnage in its entirety,” noting that Ikolo and Lelegu Aku communities had been involved in protracted boundary dispute for more than 60 years.

“Sometime in 2008, the extended Idike Family purchased a piece of land from certain families in Lelegu Aku community and established Ezechi Farms Ltd that engaged in agricultural products and others, such as piggery, poultry, satchet water and bottle water production and borehole for supply of water to tankers.

“This business served several communities within and outside Igbo Etiti Council, including people from the nearby Ikolo community.”

He added: “Ezechi Farms Ltd operated the farm business in the area peacefully without any issues until sometime in 2017 when people from Ikolo Community came and destroyed farms, buildings and properties of Lelegu Aku community in the area and also descended on our farm, the Ezechi Farm Ltd operational area.

“They burnt several parts of the buildings, destroyed the poultry, burnt two big lister generators, destroyed big water tanks and boreholes and wasted properties worth millions of naira