Ebonyi Community Cries Out Over Intimidation, Arrest By Effium DC Coordinator
By Alex Odeh, Pan Afric Reporters
The people of Ekebe-Nkaleke Autonomous Community in Ohaukwu Local governments area of Ebonyi State, have expressed outright disappointment over the maltreatment, threat of arrest, suppression, intimidation, and above all, total neglect meted on them by the Coordinator of Effium Development Centre, Ogbonna Nwogbaga.
A Youth Coordinator from the area, Onwe Anayo disclosed to journaliats in Abakaliki that on appointment of the Coordinator in 2023 by Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the community heave a sigh of relief, considering the fact that they are now closer to the government through the appointment of the Coordinator and expect to enjoy the dividends of democracy.
According to the source, the community members approached the Coordinator of the development centre to remind him of some of their needs, which include but not limited to sinking of borehole/pipe borne water, since the only source of water is a local stream, where they people drink from with animals and for other domestic use.
It was also gathered that the community also reminded the Coordinator of the need to renovate the only primary school which was built by the Executive of Ekebe Nkaleke town union . The four class rooms blocks is constructed with zinc, partitioned with palm fronds, and without doors and windows.
The source added that since the Coordinator refused to pay them attention, they started making videos of the streams where they drink from and the primary school in their area, posted videos of same to social media in order to attract sympathy and help from the state government and other public spirited individuals.
He said, “This harmless request and soliciting for help through the video was what angered the coordinator, who resorted to allegedly harassing, intimidating, eventually arresting and remanding his Special Assistant, Nwinya Moses for only trying to champion and to advice him to address the needs of their people.
It was also gathered that Moses Nwinya has fixed his child dedication for 30th May, 2026 which the Coordinator, Ogbonna Nwogbaga was formally invited to grace the occasion, however, the Coordinator arrested his Special Assistant, Nwinya Moses and was charged to court on 25th May 2026.
The source added, “The Coordinator now saw everyone trying to speak up in the community as an enemy. We said let us elect new for the town union president to enable us reach out to the government.
“When the Coordinator heard that we want to form the leadership of the town union, and the person we feel who is also closer to government is Nwinya, so we made Nwinya the president. But he resisted it.
“When we noticed his attitude, the community members undertook to address the situation in the community, that was when he started threatening and eventually arrested and remanded Nwinya Moses in prison custody.
“The truth is that it was a time to elect the town Union president of the community of which Nwinya was among the three (3) contestants, the community was throwing her weight behind Nwinya because of his philanthropic gesture and having served as a secretary of the community for more than fifteen (15) good years, and equally serving as special assistant to the coordinator, the community feels that Nwinya is in a right position to approach the government to attend to their needs.
“Nwinya , the Special assistant to the coordinator of Effium DC was illegally arrested by Hon. Ogbonna Nwogbaga the DC coordinator on 19th May, 2026 and still in detention as at the time of filing this report.
He described as false the claim by the coordinator of his achievements in a recent Facebook interview.
“The interview the Coordinator was granted where he said he registered 50 persons for JAMB and WAEC, installed solar lights, constructed markets and paying widows are all false.
“We are raising alarm so that the world would know that the Coordinator has done nothing to the community. In fact, people can longer express themselves freely in the community for fear of arrest by the Coordinator”, he said.
It was also however gathered that even when the tenure of the incumbent coordinators and their aides has not expired, Ogbonna Nwogbaga has proceeded to remove Nwinya from office as a way of reprimand.
Speaking also, the community Chairman, Comrade Mbam Dominic Nwofe, who is in charge of the entire Ekebe Nkaleke community both home and in diaspora strongly condemned the action of the Effium DC coordinator, Hon.Ogbonna Nwogbaga.
He appealed to the Ebonyi State government to intervene on this issue and speedily facilitate the unconditional release of their illustrious son , Comrade Nwinya Moses Mbam.
According to Mbam Dominic Nwinya committed no crime to deserve such imprisonment.
Lending her voice, the woman leader of the community, Mrs.Augustina Nwangele also frowned at the action of the DC coordinator, Hon.Ogbonna Nwogbaga.
She stated that, the money he used to send his own brother to prison would have been used to empower the youths of the community, adding that such action by the coordinator undermines the freedom of speech as enshrined in the the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.
Efforts to reach the Coordinator of Effium Development Centre, Ogbonna Nwogbaga for reaction through his phone number;07033965104 was unsuccessful as he neither picked calls was unsuccessful as he neither picked the calls put across to his phone nor returned them as at the time of filing this report.
